Erin believes in empowerment through birth. In supporting the birthing person through whatever type of birth experience they choose to have. She believes that the birthing person should always be in control of the decisions that are being made. During prenatal appointments, Erin aims to educate families so they can make evidence-based decisions while also encouraging them to follow their intuition. Erin has experience working in and out of the hospital setting, medicated and unmedicated births, water birth, VBACs, twin deliveries, and caesarean births.

While intellectually preparing families for the birth experience is extremely important. Birthing requires a level of opening to the unknown and surrendering to the process. Erin focuses on holding a calm and loving space. She provides hands-on comfort and coping techniques through massage, words of encouragement, breathing and visualization exercises, counter pressure, and position change. Erin has a naturally calm disposition and is able to focus in busy and hectic environments. While she thrives in providing hands-on support, she knows when to step back to allow for a private moment between partners or deep inner focus within the birthing person.

Erin’s Background

Erin’s passion for pregnancy and birth flourished when she became pregnant with her son in 2016. While pregnant Erin was inspired to read and listen to everything she could get her hands on. Erin began her journey to doula work in 2020 attending both Birth and Postpartum DONA workshops. Erin is the owner of Mama Bear Strong and a doula on the Portland Doula Love team. She has had the honor of attending more than 170 births.

Erin is passionate about exercise and uses her years as a barbell strenght coaching in her doula work. She loves helping people navigate moving their bodies during prenancy. Which has a myriad of health benefits AND helps to encourage optimal fetal positioning. She uses her knowledge of anatomy and physicology to help baby moving through the pelvis during birth. During the postpartum Erin can help guild new parents on how to safely resume exercise.

Erin lives in Oregon City with her 7 year old son, giant dog (Louie), and bearded dragon (Draco). In her free time she loves hiking the amazing trails of the PNW and traversing the waterways on her paddle board. She enjoys lifting weights as a competitive powerlifter and throwing as a Highland Games athlete. She also enjoys cozy times at home baking and cooking, working on various craft projects or cuddling under a blanket with a good book and cup of coffee.

Certification, Training, & Education

  • DONA International Birth Doula Training, Wendy Scharp, CD(DONA)

  • 6-month intensive birth doula mentorship, Doula Love 

  • Intro to Childbirth Training, Wendy Scharp, CD(DONA) 

  • Foundation of Lactation 101 Training, Krystal Key, IBCLC

  • DONA International Postpartum Doula Training, The Doula Training Path (DONA)

  • Certified VBAC doula, The VBAC LInk 2022

  • Certified Traditional Healthcare Worker 2022

  • Birth as a Heroic Journey: Doula From Within training June 2021- March 2022

  • HypnoBabies doula training 2022

  • Workshop: Spinning Babies, Kelly Dungan, RN, BSN, RNC-OB

  • Workshop: Taming Fears- Supporting Parents in Pregnancy and Birth

  • Adult, child, and infant first aid and CPR

  • Certified Professional Barbell Coach, Barbell Logic 2022

  • Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach 2020

  • Girls Gone Strong Coaching academy- March 2023

  • Barbell Logic Online Coaching internship 2019