Growing up in Virginia, as the daughter of a birth worker, it wasn’t abnormal for my mom to disappear for hours in the night and return the next day with sleepy eyes and a story to tell. It was routine to do my homework in the background of birth circles, listening to women share their birth stories through both laughter and tears. It wasn’t unusual to accompany my mom as she delivered care packages filled with handmade blankets and aromatherapy pillows to newly postpartum moms. This was my normal.

My upbringing undeniably influenced my path to becoming a doula, but the journey still surprised me. I started babysitting at an early age and eventually transitioned into full-time nannying during my teens and early twenties. During this time, I had the pleasure of caring for several sets of twins (word definitely gets around when you’ve got twin experience!) These years taught me how to soothe and care for many different babies and children—often simultaneously—and gave me a front-row seat learning from parents and observing various family cultures and dynamics.

When I moved to Pittsburgh (for love!) I decided to take another leap and begin my formal education for birth-work. I had spent my entire adult life caring for families, and I wanted to maintain elements of that care while expanding the guidance I could offer. I attended workshops and trainings through ToLabor and Birth Arts International, focusing on birth and postpartum doula roles.

Even while this role was so familiar to me growing up, the trainings opened my eyes and ignited something in me. It made me realize that the holistic support and advocacy for families during pregnancy and postpartum—things I had taken for granted—were far from the norm. I needed to be a part of this, too. With this momentum, I began supporting families in the early days of postpartum and later attending births as well. In 2020, I became a Certified Lactation Counselor through the Healthy Children’s Project, allowing me to offer practical, evidence-based breastfeeding support.

I was a doula before I became a mother. In 2023, I got to experience firsthand the beauty and intensity of this life stage with my first baby. Experiencing pregnancy and postpartum in my own body has only added to the tenderness I handle this role with and reaffirmed how essential support is for families.