I’m so glad you’re here.
We are all capable and we all need support. Valuing yourself and doing some research on ways to seek out support is no small thing to me. Being a mother has transformed my entire way of being. Honoring the miraculous and ever changing transitions through a human’s life cycle is what has me so deeply connected to this work. In order to have a thriving community, we must focus on postpartum wellness. In your search for a doula, you are nurturing yourself and modeling the kind of self care that is needed to be the change we need in our society. Mother centered care.
I felt like I was initiated into doula-ing. The invitation for me to support a dear friend at the hospital came with an unexpected call. Hearing the level of uneasiness in her voice, I knew I needed to get into action swiftly. Without a doubt, my partner was able to meet me off a highway exit to be with our little girl for the rest of the afternoon into the night. I had no idea what I was walking into and more importantly how I would walk out of it.
The dynamic nature of working with a team of health care professionals, family members, and the laboring person has me in awe and respect. It is pure magic.
It was clear to me from a
young age that I wanted to work with people and have a better human impact on the planet. For many years I wrote
grants and content in order to work with youth restoring their local landscapes, building compost systems, taste testing new foods infused with fresh garden produce, and empowering them to take care of the planet through their community. I learned that it is not so much about protecting the environment as it is about sparking a reverence for life itself. People will protect what they love.
The journey into parenthood can range vastly from training on the job, getting lost in comparing developmental milestones, perceptions of the “way it’s supposed to look” to the internal landscape, or what’s speaking inside of you. Empowering laboring and postpartum clients to listen to their deeper sense of knowing is what makes it all worth it. Our society must focus on the mother and womxn to nurture a healthy planet. It is very important to me that there are support systems and tools in place to equip the laboring person on the “other side”, no matter what the pregnancy outcome looks like.
Every cell of my being is a stand for you having the most positive experience with how you are treated and how you feel in this growing journey.
What does my professional background include?
9 month program to become a Certified INNATE Postpartum Care Provider
16 hour DONA Approved Birth Doula Workshop from BINI Birth
Certified Lactation Education Counselor through UC San Diego Extension
6.5 hour Bereavement & Loss Support for Families with SLO Birth & Doula Collective
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management & Protection
with minors in City & Regional Planning and Sustainable Design, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
10+ years experience in interpretive outdoor education and programming for families and educators
Training with Creative Mediation in mediation and conflict management
Permaculture Design Certificate through Living Mandala
What are some of my strengths?
laughter and finding the joy in the little things; not taking myself too seriously and sharing myself very openly, bringing that out in others
holding space for people by honoring grief and rage and supporting you to move through whatever it is in a healthy way
love stretching and body/heart/mind connection
dancing and singing with/to your baby or you just because
making broth and whole foods snacks and meals for postpartum client and/or baby and partner
involving the partner and birth team in postpartum planning and care of Mother
taking great pictures and making sure the Mother is in the photo
takes initiative before being asked to do anything
nature connection and suggesting ways to incorporate it inside or nearby your home
gardening, of course! and sharing some garden gifts with my clients!
Why do I identify as a full spectrum doula?
“Doulas are most commonly known for working with families and individuals through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, but there is a growing movement to expand the doula model of care to support a broader range of situations. Doulas who operate according to this philosophy are known as “full spectrum doulas”, states co-authors from a blog post on Joy collective. Although I have my own beliefs, experiences, and bias… as a labor support professional, I honor the choices and circumstances of others and am willing to listen and support them to the best of my ability. I’m also seeing the need for end-of-life doulas, intergenerational wisdom, and holding space for each other as we walk each other into this life and out of this world.
Values In Practice
HUMILITY| self awareness, checking my own bias often
ALIVENESS | full of energy and spirit, being with emotion and feeling deeply
JOY | looking for the enjoyment in all I do, laughter as medicine
CONNECTION | with all of nature, ourselves, and every relationship
EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH | interventions based in science, not fear
ANCESTRAL WISDOM | innate knowledge within ourselves, honoring ancestors
FORGIVENESS | gentleness with myself and others in perceived wrongdoing, desire to release negative emotions in order to treat myself and others with respect
INCLUSIVE | of race, ethnicity, immigration status, national origin, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, primary language, ability, or socioeconomic status