Dana Scarano
Certified Birth Doula
Licensed Massage Therapist

I grew up here in the beautiful Hudson Valley with a loving father and a Massage Therapist mother (the "ultimate nurturer" in my eyes!) I learned at a young age the importance of nurturing others and especially relished spending time with children and babies. Early years of dance training helped me establish a sensitivity and curiosity about the human body and its natural rhythms. Studying dance in my childhood and teens led me to pursue a dance career in my early 20's. Simultaneously, inspired by my mother's work as a massage therapist, I decided to enroll at The Swedish Institute of Massage. I graduated in 1995 and began specializing in Prenatal & Postpartum Bodywork which initiated me into the amazing world of pregnancy and birth. Working with expecting mothers, I immediately felt called to become more involved in the miraculous process of birth.   In 2001 some of my Prenatal Massage clients invited me to attend their births and in 2005 I completed my Birth Doula Certification through Doulas of North America.

I have a local, private massage practice in Ulster Park, NY; I offer office and home visits and have been providing bodywork at The Omega Institute Wellness Center for the past ten years. I also love teaching infant massage to parents who are eager to learn and share the art of massage with their babies.

My goal in providing labor support is to be an advocate for fulfilling, beautiful, empowered birth. I aim to help create the warmest, most nurturing atmosphere for a baby to come into this world whether at home or in the hospital. I encourage my clients to educate themselves and provide them with as much information as possible prior to the birth of their baby. This way they can make knowledgeable, informed decisions during the labor and postpartum periods. Knowledge is Power! I support the laboring mother using massage, visualization and breathing, suggesting different positions to make her more comfortable and to help the baby move more efficiently down the birth canal. I tailor what I give to suit her personal needs. I also offer support and suggestions to the partner to encourage more involvement and enjoyment in this most profound experience.

Comfort through touch.

To contact Dana
Hudson Valley Birth and Bodywork website
email her at daylilyriver@yahoo.com

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploration will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time"
-T.S. Elliot