Hi! I’m Julie K, a birth and postpartum doula on the Boston Area Doulas team. In addition to being a doula, I am the mother of two spirited teenagers. Prior to becoming a doula, I worked as a director at Jewish Family & Children's Services, earned my License in Social Work, and nannied for over 15 years. I keep up with continuing education on a regular basis. My experience is with various ages from premature babies all the way up to teenagers with disabilities physical, mental, and chronic care needs. I am comfortable working in settings of all types– having worked in various homes, hospitals and community residential settings. 

That being said, my passion is with infants and parents of infants. I was always drawn to working with newborns. When I had my first son, I experienced a mixture of joy and challenge. I wanted to help other parents find relief and more joy from the infant stage in a more "real" way, beyond the smiling faces on social media. 

I bring a caring, calm, and nurturing demeanor to each family I support. I am a quick problem-solver, dependable and easy going.  I will offer advice if you would like it, but I am able to take direction and follow them as I respect each parents’ ability to know their baby and their family best. I have had the pleasure of working with all different types of families, all different ways to raise children and believe that if the child is surrounded by love and is safe that child is well cared for! Being a doula is such a rewarding and unique experience and I look forward to working with your family in this short but important time of transition.

My advice to new/expecting parents:  This is tough, since everyone is giving advice to new parents! I often ask parents what they think or what their gut tells them first unless they are eagerly searching for my answer. Reassuring, educating and providing concrete advice when questions are asked is best. I look to always decrease anxiety and not increase stressors. I suppose the advice I would give is that no one will know their baby as well as they do! 

When I’m not doula-ing, I am hanging out with my hilarious teenage boys. I also have two small dogs that keep me busy. But let's be real...I love good old trash TV.

Childhood aspirations: I wanted to be a veterinarian and a mom! 

Check out what one of Julie’s families said about her:

“With our first child, she was essentially my therapist, advisor, my everything. My daughter was not a good eater or sleeper, and she got me through the fix six months with her advice and tips. I hadn’t spent time around infants, and she never made it seem like I had a silly question. My partner had preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, and there was a lot of stress around that. She filled our freezer with food, to lighten the load.” -D