ABSOLUTELY
Authentic Support
About Sophie Grow
Grow Doula Services was founded in 2018 in Philomath and Corvallis, Oregon by Sophie Grow. Since then Grow Doula Services has served many families for births, prenatal planning, and postpartum support. Currently, Grow Doula Services donates time in facilitating the Benton County Parent Peer Support Group in two locations.
Sophie Grow holds a Bachelor's of Arts in History, Humanities, and Folklore. She has experience nannying, professional event planning, public speaking, designing digital arts, parent education, environmental education, and community building. Sophie has been a community leader in Philomath, Corvallis, and Albany, Oregon for over ten years.
Sophie is an experienced Parent Education Instructor for Linn Benton Community College teaching parent-child classes for families with toddlers to educate ANY family about fun ways to engage children, learn about child development, and cope with parent stress.
As a Master Gardener for example, Sophie has instructed dozens of local classes about beginning gardening and gardening with children. Service to the community through volunteering in one of the highest values to hold.
Words from Sophie...
There are lots of qualifications that enable me to doula (as a verb) with the highest regard for clients. Not all of them are professional trainings. My personal experiences with surviving and overcoming my perinatal/postpartum mood issues is an example of how I learned to navigate asking for help AND learning how to receive help- something that was very difficult for me to do as a new parent. I have had that unfortunate parent experience of being in a NICU 12 hours postpartum sitting in a hard rocking chair pumping milk while the machines dinged and my baby layed in her cot covered in cords. Those life-saving dings, the lights and machines, and even the frequent nurse and provider visits all sent me into a ferocious cycle of survival mode. Just when things felt safe and everyone was well, my brain had taken that trauma and stored the vital information that danger was coming despite what my eyes and ears and heart were telling me. It took years to turn that strong instinct of fight-or-flight off enough so I could enjoy life and regulate my emotional well-being. I'm in full recovery from that story in my life. It has challenged me to overcome and even to soar. I have realized my potential as a human to create impact through loving support because I've received support. I'm resilient and learning more everyday.
In an odd way, my struggles through my rage and anger help others. I remember the migraines and gritted teeth that came with all the anxiety. The insomnia. The difficulty getting out of bed, or even out of the house. I remember how I was never hungry and always hangry. I did not even know I was bracing myself for so long, tensing my whole body for the possible dangers that all seemed to be unknown and undefineable. It was damn exhausting.
Surely, this isn't that hard, right?! Is it just me?
As a doula, I get the struggle of depression. The struggles of OCD and rigidity. I can understand the anxiety. I can see it and resist that oh-so-common urge to "fix it." I know better. I remember the words that helped most. I remember what made my anxiety worse.
Working with clients, I share mindful self compassion.
I model self kindness through being a calm and happy face.
In my actions, I give every mom the permission she deserves to TAKE UP SPACE.
Through my listening I hear pain and I hear so so much love.
I see people at their most vulnerable.
They are so strong despite the hardest days.
I hold secrets of fears of failure.
Secret fears of wanting to run away.
Secret regrets. Secret feelings of rage.
There just aren't many things parents say that surprise me.
I am happy to greet their pain with a hug.
With validation. With a "hey, this really sucks."
With normalizing the struggle that parenting can be.
MOST importantly, I see their super power abilities.
The ability to love fiercely.
To care for their family with precision.
With compassion.
With patience.
With self improvement.
With creativity.
With play and hilarity.
I see you.
So when people ask me what do I do as a "doula"--
I see you as you are, where you are, and know you are good enough and capable of growing tremendously.
You get to decide how the next parts go.
I'm along to help make it happen.
Grow Doula Services was founded in 2018 in Philomath and Corvallis, Oregon by Sophie Grow. Since then Grow Doula Services has served many families for births, prenatal planning, and postpartum support. Currently, Grow Doula Services donates time in facilitating the Benton County Parent Peer Support Group in two locations.
Sophie Grow holds a Bachelor's of Arts in History, Humanities, and Folklore. She has experience nannying, professional event planning, public speaking, designing digital arts, parent education, environmental education, and community building. Sophie has been a community leader in Philomath, Corvallis, and Albany, Oregon for over ten years.
Sophie is an experienced Parent Education Instructor for Linn Benton Community College teaching parent-child classes for families with toddlers to educate ANY family about fun ways to engage children, learn about child development, and cope with parent stress.
As a Master Gardener for example, Sophie has instructed dozens of local classes about beginning gardening and gardening with children. Service to the community through volunteering in one of the highest values to hold.
Words from Sophie...
There are lots of qualifications that enable me to doula (as a verb) with the highest regard for clients. Not all of them are professional trainings. My personal experiences with surviving and overcoming my perinatal/postpartum mood issues is an example of how I learned to navigate asking for help AND learning how to receive help- something that was very difficult for me to do as a new parent. I have had that unfortunate parent experience of being in a NICU 12 hours postpartum sitting in a hard rocking chair pumping milk while the machines dinged and my baby layed in her cot covered in cords. Those life-saving dings, the lights and machines, and even the frequent nurse and provider visits all sent me into a ferocious cycle of survival mode. Just when things felt safe and everyone was well, my brain had taken that trauma and stored the vital information that danger was coming despite what my eyes and ears and heart were telling me. It took years to turn that strong instinct of fight-or-flight off enough so I could enjoy life and regulate my emotional well-being. I'm in full recovery from that story in my life. It has challenged me to overcome and even to soar. I have realized my potential as a human to create impact through loving support because I've received support. I'm resilient and learning more everyday.
In an odd way, my struggles through my rage and anger help others. I remember the migraines and gritted teeth that came with all the anxiety. The insomnia. The difficulty getting out of bed, or even out of the house. I remember how I was never hungry and always hangry. I did not even know I was bracing myself for so long, tensing my whole body for the possible dangers that all seemed to be unknown and undefineable. It was damn exhausting.
Surely, this isn't that hard, right?! Is it just me?
As a doula, I get the struggle of depression. The struggles of OCD and rigidity. I can understand the anxiety. I can see it and resist that oh-so-common urge to "fix it." I know better. I remember the words that helped most. I remember what made my anxiety worse.
Working with clients, I share mindful self compassion.
I model self kindness through being a calm and happy face.
In my actions, I give every mom the permission she deserves to TAKE UP SPACE.
Through my listening I hear pain and I hear so so much love.
I see people at their most vulnerable.
They are so strong despite the hardest days.
I hold secrets of fears of failure.
Secret fears of wanting to run away.
Secret regrets. Secret feelings of rage.
There just aren't many things parents say that surprise me.
I am happy to greet their pain with a hug.
With validation. With a "hey, this really sucks."
With normalizing the struggle that parenting can be.
MOST importantly, I see their super power abilities.
The ability to love fiercely.
To care for their family with precision.
With compassion.
With patience.
With self improvement.
With creativity.
With play and hilarity.
I see you.
So when people ask me what do I do as a "doula"--
I see you as you are, where you are, and know you are good enough and capable of growing tremendously.
You get to decide how the next parts go.
I'm along to help make it happen.
Postpartum and Infant Care Doula, ProDoula 2017
Birth Doula, Birth Arts International 2017
Bereavement and Birth Doula Training, Stillbirthday 2017
Postpartum and Infant Care Doula, ProDoula 2017
Birth Doula, Birth Arts International 2017
Bereavement and Birth Doula Training, Stillbirthday 2017
Health and Safety
Certified in Adult and Infant CPR/AED and First Aid (American Red Cross)
Current Food Handlers Card
Child Care Health and Safety, LBCC 2018
Blood Borne Pathogens Training, LBCC 2018
Oral Health, Community Doula Program (CPD) 2018
Trauma-Informed Care, CPD 2018
HIPPA/Interprofessional Collaboration, CPD 2018
Mental Health & Parenting Support
Certified Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid USA 2017
Maternal Mental Health Summit,
Well Mama 2017, 2018, 2019
Certified Peer Support Group Facilitator Training, Postpartum Support International 2018
Vulnerability, Courage, Shame, & Empathy: the Living Brave Course, Brené Brown PESI 2018
Parents Interacting With Infants, Linn Benton Community College (LBCC) 2018
Oregon Parent Education Conference, 2018
Cultural Competency Training, CPD 2019
Certified in Adult and Infant CPR/AED and First Aid (American Red Cross)
Current Food Handlers Card
Child Care Health and Safety, LBCC 2018
Blood Borne Pathogens Training, LBCC 2018
Oral Health, Community Doula Program (CPD) 2018
Trauma-Informed Care, CPD 2018
HIPPA/Interprofessional Collaboration, CPD 2018
Mental Health & Parenting Support
Certified Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid USA 2017
Maternal Mental Health Summit,
Well Mama 2017, 2018, 2019
Certified Peer Support Group Facilitator Training, Postpartum Support International 2018
Vulnerability, Courage, Shame, & Empathy: the Living Brave Course, Brené Brown PESI 2018
Parents Interacting With Infants, Linn Benton Community College (LBCC) 2018
Oregon Parent Education Conference, 2018
Cultural Competency Training, CPD 2019
Clients are saying...
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"I’m a first time mom, my daughter was born on 1/4/19, and Sophie has provided invaluable support during my pregnancy, c-section, and postpartum. She went above and beyond to help my husband and I have the best birth experience possible, and has brought a knowledgeable, calming presence as we’ve maneuvered through the emotional changes that go along with having our first child. She’s made herself available for support in person, over the phone, and through text, which has allowed me to reach out to her whenever I’ve had questions or concerns or anxious thoughts. I also started attending her perinatal support group at about 20 weeks, and plan to continue attending postpartum. Building connections with other moms (and moms-to-be) has been a crucial element in helping me not feel so isolated in my feelings, and her support group has been an incredible outlet for creating those connections.
5/5, I highly recommend Sophie and all of the doula services she provides." -Kristan L. |
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"Choosing Sophie as my postpartum doula is one of the wisest choices I have made related to the birth of my daughter. She comes into our home and provides an immeasurable amount of support and assistance. From helping with meal prep, to nursing advice and assistance, and helping me process how I am doing mentally band emotionally, Sophie does so much to help me feel capable and grounded in this time of change. Sophie doesn't just help with tasks around our home, she gives me tools and knowledge to help me care for myself, care for my baby, and understand and process the journey we are on together."
-Chelsea V. |