What is a Doula?
A doula, also known as a birth companion, birth coach or post-birth supporter, is a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during, or after childbirth, to provide emotional support and physical help if needed. They also may provide support to the mother’s partner and family. Unlike a midwife, doulas are not medical professionals and therefore cannot administer medication. Doulas are typically certified with some courses taking over a year to complete. Practical training is involved to become certified. Continuous support during birth from a person outside the mother’s family or social circle, such as a Doula, is associated with reduced mortality rates, improved overall health of the mother and the baby, shorter labor time, reduced risk of a C-Section, and a lower need for medical interventions such as instrumental delivery or pain relief. Support from a Doula may also reduce mothers’ negative feelings about their childbirth experience. Some doulas provide postpartum support, for example assisting with housework, cooking, and offering help with learning to breast feed.
Anisah Haqq-Muhammad
DoulaLike many women, Anisah's journey in becoming a birth doula was encouraged by her own labor experiences. It has since become her mission to ensure that all pregnant women have the opportunity to be properly educated about their rights. As a certified DONA doula with over 50+ births, Anisah's primary goal is to help make sure that every mother achieves the birth experience desired.
Anne Schuchman
DoulaAnne has over seven years of experience supporting families during pregnancy and postpartum as a doula and educator. Her goal is to help clients give birth with full emotional and physical support. She has a ``whatever works`` attitude and assists clients in clarifying their own preferences, then works to fulfill them, with loving support, not judgment. As a certified DONA Doula, Anne has attended 175+ births.
Cristina Ramos
DoulaCristina has been involved in birth for over 8 years. A mom of three, her empowering and life-altering experiences gave her inspiration to empower other families to birth in their own way. Working as a Doula, and assisting over 150 families, has allowed Cristina to bring her skills, passions, and knowledge of the body to her clients. Cristina is a Certified Advanced Holistic Doula with La Matrona and Uzazi Village. Cristina is the Co-Founder of Mammissi Birth Services. A Hypnodoula, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Advocate, Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Educator and Instructor, Certified Holistic Health Coach, and a Second Degree Reiki Practitioner. It is Cristina's desire to encourage and instill in the birthing parent, to trust in their bodies and their inner wisdom while supporting and comforting them and their partners.
Lynn Christensen
DoulaLynn has been a DONA-certified birth doula and founder/owner of Labour Day Doula Support since 2002. She is highly experienced, and has supported 725 (and counting!) labors. Her philosophy in a nutshell is, “the less that is done to labor, the better it is likely to go.” Labor is hard – AND you can do it!! Lynn supports and honors your informed birth choices. She is experienced and some cases certified in many modalities which enhance and support labor including waterbirth, optimal fetal positioning, “spinning babies,” aromatherapy/essential oil use, homeopathy, HypnoBirthing, honoring the tradition and use of the rebozo, and use of TENS. Childbirth is truly a transformative experience; it is a joy and privilege to witness this profound event! In addition to being a certified doula, Lynn is a certified lactation counselor
(CLC) and childbirth educator (LCCE).
Mia Leong
DoulaMia is a DONA certified birth Doula, and has supported over 35 births in home, hospital and birth center settings. She is currently working toward certification to be a Childbirth Educator through Commonsense Childbirth. She has supported all versions of birth but un-medicated birth is her passion. Her two daughters were born at home under the care of midwives. This is YOUR experience, you deserve the chance to write a beautiful story. I have found that feeling fully educated, heard, and supported has a far greater impact on a birth story than the eventual details or how close you stuck to your birth plan. My goal is for every birthing person to feel like a valuable member of their own birth team.
Michelle Gabriel-Caldwell
DoulaMichelle has been the founder and owner of Baby, Please Birth Services for the past 15 years and served 410+ families. As a certified doula and childbirth educator with The Bradley Method ® she was led to ensure birthing persons felt heard and honored. A full-time chemical engineer, she was drawn to the science of birth and became an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and Childbirth Educator. She created her own Holistic Childbirth Class expressly for The Birth Center of NJ. In addition, she is the Doula Coordinator for BCNJ. With a focus on birth justice, Michelle is a Board Member of the Perinatal Health Equity Foundation. Having a desire to share her birth expertise, she is a Doula trainer and mentor for The National Black Doula Association. A mother of two, she cannot wait to help you!
Joini James
DoulaJoini is proudly certified through Madriella and has attended 35+ births. She is also a certified yoga teacher, peer lactation educator, and birth/newborn photographer.
Birth is a sacred journey and should be honored as such. The birthing person should be supported by facilitating a safe space whether it be by physical touch, emotional support, or verbal support by affirmations and encouragement. She aims to be like water during a birth: serving as not only a needed companion but flowing with the birthing parent as they figure out which tools, they need me to provide to aide them.
Lauren Carrabs
DoulaLauren is a DONA-certified birth doula. Certified in 2019, Lauren has attended 50+ births. Lauren knows that the birth experience has a long-lasting impact on mom, baby and family. She brings a calm and supportive presence to the birthing space, and with a background in athletics Lauren has the skills and stamina to serve the physical and emotional needs of the birthing person. Lauren is a mother of two, and a community playgroup leader.
