Meet Your Doulas

Birth Doula:

Dawn Single, CD(DONA)

A little about myself, I'm a mother of 4 kids ages Stephanie (23), Peter (21), Craig (14), and Kimberly (12). My husband Peter and I have been married for 24 years. My husband built our house in Rosedale starting in 1985 and has continually added on to help accomadate our growing family! The whole 'gang' still lives at home along with our dogs Daisy and Grace.

I started my doula work 8 years ago when I was certifited through DONA but I was doulaing my family members before I ever even knew what a doula was! I have plenty experience with water, natural, and epidural births. I attend births at almost all Baltimore area and Harford county hospitals. I love babies and the miracle of birth so now that my children are semi-grown I find that I know have a chance to help others have a positive birth experience!

Some of my hobbies include knitting and crocheting in the winter months. Cooking all sorts of goodies and sweets as well as yummy dinners. Christmas season I make batches and batches of chex party mix and homemade caramel popcorn. It takes me days to finish and turns my dinning room and kitchen into a factory. During the summer monthes my husband and son go crabbing every chance they get and I enjoy the crab parties we have in our screen room, or I like just laying in the pool reading my book.

Birth Doula:

Sue Opdyke, CLD (CAPPA)

I have been married for 30 years to Mike. I have 2 children ages 28& 25. My daughter, Kim, is a first grade teacher and is recently married and residing in Texas with her awesome hubby, Josh and my son, Scott, is a Sous Chef at the Rusty Scupper Restaurant in downtown Baltimore. Scott is engaged to our wonderful daughter in law to be Candice, and a September 2008 wedding is planned. Over the last 25 years, I have been in the Medical Profession as an EMT, Emergency Room Technician, and Lab Technician/Manager. About 5 years ago, I quit my job to do my doula work full time. What a good decision that was!

I have done doula work for friends and family for many, many years (16 to be exact) and actually received my certification just a few years ago thru CAPPA. I do both labor and postpartum doula work. I had two natural births myself with my hubby's help. I have assisted in hospital, birth center, water and home births. I am a volunteer doula for Operation Special Delivery.

I have many hobbies which include cooking, reading , gardening and sewing. And most of all, I LOVE working with expectant families, am fascinated with the miracle of birth and helping new families to settle in! Just your typical mom in many ways!