Bethany grew up in a large family of 7. She was born and raised a Hoosier. When she was six her parents moved their family to the mission field of the Philippines. The next 4 years would shape Bethany in intricate and beautiful ways, including her current food preferences, her love for other cultures, and how she uses her spoon (to this day, Bethany eats like a southeast Asian). When she was 10 she moved back to Bloomington, Indiana and she has lived in Indiana ever since.

Once bitten by the international travel bug, you never fully recover. In her young adult years she traveled the world, never quite getting enough of other places, cultures and peoples. After getting a degree at Ball State in Dietetics, Bethany did the traditional thing with her degree and used it professionally for two years, before moving on to something totally unrelated; international student ministry. Her first international friend was a young woman named Radwa. She was a lovely young woman from Egypt, and she was pregnant with their first baby. Bethany had been a lactation consultant when she worked as a dietitian for WIC. She was so excited to befriend this young woman and help her as she stepped into the world of motherhood.

Bethany married a small-town boy from northern Indiana. When she first became pregnant, it was quite the surprise. She never met her first baby. The baby was miscarried at 9 weeks. She was shocked. Never thinking that this tragedy could happen to her. This intense loss gave Bethany insight and compassion into a dark and forbidden world that many women travel alone. When she became pregnant with their first-born son, she was intensely fearful of losing him. After a healthy pregnancy, she had a traumatic birth that resulted in a healthy baby, but not so healthy mama. She began to look into the idea of becoming a birth doula. But it was not the right time. The next six years brought her and her husband, two more gorgeous babies and two more heart- rending miscarriages. Each time she brought up the doula idea, it was tabled by babies, and a gentle God who knew the right timing. I started an international mom’s group. I could not ignore how drawn I was to helping expectant women and new moms; navigate the newness and challenges they were facing.

Bethany met Nicole Ramsey (founder of Ada’s Gift Doula Services, now Ada’s Gift Doulas LLC) because of a food truck. The food wasn’t that great, but she started talking with Nicole on the playground as they chased their toddlers. Bethany was intrigued by this woman and her large, friendly brood of kids. They started talking about homeschooling and the uniqueness of her kids’ names. Bethany looked her up on Facebook and was immediately excited that she was a certified, bona fide Doula! No way! Bethany immediately peppered her with questions. She has five kids! How in the world did she decide to become a doula? Bethany was impressed. As they became friends, Bethany realized that the timing was now. That back burner dream to become a doula was now moved to the front and becoming a reality. Bethany has loved partnering with both Nicole and Courtney before they stepped back to fulfill lifelong goals and take care of their amazing families. Bethany is thrilled to be partnering with Joy Elliott, as we empower mamas and support families as they welcome their new babies.