My name is Ivory Schwaberow and I live in Denver, CO with my husband, our two daughters and our dog. 

I believe that I was born to do this work, before I even knew it was “work.” I was always the girl with a baby on her hip – I was fascinated with childbirth and newborns long before my time came. When friends and family had babies, I was right there with a hot meal in hand and an offer to help however best I could. To me it was natural and what I believe all parents need. Unfortunately, our society doesn’t value new parents as much as they should, all our focus is on the new baby – but when a baby is born, parents are also born and need our support.

My oldest daughter was born premature in 2008, an experience that forever shaped my life. As I navigated life as a mom to a premature baby, I encountered people along the way who supported me, taught me to care for my daughter, and allowed me to lean on them when I needed help to keep going. My prior career was in engineering, but I found that my true passion lay in caring for others. The experiences in this time of my life shifted my vision of my future and I knew that someday I wanted to work with new families. To pursue this interest, I helped create the first support group for preemie parents at Rose Medical Center. I then began to volunteer weekly in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital. As I spent more time with my family and my friends' new families, I realized that I delighted in helping parents become confident in their new roles and I made the decision to change careers.

To me, being a doula means supporting families through one of the most exciting, and hardest, times of their lives. I’m a doula because I believe that every single person deserves to be supported and cared for. Welcoming a new baby into the mix is amazing and overwhelming. I’m here to help you figure out your own journey and make you feel confident in the choices you’re making with the family you’ve created. I want to support you on this journey. I want to hold your hand and stand by you, offer you advice and a shoulder to cry on. No two experiences are the same and I want to help create the best postpartum experience for you and your family.

I trained with The Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association in 2016 and received a Certified Professional Doula accreditation from AlloTribe Academy in December 2019. In 2021 I became a Certified Lactation Counselor through The Healthy Children Project, Inc. I am CPR certified, have attended multiple breastfeeding and sleep classes, and keep up to date on the latest research regarding pregnancy, postpartum and infants.

what does a postpartum doula do?

We weren’t meant to navigate the postpartum period in isolation.  Traditionally, and for most of human history, parents have been surrounded by a loving community of family and friends, waited on hand and foot, while they rest in bed with baby snuggled close.  In many countries today, parents enjoy up to a year of parental leave and free home visits from baby nurses during the postpartum period.  Here in America, we’re sent home from the hospital or birthing center with some basic information about keeping baby alive, but no advice on how to cope when the sleep deprivation sets in, or when your new reality isn’t meeting your expectations of new parenthood. 

This is where a postpartum doula fits into our modern lives. 

what does a lactation counselor do?

While many describe breast/chest feeding as “natural” it doesn’t mean that it’s easy. As a lactation counselor my goal is to help you reach your goals! I can troubleshoot issues and provide evidence based, non-judgmental support. Lactation consultants help improve the outcome of breastfeeding and lactation care through education and management. We can help new parents with nearly every conceivable aspect of breast/chest feeding.

i don’t JUST care for the baby – i support YOU and the whole family.

• Short-term, long-term, and live-in care available

• Prioritize parents’ emotional and physical recovery from birth

• Help facilitate parent–infant bonding during the vulnerable newborn fog

• Explain, encourage and provide hands-on techniques for effective infant soothing

• Unbiased support with feedings at the breast or bottle

• Assist with all basic newborn care

• Help ease sibling transition with new baby

• Emotional support and stability as the whole family adjusts to their new normal

• Baby laundry and light errands

• Meal planning, light preparation and light housekeeping

• Help with babywearing

• Help establish new routine for parents that are going back to work after maternity leave

• Sleep support and guidance

daytime support

Includes emotional and physical support, light housekeeping, cooking, newborn care education, as well as feeding support and education. (3 hour shift minimum)

Starts at $42/hr

Pre-natal cram session

Have a lot of questions, but don’t feel like you need full, in person doula support? Schedule a 2 hour session with me and we can go through all your questions and concerns and you’ll get my evidence based knowledge not just an opinion. We can take a look at your registry and nursery and I can offer my advice.

$175 for 2 hours (in person or virtual)

nighttime support

Includes overnight infant care to allow rest for parents, feeding help, establishing positive sleep habits, as well as quiet household help (8 hour shift minimum).

Starts at $42/hr

Compassion, care and coaching

4 hours of emotional and physical support without committing to a long term contract.

$200

lactation counseling

Includes one 90 minute session in your home. We will discuss your history and I will do an assessment of you and baby, including observing a feeding session. We will then develop a plan for you to meet your goals and arrange follow-up care if necessary.

Starts at $150/session

Virtual Support

Includes one 30 minute call a day, as well as unlimited texts and emails in regards to any baby or feeding questions you have.

Starts at $250/week