Professional Training
- Certified as a birth doula through DONA International and PALS Doulas – CD(DONA), CD(PALS)
- Certified as a postpartum doula through the Northwest Association of Postpartum Support – PCD(NAPS)
- Certified International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) certified childbirth educator – (ICCE)
- Certified Happiest Baby on The Block Certified Educator – (CHBE)
- Continuing Education Chair and Member of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Association for Postpartum Support (NAPS)
- Infant, Child and Adult CPR and First Aid, Annually
through American Red Cross
Nationally recognized training of preparedness skills to respond to emergencies in infant, young child and adult victims
- Northwest Doula Conference, May 2011
- MAWS Conference, May 2011
- Breastfeeding Help Beyond the Hospital Stay, April 2011
- Third Party Reimbursement and Doula Business Practices, March 2011
NAPS Continuing Education presentations on how to successful manage a doula business and support clients in attaining third party insurance and health saving account reimbursement for doula services
- REACHE Conference, March 2011
- Night with the “Sleep Lady,” November 2010
NAPS Continuing Education presentation by Kim West, the “Sleep Lady,” on the topic of supporting infant sleep
- Infant Massage, November 2010
NAPS Continuing Education event taught by local infant massage instructor,
PJ Harris
- Childbearing in a Social Context, November 2010
Lead by Penny Simkin, this Great Starts instructor in-service training covered the ways in which culture has historically impacted childbearing within the United States
- La Leche League of Washington Breastfeeding and Parenting Conference, October 2010
- Babywearing and Cloth Diapering, July 2010
NAPS Continuing Education event taught by local babywearing expert, and cloth diapering/elimination communication expert, Natalie
Singer
- Changing Birth Practices from the Inside Out and the Outside In, REACHE Childbirth Educators Conference, April 2010
Sessions included Eugene Declerq, PhD, MBA, MS on obstetrical statistics and current practices in US medical care; Nicholas Fogelson, MD OB/GYN on using social media to present evidenced-based information; a panel of local nurse managers; and Barbara Hotelling, MSN, WHNP-BV, CD(DONA), LCCE on affecting positive change
- UWMC Lactation Training for Baby Friendly Certification, February 2010
- International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) Conference, October 2009
- Passed the certification exam for the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), October 2009
- Northwest Doula Conference, October 2009
“The Compassionate Doula: Exploring Client Care Through Empathy and Education,” sessions included Eco-Friendly Birth, Compassionate Communication and Boundary Setting
- Question of Choice, September 2009
Great Starts instructor in-service training on teaching about informed choice and self-advocacy within childbirth education classes
- TENS Unit Training, PALS Doulas Advanced Doula Training, September 2009
Training taught by Penny Simkin covering the history, theory and practice for the safe and effective use in labor of a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device which produces an electric current to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes
- Teaching about Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn Training, February 2009
Great Starts Birth Childbirth Educator Training
- Supporting the Journey and Avoiding the Obstacles: Helping Your Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Clients, PALS Doulas Advanced Doula Training, June 2009
- La Leche League of Washington Breastfeeding and Parenting Conference, October 2008
- Northwest Doula Conference, October 2008
Sessions included Veteran Doula Panel with Penny Simkin, PT, CD; Boundary Setting Workshop; Postpartum Support International of Washington; and an Introduction to Hypnobirthing
- Rebozo Workshop, September 2008
Lead by Carrie Kenner as a PALS Advanced Doula Training this valuable hands on training covered numerous ways to use a rebozo (Mexican shawl) to support a woman in pregnancy, labor and postpartum, including an introduction to the importance of movement and energy in birth, hands-on practice using the rebozo in various stages of maternity care, specific uses of the rebozo to encourage optimal fetal positioning, and considerations for using the rebozo in different setting
- DONA International Conference Attendance, 2008.
These lectures and discussion sessions provided valuable advanced training to increase my ability to be an effective doula and to enhance my support of my breastfeeding clients. General and concurrent sessions included:
- “The Fourth Trimester: A New Framework for Making Fussy Babies Calm, Calm Babies Serene and to Help All Babies Sleep Longer” with Dr. Harvey Karp
- “Doulas, Teen Parents and the Power of First Connections: The Illinois Story” with Nick Wechsler and Nancy Sinclair
- “Why Breastfeeding Matters: What You Need to Know and What You Can Do to Help Women Achieve Their Breastfeeding Goals” with Kathie Lindstrom
- “When Mommy Really Wants TO, But It Just Isn’t Working: Supporting the Mother with Significant Breastfeeding Challenges” with Jacqueline Kelleher
- Childbirth Education class series attendance and instructor assistant
- Great Starts Birth and Family Education
- Big Belly Services’ Lesbian Childbirth Immersion
- Penny Simkin’s home, birth center and hospital focused childbirth preparation
- Additionally, I attend other educator’s classes regularly for observation and continuing education
- Basics of Lactation Management, November 2007
Lactation Education Resources five-module course covering: Starting Out Successfully, Difficulties, Breast Pumps and Breastmilk Storage, Breastfeeding the Premature Infant and Alternative Feeding Methods
- Working with Labor Pain, August 2007
Great Starts Birth and Family Education-based class covering pain management and coping skills as well as advanced practice of labor support techniques
- Labor Support Course for Birth Doulas, June 2007
Seattle Midwifery School
