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Fort Collins, CO
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Lactation Counseling
No matter how you choose to feed your baby, we're here for you.
HOME / Labor & Birth Doula
You don't have to "tough it out" - get professional lactation support from the comfort of your home.
Let’s be honest: when you’re having trouble breastfeeding/chestfeeding or pumping, you’re already stressed out enough. Let us make life easier with remote lactation support. You get personalized care and expert knowledge without even having to put on pants! That’s a win-win in our book.
During our sessions, we'll observe breastfeeding/latch and address your individual concerns to best help you. At the end of our session, you’ll get a specialized plan to help you establish and achieve future breastfeeding goals.
And we provide a lot of support remotely if a global pandemic says we need to do that too.
Lactation Support Includes:
in-home, hospital, or virtual appointments
latch assessment and troubleshooting
providing corrective interventions
counseling and answering questions
understanding and applying knowledge of milk production; including in special circumstances and other commonly encountered situations
support for feeding multiples and tandem feeding
assistance in transitioning away from 3-step (triple) feeding
troubleshooting, problem prevention and education
pumping support
assistance when returning to work
weighted feeds as needed
encouragement through the challenges
time-saving strategies that make feeding a success
strategies and tips for special circumstances – re-lactation, cesarean section, preemies, newborns affected by medications, and more
breastmilk storage and pumping support
weaning
dual certified to take TRICARE for lactation and labor doula support.
Currently navigating how to feed baby?
If you're trying to find your rhythm with feeding your new baby and need some help, please use the button to book a virtual consult with us. We'll discuss your feeding preferences and the challenges you're facing, and work with you to get in-person or virtual lactation appointments booked.
Please use the button below to book a 30-minute consultation with us.
Preparing before baby arrives?
If baby hasn't arrived yet and you're preparing for your feeding journey, we'd love to talk with you about all of your birth preferences. We'll talk through everything from your support team, you and your partner's preferences for labor and birth, and we'll help you determine the right routine to keep everyone fed and healthy.
In order for us to help those who need lactation support more quickly, we ask that if you're preparing for the future, you book with us using this button instead.
Julianne made all the difference in the birth of our first child this past March! She was supportive, knowledgeable, kind and professional.
With her encouragement and pain management techniques during labor I was able to have the labor/delivery I was hoping for.
Another great aspect of working with Julianne was the way in which she helped my husband to support me during labor: she showed him ways that he could make a huge difference in helping reduce my pain, and that allowed him to play an active role during the whole labor/delivery process, which he and I really appreciated.
We would highly recommend Julianne as a doula!
- Rachel S.
What To Expect In A Consultation With Us....
We are here to offer in-person (or virtual) personalized support for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We’ve mastered a whole new way of doing business that leaves you empowered and supported no matter how your baby gets here.
Working with us starts with a complimentary Zoom chat to make sure we’re a good fit. We'll talk through your struggles with feeding baby and your ultimate goals on how you want to keep baby fed and healthy.
Once you decide to book, your support begins! Yep, you have your doula as your pregnancy and birth wingwoman long before labor kicks in. And after your birth our team is here to support you postpartum too.
You can count on non-judgemental support, nurturing, kindness, humor, honesty, encouragement and dedication in guiding you and your partner through your birth.
We offer packages to fit every budget.
Each package includes the following non-medical aspects of care:
Need lactation support now?
Please use the button below to book a 30-minute consultation with us.
Looking for future lactation support?
In order for us to help those who need lactation support more quickly, we ask that if you're preparing for the future, you book with us using this button instead.
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 (she/her)
CLD, CCCE, CNPE, CLC, SBD, CAPPA Labor 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 (she/her)
BSW, 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 (she/her)
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) 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.
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!).
