I have been a doula for over 5 years.

My personal birth experiences have included a vaginal hospital birth augmented with Pitocin and an epidural, 2 cesareans, and a twin HBAC (homebirth after cesarean.) My first birth was a planned hospital birth with a CNM who practiced with a group of OBs. One of the OBs ended up being on call when I delivered. My second birth was a planned homebirth with a CNM but I had a c-section with an OB. My third birth was a planned homebirth with 3 lay midwives. You can read more about my births in the "birth stories" link. I think it's safe to say that I have personally experienced a wide variety of births. Any future children that I have will be born at home, God willing. I hope to have a waterbirth in the future.

My professional experiences have included supporting mothers with natural births, births with pain medications and epidurals, home births, water births, breech births, twins, VBACs, and cesareans. I have references available upon request.

I am a LLL Leader and an ICAN leader. I am DONA-certified and a volunteer doula for Operation Special Delivery. I am also active in our local Mothers of Multiples club.

Click here to read about why I became a doula.

I strongly support breastfeeding and have experienced a lot in that category as well. (See "Breastfeeding Tips" for more about lessons I've learned.) I believe that nearly all mothers can succeed at breastfeeding with the proper encouragement, information, and support. Sometimes there are challenges but the reward makes it all worthwhile.

I am a "cloth diapering addict." I have a vast collection of cloth diapers in every form imaginable. It was only recently that I finally able to part with some of the diapers that my oldest son wore as a baby. I began using cloth when he was about 4 months old. We've been hooked ever since. My last 5 children have never worn a disposable diaper... we even use cloth when we go on vacation. I love these diapers so much that I started my own business making them and selling them. I have since sold my store (www.purplecaterpillarcreations.com) but I still sew custom diapers by request for friends.

I am currently homeschooling my two boys and plan to continue homeschooling all of my children. I've included some information about it in the "Parenting Articles" section. I attended public schools myself but I had some wonderful experiences in a program called SIGNET that our school system developed for gifted students. I am drawing on my experiences there to get interesting ideas for teaching my own children.

Besides being a mom, wife, and doula, I also like to read, sew, knit, paint, take photographs, sing, ski and skate. Although there is not much time for reading these days, I do have an extensive lending library of books about parenting and childbirth. I sew just about anything, including cloth diapers and clothing! I also like to paint murals and children's furniture.

Holding my second child (Joshua)

My Children

Me, my husband, and our 6 children (Fall 2008)