About the Birth Doula

Emma Pence, CBD

- Jennifer Mason Photography

My interest in supporting women during birth started years ago when a neighbor told me the story of her natural birth (it included a doula, hypnosis, and a buried placenta). It planted a little seed of fascination that I didn’t forget. Years later, in my final year at MSU, I was watching childbirth education videos for fun (as people do ☺) and stumbled upon a video by Bridget Teyler about birth doulas. I thought to myself, “I could do that!”, and the little seed began to bloom. Within a year, I took a DONA approved workshop (March 2021) and received my training certificates. I attended my first few births and became a Certified Birth Doula through Lifespan Doulas, created and owned by Patty Brennan.

As I started putting down roots in the birth community, I learned about midwifery and the option to birth with Certified Professional Midwives. This snowballed into me travelling to Montana to take a survey midwifery course (Modules of Midwifery) through GoMidwife. The highly interactive course ran from mid-August to mid-November 2021, and was my foundation for learning about natural birth. In September of 2022, I began apprenticing as a student midwife with two homebirth practices in Michigan and much of my time is invested in that. I love it.

I give support at natural births, inductions, c-sections, and births that have a change of plans; I support the birth you want and am on the journey with you.

I’m very much a listener and affirmer as a doula. I enjoy talking over a hot cup of tea. My tendency to connect, empathize, and enjoy company and conversation is a mainstay of my doula practice.

I'm also a Pediatric Sleep Consultant for babies, toddlers, and young children. I completed my certification with the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management in November 2022.

I’m married and enjoy doing activities with my husband and in-laws in the Lansing, Michigan area.