Certification(s) and Experience: My passion for birth was first ignited in 1981, with the birth of my niece. I have been working as a birth and postpartum doula since 1997. I originally did my training with ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators). I completed my midwifery training in 2005 and am currently working toward CPM certification. I have worked in hospitals, homebirth practices, a birth center, and a women's health clinic. I have attended births both in the U.S. and overseas and bring a rich cross-cultural perspective to my practice. I have also completed an apprenticeship program with Rosemary Gladstar, a renowned herbalist, and bring that herbal training to my work with women in their childbearing cycle.

• Labor and birth support in hospital
• Homebirth (Massachusetts & CT only)
• Herbal products for pregnancy and breastfeeding

More information: As part of an undergraduate study I did research on midwifery among the Maya people of Guatemala. To find out more about this go to www.lulu.com/mayamidwives. I have three lovely boys. I find that my own experience as a mom is an enormous asset to my doula/midwifery practice.

What I provide as a professional birth assistant:

As a professional birth assistant (doula) I work for you, helping you to create the atmosphere for the birth that you want.  I provide emotional support, suggestions to enhance your comfort and the effectiveness of your labor, support for your partner so he or she doesn't have to "do it all," and confidence that comes from knowing you and the experience of attending other births. 

Another important function is that of an objective consumer advocate, helping you to weigh your own desires, the medical data, and desires of the attending midwives or physicians.  In this way I am a sounding board for your own considerations should difficulties arise.  As a professional birth assistant, I am not there to make the decision for you, only to offer you information and another perspective on your choices.

Every woman can benefit from experienced labor support.  Women report in clinical studies that they feel more satisfied and happier with their birth experience when they have had a birth assistant.  They are also less likely to use drugs to handle labor pain, and are much less likely to have a cesarean section. 

Women who have had previous cesareans or unexpected birth experiences, teen mother, and women classified as "high risk" especially benefit form labor support.

If you are in recovery from substance abuse, physical or sexual abuse, or a previous traumatic birth experience you may have issues that will affect your current birth experience.  Being able to confide your fears and feelings to your support person can turn feelings of vulnerability into feelings of empowerment.  There is no shame in your situation, only a greater need for support and understanding.

As your doula, I work for you.  I will be there throughout your labor and several hours postpartum, providing continuity through nursing shift changes and doctor or midwife visits.  My goal is to provide you with emotional and physical support, so that you can relax and fully participate in the birth experience.

Doesn’t the nursing staff take care of some of these responsibilities?  While nurses are usually compassionate and caring, they are not able to forge a relationship with you before your labor.  Shifts also change every eight hours, making continuity of care difficult.  The nurse may also have several patients at one time to look after.  When she may like to make suggestions or try a different approach, a hospital or doctor’s policy may keep her from doing so.  A nurse’s first loyalty is to the hospital rather than the birthing couple.

Doctors, and even some nurse-midwives, are usually only present occasionally during the labor and then for the last moments of birth and offer little if any labor support.  It is quite possible that the midwife or doctor you have chosen will not be “on-call” that day, and will not attend your birth.  They often have several patients at one time. As your birth assistant I will be with you throughout labor and several hours postpartum, making sure you are settled with your new baby and breastfeeding is off to a good start.

The quality of the birth experience has a profound effect on the birthing woman, her partner and the newborn.  In fact, research suggests that it has a life-long effect.  Having a doula can make all the difference in favor of a positive, fulfilling, and empowering birth experience.  It is an investment in the long-term well-being of you and your baby.