About me

Get To Know Me!

My name is Becky and I’m the founder of Capstone Doula Services.

I am also an Occupational therapist and hold the following certifications:

  • Labor Doula
  • Doula in postpartum & infant care
  • Childbirth Educator
  • Reiki certified
  • Adult and infant CPR/First Aid

I’m mom to 3 and 5 year old boys, my most important role yet! I am a big family person and met my husband when I was in middle school. I was a gymnast, I love photography, baking, writing, walks in the woods, volunteering in my community, traveling, and spending time on continuing education classes each year.

Besides teaching childbirth classes or newborn care classes near me in melrose and surrounding areas, I also love to teach 1:1 about planned cesareans and help with prep for that too.

*I specialize also in: cesarean home visits
as a postpartum doula and I bring my past rehab expertise to my visit to give all my tips, tricks to help you optimize your recovery in your first day or your first week arriving home with baby.

Education

Master’s degree in OT with minor in psychology from UNE in 2009.

Comprehensive Trainings with:

  • DONA international & ProDoula. Certified through ProDoula (I have been accepted for clients using Carrot Fertility Insurance)

Extra doula courses taken:

  • Mental health crisis
  • Bereavement and pregnancy loss
  • VBAC specialist trained

OT Career

I spent 11 years working in rehabs and hospitals, with patients from the Boston area and from different countries. I worked on a strong team of professionals to help individuals learn how to cope, regain their strength and independent life skills.

Since I mostly had worked on comprehensive units during my career, I worked with various diagnoses, such as: Burn survivors, Stroke survivors, Limb loss, prosthetic training, Pelvic trauma, pelvic resection, Multi-trauma, Motor vehicle accidents, Spinal cord injury, Brain injury, Orthopedic injuries, disorders, joint replacements, and other major surgeries affecting the spine, upper and lower extremities, Chronic pain, Complications from Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Chronic lung disease and more.

What makes me stand out as your doula and childbirth educator?

Much of what I learned working in hospitals will translate into my Doula and birth educator role. I’ve gained a tremendous skill from my OT career, especially always thinking of individualized plans as everyone is unique.

I’ve worked with individuals who all come with their own unique cultural differences, medical histories, past injuries, or trauma.

As an OT I helped people regain their independence in their daily routines utilizing adaptive equipment and techniques, exercise, stretches, massage or myofacial techniques, Reiki, or teaching self-reiki, teaching injury prevention, proper body mechanics, skin care, wound prevention, position changes, pain management techniques, breathing techniques, meditation, relaxation, and other coping strategies.

I’ve had lots of training also working with spouses, caregivers and support persons to make them feel comfortable and informed as well as make sure everyone is on the same page with the plan.

I have great communication skills, I know how to work effectively on a team with other disciplines in the hospital, and I’m able to teach patients how to be self-advocates, use evidence based resources, and how to understand information that is given to them and most importantly helping to explain it in language they understand.

What inspired me to become a Doula and Childbirth Educator?

Having my son and hiring a labor doula definitely inspired me to start this new chapter in my life. In the back of my mind, I always thought of doing something on the maternity floor or with birth work, especially after I went through some postpartum issues myself. I had PT for back to work strengthening, scar massage, and pelvic floor therapy. I’ve always been very thankful for having a large support group around me, from lactation consultants, a local support group, my friends, family, co-workers, and my doula. I am excited for this career path, still being able to help families in my community, but in a whole new way.

Capstone Business Goals:

  1. To be a resource and wealth of information for parents in the community
  2. To take away the fear that many have surrounding birth and help parents through hands on practice to gain the confidence they need to create a positive birth experience no matter what circumstances they face.
  3. To provide childbirth education class and newborn care class to the community that will remain flexible for times that fit into parents busy lives.