Meet Your Hudson Valley Birth and Postpartum Doula

Hi, I’m Dawn.

This isn’t just a business for me, it’s a calling I’ve heeded my entire adult life. Birth work began as a curiosity, as a young woman who just wanted to witness the sacred and extraordinary moment of a baby taking their first breath. But through the years it turned into a spiritual practice and, alongside parenthood, is one of the main catalysts for emotional growth in my life. My reverence for this work has only deepened through the years. I believe birth is more than a clinical event. It is a threshold crossing that asks us to meet ourselves in new ways. My role is not to tell you how your journey should look, but to offer grounded support and a steady presence as well as trust in your ability to navigate it.

My understanding of the importance of the emotional attunement of mothers to their babies is what convinces me that doula support changes the world one mother and baby at a time. A truly supported mother with autonomy often bonds with their baby more readily. I believe the way we care for mothers matters for the greater community. It is generational work that ripples outward.

Outside of birth work, I’m drawn to the study of depth psychology, mythology, dream work, archetypes, holistic health, and the enduring wisdom found in literature and spiritual traditions. I’m endlessly fascinated by the inner lives of human beings and the ways we make meaning. I see life’s most challenging experiences as initiations, and the most painful losses of my life have always offered me transformation.

I love 5-mile walks with my poodle rescues, writing and reading memoir, poetry and narrative nonfiction. My favorite thing to do in life is to try to sneak glimpses of the world through my 13-year-old daughter’s eyes. This often involves vintage shopping, travel, boba, or all of the above :)

(I’m also a huge Rilke fan)

God Speaks to Each of Us

God speaks to each of us before we are,

Before he's formed us — then, in cloudy speech,

But only then, he speaks these words to each

And silently walks with us from the dark:

Driven by your senses, dare

To the edge of longing.

Grow Like a fire's shadowcasting glare

Behind assembled things, so you can spread

Their shapes on me as clothes.

Don't leave me bare.

Let it all happen to you: beauty and dread.

Simply go — no feeling is too much —

And only this way can we stay in touch.

Near here is the land

That they call Life.

You'll know when you arrive

By how real it is.

Give me your hand.

– Rainer Maria Rilke

Client Reviews

“I had a dream labor and birth and I owe it all to Dawn and my incredible husband. She was there by my side for every single contraction during the full day of labor at my home. She has a magical way about her that made me feel very comfortable, even at my most vulnerable. I was able to labor comfortably at home long enough that by the time we got to the birth center I was already 10 cm! She was my Dawn of a New Era as I transformed from maiden to mother!”

–Cleo

“Thanks to the amazing Dawn, I was able to have a natural induced birth. Her comfort techniques, inspiration and pain management support were invaluable. She continued to provide incredible support during my postpartum recovery and breastfeeding journey. I can’t recommend her enough. her knowledge, compassion and dedication made all the difference in my birthing experience.”

–Esme

“Dawn’s intuition, translating what was happening and asking powerful and thought-provoking questions ensured we got the best care available. She showed up for us in the postpartum period as well and made us both feel like we weren’t alone. We felt lucky, and I guarantee you will too.”

–Eli