APPA is proud to introduce you to another one of our graduates, brand new APPAC, Jessica Guptill.
Jessica was kind enough to tell us more about herself and why she chose APPA:
I am a Jesus loving, VA girl, a United States Coast Guard Military Spouse, Fun loving Mom of 4 Tiny Humans, Birth loving Doula, Officially now a APPA Certified Encapsulation Specialist and soon to a farmer! But you can call me Jessica! I am always looking to leave a positive mark, in the world I am humbled to have influence in. Be it in my marriage, my children, serving in Church, supporting neighbor’s and friends through the trials and tribulations of military life, or the greatest life experience of bringing forth a soul and raising a tiny human to be their extraordinary selves. You only get one life I want mine to be overflowing with joy and adventures!
I have in my past, experienced mood disorders and depression and when it came time to having kids, postpartum depression was a very real concern of mine. Uniquely enough my husband was the one who experienced it in our house. After living with him through it, communicating and getting the support we needed, I realized how very little talk and preemptive action is taken to combat postpartum depression. I began my doula journey there and my discovery of placenta encapsulation. When my second child was born I opted in for doula support for both of us and I encapsulated my own placenta. I experienced so many of the positive effects that mom’s rave about when they encapsulate. My husband saw a huge difference in me when I forgot to take them. My husband Josh is my biggest supporter of encapsulation due to his experience, knowing what a hard time he encountered, he couldn’t imagine hormones fluctuating drastically too.
I love having influence into the pregnancies, birth journeys, postpartum periods and the raising up of incredible tiny humans… It’s a humbling honor and privilege and I hope I empower women and their families to make the choice that will best respect themselves, their marriage and their children.
Happy Birthing and Tiny Human Raising!
Tell us about your practice; where you’re located, some stats, etc. Tell us how your practice has changed or grown since joining APPA. Share some of your successes.
I am currently located in San Diego, CA but got my start in Hampton Roads, VA. After doing birth doula work and encapsulation for friends back in Virginia, they started recommending me out to people they knew and my concern for blood born pathogens and blood born illnesses started to make me question what I thought was enough education. I realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know and began searching for a certifying agency that would more than teach me just how to do what I was already doing. APPA really raised my standards and made me question (in a good way) how I improve and run a better placenta business!
In what way has becoming an APPAC, or being part of APPA benefited you as a placenta prep provider?
I have a far more in-depth understanding of the organ it’s functions and benefits to mothers. I now can go through the ins and outs of my business practices to put clients at ease and be more professional overall, that just wasn’t in my business before APPA.
Do you have any advice for those interested in becoming a placenta prep provider?
You don’t know what you don’t know… but APPA does, and they will prepare you to be the best!
Why did you choose APPA as your certifying organization?
The level of knowledge, the multi-head influence, the years of experience between the mentors, the course material that would be covered. I knew I was going to get what I was paying for and gain a ton of knowledge, experience and have a community of support FINALLY!
What did you like the most about APPA?
The course info, the survey’s ( the fact you cared how we felt about it), the ability to reach out on facebook to a community of people all working it out alongside me.
How has this training changed your practice or added to your knowledge?
Basically, I realized I was a complete novice and needed the experts and now I feel that I have a great standard of practice I can be proud of and an education that is unmatched in any other placenta certifying group.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I love and appreciate Jules and her patience!!!!
Do you have any other birth, babies, parenting related business ventures? Tell us about them and we’ll help you spread the word.
I am also a trained and certified DONA Doula. I have been supporting families through birth for 6 years!
You can get to know more about Jessica at her website: eemabirthservices.com
She’s on Instgram at @jkgup or follow her tags #eemabirthservices
Or visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eemabirthservices/