Warm Welcome Birth Services - Serving Growing Families since 1996
Bio & Contact
My interest in birth and women's health as a cultural phenomenon began while I was studying anthropology at Smith College, Northampton, MA. (PBK, cum laude, 1997).  An inspiring guest lecture by Ina May Gaskin (Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth) stripped away layers of fear that I had around pregnancy and birth, and revealed the incredible potential for love, wonder, and even bliss! I concentrated my studies in medical anthropology and women's health, with an eye towards becoming a homebirth midwife. I visited Ina May at The Farm in Tennessee, and in 1996 an underground midwife in Georgia agreed to tutor me and bring me on prenatal home visits; so my practical education began. I attended a birth for the first time that year- and was utterly awed by the power, courage, & beauty of a birthing woman.

In 1997, my first son was born at home. The following year, I began my homebirth apprenticeship with  River Valley Midwives (Amherst, MA).  Soon after, I attended a doula training and began attending hospital births as a doula. In 2002, my second son was born at home, and the following year I graduated with a specialized degree in midwifery from a three-year program at Manna School of Midwifery in Bonita Springs, Florida. In April 2004, I completed my clinicals working at an inner-city clinic in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The physical conditions there were incredibly difficult, but it was an amazing teaching in how "birth happens!" even despite a lack of basic necessities. In August of 2004 I earned the designation of Certified Professional Midwife, a nationally recognized designation offered by the North American Registry of Midwives. In January of 2012 I joined with Jessie Groneman, CPM, to form Warm Welcome Home Birth.
 
I have attended over 230 births in homes, freestanding birth centers, domestic and foreign hospitals since 1996. I've enjoyed teaching new parents and doulas since 2001, and strongly believe that we need many more active doulas, childbirth educators, and midwives. These professionals, in partnership with educated, empowered families can heal birth in our culture and restore to it the power and beauty that are its true nature.
 
...and some personal trivia....Along the way, I have taught art, world religions, anthropology and Spanish in a private high school, marketed residential real estate, and taught yoga classes to adults and children. In my spare time, I enjoy baking organic artisan breads, hiking & camping with my partner & children, heirloom gardening, running, knitting, and dancing with wild abandon.
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Scope of Service: I provide sensitive & supportive prenatal, birth, and postpartum doula services to all constellations of families; including birth for adoption, LGBTQ families, step & blended families, and traditional families of all religions and cultural backgrounds. Singleton, twin, and higher order multiple births welcome. I am available to attend births at Holyoke Hospital, Franklin, Cooley Dickenson Hospital, and Mercy. On occasion I will attend a birth at Brattleboro Hospital or Hartford Hospital. Service area includes: Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, Belchertown, Springfield, Leverett, Sunderland, Conway, Greenfield, Deerfield, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Easthampton, Southampton, Worthington, Cummington, Chesterfield, Florence, Leeds, Montague, Turners Falls, Bernardston, Longmeadow, Westhampton, and more.

North American Registry of Midwives

(413) 203-4479     Warm Welcome Birth Services
PO Box 1703     Northampton, MA 01060-1703