June 2004, 25 hour, Intense and thorough workshop covering the role and purpose of a postpartum doula, newborn characteristics, newborn care, breastfeeding education and support, postpartum mood disorders, kangaroo care (skin to skin), infant/parent bonding, infant loss, multiples, referral contacts. Training style consisted of video, lecture, handbook, literature, role playing and hands on experiences. Certified August 2006 – August 2009

• DONA Doula Certification Workshop

July 2004, 17 hour, Extensive workshop focusing on the role and purpose of a doula, stages and phases of labor, physical and emotional needs of the pregnant mother, doula’s scope of practice and ethical role, being part of the support team. Training style consisted of video, lecture, handbook, literature, role playing and hands on experiences.

• DONA Advanced Doula ~ In-services

March 2004, Spinning Babies: This seminar focusing on fetal positioning and methods within the doula scope to assess and help turn the baby to optimal positioning for labor and delivery. (Gail Tully with www.spinningbabies.com)

Spring 2004, Advanced Doula Training~ Supporting A Survivor During Birth an in-service hosted by Penny Simkin based on her book The only book of its kind, When Survivors Give Birth provides survivors and their maternity caregivers with extensive information on the prevalence and short- and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. A sensitive training on how to help and care for a survivor of sexual, emotional and physical abuse.

August 2007, Advanced Doula Training: A Doula’s Role in a Community Based Doula Program, & Doula support for the birthing woman with an epidural. (Jessica Atkins)

• Lactation Education

I want to start off by saying that I have successfully breastfed four children on average 15 months each. I believe personal experience is worth its weight in gold, just as breast milk is worth its weight in gold!

March 2004, A three part Lactation Management~ Self Learning Module; 1) Getting Started 2) Overcoming Difficulties 3) Breast Pumps and Milk Storage

September 2007, Lactation Counselor Certificate Training Program course (CLC) this is an intensive and extensive 45 hour completely in-depth lactation training program put on by The Healthy Children Project. Certified: September 2007-December 2010

November 2007, Breastfeeding: Beyond the Basics ~ A New Paradigm for Postpartum Depression: How inflammation increases risk of postpartum depression and how breastfeeding provides protection.

• Childbirth Preparation Classes

The Bradley Method of Childbirth: This 10 week (25 hour) class covered Nutrition, Protein, Smoking, Alcohol & Drug use, Exercise, Sex, Abdominal Breathing, Tests during pregnancy, First Stage Labor, Second Stage Labor, Episiotomy, Third Stage Labor, Cord Clamping, Pain, Comfort Measures, Labor Positions, Visualization, Sterile Water Block, Fetal Monitor, Induction, Cesarean, Emergency Childbirth, Amniotic Fluid, Water breaking, Postpartum, APGAR Scoring, Newborn Procedures, Shots, Baby Care, Circumcision, Breastfeeding, Postpartum Depression and Infant Death.
Home Birthing Class: This 6 week (12 hour) class covered: Why Homebirth, Nutrition, Exercise, Water birth, Relaxation, Ultrasound, Circumcision, Breastfeeding, Physical Emotional and Mental Readiness, Choices in Pregnancy, Anatomy, Timing Contractions, Signs of Impending Labor, Urge to Push, Natural Rhythm of Labor, Tension Pain Fear Cycle, Old Brain and New Brain function, Why Birth is Painful.

• Prenatal and Postnatal Continuing Education

October 2006, The 21^st Century Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Practice Supporting Baby’s Wholeness from the Beginning of Life.
October 2007, Caring for the Sorrow of Pregnancy and Infant Loss with Kristen Swanson, RN, PhD, FANN and JoAnn O’Leary, PhD, MPH, MS ~ Pregnancy after Loss, Perinatal Hospice, Bereavement Photography

• Infant and Child CPR Certification

The purpose of infant and child CPR is to give individuals the knowledge and skill necessary to recognize and provide basic care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in infants and children until medical personnel arrive and take over. My certification with this is renewed annually, to keep current with Red Cross standards. Last renewed in November 2007

• Director of Child Care at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mpls, MN

I have been working in the Child Care Nursery at WPC since October 1998. I was the Assistant Director from 10/98 – 12/02, at which time I became the Director. I have managed 6 staff and over 50 volunteers per year. Under my direction I have children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 4 years. On average each year we have between 50-70 children under our watch.

• ECFE Coursework

1996-Present, I currently have over 400 hours of Early Childhood Family Education classroom time. Learning, instructing and playing with growing families.

• Childbirth Collective

Non-profit organization of childbirth professionals providing weekly prenatal informational “topic nights” for expectant parents. Topics covered include the purpose of doula care, medications and interventions, the natural rhythm of labor, comfort measures, Cesarean prevention, water birth, postpartum lactation and the marriage after childbirth, and many more.

• Professional Memberships
  • DONA International (Doulas of North America) www.dona.org
  • Minnesota Birth Network www.minnesotabirthnetwork.com
  • Childbirth Collective www.childbirthcollective.org