Christa Joy Kirtland CD(DONA), C-CBE
Certified Birth Doula & Childbirth Educator

I live in Branchburg, NJ with my husband Andrew and our 8 year old son, Luke and our 5 year old daughter, Hope. I have my Masters in Counseling and in the past I worked with young adults in the university setting with anxiety, depression, addiction, ADHD, grief, adjustment disorders, and more. I love reading, trying new recipes, coloring, puzzles, and dark chocolate (especially with sea salt!) 

When my husband and I got pregnant with our son, we asked my sister, a certified childbirth educator, to do our birth classes. She lived in Brazil, so we met weekly on Facetime the weeks leading up to Luke’s birth. The more I learned about childbirth, the more I wanted to learn. I was fascinated by the idea of a natural unmedicated birth experience. The more I learned about natural pain management techniques, I realized how similar the techniques were to relaxation techniques I used to use with clients struggling with various mental illness. I knew I had firsthand seen results come from them in the counseling world, it only made sense to me how effective it would be in childbirth. It was then I started to become more interested in becoming a birth doula. I had an incredible first time birth experience in the hospital setting with my son. I look back at that day and remember feeling so personally empowered and in awe of the human birth pregnancy and birth process- and after that I was hooked! Childbirth is one of the most amazing, beautiful, and life changing experiences. Everyone is different and we bring different desires and hopes to pregnancy and birth. I deeply desire to come alongside of others to help them achieve the birth experience they are hoping for. While there are certainly no guarantees in birth, I do believe with the right support you it can be a positive and empowering birth day for you AND your baby.

I took my doula training course in February of 2017 and in December of 2018 I became a certified birth doula with DONA International. In 2024, I became certified childbirth educator with ProDoula.

In 2024, I attended a 7-hour Spinning Babies workshop to learn to better facilitate baby’s position in pregnancy and birth. Additionally, I have received a certification with Austin Childbirth Courses on utilizing a tens unit in labor. I love learning and growing and am regularly taking continuing education classes to expand my knowledge and skills.