Meet Sharon, a Birth Doula with Ann Arbor Birth & Family!
What are some of your specialties, trainings, and unique offerings?
After being certified as a doula and birth instructor through the Bradley Method for 6 years, I recently completed birth doula certification through DONA. I am also an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor.
I specialize in training and helping partners on how to be involved. I also am a certified Survivor Moms’ Companion tutor (for moms who are recovering from traumatic experiences), and I have a special place in my work for supporting LGBTQ+ birthing people.
My educational background in Psychology and Socio-cultural anthropology really help me support families through the mental and social aspects of labor as well, I am furiously passionate when it comes to birth justice and fixing the problem of racial disparities within childbirth in this country.
What makes you really shine or feel like you’re thriving?
I’ve found that authentic empathy for people who are in labor really facilitates fast thinking and creative problem solving. Even after years of training and experience, I am always finding new solutions that are tailored specifically for each laboring individual. Also, I just love my clients so much! Call me unprofessional for saying it if you want, but I think when it comes to birth work, love is the secret sauce. It helps me forget about myself and throw all I’ve got into meeting others’ needs during labor.
What are the best 3 words to describe yourself?
Proactive.
Compassionate.
Skilled.
What can we find you doing when you are not with a client?
I love spending time with my husband and kids ages 10, 8, 4, and 1. When it’s warm outside we often garden, camp, kayak, hike and swim together. If it’s cold, I just bundle everyone up, nudge them outside, and volunteer for hot chocolate making duty. I also enjoy playing the cello (I’m a beginner and you would NOT want me playing during your labor), traveling, painting, and attempting to stay up on current events.
What is your favorite bit of advice or words of encouragement for new parents?
You may be tempted to place the cleanliness of your house, or your dreams of your kid becoming a star soccer player, or your desire to cook gourmet meals everyday, over your own sanity. Don’t do it! Your kid will appreciate having a grounded and stable parent, more than a stressed out pinterest-perfect parent. When in doubt, lower the bar for yourself. As my mom always says, “sanity first!”
How are you changing the world? What is your legacy you are building for future generations for our community?
I believe in changing the world for good globally, locally, and on an individual basis. So in that spirit, I try to get involved however I can (when it’s sane. See my words of advice.) whether that’s helping to organize a march, or orchestrate refugee relief efforts, or just reaching out to neighbors to host a potluck. On an individual basis, I try to create a loving space for my family members. My favorite thing about being a birth worker, is that there is such an amazing opportunity to change an individual’s world for good at a pivotal moment in life. Because birth can potentially be a vulnerable and distressing time, I love helping to relief physical discomfort while helping birthing people and partners feel safe, confident, and empowered. As I do that on an individual basis, there are doulas all over the world also doing the same thing, as part of a greater movement to empower birthing people globally. My hope is that in the future, any woman who wants one, can have access to a competent and skilled doula during labor and birth.
What are some of your favorite books or podcasts?
Evidence Based Birth is my favorite podcast, it helps me stay up on the most current birth research.
What is your favorite quote/mantra/manifesto?
In high school it was “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for enough good people to do nothing.” Now it’s probably just, “Breath.”
Who are you paired with and why do you make a great team?
Alyssa Celano! She is incredibly flexible and supportive, proactive and hardworking. She cares deeply about our clients and wants the best for them. She and I always joke about our very different backgrounds, but that really enriches what we have to offer families and gives us opportunities to learn from each other’s knowledge pools. She’s a really incredible person and it’s a blast collaborating with her.
What are some fun facts about you that you would like to share?
I enjoy creating things: anything from funky themed birthday cakes for my kids, to tape murals for the heck of it, to heat pads to help laboring clients. At heart I’m a dancer, artist, and cultural anthropologist. In reality, I’m not skilled in any of those areas, but I CAN sing up and whistle down…simultaneously.