When a close friend of mine, Melinda, asked me to attend her birth in January, 2008, my journey to becoming a doula began. Melinda and her family opened up their home to share in the process and support of the birth of their third child. She was an inspiring and strong teacher in the reality of the birth world. Two years later, as I look around at my community here in Ashland, I view the children that were once taking the journey to life and I think of the work of the mother and child. I always wish that their experience was filled with empowerment and choice.
As a woman who has never birthed, I am honored to be able to help support other women and those who care for them. I have been able to doula for families in two spectrums of the birth world and have attended births in homes with a midwife as well as a hospital. Both have taught me to empathetically understand the needs of each mother. Every woman is entitled to have the birth they want to create without interference and being a doula helps to support them in their own diverse process and empowerment with birth.
I live In Ashland where I spend my time with good friends, a huge lake, forests, gardens, music, elementary children in an afterschool program, and dream daily about opening a community supported children’s center for little ones.