The way a woman gives birth has a major influence on the health of her baby on the short and long term, the relationship with her partner and her own mental and physical health, her self-confidence and self-esteem as a woman and a mother."
- Penny Simkin -​

People describe me as a warm, loving, enthusiastic, devoted, compassionate & caring nature coupled with maturity & responsibility. 

I have tolerance for people of different ethnic groups, social statuses & lifestyles. 

​I have a good health, I am comfort with touch, I am a good listener & because of my nursing background I have the ability to be flexible and to work in a variety of birth settings with changes of staff & care providers. 




Experience in:

• Sibley Memorial Hospital
• Washington Hospital Center
• Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
• George Washington University hospital
• Holy Cross Hospital
• Shady Grove Hospital
• Inova Fairfax Hospital
• Reston Hospital Center
• Inova Loudoun Hospital
• Virginia Hospital Center
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• ​St Agnes Hospital
• Fort Belvoir
  

​Certified CD/PCD(DONA)
​Birth & Postpartum Doula 

      Experience & qualifications

​Experience in:

• Cesarean birth
• High Risk
• Inductions
• Hospital birth
• Home birth
• Age over 40
• Postpartum Mood Disorders
• Single parents
• VBAC
• ​Same-sex couples
• Unmedicated birth
• Medicated/epidural births,
• Twins
• OB's

• Midwifes
• Prematures

Qualifications:

• Former ICU/Cardiac care nurse
• Hospital: Labor & Delivery, New-born, Maternity department 
• Area Sales Manager for Diabetic Products
• CPR certificate adults, infants and babies

Trainings/workshops 2018:

• Birth doula DONA International
• Postpartum doula DONA International
• Adult, child and baby First Aid/CPR/AED
• Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Elizabeth Hubley)
• Working with Anxious Clients (Sheryl Aaron, MSW, LICSW)
• When Survivor’s Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women (Penny Simkin, PT, CCE, CD[DONA])

Trainings/workshops 2019:

• Spinning babies; Easier childbirth with fetal positioning by Tammy Ryan, AdvCD/BDT(DONA), SpBT
• Integrative Resuscitation of the Newborn workshop by:Karen H. Strange is a Certified Professional Midwife and an American Academy of Pediatrics/Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor, and has been since 1992.
  
  
  

Confidence and trust
As your Doula I would like to give you the best possible birth experience. Thanks to my professional background and emphatic, caring and warm personality, I can be the guide you need during this life-changing journey. I have a genuine interest in people, I support and encourage. What drives me as a Doula is to give you the confidence to rely on your own power during and after labor. You can do it! 

​Since I have lived in different countries I easily bond with a variety of people from different backgrounds.
​My background as a nurse and my years of hospital experience make me a real professional.

​Besides English and Dutch, I speak a little bit of German & French

A good start with your baby
The period around pregnancy, delivery, and the period after that is unforgettable. It is a life-changing event that feels like an emotional and physical roller coaster. Being able to look back on a positive labor experience and the period following the birth, makes all the difference. This helps you to make a great start with your baby. 

 Would you like to embark on this journey with me?

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My friend about me:
"I am convinced that you make a great Doula. You are sweet, caring, devoted and emphatic but also "solid". You don't give up and encourage people to persevere as well, which makes you a wonderful Doula".