Tender Touch Doula

A Little About the Doula

My Background

I became very passionate about all areas of pregnancy, labor and birth during the pregnancy of my first daughter in 2006.  Through my own research I decided that I wanted to have doula present during my delivery and I feel it was that decision that resulted in a wonderful birth experience It was shortly after the birth of my first daughter in 2007 that I began my doula journey. I wanted all women to know that they had options in pregnancy and birth. That having a drug free delivery could be beautiful and exciting, something that is rarely being portrayed in mainstream media. I also have a firm belief that there is no one right way to experience birth and that choices in birthing options are highly personal.  I now have two beautiful daughters ages 4yrs and 3yrs and I have been married to my husband for 10 exciting years. My husband is very supportive of my doula services and is always on call when I need to leave at a moments notice.   

Education and Experience

I graduated in 2005 from the University of Science and Arts with a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in Liberal Arts.  I attended a DONA approved doula training in March of 2007. I became a certified birth doula in 2009 through DONA (Doulas of North America). In 2011, I became trained in TENS unit and advanced rebozo use during labor and delivery. Also in 2011, I attended the Breastfeeding Educator workshop sponsored by Oklahoma WIC. I am also a member DACO (Doula Association of Central Oklahoma) and BirthNetwork International. I have had experience with medicated and non-medicated births, Cesarean, VBAC, IVF, inductions, a variety of ages for first time parents, long and short deliveries. 

I have experience at the following hospitals: OU Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital, Lakeside Womens Hospital, Integris Baptist Medical Center (Baptist Hospital), Mercy Hospital, Norman Regional Hospital, Moore Regional Hospital, Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Commanche County Hospital and Jackson County Memorial Hospital.

  My Approach as a Doula 

I feel very comfortable with the birthing process so I bring a calmness to the birth environment.  I listen to you and learn what is most important to you and your husband before the birth so that I can help facilitate the birth you desire.  I work well with those in the birth environment including dads, family, nurses, and doctors. I do not take the place of dad or dominate the environment.  I am familiar with techniques that will aid in bringing the baby down and also help relieve as much discomfort as possible during labor and delivery.  I am extremely hands on so I will do whatever I can to help both the mother and father during pregnancy, labor and delivery.  While you are in labor I offer lots of verbal, physical and emotional support but if I see that you would like a quiet time or less touch I will follow your lead.  I trust a mother's abilities to have the birth that her body has the power to deliver. As a doula I will not push any of my beliefs on a client because this is not my birth experience. It is my goal that you go into the birth of your child with the tools necessary to make decisions that are right for you and your family. I want you to have the best possible labor and delivery and will support you in whatever decisions you have made before, during and after delivery.

Two weeks before the birth of our first daughter