|
BioI was born at home with a doctor and midwife in attendance. Later, I witnessed the home births of my two brothers. These experiences fostered a deep fascination with birth, motherhood, and babies in me. I was breastfed, watched my brothers breastfeed, and met my best friend forever at a mother’s breastfeeding support group. I attended some public school but we also homeschooled.
I attended St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland and received my BA in 1998. That same year I married and began a career as a religious educator in the Unitarian Universalist church. I received recognition as a Credentialed Religious Educator (CRE). This means I've thought a lot about how people of all ages learn and grow, and how to help them learn and grow. My work in congregational settings has taught me a lot about how to work diplomatically and supportively with people of all kinds in a variety of settings. I also had the opportunity to work pastorally and educationally with expectant and new parents and their babies as they grew into children. My own children were born at home with midwives in attendance in 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2012. My experiences with pregnancy and birth have created in me a profound trust and faith in their normalcy. I soon found myself in the position of informal childbirth educator and doula as my friends and family members began to seek my opinions and assistace as they prepared for their own births. In 2007 I began to work formally as a childbirth educator and doula, utilizing both my training and my extensive personal experience. In April 2008 I attended the Birthing From Within® Level 1 Mentor (Childbirth Educator) and Doula training at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee. I attended the Advanced Mentor training in March 2009. These were amazing experiences! I am a Certified Birthing From Within® Doula (2009) and Certified Birthing From Within® Mentor (Childbirth Educator) (2017). |
Where I work: |
