Meet our Doulas
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I have been attending births as a doula since 2005, and was certified through DONA international in 2006. I gave birth to my four boys at Gritman Family Birth Center. I support all birthing methods and choices made by a woman and her partner, and love providing emotional and informational support before, during and after childbirth! I look forward to gaining more postpartum and breastfeeding training and working towards a postpartum certification as well. |
For many women, our birth experiences are the most memorable events in our life. I believe having the best experience possible can be transformative and powerful for new mothers. My goal is to orchestrate a birth so that the mother and her partner feel confident, supported and empowered. I have three boys myself, and although each experience was very different (a home birth, a hospital birth without intervention or drugs and a hospital birth with pitocin and an epidural) they were all amazing. After receiving my Masters in Human Development with a focus on parenting, I realized what I am most passionate about is supporting moms and their partners as they make the transition into parenthood at the birth. I am a Certified Professional Doula through ToBirth and Doulas of North America (DONA). In addition to being a doula, I teach a couples workshop called "Bringing Baby Home" and I am a part-time instructor in the Human Development Department at Washington State University. |
I believe in a woman’s innate body wisdom. During the process of birth, the profound nature of this knowledge is readily apparent. What a woman chooses and needs during birth is unique and valid to each woman and must be supported. Doulas advocate for the mother so that she can make the necessary choices that will bring her child into the world the way her psyche and body require for the health of both mother and child. Doulas support the father or other birth partner(s) so that he/they can be entirely present for the mother and in order for him/them to experience self-transformation as well. I offer further support throughout pregnancy and post-partum in the form of body and energy work, including craniosacral therapy. Supporting the mother with nurturing touch throughout the changes and demands of pregnancy gives much needed emotional and physical support and can help mother deepen her bond to child and open into the process of birth itself. The post-partum period is a critical time, often unconsidered, where a woman utilizes so many resources with too little return. Body and energetic balancing is fundamental to this time. I have three children, all boys, born through c-section and home birth. There was much needed learning acquired through these experiences. I trained to be a doula with DONA in 2008. Additionally, I work with Gritman Family Birth Center as a massage therapist for post-partum care and am a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. I am working towards a Master’s Degree in Applied Eco-Psychology, which goes hand in hand with being a doula; trusting the wisdom of the earth as the wisdom of the body. |
It takes a team to support a woman going through labor. Often, I find that my role as a doula means providing support and ideas to the family that is supporting her. As a woman who has given birth, and as a doula, it is priceless to have an extra pair of hands that is experienced in the dance of labor and birth. As a doula, my goal is to empower the woman and her birth partner to work as a team and allow the partner to be involved as much as they feel comfortable. The birth partner typically finds more confidence with a doula there to help orchestrate the fine details so that they may remain focused on the woman. After training with Doula’s of North America (DONA), I have been attending births since 2003. My spark of interest in child birth support arose while pregnant with my son. I look forward to expanding my skills through postpartum doula training. Also available, is prenatal/postpartum care through Traditional Chinese Medicine, Amma Therapy and Holistic Nutrition. As a licensed practitioner in TCM, I use Asian massage therapy to support and add vitality to a woman’s pregnant and nurturing body. The right massage therapy is important in keeping a woman’s changing body comfortable prenatal, during labor and postpartum. Pregnancy and postpartum are critical times in a woman’s life when drastic health changes can be accomplished (good or bad). The best way to support optimum health is through the food and care you give your body. Personal nutritional consultations are offered as well as individual or group cooking classes. Because your baby depends on you to feel good, allow yourself the support and good food you both deserve. |
I believe birth to be a very amazing and remarkable experience for both mother and partner. I am so thankful and humbled every time I attend a birth and feel privilege to be invited by a couple. Helping couples to become educated about the choices they have in birth and feel good about the choices they make along the way is very important to me as a doula. I believe there are no failures in birth! I have been teaching Bradley Method Childbirth classes since 2006 and have been a DONA certified birth doula since 2006 as well. I have 2 great children (1 c section birth and 1 VBAC-vaginal birth after c section) and an amazing husband. I also hold a Master of Social Work and prior to becoming a mother, I worked for 10 hrs as a social worker in Spokane. I enjoy working with couples and being a part of the transformation that occurs. |
