My Philosophy:
The memories of our births can be very vivid for years afterward. For years I could remember what it felt like to have my second son placed on my belly right after he was born – all warm and wet. And  I’ve realized now that I’m not alone in this phenomenon. I’ve heard other women’s birth experiences and found that they too were changed by the experience. It didn’t seem to matter whether the labor was easy or hard, long or short, or even if it ended in a cesarean. The things that seemed to make the difference as to how she viewed her birth were – Was she cared for? Listened to? Respected? Was she part of the decision-making? Did she feel she had some control over how her birth was managed?

My goal, as a doula, is to help the couple in any way that I can to have wonderful memories of working together to bring about the birth of their child. I encourage dads to be as involved as much as they feel comfortable.  I really enjoy helping Dad so he can help Mom.  I feel that I’ve been successful as a doula when their birth memories are of each other – not how great their doula was!  Birth is a special bonding time for couples and I love facilitating that!  It’s a profound rite of passage in their relationship as they grow their family.

I’ll help couples with whatever kind of birth they want as long as I know they are informed about the risks and benefits of their choices. My desire is to help the mom, especially, have a birth without regrets, and the more the couple is informed about labor, delivery, natural methods, and interventions, the better equipped they are to have the birth they envision.

My Passion:

My passion for being a doula is based on my belief that birth is such a unique and wonderful challenge in a woman’s life, and if she’ll trust her body’s ability to birth and go with the power of labor, rather than fighting against it, it will be a rewarding experience for her. The sensations of labor are very powerful.  Having the mental attitude that these sensations are normal, powerful, and coming from her own body, helps the mom to let go and to not fear the next contraction, but to welcome it knowing that it gets her that much closer to holding her baby!

Studies show that the safest and most satisfying birth is one with as little intervention as possible. In the book, Easing Labor Pain, the author writes, “Many people assume that the more pain relief a woman gets, the more positive her birth experience will be. But this isn’t necessarily true. The way a woman gives birth profoundly affects her self-image. A mother who can experience her labor with minimal or no medication usually forgets the pain quickly and may feel afterward as though she mastered a difficult challenge. A large-scale "Parents" magazine poll found that, compared to women who took no medication during vaginal deliveries, medicated women were significantly more likely to feel they would want to do things differently next time.” So, even though a woman’s birth experience is a short period of time in the whole scheme of things, it has a long-lasting effect on her. This is why I believe that all women can benefit from the use of a doula.

 

My Journey:
In 2005, I started approaching pregnant women at my church asking if they’d like a volunteer doula. I was so excited when one couple said, “Yes!”  So I started my reeducation to be able to advise them and prepare them for their first baby. It was such a rewarding feeling knowing I had helped this couple achieve the birth they wanted, and I couldn’t wait to do it again! Over the next five years I was a volunteer doula for four other births – two single moms, one set of twins, and the first couple’s second child. And that started me on this journey! In April of 2012 I started the process of getting certified as a professional birth doula, and I became a CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) certified labor doula in May of 2013!

My Interests:
I love to hike and take pictures with my husband, especially in Rocky Mountain National Park. I love spending time with my sons and their families. I believe that exercising, eating organic foods, and using as many natural products as possible will keep me active and healthy for years to come!  I also love to sew and create original pieces of clothing – an art my mother taught me years ago.