Joyful Birth Doula Services
Chelsea Cripps, Certified Doula (CBI)
About Me
I grew up in a small town in Southern Utah. In 1998 I married my high school sweetheart. We lived for four years in Salt Lake City where he graduated from college through the Naval ROTC program while I pursued a degree in English and gave birth to two beautiful babies. Our son was born in April 2000, and our daughter in January 2002.
After graduation in the spring of 2002, we began our adventures with the US Navy which eventually landed us in Yokosuka, Japan. While in Japan, one of my American friends became pregnant. She shared with me some of her concerns about having a baby overseas, one of which was that she would not have a doula available. I had never heard of a doula before, but once she explained to me what a doula is and does, I offered to serve as her doula. She gave me several books on the topic, and as I read I became very excited about the purpose and importance of professional childbirth companions and began to think this was something I would like to pursue professionally.
I enrolled in a doula certification program through Childbirth International. I found there was a great need for doula services on the naval base in Yokosuka and before even completing my certification, I had the extraordinary privilege of attending five births at the Yokosuka Naval Hospital. Each birth was a unique and wonderful experience, leaving me increasingly certain that this was something I wanted to continue doing. I feel so honored to be allowed to be with a woman (or couple) at this amazing moment in their lives.
All too soon, it was time to move on again. We were transferred to Northern Virginia over the Christmas holidays of 2006. Shortly after returning to America, I completed my certification and launched Joyful Birth Doula Services. While we miss Japan terribly, my family and I also love living in the DC area and I look forward to working with the women of Northern Virginia.
After graduation in the spring of 2002, we began our adventures with the US Navy which eventually landed us in Yokosuka, Japan. While in Japan, one of my American friends became pregnant. She shared with me some of her concerns about having a baby overseas, one of which was that she would not have a doula available. I had never heard of a doula before, but once she explained to me what a doula is and does, I offered to serve as her doula. She gave me several books on the topic, and as I read I became very excited about the purpose and importance of professional childbirth companions and began to think this was something I would like to pursue professionally.
I enrolled in a doula certification program through Childbirth International. I found there was a great need for doula services on the naval base in Yokosuka and before even completing my certification, I had the extraordinary privilege of attending five births at the Yokosuka Naval Hospital. Each birth was a unique and wonderful experience, leaving me increasingly certain that this was something I wanted to continue doing. I feel so honored to be allowed to be with a woman (or couple) at this amazing moment in their lives.
All too soon, it was time to move on again. We were transferred to Northern Virginia over the Christmas holidays of 2006. Shortly after returning to America, I completed my certification and launched Joyful Birth Doula Services. While we miss Japan terribly, my family and I also love living in the DC area and I look forward to working with the women of Northern Virginia.
