Hi, I’m Julia.

  • postpartum doula

  • certified Lactation Educator Specialist

  • matrescence educator

  • parenting coach

  • "profoundly non-judgmental, superbly patient, and a whole lot of fun"

  • "a phenomenally present listener"

  • "she created an incredibly soft space to process what I was discovering"

  • "she was so patient and generous with us that I became more patient and generous with myself"

What is a postpartum doula?

A postpartum doula is a birthworker who supports families in their homes during the fourth trimester (the first 12 weeks after birth). In this role, I…

  • educate and assist parents as they care for their newborn

  • support with physical recovery from childbirth and lactation if applicable

  • support siblings and pets with the transition

  • perform light household tasks and cooking

  • generally help the family adjust to its new chapter

I work with Los Angeles-based families, traveling with them if needed, and provide either daytime or nighttime support according to my clients’ needs. Please contact me for more info - I look forward to getting to know you and your growing family!

Why Julia?

There are many amazing postpartum doulas in Los Angeles! Let me tell you a bit about why I might be the right one for you.

  • Certified Lactation Educator Specialist - Trained to support in basic breast/chestfeeding management, including positioning and latch, common breast/chestfeeding challenges, and alternative feeding methods

  • Empathetic Grade-A Certified Incredible Listener - just kidding, there is no certification for this, but my clients all agree that I have exceptional listening skills.

  • Non-judgmental - I am a fan of the rich tapestry of humanity, and am very familiar with the wide variety of ways parents opt to care for their children. I will support you in making whatever choices are most comfortable and aligned for your family.

  • Trained and passionate matrescence educator - Matrescence is the physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual process of becoming a parent. (Like adolescence, but for becoming a parent.) Caring for an infant changes your brain as much as puberty does. If you don’t feel like “your old self” or don’t know who you are anymore, that is perfectly normal. I help my clients get to know their new selves, and reconnect with the parts of their pre-parent selves that they want to carry forward into this new phase of life.

  • Self-taught mixed-diet cook - I make nutritious comfort food from animal and/or plant proteins (according to your family’s preference) that you will easily be able to recreate once I leave!

  • Screenwriter and improvisor - Fun fact, I have a whole other career as a comedy screenwriter. I will honor the tenderness of this time in your life, AND you know that I’m here to find the joy and laughter whenever the moment strikes you.

  • Human and dog mom - I get it. (I am also known to be a bit of a toddler whisperer.)

  • All the usual stuff - Adult, Child and Infant CPR/First Aid certified, up to date on all vaccines, DONA International certification pending

  • Random fun facts - East Coast transplant; BA from Stanford University; cancer sun/taurus moon/sagittarius rising :)

“How much postpartum doula help do I need?”

  • If you don’t have other trusted adults ready to help care for you and your new baby, a postpartum doula will be hugely helpful. If you do, a postpartum doula can fill in the gaps (i.e. before or after out-of-town relatives are in town).

  • Some people can survive on little sleep, grabbing a few hours here and there; others really struggle without a full night’s rest. Newborns have tiny stomachs and need to eat every 2-3 hours, including overnight. A doula can make sure you’re getting as much rest as possible by taking care of anything that doesn’t absolutely need to be done by you (like showering and breast/chestfeeding :-)

  • Don’t be surprised if your pre-baby housekeeping routines are thrown out of whack by caring for, bonding with, and enjoying your new baby. A postpartum doula can help with light housekeeping/tidying to keep you from getting overwhelmed.

  • Your water bottle filled, a sandwich made, the baby held while you shower or nap… If you find it hard to reach out and ask for help, it may be helpful to hire someone to be in your home noticing what help you need and offering it! (Or connecting you to the right person for the kind of help you need.)

  • A postpartum doula can also help siblings and pets adjust to the new baby, or care for your infant while you lavish attention on older children and/or fur babies :)

  • You might have a meal train in place or it may be easy to get nutritious prepared food delivered - if not, a postpartum doula can help prepare nutritious meals for your family.

Dr. Alexandra Sacks on matrescence

“Depending on the quality of her matrescence, a woman may be greatly enlarged or diminished, for during this time, she is both vulnerable and powerful.”

— Trudelle Thomas