Oceanna Lee Miller L.M.T, C.M.D
I offer Holistic Doula Services that honors and serves a woman and her family throughout the childbearing year. I believe that all women deserve to be reminded of their natural power to birth and mother. My goal is for women to learn their options and to help them to achieve their ideal births. I also want to help fathers/partners support moms in the most effective ways possible. I believe that dads should get the most out of their children's births as well. I honor the birth process and the many different was of birthing and parenting.
I’m available for pregnancy massage, which helps with the aches and pains of pregnancy and can even help with an easier labor and delivery; infant massage, which I teach you how to perform on your newborn (they love it!); and also postpartum massage, which helps your body heal and return to its pre-pregnancy state more readily. During labor and delivery I incorporate massage and knowledge of anatomy and the physiological effects of childbirth along with the encouraging and supportive techniques of a Doula to help you have the labor and delivery you desire.
I am a licensed Massage Therapist since 2000; I graduated from Polarity Realization Institute in Portland Maine. I use healing touch, energy balancing and intuitive healing, which I feel allows me to hold the energy for birthing couples. I also have a certificate in Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a safe, natural and beautiful way to help induce feelings of calm and confidence as you approach one of the most powerful experiences in your life as a woman.
I had two empowering homebirths and found that the support was invaluable to my natural birthing. After my first birth I became impassioned about the birthing world. I enjoy mothering and watching my children grow. I look forward to sharing that joy with others. I love working with women on the journey of motherhood.
Every birth is as individual as the mother and every woman has a different idea for how she wants to birth. I would like to let you know your options and help you to achieve those goals. My services include:
2 prenatal meetings (or more if needed)
Massage/Doula packages available!!
It's your birth. I would love to help you keep it that way.
Please feel free to contact me for more information.
During pregnancy a woman's body undergoes tremendous changes, and all in a relatively short space of time. These changes occur not only physically, but emotionally too. The overall goal of pregnancy massage is to help to minimize stress, promote relaxation and help prepare the muscles for childbirth.
Massage during pregnancy can help to relieve:
Birth Partner Preparation for Massage during Labor
Labor is both physically and emotionally demanding for the mother. Birth partners often feel at a loss as to how to help at this time. Learning the massage techniques specifically designed for use during labor not only gives the birth partner a positive role to play, but also helps the mother at the same time.
Massage Doula
"Doula" is an ancient Greek word for..."A woman who is experienced in childbirth, and who provides continuous physical, emotional and information support to a woman before, during and immediately after childbirth". A Doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. A massage doula also uses massage techniques, which can help the mother to have a more positive birth experience.
To have a doula present at the birth can help to:
Postnatal Massage
Scheduling regular massages after delivery helps reduce the time your body needs to regain its former shape and return to its pre-pregnant state. Postnatal bodywork helps reposition the pelvis and spine after delivery. It also helps reprogram muscles to respond to the sudden loss of ten to fourteen pounds, and aids in realigning the posture to support the postpartum distribution of weight.
Special massage techniques restore muscles tone to abdominal muscles stretched by pregnancy. Massage therapy helps relieve upper back muscles, which must support fuller breasts and the added weight of carrying an infant. Regular massage therapy can also alleviate neck and shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Finally, massage can help speed the healing of a Cesarean incision.
Infant Massage
Infant massage has been practiced in many cultures since ancient times, and is now being rediscovered in the West. Clinical research has shown that positive, loving nurturing touch as an important impact on an infant's development. Infant massage is something that every parent can learn - providing benefits to both the infant and parent.
Infant massage can:
Testimonials:
BirthDay for Eben Alexis 9.19.04
Danielle: “I couldn't imagine having a birth without a doula and I don't feel anyone should not have one. I wish every laboring woman could have someone as wonderful as Oceanna to help bring their child into this world.”
”Oceanna gave me and my husband emotional and physical support and was my advocate for a drug free childbirth. Having her strong and stable presence got me through many long and hard hours of labor.”
BirthDay for Lily Elizabeth 10.5.04
Avery: “ Oceanna offered herself so willingly before, during and after the birth. This availability provided us with such a sense of security; I was allowed to feel safe with my baby. The sense of security Oceanna provided put my husband and me at ease allowing for a beautiful, non- stressful childbirth. Oceanna provided me with aroma therapy and massage throughout out prenatal, birth and postpartum experience, this therapy has been life changing.”
“Oceanna has so much to offer families, she has the right approach to childbirth and pregnancy to do doula work. Oceanna's massage, aromatherapy, and spiritual knowledge sets her up for a very fruitful career in doulaship. Oceanna has influenced my life in ways that have changed me and my family forever.”
BirthDay for Elise Violet 11.9.04
Jennifer: “Oceanna was great. Through the end of my pregnancy and right on through labor, Oceanna was totally tuned into my emotional needs and the emotional aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. She normalized many feelings and gave me a place to talk about them. During labor, she was emotionally supportive and empowering. She helped me to see that I could do this and was capable of this. She also supported my decisions and desires in the birth process, which was very important to my husband and me. She is someone who intimately knows the birth process, believes in the natural power of women to birth naturally and believed in me and my husband.”
“My husband loved and appreciated her role and support. He was initially worried that she would take over his role in the birth, but this wasn't the case at all. She supported us as a team/ partners first and foremost, which was important to us. Martin felt supported by her and felt he worked well with her. She was a part of a beautiful and sacred experience with us.”
Please call or email for more information:
Serving Bath/Brunswick/Damariscotta areas
(207) 522.7923
Email: oceannaleemill@yahoo.com
Helpful links in the area:
Northern Sun Family Health Care
Northern Sun Family Health Care has been offering comprehensive naturopathic midwifery care to Midcoast Maine since 1998.
www.northernsunfamilyhealthcare.comSarah Ackerly ND, CPM
1 Main St. Cleveland House
Topsham, ME 04086
(207) 798-3993
With Woman Midwifery
Jennifer Reich
Certified Professional Midwife
(207) 522-7015
jen@withwomanmidwifery.org
www.withwomanmidwifery.org
Serving Greater Portland and Midcoast Maine
Ballard House
Ballard House is a nationally accredited freestanding Birth Center providing a safe, empowering birth environment with qualified practitioners and a full spectrum of professional services.
131 Spring Street
Portland, ME 04101
207-773-3938
info@ballardhouse.org
www.ballardhouse.org
BirthRoots:
We have exceptional childbirth options including doulas and post-partum doulas, as well as out-of-hospital classes, midwives, and a birth center. Unfortunately, for economic and insurance reasons, these services are not always accessible to all of the families who would choose them. Birth Roots is a 501C3 nonprofit devoted to removing the financial obstacles to accessing these pregnancy, birth and postpartum care and support options. Through fundraising and networking we provide need-based scholarships to families who would not otherwise have the means to choose the holistic care services found in our community.
Leah Deragon, CBE - Co-Director of Birth Roots
Phone: 207-409-9558
Email: leah@ourbirthroots.org
Website: www.ourbirthroots.org
