I am a committed birth advocate and educator, as well as a supportive, attentive, and responsible caregiver, thrilled with the chance to work with you to promote the vision you have for your birth experience. I believe in the power and instincts of women to birth their babies and am truly honored to participate in such a transformative time of life. I am committed to promoting and fostering education, empowerment, and choice in the birth process and during the period surrounding that time. It is a joy to watch families achieve the birth experience they both desire and deserve!
I started my career as a critical care nurse at Virginia Mason Medical Center and worked in that area for five years. In total, I have worked as a nurse for 7 years in multiple settings, including doing work in maternal health in a western region of Kenya. I also have a Master of Public Health, in which I focused primarily on maternal health and the importance of healthy fetal development, healthy delivery, and early support. Specifically, I examined and learned about the importance of good maternal care, healthy fetal development, and postpartum support in laying the groundwork for health throughout life, ultimately creating better health in whole communities. Through all of this, I have also seen the great need for better maternity care and birth support for women and so recently received training as a birth doula from the Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations.
Having had the opportunity to successfully walk with several families through the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time, I have discovered my great enjoyment in educating expecting families and am now working towards a childbirth educator certification as well. I am also a certified BLS instructor and offer family, hands-only, and infant CPR training to expectant parents and their families. I continue to take additional trainings at every opportunity to continue to grow in my knowledge and experience in this field.
When not serving families as a birth doula, you might find me knitting or crocheting, playing the piano, running, cooking (and eating!), and, as often as possible, hanging out with my beautiful niece Tess. In addition, I currently serve on the boards of two non-profits – one is a community center/coffeehouse in the Greenwood neighborhood and the other is an international health non-profit that runs a health clinic and HIV care center in western Kenya. Being involved in both of these organizations affords me the opportunity to use my knowledge and excitement for maternal health in other ways, as well as offer my knowledge and experience in public health and program development. I have a strong passion for global health and believe the doula role is vital in resource-limited areas where women often lack access to trained birth support that is culturally acceptable and appropriate.
My Certifications:
ACLS Certified
Certified BLS CPR and First Aid Instructor
PALS Doulas and DONA International Certifications (in progress)
My Training and Experience:
Critical Care Nurse, Virginia Mason, 2006-2011
Intern, Public Health – Seattle & King County, 2010-2012
Birth Doula Training, Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations, 2012
Passion for Birth Lamaze Childbirth Educator Training, 2013
Ready, Set, Rebozo!, Sharon Muza, 2013
REACHE Conference, 2013
Education:
Bachelor’s in Nursing, Calvin College
Master’s in Public Health, University of Washington
My Experience/Specialized Training:
Placenta Encapsulation
Hypnobirthing Techniques and Support
Birth and Newborn Photography
Teen Parents
Nutrition
Board Member of Med25 International
Family, Hands-only, and Infant CPR