MY journey to becoming a CERTIFIED BIRTH doula

I grew up on a farm and ranch on the Eastern Plains of New Mexico, where I learned early on what it meant to nurture, to watch over, and to respond to life with care. The bond between mother and baby—human or animal—was something I saw every day. It shaped how I moved through the world: with gentleness, attentiveness, and a natural instinct to hold space for others.

Even as a young girl, I dreamed of being a “baby catcher.” That desire followed me throughout the years eventually bringing me to University of New Mexicos College of Nursing with the goal of becoming an L&D nurse and ultimately a midwife. But it was the birth of my daughter that gave me the clearest sense of direction. Experiencing labor firsthand—its intensity, its vulnerability, and its power—opened something in me. I understood what it felt like to need to be held, seen, and supported. I also understood how profoundly that kind of care can shape a mother’s experience.

Becoming a doula has given me the opportunity to begin this work in a hands-on, heart-centered way. I believe deeply in mothering the mothers—in showing up with calm, informed presence for the one who is giving everything in that moment. This isn’t just a job; it’s an offering. And I’m honored to walk alongside families during such a sacred, transformative hour.