I fell in love with childbirth by birthing at home — no interruptions, exams or measuring progress, just quiet laboring throughout an otherwise unremarkable October evening until a baby girl spilled out into my arms.

This simple, steady process that my body carried out — how could it be so profound? I had thought that life was about effort, achievement and doing. But this wasn’t a performance — it was a simple, steady process that my body showed me.

And then suddenly, the energy that once went into developing myself was redirected toward another human being.

I went on to apprentice with homebirth midwives in Texas and California, eventually training as a doula under the late Cheri Grant, "The Peanut Ball Lady," a veteran nurse and trainer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, meanwhile enjoying a career in journalism.

Today, I focus on bringing women and families into confidence for childbirth as my life's work. My husband and I live rurally on 40 acres alongside a creek, where I grow food and flowers and enjoy volunteering as a CASA, supporting children in foster care. And that baby girl has made me a grandmother to four boys.

I love being alongside other women as they explore how to birth, and expanding and developing myself as a doula. One of my most fruitful endeavors was certifying as a Perinatal Patient Advocate — learning to navigate the medical system, get you meaningful information, and communicate with the birth team. I am inclined toward as simple an approach as possible, while holding gratitude and respect for skilled care.

A doula will ease your discomfort, save you money, raise your joy and satisfaction and help you avoid interruptions to the natural course of birth! I help make sure that you feel respected, heard, informed, and lovingly cared for — whatever choices you make for yourself, your baby and your family.

To ask me questions and share your story, values and goals, you can text or call me at 479-957-4235, or schedule a call with no obligation.

I serve families throughout the Ozarks, including Benton, Washington, Madison, Carroll, Boone counties and southwest Missouri.