I have been teaching childbirth classes since 1998.  My classes have influence from my training with ICEA (International Childbirth Educators Association) and Birthing From Within.  Additional influences come from supplemental knowledge and experience with Lamaze International and The Bradley Method methodologies. But, my most prominent influence comes from my 12 years experience as a Doula and 22 years experience as a Mother and friend to other Mothers.   I am 44 years old and have twin 22 year olds, a 9 and 6 year old ? all girls!  I have tended over 130 births, both in the hospital and at home.   My teaching experience includes classes held at local hospitals - Good Samaritan, Community Hospital of Los Gatos, and South Valley. As well as a non-affiliated location, Harmony Birth Resources in Campbell, Blossom Birth Services in Palo Alto, and private in home classes.

My mission is to help couples gain confidence by guiding them to discover and embrace the inner wisdom and special powers of women. My hope is to help guide couples to trust the normalcy of pregnancy and birth. 

The birth of a child is not a medical event, even when medicine is part of the process. With this in mind, my additional goal is to educate and empower couples to find confidence in asking questions and effectively communicating with their caregivers, thereby participating in the decision making during their pregnancy and birth. All the while acknowledging that all the planning in the world cannot guarantee a particular outcome.

Additional goals are to provide a safe environment for self-discovery through multi sensory activities and present cultural and thought provoking questions and discussions.  I hope to guide couples to self-confidence through knowledge and self-awareness and present useful tools for them as they navigate their journey through childbirth and into parenting. 

My personal opinions: There is no right way to give birth and there is no wrong way to give birth; there is only your way.  My personal agenda is for you to feel you are treated with loving kindness and respect throughout your pregnancy and birth.  Childbirth is not about the medicine, but our culture has made it so.  No one knows your body and your baby better than you.  There are no absolutes in childbirth, except that you will have a baby.  Childbirth cannot be controlled, but sometimes in can be influenced.  Giving birth is not an intellectual knowing, it is an innate knowing.  Childbirth is not a complicated process, but the medicalization of childbirth has made it so.  My wish is for you to connect with your inner wisdom, learn to trust your instincts, become aware of alternative resources, and find your way through birth and into parenting in a way that empowers you, whatever your choices may be.

I believe my training, belief, philosophy and experience makes Heart & Soul Childbirth a service that may truly help couples prepare for the birth of their child.