Getting to Know the Doula
Experience Matters
I have supported a wide variety of labors & births
* Unmedicated Birth & Medicated Birth
* Hospital, Birth Center, & Home Birth
* Inductions & Water Birth
* Planned & Unplanned Cesarean Birth
* Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
* Birth After Pregnancy Loss
* First & Subsequent Births
* Solo Parent Births
* Anxiety / Neurodiversity
* Queer Families
Education & Training
DONA Certified Birth Doula
Spinning Babies
VBAC Link
Childbirth Preparation Educator for 12+ years
Childbirth Educator Training, Seattle Midwifery School
Birth doula mentorship, Portland Doula Love
DONA Birth Doula Training
Basics of Breastfeeding
Surrogacy Doula Training, Full Circle Birth
“Birth of a Father” Conference, NACEF
“When Survivors Give Birth”, Penny Simkin
Classroom Teacher, 25+ years
Teacher Workshop Leader, 12+ years
Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, PSU
Bachelor of Arts in Education, Flagler College
My Approach To Doula Work
Each birthing person’s journey through labor is remarkably individual. From birth wishes to the course and length of labor, each person follows a unique path through the birthing process. I faithfully respect and support who you are and what you want in order to achieve an experience that feels satisfying, empowering, and beautiful to you.
Without a doubt, collaboration and preparation helps to stack the deck in favor of achieving the birth you dream of. Through thorough prenatal conversations I help you craft a plan for physical and emotional care that works for you. When the big day (or night!) arrives, I will come alongside you to navigate your dreams and expectations with any potential bumps and hiccups as your baby’s birth story unfolds. I bring a well stocked toolkit of experience, information, tips, strategies, and comfort techniques (such as positioning, comfort touch, breathing techniques, and visualization) to every birth I attend.
Enhancing the role of the support team is always part of my game plan. Whether it’s through building confidence, teaching hands-on skills, providing ideas for things to try, or encouraging self-care, addressing the needs and desires of those supporting labor is a big part of my approach to doula care. I firmly believe that encouragement, information, and support helps bring the beauty and joy of the birthing process into clearer focus for all involved.
My Birthy Background
My own journeys through pregnancy and labor ignited within me a passion for all things birth. Already a veteran classroom teacher and international educational workshop leader, birth inspired me to also become a certified childbirth preparation educator, teaching evenings and weekends in Portland area hospitals for more than a dozen years. Organically, my childbirth educator side gig grew to include doula work, as expectant people I met frequently requested my support at their births.
I have experience supporting a wide variety of births, including those choosing pain medication, non-medical pain relief, induced labor, water birth, planned and unplanned cesarean birth, and vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC). I combine practical information with hands-on experience and an open heart. I use my unique skill set of experience, expertise, and passion to quickly establish solid communication and trust with those I serve.
Now a mom to a college-aged opera singer and a scientist, I am excited to turn my attention full time toward birth. When not actively supporting a labor or geeking out on “birthy” stuff, you can likely find me researching for my next trip, reading magical fiction, or rearranging the plants in my backyard yet again.