I’m Jen!

I am a not your average “doulatog” (doula/photographer for first time doula shoppers)! I am a multifaceted artist and professional actor & film maker, weaving narratives through birth work, filmmaking, and photography. I am also a mama of 4, wife to the most amazing adventurer of a husband David, world traveler and…I love quilting, arranging flowers and speaking in different accents!

My journey into birth work began unexpectedly, sparked by my experiences as I nannied for a Doula back in 2008. Truly I had NO idea what a doula was when she told me at the time. This encounter opened my eyes to the diverse paths people navigate in life, igniting my curiosity and passion for understanding birth deeply. Even before becoming a mama myself in 2015, I immersed myself in learning about birth work, a journey that has shaped my path profoundly.

Travel, Art & Birthwork

Living in vibrant cities like NYC, Manila Philippines, and Nanjing China with my husband for 13 years, we honed our craft as actors for both stage and screen, while also delving into filmmaking. Upon returning to the United States, we founded Bianco Productions, a hub for coaching actors, crafting compelling stories and creating film content for filmmakers and local businesses. My love for storytelling and birth work intertwined beautifully when I started documenting the raw, intimate moments of births while I supported families as a doula. It’s the best of both worlds! I am blessed to be in the birth space and capture birth stories as they unfold!

My 4 Births

Which leads me to my own birth experiences!  I won’t go into each one fully…we’ll save that for a coffee date and a deep dive. Each and every one of my 4 births have been transformative. Essentially my first and fourth babies were cesarian births and my two middle babies were home VBAC births! Two entirely different sides of the birth spectrum.

My Inner Warrior

The birth of our fourth child, our Aaron Jacob “A.J.” Bianco, was a poignant chapter that forever altered our lives. His 44 day journey earthside, though brief, radiated immense joy and taught us profound lessons in resilience and choosing joy amidst trials.  In the pregnancy, we discovered that A.J. had a rare congenital heart defect and achondroplasia. He was the most unique baby, so special and precious. His birth was a highly planned high risk cesarean birth. I’m so grateful for my first birth because it prepared me for A.J.’s full circle.  On the day he was born he had open heart surgery and he fought hard for those 44 days…our little warrior.  We were right beside him, me in my post partum body pumping, almost forgetting that I needed to rest myself and focus on my own healing. That was not easy. Especially since we were living at the Ronald McDonald House away from our 3 older sons.  We are still in the wake of his loss, putting back the pieces and finding ways to keep him alive in our hearts. By the grace of God.

Choosing Joy

A lot of people ask me how I can keep moving forward as a birth worker after A.J. passed.  Every birth I attended plus my own 3 births prior led me to being the best advocate for myself and A.J.  I am so incredibly grateful for that.  Aaron Jacob’s legacy continues to inspire me daily. From the moment he was born, we decided to Choose Joy. We still do, even amidst our grief. As I walk with families as a Doula & filmmaker/photographer, I carry his spirit of joy and resilience. His presence fuels my advocacy for empowered births and storytelling and I am a better mama and creative because of him. This is what mothering A.J. looks like…through service as a birth worker.

He is with us, Aaron Jacob Bianco.

A.J.B.

A Joyful Blessing

*A.J. was born on March 20, 2023. I was called to a birth on what would have been his first birthday earth side March 20, 2024. A.J.’s eternal birthday was May 3, 2023. After two years of trying to get this site together, I finally completed & published it May 3, 2024.