I have been involved with birthing since 1983 with the birth of my first son. I was a Labor Coach from 1983-1986, helping 100+ women through labor and delivery. I also taught Childbirth classes and lactation. Then I took some years off to raise my five children. I maintained touch in the delivery room and at home births while attending and coaching my friends who were having babies. When my youngest daughter turned 12, I made the transition back into the world of birthing.
My passion is women mentoring women. In everything I do, I try to pass my experience on to others. So if I am making jam, helping a woman birth her baby, creating a henna design, making soap, or working on relationships, I’m always trying to learn, and pass on what I have learned. I believe we all have something to give and something to receive, and in that process we can make this a better world. I believe women can work together in cooperation and camaraderie instead of competition and cat fighting. We need each other.
I’m a Christian and am very spiritual, but not at all religious. My faith has an impact on everything I do and influences the choices I make each day. I am a breast cancer survivor. In 1999, I was treated for two types of breast cancer. I truly believe everyday I live, I experience the gift of life. I live in Kent, WA and work primarily in South King County, Seattle, and the East side, but am willing to travel depending on your circumstances.
My Training
In the 80’s I was trained in Visalia, CA, by Dr. Harlan Ellis who wrote the revision to Grantly Dick-Read’s book Childbirth Without Fear.
Formal Training
- Labor Support Course for Birth Doulas – Seattle Midwifery School, June 2006 and September 2008.
Continuing Education
- Epidural Realities, March 2007
- New Trends in OB Anesthesia, March 2007
- Supporting the Woman with an Epidural, March 2007
- Labor Pain Medications & Breastfeeding: Impact & Interventions, March 2007
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) Unit Training, November 2007
- Advocating for your Client, November 2007
- Acupressure for Doulas, November 2007
- When Survivors Give Birth, Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women, January 2008
- More than Coming Out of Birth Alive, January 2008
- When a Baby Dies: What to do? Providing Support to the Grieving Family and Caring for Yourself, March 2008
- Exploring the Forces Behind the Cesarean Epidemic, April 2008
- Rising Cesarean Rates: Clinical Influences; Risks to Mother and Baby, April 2008
- Cesarean Trends: Economic, Legal, and Political Factors, April 2008
- Cesarean: The Personal Impact, April 2008
- Education on Cesarean Birth: Finding the Right Perspective, April 2008
- Rebozo work for labor, September 2008
- Placenta Preparation, October 2008
- CPR: Infant and Adult, July 2010
- Passion for Birth Training, April 2011
- Birthworks: Ina May Gaskin, May 2011
- Trauma Stewardship, November 2011
- Reache: Birth, Baby, Breast, March 2012
- Northwest Doula Conference: Refresh, Recharge, Rejuvenate, May 2012
- CPR: Infant and Adult, July 2012
- Swedish Hospital Doula Training, September 2012
- Henna Body Art for Bellies, February 2013
- Reache: Just Passing Through the Pelvis, March 2013
- Postpartum Doula Training, February 2014
- Reache: Who’s Birth is it? March 2014
- Herbs for Birth and Postpartum, April 2014
- Belly Binding and Sealing Ceremony, May 2014
- CPR: Infant and Adult, July 2014
- Henna Belly Art Training, November 2014
- Reache: Preventing the Primary Cesarean, March 2015
- Midwives Association of Washington Conference, July 2015
- Best Treatment Practices for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, July 2015
- CPR: Infant and Adult, August 2020
My Birth Philosophy
My passion is women mentoring women. In being your birth doula I can pass on to you what I have experienced while birthing my own children. I believe a woman’s body instinctively knows how to give birth and that through education and support of the process, a mother can better relax and have a positive, empowering birth experience.
Birth will change your life forever and I want to help empower you to trust your body to give birth without fear. I believe talking about and being educated about birth will have a tremendous impact on how completely you trust your body in this task.
I believe that you have the right to choose how and where you give birth, as well as who will care for you during your experience. Additionally, you should feel safe and secure in your birthing environment.
Your needs will be my single focus while you labor and give birth. You can have what you need, when you need it, and you should not feel guilty about asking. The inclusion of family members, especially a woman’s partner, will have a tremendously positive impact on the birth experience. I believe in supporting your partner, while they support you, and not taking over their position. Their support may be as simple as looking you in the eye or holding your hand. I will work with you and your partner at whatever level of involvement they want to provide.
I believe that you should be able to cope with your pain in exactly the right way for you, whether relaxation techniques, position changes, massage, medications, or a combination of any or all of these things. I like to talk about birth as hard work rather than as a painful experience, and I can help you prepare for this hard work, “labor”.
I believe you have the resources within yourself to have successful birth whether it is vaginal or cesarean, making your birth a success.
My Birth Experience
400+ births: natural; water birth; home birth; birth center; VBAC; medicated; epidural; planned cesarean; unplanned cesarean; emergency cesarean; stillbirth; known complications; IVF; adopted embryo IVF; gestational diabetes; adoption; relinquishing; birth defects; premature; twins vaginal; twins cesarean; pre-eclampsia; female circumcision; miscarriage. Mother with diabetes, mood disorder, PIH, STD’s, and more.
Puget Sound Birth Center, Evergreen, Overlake, Swedish Ballard, Swedish First Hill, Swedish Issaquah, Valley Medical Center, Highline Community Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Group Health Central, Auburn Regional Medical Center, University Of Washington Medical Center, St Elizabeth, Saint Francis Hospital, Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
Contact me for more information on my experience and availability.