My Story

Hello! I'm Nora

I am a certified postpartum doula, lactation educator counselor, and infant sleep educator serving families online and in-person from Burlingame to Mountain View along the San Francisco Bay Area peninsula.

In my work, I guide parents through the postpartum period into infancy, helping them to learn about their baby’s needs and rhythms and to develop ways to meet these needs within the context of the whole family. One of my favorite parts about my work is seeing parents connect to their babies and to themselves in their new role as a parent in a joyful and assured way.

a white woman with brown hair and glasses wearing a teal long sleeve shirt sits in a meadow with poppies and blue sky in the background
a small child and baby sit and laugh in an english countryside garden

Although I am a native Californian, I became a parent to both of my boys while living abroad in a coastal community in England. At the time, I was working in education and community engagement for a European Marine Site/Marine Protected Area. Sandy coastal walks and countryside rambles (complete with tea and cake stops!) accompanied me and my boys as I started to figure out life as a parent. Now back in California and living close to the coast, the redwoods and the wetlands, nature continues to inspire me and offer me connection and grounding. My boys, now 10- and 14-years old, continue to teach me daily about life, love, patience and kindness.

While in England, I started working with families by coordinating breastfeeding peer support through children’s centers in my region. After returning to the San Francisco Bay Area, I received my lactation educator counselor certificate through the UC San Diego Extension program in 2018 and I completed my postpartum doula certification through DONA International in 2019. In 2022, I completed my Infant and Family Sleep Specialist certification through bebo mia, Inc.

So much of the preparation that we see in our culture only skirts the surface of what a profound and intense experience becoming a parent can be. In 2020, I began working with Britta Bushnell, Ph.D. in her apprenticeship program to consider, strengthen, and practice my skills in helping families to dive a bit deeper into their pregnancy and postpartum journeys. I love exploring how I can help others (and myself!) to prepare more intentionally for the often unknown and dynamic adventure ahead. Birth and early parenting skills are life skills. In 2024, I had the opportunity to take this one step further and support the Apprenticeship program as a mentor, supporting the 2024-25 apprentices in their journeys.  

a white woman with brown hair and glasses sits on a couch and smiles down at a baby in her arms with a small child at her side

Training and Certification

  • First Aid and CPR/AED (Adult and Pediatric) certification, American Red Cross, 2023
  • Transformed by Birth Apprenticeship, Britta Bushnell, Ph.D., 2020-23
  • Infant and Family Sleep Specialist, bebo mia, Inc., 2022
  • Advanced Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss training, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, Death, 2021
  • Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss training, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death, 2020
  • From Trauma to Triumph: When Survivors Give Birth Foundational training, 2020
  • Certified Postpartum Doula, PCD(DONA), 2019
  • Lamaze International Childbirth Educator Seminar, 2018
  • Lactation Educator Counselor (CLEC), UC San Diego Extension, 2018
  • DONA International approved Postpartum Doula workshop, 2017
  • Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative course in Breastfeeding and Relationship Building, 2013
  • Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, University of Greenwich (UK) accredited course, 2011
  • Stakeholder Dialogue: A Good Practice Approach to Participation, Dialogue Matters/Diana Pound, 2009

Education

Imperial College London, MSc in Science Communication
University of California, Davis, BS in Plant Biology, minor in History

Scroll to Top