About Melissa

Becoming a doula or midwife isn’t for the faint of heart.

It takes dedication to always learning, growing through each mother that you support, and healing your own wounds to be able to show up fully for your clients.

My own journey to birth work has been a long and winding path, but I’m so grateful for every step of the way.

And I’m especially grateful that I’m at this point in my life where I can give back to my community through training other doulas and midwives.

When I got pregnant with my first baby 28 years ago, I expected to have a c-section, just like my mom did for all four of her kids.

I worked at a department store in the men’s department, and occasionally in the 365-day a year Christmas section (which I loved) and as I started showing, people gave me all the advice in the world. An older man I worked with told me I shouldn’t put my arms above my head because that would cause the cord to get wrapped around my baby’s neck. Another older woman told me that she went three weeks over with all her children and that they were all healthy. She lamented that everyone got induced at 42 weeks (back then it was 42 weeks, not 39 like we see so often today!).

I also remember a woman working away while she was in labor. She had had children before and I stood in awe watching her work through labor. She assured us all that she would leave when it was time. And yet another woman, whom I’m indebted to for life told me all about her experience using the Bradley Method and how she had a beautiful natural birth.

I was so intrigued and wanted to learn more but she was a bit stingy with the story, which I now understand! I finally got her to give me the name of her childbirth educator and the rest is history!

 

I learned all about the physiology of birth, about interventions, about how labor can be long sometimes, and how to use breathing and mindfulness in my upcoming labor.

I gave birth at a military hospital (I didn’t even know homebirth was an option except for that lady down the street of my childhood home who had chickens and homeschooled) and I never saw the same doctor twice.

My labor story is a very long one, but I’ll say that I had a positive experience because of immense education which led to a deep trust in my body. I remember feeling like I wanted to share everything with the world because birth didn’t have to be the horrible thing that women had always told me it was.

I soon became a childbirth educator, and when I was pregnant with my second, took a training with the Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators.

When my second baby was just two weeks old, I took a DONA doula training and and when my third was born, I hauled him along with me to Wisconsin, where I was trained as a doula trainer by Penny Simkin. That was 23 years ago and I’ve been training doulas ever since.

I had wanted to be a midwife for a long time, but the timing was never right. In 2011, I finally began my training with a combination of school through The Community School of Midwifery, and the NARM PEP process.

I got my licensure in 2016 and opened a birth center in 2018. I’ve since opened another birth center and we’ve served over 500 families!

My life is adventurous as I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world doing birth work in Haiti, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

 

For almost 21 years, I’ve been training birth doulas and have recently introduced a postpartum doula training.

I’ve also been training midwifery students since 2018 and I now have an extensive resource library to help all these amazing birth souls on their paths to birth work.

The women I’ve met along the way have taught me more than I could ever learn in a book or in school. I ask myself at every birth what this particular birth will teach me and I am in deep gratitude for all I’ve learned and all I have to share with amazing people like you.

Raves + Love

“She is such a presence!! Grateful for all the love and learning this weekend. You are a true light, Melissa.”

—Bridgette A.

“I’m so thankful for what she gave me. Melissa, you will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

—Sydney B.

“I can honestly say I am a better doula and person because of her.”

—Doreen

“You give your whole heart to us and I want you to know we see you and we appreciate you eternally.”

—Trista B.

“I’m forever grateful for this woman!”

—Alayna C.

“I was completely wowed by you, your passion and your heart.”

—Ana M.

“Melissa has a way of endearing people to her and being able to guide them and teach them in a way that is very special.”

—Tara C.

“She is eager to impart her years of experience to others and she is such a talented teacher.”

—Kendrah Y.

Are you ready to begin your own birth worker journey?

Join me in an upcoming doula training!