About me

I've been interested in birth as long as I can remember. A couple members of my family were nurses working in or near Labor and Delivery and I loved hearing their stories. In college I majored in anthropology, focusing on midwifery and infertility. I went on to earn a Masters in Social Work and was happiest working with teens, living in therapeutic settings and foster group homes, with many questions about sex. When I started my own family, I returned to reading about birth. I learned through my own deliveries - one a long induction after a partial placental abruption and one blink-and-you-missed-it fast - just how strange and wonderful birth can be. I wanted to learn more. I began attending perinatal health conferences and found I really enjoyed talking birth all day. In 2019, I attended a childbirth education class for doulas, and was pleasantly surprised to find I already knew much of the content. I then attended a four-day doula training. Again the content was very familiar and I had already read many of the required books.  

I then found Emily Bowler. Emily is a DONA International trained doula practicing in the Boston area since 2013. She received her accreditation as a Certified Professional Midwife in 2016. Emily has a Masters degree in Health Education and is a CAPPA International childbirth educator. Emily agreed to be my mentor, and is a wonderful resource when I need to know the best prenatal massage therapist in Belmont or the best IBCLC/lactation consultant in North Easton.

On June 13, 2023, I became a DONA International Certified Birth Doula. I am so very honored to be included and trusted by so many wonderful families. I feel I was made to bring companionship and support to birthing families. As I say to my friends often, "I don't know who's getting all the bad clients." 

I maintain vaccination against Covid, flu and pertussis.

Some of my favorite things include running, cooking (mostly baking sourdough), and hiking in Acadia. I live in Jamaica Plain with my husband, 14 year old (partial abruption, induction, epidural, breastfed with formula supplementing until age three) and 10 year old (car baby, nursed until 14 months old). I spend a lot of time driving to soccer practice and games, but it is not one of my favorite things.

Finally, I am pro-pet. I've worked with families that included dogs, cats and rabbits and loved them all!

"We are holy women when we are giving birth" 

Djappirri Mununggurritji, Elder, Manager of Yirrkala Women's Centre, from the documentary Birth Stories.