Lori Ismail, BSN, RN, PHN, CLD works as a registered nurse and is the owner and operator of Early Advantage Childbirth Services, est. 1998.  As a birth professional, she supports new and expectant families as a childbirth preparation instructor, labor support doula and lactation counselor. Lori’s class, ’Birthing Naturally: Partner Supported Childbirth’ totals 20 hours of instruction, and is comprehensive, thorough and evidence based. In addition to teaching through her own private practice, she has also taught at Blossom Birth & Family, based in Palo Alto, for 18 years; at Harmony Birth & Family, based in Campbell, for over 11 years; and currently teaches at The Nesting Spot for Birth & Beyond in San Jose, California. As a labor support doula, certified through the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), she has supported over 500 families, averaging 9,000+ hours of one-on-one care. She understands the physiology of birth and provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing persons and their families during the prenatal, birth and immediate postpartum period. Her informational support is evidence-based and presented in a non-judgmental and objective manner so that families feel encouraged to make informed decisions. 

LORI’S BIRTH PHILOSOPHY

Lori’s birth philosophy is that birth is a natural expression of life, and in most cases, unfolds in a peaceful manner. The unfolding of a new life intimately involves the birthing person, the baby and the family unit as a whole. Lori respects the individual decisions of her clients, she empowers all in attendance, giving their chosen rolls, and her personal opinions will never be a basis for judging a family’s birthing preferences. 

Lori’s aim is to offer education, and to provide physical and emotional support so that families may achieve the best possible birth experience, within their goals, and within each birth situation as circumstances arise. Families are encouraged to stay healthy, low risk, and well informed so that they may make safe, satisfying, evidence based decisions regarding their care.

Lori believes that birthing persons are powerful and capable of bringing their babies into this world. To her clients, she provides 25+ years of experience and expertise, and empowers families to build trust, confidence and the skills needed to deliver their babies in a safe and dignified manner. Furthermore, she feels it an incredible honor and privilege to be invited to witness and participate in the miraculous event of each new life.