All About Mika
I’ve been interested in pregnancy and birth for as long as I can remember. I was fortunate to grow up with a photo album of my own birth and as a child I would pour over the images with interest and excitement. It wasn’t until the birth of my first child in 2011 that I seriously considered becoming a birth worker. I experienced every human emotion available during my labor and the support of my birth team helped me feel empowered and cared for during this life changing moment. I was moved by the transformative nature of birth and decided to become a doula. I wanted to give birthing people the same support I felt and I know everyone deserves.
I started my training in 2014 and began attending births soon after. In 2017 I began assisting my mentor and senior doula, Samsarah Morgan, we still work together in a variety of capacities as doulas, educators, and more. I am certified through the Good Birth Keeper doula training program and Shafia Monroe Consulting as a Full Circle Doula. The Full Circle Doula training is based on the traditions of the 20th Century African-American Midwives. I have a strong belief in ongoing learning and continue to participate in and learn from colleagues, mentorships, workshops, readings, and more.
I am the Education Coordinator for Shiphrah’s Circle Community Doulas, a program of the Oakland Better Birth Foundation. We provide low and no-cost doulas, childbirth education, and programming for the community as well as mentorship, education, and support for doulas.