Hi there! I’m Cait.
My pronouns are she/her/hers.
I live on unceded, occupied land of the Abenaki people in the coastal city commonly known as Portland, Maine. I am a white genderqueer and queer femme who grew up working poor, primarily in New England.
I came to birthwork through engaging in policy and culture change work for an abortion provider. In the abortion care setting, I experienced trauma-informed health care for the first time that deeply honored patients’ unique circumstances and decisions about their well-being, bodies and their futures. I became obsessed with all things sexual and reproductive health and politics! I began to witness the common and avoidable traumatizing and silencing experiences of some of my loved ones during their pregnancy and birth journeys. That is when I decided to become a birthworker, with hopes I could prevent and interrupt harm as people bring their babies earthside, as well as deepen all birthing folks’ sense of trust in their own abilities & strengths during birth.
I believe we need each other, and that our interdependency is a sacred gift.
I believe in the power of radical community care and peer support.
My beliefs and practices for birthwork are grounded in an embrace of the radical framework and generous teachings from leaders of the Reproductive Justice movement, founded by Black American women activists in the 1990s. My practices also deeply engage with Harm Reduction as a movement that honors the dignity and autonomy of people who use drugs, and all people.
Training & Ongoing Education
⚘ Trained as a birth doula with DONA International, Fall 2019; Did not seek certification with this organization. Ask me about it!
⚘ Completed Cornerstone Capstone Advanced Full Spectrum Doula Training, Fall 2021.
⚘ Completed Cornerstone Gemstone Homebirth for Doulas course, Summer 2022
⚘ Childbirth Educator with Cornerstone, June 2021
⚘ Completed Birthing Beyond the Binary with king yaa, Summer 2021
⚘ Completed Gender Affirming Birthwork 101 & 201 with Moss Froom
⚘ Advocate with the All-Options national peer support Talkline
⚘ Naloxone distributor and harm reduction educator with Maine Access Points
⚘ S.A.S.S. Self-Managed Abortion Trainer
⚘ Hotline Volunteer & Abortion Doula Trainer with the Reproductive Freedom Fund of NH
