MEET BARBARA
UPDATE: During the COVID-19 pandemic I am offering sliding scale birth and postpartum doula services including virtual birth doula support. Please see details on the Birth + Postpartum Doula Services page.
I'm a cheerleading, adventure seeking, healthy snack making person dedicated to building a warm, nurturing community.
When I’m not on my mat or holding space for a family, I’m either tinkering with a gluten-free recipe or playing outside: hiking in the redwoods, surfing and tidepooling in Santa Cruz, and cultivating my edible garden! I recently moved back to the US after living in Switzerland for two years where I learned German and hiked alongside cows in the Swiss Alps.
Leaning on my background in yoga and health coaching, I bring an empathetic touch to my work as a doula. My doula philosophy encompasses the entire family—not just the birthing person—in order to help facilitate a foundation of trust, love, and wellbeing for all. Bringing a baby into the world is big and awesome, and it’s a lot of work, too. So, let me join your team of support as you transition from pregnancy to parenthood.
I am happy to assist in the home, at a birth center, or in the hospital; I am here to support you and validate your own birth plan. I bring a gentle confidence and positivity to the birth experience, here to help and support, and here to step back and admire the birthing person and partner in their journey. At home, I offer comforts and friendship, run errands, tidy up, and bring good snacks to keep you fueled and focused on the important things.
I am trained as a Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula through DONA. Outside of private clients, I also work as a volunteer doula with mothers at the Siena Maternity House in Santa Cruz, CA.