About Belly to Baby Birth Doula

Why I’m Passionate About Supporting You

Nicole Bengtson, CD(DONA)

Welcome, and thank you for checking out my doula page! Belly to Baby Birth Doula was created from my passion for my family, helping others, love for babies and making a difference. As a certified birth doula CD(DONA) and HypnoBirthing doula, I will help you feel supported, empowered and informed from pregnancy through birth!

I’m a mom of three (including twins) and love to accompany & support families having babies, whether it be your first or your fourth! I believe every birthing person should have love and support throughout what can be the most challenging and rewarding experience of their life. Whether you have a plan for minimal medical interventions or planning for a scheduled cesarean, you will have my support.*

You have a choice when it comes to your baby’s birth and I would love to be a part of that amazing journey with you!

*Due to ever-changing CDC/MDH guidelines and hospital restrictions for COVID-19, some birthplaces/hospitals may have restrictions on doula access. Many metro-area hospitals and birth centers are still allowing doulas in to support laboring families! Please note there are times when doulas are allowed in the OR for surgical births at hospitals that do not have it in the written policy. Click here to see the latest snapshot (Jan. 13, 2022) of the Doula Status of Twin Cities Hospitals During COVID-19 created by Liz Hochman of the Childbirth Collective. Please consult with your provider and birthplace on their current doula policy. I am happy to talk with you and also provide virtual doula support as needed during these challenging times.

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Nicole was amazing. We could not have done it without her. She boosted our confidence, eased our anxiety and made our daughter’s birth a positive experience. She was knowledgeable, kind and genuine. We felt supported and empowered. She discussed our wishes and concerns and did not judge our choices. Nicole is an amazing woman with so much knowledge and compassion. There are simply not enough words to express our gratitude and love for her.

Brittany & David

Trainings, Certifications and Memberships that Help Me Support You

Nicole Bengtson, Belly to Baby Birth Doula, LLC, Certified Birth Doula

DONA Certification & Training

I completed my doula training in 2016 and certification in 2019. Many doulas train with DONA (Doulas of North America) International, but those who earn and maintain our certification are the best of the best. They have received cutting-edge instruction along with invaluable hands-on experience. I’m proud to be a certified birth doula with the credential: CD(DONA)!

Why choose a certified doula?

Families who work with a certified birth doula know that they’re getting someone who has completed in-depth, high-quality, evidence-based training. DONA International upholds the highest standards for certified doulas, and you can rest assured that you will receive the highest level of support from a DONA certified doula!

Nicole Bengtson, Belly to Baby Birth Doula, LLC, Certified Hypnobirthing Birth Doula

Certified HypnoBirthing^® Doula

I completed my professional training in 2017 and was certified as a HypnoBirthing^® doula in 2018. HypnoBirthing^® is a tried and proven method that guides and prepares a woman in giving birth in a peaceful and extraordinarily beautiful manner. It is a program that considers the psychological, as well as the physical, well-being of the mother, her birth partner, and the newborn, independent of context, whether that be in the quiet of a home, a hospital, or a birth center.

The HypnoBirthing^® program is built around an educational process that includes special breathing, relaxation, visualization, meditative practice, attention to nutrition and positive body toning. Most importantly it fosters an air of mutual respect for the birthing family, as well as the health-care provider in a traditional health-care system or an alternative setting.

Read more about HypnoBirthing^® at https://us.hypnobirthing.com

BRAVA Core & Pelvic Floor Certified

I received my BRAVA Core and Pelvic Floor Certification for birthworkers in March 2021. This was an extended educational course to increase my knowledge on the core and pelvic floor so I can better serve clients, provide better education to them, and have good, reliable resources and referrals on this topic when needed.

Read more about BRAVA and its wonderful instructors at https://holisticcontinuum.com/brava or http://www.vitanewlife.com/brava/

Evidence Based Birth^®

I am a professional member of Evidence Based Birth® and have been an auditor of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class. Evidence Based Birth® is an online childbirth resource that informs, empowers and inspires expecting parents and birth-care practitioners globally, to understand the latest, proven, evidence-based care practices.
Read more at https://evidencebasedbirth.com

Spinning Babies^®

I have attended a Spinning Babies^® workshop to learn the techniques and activities to help families during their labor. Spinning Babies^® is an approach to optimize the physical relationship between the bodies of the mother and baby for the easing of childbirth.

Spinning Babies^® is a unique approach to birth created by midwife Gail Tully.

Spinning Babies^® teaches physiological release rather than a mechanical manipulation or force. Self-care and specific body activities restore body balance and make room for the baby. Babies can put themselves into the best positions possible for childbirth.

Together we notice that when women restore the balance in their muscles and alignment in the pelvis, birth goes better.

The Childbirth Collective

I am a member of The Childbirth Collective that is comprised of birth professionals in the Twin Cities in MN who support families during the childbearing year. The Childbirth Collective was conceived in the early 90s. A group of dedicated women recognized the value of labor support and doula care and formed the Childbirth Collective. Today, the Twin Cities metro area has the highest doula-attended birth rates in the United States. Its mission is to enhance the childbearing year by promoting doula support, advocating evidence-based care and providing accessible education based on the wellness model of pregnancy care.

We carry out our mission by educating families and the community about the role of the doula, providing ongoing education for doulas, and helping families connect with doulas and other birth professionals.

Minnesota Valley Moms of Multiples

I have been a member of the Minnesota Valley Mothers of Multiples (MVMOM) since I was pregnant with my own twins in 2014. Minnesota Valley Mothers of Multiples (MVMOM) is a non-profit organization that provides support, services, friendship, and more for mothers of twins, triplets quads, and more. Our membership is open to all mothers and expectant mothers of multiples living in Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Woodbury, and surrounding communities within Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

The organization was established in 1975 by a handful of MoMs (Mothers of Multiples) who understood that it takes more than a village to raise a set of twins, triplets, quads, or quints. In its infancy, the small group gathered with their children in each other’s homes for coffee and good company. Forty years later, MVMOM has swelled to nearly 500 diverse members, making it the largest mothers of multiples club in Minnesota.
Read more at https://mvmom.org