Her interest stemmed from being left alone in a hospital room with no one to assist or comfort her until she was ready to push (her spouse and brother who had accompanied her were told to go home because she was not in active labor. Five hours later she delivered a 9-pound, 2-ounce baby vaginally). Her first experience as a doula was assisting a family member in labor 25+ years ago. She continued
helping family and friends over the years until she decided to become a certified birth doula through DONA. As a holistic birth and post-partum doula, she has had extensive training. Joan's education includes Family Development Credential, Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Centre for Homeopathic Education-NYC, Calm Birth Instructor Trainer, Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences, Certified Infant Massage Instructor Trainer, Womb Sauna Practitioner, post-partum training with Indigemama, BirthMama, Traditional Postpartum Practices (Valerie Lynn) and Birth Arts International. Her approach is to follow the lead of the laboring person, not have preconceived notions and to be as fluid and flexible as possible to address each person's individual needs as they arise. Another aspect of the services she provides, is as a holistic fertility doula--assisting in supporting the emotional, nutritional, physical and spiritual well-being of her client's pre-conception. In addition to having a private doula practice, Joan also works as a community doula with the By My Side Birth Support Program, a federally funded program under Healthy Start Brooklyn offering doula care to underserved families in zip codes with the highest infant mortality and maternal morbidity rates.
