About Kristina
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I witnessed my first birth while training as a doula. I was up all night and didn’t leave the hospital until mid-morning the next day. Instead of feeling tired and wanting to sleep, I felt completely energized and high like never before. I told everyone I came into contact with that day that I had witnessed something amazing. Yes, everyone. I told my friends, my co-workers, and a few willing listeners on the bus.
That day started my second career path, even if I didn’t totally realize it then. I was a labor and post-partum doula for a while, but felt that I wanted to do more. I quit my job as a theater producer and went back to school to be a Nurse-Midwife. That decision led me to witness and participate in births in Russia and Guatemala, and finally the Seattle area.
I graduated from the midwifery program at the University of Washington in 2005. That same year, I became an International Certified Lactation Consultant, working as a lactation consultant at the University of Washington Medical Center. My favorite part of working as a midwife, is watching the transformation of a family after the birth of a new baby. I feel full being in a room so full of love.
Soon after grad school, I got to experience birth form the “other side of the bed”. I gave birth to my first daughter and the experience was very eye-opening. Much of my birth plan went out of the window, but at the end of it all, I felt proud of myself. I had a satisfying birth experience because I had the knowledge to make informed decisions when things changed from my expectations, and because I had a supportive, loving birth team. In fact, my husband often refers to that birth as one of the best parties he has been to!
But it wasn’t such a party once we got home. For several reasons, my daughter and I did not get off to an easy nursing start. With little time to sleep and lots of tears, we worked through our difficulties with lots of patience and support and determination on both of our parts. She nursed for 20 months!
Two years later, I gave birth to my second daughter. It was a very different, but equally wonderful experience. Again, I learned so much about myself and my husband during that birth. Proof that birth is a learning journey that has a permanent impact on one’s life. And we had a very easy time nursing. All of fears that this would be a difficult post partum experienced went away with her first nursing. She nursed for 2 years.
While my focus is on raising my young daughters, I maintain a thriving professional practice. Aside from teaching and working in the clinic, I offer in-home lactation services. I’m saving the world one birth and two breasts at a time!