About
What is a doula?
Doulas are able to provide a number of services to birthing people and their support team to prepare them for birth, regardless of birth preferences or location. I act as a constant on your birth team, allowing for continuity of care before and after birth. I learn your preferences and advocate for you to have the birth you imagine.
In my work with families, I educate on childbirth, common interventions, and ways to cope with labor. I prepare partners and other support people with a tool box of different support strategies, so they feel confident about their role during the birth. I collaborate with your medical team to ensure the best outcome possible.
My Mission
I founded Pride Doula with the belief that emotional support leads to better health outcomes. No matter your beliefs about birth, you deserve compassionate care.
Being a member of the queer community has strengthened my conviction that all bodies deserve respectful, compassionate, and culturally humble care. I take special pride and personal interest in serving queer parents.
My Process
My work with each family is unique. I customize my process based on communication and learning styles, requested information, trauma history, diagnoses, values and birth vision. It is my process as a doula to guide the birth team through a process of reflecting on their values, learning about the physiology of birth and what to expect at their place of birth, and establishing preferences that will enable them a prideful experience.
Education
Service
DONA, Postpartum Training, 2024
Certified Birth Doula (DONA), 2024
DONA, Birth Doula Training, 2023
DONA, Childbirth Education Training, 2023
University of Vermont Medical Center Volunteer Doula
Service hours: 96
Birthing Gently Community Doula Advocate
Service hours: 36
DONA, Lactation Training, 2023
DONA, TENS Unit Training, 2023
University of Vermont Medical Center Volunteer Doula Training, 2019
Spinning Babies, 2024
Experience
I have experience supporting medicated and unmedicated births with first, second, and fourth-time parents, queer parents, low-income parents, autistic parents, non-native English-speaking parents, sexual assault survivors, people with depression, and parents of color at Kaiser (San Leandro and Redwood City), UCSF Mission Bay, CPMC, and John Muir Walnut Creek.
I am part of a collective of doulas with similar values that ensure back-up support for clients, in case it is not possible for me to attend your birth.
I am fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and hold professional liability insurance.
