I fell in love with childbirth by giving birth at home — no vaginal exams or interruptions, just quiet laboring throughout a still October night.

Fascinated by the experience and how it changed me, I then apprenticed with homebirth midwives in Texas and California, but instead ended up enjoying a fun and interesting career in journalism. Then in 2015, expecting my first grandchild, I trained as a doula under the late Cheri Grant, "The Peanut Ball Lady," a veteran nurse, author, and doula trainer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I felt precisely where I was meant to be!

Bringing women and families into confidence for childbirth is my life's work and greatest passion. I am now a grandmother to four boys, an avid gardener and cook, and a CASA supporting children in foster care. My husband and I live rurally on 40 acres alongside a creek, where we grow food and quietly enjoy our season in life.

I am constantly expanding and developing myself in this work. One of my most meaningful pursuits was certifying as a perinatal patient advocate, which means I trained to navigate the medical system, to get you meaningful information, and engage in excellent communication among the members of your birth team. Overdiagnosis is proving to be one of the most harmful and costly problems in modern healthcare, particularly in obstetrics, and I do support as simple an approach as possible while always holding gratitude and respect for skilled care.

Having a companion in labor is proven to accomplish several things: to reduce discomfort, save you money, increase your joy and satisfaction, and to reduce interruptions to the natural course of birth. My role is to remain alongside you, ensuring you feel respected, heard, informed, and lovingly cared for — whatever choices you make for yourself, your baby and your family.

I would love to answer any questions you might have and to hear your story, and about your values and dreams. 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.