Meet Cyrese Ingebrigtsen: A Christian Birth Doula Serving Families in and around Dakota County, MN
At Kingdom Beginnings Birth Services, we are so blessed to introduce you to Cyrese Ingebrigtsen, a compassionate and faith-filled birth doula serving families in Dakota County, Minnesota and the surrounding areas. Cyrese brings prayer, wisdom, and hands-on experience into every birth space she enters. Her story and approach are deeply rooted in her relationship with the Lord, and she feels honored to walk alongside families through pregnancy, labor, and early postpartum.
What inspired you to become a birth doula?
The Lord and my daughter were the biggest inspirations to become a doula. The desire to serve and support moms and new babies was suggested by my daughter after I walked away from the medical field. However, the MOST important call came from the Lord! Did I mention that?!
There had been much prayer about leaving medical and taking a much needed break. As it came time to return to work and I wanted to be in labor and delivery, but you never start there as a Health Unit Coordinator, aka right hand of charge nurse administratively. Those who end up there stay. So I looked up "what is a doula?" I landed on DONA (Doulas of North America) website, clicked on find a workshop and went into the first available class and was met with a trainer who also loves Jesus and a class half full of fellow believers. I felt incredibly blessed and honored to be a part of such a great group of women.
How do you support families spiritually, emotionally, and physically during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum?
Spiritual support from me is meeting you where you are at just as Christ does for each of us each day. I pray for you and your family at each visit and in between each in person visit weekly. We discuss what spiritual support looks like for you and your family and accommodate that as best as I can with prayer being a first go to. Followed with scripture reads and faith filled music suggestions for labor and birth.
Emotional support really begins when we first meet because things in our past can show up in birth without even realizing it so it's important to talk through worries and anxieties and hard stuff and fears in both parents. Sharing with me helps me better serve you and to be praying for comfort and peace about those things.
I can support you physically prenatally, in labor and delivery and postpartum. I am a certified active Body Ready Method® pro. Which helps me to help you understand the physiological and biomechanics of pregnancy and birth and the "why" behind what we teach you to help you with comfort and relief within your body as the baby grows and needs change. The things taught at prenatal visits also roll right into labor and delivery and recovery during postpartum. I am able to help you create space for the baby to move, help create balance in your body and utilize best positioning to help the baby navigate your pelvis. All of this also helps bring comfort and gets your body working together encouraging optimal position of your baby and your body to intuitively do as it was designed to do.
What’s your favorite comfort measure to use during birth?
I would have to say that my favorite comfort measure for birth is water. I like to call it waterdural, which is like an epidural, but it’s water. A tub allows you to relax, takes tension off your body naturally and is just a great space to labor and deliver in. There are many positions to use in the tub and if the tub is big enough your partner can get in with you, and it's just such a beautiful, calm space to have a baby.
The other favorite is anything that makes you feel supported, loved, and empowered… So in essence, it would be what is your favorite, and then we do that, knowing that will change throughout the labor process.
How do you help dads feel more involved and confident in their role in the birth space?
Dad's are huge helpers and a major part of supporting mommas. Dad knows you best. I love to encourage dads and cheer them on too. If you suddenly feel like you just don't know what to do anymore or feel stumped I will offer a suggestion. I make sure he is rested, fed and hydrating as well.
My love is to support both of you and each of your needs are unique to you. We are a team, all three of us. It is hard for dads to see their wives in pain and their first instinct is to fix it, but he knows that you, momma, are the only one that can bring this baby here.
I will wipe tears when your hands are being held tight by mom, I will pray over your wife and baby with you, I will be the runner, listener, comforter when needed. I will make sure that dads who struggle with the sight of body fluids or get fainty are tended to. I have not lost a dad yet!
I help answer questions if the medical side gets complicated and offer reassurance of what is normal that mom and baby are going through. I will always involve dads if they are able to attend the prenatal visits, addressing their concerns as well and teaching them all they can do for comfort in the early stages of labor before it's time to go in. Offering words of encouragement, education, and comfort is big because dads have a big job too.
What is one thing you wish every mama knew before going into labor?
Give yourself grace and have lots of patience and trust the process that God has created for your body to do this amazing journey. Allowing your body to release and let go will help you, low sounds from your voice will help you and calm and peace is attainable even when it's time to push.
Also, if things do not go according to the first plan you desired, there is a different plan and sometimes it's needed. You did not fail, not one time, and your baby is coming no matter what. You are not defeated by any stretch. It’s just sometimes the plan needs to change to ensure the safety of you and your baby.
In non-emergent situations, there is always time to discuss, pray, ask questions, take time to process, and then make an informed decision. You and your husband are in control the whole time of this birthday party. Let your needs be known always.
How do you support families who choose an epidural, induction, or C-section?
The same as I would if you didn't choose these things, with love, patience, and kindness. Again, if this is what you choose, I will support your choices.
Epidural Support: still helping with positioning, supporting your legs during pushing, and encouraging your body when you may not feel the contractions as strongly.
Induction Support: I am usually called once an active contraction pattern is established, unless this is not your first baby, then I am called sooner. If your water has broken or is going to be artificially ruptured, it's important to call me sooner than later because things can intensify, and I can help with comfort, positioning, and movement when that happens.
C-Section Support: Depending on the location, some hospitals allow doulas in the OR with you and your partner which is so helpful. If not, I meet you in recovery and help get you settled. I do not go home because the plan changed. I am still your doula!
What scripture or encouraging words do you often lean on during births?
I love the Christian Hypnobirthing App. It is full of encouraging scripture and music. I am not a Hypnobirther; however, this app is so peaceful and the scriptures are perfect for many scenarios from conception to pregnancy all the way to a faith-filled C-section and everything in between.
Psalm 139:13-24 is wonderful and stands out beautifully. I also have a faith-filled playlist for music and I also sing scripture. Please know that if there is something special from the Bible you want to read, let’s do it. It would be an honor. I have even had families put the rosary on a playlist so it can just keep going.
What makes your doula style unique compared to others?
I am unapologetically God's daughter and my heart belongs to Jesus and my faith comes first. I would not be doing any of this if it were not for my Lord and Savior. He has blessed me with this incredible journey so the prayers of Thanksgiving are forever flowing.
He has set me here to support and love the families who choose me just as He has done for me. It has all been for my good and His glory every time.
When I learn new things I retain it by being hands-on and I find visual aids helpful to understand so I also teach this way: seeing, feeling, and doing. I believe in how the body is integrated purposely to work together harmoniously.
Interactive teaching is also important, feeling it in our own bodies and seeing the result of labor preparation makes a huge difference.
Lastly, being relational is important. As a mom of 6, a grandma of 7 (and counting), and having attended many births, you see a lot of things and experience a lot of things that have all helped me grow in my faith, encouraged my drive for continuing education, and reminded me to trust in God's plan. Each family that I am gifted to serve is a blessing.
What’s the most rewarding part of walking with a family through birth?
The most rewarding part of walking a family through birth is witnessing God's intentional miracle of birth and to see the afterglow and love between moms and dads bonding with their new baby. The bonding is so beautiful. The natural oxytocin is released for all to share and the love displayed is Christ’s love for us passed on.
Want to work with Cyrese??
If you’re looking for a Christian birth doula in Dakota County, MN, Cyrese would be honored to support you and your family with prayer, encouragement, and evidence-based care.
Email: kingdombeginningsbirth@gmail.com
Call/Text: 763-600-3255
At Kingdom Beginnings Birth Services, we believe every family deserves Christ-centered, compassionate care through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
