About Me
I've called Albany, NY my home for most of my life. My road to becoming a doula had many twists and turns, but landing here has been one of the most rewarding things in my life. I have a Bachelors degree in Sociology, and a post-grad certificate in Public Health. I taught English as a second language in Thailand. I've worked in early childhood services and retail management, never really feeling like I'd found my calling. I guess I would have to say the discovery of my passion in birthwork started while I was pregnant with my first child. Prior to getting pregnant, I said the default "as long as the baby is healthy" to friends and family but I wondered; Didn't I matter too? What were my options? Did I even have any?
Researching my choices in birth led me to the prospect of hiring a doula. I had faith that I could be strong enough to birth this child as I wished, but knew I needed extra support in order to do that. I did hire a birth doula and between that action, and researching my care providers and birthing location thoroughly, I ended up satisfied with my experience. It was here that the seeds were planted for my future work. I was pregnant again with my second, and hiring a doula again was a no-brainer. The third time around, I had pregnancy complications, and birth as I knew it turned upside down. Hiring a doula was more important than ever. It was during this time that I trained to become a birth doula with DONA International. I've also become certified to teach childbirth education with Lamaze International. This summer, I added on extra training to become a certified VBAC link doula, to better support those desiring a vaginal birth after cesarean.
I would be so honored to share my knowledge of birth with you and to be a calm presence on one of the most important days of your life.
