I have been married for 32 years. I have two grown children and two beautiful grandchildren. I breast fed both of my children successfully and have helped countless women do the same.
My background as a doula includes: working as a birth doula for seven years, with attendance at over 150 wonderful births. I hold my doula certification through Doulas of North America (DONA). I attended the postpartum doula training last fall in Austin and began working with postpartum families shortly after.
I have been actively involved with a non-profit organization called San Antonio Birth Doulas (SABD) since 2000. I have served as the Assistant Director, doula mentor, childbirth educator and currently serve on the advisory board. I have attended many workshops and conferences specifically addressing breast feeding, baby care and the postpartum period.
I believe that what new families need most is nurturing and support. My goal is to support the new mother so that she is better rested and able to nurture and care for her family. By doing so, the family is able to have the time to enjoy their new baby and grow into a strong family unit. It is such a blessing to be a part of that process.
*References available upon request.
Pat Streff, CD(DONA)
I am the proud mother of two grown sons and grandmother to four handsome grandsons, having had the privilege of being present at two of my grandchildren’s births. Because of the fact that I had not even been able to witness my own children’s births, I jumped at the chance to witness and help in those beautiful births. I was completely in awe of the whole miracle. A few years down the road, I was presented the opportunity to become a doula and I grasped it wholeheartedly. I did my internship through SABD (San Antonio Birth Doulas) and presently serve on the Advisory Board of Directors of that organization.
Since beginning my life as a doula, I have assisted over 20 mothers in childbirth and helped them make informed decisions so that they were members of the birth team rather than just a participant in the delivery. In November of 2006, April and I attended the post-partum doula training in Austin, Texas, and came away from that knowing that the need we saw for further post-partum care in our area could become a full-time endeavor. I enjoy helping families welcome new additions and ensuring new moms receive the rest and nutritional requirements needed to recover from their births and bond with their babies. Getting to know these great families has been a blessing to me and I hope that the information and support I provide helps them begin their new journey of creating a strong, happy family.