about april
My Story
It was a quiet dream of mine for 11 years to become a doula. It has been a long and sometimes harrowing road, but I am confident that my detours as a distraught new mom with a colicky baby, a driven working mother, and finally, a full-time mom of three have prepared me to encourage you in your journey.
While my first newborn taught me to loosen my grip on control and scheduling, my subsequent two newborns taught me to trust my intuition and really get to know my baby’s individual needs. Being a working mother taught me ruthless prioritization and how to let others care for my children without feeling guilty. My time as a full-time mom taught me to savor every little moment with them. In addition to my beautiful children, I have been blessed with a loving husband who is also a great father. He has taught me a lot about how dads bond with their babies.
I am a Christian, wife, mom, and friend. I love tennis, reading, serving as a local leader in MOMSnext (www.MOPS.org), laughing with friends and family, and enjoying our amazing city.
My Training and Philosophy
I am certified as a postpartum doula by Doulas of North America (DONA, www.dona.org). Training consisted of:
I have a B.S. in Public Health from Indiana University and spent 12 years working for a healthcare alliance where I became adept at understanding my customers' needs, problem solving and leadership. I love that with my work as a doula, I can see my interest in public health as a young adult come full circle to a mission: improving the health of Richmond one family at a time.
I believe that those early weeks with your newborn have a profound impact on how you feel about yourself as a husband-wife team, parent and family. I also believe that mothers and fathers are uniquely gifted to parent their newborn and, when armed with reliable information, should trust their intuition to best nurture their baby. I practice this philosophy in my work.
I am certified as a postpartum doula by Doulas of North America (DONA, www.dona.org). Training consisted of:
- physical and emotional postpartum adjustment including postpartum mood disorders
- breastfeeding skills and support
- newborn care
- support for the partner
- fostering parent-infant bonding
- multiples
- grief and loss
- the importance of referrals to competent professionals and appropriate support groups
I have a B.S. in Public Health from Indiana University and spent 12 years working for a healthcare alliance where I became adept at understanding my customers' needs, problem solving and leadership. I love that with my work as a doula, I can see my interest in public health as a young adult come full circle to a mission: improving the health of Richmond one family at a time.
I believe that those early weeks with your newborn have a profound impact on how you feel about yourself as a husband-wife team, parent and family. I also believe that mothers and fathers are uniquely gifted to parent their newborn and, when armed with reliable information, should trust their intuition to best nurture their baby. I practice this philosophy in my work.
April helped me immeasurably with my transition back to work. Returning to work and incorporating daycare into the mix is something I did not give much thought to when I was pregnant, but it becomes more daunting as the time draws closer. Having April's emotional support, help around the house, and assistance making timelines and checklists was exactly what we needed to make the transition back to work as smooth as possible. -Sarah |
April was amazing! It was invaluable having an expert to go to with questions and having calm, directed help during a time of exhaustion. Also, I had peace of mind knowing my wife had help when I was not there. |
April was such a huge asset in our transition to parenthood. Her knowledge of breastfeeding, baby care and sleep habits is inexhaustible. Her calm and patience combined with her compassionate nature was what helped us keep our sanity. She is a professional and a true baby whisperer. |