Hi! I’m Bianca, a professionally trained ToLabor Doula, certified VBAC doula (VBAC Link) and Nutrition Consultant. I’m also a new mama and friend to many other new mamas, and these two roles have fundamentally changed my life’s path.
When I reached my late 20’s the baby boom began - my friends and colleagues started having babies and I started learning about pregnancy and birth. I heard the highs and the lows and it was eye opening. One sentiment that struck me most was that some of these women felt they were not given the opportunity to listen to their bodies or their babies, and while they were overjoyed with their babes, they were left feeling as though birth was a traumatic event. While I hadn’t given birth yet, I knew in my heart that this was not how it should be.
Because of this, I decided to prepare for and pursue an unmedicated hospital birth when I became pregnant. My husband and I opted for midwifery care, hired a Doula, and took an in-depth, out of hospital childbirth course. I bounced on my ball through countless Zoom meetings, drank red raspberry leaf tea, and ate dates until I started to hate them (I still haven’t touched one since giving birth).
When my daughter decided it was time to make her entrance into the world, I was blessed with an incredible birth experience that made me feel so empowered and absolutely awestruck by the power of women. I could chalk it up to the yoga, the hours of bouncing, the dates, etc. or just sheer luck, but when it really comes down to it I truly believe that it was the sense of ease I felt in knowing so much about the natural process of birth, and that we had support in the room. I knew that no matter how the birth transpired, I had a team of people to support me and to ensure that there was informed consent every step of the way.
As the fourth trimester flew by and the end of my maternity leave neared, returning to my marketing career was not sitting right with me. I wanted to care for my baby, but I also wanted to care for other women.
To answer this call, I quit my corporate job to practice as a Doula and holistic Nutrition Consultant, a certification I received in 2020 through Bauman College. I am so excited to support the mamas of Richmond and beyond (virtual services are available!) in their goals of nourishing their bodies as they prepare to conceive, having healthy pregnancies and empowered births.
My hope for all women is that they feel as empowered as I did following birth. I want every woman to feel that they have a voice in their prenatal care. I want every woman to understand what is happening with their body and their baby across the perinatal spectrum so that they know all of their options when thinking through their birth goals. And most importantly, I don’t want any woman to walk away from their birth feeling traumatized, even if it doesn’t go to plan (because let's be real, babies laugh in the face of plans). If these are your goals, let’s talk - I can’t wait to learn more about you and your beautiful baby(ies)!
Get in touch!
Wherever you are on your prenatal or postpartum journey, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you are just hoping to learn more about what a Birth Doula does, are ready to hire one for your birth, or are seeking tailored nutrition counsel as you embark on motherhood, drop me a line and let’s talk about it!