My name is Veronica Lacquement and I began my journey to becoming a doula when a friend became pregnant and needed extra support. I helped that friend through a cesarean section and the subsequent recovery, providing post-partum mom and baby care after the baby’s birth so the new mom could sleep.

A few years later I realized that I missed the enjoyment I found through that experience. During my last pregnancy I hired a friend who was certifying as a doula and it opened my eyes to new possibilities. Soon after the birth, I attended a DONA Doula Training Class, including the one day childbirth education intensive session.

Since then I have attended several births, one a succesful VBAC at St. Vincent’s hospital, another at the Andaluz Waterbirth Center in Portland, where I helped to integrate the older children into the family’s birthing experience. For about six months I mentored with Dragonfly Doulas and have since moved on to solo practice through Sacred Pathways Doula Service.

My goal is to make sure that every woman gets the support and information she needs during pregnancy, labor, birth and the immediate post-partum period to make the best decision for herself and her family.

I have given birth three times: my own two children were both born at Salem Hospital’s Birth Center in Oregon with a certified nurse midwife. Both births followed natural birthing practices, allowing freedom of movement and other techniques that permitted the non-medicated birth of both children, even though both were over 9lbs. My last birth, a water birth at Andaluz Waterbirth Center with certified professional midwives, was as a surrogate mother.