About Me
My name is Amanda James. I was born and raised in Michigan. In 2007 I moved to Missoula to see what a new place might have to offer. I continued my college education at the University of Montana COT. After changing my major several times, getting married, and becoming pregnant with our first child in 2009 I settled on an Associates in Medical Assisting and graduated in 2010.
With little decisive direction in school, a spark ignited within me after (possibly during) the birth of our first child in 2010. He was born at Community Medical Center. Although the experience was as good as it could have been I still felt that something was missing. I had a competent doctor and the nurses were great. I had my husband for support but it was all new territory. There had to be a better way to birth and a better way to navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
During my pregnancy I had been approached by a woman who had just completed her doula training and was looking for clients. I had no clue what she was talking about or why someone would need such a thing. I started looking into what a Doula really does. That was it! The was the missing piece to my birth team. It took a couple more years but I finally did my training 1 week before I had my second baby in 2013.
I had my second baby at Community Medical Center. After this birth I realized hospital birth wasn't the right fit for me. I went on to have two home births and experienced a molar pregnancy at 15 weeks. I am a huge advocate for home birth and have personally experienced a loss that provided amazing perspective.
Around the growth of my family I work as much as I can as a Doula. As my children age and life allows, I hope to attend more training's that will enable me to offer more services and knowledge to the families in Missoula and surrounding areas.
In January 2010 I became certified as an ACE Personal Trainer. In the coming months I will specialize in pre and post-natal fitness. Movement is vital to wellness and a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My training sessions have nothing to do with having an all belly pregnancy or getting your body back as soon as possible. My goal is to help women be strong and well throughout their pregnancies and postpartum on a timeline that fits their individual bodies.
In February 2020 I attended a Spinning Babies workshop. This training taught me all about the physical relationship between the mother and the baby. The techniques in spinning babies put an emphasis on physiological release to create room for the baby to descend and rotate how he or she needs to. This method does not use force or manual manipulation of the baby. Aligning and balancing the uterus, pelvis, and its surrounding muscles and ligaments makes room for baby and can relieve pain and discomfort in the mother.
There are so many ways in which a Doula supports the families she works with. From holding a hand to holding space. Pregnancy, labor, giving birth, and postpartum are such intimate, influential times in a family's journey. I strongly feel that each family should be respected, empowered, and trusted to make the best choices for themselves. My goal is always to be flexible and provide whatever it is each family requires to make this happen. Every person at your birth should have the same goal of a healthy, happy family. Working together with providers is a vital piece of this goal. We all play a different role in forming a well rounded birth support team.
I believe that preparation and education are helpful in laying the ground work for a positive birth experience and healthy start to life with a new baby. My goal as a birth Doula is to empower women and their partners so they can have a great birthing experience and a smooth transition into parenthood. I do this by encouraging childbirth education classes and meeting 2 or more times prenatally to prepare for labor and postpartum. Throughout the entire journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum I provide informational support, comfort, and reassurance as much as you need it.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me. If you would like additional information please contact me to schedule a free meet and greet.
Training
My name is Amanda James. I was born and raised in Michigan. In 2007 I moved to Missoula to see what a new place might have to offer. I continued my college education at the University of Montana COT. After changing my major several times, getting married, and becoming pregnant with our first child in 2009 I settled on an Associates in Medical Assisting and graduated in 2010.
With little decisive direction in school, a spark ignited within me after (possibly during) the birth of our first child in 2010. He was born at Community Medical Center. Although the experience was as good as it could have been I still felt that something was missing. I had a competent doctor and the nurses were great. I had my husband for support but it was all new territory. There had to be a better way to birth and a better way to navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
During my pregnancy I had been approached by a woman who had just completed her doula training and was looking for clients. I had no clue what she was talking about or why someone would need such a thing. I started looking into what a Doula really does. That was it! The was the missing piece to my birth team. It took a couple more years but I finally did my training 1 week before I had my second baby in 2013.
I had my second baby at Community Medical Center. After this birth I realized hospital birth wasn't the right fit for me. I went on to have two home births and experienced a molar pregnancy at 15 weeks. I am a huge advocate for home birth and have personally experienced a loss that provided amazing perspective.
Around the growth of my family I work as much as I can as a Doula. As my children age and life allows, I hope to attend more training's that will enable me to offer more services and knowledge to the families in Missoula and surrounding areas.
In January 2010 I became certified as an ACE Personal Trainer. In the coming months I will specialize in pre and post-natal fitness. Movement is vital to wellness and a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My training sessions have nothing to do with having an all belly pregnancy or getting your body back as soon as possible. My goal is to help women be strong and well throughout their pregnancies and postpartum on a timeline that fits their individual bodies.
In February 2020 I attended a Spinning Babies workshop. This training taught me all about the physical relationship between the mother and the baby. The techniques in spinning babies put an emphasis on physiological release to create room for the baby to descend and rotate how he or she needs to. This method does not use force or manual manipulation of the baby. Aligning and balancing the uterus, pelvis, and its surrounding muscles and ligaments makes room for baby and can relieve pain and discomfort in the mother.
There are so many ways in which a Doula supports the families she works with. From holding a hand to holding space. Pregnancy, labor, giving birth, and postpartum are such intimate, influential times in a family's journey. I strongly feel that each family should be respected, empowered, and trusted to make the best choices for themselves. My goal is always to be flexible and provide whatever it is each family requires to make this happen. Every person at your birth should have the same goal of a healthy, happy family. Working together with providers is a vital piece of this goal. We all play a different role in forming a well rounded birth support team.
I believe that preparation and education are helpful in laying the ground work for a positive birth experience and healthy start to life with a new baby. My goal as a birth Doula is to empower women and their partners so they can have a great birthing experience and a smooth transition into parenthood. I do this by encouraging childbirth education classes and meeting 2 or more times prenatally to prepare for labor and postpartum. Throughout the entire journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum I provide informational support, comfort, and reassurance as much as you need it.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me. If you would like additional information please contact me to schedule a free meet and greet.
Training
- University of Montana, Associates in Medical Assisting, May 2010
- Birth Mama Child Birth Education and Birth Doula Training, November 2013, Certification completed May 2015
- ICEA Childbirth Educator Training, March 2016
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certification, January 2017
- Love Without Borders, Rebozo comfort techniques during pregnancy, June 2018
- Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula Training Program, October 2018
- CPR/AED Training, December 2019
- ACE Certified Personal Trainer, January 2020
- Spinning Babies Workshop, February 2020