Elena Dobyndo, Birth Doula

I am Elena Dobyndo, a certified birth doula, a postpartum doula, a breastfeeding counselor, and a childbirth educator. I was born and raised in Russia. For the past 15 years I live in USA. I am a proud mother of 6 kids: Alexandra (23), Samuel (12), twins Matthew and David (9), Miraya (5), and baby Michael (1). My 2 last kids, Miraya and Michael, are successful unmedicated VBACs after 2 previous planned C-sections (breech babies). I nursed all my kids for at least 15 months, including set of twins. I share all this experience to demonstrate that I have different personal experience with child birth, postpartum recovery, and child care.
Since my first pregnancy I was dreaming to become a doula to help women during this precious time. Throughout my life few times I was invited as a doula to home births and hospital births. My job was to help mothers use unmedicated pain management techniques like massage, relaxation breathing, and change of positions. Also I was honored to help many mothers to establish breastfeeding and develop sufficient milk supply. After practicing doula services as my hobby, I decided to proceed with an official IDI certification in order to offer my skills to other mothers rather than my friends and friends of the friends.
My scope of work includes educating expecting mother and her partner about childbirth process, helping developing birth plan, being on call 24/7 starting from week 37, helping establish breastfeeding, postpartum help and educating about child care. In my work I can support mother throughout different motherhood experiences, including planning pregnancy, surviving miscarriage, medicated and unmedicated vaginal birth, planned C-section, VBAC, and postpartum recovery for mother and baby.
I hold Master of Art degree in Clinical Counseling Child and Adolescent track from Chicago School of Professional Psychology that I graduated in 2014 with Distinguished award. Counseling degree helps me better understand family dynamics during transitional times like having a new baby, and establish healthy boundaries with expecting mothers and their families.
During Covid years I also pursued a culinary degree from August Escoffier Culinary school. My cooking skills become very useful during postpartum care providing nutritious meals for the families.