About Me

 

I am the mother of four grown children, and the very proud nana of five beautiful grand-daughters and two grand-sons. Our home is just a short distance from the Great Smoky Mountains and we have lived in the “Foothills of the Smokies” for over 20 years.

 

 “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This couldn’t be truer for me. Even as a child, I always loved being around babies.  I loved to see mama’s breastfeed their babies and knew that one day I would do the same with my children.  Whenever there was position available for Vacation Bible School, school functions, or other events where there would be babies, I was always the first to apply!

 

All my children were delivered naturally, three in hospitals and the last in a birthing center with a midwife.  As my children grew older, I was still very drawn to babies and new or expectant moms.  When it was time to go back to work I thought it would be perfect if I could find a job taking care of families and newborns.  I had no idea of what would be ahead of me!

 

My steps to maternal health care started with me becoming a labor doula. When I first began this journey, I didn’t even know what a “doula” was.  I had talked to friends and family about possible careers, and decided to pray for guidance.  After doing some research, I realized this was a job that had my name on it – it was everything I had ever dreamed about!  Helping families and working with babies! I knew then that I had to become a doula!

I have taken many courses, training seminars and added numerous certifications over the years, but the focus is still the same; helping families and working with babies.  I have been a labor and postpartum doula for over 10 years, and still, I desire to learn more.  I have added Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator, Infant Massage Instructor, Night Nanny and Newborn Care Specialist to my credentials.

 

I am very involved in my community and was instrumental in starting the Knoxville Chapter of BirthNetwork and served as co-leader for approximately 18 months.  I also served as the President for the East Tennessee Chapter of Newborns in Need, which is a non-profit organization focused on providing newborn necessities to be distributed in local hospitals for families in need.  In addition, I served for approximately two years as the Operation Special Delivery State Coordinator and Doula. This organization provided doula services pro-bono for active duty military families.

 

I have enjoyed serving families from different cultures, countries, backgrounds, etc. and I am constantly honing my skills by taking workshops and classes to keep me current and knowledgeable in my field. I consider it a joy and an honor to provide my services to families in the Knoxville area and beyond and I have never looked back or regretted taking the first steps in becoming a doula.

 

Qualifications

 

3,000+ hours of newborn and infant care

Experience with singles, twins, and triplets

DTAP and flu vaccination current

Infant and child CPR Certified

Basic first aid trained

Breastfeeding Assistance

Baby Wearing Help

Certified Lactation Educator, CAPPA

Certified Childbirth Educator, ICEA

Certified Labor Doula, CAPPA

Certified Post Partum Doula, CAPPA

Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Loving Touch

Certified HUG Teacher

Newborn Care Specialist

Advanced Newborn Care Specialist through Newborn Care Solutions

 

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Continuing Education

 

I strive to keep up with the latest evidence-based research and most up-to-date information to better serve my clients. Following is a list of CEU's I have taken over the past few years.

 

ICEA Conference April 2018

 

12 Steps to Mother-Baby Friendly Maternity Services

Birth Ball Basics for Birth Workers

Dueling Doulas

Birth Models That Work-Standing the Test of Time

Evidence on Birth Plans and Childbirth Education

How to Build Bridges for the Sake of Families: Connecting Providers for Communication & Collaboration

Birth Across Cultures

Burnout, Compassion, Fatigue, and Self-Care for Members of the Perinatal Team

Bringing Childbirth Education Home - How to Make Childbirth Accessible for All Families

Breastfeeding makes all the Difference: Breastfeeding's Role in Overcoming Adversity

Panel Discussion with Penny Simpkin

 

Advanced multiple training February, 2017

 

CAPPA Conference October, 2016

 

How Changing Personal Habits Gives Birth to Professional Growth

Respect for the Prenate; Parenting from the Beginning of Life

Dynamic Parent Education for Today’s Millennials

VBAC: A Physician’s Reflection on VBACs and How to Support Them

The Science Behind Skin to Skin Contact

Why Not Home Film Screening

Up in Smoke; The Potential Impaction of Marijuana Use on Babies

Grief in the Petinatal Period, Support and Survival

 

Emory University on-line course – Childbirth: A Global Perspective June 2016

 

Certified Lactation Educator workshop - July, 2015

 

ICEA Conference 2014

 

Why Birth Matters: Exploring the Impact of Birth for Our Families and Future

The Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Mother Nature’s Superb Design

Perinatal Emotions: A Wellness Plan

Anesthesia, Epidurals and Spinals

Current Guidelines for Prenatal Fitness

Backwards Curriculum Design for Labor

Called to the Childbirth Profession: Strategies for Career Pleasure

Enhanced Communication Skills

Birth Trauma: Causes and Consequences of Childbirth Related PTSD

Using Perinatal Education to Support New Parents’ Relationships

Protecting Your Birth Business

Beyond the Birth Plan: Paradigm Shifting for Birth Professionals

The Magical Hour After Birth

Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About: Using Visual Prompts

Fun Tricks for Teaching Breastfeeding

Extreme Childbirth Education Class Makeover

Mother-Infant Sleep Location and Nighttime Feeding Behaviors

 

CAPPA POSTPARTUM DOULA Workshop 2013

 

Below are the major topics. (Sub-topics were too many to list)

The Postpartum Doula

Nighttime care

Counseling & Communication

Cultural Awareness

Postpartum Care of the New Mother

Postpartum Mood Disorders

The Postpartum Family

The Newborn

Infant States

Calming Techniques

Newborn Sleep

Infant Feeding Methods

Breastfeeding

Babywearing

Preemies

Kangaroo Care

Multiples

Grief

 

ICEA Conference – 2011

 

Childbirth Educator Workshop Transforming Maternity Care – Making the Blueprint for Action a Reality

Optimizing Birth Outcomes

Birth Works – Why Don’t We in the United States Know It?

Breastfeeding – Back to the Future

Making Family Centered Care a Reality

 

Dogs and Storks - 2011

 

Postpartum and Family Dogs Webinar

 

CAPPA Conference – 2010

 

You are my World – How a Parents Love Shapes a Baby’s Mind

Teen Moms – Empowered for Success

Leave Well Enough Alone – Natural 3rd Stage Labor

Your Power to Choose – Vaccine Rights

Your Baby has the Power to Give Birth

HUG Your Baby Intro.

Helping Women Achieve What They Want in a Hospital Birth

Building New Dreams – What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid?

 

DONA Conference – 2009

 

How a Doula Can Help a Mother

Birth Trauma: Lessons from Solace for Mothers

The Seduction of Induction Eco-Friendly Birth

Vaccines: Making an Educated Decision for Your Child

How the Miraculous Transition Occurs

When Things Do Not Go as Planned Birth Kangaroo Care and Beyond

The Attachment Needs of Laboring Women

 

Breastfeeding basics

 

Webinar 2009 - www.breastfeedingbasics.org/

 

Professional Organizations

 

DONA International

CAPPA

ICEA

Loving Touch Infant Massage

Knoxville BirthNetwork

East Tennessee Doula Association

 

Speaking Engagements

 

Baby & Co.

Pellissippi Community College

East Tennessee Breastfeeding Colation

Knoxville BirthNetwork

Breast Friends Support Group

Cutie Tooties Cloth Diapering Store