Why I Became a Birth & Postpartum Doula

My desire to provide compassionate and empowering doula care began with my family and friends. As I stepped into pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood, I was often surprised by all the things I didn’t know. I struggled with breastfeeding, returning to work, and being a new parent with my first son. Thankfully, I had friends who were able to listen as I cried and celebrated, who texted me encouragement in the middle of the night, and who reassured me after the occasional anxious Google search. After the birth of my second son, we moved away from our supporting village, and I struggled with loneliness, rage, and exhaustion as a stay at home parent. These experiences along with my love of learning and supporting others led to my pursuit of doula training and certification with ProDoula.
It is an honor to be with parents as they walk from uncertainty to confidence, and I consider my role to be a “spotter” while they exercise new parenting muscles. Often, we simply need to know we are not alone as we do hard things, which is why I try to bring a calm and friendly presence in this time. Along with walking with families in this major life transition, I love being able to help with the practical things like playing with a sibling, helping with food prep, tidying or doing light housework, and holding the baby so parents can eat or shower. Each person and family are different, so I prefer to tailor my care based on their unique strengths, challenges, and needs. My ultimate goal is to help all my families transition in a way that empowers them to parent with confidence and health.