I was born on May 21, 1991 on a Marine Corps base in the California desert to my parents Carl and Carla. We bounced around a bit while I was little, but I grew up mostly in New Jersey, where my sister Elan and my brother Miles were born. In high school, my family moved to Virginia, where my youngest sister Sabrinia was born, too. I was always very curious about my mother's experience with pregnancy + newborn care — I even considered pursuing medical school to become an OBGYN.
Ultimately, I went to the University of Richmond, where my major was Educational Activism in the Arts — a mix of courses in Sociology, Rhetoric and Communications, Education, and Theater. I also minored in Creative Writing.
I didn't know that birth work existed until 2016. When I discovered it, I found a training immediately! I interned for nine months with Embrace Midwifery + Birth Center and started working with families all across Richmond — even a few in other states! Today, I am a member of A Brighter Birth, the Richmond Doula Project and Birth in Color RVA.
My passion for art, education, and activism is also a part of my reproductive health work. In 2016, I started The Educated Birth, and shortly after, Everyday Birth Magazine. If we work together, you can expect to see many of these materials shared with you!
photo credit: Joy Kraynak
A doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and educational support to a birthing person before, during, and after birth — and whose work has been proven effective. I have worked with over 40 families, offering this support in Richmond, and beyond.
I have attended and completed birth and postpartum support trainings with toLabor, Ancient Song Doula Trainings, and Doula Trainings International (DTI). I have also completed additional training in Spinning Babies® and Dysfunctional Labor Maneuvers.
I completed my certification for birth and postpartum support with Doula Trainings International (DTI).
Cheyenne Varner is a doula, designer, photographer, and writer in Richmond, Virginia.Born in California, raised in New Jersey, and transplanted to coastal Virginia in the midst of high school, Cheyenne didn't hit the Richmond scene until 2009, to attend the University of Richmond. There, she created the interdisciplinary major Educational Activism in the Arts — a mix of courses in Sociology, Rhetoric and Communications, Education, and Theater — and minored in Creative Writing.
Today, Cheyenne is a freelancer and a certified professional birth doula, trained by toLabor, Ancient Song, and Doula Trainings International (DTI) and certified by DTI. She runs The Educated Birth, an online shop of birth educational materials, including Everyday Birth Magazine. Her passion for all things creative leads her to pursue projects of the design, photography, and writing variety.
Whether solo, or collaboratively, Cheyenne seeks to pursue all of her work with excellence, authenticity, and grace.