After my own positive birth experience (see in my Instagram highlight “birth story”), I was flooded with memories of how many women shared their stories of trials, disappointments, and even trauma from their birth experiences.

The fire was ignited.

I cannot express to you the righteous indignation I feel whenever I hear of a woman whose feelings were ignored, whose natural process was interrupted, or who was scared into situations without all of the information to make an informed choice (if a choice was even presented). It is because of these stories and experiences that birth has become, to so many people, something to be feared.

But I believe that growing and bringing a life into this world is a beautiful, messy, and sacred process that connects women to their God-given power.

I believe that whether you give birth at home or in the hospital, vaginally or via cesarean section, with medication or without, EVERY. SINGLE. WOMAN. deserves to feel empowered, loved, and in control.

This comes through education, information, and support of your motherly intuition.

This comes from feeling safe, feeling complete trust, and willingness to be vulnerable.

I believe that moms, their kids, and the world will be a better place when women have birth experiences that empower them and provide the best environment for them to form the strongest bond on Earth, a mother and her child.

In the largest systematic review done regarding continuous support, 21 randomized control studies with information from 15,000 women were analyzed and revealed staggering numbers. This information is evidenced based with NO KNOWN RISKS. Translation? There is nothing to lose in hiring a doula, but so much to gain.

(The following is an excerpt from the DONA Birth Position Paper)

“According to a summary of the findings of this review, doula-supported women were:

- 28% less likely to need a cesarean section.

- 31% less like to use synthetic oxytocin (pitocin) to speed up labor.

- 9% less likely to use any pain medication.

- 34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

Obstetric outcomes were most improved and intervention rate most dramatically lowered by doulas in settings where:

- the women were not allowed to have loved ones present.*

- epidural analgesia was not routine (when compared to settings where epidurals are routine).

- intermittent auscultation (listening to fetal heart rate) or intermittent (vs. continuous) electronic fetal monitoring was allowed.”

What do these facts mean for you?

It means that having a doula supported birth is not only for those who want an unmedicated birth.

Hiring a birth doula is most beneficial for preventing avoidable medical interventions when mom and baby are both healthy.

Having a doula present has the highest improvement in positive childbirth EXPERIENCES, no matter how mom chooses to proceed.

And of course, all of this is most effective in settings that are supportive of mom’s birth plan and have evidence based standards of care.

*This does not mean that doulas are best if they replace partners. This just means that if partners were not allowed, women benefited from continuous support vs. being alone/with only hospital staff. Please see services to learn more about how doulas support partners and facilitate their involvement.

Family

My husband and I started dating when we were 17 years old and we married 5 years later.

I have two children, one son and one daughter.

I am a middle child, right in between my two brothers.

We are very close with both my parents and my in-laws, and live within 20 minutes of both.

Hobbies

I consider myself a lifelong athlete. I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and even swam for a Division I team in college!

I love to be outside. Near water, in the mountains, a nature walk at the park, I love it all!

We are a competitive family and are always up for a game night.

Education

I have a Bachelors of Science degree in speech-language pathology/audiology with a minor in psychology. I also have a Master of Arts degree in speech-language pathology. I have been a licensed, practicing speech therapist for 4 years in the medical setting.

I attended my DONA approved doula training program in 2021.