Doula

A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Unlike midwives, they don’t offer medical care but focus on enhancing the birthing experience.

During pregnancy, doulas help families prepare by offering education, discussing birth preferences, and creating a birth plan. In labor, they provide constant support using techniques like massage, breathing exercises, and positioning to ease discomfort and promote progress. They also help communicate the family’s needs to the medical team.

Postpartum, doulas assist with newborn care, breastfeeding, recovery, and emotional support, ensuring a smoother transition into parenthood. Their compassionate presence can lead to better birth outcomes, including reduced interventions and a more positive experience.

How I became a Doula

My passion for birth started when I was a young child. I witnessed my baby brother’s homebirth when I was 3, and even helped our midwife cut the cord. I was always very passionate about babies. I read Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin and Artemis Speaks by Nan Koehler when I was 16 years old. They both reinforced that birthing at home was both safe and a wonderful option for families.

I had my first baby in 2011 at home in Petaluma. River was born fittingly in water surrounded by loved ones. This sparked my inspiration to begin birth work.

In 2013, I attended the Heart and Hands Intensive series and Advanced series for doula certification and midwifery skills. I believe in the midwifery model of care, which sees pregnancy and childbirth as normal life events, not medical emergencies.

I received Doula certification through a Midwife College of Utah DONA training in 2015. I am comfortable supporting women in a hospital, birthing center or home birth setting. I continue to actively take workshops and attend conferences to maintain and expand my knowledge about all things birth.

As your doula I will support you and your partner to ensure a satisfying birth experience by providing evidenced based information about your options, emotional and physical comfort measures, and by supporting your partner in whatever role feels most comfortable for them.

If you are interested in meeting to learn more about me and see if I would be a good fit for your birth team I would be happy to schedule an interview. I look forward to hearing from you.