I began my interest in birth at a young age, watching and re-watching my Mom’s video on preparing for childbirth. My education has always been littered with women’s studies classes and books about childbirth. Interested in midwifery, I took my doula training course in 2003 and have since attended training for breastfeeding counseling, perinatal loss, and childbirth education. I attended my first of many births in December of 2004 and joined the Bami-Ondaadiziike Doula Group in 2007. I recently began my own journey starting a family and gave birth in January 2010. I love working with birth and am thankful to have experienced some of its ups and downs.
Through it all, I’ve learned that birth is not something that you can control, but it is what you make of it. With a positive perspective and a bag of tricks, doulas can help manage the different stages in ways that are comfortable for each person, as well as help coping with the challenges along the way. This special time brings with it new emotional and physical changes, whether it’s a first child or any number after. As doulas, we offer support while exploring the options available throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.