About Us

Jen Patashnick

Jen is a Certified Postpartum Doula (CPD) and Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) thru CAPPA, a Certified Babywearing Educator (CBWE) through the Center on Babywearing Studies, and a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) through Safe Kids Worldwide.  She is a mom of two kids, and has a double major in Biology and Linguistic Anthropology from Brandeis University, as well as a 7th degree black belt in Uechi-ryu Karate and an extra class Amateur Radio license.  

Jen's favorite age of baby is newborn (although when they can smile responsively, that's pretty cute too!), and she thoroughly enjoys supporting families through their early parenting journeys.  Some of her favorite moments include: 

• helping a new dad wear his daughter in a wrap for the first time; 

• hugging a teary newly postpartum mom coping with love for her baby yet managing a challenging feeding situation; 

• partaking in the joy of a "big" sister of nearly three years old saying good morning to a younger one; 

• snuggling all babies to sleep - usually while "rouncing" (what Jen calls the particular combination of rocking and bouncing she automatically adopts while holding a baby!); 

• and traveling to new places she can explore, with or without a baby on her chest!

As part of the LGBTQIA+ community, Jen especially loves supporting non-traditional families, including single and/or older parents, queer and/or trans parents, polyamorous folks, etc., in any and all family arrangements out there.  Growing your family by welcoming a new baby (or babies) invites vulnerability in unexpected ways, and knowing you will have non-judgmental support along your journey is invaluable. 

Jen loves fostering connections.  An exciting first in 2022: two of her clients who lived nearby to each other met at a completely separate event!  Additionally, she usually maintains a small collection of things families may need at little to no notice which may be then passed on to other families.  It has been a joy to see multiple client babies in the same cactus onesie!

Jen is interested in herbalism, music, and martial arts.  She loves dogs and theater (separately!) and has been known to stage manage for high school drama clubs, community theater, and karate events.  She appreciates good science fiction, hates horror, and procrastibakes.