I began my work as a doula in 2006, after the birth of my first child.  I was entranced with labor and birth.  I find that I still am.

My intention as a doula is to support the mother and her partner/mother/sister/friends.  Often this means helping you navigate your options, without judgment or coercion.  I am not outcome-focused, meaning I do not consider a birth to be a success by a narrow criteria of unmedicated, or vaginal or fast.  The only goal I have for you is that you feel supported, respected and loved.

Sometimes this is a very physical task of massage, hip-squeezes, fetching water, etc.  Sometimes this is informational support of helping you get the details you need to make your choices.  Sometimes I offer suggestions for positions or ways to help labor progress.  Sometimes I am just a calm presence, reassuring you and your partner that everything is normal and good.  Often I enable the partner to support you fully by giving him/her breaks for food and rest, so that you have no gaps in your care.

I have supported women in home births, Cesarean births, three-day-long births, births with epidurals, VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), natural births, births after infertility and births after loss.  Every one was miraculous.