My Personal Birth Journey

Hi! I'm so happy you're here and are taking a few minutes to learn more about me. My name is Grace Crouch. I'm a mom of six children, Gigi to five beautiful grandchildren, and wife of thirty years to Rick. We spent most of our lives in Central Florida but have lived in Southwest Missouri for the last five years. We love being part of the larger Ozarks community.

I began my birth journey a little more than 28 years ago with a classic hospital birth that included days of back labor, leading to the use of pitocin and an epidural. My second was a much faster labor and also included an epidural. By baby number three I had learned a lot about what I wanted and didn't want. His was also a hospital birth with pitocin but no epidural. I spent the last several weeks of that particular pregnancy reading a book about the Bradley Method and implemented what I could with my husband's and a friend's support. I had never heard of a birth doula before, but that's the care my friend offered with her compassionate support of my birth plan.

I knew I wanted a home birth by the time baby number four was on his way. I was blessed to find a wonderful and seasoned midwife to walk me through this new territory. She graciously dispelled my misinformed concerns and helped me bring a nine-pound baby boy into the world. Our fifth boy, also a home birth, weighed in at 10+ pounds. Then our only girl was born at home two years later.

I began learning about the role of a birth doula about five years ago. I completed the DONA International training then but did not pursue certification. Since then, I have supported my daughter-in-law through two births. Watching two of my grandchildren enter the world sparked a new excitement to pursue certification again. I am working on that through an organization named A Woman Who Serves and am due to complete the program by the end of this year.

It is both humbling and an honor to be brought into the precious moments of labor, birth, and a baby's first few hours. I am blessed to have the knowledge and skills to help moms find the joy in their birth journeys and hope that you will reach out if you'd like to know more about how I can serve you.