I'm an American mother and doula, and I've called Munich home since 2020.

To be completely honest, I didn't even know what a doula was until after I had my own child.

Before becoming a mother myself, I didn't give motherhood much thought. I didn't fully see the women around me who were navigating pregnancy, birth and everything that came after. It wasn't until I experienced it firsthand that I realised just how much I had overlooked.

I was in awe of myself. Of how far I was pushed, how much I could endure, and how I kept finding a way to stand back up, even when I didn't want to. After that, it was all I could see. Mothers. Everywhere. And all the things they carry that often go unnoticed.

Having a child in a country where I had almost no support system completely rocked my world. I was navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system, trying to understand how things worked, and often feeling like I didn't quite belong. There weren't many people who looked like me, and more than anything, I felt alone.

That experience changed me. It also shaped the kind of doula I wanted to become. I finished a full-spectrum doula training with Doula Trainings International and am in the process of becoming fully certified.

In my practice, I want families to feel informed, supported and understood. I want mothers to know they deserve care, too. I want mothers of colour to be heard in birthing spaces. I want birthing partners to feel included, prepared and confident in their role, because birth and postpartum aren't experiences one person should have to navigate alone.

Today, I aim to support families in Munich through birth preparation, guidance in navigating the local healthcare system, postpartum support and healing.