About Yvonne
As a Doula I meet many different women of all shapes, sizes, color, origins and faiths--holding her hand and learning that we share a sisterhood not only of gender but of experience and desires. As a woman we long for an experience as close to our ideal as possible, with good outcomes and happy memories. It means sharing those memories, accepting what we cannot change, and working toward elevating ourselves from a position of vulnerability to a new level of self-empowerment--all within the space of a few hours.
I started supporting women and their partners in the late 1970's. First as a La Leche League leader, offering breastfeeding support and leading monthly meetings. I soon became a Bradley instructor and taught childbirth education through the 1980's. Many of those childbirth students asked me to attend their births. Some babies were born at home while others were born in hospitals and birth centers. The word "doula" didn't exist at that time, so I considered myself additional labor support.
I went through some family changes and stepped away from birth for a short time, only to have it "find" me again. My husband's employees knew I had taught classes and attended births in the past and I was asked to attend a birth with one of them. Her first birth was a nightmare, her birth with me (and her partner) by her side was a life changing experience for her. I knew this was my calling.
We were living in Marin County at the time and I immediately started doing some research on birth attendants, and found out there was a name for what I was doing "DOULA". We then moved from Marin back to LA and I had to start searching again. I knew I was destine for this type of work. I was able to find a trainer not too far away and offered my home to her for the 3 day training. Thus began (well, continued) my doula career. That was in 2003....
I have continued to support women and their partners since that time, attending 3-4 births per month. And each and every one of those births fill my heart with joy. Watching the transformation happen is magical. I am honored to be a Doula.
When I am not supporting clients, I enjoy my beautiful family, which includes 3 biological sons, 1 step-son and a step-daughter and a total of 7 grandchildren. I am also an avid hockey fan and decided to take on the challenge of the sport myself and now play a couple of times a week! Oh and yes, I still have all my own teeth :)
I started supporting women and their partners in the late 1970's. First as a La Leche League leader, offering breastfeeding support and leading monthly meetings. I soon became a Bradley instructor and taught childbirth education through the 1980's. Many of those childbirth students asked me to attend their births. Some babies were born at home while others were born in hospitals and birth centers. The word "doula" didn't exist at that time, so I considered myself additional labor support.
I went through some family changes and stepped away from birth for a short time, only to have it "find" me again. My husband's employees knew I had taught classes and attended births in the past and I was asked to attend a birth with one of them. Her first birth was a nightmare, her birth with me (and her partner) by her side was a life changing experience for her. I knew this was my calling.
We were living in Marin County at the time and I immediately started doing some research on birth attendants, and found out there was a name for what I was doing "DOULA". We then moved from Marin back to LA and I had to start searching again. I knew I was destine for this type of work. I was able to find a trainer not too far away and offered my home to her for the 3 day training. Thus began (well, continued) my doula career. That was in 2003....
I have continued to support women and their partners since that time, attending 3-4 births per month. And each and every one of those births fill my heart with joy. Watching the transformation happen is magical. I am honored to be a Doula.
When I am not supporting clients, I enjoy my beautiful family, which includes 3 biological sons, 1 step-son and a step-daughter and a total of 7 grandchildren. I am also an avid hockey fan and decided to take on the challenge of the sport myself and now play a couple of times a week! Oh and yes, I still have all my own teeth :)
