About
Meet Emma
I’ve specialized in overnight and daytime postpartum support and newborn care the past 3.5 years as both a postpartum doula and newborn care specialist. I’ve supported over 30 families and babies (including 4 sets of twins!). I came into this work in 2021 after a 14-year journey of babysitting, nannying, and a growing curiosity in child development and supporting the entire family (with some time also spent obtaining my bachelor’s degree in film and media- children’s film and television is one of my favorite areas!). I also have a master’s degree in child and adolescent development, with a minor in early childhood mental health. Learning about the importance of early child-parent relationships and of supporting mental health for positive child and family development greatly inform my approach of caring and supporting local families.
Read about my approach, credentials, and more below!
What I do as a…
Postpartum Doula
I support the birthing parent’s and family’s well-being through emotional, mental, and physical avenues such as light housework, birth processing, and providing additional knowledge and resources (e.g., parent groups). I also provide education on newborn care.
Newborn Care Specialist
I provide more in-depth knowledge and guidance on newborn care and development with topics such as what is considered typical newborn sleep and troubleshooting soothing techniques and feeding concerns. This also involves more newborn care than postpartum doula work.
A.K.A newborn nanny (if providing overnight services- night nurse, night nanny, overnight doula)
I do not provide medical advice or recommendations. I will refer out to specialists that are better equipped to guide you (e.g., IBCLC, pediatrician, OT, etc.)
Interested in how working with a solo business can be more beneficial than an agency? Read more about my business on the blog!
My Approach
Nuanced, Tailored Support Through Acknowledging Common and Unique Stressors
Social pressures around parenting, our own upbringing and family dynamics, financial concerns, distance from extended family or other support…
There can be a variety of stressors from our past and in our day-to-day lives. These might affect our ability to provide the care we envision and our own capacity for curiosity and learning. It’s hard to pay attention or learn when we’re stressed! Postpartum support (in addition to prenatal and birth support) could help to lower stress in such a new and transitional time. Although we can’t always decrease or get rid of all stressors, we can still work on building our ability to provide caregiving that uplifts the whole family. This is where attunement comes in!
Encouraging Attuned Caregiving to Support Optimal Development
Attuned caregiving can be thought of as a process of caregivers understanding children and their communication through:
- building curiosity and awareness
- attending and listening
- learning
Practicing these give you opportunities to become more in tune with your own responses and your children’s needs and wants. Throughout the prenatal and postpartum periods, I can support your family by helping you to consider expectations and realities around postpartum and newborns, so that you are better prepared for changes and adapting if needed!
How I Can Help
Practical Relief
Having in-person support during the perinatal period (prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum) can provide a buffer to some stressors.
Compassionate Care and Space for Adaptability
Individuals, families, and communities are different, from swaddling to feeding preferences, and in turn prioritize different things.
Encouraging Growth and Comfort in Capabilities
I pass on my knowledge and experience in newborn and child development to you!
Credentials and Training
Masters in Applied Child and Adolescent Development
Minor in Early Childhood and Infant Mental Health
University of Minnesota – 1/2024
Certified Perinatal Doula (Rhode Island)
2023
Newborn Care Specialist
Newborn Care Solutions – 3/2021
Postpartum Doula
Whole Body Pregnancy – 6/2022
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Advocate
QUILT (Quietly United In Loss Together)/Mother IS Supreme – 8/2023
Birth Doula
Birth Blessings (DONA) – 4/2022
Community Lactation Educator
Birth Blessings (DONA) – 4/2022
Attuned Postpartum 