About me
My professional background is in education. I hold a bachelor's degree in anthropology and philosophy from Mount Holyoke College and a master's degree in secondary social studies instruction from George Washington University. I was working quite happily as a Humanities teacher at one of the nation's top high schools when the birth bug bit.
In 1998, I gave birth to my first son in a Northern Virginia hospital. My labor was 17 hours long but I found it manageable with the use of Lamaze techniques and the support of my husband, mother, and midwife. This experience transformed my life in so many ways. I found childbirth to be an empowering experience. It increased my self-confidence and I now understand on a very personal level why birth is called a peak experience and a developmental milestone.
Shortly after the birth of my son, I decided to try to help others to have the kind of transformative and empowering experience I had and I entered Lamaze's rigorous training program (see Lamaze Certification). I was certified by Lamaze as a childbirth educator in 2000 and I currently teach Lamaze and other birth-related classes at least once a week.
When I became pregnant with my second son in 2001, I learned about the remarkable benefits of doulas and I hired one. My second labor was short but intense and, again, a wonderful experience. It was New Year's Eve, there was a beautiful full moon, and I did things my way and was well supported in doing so. After this experience, I decided to become a doula myself and began the certification process with DONA (see DONA Certification). I was certified as a birth doula by DONA in May, 2004.
While I still write curriculum professionally, I no longer work as a high school teacher. Most of my time these days is spent caring for my two young sons, teaching childbirth classes, and working to build my practice as a doula. I feel so lucky to be able to pursue my passion for working with pregnant women and their families!