A doula is a trained professional that provides emotional and physical support before, during and after birth. As a full spectrum doula, I provide birthing people with support through all birthing experiences and outcomes, including loss and fertility. In addition, I have been trained as a Reproductive Health Educator and can offer support and education for cycle awareness, conception, and birth control options. In short, a full spectrum doula is there to offer you continuous and judgement free support throughout your reproductive journey.

A doula is a non-medical support person. While I can support you physically and emotionally, I do not offer any medical advice, or medical care. A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who is responsible for the health and safety of you and your baby. A midwife will administer medications as needed, perform cervical exams if necessary, and monitor you and the baby during labor. Midwives, as well as Labor and Delivery nurses, may also be able to provide you with some emotional and physical support during your labor. Because this is only one aspect of their jobs, their support may not be continuous. This is why having a doula in addition to your healthcare provider is so important. As a doula, I can focus 100% on supporting you and you alone. Although our work is quite different, doulas and midwives make a great team!

Currently, I do not work directly with any insurance companies. However, some companies- including CDPHP- will reimburse you for doula support. I will provide a receipt and fill out necessary paperwork to help you receive your reimbursement.

Some insurance providers will also allow you to use FSA or HSA accounts for doula support. Please reach out directly to your insurance company to find out if you qualify.

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." -Dr. John Kennel

Studies have shown having continuous support from a doula improves birth outcomes and the birthing person's overall experience. Researchers have found, birthing people with continuous support from a doula have:

-31% decrease in the use of Pitocin
-28% decrease in risk of Cesarean
- 12% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
-9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
- 34% decrease of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
-Shorter labors
-Less likely to need vacuum or forceps-assisted birth
-Babies that were less likely to have low APGAR scores at birth

Click here,and here for more information on this research.

Your birth partner is an essential and important part of this experience. Your partner knows you, and your doula knows birth- this makes us a great team in supporting you! Your partner may also experience their own intense emotional journey as you give birth, and will have their own needs to tend to during your labor. A doula can provide support to both you and your partner as you welcome your baby into the world. Some partners may not be as familiar with the process of birth, medical procedures or the hospital setting (if that is where you are birthing). Having the knowledge and experience a doula brings with them can be calming and helpful to both you and your partner. Doulas can provide new ideas and tips to partners while they support you during labor, can answer questions as they come up, and allow your partner to take breaks when needed without feeling as though they are abandoning their partner. In fact, the research cited above shows that outcomes are best when both a doula and a support partner are present. Additionally, fathers were more likely to view the birth as a positive experiences when a doula was present.

Item descriptionDoulas are trained to support birthing people through any type of birth! I like to think of doulas not only as physical and emotional support- but also as a resource for evidence based information to help with decision making. If you know you want an epidural ASAP I can help explain the process and what to expect during the procedure. I can teach you which labor positions are compatible with epidurals, and which additional comfort measures you may need. Once pain medication is administered, I will continue to be by your side to support you throughout your birth.

If you are unsure of your pain management options- a doula can help you get all of the information you need to make the right decision for you and the baby.

There is no judgement when it comes to how each of us birth our babies. Doulas are here to support you and help facilitate the kind of birth YOU feel is best for you.

The same applies for a scheduled or unplanned cesarean birth. You will receive both emotional and physical support throughout birth, and a doula can be extra helpful postpartum as you recover.

Any time! Many birthing people wait until they begin their third trimester, while others start searching as soon as they get a positive pregnancy test! The longer we have to work together, the more we can get to know one another, and the more I can learn about your pregnancy experience and your expectations for birth. Additionally, there are more families looking for a doula than there are doulas- so I tend to be fully booked about 6 months in advanced. This is why I usually encourage the earlier the better. That said, if you find yourself looking for a doula at 37 weeks- it's never too late! Doula support is beneficial regardless of how long we work together prior to birth.

I believe that nonjudgmental support and evidence based information is essential for all reproductive events. I provide support during:

-fertility treatments
-pregnancy loss
-conception
-pregnancy complications, such as: bedrest, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, etc.

The kind of support that is desired vary greatly from person to person, please contact me to discuss support options.

CLCs, or Certified Lactation Counselors, are individuals who have successfully completed training, have passed a criterion-referenced examination administered by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP); and have demonstrated the clinical competencies and skills required to provide safe, evidence-based counseling for pregnant, lactating, and breastfeeding families.

I take pride in being well informed and up to date on most recent best practices. In addition to my training required for certification, I continue to take several lactation based continuing education courses and attend lactation conferences each year.

Currently, I do not work directly with any insurance companies. However, most insurance companies will reimburse lactation support from a trained lactation specialist. I will provide you with a super bill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. I recommend you reach out to your insurance provider directly to see what kind of coverage they provide for lactation support.

Yes! CLCs are trained to provide education and support for all kinds of infant feeding. Whatever your specific plan or circumstance is- we are equipped to help you have a meaningful, and positive experience feeding your baby.

It is NEVER a lactation specialist’s job to try to influence or judge the way you choose to feed your child. I hope to create an environment where you are given the necessary information to decide how infant feeding will work best in your family, and will support you in that choice!

For our initial visit, we will discuss you and your baby’s medical history that is relevant to breast/chest feeding, discuss your personal goal and desires for feeding your baby. We will go over what a typical day looks like at home with your baby, and any pain or discomfort you are experiencing. I will observe you feed your baby and may offer hands on support (always with your consent only). These visits range from 1-2 hours depending on your package. All of my packages include a written Care Plan that is personalized to your specific needs and follow up communication.

It is not within a CLC’s scope of practice to diagnose or treat ANY medical conditions. While my goal is to educate you on what issues may be occurring, I will always refer you to your healthcare provider for any medical issues. If you need help finding an appropriate healthcare provider, I have many recommendations in my service area that will be shared with you.

While it is within my scope to give you evidence based information on medications and any potential risks and uses for medications, I am not able to prescribe and all concerns should be addressed with your healthcare provider.