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Support after loss is a crucial step in healthy healing. Please don’t grieve alone.

Julianne is a certified bereavement doula with a passion for helping families through the grief and emotions that come with pregnancy loss, infertility, and still birth.

If you are navigating this journey and looking for support, please use the button below to book a no-charge bereavement session with Julianne.

Be Still Short Film

By Julianne Curtis

A mother-to-be faces her worst fear during a routine visit to her obstetrician.

In her third trimester, Caroline is at a routine visit to her obstetrician when the unthinkable happens. What follows is a brief look at the grief and experiences a bereaved expecting parent faces in a world where this pain is often hidden. Caroline and her partner begin a path of healing; allowing the support and resources around them to help be their guide.The film Be Still follows “Caroline” and her partner through the delivery of a stillborn baby, the emotional ups and downs and their recovery process.

Be Still is directed by Ben Hess. Julianne Curtis is the Executive Director. Be Still has won several awards.

Resources

Below you will find a list of regional and national resources for pregnancy loss, infertility and still birth.

I am continually updating this list to provide the most current and accurate resources. If you are a Northern Colorado professional who would like your services listed here, please contact us.

If you are a loss family and worked with a Northern Colorado business who provided you excellent support and would like to see them listed, please contact us and provide their information so I may get it added to the website.

Northern Colorado Resources

National Grief & Loss Resources

Miscarriage and Stillbirth Websites and Groups

Infertility Support Groups

Products for Physical Healing and Support

Memory/Comfort Boxes

Books and Articles for Parents and Families

Books for Adults

Books for Children

  • “Maybe Tomorrow?” – by Charlotte Agell“Am I Still a Sister?” – by Alicia Sims

  • “Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children” – by Mellonie & Ingpen

  • “Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death” – by Bonnie Zucker 

  • “The Invisible String” – by Patrice Karst

  • “No New Baby: For Siblings Who Have a Brother or Sister Die Before Birth” – by Marilyn Gryte

  • “Something Happened: A Book for Children and Parents Who Have Experienced Pregnancy Loss” – by Something Happened Handbook

  • “Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss (Elf-Help Books for Kids)” – by Michaelene Mundy

  • “Someone Came Before You” – by Pat Schweibert (for ages 2-6)

  • “A Rainbow Baby Story: The Rainbow After the Storm (Explain It To Me!) (Volume 2)” – by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

  • “My Baby Big Sister: A Book for Children Born Subsequent to a Pregnancy Loss” – by CreateSpace

  • “To My Rainbow Baby With Love” – by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

  • “The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages” – by Leo Buscaglia

  • “When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death (Dino Life Guides for Families)” – by Laurie Krasny Brown

  • “When Something Terrible Happens: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief” – by Marge Heegaard

  • “Where’s Jess: For Children Who Have a Brother or Sister Die” – by Jody Goldstein

  • “I Miss You: A First Look at Death” – by Barron’s Educational Series

Books for Professionals

  • “A Caregiver’s Handbook to Perinatal Loss” – by Gary Vogel

  • “Death and Bereavement Across Cultures: Second edition” – by Colin Murray Parkes

  • “Giving Care, Taking Care : Support for the Helpers” – by Sherokee Ilse

  • “Grieving in the NICU-Supporting Families and the Health Team When a Baby Dies”  – Film by Dan Duffy

  • “When a Child Dies: How Pediatric Physicians and Nurses Cope” – by Robert McKelvey

  • “When a Baby Dies: A Handbook for Healing and Helping” – by Rana Limbo & Sara Wheeler

  • “Companioning at a Time of Perinatal Loss: A Guide for Nurses, Physicians, Social Workers, Chaplains and Other Bedside Caregivers” – by Jane Heustis RN 

  • “Birth, Breath, and Death: Meditations on Motherhood, Chaplaincy, and Life as a Doula” – by Amy Wright Glen

  • “Nurturing the Family: The Guide for Postpartum Doulas” – by Jacqueline Kellehner

  • “Infertility Counseling” – by Covington & Hammer-Burns

  • “SIDS & Infant Death Survival Guide: Information & Comfort for the Grieving Families & Professionals Who Seek to Help Them” – by Joani Nelson Horchler & Robin Rice

Labor & Birth

Postpartum

Education

Lactation

Bereavement

What Working With Us Is Like...

Here's what others have to say.

"Julianne really is your doula for life. She's a great support and advocate during pregnancy, birth, and after."

- Rebecca

"Throughout the entire journey into parenthood Katie always encouraged my husband and I to follow our instincts, and I think that is what makes her unique."

- Riley

"We had an idea of our ideal birth, but she gave us ideas and thoughts that allowed us to make an even more informed decision.

- Nicole

Meet Our Doulas

Julianne Curtis

CLD, CCCE, CNPE, CLC, SBD, CAPPA instructor

Julianne has nearly 30 years of experience in nurturing families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Founding the Northern Colorado Doula Collective has been her dream. With humor, empathy, and expertise, she supports clients from preconception all the way through parenthood. She also facilitates many of our support groups and is responsible for the birth education we provide. Her specialty is helping parents navigate bereavement and grief after miscarriage and infant loss.

Katie Piccolo

CLD, Hypno-Doula, Hypnobabies Instructor

Katie is one of the founding members of the Northern Colorado Doula Collective. She's a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula and Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor. Katie channels over 15 years of professional experience into her passion for guiding families through their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. She's committed to providing evidence-based support and respecting each family's unique birth experience.

Chloe McCarthy

CPD

Meet Chloe, a dedicated mom, wife, and postpartum doula from Northern Colorado. Drawing from her own experiences and her work in health education, Chloe offers a nurturing, non-judgmental space, ensuring families thrive with her guidance. Whether it's meal prep, sibling care, or sharing knowledge, she's committed to empowering diverse families to confidently embrace their postpartum chapters.

Our Media

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)

July 10, 20234 min read

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable) from Your Fort Collins Birth Doula

As a seasoned Fort Collins birth doula, I’ve been in a labor and delivery room a few times. Okay, a loooootttt of times. And I’ve noticed a thing or two about what makes some deliveries more fun… or at least, more tolerable than others. I’m going to talk about that today. 

Having a baby is hard work… there’s no way around that. It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to be pushed to your limits, but I promise you, it doesn’t have to be awful. In fact, it can be so beautiful, fun, and empowering. 

I know, I know. You’re probably reading this and think I’ve lost my mind using fun and birth in the same sentence, but I promise I haven’t. Aside from any major medical emergencies or extenuating circumstances, labor can actually be fun. And that’s what we all want right? A beautiful, fun, and sweet delivery. 

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)

If you don’t believe me yet, keep reading. I promise there’s a way to ease your mind in a way that will allow you to enjoy the experience. As a Fort Collins birth doula, here’s what I’ve noticed that makes labor go smoother: 

  • Working to break free of fear… I know this sounds easier said than done, but what sometimes happens in birth is that you can’t enjoy the goodness of it all because you’re so focused on the fear of it all. This looks different for everyone, but breaking that fear cycle can free your mind. This will look different for everyone but before labor even starts, work to change your mindset, get your questions answered, address your fears, find what makes you feel the safest, assert control over the things you can have a say in, and work to reset your thoughts about the whole process. Pam England from Birthing From Within has a great fear clearing exercise I recommend everyone does before birth. You can find it here:

  • Practicing mindfulness – As you prepare for labor, mindfulness training is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll learn how to be in the moment, how to meditate, and train for the delivery of your baby. This will give you the tools you need to make it more peaceful, and ultimately more enjoyable.

  • Packing your music! As a Fort Collins birth doula, I always recommend you pack a speaker or headphones in your hospital bag. That way you can sing, dance, and shake those hips during delivery. When you dance and sing, your body will naturally increase more endorphins that will help you feel better and be happier.  And if you don’t feel up to DJ’ing your own birth playlist there are lots of already made playlists one many of the music stations.

  • Doing what feels good – Unless there is a medical reason not to, I always recommend my clients listen to their own bodies and change positions frequently. Using a good balance of rest, standing, squats, movement, walking, and stretching can not only shorten your labor but also make it more comfortable too. Honoring your body and its cravings will help you through your labor.

  • Repeating your mantras – As part of mindfulness training, I always recommend clients pick a few mantras that they repeat over and over to themselves during labor. They might be sayings like – this is temporary, or good things are coming, or my body was made for this. Whatever sayings feel right to you will help you get through labor.

  • Playing your favorite podcast, book, or album – Another thing you can do to make the time pass and to help take your mind off things is to listen to your favorite podcast, book, or album. These can all help center your mind and give you something else to think about.  I particularly love the story “Wonder” that Matthew Mchonachy reads on the Calm app. His voice is like butter.

  • Relying on humor – As your Fort Collins birth doula, everyone knows I love humor. It’s a great way to lighten the mood and help everyone relax. Telling jokes, sharing funny stories, or quick quips during delivery can all help everyone enjoy the moment a bit more. 

Labor is hard work, but it’s my sincerest hope that these few tips will make your birth just a bit more enjoyable. 

And as a Fort Collins birth doula, I know the secret sauce to most happy births is parents who are willing to go with the flow and surrender to the process just a little bit.  

Sending you all my love,

Julianne 

If you have any questions or if there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, I would love it if you followed me on Facebook and Instagram for more content (and jokes!). 

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