Meet Cari

Hello! My name is Cari, and I am a Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, Birth Photographer, and Placenta Encapsulator in Tacoma, WA.

I am a mom to four awesome kiddos and many furry, feathered, and finned “kids” too! In my free time, I enjoy reading, crafting, crocheting, tending our little container garden, and playing board games and Dungeons & Dragons.

Before making birth-work my full-time career, I owned a retail business with my mom for over a decade, I was a Closet Designer, and most recently I managed the Promotional & Apparel Department and a local printing company.

As a child, I was fascinated by pregnancy, childbirth, and new babies. As is often the case, my passion for working with expecting families deepened when I was pregnant with my first child. I had the good fortune of meeting the remarkable doula, educator, and photographer extraordinaire, Patti Ramos when my partner and I attended her “Labor, Short & Sweet” birth prep class while we were expecting our daughter. Patti and I became friends and she was part of the doula team present for our birth.

I was bit by the “birth-bug” big time. Patti’s unconditional support was a massive influence on my desire to become a childbirth educator and doula. In 2010 I began my professional birth-work journey when I started attending and eventually assisting with Patti’s doula-support and mentoring circle. Patti invited me to apprentice with her in 2011 and I spent the next two years helping with her famous Ice Journey childbirth preparation workshops, private classes, and as her assistant and backup doula-partner. It was during this same time that I trained as a Placenta Encapsulator.

I had to step back when my youngest child was born in 2013, but I knew I would come back to birth-work when the time was right.

Near the end of 2020, the stars finally aligned. I found myself in a place to jump back into assisting families as a birth doula, with childbirth education classes, and providing Placenta Encapsulation. I am so grateful to be back!

I completed an updated Doula Certification Program through Childbirth International and received my certification in July 2021 as well as Birth Photography Certification through Birth Becomes You. I am currently working through the Childbirth Educators Certification with CBI.

In addition to my personal education, I felt a strong desire to build a doula community for support and collaboration. I sought out three of the most talented and caring doulas in the area and together we formed The Dedicated Doula Team. We are so excited to be working together and have many ideas for ways to support our clients and our communities in the future!

I have supported families giving birth at home, at freestanding birth centers, and at the hospital; waterbirths, inductions, home-to-hospital transfers; through both planned and unplanned cesareans, VBACs, multiples, and births with special considerations. My philosophy surrounding birth is that it is a unique experience for everyone. You deserve compassionate, evidence-based support throughout your journey, regardless of where you plan to give birth, the type of delivery you have, your desire to use or not use pain medication, or the structure of your family unit. I will be there for YOU.

Please visit the Services Page for more information about what is included in my service packages and pricing. I would love to meet with you to discuss how I can best support you!