I am 30-something and came to doula work after a dance and performing career and the birth of my son in 2000. The support that I received during pregnancy, birth and postpartum was essential to my growth as a young mother, and I was inspired to be there for others making the journey. I went through the Labor Support Course to become a birth doula at Seattle Midwifery School (SMS) in 2001.

After training I went through apprenticeships and worked to become a certified birth doula through PALS Doulas and DONA International. I returned to SMS the next year to become a postpartum doula. I have extensive training and experience in breastfeeding support: In 2005 I completed the Breastfeeding Educator Course at SMS and teach breastfeeding classes through Big Belly Services.

I am very active in the Seattle doula community and I regularly attend and lead meetings and trainings on current birthing, breastfeeding and postpartum issues. As a 5 year Board member of PALS Doulas, I am proud to manage the Certification program for local birth doulas and am currently a preceptor with the PALS Apprenticeship program.  I stay connected to the breastfeeding community as a Steering Committee member of the Breastfeeding Coalition of WA and a member of the Lactation Journal Club.  I am also pleased to have the opportunity to serve low-income families as a Birth Services Doula for Open Arms Perinatal Services.  Most recently I was hired as a Labor Support Course Instructor for the Simkin School at Bastyr University.  I am currently working towards becoming a DONA-approved birth doula trainer.

Since 2001 I have been a birth doula to over 350 families. I have attended births at all Seattle-area hospitals, and “doulaed” at many birth centers and home births.  Of all the hats I wear in the birthing community, Birth Doula is the closest to my heart.

When not attending births, I enjoy spending time with my 9 year old son Gilton, my partner Christopher and our two dogs Boris and Natasha in our West Seattle home.  I love food, gardening, singing and dancing, and hold a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts.  I have practiced yoga for over a decade, and I taught prenatal and postnatal yoga classes at local studios in ‘02 and ‘03.

I also enjoy traveling and learning about other cultures. In 2005 I traveled to Thailand to work as a doula at the Mae Tao Clinic on the border of Burma. Alongside the Karen medics, I attended many births and assisted with breastfeeding in this very rural clinic that at times had no water. We served Burmese families who had at most times walked miles to cross the border for healthcare.

As a doula I support all types of families and enjoy learning about people and their history. My families describe me as calm, confident and knowledgeable. I respect the birth process and I also respect each person’s individual journey towards becoming a parent.