Founder of Moon Mama Doulas

Hi, I’m Sam! I’m an Elite Certified Postpartum & Infant Care doula, Certified Postpartum Placenta Specialist, and ProDoula trainer. 

After giving birth to my first son in 2015, the ensuing postpartum experience brought on an intense loss of control and a complete rupture of my sense of self. I had no idea how hardcore, edgy, and gnarly early motherhood was, even with the most incredibly supportive partner. In short, it completely altered my personal foundation and also catalyzed where I am today.

After the empowering and transformative birth of my second son in 2018, thanks to my incredible birth doula, I came to one universal truth. The design of modern motherhood in our society leaves a lot to be desired. If I could feel this wildly powerful, fulfilled, supported, and honored during birth, why not during postpartum too? The societal expectation to ‘bounce back’ and keep going on as if your entire being has not gone through the most unimaginable axis-shifting metamorphosis is, well… ridiculous. Postpartum should not be treated as a taboo subject or kept hush-hush. Families once thrived when the childbearing year was honored and viewed as a sacred transitional phase in one’s life. The gravitational pull to help my fellow mothers and fill the gap where the village used to be started right then and there. 

Entire pregnancies are spent researching, planning, and cultivating for birth (which is so important!). Endless moments are spent daydreaming about the little life within, and how they will journey Earthside. We host baby showers and sprinkles, paint nurseries, and set up cribs. Then, one day, baby arrives. You travel out of space and time, through the cosmos and return with a precious new soul. There is nothing in the world like giving birth and holding your newborn for the first time. Cue the babymoon period - it’s the best! 

But then after a couple of days, it’s time to go home. Reality hits hard: Wait, how many times are they going to wake up to eat? Why do my boobs feel like actual boulders? We didn’t consider how we would handle the frequent night wakings… When’s the last time I had a sip of water? How did that nurse do the swaddle again? Am I supposed to be feeling like this? WHY am I sweating at night and when the hell will I have time to take a shower? Will I ever feel like myself again? Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?!

I fiercely believe that the story of the person who gave birth is important too. Newborn parents deserve to be nurtured and held alongside their infants, to be told it’s okay to slow down and surrender to the waxing and the waning of this time. Together with my team, we serve as a lighthouse. A steady, warm presence guiding your way through the dark and plethora of unknowns. A non-judgmental ear and knowledgeable companion that gently leads you through the trenches to a place of confidence and strength. A person who is able to naturally attune, actively listen, and bridge the gap. Through this connection, we can help you not just survive postpartum, but thrive.