Get to Know Me Better

I am a mom to three beautiful children, and I know firsthand how invaluable doula support is. As a Registered Nurse, I thought I was well-prepared for childbirth. At the urging of my midwife, I sought doula support for my first baby. After a long labor and strenuous delivery, I was convinced that a doula should be present at every birth. I would not have had the positive birthing experience I did without my doula’s physical and emotional presence. I knew that I wanted to be a source of support, encouragement, and education to people as they go through the process of having a child. I started attending births as a friend and advocate in 2018. I absolutely fell in love with birth work and was officially trained by ToLabor in April of 2020.

My journey to birth work was not straightforward, but my past experiences only contribute to the knowledge and skills I bring to my work as a doula. I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2009 with a B.A. in Cultures, Regions, and International Development and moved to Ecuador to work with a non-profit doing small scale community development. There I created a Women’s Exercise program and helped start a Nutrition Program and Preventative Health Clinic. This only solidified that I wanted to work directly with individuals in the pursuit of health and wellness. I returned to the United States and worked for a home healthcare company in Northern Virginia. My husband and I moved to Richmond in 2012 so I could attend nursing school, and I currently hold my BSN. I worked in an acute care setting (Neuroscience Progressive Care Unit and Surgery Trauma ICU) for 7 years. Birth work brings all of these worlds together. I understand how to provide culturally competent care, I understand the physiology of labor and delivery, I know how different healthcare institutions operate, and I love helping individuals take charge of their own health. 

When I’m not helping people navigate the transition into parenthood, you will probably find me in my kitchen. I love to cook! I’ve recently been baking a lot with my girls (which requires a TON of patience, but it’s worth it to see how proud they are when their treats come out of the oven). I also love music and gardening. We dance a lot in our house, and a spontaneous dance party in the kitchen with my family is one of my favorite things.