Michelle Hardy, CD(DONA)
Hardy Alternative Health Services, LLC
www.hardyalternativehealthservices.net

Michelle is the owner of Hardy Alternative Health Services and has been a birth / labor doula since 2003.  Her interest in working in the birth field began in 2001 when she was pregnant with her 7th child (she now is the happy mother to 9 children).  At the time she was pregnant with her seventh child her doctor had suggested that she hire a doula for her upcoming birth in order to help her achieve the birth that her and her husband were looking for and also to help calm her husbands nerves so that he could be more involved in the birth (unfortunately her husband was always very afraid of birth and unsure of himself and her doctor knew this).  After that birth the seed was planted and then two years later while she was working on her masters degree in education she decided to take the plunge and work towards becoming a certified birth doula.  From there her passion began to grow and although she did receive her masters degree in 2004 she realized that education just wasn't the path that she wanted to follow, and her true journey began. 

As a labor doula Michelle likes to really get to know the families she works with and therefore she meets with them four times in the prenatal period and also includes the following in her labor doula services:

• Initial consultation to get to know one another (free of charge as long as it is held in my office)

• Prenatal consultations / education (typically there are four prenatals as long as time allows this)

• Unlimited phone and/or e-mail consultations to answer questions or address concerns you might have

• Lending library - labor and delivery books and videos
• Assistance writing an effective birth preference guide / birth plan and use of my birth plan binder to help you
• Educational Opportunities:
  • Free enrollment in my online courses where you can learn about topics such as:  birth planning, avoiding interventions, labor support for the birth partner, breastfeeding, and much more
  • Use of my Resource binder - this binder is filled with useful information about various topics surrounding labor and birth.
• Continuous support during your labor and delivery regardless of the length of your labor
• Photos taken if you desire
• After the birth I will stay with you for approximately one to two hours to answer questions, help you settle in as a family, provide breastfeeding support, and to assist you in whatever your needs may be
• Breastfeeding support
• Postpartum contact

Michelle believes in lifelong learning and therefore through her journey she has continued to study, learn, certify, and become more and more involved in helping families.  Michelle is currently enrolled at Alverno College and is working towards obtaining her bachelors degree in nursing.  She also works as a childbirth and new parent educator, postpartum doula, massage therapist (license #3819-046), and CNA (certified nursing assistant). 

Michelle believes that every woman should be entitled to a peaceful birth in which she can be confident that the care she is given will not inflict on her beliefs and values, but instead will enhance the wonderful process that she is embarking on, and because of that she is supportive of a mother's decisions.

To learn more about Michelle visit her website http://hardyalternativehealthservices.net

Contact Info:  michelle.d.hardy@gmail.com

"Michelle you are an angel - I truly believe it.  The road was long and bumpy.  You were there every step of the way and made a very scary experience somehow familiar and comfortable.  We could not have made it without you.  Somehow you transferred your own calm and confidence into us."  Karen, Milwaukee