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Musician

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About

One thing that I've learned from those in my life who take on maternal roles is this: a womb bearer's well-being is essential for maintaining balance in society, the home, and family unit.

Oftentimes, those very essential needs are the last to get met and I have observed that a large part of the dysfunction we are currently experiencing in the world is largely due to the destruction of Rematriation and the neglect of the Divine Feminine in general.

Part of my mission on this planet is to bring healing back to the womb of life and the womb of th individual. I bring with me 17 years of experience working as a Musical Doula.

Honored to have this ancestral knowledge, honored for the growing families who seek me.

Blessed to be Musical Doula.

My doula-journey started in 2006 when a co-worker simply requested I play guitar in the delivery room while she was in active labor. After several hours I found myself holding her leg beside her actual doula and experienced my first birth. Years later I applied for training and a scholarship through Denver Health and spent 8 months volunteering next to midwives, nurses and doctors. Also taking workshops specializing in bereavement, prenatal massage, essential oils, and legalities of being in a birth support role.

Since 2010 I have assisted with 30 births to date in hospitals, home births and in birthing centers.

I continue my education through a native and Indigenous lens focusing on herbs, sacred teachings from Mexican midwives, techniques of the rebozo and use guided meditation and breath work to prepare the laboring parent and the co-parent/ support team.

Hi! I'm Mel, 'The Musical Doula' for all expecting parents including:

Queer/Trans Parents, LGBTQIA, Two Spirits, BlPOC, and Refugees

As a birth doula, I accompany pregnant people in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. I draw on my professional training, knowledge and experiences to provide physical, emotional, and information support to growing families. I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your labor support team, make suggestions to promote labor comfort, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning, and other birth techniques. I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, I am working for you, not your caregiver or the facility where you birth.

I do work closely with several Midwives and we can offer you an in home birth with 2 midwives, a doula and a back up doula. (Payment fees to me do not include payment for midwife services)

What is my role as a doula?

Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, etc. I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional support.

Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your Birth Plan.

Speak to the staff on your behalf regarding matters where health care decisions are being made. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak directly to the clinical staff.

Home birth or hospital/birthing center support as well as:

• 90-min guided meditation sessions
• 60-min in-home private yoga classes
• Meal prep with intentional nutrition, organic and local produce
• 90-min sound healing sessions
• Vocal exploration
• Breath work/Pranayama
• Massage (essential oils upon request)
• Music and Relaxation techniques during labor
• Closing of the Bones ceremony
• Placenta encapsulation

How I can support your birth journey

Offering sliding scale pricing

• A la carte services and packages available
• Customized pricing for individual services
• Payment plans with 50% deposit

It is very important that both you and your labor support team are comfortable with me and with my role in your birth experience. Thus, I expect to meet with clients at least once before labor to become acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns, and to plan how we might best work together. At that time, we can discuss all services I offer as well as fees.

This initial consultation is free and does not obligate you to use my services. If you choose to select me as your doula, I will want to become more familiar with your plans for labor, birth, and postpartum.

Please note:

I am not a medical doctor nor do I have the authority to give medical advice or administer medication. I am not a therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, but I do have mental health and wellness training and resources from across the country.

I cannot take payments through insurance but you may be able to get reimbursed through your insurance company for my invoiced services. Over twenty insurance companies currently cover doula services and, now that there is a CPT code covering doula services, this is more of a possibility than ever before. (CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology, and is a copyright of the American Medical Association.) The CPT code commonly used to claim doula services is 99499 for Evaluation and Management Services/Labor Support.

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• If you have insurance, check to see if your company reimburses doula services.

The Recording Womb project unites my service as a doula with my artistry as a musician, storyteller, educator, and future ancestor. The 9 foot womb-like dome is an aesthetically soothing mobile structure that offers access to private and communal audio recording.

• Cultivate authentic connections within community
• Multimedia and multisensory interactive art piece
• LGBTQ+/QTPOC inclusive space for siblings to gather
• Where Indigenous oral tradition can be preserved and celebrated
• Inclusive sober community and family events
• A birthplace for ideas, connections, and transformation
• Share and celebrate songs, stories, and dance

Current events & Merch

The hand on my face represents the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and Two Spirits epidemic.

My journey through this world gives me a hunger to advocate for those who have no voice.

Through my activism and philanthropic endeavors I work to bring awareness to the tragedy that is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

According to Native Womens Wilderness, since 2016, the National Crime Information Center reports 5,712 cases of missing Indigenous women. In contrast, the U.S DOJ missing persons database has only 116 documented cases. The majority of these murders are committed by non-Native people on Native-owned land.

We will find justice for their souls and spirits.

We will sing for peace and awareness to bring a stop to our missing women.

We stand in solidarity for the pain of the families.

Want to get involved? Help me fight for advocacy, visibility, and demand justice for the MMIW who have been taken, sexually assaulted, and/or murdered.

Photo from Denver Women's March 2020 in Denver, CO courtesy of Tommy Nahulu

Email: iveyband@gmail.com

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