About Alanna
Hello - My Name is ALanna Koshollek…
I am a DONA International and Hypnobabies® trained doula. Prior to becoming pregnant and giving birth to my daughter, I would not have envisioned this as part of my life’s work, and yet it has called to me like a beacon ever since. I simply love having the opportunity to empower women to have the most fulfilling birthing experience – one that aligns with their natural spirit and provides a healthy start to their baby’s life outside the womb.
For as long as I can remember I’ve strived for a “natural” lifestyle which has looked different as I’ve moved through various chapters in my life. It has never looked perfect, but the key word in this is striving. This interest is rooted in a deep level of compassion and appreciation for nature, and a sense that my body is the most healthy when I live in greater harmony with the natural world.
When I became pregnant in 2015 my commitment to overall wellness was amplified and my desire to be the healthiest version of myself intensified, all to provide my growing baby the best start in life. Beyond nutrition and exercise, my thoughts went to the birth experience itself. I started asking my relatives and friends about the birth of their children and soon realized there were several ways to bring a baby into the world, and more often than not each mama I talked with had a preference for how the story would unfold.
My own entrance, as a breech baby, was different than what I wanted for my own child to the extent that I could help it. Fortunately I’ve been blessed to be part of a peer community where the terms water birth, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, midwifery, doula, and natural birth are commonplace, so I started asking for advice and book recommendations.
Night after night I read stories about birth. In this quest for knowledge I learned that when a doula is present births are often shorter and there are fewer interventions. This means decreasing the likelihood of using medication, or of being hooked up to monitors unable to move, and lower cesarean rates. Ultimately, parents are more satisfied with the birth experience when a doula is present.
My husband and I hired a doula. On the day of our daughter’s birth we were so grateful to have our doula by our side, her wisdom and ever-supporting presence reinforcing the confidence I had in my body’s ability to bring our baby into the world.
I’m grateful that our pregnancy and birth experience aligned with our values and felt seamlessly integrated into our lifestyle. My interest in becoming a doula is in part to empower women so they know what their options are for selecting providers, for identifying a birth plan that works for them, and ultimately feeling like they had a choice in how they bring their baby into the world.
Your baby’s birth story starts with you. I’d be delighted to help you find the pathway that works for you, your body, and your baby.
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When I’m not working or attending births you’ll find me with my husband and daughter on our farm or out exploring natural areas. We love growing our own food, whether in our gardens or in the pastures. We spend a great deal of time nurturing our fruit and vegetable plants, grass-fed beef, and chickens --putting us a little closer to knowing where our food comes from. My husband and I enjoy exploring natural places and seeing the world through the eyes of our daughter has brought a whole new level of wonder to these experiences. In my solo time, which is a little more abundant each year as our daughter grows, I spend time doing yoga, reading, or listening to podcasts.
