From a Mother to Another Mother
Becoming a mother is transformative, joyous and empowering. And amazingly, our hearts find a way to double in size when the next child arrives. It's truly magical. Suddenly, the world no longer revolves around us. We have this perfect little one who has totally captivated our hearts and souls. We want to be the best version of ourselves for our children.
Often times, the birth happens. It wasn't the birth we pictured in our mind. Our bodies change, and we don't look like the same person in the mirror. We are sad and have a hard time controlling our emotions. Friends and family come to visit the baby, but then a few days go by, and we are left doing this thing alone. We feel guilty asking for help or telling someone we are suffering mentally, physically or emotionally. Brain fog and sleep deprivation kicks in. How are we supposed to return to work like this?
1 in 5 women suffer from postpartum depression. This country's maternity leave is just maddening. Mothers deserve more. Families need more support.
I see you.
Doula means "woman who serves". I want to help you maintain all aspects of your health during the postpartum period. The education, un-biased support, and hands-on care is something a postpartum doula can provide in a way no one else can. Whether that means teaching you about breastfeeding, bringing you a snack in bed postpartum, giving you the opportunity to catch up on sleep, or just listening, a doula’s role is always to help you step into yours.
MEET KRISTEN
This work is not just a job to me. Birth and babies are my passion. I can't remember a time when I didn't gravitate towards babies. In middle school, you would find me in the church nursery or working as a mother's helper for a set of infant twins. In high school and college, I babysat for countless families and worked in two daycares. In college, I considered working as a labor and delivery nurse. I ended up choosing not to go that route because I wanted to work more directly with the birthing mother and be a support system for her, rather than charting and being on the medical side of things. Sadly, at the time, I didn't know doulas existed.
In 2011, I gave birth to my son. I think back on the care I received and it's very frustrating. I was young and didn't know I had a voice in my labor and decisions with my baby. The experience brings back memories of pure terror, anxiety, pain, being out of control, confusion, and helplessness. I had a hard time bonding with my baby. Breastfeeding was not successful. I also went through the postpartum period alone, while my husband had to immediately go back to work.
In 2014, as I was working as a chiropractic assistant, I became emersed in the holistic side of parenting and healthcare. This is where I learned about doula work. I was hooked. My friend Tia Moses and I decided to become birth doula partners and completed our training in 2015. I absolutely loved birth work. I worked as a birth doula for a few years but have had to unfortunately put birth work on hold as I cannot have an "on call" job at this time considering my other obligations.
In 2015, with two doulas and my husband by my side, I gave birth, unmedicated, to my daughter. It was by far the best day of my life. The experience was euphoric. Since educated on the topic, breastfeeding went so much smoother. Our breastfeeding journey lasted 3 years and I treasure those moments immensely.
In 2019, God put onto our hearts to open our home to foster children. It's been a true honor to serve 10 children throughout the years. Spring 2024, we adopted two siblings. I am so thankful that I have been able to use my love for children to serve our community. And who knows, we might end up with more kids in the future!
As a postpartum doula, I bring not just many years of experience with children to the table. I have also personally experienced the stresses of motherhood, juggling home and work life, marriage, sharing my time with each of my children, and the chaos of life. With this, I have learned not to judge, to give myself grace, and that patience is truly a virtue. My commitment, loyalty, passion, and love for this job is embedded into my very being.
Kind Words
"Kristen was wonderful. I was immediately at ease leaving my baby with her overnight and I had total confidence that he would be safe and cared for with her. Kristen was so tender but also confident and knowledgeable every step of the way."
Neva B.
"Kristen has been such a huge blessing for us and such a huge help with our newborn daughter! I've been recovering from some complications postpartum, and it has been so nice to rest and recover while Kristen does some of the nights for us. She is so kind, caring and gentle. She's very trustworthy, extremely experienced, and just overall wonderful, would definitely recommend!"
Amanda E.
“Kristen has been an absolute blessing for our family. Her calm and caring approach gave us much-needed peace of mind. We highly recommend Kristen to any family in need of excellent night care!”
Courtney A.
You don't have to do this alone.
Do you live in or around Harford County? It's as if the stars aligned! Let's chat!
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