My name is Sonja Jolles.
I am from Germany via New Zealand, where I lived for 10 years until recently. I studied midwifery in New Zealand and had many opportunities to observe and take part in a wide variety of births. I have been part of everything from water births to Cesarean sections, all of which were interesting in their own way.
Having lived in different countries and been a foreigner myself, I have a good experience of the wide variety of humans in this world, and I try to know people by their behavior instead of some external marker.
Currently I live on a sailboat, and my partner and I are preparing ourselves and the boat for a circumnavigation of the globe.
I am a doula because I truly enjoy the support I can provide to a laboring woman. I like helping to make this time of intense transition a fulfilling and worthwhile experience.
I consider natural birth a given, but I encourage a sensible and practical approach to childbirth and the individual needs and risks for each mother and child.
I personally believe that the role of a father is not to be underestimated in childbirth, and I like to encourage the whole family to take part in this experience. However, I am there to foster each individuals wishes and desires.
I am available as birth doula to act as a support person and advocate in the Berkeley and the North Oakland area. I work on a sliding scale.
You can call me on 510-698-6420 or email me at sonja@birth-support.com.