Martha Dominguez Mondragon

Since 2014, I have been a doula in births for the Latin community, supporting in different hospitals in Portland, Beaverton and Hillsboro. I am a doula because it is in my heart to help, support and empower mothers who sometimes feel helpless, unprotected, abandoned, and vulnerable at the time of their birth. I support them at all times, in whatever they need at the hospital, birth centers or at home. I support them with their needs, through exercises, massages, rebozo, breathing, etc. I continue taking different trainings to be able to support mothers using all this knowledge at the time the mother needs it. During prenatal visits, I try to get to know the mother beforehand in order to have strong connections and gain the mother's trust. I teach exercises to prepare her for the time of birth. I make sure they are okay with their emotions, worries, doubts. I help them make their birth plan and make sure they eat well and healthy. I also look for some resources that they need before or after birth. During birth, I try to be with the mothers at all times, so that they is relaxed, through gentle massages, changes of different comfortable and necessary positions so that her birth continues to advance, controlling her breathing during contractions, supporting her with food, liquids so that she is well hydrated. I want all mothers to have a dignified, humanized and respected birth, with or without any medication, as they wish and if possible. I want mothers to feel safe, empowered and confident in themselves, how they want their birth, what they want to use and what not. I want their decisions to be valued as long as there is no risk for the mother and her baby. And finally, I advise her in her postpartum, helping her with breastfeeding, feeding and resting. In addition, I am a preschool teacher. I have been working for 14 years at the Oregon Child Developmental Coalition OCDC and have had a daycare in my home for 6 years. This way I have had the opportunity to take care of some babies for whom I was a doula. I have the support of other teachers and assistants. That is why if they call me, I can leave very soon.