MY story

I was born and raised in the Bay Area of California and grew up very much within the birthing community. Not only was I born in my home in San Francisco, but I accompanied my mother, a nurse, midwife, doula, and lactation consultant, to many births as an infant on her back, and got to hold the flashlight during the birth of my cousin when I was 11.

After studying contemplative education and early childhood development at a buddhist university, I went on to work with young children in various ways for several years. I taught preschool at a Waldorf/Steiner inspired school and also created my own seasonal and forest school programs. 

My work continued to evolve and I found myself closer and closer to individual families, eventually taking on the role of nanny for a few households. Working closely with these families as they welcomed their first, second, and third children into the world, I enjoyed seeing the differences that made each of these families unique in their approach to the world. This quickly took me full circle back to my beginnings and I became a Doula! No two families are alike, therefore each family that I work with allows me the unique opportunity to gain insight on yet another way of living in the world.

 I discovered a love of traveling while studying alternative schools in India. I met my partner while volunteering after the tsunami in Thailand. Our relationship required us to travel and we spent several years riding our bicycles around the world, eventually landing in Bristol. What intrigued me about each new place I visited were the various ways that people lived, how the norms and values were different than what I knew and was used to but still worked within each community, I saw that each culture, each community, each family, and each individual had their own path and that no one path was more right than the next. These insights have carried through to my daily life and work.

I now have two beautiful boys of my own, each born at home, but in different countries, giving me insight into how different maternity care can be. They are little wildlings who fill my days with energy and laughter as well as lots of other noise! I enjoy tending to my garden, foraging, cooking, baking, building, and making art. I love all things creative (isn't birth the ultimate creation?). I enjoy a strong yoga practice and love to get outside in nature, particularly in the sun, but I'm adapting to the British weather.

Working as a Certified Doula now allows me to dive even deeper into the understanding that how we come into this world, and the values that surround us as we grow, have a direct impact on who we become. As a Doula, it is not my job to tell you how to do things, or to place judgement on you and your values and abilities, but rather to give you evidence-based guidance that will help support and empower you to live by them fully. I love my work as it gives me the great privilege to be a part of that growth and development.