My name is Julia Shirin. I gave birth eight times: each pregnancy its own story, each birth a unique event, each baby a completely new person. I had never even heard of a doula when I was having my babies, but looking back, I see how much I needed the support of a one in each of my birth experiences.
When our older children began talking about marriage having and babies, I encouraged them to get a doula, explaining what a difference it would make. Instead, they asked me to become one so that I could support them. I was still busy raising kids, so that was really not my plan, but after much urging I began the process. It didn’t take long to become hooked. I love being a doula!
I am a Certified Birth Doula with DONA International, a Beginnings Birth Center Approved Doula, a Tricare Approved Labor Doula, and a Hypnobabies Hypno-Doula. I support home births, birth center births, and births in every hospital in the area. My passion is to encourage, educate and empower you to have your very best possible birth experience. This is the heart of why I am in birth work; every birthing mother deserves to be seen, heard, respected, and cared for.
All images belong to The Doula Advantage. Photo Credit Julie Shirin. Used with permission.