About me ~ My name is Chandra Stewart. I have been married to my loving and supportive husband since 2003. Besides being a childbirth educator and a doula, I am also a stay-at-home mom to my four children. I have always had a strong passion for pregnancy and birth, and am blessed to be able to help women and families through such a wonderful and exciting time in their lives.
Training ~ In 2004 I worked for a short time at York General Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant, until becoming pregnant with my first child. In 2005 I graduated from York College in York, Nebraska with an Associate of Science degree. I completed doula training in April, 2008, and began attending births in July, 2008. After years of hard work I earned my DONA International Doula Certification in early 2010. In April of 2010 I trained with Lamaze, International to become a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. I completed my certification with them in December of the same year. I frequently attend continuing education workshops and trainings, and also have a TENS unit certification. Because of my own experiences, I have a special interest in and extensive knowledge of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
My personal birth history ~ My first baby was born by cesarean section after a long induced labor. Though I was disappointed by my birth experience, I didn't know much better at the time, and was happy with my healthy baby. I already knew that I wanted to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) the next time around. About halfway through my second pregnancy, I was told by my doctor that I would not be allowed to have a VBAC and that I must schedule another cesarean. I didn't know what other options were available to me, and eventually gave in to the c-section. My daughter suffered from severe respiratory distress, caused by the surgery and her early birth, and had to be transported to a NICU in another city, where she stayed for 8 days. She was put on an apnea monitor and liquid caffeine for the first few months of her life. Not surprisingly, I suffered from postpartum depression during that time.
After that traumatic experience, I slowly started to learn more about having a healthy birth and baby. I met a doula during my search, and I knew immediately that that was what I wanted to do - I wanted to help other women avoid the kinds of experiences I had. I wanted to make sure women knew what their options were, to support them in the decisions they made, and to help them have a healthy birth. I began my DONA training the very next week.
My work as a doula led me to realize that, while I enjoyed being there to support families during birth, I really wanted to be able to spend more time during their pregnancies teaching them what I knew about normal, healthy birth. That desire led me to complete my Lamaze Childbirth Educator training and certification in 2010. I am now thrilled to be working as a doula and childbirth educator, helping women to achieve the births they desire and deserve.
I'm happy to say that I went on to have VBA2Cs with my third and fourth babies. During my labors I felt supported, strong, confident, and in control of my own body and birth. These are the same feelings I hope to pass on to other birthing women!
Training ~ In 2004 I worked for a short time at York General Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant, until becoming pregnant with my first child. In 2005 I graduated from York College in York, Nebraska with an Associate of Science degree. I completed doula training in April, 2008, and began attending births in July, 2008. After years of hard work I earned my DONA International Doula Certification in early 2010. In April of 2010 I trained with Lamaze, International to become a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. I completed my certification with them in December of the same year. I frequently attend continuing education workshops and trainings, and also have a TENS unit certification. Because of my own experiences, I have a special interest in and extensive knowledge of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
My personal birth history ~ My first baby was born by cesarean section after a long induced labor. Though I was disappointed by my birth experience, I didn't know much better at the time, and was happy with my healthy baby. I already knew that I wanted to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) the next time around. About halfway through my second pregnancy, I was told by my doctor that I would not be allowed to have a VBAC and that I must schedule another cesarean. I didn't know what other options were available to me, and eventually gave in to the c-section. My daughter suffered from severe respiratory distress, caused by the surgery and her early birth, and had to be transported to a NICU in another city, where she stayed for 8 days. She was put on an apnea monitor and liquid caffeine for the first few months of her life. Not surprisingly, I suffered from postpartum depression during that time.
After that traumatic experience, I slowly started to learn more about having a healthy birth and baby. I met a doula during my search, and I knew immediately that that was what I wanted to do - I wanted to help other women avoid the kinds of experiences I had. I wanted to make sure women knew what their options were, to support them in the decisions they made, and to help them have a healthy birth. I began my DONA training the very next week.
My work as a doula led me to realize that, while I enjoyed being there to support families during birth, I really wanted to be able to spend more time during their pregnancies teaching them what I knew about normal, healthy birth. That desire led me to complete my Lamaze Childbirth Educator training and certification in 2010. I am now thrilled to be working as a doula and childbirth educator, helping women to achieve the births they desire and deserve.
I'm happy to say that I went on to have VBA2Cs with my third and fourth babies. During my labors I felt supported, strong, confident, and in control of my own body and birth. These are the same feelings I hope to pass on to other birthing women!