Cassandra Partridge Postpartum Doula

I grew up in California, the oldest of three girls and always in a mothering role. I was breech and born by cesarean. My mother wanted a natural Leboyer birth. But I was doing things my own way from the beginning. I am so grateful that we were able to enjoy a breastfeeding relationship for 3 years. My mother reclaimed breastfeeding as a legacy for her family and was very involved with La Leche League during those years. Part of my passion as a lactation consultant is to pay that gift forward.

I followed in my mother’s footsteps and became a nurse. But I was always a round peg in a square hole with Western medicine. Twenty years later I can definitely say that my path has been a windy one with many detours along the way. But what an adventure it has been!

Trying to change the system of maternal-child health from the inside out has been incredibly challenging, but also rewarding. At the same time, I have had the opportunity to learn from and work with many different teachers outside the system. I am a hybrid and I practice from an integrative model of care.

I started as a nurse in labor & delivery at a Family Birth & Newborn Center and my plan was to become a certified nurse midwife. In 2002 I was fortunate to spend one day with a lay midwife in Tijuana, Mexico doing prenatals in various Colonias. That day changed my life forever. I saw first hand the devastating effects of abject poverty. And that is something I have carried in my heart ever since. Shortly thereafter I read two books that had a profound effect on my perspective. Ina May Gaskin’s classic, Spiritual Midwifery and Juliana van Olphen-Fehr’s memoir, Diary of a Midwife.

Even so the biggest shift of all came when my sister Staci asked me to be her doula for the birth of my niece Alexis. By that time I was using acupressure as a natural comfort measure for labor. And to this day Staci says the pressure points on her feet made all the difference. It was a beautiful birth and I was very grateful to be part of it.

In 2004 I became an aunt and got initiated as a doula. And this year Alexis is graduating from high school!

Over the years I have trained with many doula and childbirth organizations, including Doulas of North America, Hypnobirthing Institute, Birth Arts International, Birthing From Within and The Matrona. I have also worked with out-of-hospital midwives as a birth assistant and midwife apprentice. And I spent considerable time working toward becoming a certified professional midwife. But as the story goes, life had other plans for me. So I chose the path of becoming an IBCLC.

Currently I am focusing my energy on tending the postpartum and offering my services as a postpartum doula, lactation consultant and Jungian life coach. I integrate this transformational coaching role into my work with women and families during the first 40 days postpartum, assisting with the transition into a beautiful new normal.

I have specialized training in acupressure, emotional freedom techniques, herbs & homeopathy, perinatal mood & anxiety disorders, tongue & lip tie, therapeutic breast massage in lactation and subtle hands-on skills for infant craniosacral therapy.

My greatest joy is to help families find the answers inside themselves and step into their power as parents. Whatever that looks like. I come with no agenda, judgment or expectation. I am here to offer support and guidance, practical help, reflection and a focus on simplicity. Most mothers and families are overwhelmed and bombarded with too much information. This causes high levels of stress and anxiety.

My role is to bring balance to the postpartum time by helping families to relearn instinctual knowing. And to trust it. I help women make friends with their inner Mama Bear. I hold space for the birth of a mother and a family. In that way, I act as a midwife of the postpartum.