Meet Our Doulas
Brandie Kiefer
In 2012, as my friends were nearing the births of their babies, I realized that what was missing in maternity care was mom to mom support. Our culture has gotten so caught up in monitoring and test results that we have forgotten to just be there for each other. I took a doula training at this time and began attending births. As a doula, I answer questions and ensure women have all the information they need to confidently make their own decisions during their birth and continuing after their babies are born. I stay by their side offering unconditional support during pregnancy, birth and on into motherhood. I do not believe doula support should end with the birth and so I remain available to offer reassurances, continue building confidence, and guiding moms to trust their intuition, which is unlikely to steer them wrong.
In 2016, I brought together a group of wonderful local doulas so that we could support each other, allowing us to better serve our clients. I have loved watching doulas and families flourish together and am looking forward to what the future brings to our birth community.
My Training
- Birth Doula Training – CAPPA (2012)
- Certified Lactation Educator – Bastyr (2013)
- VBAC Facts workshop – Jen Kamel (2014)
- Certified Child Passenger Safety Technitian – SafeKids USA (2015)
- Birth & Postpartum Doula Certification – Madriella (2015)
- Passion for Birth Lamaze Educator Training (2015)
- Hypnodoula – Hypnobabies (2016)
- Evidence Based Birth Instructor Course (2016-currently enrolled)
My Philosophy
I believe that each family knows the best choices for their pregnancy, birth, babies and children and should be fully supported in those choices. I believe that doula support should not end with the birth. I mean , really, its great to have an amazing birth but if everything falls apart once baby gets here, what was it for? I am the whole family doula.
Random Facts About Me
- I love cooking and actually take joy in preparing freezer meals.
- I have a blended family of 7 amazing children.
- I love Pinterest but my projects never look quite right.
- I started a moms group where we get together specifically to talk about the hard parts of motherhood.
- I know that I’m the crazy mom in the neighborhood and I just dont care.
- When my kids are bored at restaurants, we make origami out of napkins.
- I love learning. If it wouldnt bankrupt me, I would be a lifetime student.
Sue Johnson
My journey to doula worked started when I was completing my undergraduate program at Washington State University. I reluctantly took a Women’s Studies course to satisfy a requirement for my degree, and mostly picked the class because it was supposed to be a relatively easy ‘A’. I don’t remember much from the course itself, except that we watched the movie, “The Business of Being Born.” Even as a young college student with just about everything but birth and babies on my mind, I remember the outrage and frustration I felt with what birth had become in America to so many moms. Empowering women and girls has always been near and dear to my heart, I’ve always been drawn to work that fills that passion. It’s really no shock to me that after having my daughter with the support of a wonderful doula, that I became very interested in providing support to new mothers and babies. I’m a strong believer in supporting moms and babies after birth, our society has shifted into a place where isolation for new mothers has been very much normalized. We’re not meant to go it alone, and I would love to assist you on your journey.
My Training
- Wholistic Woman Doula Training (2016)
My Philosophy
Every woman deserves to have her choices honored, and respected, and to feel empowered about her decisions for her birth. I’m here to provide you the resources and support you need to feel confident in your choices every step of the way. Support and services don’t end with the arrival of your baby. There’s still so many choices and decisions to make, and who couldn’t use the extra support? I believe that women were designed to have a village of support after birth, and even if you’re blessed with a village, a doula can help you on your postpartum journey.
Random Facts About Me
- I grew up on a farm in Eastern Washington.
I’m a baby wearing junkie and own way too many baby/toddler carriers. - I have an incredible husband, and two daughters, one that grew in my belly and one that grew in my heart.
- I’m a Washington State University graduate, Go Cougs!
- I also offer photography services and have attended local births as a photographer.
- I’ve been a social worker in the local area for the past 6 years, and have a continually growing knowledge base of resources and service organizations in the Coeur d’Alene/Spokane area.
- My favorite creative outlet is photography, and my favorite self care outlet is lounging on the beach with my family at Newman Lake.
Kayla Duval
My Training
- DONA Birth Doula training 2015
- Student Midwife 2015
- Madriella Birth and Postpartum Doula 2015
- Certified Birth Assistant 2016
- Neonatal Resuscitation Certified 2016
- Spinning Babies 2016
- Iv/Suturing/Pharmocolgy Classes 2017
My Philosophy
I want all families to feel supported. My goal is to empower families throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
“Giving birth should be your greatest achievement not your greatest fear”-Jane Weideman
Random Facts About Me
- I am a wife and mother of 4 amazing children.
- I love to redecorate
- One of my favorite past times is extreme couponing
Jennifer Bookamer
In 1995 I was pregnant with my first child. I had a great support team that included my husband and my midwife. As the months went by, I noticed a big lack of presence and encouragement from the women in my life. Birth was described as an experience I should dread, but once my baby arrived, all would be well. I began to wonder why this way of thinking was so prevalent, and why no one was telling me things could be any other way. Thankfully, my midwife and husband were the “voices in the desert”, and I held on to their support. In March 1996 my sweet baby girl was born, and I was able to proclaim that our experience was joyful and strengthening. Soon after, I chose to become a childbirth educator in an effort to educate birthing families and help create a new culture of birth in our area. I became an educator in 1998 and in the years since, I have also had the honor of supporting many families as their doula.
My Training
- Bradley Method® Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula (1998-present)
- Wholistic Woman Birth Doula Training (2015)
- Rebozo Training (2015)
- Spinning Babies Training (2016)
- Evidence Based Birth Professional Member (2016-Present)
My Philosophy
This is your birth. I believe that you are capable of making decisions that are right for your family. If you are uncertain and need more information, I can help you find it. Support from me is unbiased and calming. Your partner will receive support as well, which brings a sense of relief and more enjoyment of the journey. My desire for you is that when you tell your birth story, you can talk about it positively, even if the path looks differently than you originally anticipated.
Random Facts About Me
- I love mentoring and being mentored.
- I have been married since 1990 and have two daughters, born in 1996 and 2003.
- I have been a volleyball mom, horse show mom and theater mom.
- I love cooking, but everyone benefits when I follow a recipe.
- I enjoy singing at the top of my lungs in the car, particularly when I can embarrass my family at the same time.
Julie Cooper
From a young age birth fascinated and amazed me. I learned her love of birth and all things motherhood from my own mom and found myself following in her footsteps. My mother taught me the true strength of women. As a mother myself, I hope through this work I am able to inspire my own three daughters to be strong women as well.
When I was pregnant with twins, I had a doula who was continuously on call for all of my questions and concerns. I did end up with a cesarean and while the hospital wouldn’t let my doula join me during that time, I still felt fully supported. My doula was there waiting for me as soon as she was able to join me again and kept in frequent contact while I was in the hospital with well wishes and answers to questions. Her kindness and support is what inspired me to want to be that person for women as well.
My Training
- Birth Doula Training – DONA (2017)
My Philosophy
Random Facts About Me
- I have three beautiful daughters
- My husband and I are a little bit Star Wars obsessed. Our wedding had accents of Star Wars, and both our twins names have Star Wars references.
- I’m that cloth diapering, Baby wearing, breastfeeding “crunchy” friend. .
- I have five siblings, the youngest of whom I am 23 years older than.
- My Pinterest boards make me look very crafty and organized but my unfinished projects and toy ridden home say otherwise.