It has been five beautiful years since I began the voyage into the unknown world of birth. My name is Gabrielle, but you can just call me Gabi. I am the founder and owner of Cu’Yara Birthing Services. My journey into birth began in 2003 after the birth of my niece. My sister had decided to use midwives and at the time I didn’t quite understand birth or midwives; all I knew was I now had a niece and my sister used someone that was a midwife. I never thought anything of it but I was just 11 yrs old at the time so what did I know. A few years later she delivered my nephew in the middle of her dining room in a giant tub, but yet again never thought anything of it. Years went by and I found myself on the steps of Ramapo College working towards my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science with a concentration in Community Mental health and women’s studies with the end goal of one day becoming a pediatric nurse or maybe even labor & delivery. My entire life was planned out but I always had a feeling that something was missing. Just a fews months shy of graduation day I started to question my journey, I wasn’t sure if nursing was truly my path. Did I want to work in a hospital doing 12 hour shifts, did I want to become so numb to my job and get burnt out like every other nurse I had spoken to. And then as if the universe had heard my thoughts it sent me on this crazy wild adventure. I began having dreams of hands catching a baby and I couldn’t stop thinking about midwives even though the last time I had even heard the word was when I was just 13 yrs old. So I did what anyone else would do I called my sister. I started asking all of the questions, which then led me to watching the business of being born and reading birth books, watching YouTube videos and so much more. Soon after I found Birthwise Midwifery School and applied to their following fall program. Two weeks before graduation day I found out I was accepted into Birthwise’s Certified Professional Midwifery program. I walked at my graduation excited, scared and overwhelmed about this new journey that I was about to take place. I completed my DONA Birth Doula training a few weeks later and I guess you can say the rest is history.

As I have developed and grown as a birth doula and student midwife I believe one thing has always stayed consistent, and I can honestly say that this path was chosen for me.

I believe that midwifery and birth work is connecting to the new life that grows inside the womb. It is watching an individual shed their once single body to allow a new one to grow. It is touching the spirt that has entered the form and has brought new life to this earth. Birth is powerful, beautiful, scary, and so many more things that I wish to comprehend. It is such a raw moment for birthing people and their families. I am honored to be with you as you become a new family. I am blessed to be able to welcome life with my hands.

My team and I look forward to meeting you and your loved ones. My hopes and plan is to provide love, support and community for you and your family.
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- Always, Gabi