. . . the informed parent's resource
OUR FOUNDER - Linda Geller Worzer - born January 4, 1953 - passed away November 28, 2020.
Linda battled colon cancer for nearly 3 years, rallying from treatments and surgeries many times, only to have the disease rear it's ugly head again. She is no longer bearing earthly struggles, but is in the arms of her Lord, reunited in Heaven with her husband Richard, son Matthew and her parents Carl and Fern Geller. Our thoughts and prayers remain with her three daughters, Meaghan, Whitney and Sarah along with their husbands and her four beloved grandchildren. Linda Worzer's Memorial Service was Thursday, December 3, 2020.
Video of her Memorial Service is available here:
BIO: The mother of four adult children, breastfed for various lengths of time and four grandchildren, Linda served mothers and babies since 1977. Her first birth experience sparked a deep desire to help mothers get off to a good start with breastfeeding. She served as a La Leche League Leader and administrator for 11 years, then returned to school to obtain the courses required to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
After passing the board exam, Linda entered private practice. Linda is the only Consultant I've ever known who considered herself an apprentice during her first year of private practice and refused to charge for her services - she said she was like an 'Intern' and although she was as accredited as any other IBCLC, her values wouldn't allow her to accept payment until she felt ready with hands on skills.
She had over 20 years of experience serving mothers of multiples, pre-term and special needs infants, breast reduction/augmentation surgery, adoption, low milk supply in both the complex and all of the more typical breastfeeding situations and challenges. Her insights and empathy were her true gift.
In addition to lecturing at a variety of birth-related and Lactation conferences, Linda also worked as a Bradley Method® Childbirth Educator, DONA-Approved
Birth Doula Trainer and private Birth Doula for hundreds of families.
Linda's grandmother told a birth story about her empowering birth of Linda's own father, which Linda often shared with her Doulas in training.
Linda was widely quoted and was featured in many birth-related books and articles. She was a Founding member of DONA International and long time member of the Board, (Doulas of North America), founder of Cesarean Awareness of Dallas and VBAC of Dallas, supported hundreds of mothers giving birth by or after cesarean section, mentored hundreds of Doulas in Training, and taught natural childbirth classes to more than 500 couples, since being accredited and annually reaffiliated by The Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth, following certification in 1977. She and another colleague in Birth Educatiion (Suzanne) began Natural Beginnings ... the informed parents' resource.
Linda's true passion was supporting laboring women and educating expectant parents about their right to a positive, participating birth experience.
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Worzer Family L- R back, Matt, Richard, Linda. On laps, Whitney, Meaghan holding Sarah.
Linda sings - top row, 2nd from your right
Natural Beginnings' Clients' Comments on Linda Worzer (1-04-1953 to 11-28-2020)
As Founder of Natural Beginnings, Linda shared her many years of training and experience as a Birth Doula, Doula Trainer, Bradley Birth Instructor and an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and was a trainer and mentorto many hundreds of women training to become a Labor Doula. She taught many hundreds of couples to trust their bodies and give birth positively and guided over a thousand women in their breastfeeding and parenting journey.
When Linda began this website, it was an extension of her birth education and Doula Training career. Her goal was to offer support, guidance and educationfor expectant and new parents seeking direction in their journey to motherhood.
The following testimonials provide a tribute to Linda's value to so many women birthing everywhere.
"... The mothers from Birth and Women’s Center in Dallas have been using the classes taught by Linda Worzer for over 20 years. We have attended 3200 births and know for a fact that Linda’s classes prepare our clients far beyond any other method or instructor.
Occasionally a couple does not attend her classes. These couples will come in labor and we quickly identify they missed these classes by the difficulty they are having natural childbirth without them. One birth assistant likes to say they can be identified by the way they are hanging from the rafters. Clients who attend this teacher's class are calm, prepared and so much happier with their experience. Thank you Linda for all that you have done making your life work about education and service to new mothers & their drug free babies."
- Cherie Boettcher, CNM
… I feel I am uniquely qualified to recommend Linda Worzer as a labor assistant / doula as I have utilized her services from two different perspectives: both as an obstetrician and as a childbearing client. She was uniquely competent at discerning what words of encouragement were most empowering and uplifting for me.I recommend (her) as a uniquely qualified and gifted doula who is a true asset to her community."
- Renee L. Woods, M.D.
"... I have known Linda Worzer since 1979 when I had my second baby. At the time she was a La Leche League Leader and I attended her group meetings. In 1994, I co-founded an organization called Attachment Parenting International. I have always felt inspired by Linda's example that one person can truly make a difference in this world, and her courage and devotion has been a motivation to me and so many others."
- Barbara Nicholson, President, Attachment Parenting International (API)
"... Linda Worzer is a jack-of-all-trades in the childbirth world in Dallas/Fort Worth as she is childbirth educator and doula extraordinaire. She has named the Best Doula in Dallas many times since 1999 by readers of Dallas Child Magazine.
She only provides consumers with updated information. She is available to attend couples during the birth. Her presence
has made many Dallas/Fort Worth couples' births a memorable experience for both the mother and dad."
- Polly Perez, RN. BSN, FACCE, Author of Special Women, Doula Programs, Brain Attack
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"... Having a child is one of the most intensely personal things a woman experiences. I approached having my first child with no small measure of joy coupled with genuine anxiety and outright fear. This was further compounded by the discovery that I carried twins. My ob-gyn immediately shifted from a steady assurance that I could deliver a child naturally to a 70% certainty of Cesarean. As we passed the 6 month mark, she recommended bed rest, tho there was no logical reason for this: everything was normal. I began an all-out search to find someone who could help me have my children with as little medical intervention as possible.
Enter Linda Worzer. We attended her birthing classes, and within two weeks I knew I wanted her to be our labor assistant.
She agreed, and so began the most incredible months of my life. Linda was more than an instructor, more than a doula. She contacted me multiple times a week to ensure I was alright. She gave me sound dietary advice, which was critical in enabling
me to carry the babies AND eat, since they were rapidly inhabiting the spaces that my stomach had once occupied. She checked on my emotional & spiritual well-being, asking astute questions that respected my privacy, while helping me assess where I was and how I was feeling.
She became not only a counselor, but provided a ready-made network of chiropractors, massage therapists, clinical therapists, etc. She was a reference resource, helping locate information. She became, for those last few critical weeks, a substitute mother with none of the drawbacks of a blood mother because her boundaries were so clean and healthy. We owned the entire process, but she was a critical element in all of it, since our discussions with Linda enabled us to make coherent decisions and to think through the entire process.
We found a specialist who was willing to work with us to have the boys with minimal intervention. I carried the boys past term by several weeks, & with her assistance and the infinite faith of the doctor, naturally delivered 2 healthy babies at 7 lbs 2 oz. and
7 lbs. 3 oz., respectively. Linda went beyond the call of duty, since this entailed being with us twice.
I was induced on a Friday, and there was no progress all day. We left, and returned that Sunday and had them both
just before midnight. She was there for it all. I am immensely grateful for her willing participation in the beginning of the greatest adventure of my life."
- Lani J. Zielsdorf, ... Mother of Twins
"This was by far the best class we could of taken before our first son! We were planning a home birth and had to be transported. Because of this class, I knew my rights as a mother and a citizen consumer.
I always felt in control - even when the doctor and nurses tried to tell me I didn't know what I was doing. Thank you Linda! You gave me the power and strength I would have never known I had!"
- Caitlyn Rockett