Joyful Journey Birth Services

I am excited to announce I am officially a Certified Childbirth Educator!!! I am so excited to offer these classes to expecting mommas and their support team! As of right now, I am offering virtual classes. Will be offering in person classes soon!

Sad day in the birth world. She wrote the book “ The Birth Partner.” One of my favorite reads for mommas and spouses!

In Memoriam: Penny Simkin, PT

With profound sadness and a heavy heart, DONA International announces the passing of our esteemed co-founder, Penny Simkin, PT, after a brief battle with cancer. Her departure on April 11, 2024 marks a tremendous loss not only to our organization but to the global doula community, childbirth educators, perinatal researchers, families she supported, and the countless lives she touched through her pioneering work in childbirth and maternity care.

Penny's unwavering dedication to supporting families during one of the most significant moments of their lives has left an indelible mark on the field of labor support and childbirth education. Since 1968, Penny, a skilled physical therapist, embarked on a mission to transform the childbirth experience, making it more empowering, informed, and supported. Her tireless commitment to this cause led her to prepare over 15,000 individuals, couples, and siblings for childbirth, directly assist hundreds of families through labor as a doula, and author several influential books that have become staples in the field that have been translated into several languages.

Penny was a visionary and a luminary in every sense. Her work has paved the way for a new generation of doulas and childbirth educators, instilling in them the values of compassion, evidence-based practice, and relentless advocacy for birthing people and their families. Through her profound contributions and co-founding of DONA International, Penny has revolutionized doula care and childbirth education across the globe, leaving a legacy that will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.
Her book, The Birth Partner, remains a beloved resource for anyone involved in the childbirth process, illustrating her commitment to not only the physical but also the emotional well-being of doulas and families during childbirth.

Though she recently stepped back from her professional endeavors to focus on her family, Penny's legacy continues to thrive through the work of the many doulas she trained, the families she supported, and the impactful works she left behind. Her life was a testament to her passion for making childbirth a positive and supported experience for all.

Penny's life was rich not only in professional achievements but also in love and joy. She and her husband, Peter, were blessed with four grown children, eight grandchildren, four many grandchildren-in-law, four great-grandchildren, and a beloved dog, Casey. Her family was her pride and joy, and she cherished the time spent with her loved ones.

As we mourn the loss of Penny Simkin, we also celebrate her extraordinary life and the countless ways she has enriched ours. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we carry forward her mission to improve childbirth and support families around the world. Penny's spirit lives on in the work of DONA International, in the lives of the families she has touched, and in the hearts of the many who loved her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to DONA International in Penny Simkin's memory, to continue her life's work of supporting and educating doulas and families. For more information on how to make a contribution, please visit https://www.dona.org/impactprogram/

We invite all who knew Penny, were touched by her work, or wish to share their thoughts and memories to do so by sending them to [email protected]. Your stories and memories will be a great comfort and a cherished collection for her family during this difficult time.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Penny's family, friends, and the many individuals whose lives she has touched. May her soul rest in peace, and may her legacy of love, support, and education continue to flourish in the years to come.

I have some exciting news! I’ve been working so hard over the last few months and last night, passed my exam to become a certified Childbirth Educator! Specifically, a Childbirth Educator for the Christian Family. I will be putting some final touches together and most likely offering my first class in May! Stay tuned for dates! 🙌🏽🙏🏼💕💙

Been a while since I posted baby updates! Welcomed March baby #3 today! Momma did amazing and worked so hard for her unmedicated birth she wished for!

Spending my Friday evening reading and studying for my NRP renewal to maintain my certification 💕💙

Been a while since I posted! Been busy with a crazy 8 births, and 4 encapsulations! But another encapsulation completed to help a mom with postpartum recovery! 🙌🏽💙💕

Welcomed a precious 5lb 15oz baby earth side yesterday! First doula baby of 2024!

What a year 2023 was! My first full year as a birth worker! I had the privilege to attend 42 births total! WOW!

▪️24 doula clients 💙💕

▪️Assisted 18 total births between 3 amazing local midwives 🫶🏼

▪️Encapsulated 15 placentas 🥰

Thank you all so much for helping make my first full year so successful! It was such an honor to be apart of these births! I absolutely love what I do and can’t wait to see what 2024 brings!

Welcomed the sweetest Christmas baby today coming in at a whopping…. 10lb 6oz and 22 inch long!!!!

Let’s have a Christmas Eve baby! 🙌🏽🥰🫶🏼

Welcomed the sweetest little bundle of joy earth side this morning!

No matter how you planned or imagined your birth to go, I will always be by your side encouraging and advocating for you! 🫶🏼

Sweetest review from a sweet client! Thank you for choosing and trusting me to be apart of your journey with you! 🫶🏼💙

Another encapsulation completed and headed to help momma with her postpartum journey! It’s my favorite time of year, so it’s only fitting to take a picture next to my JOY sign😍.

Final day for this steal!!!

The Faith-Filled Childbirth Course Creator of the five-star rated app Christian Hypnobirthing, Tara Menzies, brings you a childbirth educational course, to work alongside the Christian Hypnobirthing relaxation tracks, to help you feel confident and informed about birth.

Today is the last day for the $49 Christian birth and empowering postpartum course! I bought this myself to give it a listen, it was such a great course! Helps prep you for a reduced pain birth, preps you with evidence based information, and how to be mentally prepared for labor. I am next going into the postpartum course, and can’t wait to see what I can learn from that!

The Faith-Filled Childbirth Course Creator of the five-star rated app Christian Hypnobirthing, Tara Menzies, brings you a childbirth educational course, to work alongside the Christian Hypnobirthing relaxation tracks, to help you feel confident and informed about birth.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mommas! I am offering an early Black Friday discount! I would love to help you have an empowering and rewarding experience during the birth of your sweet baby! I am committed to helping you along your journey by offering nutritional support, prenatal support, being by your side advocating and supporting you during your labor and following up with postpartum support.

Let’s set up a free consultation to see how I can best support you!

Birthing and empowered postpartum course ONLY $49! Black Friday special only. Recommending expecting mommas to give this course a try if you are trying for a natural reduced pain birth! 🫶🏼🙌🏽

The Faith-Filled Childbirth Course Creator of the five-star rated app Christian Hypnobirthing, Tara Menzies, brings you a childbirth educational course, to work alongside the Christian Hypnobirthing relaxation tracks, to help you feel confident and informed about birth.

Encapsulation complete and headed back to momma to help with postpartum recovery! 💗

To my pregnant mommas! Check out this Black Friday deal!

Christian Hypnobirthing have just released their Black Friday Sale and it is their craziest deal yet!

Get their five star course bundle for just $49! Including both the Faith-Filled Childbirth Course and the Empowered Postpartum Course, originally valued at $99 each - that’s a jaw-dropping saving of $149!!

The shopping link for this deal will be in the comments below 💕👇🏼

Fun day meeting with clients to provide support during their pregnancy, along with labor and postpartum prepping! Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and weekend!

I have upcoming availability into the new year! I would love to chat to see if we would be a great fit! 💕

Had the pleasure of being a doula for this momma and doing the encapsulation for her. Headed back to momma to help nourish her body during her postpartum recovery!

Another twin encapsulation complete! Ready to help this momma with her milk supply, recovery, hormone balancing and increase energy to name a few. 🫶🏼💕

Getting around to post some testimonials I’ve received this past month. I’m so honored to be apart of these births and support these mommas and their support team. 🫶🏼💙💕

One of my favorite things to do for surprise babies is to tally up from the nurses and doctors working to see what they think the gender will be. I forgot to take an updated picture, but majority of the guesses were for team boy! I l will say I am still 100% on my guesses for the gender of my doula babies! 🫶🏼🙃 💙 🎀

Ever wondered what the umbilical cord looks like inside? The two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein which makes up the 3 vessels of the umbilical cord. I love the “face” they make. Our bodies are truly incredible. 🫶🏼