Hi, I'm Karen, the birth doula at The Doula Effect.

I'm a trained doula through DONA international, serving the greater Los Angeles area in Southern California.

I was the little girl who was OBBSESSED with babies. I loved watching their family care for them and I was always offering my help. By the time I turned 12, I started serving my community with childcare - initially volunteering at my church, and then moving on to babysitting and nannying after I became an adult. I've grown up a lot since I was that young child awestruck at the sight of a baby, but I've never lost my love of supporting parents with their children.

I'm now a college graduate with an AA in Natural Sciences (Pasadena City College) and a BA in Communication Disorders (Cal State LA). My associate studies included anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and some medical emergency training. My bachelor studies covered a very broad field of communication and swallowing/feeding issues. I gained a wide but shallow pool of knowledge relating to some congenital issues, such as cleft palates, cerebral palsy, and down syndrome.

My DONA training has taught me the specialized knowledge for how to support you in your birth journey. Whether you choose a home or hospital birth, I can support you through the motions to be present with your labor.

Friends have described me as an encyclopedia, because I'm so good at grasping bits of knowledge here and there and then sharing it all with others when the topics come up. I've been collecting information relating to child birth, lactation, childcare. I'd love to share my knowledge with you and help connect you with specialists!