Bio

Originally from a small town, just north of Paris, I completed my Master’s Degree in Psychology (Paris V University - 2002) and was a practicing clinical psychologist before I met, married, and moved with my husband to San Francisco in 2006.

I became interested in doula services after having my daughter in 2008 and I realized the ways in which I needed help as a new mom and was then able to help my friends with their new babies around the same time. It was a very natural extension of my work in psychology to explore such a fundamental area of the human experience. Mother-baby, father-baby, and mother-father dynamics are endlessly fascinating to me, and because of my training, I work confidentially and respectfully of the personal opinions, choices and histories that affect those dynamics. I became a Certified Lactation Educator and Counselor in 2009 (University of California San Diego) and then was trained and certified as a Postpartum Doula through the American Association of Doulas in 2010 (Dona International ).
In early 2012 I gave birth to my son and, going through a new postpartum period myself, I was motivated to continue my education and improve the quality of my services for new moms. I decided to increase my knowledge and experience in breastfeeding by entering the Lactation Consultant training program with UCSD and became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC - 2013) I observed and interacted with over 200 breastfeeding dyads (mom-baby couples) during my training at Kaiser Hospital San Francisco and Day One Support Center San Francisco. My training also gave me the opportunity to observe a wide range of breastfeeding situations and to be trained for response by several very experienced IBCLCs.

I am continuously in awe of the mothers, babies, and families I work with and I am devoted to offering emotional support and practical information to each of them. Having grown up in France, I was raised with a set of principles regarding birthing, child rearing, and family that were very different with respect to norms and values than in the United States. Today, as a mother and professional living in San Francisco, I have the opportunity to take the best practices of the French and integrate them with American customs and the unique needs of each family I work with. There isn’t one right way to raise a baby and happiness and confidence in so doing isn’t dependent on following the methods of a particular culture or trend. It's about assessing what works and what doesn't work for each family, and I integrate a vast body of knowledge from my culture, education, and practical experience to support the unique needs of each of my families. I act as their ally, and can act as such for you, too.

Location

4200 18th Street #203 San Francisco California 94114

Website

https://www.carolinekerherve.com/

Languages

English

Insurance

Yes

Home visits

No