Congratulations on your pregnancy and your journey into motherhood! This is a time like no other and no other time will compare to the miraculous and extraordinary events of pregnancy, birth and new parenting.
Certified birth doula (1997)
Nationally certified & licensed massage therapist (2001)
Certified lactation educator and counselor (2007)
Certified newborn massage instructor (2007)
Certified as postpartum doula (2009)
I am often asked what led me to become a doula. My own birth experience launched my interest in childbirth and doula work. I went into my own birth rather naively. Being young and the very first in our social group to be pregnant I didn't have a peer group to learn from regarding childbirth practices. I felt strongly that my young healthy body would serve me well and also had confidence in my ability to birth. In my mind I pictured things going well and hoped to be mostly undisturbed by hospital procedures and technology when I gave birth. I attended a childbirth class, which, looking back was the variety that prepared you to be a good, compliant patient. Hindsight is amazing.
My actual labor and birth were a mixed blessing. Having had the chance to experience laboring outside of the hospital and then being able to compare it with the lack of freedom of movement as well as the insult of hospital procedures was a real eye opener for me. My Dr. recommended using pitocin which resulted in a freakishly rapid, overwhelming active labor and birth.
Afterwards I tried to convince myself I should be happy with my birth outcome. After all, I had a healthy baby, my labor was short, I had avoided pain medications and breastfeeding was going splendidly. Yet I kept thinking about how my doctors “care” had taken what was going beautifully on its own and in a well meaning attempt to improve on nature, fouled it up. I felt like lots of technology had been applied but lamented the lack of any emotional support. My nurse was very nice but had been absent when I needed her most. My husband was wonderful but nervous himself and of course lacked any experience with childbirth and therefor wasn't able to give me the kind of support I needed to cope with the intensity of the experience I had been dealt.
A few years later I read about the concept of doulas. It was a light bulb moment for me. I thought how very different my labor could have been if I had a doula right there at my side telling me I was doing wonderfully, that yes, things were moving fast but all was well. She could have reminded me to relax between contractions. She could have helped me get through transition. I could have even been upright and moving out of bed! A postpartum doula would have been a godsend too. I had expected that I would excel as a new Mom given that I had excelled in everything else I had done previously. It had never crossed my mind that anxiety would overshadow joy that I had expected to enjoy as a new mom. A postpartum doula could have introduced me to the concept of the “mother baby dance” and reminded me that some dance partners are more of a challenge than others but assured me that in time, my little colicky screamer would blossom into a Fred Astair! Being taught some of the baby calming techniques that I now know would have no doubt been invaluable back then.
From then on I excitedly pursued training as a doula. When I certified in 1997 the concept of doulas was new to most. It has been wonderful to see doulas gain recognition over the years.
Working with women and their families in the months surrounding their births is my passion. Helping families get off to the best start possible is such a thrill. I spent many years as a dental hygienist enjoying the preventive aspect of the trade but eventually became restless with the thought of that being my lifelong job description. Looking back, I was the office doula. The dental phobics young and old flocked to me. The holistic aspects of doula and massage work are a perfect fit for me. I particularly enjoy using acupressure with my clients and seeing its calming effects as well as its remarkable ability to facilitate labor and birth.
I have lived on the NW side of Tucson with my husband since 1988. We have a wonderful teenage son (the mom and son dance mentioned earlier has turned out great!) and three crazy dogs. Outside of my passion for working with birth and postpartum, my interests and hobbies include quilting, needlework, hiking and camping.
