About The Founder
I'm a private birth attendant, a childbirth educator, a placenta encapsulation specialist, a breastfeeding counselor, a vitalist and a master herbalist. I’ve been married for 29 years and have 3 children – 2 sons (ages 31 and 28), and a daughter (age 18). My personal birth history includes one medicated hospital birth, one physician-attended homebirth, and one midwife-attended homebirth. I’ve been a member and supporter of La Leche League since 1988. My children were breastfed for 1 year, 3 1/2 years, and 2 years. I've been involved in midwifery and natural childbirth since 1994, and I've been attending births since 1995.
I have a background in Nutrition, Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, Homeopathy, Reflexology & Acupressure. I've been learning about naturopathy and complimentary therapies through self-study and personal experience with natural remedies and techniques since 1978, and in 2004 I earned my certification as a Family Herbalist. I completed my Vitalism / Nutrition & Natural Healing training in 2006, and became a Certified Master Herbalist in 2007. I’m currently (March 2016) enrolled in the Advanced Women’s Health Program through Heart of Herbs.
I suffered from postpartum depression after all 3 of my births, so I’ve personally experienced the condition and have a lot of information to share with clients on natural approaches for PPD.
I love to read; I’m a hopeless bookworm. I own over 200 books on childbirth, holistic healing and natural remedies, and my librarians know me well. I’ve also read extensively on vaccine “safety” and the danger of mercury from dental amalgams to the health of babies exposed during pregnancy and lactation.
I'm a published editor and I'm currently in the process of writing 2 books entitled “Red Raspberry for the Childbearing Year & Beyond” and “Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness”. My next writing project will be a book on how to use herbs safely during pregnancy and lactation. It will cover which herbs should be used in moderation only, used with caution and/or under the supervision of an herbalist, or completely avoided and why. Exposure to ultrasound, magnetic fields, hormone disrupting chemicals, and other environmental toxins will also be covered.
Professional Affiliations & Memberships