I have been a doula and childbirth educator for 35 years. I am the founder and former director of Blossom Birth Services , a freestanding non-profit childbirth education and resource center located in Palo Alto which has served the Peninsula for decades now. I formerly taught at Alta Bates, Kaiser, Stanford hospitals and several other non-hospital venues including Blossom, Birthways, Then Comes Baby, Natural Resources and Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Having provided doula support to over 600 women and their partners, I still feel honored to be a part of each miraculous birth whether prenatally, during labor and birth, or postpartum as a certified placenta encapsulator. I believe that my unconditional support can make a significant difference towards creating a calm, safe environment that enhances confidence and creates a more relaxed atmosphere for optimum clarity and comfort.
I have trained dozens of doulas through my doula trainings and continue to mentor these wonderful women as they begin their birth work and create their own practices.
While enrolled at the National Midwifery Institute, the completion of my midwifery apprenticeship at Pacifica added an even deeper understanding of the needs and challenges presented to birthing families whether at home, hospital or birth center. A well-rounded understanding of the alternatives available adds to the richness of opportunities for providing tailor-made education and services to explore.
Additionally, I have come to love placenta encapsulation and have processed over 500 placentas to date. I also certified as an instructor and enjoyed teaching Dancing for Birthâ„¢ classes in a lovely dance studio near my home.
My eclectic involvement in birth, in its myriad forms, is my dream-come-true life’s work. I’m so thankful!