Deborahnica is a newly trained doula, who as of the time of this interview is still awaiting full certification (through DONA International) as a doula and is needing certification births to complete her training. She is also CPR certified and Infant CPR certified. 
She is kind, energetic, and passionate about mothers and babies. She saw a need in the community for compassionate and holistic minded birth supporters and has worked tirelessly to attain her certifications while also serving in the United States Air Force.  She even earned the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. She also earned the Levitow Award at her Airman Leadership School. 
She would really like to work in Michigan with mothers needing extra support and  to serve lower income areas. She wants to empower women by giving them gentle support, knowledge, and helping them as they transition into motherhood. 
She says what separates her from others is her compassion. I can tell you, from talking to her and having coffee with her, she is so incredibly excited to start working in the field. My gut tells me that she just wants to make a difference in the world. 
Deborahnica also mentioned that she will be certified as a full spectrum doula, meaning that she will be able to support families through all stages of pregnancy including birth, postpartum, miscarriage, or adoption.

If you were to ask my personal opinion, I think having a doula, especially a post partum doula, would be an invaluable service. 
To get in touch with Deb, you can contact her by emailing her at debthedoula01@gmail.com
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This post is a part of my Community Spotlight series, where I interview and photograph various services and small business owners that support new mothers and families in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Have a business you'd like to recommend? Contact me here and nominate them! 

It's been a long time since I have been this excited about a local business. I'll tell you one thing though, The Juniper House and Restorative Physical Therapy (read more about Restorative Physical Therapy in this blog!) have me pumped to live in Chesapeake!
The Juniper House is an absolutely brilliant concept brought to life by two women who saw a need in the community for women's health and wellness, particularly in the postpartum period. 
As a woman and mother of three myself, I can attest that the postpartum period can be isolating. No one talks about the health challenges you will face postpartum. Mental health is only just now becoming "okay" to talk about (and really, we've got a long way to go there) and there are millions of books written on what to expect when you are pregnant. But what about the 4th trimester? What about postpartum? What about the mother?
That's where The Juniper House comes in. 
This is a safe place for mothers.  

What is The Juniper House?
The Juniper House is warm and welcoming- it is a calming space. It feels good to be there. This is a place of self care.
Things you can find within their walls:
-Pelvic Floor Therapy
-Lactation Support
-Prenatal + Postnatal Massage
-Yoga
-Reiki
-Reflexology
-Post Partum Support 
-Doula Services (birth + postpartum)
-Educational Classes
-Facials + Waxing
​-Craniosacral Therapy
And a new offering, free mommy and me playgroups. They are creating a community for mothers and helping women to find their tribe. Truly, this is such important work. 

There was a time when I was a new mother and a place just like this helped me find my way and find my tribe. Those were some of the most beautiful years of my life. 

I met Meg and Tina, owners of The Juniper House, and they graciously allowed me to tour their beautiful, thoughtful space. Every corner invites you to relax and be at ease. I instantly felt relaxed as we spoke about their calling to create this place and their vision for their business.  We spoke freely about our bodies and our struggles (and triumphs) in motherhood and how important it was to trust our intuition and to listen to our bodies. 
Please visit The Juniper House's website here to learn more information about them, their business, and what they offer. 
You can find more about Tina here and more about Meg here. 
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Restorative Physical Therapy in Chesapeake, Virginia is a specialty group of physical therapists that use a holistic approach to treat you, the whole you, so that you may live a more fulfilled life. 
I have to admit, I have never been excited to enter into any type of medical setting, but believe me when I tell you, this place is different. From the way I was greeted and welcomed at the door, to the therapy dog that instantly brings a sense of happiness and calm to your soul, to the amazing therapists that work there, believe me when I say this- I instantly felt at ease and I wanted to be there. 

Maybe there are some of you out there, who like me, thought that physical therapy was only for those who were recovering from surgery, illness, or had a sports injury. This is simply not the case- Restorative Physical Therapy is different in that they treat holistically and have a not-one-size-fits-all approach- they also offer preventative wellness care as well.
I spoke with Navneet Bhangra, a physical therapist at Restorative, and I was shocked to learn the many ways that physical therapy can help with millions of conditions and ailments. But I have to say, what brought me here was their commitment to women's postpartum health. They offer specialized pelvic floor therapy and even offer a free virtual pelvic floor therapy training several times a year. 
Postpartum health is not often talked about, much less pelvic floor muscles (or lack thereof!). The women at Restorative are here to change that and their main mission is to help you.
​*I also want to take a quick moment to mention that this is a woman owned and operated business. They are fully staffed by women. Pelvic floor health can be such a sensitive subject, I feel like this is a safe place for women to talk about their health and feel heard. 

A few services offered at Restorative Physical Therapy are:
-Integrative Manual Therapy
-Orthopedic Manual Therapy
-Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
- Dry Needling + Cupping
- Kinesiology Tape
- Pre + Post Surgical Therapy
-Wellness Program
- Cognitive Functional Therapy
- Soft Tissue Release
-Neurological Rehabilitation
-Custom Orthotics
- and don't forget, Tun, the therapy dog!
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This is by no means a comprehensive list, just some of the things we talked about when I visited them. 

I also think one of the most exciting things I learned was that they accept several different insurances, but they also offer options for those that are self-pay!
You can read more about Restorative Physical Therapy and request an appointment on their website here. 
When you go, be sure to tell them I sent you and give Tun a little scratch from me!