Birth Worker
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About
I want you to have the most “you” birth experience possible, whether that’s at home, in a hospital, with or without interventions. If you value communication, honesty, science, following your intuition, humor, and movement, we can work together.
I first witnessed the power of a birthing body 20+ years ago, when invited to welcome my nieces, two really different, but incredible adventures. Those experiences stayed with me as I pursued a career as a circus performer, with many other jobs along the way.
I became a birth worker in 2020, when the pandemic pushed me into semi-retirement from the circus. I had been coaching aspiring aerialists for ten years, and feel that many of those skills translate into assisting folks as they grow their families. Performance, birthing, and parenthood require vulnerability, stamina, self-confidence and trust; my varied background has prepared me to help you navigate any path you take.
My training includes the following: DONA Certification granted August, 2021 Continuing Education courses with Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings (BADT): Abortion Doula Course, April 2021 Queer & Trans Reproductive Support Course, August 2021 Fertility & Conception Support Course, April 2022 Workshop: Spinning Babies® October 2021 Certified Lactation Support Counselor, March 2022 Workshop: “Pelvic Shape, Fetal Positioning, and Obstetrical Bias: The Role of Pelvic Shape Classification and Optimal Fetal Positioning in the Perpetuation of Bias in Childbirth”, Blossoming Bellies, February 2023 The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death: Workshop: “Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss”, April 2023 Workshop: "Understanding Trauma for Birth and Death Doulas", May 2023 Twin Magic for Doulas, Carriage House Birth, June 2023 Acupressure for Birth, Maranda and Evan Bussanich, December 2023
My Services
I support you typically as a solo doula, but am also proud to be a founding member of the Sunnyside Doula Collective. We are a small group of doulas who work together to provide backup for each other. In the unlikely case I would become unable to provide support, one of my colleagues would cover for me, to make sure you are not left without support.
Birth Package (solo)
The birth package includes 1 or 2 prenatal visits in your home, to go over your preferences, birth plan, q&a, etc. I will be on-call for you from 37 weeks through birth with anytime phone/text support. When your labor begins (spontaneously or as scheduled) I will meet you at home/place of birth, as determined in your prenatal meeting, and stay with you post-birth until feeding is established and you feel ready to have private family time. I will visit you at home within 2 weeks postpartum to follow up.
Other offerings
I also offer support in the following areas:
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postpartum meal prep
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daytime postpartum care
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for clients during their preconception experience
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those seeking to terminate their pregnancies
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those who desire additional lactation support
Please contact me to discuss these situations, as pricing and packages vary depending on circumstances.
Doula partnership
Sometimes two is better than one! If you desire, I sometimes work in partnership with my fellow Sunnyside Doulas, primarily Angelica Kennedy or Jasmine Thorson.
When working as partners, we both attend your prenatal and postpartum meetings, and split the “on call” time for your labor and delivery, similar to many midwifery practices.