About Me

Me

My beginnings are found in a small town in northern Iowa. There, I eventually met my now husband. After having our roots settled in West Des Moines, Iowa for ten years, our family moved to Central Minnesota in Summer 2020. Before our move across the boarder, we had multiplied to three elementary aged kids and a dog, with the arrival of our fourth kiddo shortly after. I enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, watching documentaries and The Amazing Race, a good view outside a window, quiet mornings and opening our home to friends and strangers. I love my witty husband, witnessing my children learn about this world and getting to teach them about it.

My work

As a doula, my pursuit has been rooted in helping women and their support people know their options, approach birth more confidently, reduce the sensation of fear surrounding birth, and have an overall positive perception of their experience even if things don’t go how they originally desired. When I think of my work, I picture much of it taking place in the living room during the final weeks of a pregnancy, getting familiar with the people I work with to the degree I’m able. We talk about them and this process that is growing their family. As much as possible, I aim to assist in helping clients understand their choices before and during their birth. Then, when their birthing time arrives, my goal is to be a presence of affirmation and a source of physical support throughout the process.

I began this work in 2014, receiving certification as a Birth Doula from DONA International, as a Bereavement Birth Doula through StillBirthday University and have maintained re-certification. I have been a member of CIDA (Central Iowa Doula Association) for seven years and also was employed by one of the Des Moines metro hospitals in the department of Advocacy and Outreach as a Maternity Center tour guide, a program that worked very intentionally to improve the experiences and preparations of families choosing the hospital as their birthing place. I have also received two trainings by Spinning Babies, which aims to educate parents and professionals about optimal fetal positioning before and during the birth process. Additionally, I have completed courses as an Evidence Based Birth pro-member in areas such as Evidence Based Care, Suspected Big Babies and VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean).