Gretchen Retka

Verified
Birth Doula
San Jose, California
13 years of experience
5.0
About me

Parents: please share your EDD & contact info in the message body šŸ™šŸ¾ Birth doula of 13 years. This is my calling in life to be of service to labor/birth. Iā€™m very grateful to have this as my service in this lifetime and believe every new life is a gift to be honored with care, love and respect for the process. Trained in techniques that encourage optimal fetal positioning by finding balance in the body (more comfort during pregnancy as well as labor/birth) optimal positioning helps labor be more comfortable, increasing odds of a efficient and smoother vaginal birth. I share these techniques with my clients in the third trimester to decrease the use of interventions & prevent trauma. Also practicing placenta encapsulation and massage therapy at Full Moon Birth & Family Wellness Center.

Education

Bachelors in Fine Arts (2010)

Certification and training

ToLabor (2012)

Memberships and affiliations

Santa Cruz Birth Network, ToLabor, Blossom birth and family

Credentials
BA CMT CD
Specialties
Acupressure During Labor Belly Binding Birth Doula Birth Support Breastfeeding Support Building Healthy Communication Health Coach Healthy Eating Home Birth Hormone Imbalances Infant Care Keeping Fit Labor Doula Massage Massage Therapist Maternity Photography Mindfulness Natural Birth Natural Childbirth Newborn Care Pain Management Placenta Encapsulation Positive Thinking Postnatal Yoga Postpartum Care Premature Infants Prenatal Care Prenatal Yoga Prental Massage Practitioner Pre/Post Natal Pain and Weakness Preventative Care Relaxation Techniques Safety Self-Actualization Self-Compassion Self-Esteem Self-Integration Sexual Health Somatic Techniques Spirituality Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Vaginal Steam Water birth Yoga
Languages

English

Service introduction

Birth doula support including 3 prenatal visits, 24/7 on call status beginning at 38 weeks, labor & birth support in person or virtually for clients outside of Bay Area, CA. Follow up postpartum visit. Massage therapy: Practicing in Santa Cruz, CA at Full Moon Birth and Family Wellness Center www.holistic-sister.com for details Placenta Encapsulation TCM

Packages
Birth Doula
3 prenatal visits On call status 38 weeks onward 24/7 In person labor/birth support (patient advocacy, therapeutic care, partner/family support and guidance to support Mom, information, support in understanding options & support in creating clear communication with medical staff by way of verbally & written birth plans, encouragement and celebration of new life by your side) Postpartum follow up visit.
$3,000.00
USD Flat rate
Ratings and reviews
Average
5.0
# of Reviews
1
5.0

We had the most magical natural unmedicated birth experience in a hospital and we owe so much of it to Gretchen. Right from our first interaction when we were interviewing birth doulas, we were drawn by her warm nature. Her prenatal visits were extremely helpful be it the exercises she taught us to enable an optimal baby position for birth or her inputs into crafting our birth plan. We would have been lost with the information overload if not for her timely, targeted and super informative educational resources that have been extremely helpful to us as first time parents. She has always been a text or phone call away to address anything we needed. She brought in a sign of relief when she entered the labor room...her calming presence during my final stretch of labor and the positions she guided me through definitely helped me avoid an epidural. The icing on the cake was her singing a lullaby to our little one upon birth, it felt divine. She also captured beautiful moments of our baby's birth that we will cherish forever. I will always remember her positive affirmation 'You are stronger than you think!'. Can't thank you enough Gretchen for being the rockstar that you are and all your support to growing families :)

- Gita Sowmya P.

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