I received my training and certification from Healthy Children USA in Framingham, MA. I started working in the WIC-program in May 2006 as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. I worked with mothers from pregnancy to childbirth and the first crucial weeks, months and years of their lifes. I'm a firm supporter of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines of breastfeeding solely for the first six months of life and then continuing to one year or beyond. But I also understand that breastfeeding is not always for every mother in which case I would personally work with her on a feeding plan best suited for her and her lifestyle.

I'm happily married and a proud mother of my one little princess, Heidi, who just turned five this year. My birth with her was a natural one. Now I'd like to share a personal experience with you that changed my life as a mother and led me to this vocation.

A couple of years prior to giving birth to my daughter; my sister who is a few years older than me was about to give birth to her first child. I remember going to the hospital with her and her husband that night. None of us had any experience with the birth of a baby, so we just sat in the hospital room and after a couple of hours she started to be in labor, that along with a lot of pain. She tried to relax, tried to breathe but couldn't do it, the pain was just intolerable. Both her husband and I felt so helpless as she didn't have anyone to help her and guide her through it as she should've been. After sixteen hours of labor, she finally gave birth late the next afternoon. All of us relieved, especially her with no more pain. She stayed in the hospital for a couple of days breastfeeding her beautiful newborn baby with the presence of a nurse checking back and forth on how they were doing, everything was ok there. However, once sent home, it was a different story. Even though she tried to educate herself by reading anything she could find on the subject she was still a struggling, depressed new mother with no experience. Her nipple became sored, her baby cried endlessly and she was running out milk. She would ask friends, relatives for advice, but nothing seemed to work, until finally she started to give formula to her baby and little by little her milk just dried out after only three months of giving birth.

When I realized I was pregnant, besides being the happiest human being in the world, I knew that I didn't want to go through the same experience my sister went through. That's when my life took a turn. Fortunately for myself, I was able to stay at home throughout my pregnancy. That gave me the chance to educate myself in this field to the fullest of my capability while learning and realizing on how pregnancy and the gift of giving birth could and should be a beautiful experience whether you are happily married or a single soon to be mother. In my pregnancy, I knew what I was doing, I knew how to breathe, how to relax. I was in labor for eight hours and my birth went as gently as it could've been. The first time I breastfed, it was and still is an unforgettable moment of my life. I had guideless of ways that best suited me on how to breastfeed and awareness of why it's healthier and safer for our newborns. I breastfed my daughter for three and half years. As she grows now, I can see with my own eyes how much it does matter, I can see how strong her immune system is, she rarely ever gets sick in comparison with other children. I'm very proud for the both of us as I took a Certified Lactation Counselor and learned all about the scientific research showing what a gift I had giving her for her health and development.

Ever since then, I have dedicated my life to promote and support organizations such as "Birthing Gently" so much that it's become a part of me. It will be a great satisfaction for me to be there with you and for you, because in my eyes I won't just be a your Labor Doula, I'll be your friend.

My Philosophy is "Breastfeeding is the one of important gifts mother a can give to her child, the perfect food, builds a lifelong bond between a mother and her baby".