Doulas are healers.

When I think about my journey so far and what led me to choose this path of being a childbirth professional, I can't help but feel like this path actually chose me in many ways. Ever since I can remember--I have always been fascinated by childbirth. I remember  questioning my mother about every aspect of her growing body with the pregnancy of both my brothers. When I began high school, my mother would bring me used childbirth/biology books that I would read. I remember this was the first time I really started to imagine myself as a doctor--specifically as an Obstetrician. During those next four years, my interest in biology took a detour in Marine Biology since my high school had this specialized program as part of their curriculum. It wasn't until I found myself pregnant at age 18 that my thoughts of pursuing a path as an OB returned to the forefront of my consciousness.

As a young soon-to-be-mother, I felt quite alone and unprepared for what was to come. No one offered me any information or support outside of the pamphlets that decorated the waiting room of my doctor's office. I was not encouraged to take childbirth education classes and I didn't know at the time that I should research this. There were no YouTube videos or iPhones, nor were there any support groups for pregnant teens in my neighborhood. I simply followed the suggestions of my OB-- tried not to scratch my belly, and filtered through all the unsolicited "advice" I got from friends who had not been pregnant themselves. During my labor, I remember staring at my mother with tears in my eyes, and I asked, "Why didn't you tell me it would hurt this bad?" I honestly don't remember her response, but I can still recall the anxiety and fear I had around having my baby. A moment that I imaged to be beautiful became an extremely traumatic event for me. It was then that I promised myself when I became an OB I would make sure I taught all my patients about their bodies and what to expect during pregnancy.

As my interest in pursuing the OB path grew, I soon realized that supporting other women in the way I had dreamed of--teaching and sharing information with patients about their bodies and what to expect during pregnancy was not exactly a focus in the OB world! I had to shift my path a bit. Instead of pursuing the OB career path, I switched to pursuing a career as a midwife. The midwifery standards of practice align with my personal holistic views and as I learned more about birth culture and history it became abundantly clear that Midwifery was my true calling and all of the experiences, choices, and paths I had taken all been leading me to this moment! It didn’t take long for me to discover what a Doula was. I have been working as a Doula now for 3 years and I am thankful every day to be fortunate enough to live a life where my job is also my greatest passion.

As a doula,  I am passionate about helping you understand your journey by providing you with unbiased evidenced-based information about your pregnancy in a way that is personalized to your individual needs. This includes information on prenatal medical procedures, laboring medications, and mental health and wellness. Few things are scarier than the fear of the unknown and it is my mission that mothers who work with me will never have to look anyone in the eyes during labor and feel as hopeless and powerless as I once did.

Together, we will explore the more Serene side of pregnancy and birth and make efforts to avoid the chaotic narrative we often see in American hospitals.  We will focus on aligning the mind and body with the spirit and take a more holistic approach to your pregnancy and birth.  

Credentials

My path to becoming a childbirth professional officially started at George Mason University where I graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience.  I completed doula training with the International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC), currently Shafia Monroe Consulting, and Perinatal Community Health Worker (PCHW) at Mamatoto Village in DC. I have also completed additional certifications in Crystal Therapy, Reiki,  and Herbs & Nutrition for Pregnancy and the Postpartum.

Let’s Meet! Things are better in person!

I invite you to contact me for a free initial interview to discuss my services further. Every family has individual needs and desires and as your doula, I want to make sure your plan of care is tailored accordingly. I allot up to 45 mins of time for our meeting; yourself and/or your partner can ask any and all questions. Please provide your information below and I will be in touch shortly.