Did you know that giving birth leaves such a huge imprint on your body that your mind will remember every detail of your birth? You can ask a 90 year old woman to tell you about her birth stories and she will recount every detail just like it was yesterday. Getting a CHOICE in your birth REALLY DOES matter and everyone's choices are different.

My family is quite unique…I am the oldest and also the second youngest…My parents' marriage was my fathers second marriage and I have the privilege of having two older “half” sisters. In my parents marriage I have one biological younger brother and then 5 adopted siblings that were adopted through foster care. I had the unique timing of becoming pregnant with my first child at the same time my oldest sister was pregnant with her fourth and my second youngest sister was pregnant with her second. It is quite unique to look at three sisters that have birthed a total of 12 children (5 by C-section, 5 vaginally and 2 by emergency c-section). The majority of the way we birthed, we each chose. I was extremely lucky to have these two to talk with and chat with while experiencing my first pregnancy. 

My exposure to birth, however, happened way before I became pregnant. In my early 20’s I mentored teen moms in a program called Woman to Woman. We were matched with a teen mom or pregnant teen and were sent to weekend residential intensives with them for three days to learn and grow and bond together. I did this for many years and eventually led the three day retreats. I saw a lot of births and a lot of choices being taken away from these moms. This created a desire for exactly what I want and the support I wanted when I decided to have children.

*When I had my first child, I knew nothing of doulas but I had my sisters and a close friend that had birthed the way I wanted to birth. 

*When I was helping so many of those girls in the hospitals, I didn’t know what I was doing was called being a doula.

*When I picked a team to help me with my first birth, I had no clue that the woman I had to help me was actually helping in the modality of being a doula. 

*I just knew that I needed support too.

Even though my mother was present toward the end and my partner was with me, I recall having that person whose job was solely to support and help me made a huge difference. Having someone that is there just for you and your partner without any judgements, makes a huge difference. I was fortunate to be very exposed to birth and to know exactly what I wanted. Because of this, I was able to pull together a team that supported that. This is where my love for birthing, advocacy and understanding the impact birth has on a woman and on a family were created. Because I want to be able to give this same experience to others, educated empowerment and support. Because I realize that no matter your background, experience or circumstance, you deserve support. When you are 90 years old, recounting your birth story for someone, I want it to be positive, to be filled with understanding and for you to recall  feeling supported and greatly empowered too.