Hi Future CDA Family!

Hello! I’m Edwina Koch, a Filipino American doula and social work graduate student at Portland State University, working toward her LCSW credential. With over a decade of dedication to birth work and three years of official practice in Portland, I specialize in providing trauma-informed care to marginalized communities, including pregnant individuals on Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and incarcerated adults at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. My journey as a birth worker began with a fascination for supporting families during transformative moments. Since then, I’ve has guided over 100 families through their unique birth and postpartum journeys, combining evidence-based practices with compassionate advocacy.

Fluent in French and culturally attuned after living in France for six years, I celebrate the diverse backgrounds of the families I support. I integrate my training as a prenatal and postpartum yoga instructor to emphasize holistic well-being, ensuring that each birthing experience is empowering and personalized. My work extends beyond the delivery room. As the grant writer for the Oregon Prison Birth Project (OPBP), I secure funding to advance equity and healing for incarcerated individuals. I also facilitate monthly support groups for BIPOC doulas, creating spaces for connection and resilience among birth workers. My firsthand experience navigating hospital systems, advocating within complex medical environments, and addressing systemic disparities has shaped my commitment to transforming healthcare into a more equitable space for all.

Guided by the belief that advocacy is the cornerstone of meaningful change, my background in community organizing, racial justice, and entrepreneurship equips me to address systemic inequities at every level. Whether supporting individuals through pregnancy or advancing institutional change, I bring dedication, empathy, and a deep respect for the communities I serve.

– Edwina