I trust the physiology of labor… I trust birth.

I fell in love with Birth while having my own babies. 4 in 5 years to be exact. Each of their births were different, transformative and important. I learned a lot about myself through those experiences: 1) that I was stronger than I ever imagined; 2) that my body was full of magic; and 3) that my soul purpose in life was to support other people through this highly intense rite of passage. My intended career in fashion design and graphic arts flew out the window, and while raising my rapidly growing family, I trained to become a Certified Childbirth Educator, Lactation Counselor, and Certified Professional Birth Doula. My future began to unfold.

I started teaching A Brighter Birth CBE classes out of my living room in 2008, with my 3rd baby sprawled across my lap or strapped to my chest. I quickly found that beyond childbirth education, my students were hungry for trusted resources who spoke the same language around birth. Practitioners + businesses who were aligned with what they cared about: a safe birth but also a positive, individualized experience with their health and wellness. A personal and intimate take on care.

After my 4th was born in 2009, I decided to put my Doula Certification to work and started attending births. I also began collaborating with other Birth Doulas, business owners and care providers; true pioneers in and outside of Richmond’s abundant reproductive health network. The search was on for people that were giving the same kind of care and the same quality of experience to my students/clients as I was.

Since then, the Collective has more than tripled in members. I myself, have attended over 500 births, taught thousands of families their childbirth education classes and have counseled many, many new parents with feeding/newborn/postpartum challenges. I became the Executive Director of ToLABOR, an international Birth Doula training and certifying organization. I’ve also facilitated CenteringPregnancy prenatal appointments alongside Midwives and Obstetricians at VCU, and am currently the “Office Doula” for West End Midwifery at Henrico Doctors Hospital. All of these roles and trainings have further allowed me insight and understanding of empowered birth in home, birthing center and hospital settings.

As a mother to now 6 children, and the founder/owner of A Brighter Birth: a collective of now over 30 different practitioners, I understand what new and seasoned parents want and need in pregnancy, labor, birth and beyond. Meeting people where they are, respecting their individuality and finding what they truly need to feel safe and supported. ABB’s mission continues to strive for every person who comes through our doors to feel personally cared for and to LOVE their experience, be it through pregnancy, birth, parenting or wellness.