It wasn't until the birth of my first child in 2004 that I truly became drawn to this work. I was a typical first-time mother; excited, a little nervous, with ideas about what I wanted to happen during the labour and delivery of my baby. I read a lot of books, wrote a birth plan, and "coached" my husband about my birth preferences.
When the big day finally came, I felt a little unprepared for how focused I would be on my body, which left me unable to verbally convey my wishes to hospital staff much of the time. As the hours wore on and nurses changed shifts throughout the day, my constant support was the quiet reassurance of my husband. When interventions were suggested, my husband became an advocate for me, reminding everyone of our birth plan and asking for more time. Without him in my corner, the birth would have progressed very differently, and I would probably remember it today as a negative experience.
Months later, while processing the events and listening to the birth stories of other women, I realised that not everyone is fortunate enough to have someone on their birth team that is totally in their corner. I saw how important my husbands role was to my own positive birth memories, and the Doula in me was born.
I enjoy facilitating communication between families, and encourage new parents to discuss their birth preferences well before labour begins. My job is not to replace other members of the birth team, but to act as a guide and help families feel confident enough to speak up for themselves. My hope is that each woman will remember her birth feeling empowered, and knowing that she was in control of the choices she made - no matter what the outcome.
Professional Membership & Affiliation
Childbirth International
Birth Arts International
International Institute for Complementary Therapists
Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean
Australian Doulas
Training & Education
2006:
Parenting & Women's Life Center Breastfeeding Class
Birth & Beyond Childbirth & Infant Care Class
Childbirth International Birth Doula Training
Parenting & Women's Life Center Prenatal Education Class
Babies R Us Road To Motherhood Seminar
2007:
Birth On Labour Day Red Tent Event & "Birth; The Play"
Great Expectations Infant Massage Workshop
Great Expectations Bellydance for Pregnancy & Birth Workshop
American Baby Childbirth Educator Conference
Kansas City Doula Conference
Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) Bereavement Training
- Caring for the Family Experiencing Perinatal Loss
- Communicating With the Bereaved
- Theoretical Framework of Grief
Baylor College of Medicine Natural Family Planning
2008:
Childbirth International Postpartum Doula Training
Birth Arts International Childbirth Educator Training
- Childbirth International Birth Doula Certification
- National Caesarean Awareness Day Conference
2009: *Took time away from birth work due to international relocation - moved from the USA to Australia.
2010:
Small Business Management (Certificate IV)
Birth Arts International Advanced Women's Herbal and Aromatherapy Course
- Pregnancy, Babies, & Children's Expo
- Australian Doulas Skill Sharing Workshop
- Connect Groups Safe Spaces Workshop
- Hypnobirth Perth Hypnobirthing Course
2011:
Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula Course
Soundbirth for Labour Workshop
Client Testimonials