The basics:
I’m married to my high school sweetheart and together we have three kiddos. I love my family! In my “free time” (ha!) I love to play board and card games, stand in the sunshine, watch tv or movies with a bowl of popcorn or ice cream (or both!), chauffer children to sports and birthday parties and activities, play roller derby, enjoy favorite Michigan locations, pet my two Australian Shephard doggies, and sing endless song lyrics whether there’s music playing or not.
The story behind my business name:
In 2008, a fellow church member told me that I have a “mother heart”, meaning that I lean into my innate instincts and intuition with a strong desire to nurture and help people, especially during vulnerable or important moments. This event really struck a chord with me, so I chose to name my business Mother Heart Birth Services. I carry this empathetic nature into every space with the goal to meet your needs in a meaningful way.
My Education
In 2012 I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development. I learned about prenatal development, birth, infancy, and beyond. I also learned how a baby changes a family dynamic, and how to help with that transition!
I have a passion for birth, which I discovered as I prepared for my oldest son’s birth fervently, and I want others to feel the peace of knowing what to expect and how to improve their experiences.
I’m experienced with babywearing, cloth diapering, developmental milestones for newborns, and more. Day-to-day, I also work full time as the Implementation and Support Manager with the Michigan Breastfeeding Network where I assist with their education, advocacy, and community-building efforts to build an equitable, just, and breastfeeding-supportive culture, centering BIPOC families in our work.
My Certifications
I began my doula training in 2014 with an intensive workshop where I learned a doula’s true roles, optimal positioning for each stage of labor, bodywork skills and techniques, and other comfort measures to apply during labor and how to teach a person’s support person as well. I know that families want only the best, so although certification is not required, I embarked on a 2-year journey of completing assignments, courses, reading, and evaluated births to become certified through Birth Arts International in 2016.
I also completed training for Bengkung belly binding in 2016, attended an amazing Spinning Babies workshop in 2020, completed the Healthy Children Project CLC course, became certified in TENS units for pain relief, am certified through OSHA for bloodborne pathogens and infection prevention, and finished an Essence of Birth photography certification course. In 2026 I completed the Body Ready Method intensive course!
My Teaching Opportunities
I have been privileged to speak in chiropractor’s offices, church groups, mom-to-mom events, and local and statewide breastfeeding coalitions.
In 2019, the Perinatal Educator at McLaren Flint invited me to teach three sessions of Bedside Comfort Techniques to their Labor & Delivery and Postpartum nurses.
I was also honored to teach midwives and community members about doula work at one of the Hurley Midwifery “Wellness Wednesday” events in 2020.
In 2023, I was one of two doulas to participate in the Genesee County Health Department maternal and infant health doula discussion panel.
In 2025, I led a workshop for birth workers entitled “Beyond Birth” encompassing business essentials, building the career, and sustainability.
I have mentored doulas and placenta encapsulators over the years as well and I love watching the birth worker world expand.
My Promise
I want you to have the birth that YOU desire, whether that’s a:
natural/unmedicated birth
birth with epidural (or IV pain relief)
Home birth
Hospital Birth
Scheduled C-Section
VBAC
Multiples
As a part of your birth team, I promise to do everything I can to help you have the best birth possible. As your photographer, I promise to capture the fleeting moments of strength, power, love, and family.
I also promise to be a safe space for you. I commit to equity-centered care including, but not limited to: gender affirming care, dismantling racism in healthcare and beyond, supporting immigrant families and folks with ESL, body inclusivity, honoring religious traditions or preferences, and letting you lead the way.