About perinatal chaplaincy

Motherhood is a road, not a destination.

For some, the path is relatively straight. But for many of us, it comes with twists and turns: long journeys to pregnancy, or unexpectedly short ones; facing the grief of loss, and carrying that into subsequent pregnancies; the worry that comes with complications, or being classified high-risk; anxiety for pregnancy and birth.

For all of us, no matter the journey, matrescence (or the transition to motherhood) is a moment of radical change. You, your body, and your spirit are adapting to make way for new life: the new life within you, and your new life as a mother. You deserve care and compassionate support for that journey.

Perinatal chaplaincy provides spiritual care and emotional support during your conception journey, pregnancy, and postpartum period, or when navigating pregnancy loss.
This can look like pastoral care specialized for the perinatal period, or concrete support in preparing a birth plan, grieving a loss, preparing emotionally for birth, and processing a birth story.

What is perinatal chaplaincy?

Why should I consider perinatal chaplaincy?

Matrescence—the transition into motherhood—is one of the most profound and tender shifts a person can go through. Like adolescence, it brings deep emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual changes that reshape who you are. This transition begins not at birth, but often long before: during the desire to conceive, the ups and downs of fertility, pregnancy, loss, birth, and postpartum recovery.
Perinatal chaplaincy offers compassionate, nonjudgmental support throughout this entire arc. It’s a space to reflect on what’s unfolding, process what’s been hard, and stay connected to what matters most to you as your identity shifts.
Whether you’re navigating fertility challenges, grieving a miscarriage or stillbirth, feeling disconnected from your body postpartum, or simply trying to make sense of who you’re becoming—I offer space to slow down and be witnessed.

Sessions may include somatic tools to help reconnect with your body and nervous system, spiritual reflection, emotional support, and customized practices to help you integrate your experience. I can help you name what you need and reconnect with your inner resources.

A perinatal chaplain is one part of a care team during trying to conceive (TTC), pregnancy, and postpartum. Where your OB or midwife supports you with the medical aspects of pregnancy, a perinatal chaplain supports you with the spiritual aspects of fertility, TTC, and pregnancy.

Let’s take a look at some of the other people you may have on your care team and how a perinatal chaplain differs.

A doula supports you practically and emotionally in the preparation for, and during, birth. They may help you with physical and emotional support during labor, or provide in-home postpartum support after a birth.

A therapist is a trained and licensed mental health professional who supports you with your mental health and emotional wellbeing. They may use tools like talk therapy, CBT, or medication to support you.

A pastor or clergy person is a church leader who shepherds a congregation and can provide pastoral care to all people throughout the life cycle. They are likely ordained by a specific denomination.

A perinatal chaplain is a spiritual companion who provides pastoral care specifically for the perinatal period (trying to conceive, pregnancy, loss, and postpartum). They may or may not be ordained, and may use tools like pastoral care, spiritual direction, prayer, birth art, or birth story medicine to support you.

How does a perinatal chaplain differ from a doula, a therapist, or a pastor?

What does spiritual care mean?
Is it religious?

Spiritual care can include and encompass religious faith, but it stretches to touch all areas of our lives. Our spiritual life includes not only our beliefs about God, but also our understandings of how we fit into the world; our questions about our life and purpose; the stories we tell about our lives and what matters; and our morals and values. Spiritual care helps process these questions in a non-judgmental and supportive setting.
I am Christian and have been trained to provide spiritual support in both Christian and interfaith settings. As a perinatal chaplain, I am above all privileged to walk alongside you in your spiritual journey. My role is to provide you with support within the framework of your own beliefs and tradition.
If you are looking for a secular fertility chaplain or miscarriage doula, please feel free to reach out; I would be very happy to refer you to someone who might be the right fit for you.

Can you tell me about your training or background?

I come to this work with both professional training and personal experience. I’m a Certified Birth and Bereavement Doula (SBD) through the organization Stillbirthday, and hold a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Wellesley College and Oxford University. I’m also currently earning a Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where I’m pursuing courses in the spiritual care of women, including independent coursework in perinatal pastoral care.

In addition to chaplaincy training, I’ve completed specialized courses in pregnancy loss, birth story processing, and perinatal support, including:

  • Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss (Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death)

  • Birth Story Medicine Levels I, II, & III (Birth Story Medicine)

  • Birth Story Debriefing (Dancy Perinatal)

  • Heart of Mentoring (Birthing From Within)

  • Birth Art for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and loss (Birthing From Within)

  • Grounding Techniques for Perinatal Professionals (Dancy Perinatal)

I view myself as a storyteller, spacekeeper, and companion at life’s thresholds. You can learn more about me here.

Interested in meeting with me?