REACHE is the Regional Association of Childbirth Educators of Puget Sound. The REACHE board meets monthly to plan and organize an annual conference on topics of interest to childbirth educators and other professionals in the birth community.
The purpose of the REACHE board is to further the quality of childbirth education by providing regular educational opportunities for childbirth educators, regardless of their affiliation, and to stimulate interest in the educational needs of new and expectant parents.
Current Board Members:
Judy Higgins, RN. Treasurer. Childbirth instructor for 24 years for CEAS and Great Starts. Birth doula. Married with 4 grown children, 5 grandchildren. She was the doula for all her grandchildren's births. Her personal interests also include gardening, travel, reading, and meandering walks with her dog.
Carrie Kenner is a DONA- and PALS-certified birth doula, DONA-approved birth doula trainer, and Certified Birthing From Within mentor. She also provides birth, lactation, postpartum, and parenting education. She owns Big Belly Services in Seattle, WA, providing independent childbirth education and doula services. Carrie is on the faculty of Seattle Midwifery School, and Bastyr University, and travels as a doula trainer and speaker throughout the Northwest. Carrie is the proud mother of thee sons and six grandchildren.
Sharon Muza, President. Owner of New Moon Birth, a local doula and Lamaze childbirth education practice. Sharon is a certified birth doula with DONA, PALS and a DONA Approved Birth Doula Trainer as well as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Sharon is on the faculty at Bastyr University where she teaches the Labor Support Course at the Simkin Center. She also serves on teh board of PALS Doulas and is a co-leader of ICAN Seattle (International Cesarean Awareness Network). Sharon lives in Ballard with her family. Most recently, Sharon had the honor of speaking at the 2009 Lamaze International Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Melissa Shaffer is a childbirth educator at Swedish Medical Center, the prenatal educator for Seattle Indian Health board, a labor support doula, and the lead instructor for the childbirth educator training at Seattle Midwifery School. She is the mother of three children.
Debra Shelden is a PALS and DONA certified birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation specialist, Happiest Baby on the BlockTM Educator and Certified Bringing Baby Home Instructor. Debra is the mother of two fine young men.
Angie Dobbins-Frisbie Recording Secretary. Angie is a certified instructor through ICEA and teaches for Great Starts and UW Medical Center, and mentors Birthing From Within classes at Big Belly Services. Angie is also a PALS certified birth doula and a NAPS certified postpartum doula. Angie is the proud mother of two grown daughters and looks forward to becoming a grandmother.
Kim James is an ICEA and Lamaze International certified childbirth educator teaching at Great Starts Birth and Family Education where she sits on the Education Committee. Kim owns and operates www.DoulaMatch.net, and is a DONA International and PALS Doulas certified birth doula. She also volunteers her time on the Lamaze International membership committee. Her daughters are 4 and 11 years old.
Teri Shilling is director of Passion for Birth, an international childbirth educator training program. She is a DONA-approved birth doula trainer, a lactation consultant (IBCLC), a Lamaze certified childbirth educator and is on the faculty at the Seattle Midwifery School. She is creator of The Idea Box for Creative and Interactive Childbirth Educators. She lives with her husband and two children in Mt. Vernon.
Catherine Berglund, MPH. Catherine is a childbirth instructor for both King County Public Health and Overlake Hospital. She teaches in both English and in Spanish. Her recently completed graduate degree from UW is in Maternal & Child Health and she is fascinated by birth in various cultures. Catherine is the mother of one delightful 4-year-old son.
Amber Parker Amber is a Childbirth Educator, Doula, and Nursing Assistant Registered, with training though Seattle Midwifery, Great Starts and ALACE. She is the owner of Emerald City Birth (www.emeraldcitybirth.com) and the creator of The Community Birth Project (http://www.emeraldcitybirth.com/TheCommunityBirthProject.htm). She lives in Ballard with her 6 year old daughter, Olivia, her partner, Dominic and her Pekingese, Beatrice
Barbara Decker has been a childbirth educator for 38 years, a doula for 15 years, and a HypnoBirthing practioner for seven years, and a doula trainer for 6 years. Before moving to Edmonds, Barb taught on Cape Cod Massachusetts. While there she formed an organization of childbirth educators, doulas, midwives and nurse managers from the local hospitals called "Childbirth with Choices". She is married, has two sons, five "step" children and six grandchildren. Barb likes to knit, kayak, ski, and teach.
Joining the Board:
Do you have a passion for pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting?
Would you love to be a part of this exciting community and be a REACHE board member?
Membership on the board is a four year commitment. During that time, you are expected to attend monthly meetings, and take on one of the tasks of conference planning and management. In exchange, you attend the annual conference free of charge. For information, email: board@reache.info