ANNA’S STORY
Anna's journey into birthwork began with her own pregnancy in 2012. She was fascinated with the everyday miracle that was taking place in her body: growing her first baby! She delved deeply into information on pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and was excited to feel the entire experience. Little did she know, the transformational birth of her daughter, Nola, would become the platform for a new passion and career-- birthwork! She was grateful to have found doula support, and felt compelled to offer expecting families the same love during such a fragile, transitional time in one's life. Creating, growing, birthing, and nurturing a baby is a mind-blowing experience! Anna continues to love sharing what she has learned, and continues to expand her knowledge as she supports families in this special way.
Anna completed her doula training in Fall 2013 with Rina Crane in NYC. She also trained as a Certified Lactation Counselor with Lea Rivera-Todaro. Upon becoming a member of the NYC Doula Collective, Anna began supporting clients in Spring 2014. Her first birth as a doula landed on Nola’s 6-month birthday. The NYC Doula Collective has served as a platform for community-building, continuing education, business development and mentorship, and has been invaluable in her personal growth as a doula, mother and human. Through the Collective, she’s made life-long friendships, created a vast network of professionals in the industry, and is so grateful for the relationships built over time. She is currently the Co-Director, and has served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors.
Over the past nearly 10 years of full-time doula work, Anna has supported over 300 families as they’ve traversed the parenting journey in a multitude of ways. She’s supported births at many NYC + NJ hospitals, birthing centers, and homes. She’s also supported births virtually throughout the US. Vaginal births, cesarean births, VBACs — birth is birth, no matter how it unfolds. Her philosophy stems from individualizing care, exploring each families’ unique needs, and empowering clients to advocate for themselves so they can own their experience. She’s particularly interested in the power of the mind/body/heart connection and its role in creating and executing your envisioned birth and parenthood experiences.
Anna currently mentors new doulas in need of guidance and community in this wild, beautiful work. She loves helping them build their businesses to match their passion and true identity. She recognizes and appreciates the mentorship received by her fellow birth workers who’ve taught her about birth work and parenthood, equally. She’s also appreciative of the many families she’s parented alongside who are practicing conscious parenting, and leading with growth mindsets for our next generation. She’s encouraged by those who are nurturing and raising kind humans in our rapidly-evolving world.
Anna lives in Brooklyn by way of Sacramento, CA where she was raised, became a yoga teacher and studied Business and Philosophy at Sacramento State. She traveled a bit before landing in NYC 10+ years ago. She is happy to call Brooklyn home with her partner, daughter, and 3 cats.
NYC DOULA AFFILIATIONS
Anna is lucky to be a part of the NYC Doula Collective, where she found her footing in this work.
From doula trainings to mentorship, community and continuing education for birth workers, these doulas know a thing or two about support! Please visit the site below to see what we're up to as a group and and explore doula options at all different levels of experience and areas of interest and expertise. Anna is proud to mentor many of the NYCDC doulas.