Meet Gretchen

Welcome Mama!

 

I started my journey into birth work at a very young age. When I was about 5 or 6 years old I would tell people “I want to be an obstetrician, so I can be the first person to welcome a baby into the world.” Ambitious, I know. I have carried this love for children throughout my life by working in a daycare program while in high school and college, and nannying both long-term and short-term. Well, I didn’t become an obstetrician, but that’s because in college I also worked with the psychiatric population in inpatient and emergency settings at two local hospitals. I quickly fell in love with the work! I learned the importance of mental health and the need for advocacy, but I hadn’t quite decided on what community I wanted to serve.

 

I believe that birth can be a beautiful and empowering experience, but that doesn’t always happen. The birth of my son taught me that there is a significant need for advocacy, education, and support for families bringing new life into the world. What better way to combine my love of babies with my passion for mental health? 

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I was pursuing a masters in marriage and family therapy when I discovered my calling for birthwork! I was pregnant with my oldest son and quickly realized the support and resources for expecting parents, especially first time moms was severely limited. I decided that mothers and their families needed more support so I switched my masters to developmental psychology to better understand how people cope with life transitions and started my doula and childbirth education training. 

 

I started Bonded Birth as a way to support women and families throughout birth and the entire postpartum period. While getting my masters in developmental psychology I learned so much about the development of humans throughout their lifespan. I realized that while our babies are in good hands, we are failing our mothers. Not always at the fault of providers, many times there are just too many patients to give the care that new mothers and families deserve.

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Many mothers feel that while their baby is well monitored, they as the mother and main patient are forgotten. Recent U.S. mortality trends unfortunately support this widespread experience. That's where I step in! As a fully trained doula and a childbirth educator, I provide pregnant people and their families with education and support while teaching them how to be their own advocate.

 

It can sometimes be difficult to advocate for yourself when you don't know what to advocate for. I help parents understand all the options any pregnant person would get so they can determine which best aligns with their values. Then, I encourage clear and effective communication with their medical providers so that everyone is on the same page of what is the best option based on each mother's medical history giving them true personalized care!

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I believe that birth is transformative, but I know that it can be daunting and even scary for many. Think of me as the ultimate big sister! I will teach you everything you need to know about birth, stand up for you against any bullies, cheer you on when you need it, sit in silence when that feels right, and I’ll even hold your hair back when you throw up.