gentle journeys

I was born and raised in the Madison area, and have lived on the east side of Madison since 2005. I am married and have three young sons.

I take every day as a learning experience, and doula work is no exception. I learn from each mother, her partner, her baby, and the events that unfold around their pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.  I have held an interest in women’s health and informed choices since I can remember. As I had my own children, this interest became a passion.

With the main goal in mind of supporting breastfeeding, I began studying to become a postpartum doula when our first son (born in 2005) was a few months old. My work blossomed from there and grew into so much more. I began working with families as a postpartum doula in summer of 2006. In that time I also began co-facilitating the Birth Healing group, and teaching Fertility Awareness Method. I worked with several families before becoming pregnant with our second child, which led to taking a bit of a break.

Our second son was born in 2007. His birth, which was very well supported led me further down this path. Empowering, amazing, life changing!

I returned to postpartum work six months after he was born, and attended a DONA birth doula training in April 2008. I began offering birth services around the same time.

I attended births until my third trimester with our third son, born in 2009. I began accepting postpartum clients when he was five months old and will begin accepting birth clients with due dates in late summer 2010. I believe that being in the midst of my own parenting experience gives me perspective and empathy... I am right there with you!

Education and Experience

I have worked with over 35 clients during various stages of childbearing.  No two are the same! 

As most any doula will tell you, my education is ongoing. I spend a lot of my time active in our local birth community, and simply talking with new mothers about their experiences. That is the best education I could ask for.

My training and includes a DONA birth doula training in April of 2008 and training with Small Miracles (Madison's Volunteer doula program) I also self study midwifery and am seeking membership in the Fertility Awareness Network. I am an active member of Doulas of South Central Wisconsin, and am currently working on the steering committee for a grassroots organization, Friends of Wisconsin Midwives.

I consider myself a resource for clients, and encourage them to explore information on their own. A lot of what I provide you as a doula is helping you find current information, and to make sure you have resources in place when you need them. 

In addition to being trained and up to date with birth related information, I have worked to gain knowledge and experience to support early breastfeeding. I have done this both formally and informally, through attending various classes and observing.