I was born and raised in Madison, the eldest of three children. I have always had an interest in working with children and families, and have worked in childcare since before I can remember! When I was 16-17 years old, I got to know a mom of four who had recently split with her partner and was pregnant with her fifth child. I often babysat and served in a "mother's helper" type role for her family over the course of about six months leading up to her birth. She did not have a lot of support, and as we had gotten close, she asked if I would come to her birth and be her support person. I did, and it was an experience that had a huge impact on me- I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be a part of helping women to have beautiful births and welcome their newest family member. I declared pre-nursing upon entering the University, thinking I would be a labor and delivery nurse, but quickly realized both that the rigid medical curriculum was not for me, and that the role of an L&D nurse would not allow me to provide support in the way I had hoped. I toyed with some coursework in Psychology for awhile without declaring anything as a major for a little while, and eventually decided on the Human Development and Family Studies major (BS) as my focus, which is what I am in the midst or getting now. However, something happened in the interim which steered me back towards my original calling of working with birth- I found out I was expecting my son, Braeden. While researching options for our own birth, I learned of the role of doulas, and I had the "aha" moment- that was what I had essentially done several years ago for the mom whose birth I attended. Encouragement, massage, suggestions, getting water and food, reading to her, singing to her, providing a hand to squeeze during pushing- that was not the role of the nurse, nor the doctor- that was a doula! At that point in time, I had lacked the terminology, as well as the research and knowledge which is key to effective practice as a professional doula, but I had experienced instinctively the most important part of this work, which came naturally to me as a woman supporting another woman through the experience of childbirth- unconditional support, empathy, and compassion. And despite additional knowledge and training to help me be more effective in my role in prenatal planning, advocacy, and assisting the partner or spouse to be a primary source of support, the basic communication skills and caring and compassion for others continue to be at the root of birth work and my interactions with the families I come into contact with, no matter the situation.
Training and Education:
*ALACE/toLabor Labor Assistant workshop- Chicago, IL:
October 23-25, 2009 (26 hours of training)
*Small Miracles Volunteer Doula Program Orientation/Training- November 2009
*UW-Madison- current student- Human Development and Family Studies program, focus area in Child Development
*In progress- CBI Lactation Consultant and Postpartum Doula certifications
*Foundations of Lactation course- Middleton, WI:
April 11, 2010 (6 hours of training)
Birth and Postpartum Experience:
I have birthed one child myself with the support of a doula, and have attended six births as a doula or primary support person (as of April 2010), including two with experienced doulas as mentors or co-doulas, and four on my own as primary/only doula, and including postpartum support for one mother. I helped with breastfeeding initiation in five of six births, and am still nursing my 14 month old son, giving me personal experience in breastfeeding as well as practical experience. I occasionally serve as a back-up doula to other doulas in our community.
