Back in 1991, I attended my first birth. I was my sister’s labor coach, I was 18, and I had no idea what I was getting into (even though I went to all the hospital birth classes with her). This was the first time I had ever seen anyone give birth, and I tried really hard not to see anything from the waist down. When the midwife asked me if I’d like to cut the cord, I shook my head and said, ‘No way. It looks like a telephone cord.’
Fast forward to 2009 when, after two previous “meh” hospital births, I had a life-changing homebirth experience. I was transformed! I couldn’t have done it without an amazing childbirth class, a cultivated sense of autonomy, and the support of the team I built around me. After this experience, I felt called to support expecting families.
I became a CAPPA certified childbirth educator and a DONA trained birth doula in 2010, and in 2014, I had another fantastic homebirth.
In 2015, after years of supporting families, and realizing that one of the biggest obstacles to a positive birth experience is the American maternity care system, I became an Evidence Based Birth(R) Instructor and am now an Instructor Emeritus.
Because I realized that my birth experience was intrinsically linked to my health, I went on to become certified as a Health Coach through the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute in 2016, with the goal of offering more holistic prenatal support.
In 2019, I joined the team at Soshe to develop curriculum for the first-ever childbirth prep app. I am currently one of two instructors in the birth prep videos, and I am also a coach to Soshe app users.
I believe that childbirth can be a transformative and affirming experience for birth givers, and I’m humbled anytime I’m able to support individuals who embark on this transformation. I also really, really, try to remember my 18-year-old self and provide the nurturing care that I needed as a birth partner. Some of the greatest birth outcomes I have seen are a direct result of very supported birth partners. They are often the secret sauce to an awesome birth.
I am always learning and growing through my experiences in supporting new families, and I am thrilled to be a long-time member of CAPPA!
