My Story


I came to this profession of being a postpartum doula as a mother and a grandmother.  I have two daughters (aged 44 and 28) and have two grandchildren (11 and 14).

I have been in a relationship with my partner for 38 years. My older daughter (who I didn’t birth) was born at home and then had two of her own home births. My younger daughter, who I did birth, was born quite ill and spent 30 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) at UCSF. It was a really frightening experience for us that felt more like 30 years than 30 days. Looking back, I think having a Postpartum Doula would have really helped us through the first transition home, especially once my partner went back to work.  


I am very excited to work with families with new babies!!! I am grounded and able to tune into and connect with people quickly and easily. I have a special place in my heart for families who have experienced the NICU, and for LGBT families, since I have experience with both. Please reach out with any questions you might have on the contact page, or email me at amanda@ppdoula.com.

I spent my career of 35 years as a Social Worker in the AIDS epidemic. In my career I watched HIV/AIDS go from being a death sentence in the mid-80’s to something easier to treat than diabetes in 2021.

After retiring from the UCSF AIDS Education Training Center in 2021, I realized I had much more love and life to give, and thought focusing on birth and new life would nicely balance my life. I decided to get training as both a birth and postpartum doula at Natural Resources in San Francisco in 2023.  

Certifications and Qualifications

Masters in Social Work

San Francisco State University, May 1983

Adult, Child & Infant CPR Training

Oakland CA, February 2024

Family Infant Relationship Support Training Program (FIRST)

Stanford University, May 2004

This is a training on how to provide developmentally supportive care to sick and premature infants

Birth Doula Training

Natural Resources SF, May 2023

Trustline Certification

Registered, March 2024

Trustline is a registry of individuals who have cleared a criminal record background check

Postpartum Doula Training

Natural Resources SF, May 2024

Special Start Training Consultant

Stanford University, 2000 – 2010

Provided Statewide Training (as a NICU Parent) to health care workers and foster parents about Developmentally Supportive Care for premature and sick babies. 

Certified Breastfeeding Counselor

International Doula Institute, In Progress

Threshold Choir

San Francisco, CA, 2005 – Present

Singing coaching to new parents as a way to grow connection and soothe your baby