Professional Biography
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My journey into birth work began organically when I supported a close friend through two of her birth experiences during my college years. These profound moments captured my heart and soul, planting seeds that would later flourish into my life's calling.
Years later, a serendipitous newspaper article about Birth Doulas illuminated the path forward. Those words on the page switched on mental light bulbs that had been waiting to shine. I promptly enrolled in a Birth Doula training, where I spent the entire workshop nodding and smiling from ear to ear, recognizing that I had found my purpose. Nine months later(!), I took the leap of faith, leaving my full-time career to embrace doula work completely.
That same year, by wonderful coincidence, the DONA International conference was held in San Francisco. Again, I found myself immersed in conversations and connections that affirmed I was exactly where I belonged. During the conference, a young, vibrant doula and student midwife approached me, collecting contact information to connect local doulas. This chance meeting led to a small gathering in her living room—the genesis of the San Francisco Doula Group.
 Our monthly meetings held in various Doulas' homes became sacred spaces. We shared delicious food, hosted professional speakers, and engaged in powerful conversations about everything from interviewing techniques to supporting perineums to prevent vaginal tears, from extraordinary births to challenging ones, and our own health journeys. We went on retreats together, brought each other coffee while supporting clients in labor, and created an invaluable community where I felt truly at home among my soul sisters. This network provided critical back-up support and emotional sustenance.
My evolution continued when I discovered Natural Resources, a nurturing haven for expectant and new families in my San Francisco neighborhood. Drawn to become part of this organization, I pursued certification as a Childbirth Educator. By 2005, I was teaching the core prenatal classes—Childbirth Preparation, Lactation, and Newborn Care & Behavior. When the facilitator of the Postpartum Doula Training transitioned to homebirth midwifery, I enthusiastically stepped into the role of training new Postpartum Doulas.
My Doula work revealed a particular passion for supporting lactating parents, prompting me to further my education to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). After my own children were born, I returned to school for my nursing degree. As a Maternal/Child Health Nurse and IBCLC, I've worked across multiple settings, including Labor & Delivery, Antepartum, Postpartum units, and currently in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
Throughout this journey, I continue to follow my path—working with new parents and creating meaningful differences in people's lives that truly nurture my soul.
