Perinatal chaplaincy provides spiritual care and emotional support during your conception journey, pregnancy, and postpartum period, or when navigating pregnancy loss.

This can look like pastoral care specialized for the perinatal period, or concrete support in preparing a birth plan, grieving a loss, preparing emotionally for birth, and processing a birth story.

We recognize birth as a major life event. Through birth classes, choosing care providers, and hiring support people for the birth space, we invest in the preparation and care it takes to make that experience as safe, supported, and empowered as possible.

Pregnancy itself is just as major of a life event, and just as deserving of that same intentionality and care. As you journey to and through pregnancy, you deserve support in preparing for motherhood and processing your experiences in a compassionate setting.

Whether you’re starting a conception journey, facing (in)fertility, grieving a loss, or currently pregnant—if you feel a need for pastoral care and spiritual support, I’m here to work with you, support you, and bear witness to your journey.

A perinatal chaplain is one part of a care team during trying to conceive (TTC), pregnancy, and postpartum. Where your OB or midwife supports you with the medical aspects of pregnancy, a perinatal chaplain supports you with the spiritual aspects of fertility, TTC, and pregnancy.

Let’s take a look at some of the other people you may have on your care team and how a perinatal chaplain differs.

A doula supports you practically and emotionally in the preparation for, and during, birth. They may help you with physical and emotional support during labor, or provide in-home postpartum support after a birth.

A therapist is a trained and licensed mental health professional who supports you with your mental health and emotional wellbeing. They may use tools like talk therapy, CBT, or medication to support you.

A pastor or clergy person is a church leader who shepherds a congregation and can provide pastoral care to all people throughout the life cycle. They are likely ordained by a specific denomination.

A perinatal chaplain is a spiritual companion who provides pastoral care specifically for the perinatal period (trying to conceive, pregnancy, loss, and postpartum). They may or may not be ordained, and may use tools like pastoral care, spiritual direction, prayer, birth art, or birth story medicine to support you.

Spiritual care can include and encompass religious faith, but it stretches to touch all areas of our lives. Our spiritual life includes not only our beliefs about God, but also our understandings of how we fit into the world; our questions about our life and purpose; the stories we tell about our lives and what matters; and our morals and values. Spiritual care helps process these questions in a non-judgmental and supportive setting.

I am Christian and have been trained to provide spiritual support in both Christian and interfaith settings. My 1:1 pastoral care sessions are offered through a faith-informed lens. My other offerings (birth planning support, birth art sessions, and birth story processing) are not religiously-based.

As a perinatal chaplain, I am above all privileged to walk alongside you in your spiritual journey. My role is to provide you with support within the framework of your own beliefs and tradition.

If you are looking for a secular fertility chaplain or miscarriage doula, please feel free to reach out; I would be very happy to refer you to someone who might be the right fit for you.