Jennifer Anderson, RN, BSN; Evidence Based Birth® Instructor
Nurse
With over 35 years of nursing experience, I bring a unique perspective to hospital labor support. Before working in labor and delivery, I cared for newborns in the NICU and worked in pediatric operating rooms at top pediatric hospitals across the country.
I started working as a labor and delivery nurse in 2006, inspired by the pregnancy and birth of my first child. At the Sutter Davis Birthing Center, I witnessed some of the most meaningful moments of my nursing career. I supported and educated many families, helping them make informed choices and feel in control of an experience that rarely feels that way. I have witnessed hundreds of births, welcoming families in all kinds of ways—from home births and water births to births in parking lots and cesarean deliveries. I’ve truly seen the gamut.
I hope every woman can experience what feels like a normal birth to them, though I know 'normal' looks different for everyone. For some, the main goal is simply a “healthy baby and a healthy mom”, and they are open to how that happens. For others, past experiences, personal values, or strong wishes shape what they want from their birth experience.
I have supported all kinds of families, including LGBTQIA+ families, extended families, single parents by choice, and “just us”. Because I live in a college town with a huge draw for research, I’ve worked with families from many cultures and countries, each with their own birth traditions and beliefs. My experience covers everything from first-time parents to ninth babies, twins, VBACs, unmedicated births, inductions, and both low-risk and high-risk situations, including babies with known health conditions. My nursing background in NICU, pediatric operating rooms, and L&D has shaped who I am as a nurse and doula today.
An anesthesiologist sketched this during a surgical case I was scrubbed in for back at Children’s Hospital of Phildelphia in 1996. I’ve always cherished this rendering.
Doula
In 2010, I became the RN Coordinator for the Volunteer Doula Program at the Sutter Davis Birthing Center. I loved this program from the start and was excited to lead it when the chance came. It was an honor to meet, train, and mentor so many wonderful women who gave their time, day and night, to support birthing couples they had never met. I led this program until 2014 when my own business and family demanded more of my attention.
I started Birth Fusion in 2011 when I took a break from nursing to stay home with my young children. I began to ‘dabble’ as a doula to stay connected to labor and delivery. To my surprise, I found real joy in supporting couples one-on-one in their homes and communities, surrounded by their families and beliefs. Walking with them through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum was much deeper than my role as an L&D nurse and helped me grow my love and understanding for supporting families in ways I never expected.
Now, I think of my work as 'community nursing.' I keep my nursing license active and attend conferences regularly to stay up to date on current research and best practices, but I truly enjoy working with families in a more personal way. I often say that I switch between my nursing and doula roles throughout our time together. You never know who you’ll need during labor, so why not have both? My license plate even says 'DoulaRN.' That says it all.
Educator
I have taught childbirth classes since 2007, helping hundreds of couples in my community learn about birth and navigate this personal journey. In 2019, I began teaching the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class, first in person and now fully online, to couples from across the U.S. I enjoy the flexibility and convenience of online teaching, and we still meet live each week on Zoom. The classes are engaging and fun, and we enjoy getting to know each other and respecting everyone’s values while learning about the evidence, comfort measures, and advocacy. I am grateful to Rebecca Dekker, RN, PhD, and founder of Evidence Based Birth®, for making the evidence clear and relatable for birth workers and families everywhere.
My teaching style embraces the curiosity of those like me, who desire a deeper understanding of all their options. Because I work intimately with couples during their births, I have a unique perspective on how different each experience can unfold. I’ll never claim to have seen it all, but I’ve seen enough to offer helpful insights as an educator. I always aim to keep things light, fresh, and fun—just like your baby’s birth day should be.
Rebecca Dekker, RN, PhD, and me at the Evidence Based Birth® Conference in Lexington, KY.
The final class of one of my summer cohorts. Don’t let the online format fool you. We still have fun!
Mother
Bringing together my roles as an RN, doula, educator, photographer, and mother has brought me real happiness, and I love sharing these experiences with others. My ‘babies’ are now in college and have picked up my 'don’t take life too seriously' attitude. They also represent the spectrum of journeys that birth can take. My daughter was born in a hospital with complications, urgency, and medical support, but she arrived safely and with respect. My son was born at home in a horse trough, surrounded by family, including his big sister. Both births were special in their own way. They have shaped me as a mother and made me stronger as a woman. They created the ‘nurturer’ in me that accompanies me to every birth. In the end, all mothers need mothering as they birth their babies. I am honored to fill that role in my client’s birth experiences.
