A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

I am a Certified Perinatal Doula and received my training through the Community College of Allegheny County in partnership with Masters of Maternity.

I was educated extensively in prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum support, including but not limited to:

• breathing techniques

• birthing positions

• breastfeeding support

I support parts of Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, and Allegheny counties in Western Pennsylvania. Reach out to see if I serve your area!

Doulas nurture and support women throughout labor and birth. Their essential role is to provide continuous labor support, no matter what decisions the client makes or how they give birth. Importantly, the doula’s role and agenda are tied solely to the agenda of the woman giving birth. This is also known as primacy of interest. In other words, a doula’s primary responsibility is to the one giving birth—not to a hospital administrator, nurse, midwife, or doctor.

A doula will focus on providing you with physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational support throughout your labor. This may look like a labor massage or assisting with water therapy; providing you with reassurance, encouragement, and emotional support; or providing evidence-based information or guidance for decision-making during your birth. Your doula will also help you advocate for your needs and preferences, ensuring that your voice is heard and respected at all times.

A doula is not a medical care provider. We do not offer medical advice or provide clinical treatments, make decisions for you, or pressure you to make a particular choice for your care. Doulas do not take over the role of your partner, nor do we perform clinical tasks like monitoring your blood pressure, checking your baby's heart rate, or catching your baby.

Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for women and their babies in pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum stage. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family.

If your partner will be with you during labor, they are already fulfilling a very important role. They are the person in the room who knows you, and your preferences, best. They are bringing an amazing tool to your labor - their love and support. But they are not your doula.

A doula is an impartial third party that can support both of you during your labor. Most partners will experience a range of emotions during labor, from joy and excitement to fear and nervousness. Many will forget all of the helpful tips or tricks they learned in birth class when the pressure is on. It is very difficult for someone to fully support you when they are managing their own intense emotions in a stressful setting!

A doula can help you both navigate your emotions and any guide you through any unexpected changes to your birth plan, allowing your partner to be fully present with you as your partner instead of as your birth attendant. Your partner is the expert on you. A doula is the expert in birth.

Together, we can create an amazing platform of support to make sure you've got an incredible support team around you as you prepare to meet your baby.

Doulas support ALL births. Doulas do not have any agenda and offer non-judgmental support. A doula's job is to help you make choices that are right for you - what those choices end up being are not important, so long as they are yours. Doulas are trained to support all kinds of births - at home, in the hospital, with midwives or doctors, medication free or with pain medication, vaginal or caesarean.