Anna Verwaal, RN, CLE, is a Maternal-Child Health Nurse, Birth Consultant, Labor & Post-Partum Doula Instructor, UCLA Certified Lactation Educator and birth photographer.
In 1984 she received her nursing degree in Holland where she was born and raised. Anna has lived, worked and traveled as a registered nurse in cultures as diverse as Holland, Israel, Norway, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Fiji and the United States.
In 1990 she settled in Los Angeles got her American nursing license and worked for many years as a labor and delivery, post-partum, newborn nursery nurse and in the high-risk antenatal department taking care of very sick patients, women pregnant with twins, triplets or quadruplets and the obstetrical operating rooms assisting during C/Sections. For three years Anna was employed by a Maternal-Child Home-Health Agency traveling all over the city providing prenatal and postpartum mother-baby & pediatric nursing care and lactation support.
In 1998 Anna started her own private birth consulting, labor doula and lactation service, educating and encouraging couples to make informed decisions regarding their birth options and choices. Her services included helping clients deal with fertility challenges, heal from prenatal or birth trauma and preparing them for a conscious conception, pregnancy and birth.
From 2000 until 2006 she studied and apprenticed with Hohepa Delamere also known as Papa Joe, the well known and respected indigenous Maori “Tohunga” and renowned healer and midwife from New Zealand. Together they treated many clients for fertility, pregnancy and birth related issues in New Zealand, Holland and the US. They also taught workshops to birth professionals, therapists and body workers about the traditional Maori approach to conception, pregnancy and birth and various indigenous healing techniques.
During her 20-year career as an obstetrical nurse, conscious conception and birth educator and labor & post partum doula Anna has dealt with a variety of clients that included Arabian princesses, teenagers, homeless women, same sex couples, the wives of notorious gang members and famous Hollywood stars. She worked along side perinatologists, obstetricians and (indigenous) midwives and has been at many hundreds of very medicated and high-risk hospital deliveries to completely natural at home, in water- and lotus births.
For the last decade Anna has been teaching advanced doula & prenatal yoga instructor trainings and is frequently invited to be a keynote speaker at international birth conferences or facilitate workshops for birth professionals about the prevention and healing of prenatal, birth & bonding trauma and the physiological, emotional and spiritual aspects of birth.
As a long term member of APPPAH, (the Association of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health) and an outspoken birth advocate Anna does not only have access to the latest research and information but also brings a wealth of international experience, professional knowledge, indigenous wisdom, compassion and sensitive photography to her passionate quest of supporting parents, protecting babies, raising awareness about newborn consciousness, making hospitals mother- baby friendly and helping transform the future of birth.