Trisha Blizzard, Dip CBEd, CLD (CBI)
Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Labor Doula, Bengkung Belly Binding Specialist, Birth Assistant
Happiest Baby Educator, TENS in Labor Trainer, Breastfeeding Counselor, and Doula Mentor
First and foremost, I am a wife to my husband, Ron. We have been married 24 years, and we have 6 children, two dogs and one green anole.
For as long as I can remember, I have been in awe over the miracle of birth. I was always interested in anything medical, but I knew early on that if I was going to "be" something when I grew up, it was going to involve babies or birth. At first I wanted to become a doctor, than I decided to become a nurse. My goal was to work in labor and delivery or perhaps in a neonatal intensive care unit.
In 1991, a year after my high school graduation, I became a Certified Nurses Assistant. I spent the next 5 years working with the elderly in nursing homes, retirement centers, and with in home health and hospice. In 1994, I enrolled in the nursing program at my local college to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN- or in some parts of the country, LVN). 9 months before my graduation, I became pregnant and needed to quit school. (I was at high risk for preterm labor, and with those symptoms already starting to show again, we knew that I would not carry to term with the long hours of school and clinical work ahead). I became a happy stay at home, and that is still my JOB.
In 1998, while walking in the mall, I discovered the word “doula”. Two women were handing out flyers for a doula training. I knew in an instant, that a doula, I would be. I had actually been a doula more than once, before I knew what they were! It wouldn’t be until about 4 years later that I would actually start learning, and attending births as an uncertified doula. (I became certified in 2008).
For the past 13 years, I have studied pregnancy and childbirth - learning far more than any trained doula is expected to learn. I had actually dabbled with the idea of being a midwife, so I’ve read several books geared towards midwifery. However, there is just too much responsibility that comes with the title of a midwife. Being a Doula and a Childbirth Educator is the perfect fit for me and my family :-).
In 2007, I became an ALACE trained Labor Assistant/Birth Doula - now known as toLabor, The Organization of Labor Assistants for Birth Options and Resources. I am a Certified Doula with Childbirth International. I hold a diploma as a certified childbirth educator through Childbirth International. I LOVE teaching childbirth classes, and have taught over 260 couples! I am a Certified Happiest Baby educator, and would love to help you learn how to calm your fussy baby in minutes or less! I am nearing the end of my Breastfeeding Counselor certification with Childbirth International. I’m currently trained to teach breastfeeding classes and can help with basic breastfeeding obstacles. In March, 2014, I began working as a birth assistant at Inanna Birth and Women's Care (a birth center), in Denton. I am enjoying the variety of work that I'm doing, and it's all very fulfilling :-)
I have had the privilege of attending over 175 births in all settings (birth centers, home and hospital), both vaginal and cesarean. I have served mothers delivering twins, and have a passion for helping mothers achieve a VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean). I have attended many VBAC's including a few VBAC's after multiple cesareans. I have learned so much over the past few years, and I am confident in my abilities to educate women, as well as provide them with compassionate care.
Certifications and Trainings:
ALACE (now known as toLabor) Doula Training Workshop: August, 2007 - Twin Falls, Idaho
Certified Childbirth Educator with Childbirth International - November, 2008
Doula Certification with Childbirth International - August, 2009
Happiest Baby on the Block Certification - November, 2009
Waterbirth Certification Workshop through Waterbirth International -Feb 20th, 2010
Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula Training Workshop - February, 2010
Breastfeeding Counselor in training (with Childbirth International) as of Feb, 2010
Advanced Breastfeeding Workshop (May 1st, 2011)
Advanced Women’s Herbal and Aromatherapy Course with Birth Arts International -began course study September, 2011
Rebozo Workshop - August, 2013
Advanced Doula Training Workshop -Use of Tens During Labor -Feb, 26th, 2013
TENS in Labor trainer for birth professionals - Nov, 2013
Birth Assistant at Inanna Birth Center, in Denton TX as of March, 2014
Acupressure for pregnancy, labor and postpartum training - April, 2014
ProDoula Advanced Business Training Workshop- August, 2015
Spinning Babies Training Workshop with Gail Tully- December, 2015
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training - Jan, 2016
Bengkung Belly Binding Training - June, 2016
