DONA International is the leader in evidence-based doula training, certification and education. DONA International’s primary function is to provide excellent doula education and certification to a diverse population of doulas world-wide. DONA promotes the highest quality perinatal support for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people and their families by setting the standard for doula education and training, and by advocating the research-based benefits of doula care.
DONA MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of DONA International is to promote high quality birth, postpartum and community-centered doula support by setting the standard for the doula profession through evidence based training and certification for doulas of diverse backgrounds.
Vision
A doula for every person who wants one.
About Me
My dream to become a doula manifested in me when I was a child. I grew up in a family of eleven so birth and babies were always a beautiful part of my life. It was common for me to be carting a younger sibling on my hip, with another wanting ro ride piggy back while another held my hand. I had many nicknames growing up, one of them was “little mother.” Supporting my mother and sisters through their births changed my perspective on what it means to mother. A doula’s purpose is to ‘mother’ the mother. I approach prenatal care, birth and postpartum care holistically, and with a balance of intuition and clinically researched solutions. I have completed certifications as a Birth doula, Postpartum doula, Lactation Specialist, Sleep Coach, Massage doula and HypnoBirth specialist so that I can offer my clients unparalleled care.
Before becoming a doula, I earned my BA from CU Boulder in English and Creative Writing and continued my education at the school of Architecture at UCLA. My background in design refined my approach to the intricacies of maternal care. Every person has their own personal story and perspective. No two births are the same because everyone is built differently, influenced by their own experiences and actions within their memory that shape their physical bodies. I align myself with each individuals’ vision for their birth experience and postpartum recovery so that I can support their personal choices with my skillset, no matter the challenges that arise. I will always put my clients’ safety, comfort and wellbeing above everything else, recognizing each person as a unique individual!
My own fertility story includes years of loss, fear, hope and ultimately happiness! My clients have confidence in me to give them what they need to achieve a calm, confident state while pregnant, during labor and immediately after.
Credentials:
CD (DONA) Certified Birth Doula
PCD (DONA) Certified Post Partum Doula
HypnoBirth Doula Certified in Somnambulistic Hypnosis
CLC (DONA) Certified Lactation Counselor
CPR Certified Adult and Pediatric
P A R T N E RS
Jerusha Fox, Doula
My Second, Doula
Katie Roche, Nutritionist
Local, Acupuncturist
Pilates Smith Studio, Santa Monica