I’m a Certified Birth Doula (DONA) and the entrepreneurial guru behind Birth Story Media™, Birth Story Boutique™, a former pharmaceutical and medical device consultant, and a mom with a passion for writing and storytelling. I felt “called” to my practice as a doula early on in life—in fact at age 12, I supported my own mom through her birth. Since then, I have attended over a thousand births throughout my 23-year doula career and I am currently on-call. Yup! I am actively practicing today and part of the Birth Story Boutique doula team.
My goal is to take care of you, nurture, love you and help empower you to plan and prepare for the birth that YOU want no matter what that looks like. I don't set timelines or limits for your birth. I'm here to support you however you define that from the moment you book. If you are partnered, I have a very thorough process for including your main squeeze.
I live in the Plaza Midwood/NoDa area of Charlotte with my 2 kiddos (10 and 11) and my 2 dogs Magnolia Jane (Berenedoodle) and Miska (Husky). I am the definition of where Botox meets essential oils. I am a little crunchy and a little like help me with all the things. I had one epidural birth and one unmedicated birth to 9 and 10.5 lb babies! One induction and one spontaneous labor. I would love to share my birth stories with you.
I was a Doula for 10 years before becoming a mom myself and my own birth completed the circle for me of divine birthing. I love being a birth doula, oat milk chai lattes, flip flops, long hair, Charlotte FC scream cheering, gardening, camping and bonfires, poetry, dancing, smiling, playing with my kids and dogs, positive energy, sushi, recycling, waterfalls, writing in my journal, hot yoga, talking, writing birth stories, podcasting, massaging, sound baths, reiki, throwing pottery, giving every piece of my time and energy that I have to spare away, and loving all people. Did I forget to include tattoos, lip filler and Botox? haa. That’s me! I am a fierce advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. I am all about you and your baby. I love pregnancy and pregnant persons. Every day I wake up thankful to be a mom and a Doula
So…
Let's Have a baby your way
I differentiate my services by offering holistic, evidenced-based care for my birthers, mamas and their partners (if applicable). I absolutely believe in partnering with the medical team and empowering moms and birthing persons to navigate the journey of pregnancy and childbirth with as much information as possible.
+AUTHOR OF BIRTH STORY guidebook + journal A 42-week Discovery into Your Pregnancy
+Host of the Birth Story Podcast: Peak position #16 in Apple Podcasts Parenting
+Host of Birth Story Academy Online Childbirth Prep Courses
+First birth as a Doula: 2005
+Certified Birth Doula, DONA Int'l 2008-Present
+Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist -Best Doula Training
+Childbirth Educator
Additional Methods Completed for Birth Doula Trainings:
-Spinning Babies Doula
-Hypnobirthing Doula
-MamaSte Fit Pelvic Floor Mechanics
-Birth Arts International 2018
-Certified Medical Representative, CMR Institute
-Certified VBAC Doula
-Certified HypnoBabies Doula
-Novant Vendor Doula. Privileges at Novant with credentialing through Green Security
-Lactation Support Trained
-Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist
-Legal consultant for Labor and Delivery mal practice cases
I have no opinions over anyone's vaccine status and believe fully in body autonomy. That being said, I am a vaccinated person who works in a hospital.
Studied:
>Bradley Method
>Birthing From Within
>Spinning Babies
>Lamaze
>HypnoBabies
>Multiple disciplines of Hypnobirthing
>Dr. Sarah Buckley's Gentle Mothering
Queens University BS 2001
Queens University MBA-Marketing 2006
Advanced Courses: A Nurse's Guide to Managing Common Breastfeeding Challenges, Gestational Diabetes: Overview and Management Strategies, Lactation Review: Breastfeeding Basics, Managing Cardiac Conditions During Labor and Delivery, Placental Anomalies, Shoulder Dystocia: An Obstetrical Emergency, The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative: What It Means For You and Your Facility, Dr. Sarah Buckley's Physiological Birthing, The Postpartum Period and the Healthy Newborn
Experience: I have attended over a thousand births in the Charlotte, NC area and in parts of rural Africa. I have experience with clients that are married, single, partnered, and in same sex and/or same gendered relationships. I have proven clinical experience with multiples, twins, triplets, cesareans (C-sections), VBACS (a specialty of mine with a high success rate), VBA2C, IVF, IUI, gestational diabetes, thyroid disorder, plus sized people, low-lying placenta, placenta previa, preeclampsia, bicornuate uterus', STI's and STDs, miscarriages, still birth, advanced maternal age, geriatric pregnancies, eating disorders, fertility journeys, PCOS, fibromyalgia, lupus, knee and foot injuries, fused spine, scoliosis, hyperemesis, thrombocytopenia, obesity, incontinence, anxiety, depression, sexual assault, trauma survivors, seizures, cervical scar tissue, postpartum hemorrhage, arrhythmias, pre-term labor, cerclages, pectus excavatum, auto-immune disorders (Celiac girl here!), heart defects, traumatic previous births, genetic anomalies including Down Syndrome, Bertlotti's, VACTRYL, CGD, Factor 5 Leiden, EDS, Hashimoto, and very healthy moms/birthing persons and babies with no complications alike! There is not much I have not witnessed and supported in the past 23 years. I was a medical device and pharmaceutical consultant for 10 therapeutic areas over 15 years and worked in the OR and consulting with epilepsy and seizure disorders too.
And then, I literally wrote the book on pregnancy..... :) I really want to love on you!
DISCLOSURES:
I BELIEVE THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER, INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER, TRANS LIVES MATTER, PRONOUNS MATTER, AND THAT THE BODY IS DEEPLY POLITICAL. I ACKNOWLEDGE MY PRIVILEGES AS A WHITE, CIS-HETERO, ABLE BODIED WOMAN AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO LISTENING, REFLECTING AND EMBODYING THE WORK OF ANTIRACISM. I BELIEVE YOUR BODY DOES NOT NEED TO CHANGE IN SHAPE OR SIZE TO BECOME VALUABLE. I BELIEVE THAT YOGA, BREATHWORK, AND MOVEMENT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HEAL AND CAN BE VITAL TO WELLNESS.
Let’s do this!
XOXO - Heidi