Amy Meilen (she/her/hers) is a DONA certified birth doula, and she believes in birth!
Her passion in this work was sparked by the 4 very different births of her children. She is the mother of 8 children ages 8-31 in a remarkably blended family. Her birth experiences aren’t limited to birthing babies, but also to the birth of herself as a mother and a stepmother.
Becoming a mother has been the most profound, challenging, rewarding and joyous part of Amy’s life. She feels privileged to support others on their journey.
Amy’s expertise and training is as a physical therapist. She has practiced in the community for 26 years and has firsthand knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of birth.
Amy understands implicitly that there are remarkable ways to use her hands, gravity, and a variety of different positions to help aide, relieve, and see a person through the powerful force of labor and birth. She believes in the importance of prenatal and postpartum education. Amy wholeheartedly believes that your birth experience can, and does, shape your identity as a birthing person and parent; her goal as your doula, is that your birthing day be an experience of joy, strength, perseverance and innate wisdom. An experience that empowers you during your birth and throughout your journey as a parent.
Amy also enjoys teaching birthing families the importance of wellness in the “4th trimester”. The joys of bringing your new baby home are also paralleled with fatigue, uncertainty, hormonal shifts, and a different body/body image. During this time, Amy enjoys talking about self care in the form of closing ceremony, body-work, rest/nesting, lactogenic nutrient-rich cooking, facilitating sleep for new parents, helping to care for baby, and helping the family integrate their new roles–as a couple, as parents, and with other siblings. Amy’s Postpartum Certification is through Innate Postpartum Care.
Postpartum pelvic floor work is also part of Amy’s passion. Working postnatally with those who experience stress incontinence, painful intercourse, pelvic pain, rigid scar tissue, and that feeling of “not really being back” in their bodies is a part of her postpartum care where she thrives. Amy works not only with assessment and treatment of the pelvic floor, she can also follow with treatment astride on one of the horses on her farm. Through hippotherapy, Amy helps to find balance through release, strength, support, and breath that brings forward your innate strength, power, and body awareness in the 4th trimester and beyond.
Amy has also been trained with the Abdominal Therapy Collective (formerly associated with Arvigo techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy). To learn more about this therapy as a part of her healing work, please contact her at 720-323-3609.
In Amy’s free time, she enjoys trail rides with her horses, working on her farm, skiing the trees in Steamboat, snuggling with her kids, backpacking in RMNP, and date nights with her husband.
Memberships/Certifications:
- DONA international
- Doula Match
- American Physical Therapy Association
- CPR certified
- Innate Traditions Postpartum Care Certified Provider
- American Pregnancy Association
- Student StillBirthday
Continuing Education:
- GinaKirby’s Apprentice Level Rebozo workshop
- Breastfeeding–Arriving at the Milky Way
- CDA Conference–Breastsleeping with Dr James McKenna
- Spinning Babies workshop with Tammy Ryan
- Innate Postpartum Care-Certification Training-a holistic system of care, honoring women’s physiologic design
- Holistic Treatment of the Postpartum Body- Lynn Shulte, PT
- Unicorns and Seahorses–supporting trans and gender non conforming births with Trystan Reese.
- Abdominal Therapy Collective–training for professionals and certification for anterior and posterior work.
What to Expect When Working With Amy Meilen as Your Birth Doula:
- 3 prenatal visits in your home, 60-90 minutes each, including a birthing day rehearsal
- 24-hour phone availability
- Assistance with developing your birth plan or visualizing your ‘ideal birth’
- On-call from week 38 of your pregnancy
- Photo documentation during labor and delivery if desired
- Prenatal education for nutrition, positioning for labor, and strategies for partners to assist through massage, touch and positioning
- Aromatherapy on your birthing day
- Arrival for your labor and birth from your home to your chosen birthplace—continuous support through 2 hours post delivery
- Post-partum visit day 3-5 in your home
- Lactation assistance
- Invitations to prenatal events in Boulder
What to expect with Amy as your Postpartum Doula
2-4 hour ‘shifts’ in your home from week 1-7 to :
- Help you prepare a “nest” for laying in.
- Teaching wrapping and baby-wearing
- Assist with breastfeeding and pumping
- Assist with attachment parenting, if desired
- Assist with simple household chores
- Helping with baby and sibling care for “mama-rests”
- Closing/sealing ceremonies “Closing the Bones”
- Bengkung belly binding, warming rituals/moxabustion, warm oil massage
- Vaginal (yoni) steams
- Cooking/nutrition based on the principles of Innate Postpartum Care
- C-section scar management and education.
- Guidance on postpartum restrictions/exercise guidelines.
What to expect with Amy as your postpartum physical therapist
1-2 hour sessions after week 7 at Amy’s facility for:
- Holistic treatment of the pelvic floor (interior/exterior pelvic floor assessment and treatment)
- Assessment and treatment of Diastasis Recti
- Hippotherapy for the Postpartum body
Serving Boulder, Longmont, Lyons, Niwot, and most of the Front Range
Amy lives in North Boulder and will travel within a 45 mile radius to assist you and your growing family on this amazing journey.
Have other questions? Give us a call at (720) 204-8489 or send an email for a free consultation
Preparing for your birth may seem overwhelming — we’re here to help! Headquartered in Longmont, our team of doulas is spread out across the front range, and we are regularly meet with clients in Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, and Denver.
Contact us today to see how we can help. We’ll can meet for coffee or tea for our complimentary birth planning meeting to learn more about how we can support you in your vision of your birth.
Call (720) 204-8489, click here to fill out the contact form, or email. We look forward to talking with you soon!
