Hi, I’m Andrea.

I’m good at listening. I also have a lot of knowledge about birth — but as a doula, being attentive is the key skill. Knowing when to step in, and when to step back. Asking good questions, and giving honest answers. Advocating for you, while letting you run the show. Being present. Paying attention.

Being pregnant, giving birth, and caring for a baby can be challenging — emotionally, physically, and logistically. It can also be an experience of wonder and transformation. There is no right way to feel, or right way to do things, but paying attention to what you feel and thinking about how you want to do things can help make the experience a positive one. If you’re struggling to find resources or navigate maternity services, having someone on your side can make a big difference. The role of a doula is to be a companion who supports you through this process.


I am happy to support women and those who identify differently, including people of all genders, sexualities, family formations, and backgrounds. The meaning of reproductive experiences will be different for each person experiencing them, and I try my best to be open-minded, sensitive, and humble.

I have worked as a birth doula since 2013, when I was trained and certified by DONA (Doulas of North America). I also study birth and menstrual health as a professional medical anthropologist (PhD University of Chicago 2017, currently working in the University of Edinburgh medical school). I’m delighted to be a member of the Scottish Doula Network, which offers mentorship, solidarity, and back-up to keep everyone well. I volunteer with Doulas Without Borders and have received trauma-informed birth training from Make Birth Better. I teach and write about the cultural issues surrounding reproduction, medicine, gender, bodies, and families, and am a committed advocate for reproductive justice.

I was born and raised in California, in the foothills around Lake Tahoe. Through my passion for learning and exploration, I have traveled around the world and lived in the Bay Area, Chicago, Ghana, Italy, and now Scotland. It’s been a privilege, and also a challenge to merge this curious spirit with a deep appreciation for community and the feeling of belonging in a place. Making room for animals, plants, and the outdoors in my life keeps me grounded.

Currently, I live in the village of West Linton, in the Scottish Borders. It’s a stone’s throw from Edinburgh (in American distances at least), and I am happy to support clients in Edinburgh as well as in many parts of the Lothians, South Lanarkshire, and the Borders. Check with me to see if you’re in the service area.