Charleston Birth Doula

photo credit: Selena Stoney Photography with my daughter Harper Morgan 2015

Therapeutic Massage Doula Services

I am so excited that you are here, because you are unique and I can’t wait to hear your story. I crave that you keep your autonomy as you transform into parents, and the best way I can serve this mission is to advocate evidence-based information while remaining unattached to the decisions that you choose. I often describes myself as trail mix on the crunchy scale. I am not full mainstream, and not all natural either.

After reflecting on 7.5 years as a birth doula, the biggest factor in the outcomes for my clients has been the preparation we have facilitated together during the third trimester. We continued to ask ourselves; Where is the baby? Where is the uterus? Followed by creating a personalized treatment plan at each visit to assist balancing the pelvis and therefore balancing the baby for labor and birth.

The more balanced you are when labor begins, the faster you will be holding your child in your arms. Clients who come in weekly for their 3rd trimester report average labor times of 2-12 hours (the national average for a 1st time family is 18-24 hours). With this knowledge in mind, I have decided that my resources are best utilized during your prenatal preparation, and entrusting your birthing time to our local community of birth doulas.

If you want to be empowered to pave your own story while benefiting from 18 plus years of experience and over $30 ,000 in education, fill out the contact form today and learn more about how I can serve you during your childbearing year.

Exclusive Covid Support – $1650 ($1830 value)

Includes initial massage appointment with consultation (2 hours), 8x 90 minute massages,

3 hour private childbirth education class via Zoom + 60 minute practical birth plan session in the office.

Weekly Massage During Third Trimester

Stop settling for common symptoms as your new state of normal. By combining advance alignment techniques for pregnancy, we can address common symptoms that you have been told are normal conditions, and help reduce or even eliminate the discomfort during your pregnancy.

Clients who receive regular appointments during their pregnancy report a reduction in labor time. First time parents often report a labor time under 12 hours. National averages for first time mom’s is 18-24 hours.

My Massage Doula

Private Childbirth Education Immersion – $445

Join me as we navigate applicable information for all birth plans and your birth goals. Explore the journey that parents and baby travel by integrating the physical, mental, and emotional stages of birth.

Participants will receive an introduction to anatomy and physiology, layered with techniques to promote alignment and balance for birth.

The birthing partner will identify key terms to support the birth goals.

All participants will explore how they give and receive support and how they can meet each other’s needs throughout the birthing event. LEARN MORE

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)

What is Arvigo® or The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®

The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® is an advanced training utilized by massage therapists, midwives, chiropractors, physical therapists, naturopaths, acupuncturists, registered nurses and many more credentials. I describe massage school as the training I had to take in order to go to school to become a Certified Arvigo® Practitioner. When receiving an Arvigo® therapy treatment we will be focusing on releasing the soft tissue structures (muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue) in order to allow your uterus, baby, and pelvis to settle into an aligned position. Sometimes the techniques may feel uncomfortable, like a deep tissue massage, but most of the time it should feel supportive and nutritive as the blood, nerves, and lymph flow more freely and homeostasis can return. It is important to clarify that although the body often chooses to find balance, this work does not manipulate nor force the mom or baby into a specific position. Read more about how The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® can help you here.

What is Spinning Babies?

I have been incorporating the Spinning Babies One Day class into my skillset since June, 2016 and will be completing the additional 5 days of training and case studies to become a Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner and Spinning Babies Preferred Provider in May, 2018. Spinning Babies often becomes a household name when a family learns their baby is not head down in the final weeks of pregnancy. The misconception is that Spinning Babies is only for when a baby is not in an optimal position. Reality is that a baby wants to take the path of least resistance. If the mom's anatomy is in balance and there are no anatomical variations (like the location of the placenta, cord placement, or a heart shaped uterus for example) baby's path of least resistance should be head down. Spinning Babies uses simple yoga like positions that work with gravity to allow baby the space to decide to move into a more optimal position for birth. Just like The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®, Spinning Babies does not force the mom or baby into a specific position. The Arvigo® Techniques release the soft tissue anatomy and create the space, so that the Spinning Babies exercises can align the mother with gravity and give baby the opportunity to follow suit.

What is a Rebozo?

A Rebozo is a beautiful handwoven scarf from Central America that is worn through-out a woman's life. She may use her scarf to help support her pregnant body, as a tool through labor and birth, and to wear her baby postpartum. Birth workers have used the word "Rebozo" to include any scarf that is 6 to 9 feet long, and/or the training on how to utilize the scarf as a professional. I prefer to only use the word Rebozo to explain the history behind how these trainings became known as "The Rebozo" in order to respect the culture and wisdom from which the word came from. In my doula practice, I use Fair Trade 9 foot scarves from India to help support and release restricted soft tissue during labor in order for the mom and baby to more effectively move and rotate through the cardinal movements of birth. You will hear me call my scarf a birthing scarf or simply a scarf and not a Rebozo. Learn more HERE.

Do you take payments?

My business is a fully functioning, full time business that accepts cash, check, credit/debit, and heath savings account (HSA) cards. You will be offered the option of paying a one time fee of $1650 or financing 3X payments of $600 due at the time of signing the contract, 34 weeks gestation and 36 weeks gestation.

Do you offer doula services without massage appointments?

When reserving your estimated due date you have all of my trainings and certifications available to you. You may or may not need any or all of my intellectual tools, and it is ultimately your decisions if and when you would like to apply my knowledge. I highly recommend contacting individual doulas from the Professional Doulas of Charleston website to interview doulas with a variety of trainings to make the most informed decision on whether her skill set is the right choice for you.

What if I give birth before I use all my prenatal appointments?

If you give birth before your scheduled appointments they will be transferred into postpartum visits, and you will have until 3 months postpartum to reschedule those appointments before your service agreement expires.

Do you have a back-up?

Yes, as a member of the Professional Doulas of Charleston it is a requirement to have a professional back up available in the unlikely event that I can not arrive to your birth support on time.

Lets Meet

I am currently booking estimated due dates for March, 2020 and beyond.

You can read more about my therapeutic sessions and schedule an initial appointment HERE

I just gave birth 3 days ago and I never could’ve had my natural unmedicated birth without Danica, especially in a hospital! I went to her for doula services bc I saw she specialized in massage therapy and ended up also getting massages from her. Not only did Danica enhance my experience with my pregnancy w her amazing massages she helped me as a first time mom forming a plan I would be comfortable with before birth and giving me tools to achieve it. For all the incredible and invaluable support and bodywork she gave me before the birth nothing compares to her during my labor. She was there every step on the way helping me with tips during early labor and then finally driving over to my house when I started to think it might be getting close to time, which of course was at 4am. She massaged and compressed my hips during contractions, she made me teas to drink and clean w for afterwards, she reminded me to walk and switch positions often when I retreated into my own laborland and forgot so much of what I had researched but most importantly at the end she helped me stay true to my natural goal while simultaneously being completely supportive of either decision I made when I thought I would give in for an epidural. When it came to push she was like a sister or a mother giving me loving and encouraging words every single push which I couldn’t have continued on without and reminding me I was staying true to nature and was strong. One of the nurses who held my other legs was talking about pizza in the break room so you can’t count on having people there to care about your experience that you don’t bring there yourself! Having Danica there respecting my journey as a mother and the sacred space of my birth room made the whole experience into something I can be proud of and grateful for she is a wonderful doula and I would recommend her to anyone having a baby especially in a hospital!

Lindsay Pushic