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