Want a positive, empowering birth?I'm here to help you!
Do you want an amazing birth?
Do you want to be heard? Do you want to have a birth that you are excited to share and talk about? I am here to help you achieve a positive birth experience.While learning the art of midwifery, I am also an accomplished doula, placenta encapsulation specialist and birth photographer. Birth is my passion. I also provide interactive childbirth education classes for my clients who desire more education and personal empowerment. I have been involved in birth work in the Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley since 2013. I highly honor you as a mother and I believe in your body and in your baby. I believe you are powerful, gracious, and made for being a mother. I have taken part in many home births, birth center births, and hospital births. I respect your individual journey into motherhood, and want to empower you to make the decisions that are right for you and your family. I want your birth experience to be special and powerful. I want you to walk away from birth with a sense of accomplishment and joy. My world revolves around birth, and I would be honored to walk this incredible journey with you and your family. |
Meet Averee
Photo Credit: Natalie Zepp Photography
Want to have a better birth?
Want to feel heard and seen? My Credentials
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Below you can read about my 2 birth stories.
Zoey's Hospital Birth Story
Photo Credit: Mi Di Photografi
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After finding out we were pregnant, my husband and I started the planning process. We decided that we were going to labor at home and head up to the hospital just before Zoey arrived. We had a detailed birth plan, a kick- butt doula, and our hospital bag packed. Nothing was going to get in our way....until February 16th rolled around. After 22 hours of labor I was 8 cm dilated so we headed up to the hospital. After getting checked, I had regressed to 1 cm. Back home we went to labor some more...... After another 6 hours of labor I was 7 cm so we headed back up to L&D ..... again! After being checked...I had regressed to 4 cm.
I was so discouraged at this point. I was ready to give up, my husband felt totally helpless, and our doula was giving us her whole heart to try and get us through our birth naturally. My third time through transition about killed me (or at least it felt that way). Somehow, by the grace of God and wisdom of our doula, we made it. After being in early labor for 19 hours and active labor for 17 hours we had our daughter in our arms. We were able to make it through without medication, but it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Nothing else ended up as planned. I ended up tearing horribly because I rushed the pushing process (I knew better), I had to get an IV, I had to receive medication for the bleeding, I was put on pain medication, and we had to spend 3 days in the hospital. I was within minutes of needing a transfusion because I bled so much. From this process I learned how powerful a woman truly is. I learned that birth rarely goes the way you expect! I learned to be flexible. And the most valuable take away from my birth..... NEVER go into it without an amazing support team!!! |
Zander's Home Birth Story
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Photo Credit: Infinity Photography
Photo Credit: Saddlepeak Birth
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From the moment I felt Zander's presence for the first time, I knew he was meant to be. His process felt so different. I had a vision about him and knew he was a warrior. Not a harsh warrior, but one of mercy and fierce but gentle power. The whole pregnancy was different. I had extreme nausea, but earlier and for a shorter period. Complications with blood pressure because of stress. Changes of care providers 4 times. So many moments that worked on my practice of surrender. Surrender to the process... surrender to pain... surrender of my intuition... surrender to the whole process.
My planning primarily went into preparing my heart and my postpartum to care for my body and soul. Lots of quiet moments commenced. Herbs were prepped... oils were made... and lots of sleep found us. My preparation for sweet Zander was a gift I will never forget. The whole day was relaxation and many almost unnoticeable contractions found us as we cleaned, watched movies, cuddled, and rested. At 10 pm I just couldn't sleep, so I found my way into my husband who was also sitting awake feeling the energy. I asked if we could sit and talk. As the contractions became more noticeable I just chatted and lounged with him talking and having a wonderful, late night babymoon date together. As we neared midnight my husband suspiciously pulled out his phone and told me he was going to record my contractions. By the time the 30th rolled around, he informed me they were 4-6 minutes apart. I laughed and said, "This can't be labor, babe. But if it is warming up we better get some rest." |
As we turned off the light I tried my best to follow the advice I give my mamas.... REST. By the time 12:30 rolled around I could no longer lay down. "Man, this is some powerful practice contractions." I thought to myself as I pridefully stood up to let them do their magic. I then proceeded to do my warm up in the shower, in the hallway, and in the living room by the beautifully lit Christmas tree. I even said to myself, "Dang these hurt so bad. They feel real, but maybe I am just over exaggerating. I will just do these alone because I don't have anyone to perform for." As the waves found me stronger and more frequent... I woke my husband who proceeded immediately to call our midwife. As I got on the phone I cried to her and said, "These hurt so bad. They are every 2-3 minutes but they can't be real.... there is no blood. I am going to feel so stupid being a birth worker if this is false labor and I have you come over." As my sweet midwife smiled... she transmitted such confidence through the phone as she said, "You are never stupid and I am getting on my clothes."
An hour later she made her way into the house around 3:30am and my husband quietly started to set up the birth tub. She checked me and said, "Well done! you are 5cm." I about came out of my skin. 5 cm!!!! Take me to the hospital.... I need to be 9cm. With this comment everyone jumped in and followed me to the toilet as I powerfully moaned and found my deep, roar and my seemingly scattered rhythm. By the time I had yelled despirately that I need the birth tub filled... Donald informed me it was only 7 inches filled at 4:45. I didn't care at this point and inched my way between contraction in at a pace that seemed excruciatingly slower than a slug. Alas the water surrounded me... sweet relief. Then the next wave came upon me and I realized nothing... not even the water was helping. So I once again dug deeper and knew I had to surrender. When 5:05 rolled around I yelled for everyone to call my doula and photographer. Donald, understandingly, obliged and called the photographer. By the time my midwives checked me I only had a lip and could feel my baby descend into the final stretch.
My final words found me, as my husband reluctantly placed the phone aside knowing he hadn't been able to get the doula called... " Donald get in here or you aren't catching him." My amazing husband climbed into the tub as my first push unexpectedly came over me as an uncontrollable rage. With the next wave I reached inside and, for the first time, connected with my son through the viel. Powerful, powerful, powerful. Each of the next waves will forever stay burned onto my heart story. My midwife gently placed her hand on my hideous scar that reminded me of my last traumatic birth. She protected my scar, my hurt, my trauma, and my fear and gave it and my heart permission to be in this birth.... to stretch... to heal. As my husband placed his hand below hers and I placed mine above hers we all protected my current story. We allowed it to happen slowly and beautifully... full of belief, empowerment, and power. I changed my pushed to the word "Baby" which allowed his head to ease out over the slowest 7 minutes ever. As his head emerged, fully present, I pushed my body aside for him to enter the veil. As we gazed upon the first pieces of his greatness, our photographer walked in the door and quietly began capturing the most powerful moment of my life to date. PS: I am so grateful she made it. My heart could rest that this would be captured.
Continuing his story... his head rested there during my break, as myself and his daddy stroked his beautiful black hair. At 5:13 in what seemed like a blaze of time, as his body finally arrived I was overtaken with the power and his mighty presence. My husband and I had done the whole thing with a few gentle moments from our midwives. Tears and breathless thanksgiving flooded into my space as I fumbled my way through pain, joy, laughter, disbelief, and utter amazement. I gazed upon my promised, mighty, quiet, gracious son. Immediately we knew he wasn't a Liam.... He was out sweet Zander. The hours after his arrival were quiet, sweet, and empowering. We snuggled in our bed, ate amazing food, rested in the care of our birth team, and beyond fell in love with our son. And guess what.... I didn't even need stitches. I DID IT!! WE DID IT!!! What a start to an amazing postpartum journey. Empowered... I rested and amidst the healing...once again grew as a mom, grew as a future midwife, grew as a doula, and fell in love with myself and my story once again.
An hour later she made her way into the house around 3:30am and my husband quietly started to set up the birth tub. She checked me and said, "Well done! you are 5cm." I about came out of my skin. 5 cm!!!! Take me to the hospital.... I need to be 9cm. With this comment everyone jumped in and followed me to the toilet as I powerfully moaned and found my deep, roar and my seemingly scattered rhythm. By the time I had yelled despirately that I need the birth tub filled... Donald informed me it was only 7 inches filled at 4:45. I didn't care at this point and inched my way between contraction in at a pace that seemed excruciatingly slower than a slug. Alas the water surrounded me... sweet relief. Then the next wave came upon me and I realized nothing... not even the water was helping. So I once again dug deeper and knew I had to surrender. When 5:05 rolled around I yelled for everyone to call my doula and photographer. Donald, understandingly, obliged and called the photographer. By the time my midwives checked me I only had a lip and could feel my baby descend into the final stretch.
My final words found me, as my husband reluctantly placed the phone aside knowing he hadn't been able to get the doula called... " Donald get in here or you aren't catching him." My amazing husband climbed into the tub as my first push unexpectedly came over me as an uncontrollable rage. With the next wave I reached inside and, for the first time, connected with my son through the viel. Powerful, powerful, powerful. Each of the next waves will forever stay burned onto my heart story. My midwife gently placed her hand on my hideous scar that reminded me of my last traumatic birth. She protected my scar, my hurt, my trauma, and my fear and gave it and my heart permission to be in this birth.... to stretch... to heal. As my husband placed his hand below hers and I placed mine above hers we all protected my current story. We allowed it to happen slowly and beautifully... full of belief, empowerment, and power. I changed my pushed to the word "Baby" which allowed his head to ease out over the slowest 7 minutes ever. As his head emerged, fully present, I pushed my body aside for him to enter the veil. As we gazed upon the first pieces of his greatness, our photographer walked in the door and quietly began capturing the most powerful moment of my life to date. PS: I am so grateful she made it. My heart could rest that this would be captured.
Continuing his story... his head rested there during my break, as myself and his daddy stroked his beautiful black hair. At 5:13 in what seemed like a blaze of time, as his body finally arrived I was overtaken with the power and his mighty presence. My husband and I had done the whole thing with a few gentle moments from our midwives. Tears and breathless thanksgiving flooded into my space as I fumbled my way through pain, joy, laughter, disbelief, and utter amazement. I gazed upon my promised, mighty, quiet, gracious son. Immediately we knew he wasn't a Liam.... He was out sweet Zander. The hours after his arrival were quiet, sweet, and empowering. We snuggled in our bed, ate amazing food, rested in the care of our birth team, and beyond fell in love with our son. And guess what.... I didn't even need stitches. I DID IT!! WE DID IT!!! What a start to an amazing postpartum journey. Empowered... I rested and amidst the healing...once again grew as a mom, grew as a future midwife, grew as a doula, and fell in love with myself and my story once again.
Want to book the best doula in town? Want to be empowered?
I would love to sit down for coffee or tea and discuss your needs and desires. I can't wait to meet you and work with your family.
Give me a call
406-599-3153
I would love to sit down for coffee or tea and discuss your needs and desires. I can't wait to meet you and work with your family.
Give me a call
406-599-3153