Judith Nylander 1649 Mallard Drive Eagan, Minnesota 651-452-0064 e-mail: jgnylander@comcast.net I have only been calling myself a doula for the last 2 years, but I found my passion for all things related to birth in the 70"s and 80"s. That makes me one of the "grandma doulas"! I have three daughters in their 20"s and two grandbabies. I have worked in a variety of nonprofit settings for most of my life. I am a Bradley-trained childbirth instructor and I have also taught the six week childbirth prep course for the Fairview system. My philosophy of birth has been a work in progress, but the foundation of it has always been a profound respect for our ability as women to give birth. I have worked with girls as young as twelve when I was a "volunteer labor coach" in a home for unwed teens, as well as women in their mid-forties giving birth after years of fertility treatments, and my response has always been admiration and pride for the amazing courage and strength women find in the face of this challenge. I believe that every crisis has the potential for great emotional, spiritual and mental growth, and birth is one of the greatest opportunities we have as women. I also love the pure creativity of the birth experience and the insight that many families acquire during this "family crisis" (the definition of crisis being a decisive moment). I am proud of being a member of the Childbirth Collective and consider this group a critical support for my work as a doula. We are blessed to be invited into the lives of families during this sensitive time and we are grateful to be able to share our experience and expertise with them as they dream about and realize their dreams about bringing new life into the world. Back to Member Profiles