Over the course of his or her life, each expectant parent develops entirely individual and unique ideas about birth. We all bring these idea, conscious and unconscious, with us to our births. Ultimately, none of these ideas we have formed are “right” or “wrong;” they are simply a part of who we are as people and as parents. My genuine motivation in the work I do is to help others determine what exactly their beliefs are and what are the roots of those beliefs. It is within that space of “self-knowing” that I believe parents make the best decisions possible for themselves and their babies.

My own experience with birth was definitely transformative and  soul-shaping.  While I had a long-time interest in birth, it was not until I became a parent myself that I knew this was the work I wanted to do. It has taken me a couple of years—and a second child—to put it all together. I feel truly called to this journey which weaves together my passion for birth, education, and empowering expectant parents. Birthing From Within is an approach which reverberates so clearly and deeply with me. I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to share this approach and walk with others along their own paths to birth and parenthood.

My educational and professional work background is diverse. I have a B.A. in Sociology, a M.A. in International Studies, and a M.A. in Public Administration. I have also worked extensively in the non-profit sector, internationally and locally. My birth experience is ever-evolving and growing. That is one of the things I love about this work: I am constantly learning, not only through formalized structures, but I learn so much from the individual families I work with, in class and at their births. I honor their knowledge as much as I honor my own!

While pregnant with our first child, my husband and I had the opportunity to participate in a traditional, hospital childbirth class and a Hypnobirthing childbirth class. Both of those experiences were valuable in their own ways, and I draw on some of what I learned through those experiences. The bulk of my knowledge and the main skills I use come from Birthing From Within, which truly is an extra-ordinary way to prepare for birth and parenthood. I am also a certified birth doula, through three different organizations. Lastly, I have been blessed with the experience of giving birth twice myself and I have been honored to attend the births of others in my role as a doula, as a mentor, and as a friend.

Relevant Professional and Personal Experience:

• certified Birthing From Within Mentor and doula
• certified birth doula (DONA, PALS and BFW)
• training and certificate in lactation education (Evergreen Perinatal Education)
• birth doula and childbirth education training (Seattle Midwifery School/Simkin School for Allied Birth Vocations)
• training in placental encapsulation and birth healing
• training in infant loss and grief processing (PALS Advanced Training and BFW)
• BA in Sociology; MA in International Studies and MA in Public Affairs
• years of professional experience working with couples as a birth doula, childbirth mentor and postpartum doula
• experience serving families during “natural” (un-medicated births), births with interventions (including cesarean births), twin births, VBACs, single parents, high-risk considerations, bed rest, postpartum depression and more
• experience attending births at most all local area hospitals, and births at birth centers and homes
• personal experience with birth (I’m a mother of two children) and breastfeeding, including extended breastfeeding and breastfeeding challenges
• REACHE  (regional childbirth educators) conference participant, multiple years
• member of DONA, PALS, Sound Birthing (BFW Mentor Cooperative), and ICEA