"Be the change you wish to see in the world"
-Mahatma Ghandi
My journey in childcare began when I was fifteen and my favorite cousin gave birth to her first child. From the very beginning, I was completely enamored with him. They lived almost a thousand miles away, but any time my mom and I were able to visit, I would jump at the chance to babysit. I loved playing peek-a-boo and singing silly songs with him, perhaps in part because my own inner child is alive and well.
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Needless to say, when she became pregnant again a few years later, I was ecstatic! This time I was old enough to make my own travel arrangements, and I resolved to be present for every moment that I could. When I arrived, the early stages of labor had already begun, and it drug on for what seemed like forever. I even remember us joking about the baby graduating high school without ever leaving mom's tummy, but eventually, she did finally progress.
I stayed with them until her daughter was six months old to help mom and big brother adjust to life with a new baby. Mostly, this just meant being an extra set of eyes to make sure the kids were safe and cared for when mom needed to shower or catch up on sleep. Of course, I had no idea at the time that what I was doing could lead to a viable career option. It wasn't until she suggested I should that I had even considered working in childcare.
Now, I have found the next step on my path. It has become clear to me that there we have created a system that often misunderstands and overlooks the needs of women in labor. Birth is a very personal experience. No two families are the same, and they shouldn't be treated as if they are. Each mother deserves her own perfect birthing experience. As a doula, I am committed to supporting you in making your birth your own perfect experience.
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I am currently persuing my birth doula certification through Childbirth International, a process which started with a three day doula training workshop and childbirth education course. My training also includes a reading list that covers topics including breastfeeding and postpartum. My certification also requires at least three births attended with evaluations from the family and healthcare providers. I have learned so much already on this journey, and I have only just begun. I can't wait to see where this will take me.