What do we talk about?

Topics usually include anything related to pregnancy, adoption, breastfeeding, and postpartum.  Feelings, mood, logistics, grief, sorrow, joy, navigating transitions, family dynamics, loss. Often, you begin by talking about where you are on the spectrum of childbearing, loss, and adoption.  We can stick to facts and data to begin, then do deeper dives into feelings, behaviors, and meaning-making. We can also sit in silence, explore breathwork, and engage in movement.

Are you a doula or a chaplain?

I am both.  And, both inform my practice of the other. Human needs include biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. While I am trained and well-versed in a variety of modalities, you can guide the course of how we approach our visits.   

What is a doula?

 A doula is a support person who accompanies in life transitions. They are present to support a person in planning their hopes and goals and then partnering with the person to achieve those.  Commonly, a birth doula knows non-medical, non-pharmaceutical ways to help labor go smoothly and be a bit less intense. But a doula does not have their own agenda; doulas support their clients’ goals.  A post-partum doula is a support person for that big transition, usually the first 6 weeks, in welcoming a new baby.  They support healthy sleep for the whole family, nourishing foods and body care, support with newborn care and feeding, etc. Bereavement doulas support people who have experienced a loss around pregnancy or birth, adoption, and surrogacy. Abortion doulas can help with termination decision-making, planning, and implementation, then support post-abortion in a variety of ways, from in-person or virtual conversations to physical support during and after, including nourishing drinks, foods, and mind-body care.

I support people, including but not limited to: people who have adopted, people who are gay, people who are trans, single people and partnered people, people who had vaginal births, people who had abortions, people who had a miscarriage, and people who had unplanned or chosen c-section births. Generally, I care for the parent(s), the baby (babies), and the space in person for postpartum doula work. *I am not offering birth doula support in person currently. I can help you with birth plans and processing in-person and virtually. * This care is inclusive of bio, psycho, social, emotional, and physical. Virtually, we can process your experiences, plan and engage in rituals, do journal writing with prompts, meditate, do breathwork, and other ways of engaging in grief work.

For processing and planning, I can meet in person in Chapel Hill or Carrboro to walk or sit together for any chaplaincy or doula care.

What is a chaplain?

  A chaplain offers spiritual care and non-judgmental observation with some reflection to people, usually in transition.  Most people are familiar with meeting a chaplain in the hospital or hospice chaplains at the end of life.  I work outside of the hospital setting. I support people who are having or have had a perinatal loss, stillbirth, abortion, fetal demise, or newborn death.  I am trained to do this in chaplaincy and as a doula.  I am trauma-informed as a chaplain and as a doula.  This means that you can safely share as much or as little as you want about previous traumas, birth trauma, breastfeeding trauma, postpartum trauma, etc. I have sought training specific to my calling as a community doula and chaplain in these areas.  You can talk to me. I will offer reflection, breathwork, and compassion back to you.    

Do you want me to have an all-natural birth or become a Buddhist and shave my head?  

No :)  I want you to be you.  You are the only you, and you are wonderfully you.

If you wish support in having a natural birth (as defined by you), I am going to work with you to make that happen, as much as I can.  If you want to become Buddhist or engage in Buddhist practices, I am going to support you in that process. I do not want to convert you to anything other than LOVE.  I do want you to give and receive love.  I am available to offer you evidence-based data and info, if it is helpful. I can make referrals to care provisions online and in-person across the world. I believe and promote collaborative care. Creativity comes into play when people are embarking on any journey, and I love accompanying them with ideas and actions that reflect their hopes and dreams.  Also, I believe everything you need to know already exists within you.  

Will you pray for me? 

 If you want me to, I can.  But first, how do you normally begin praying? :)  I am happy to read or recite any prayers, mantras, poems, or chants you want.  Online platforms help me bring the sounds people sometimes want to hear.  I don’t recognize musical tone very well, so you should never have to hear me sing!  But I will try to find your song, and I am willing to recite the lyrics. If you want to write a prayer, a blessing or a song, I would love to work with you on that. 

Are you offering chaplain/doula virtual support in 2025?

Yes.  I am very available for VIRTUAL support for FREE! Unless something comes up unexpectedly and we have to reschedule, our sessions are locked in.  They are private, confidential, and either 30 or 60 minutes once a week. I meet online for telehealth and in person in North Carolina. 

Are you attending births in person in 2025?

No, not this year.

Are you offering in-person post-partum care for 2025?

Yes. I can do 8-12-hour overnights and 4-hour day support in the Chapel Hill area for typical post-partum doula care. I am also available for one-hour in-person Chaplaincy listening sessions and conversations about anything that is coming up related to post-partum (walking or sitting together).