I first became fascinated by birth when I unexpectedly discovered my cat, Coconut, having kittens early one summer morning. At the time I was still in high school and had never heard of a doula, but I was so impressed by Coconut’s ability to birth so intuitively and without any assistance. A couple years later, while studying Social Work and working as a Crisis Worker in Austin, Texas, I learned about birth doulas and how high-quality birth support can result in less unnecessary interventions and improve birth outcomes. I felt called to become a doula myself so that I could do the honor of supporting families through the life-changing experience of childbirth. I completed Sacred Doula Training and earned my Birth Doula Certification through Big Belly Services after relocating to the Pacific Northwest in 2017. As a Birth Doula I have used inclusive, evidence-based practices to support a variety of birthing experiences, including unmedicated and medicated births, inductions, and cesarean births. I am also trained to use TENS in labor, and I have served as an assistant to Penny Simkin in her hospital birth and home birth education classes. I believe that families are best equipped to cope with the intensity and mysteries of childbirth when they have excellent emotional and physical support, which is what I strive to provide to all families that I have the privilege to work with. I believe there is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to childbirth, and I take great pleasure in helping my clients find their own unique ways to have an extraordinary birth experience. Rate: $1200