Kimberly Bepler, IBCLC, CPD, CNPE, CLE® has been serving families professionally since 2001, and teaching expectant couples and new doulas since 2004. She began with nanny work and expanded her passion to serve as a postpartum doula, then added breastfeeding and new parent educator, and became a Lactation Consultant after years of studying how to help families with breastfeeding and pumping. She has worked with over 700 families with twins and 25 families with triplets and has taught dozens of workshops to doulas, NCS, nannies, and infant caregivers virtually and in-person on working with multiples. Locally she owns ABC Doula & Newborn Care in Portland, OR. She is the mother of 2 grown kids and resides half-time in Phoenix near her aging parents and half-time in WA near her kids & grandson. Training doulas for the past 2 decades, she has continued to evolve as an instructor and includes not only different learning approaches in her teaching, but interactive activities, extensive scenarios, collaborative work, and fun hands-on work that makes for confident new doulas and educators. She especially welcomes those who are ADHD/neurodivergent as she finds those can be superpowers in caregiving careers.
Working with Multiples
Twins or triplets can be such a joy—and a challenge to work with as an NCS. Starting off with multiple babies when parents are new to baby life and parenting adds an additional challenge, as you are teaching and modeling as much as you are doing baby care (A LOT!). This session will cover some special considerations to manage your time, your focus, and the needs of the sweet recipients of your care, the babies, and their very tired parents. We will discuss getting through overnight support when you are on duty alone and working during the day alongside overwhelmed–but in love–parents.