Birth Doula Profile Meet Melody E Osgood, LAc, trained doula Birth doula, in-home acupuncture, in- office acupuncture I'm a licensed acupuncturist, NCCAOM diplomate of acupuncture, certified hospice and palliative care acupuncturist and trained doula. I strive each day to provide the best possible care and education for my patients. Since a very young age, I always knew that I wanted to be a healthcare practitioner to help others on their journey to health. Originally intending to become a doctor, I attended Rochester Institute of Technology and studied Biomedical Sciences. It was while attending that program that I discovered that the Biomedical Approach to healthcare did not resonate with me. I took some time to evaluate my position after my Bachelor’s degree and in the process, I discovered acupuncture and loved that the paradigm is more about treating both the root and the branch of the illness. I later enrolled at the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and New York Chiropractic College. While in school, I discovered not only a passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine but also what acupuncture could do for my patients. After graduating, I took a particular interest in the life cycle and in the transitions we make as we go through events such as birth and death. This led me to pursue my certification in Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncture as well as my DONA training as a Doula. I am currently working towards full DONA certification and I'm continuing my learning constantly in order to stay up to date and provide my patients the best care possible. Osgood Family Acupuncture, PLLC https://osgoodfamacu.com 5852100258 Melody@osgoodfamacu.com

Lactation Support Profile Meet Mabel Primus, CLC Lactation Counseling, Postpartum Doula Care Hi! I’m Mabel Primus. I’m a postpartum doula and certified lactation counselor (CLC) serving the Rochester area. I am very passionate about providing support to new families and especially to moms (and birthing parents) as they do a life transition that is often way more difficult than expected. In traditional societies, laypeople were very familiar with birth, breastfeeding, and community support during the childbearing year. Today, many parents go into the postpartum months never having witnessed these first newborn weeks and without nearly enough support. We tend to focus on the birth process (for good reason!) but don’t know how to adequately plan for the harrowing, sleepless, and altogether unique weeks and months following the welcoming of a new baby into the home. I am honored that you are considering inviting me into the sacred space of your home during this exciting time in your family’s life. I look forward to witnessing this part of your journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! Mabel Primus Doula http://www.mabelprimusdoula.com 5857641651 mabelprimusdoula@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Rebecca Dilley CLC,Birth and Postpartum Doula Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Breastmilk jewelry I am blessed to be the mom to two fantastic kids. My children make my life as beautiful an adventure as they do at keeping me on my toes. As a wife, I have the privilege of being married to a great guy, who not only puts up with my birth enthusiasm and but also my crazy on-call working hours. My journey as a doula, in some ways, started with the love and wisdom of my mother. She taught me to believe in my own strength and abilities and to trust my instinct and my heart. With the birth of my daughter in 2012, her words truly impacted me in ways I had not expected. I realized that not only could my birth have been better but that all women deserve to have a birth where they take the lead in how their bodies bring their babies into this world. That knowledge weighed on me and with the upcoming birth of my son, in 2016, I decided to look into ways I could take the lead and that guided me to hiring a doula. Having a doula was so very beneficial and it changed the way I looked at birth and as a result launched me into a career of being doula, myself. I became a DONA trained doula in 2017 and with my newly gained confidence and knowledge quickly started to attend births. I went on to complete more certifications, including but not limited to, The Matrona's Holistic Birth and Postpartum Certification, the Certified Lactation Consultant training (CLC) and a certification in creating and selling Breast Milk Jewelry. The Doula Duo https://www.thedouladuo.com/ 5857485557 Thedouladuo2@gmail.com

Postpartum Doula Profile Meet Janet McAdoo Post Partum Doula HI there! I am the youngest of 8 kids and oldest of 22 nieces and nephews. Being around children is second nature to men and a joy. I have three beautiful kiddos of my own who are now 22, 19 and 15. We homeschooled them all the way through and I am delighted to have the time to support and love younger mamas at this point in my life. I also teach part time in the city school district. ​ 5857501705 sunnydays624@hotmail.com

About the Doula Cooperative Our Mission The Doula Cooperative exists to: ​ Provide a welcoming community for all doulas and to support one another through continuing education, opportunities for enhancing professional skills, networking and peer support. ​ Connect our community with high quality pregnancy, birth and postpartum support. ​ As professionals, the members of The Doula Cooperative subscribe to a shared code of ethics that informs our practices and ways of working with clients. Who We Are Meet the Doulas! Join Our Cooperative! Our membership consists of birth and postpartum doulas from all around Rochester and its surrounding areas. We have doulas who work independently and doulas who work within teams and agencies as well. Our doulas have a variety of experience in supporting families and represent numerous training organizations as well. Our Cooperative was founded in 2000 as a place for professional collaboration, encouragement and education and welcomed new and seasoned doulas alike. We are proud continue that legacy and strive to uphold those values as we grow and expand this crucial work of supporting families in the childbearing years. Our Board Our Cooperative is governed by a volunteer group of members. The Steering Committee organizes events, maintains relationships with providers and other professionals or organizations that support families in our community, advocates for the rights of birthing people, arranges educational opportunities, and informs members and the broader community of relevant social or legislative issues that impact birthing people and their families. Bert Kiehle Co-President ​ Calandra Prentice Community Liaison Morgan Moy Co-President & Hospital Liaison Patrick Boswell Treasuer Christine Landers Membership Coordinator, Referral Coordinator, & Website Coordinator

Thank You! If you don't hear from anyone within 2 days of your initial inquiry, please call (585) 234-0164 and let us know. We will do our best to try to connect you with a doula that's right for you!

Birth Doula Profile Meet Ashley Wyffels Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Childbirth Educator Growing up I always knew I wanted to work with babies. I went on to get a degree in early childhood development and have worked in the childcare field for over 10 years with infants. After becoming a certified pediatric sleep consultant in 2019 and working with many families, I realized there was so much more I could do to help parents thrive. This led me down the path of becoming a birth and postpartum doula. Educating and supporting families is my passion and I feel very privileged to get to do this work! Doulas and Beyond http://doulasandbeyond.com 5854691782 doulasandbeyond@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Melissa Ebner Birth Doula CD(DONA), Postpartum Doula, Lactation Counselor ​ Melissa Doula https://www.melissadoulacare.com/ 6072729838 melissa.doulacare@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Kathryn Franke, MA, CD(DONA) Birth Doula Kathryn’s interest in birthwork began with her first pregnancy in 2017. Her doula-supported birth was a profoundly transformative experience for her and from that day on, she simply couldn’t see herself doing anything other than supporting women through pregnancy and childbirth, too. As a military spouse moving every few years with her husband and young children, she knew she’d need time to make her dream come to life, so she decided to learn as much as she could about childbirth and supported her friends through their pregnancies in the meantime. In 2022, she became a certified doula through DONA International. Kathryn believes that pregnancy is a sacred season full of discovery, growth, vulnerability, understanding boundaries, embracing change, and releasing control. The amount of change that happens so rapidly and the availability of fear-driving information can often feel overwhelming. This is perhaps why she feels so strongly about her role in providing evidence-based information, and physical and emotional support as a doula. Her goal is to help families give birth with confidence and to feel at peace with each unique birth experience. She has supported first pregnancies, second pregnancies, repeat clients, medicated and unmedicated alike, and is grateful to each family who has trusted her in their birth space. In her spare time, Kathryn can be found on a run, baking bread, reading childbirth books, or hiking trails around western New York with her husband and 3 sons. ​ 229-506-0872 doua.kathryn.franke@gmail.com

What's Next? Once you submit our contact form, the following things will happen: ​ If you're looking for doula support, your information will be shared with our cooperative members. Doulas who are available around your estimated arrival date will email you to set up a complimentary consultation. You may receive 2 or 20 emails depending on who is available. It is common for pregnant people to meet with a few doulas to determine who they'd feel most comfortable working with. When you're ready to hire one of the doulas you've met with, you can contact them directly to sign their client agreement and pay their fee. ​ ​ PLEASE NOTE : If you don't hear from anyone within 2 days of your initial inquiry, please email doulacooperativeofrochester@gmail.com and let us know. We will do our best to try to connect you with a doula that's right for you! Contact Us NAME PHONE EMAIL Where are you located (city/town) I am... Choose an option Baby's estimated date of arrival or birthdate Where are you planning to birth? What else would you like to share with us? Submit SKIP THE WAIT! You can contact any doula from the "Meet the Doula" page directly to set up a complimentary consultation to determine if working together would be a good fit. Go to Meet the Doulas Page!

Meet the Doulas Choose from the options below to meet the birth or postpartum doulas in our Cooperative. If you need help connecting with someone, please feel free to contact us and let us know specifically what you're looking for. Meet the Birth Doulas Meet the Postpartum Doulas Hiring A Doula ​ You are welcome to contact any of the doulas directly to set up a complimentary consultation. It is never too early to contact a potential doula! Our schedules can fill up quickly, so if you feel a particular connection to someone, contact them soon to ensure their availability! ​ A doula consultation, is a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have about a doula's experiences, approach and philosophy. It is also a time to learn whether or not you feel that the two of you would be a good fit in working together. Once you've decided which doula you'd like to hire, you can contact them directly. Most doulas have clients sign an agreement of services and pay a portion of their fee up front. In general, the remainder of the fee is due prior to services are rendered. A Note About Doula Fees Doula fees are set by each individual doula, team or agency. The average fee in the Rochester area for birth doulas is around $1,000 and $30-$35 for postpartum doulas. The bulk of these fees are formulated by the nature of what their services entail: Unlimited text, email & phone support throughout time of contract Prenatal and postpartum visits On call access to birth doulas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 38 weeks until baby is 1-2 weeks old Availability for continuous care throughout the entirety of your labor and birth regardless of whether or not it's a few hours or a few days Childcare costs, travel fees, administrative and business costs, etc. Level of experience and training There is a misconception that newer doulas can offer their services for free. However, to create a sustainable work environment for themselves and their community, most new doulas establish a fee that provides them with a living wage. If you are concerned about paying the fee for doula support services, please consider the following: What items could you sell, or could you host a garage sale, to cover the cost? Could you put doula support on your shower registry? Do you or your family members have any services that could be exchanged for a portion of the fee? ​ Some doulas do work with sliding scale fees or are able to exchange goods or services for their support. Some doulas state this and/or their fee on their individual websites. Please contact the doula you are interested in to inquire further. ​

Birth Doula Profile Meet Megan Stavalone, DC Birth Doula, Chiropractor Dr. Megan Stavalone is a perinatal certified chiropractor who became inspired to become a birth doula after a long and difficult birth with her first child. She is happy to be a part of the team at ANH Wellness, and has extensive expertise in caring for women during the prenatal and postpartum phases. She began attending births in 2023 and is passionate about helping her clients feel empowered and educated during high-risk pregnancy situations or during multi-day inductions, having gone through multiple herself. She is currently accepting new birth doula clients on a limited basis. Sun & Spine Birth https://sunspinebirth.com/ (585) 484-8486 drstavalone@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Kirsten Elting -BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, CLC Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator and Counselor Kirsten has had the honor to attend many births since becoming a certified birth doula with DONA International in 2003. She has supported families during births at home and at the hospital. Her passion for all things pregnancy and birth related also led her to becoming a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator in 2004, a Certified Lactation Educator and Counselor in 2008, and another breastfeeding certification, Certified Lactation Counselor in 2021. In 2007 she gave birth naturally to her own beautiful daughter with the support of two wonderful doulas. Kirsten believes in supporting women and their families during their entire journey through pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Believing that women are powerful when they understand their own innate ability to give birth and that pregnancy and birth are NORMAL. She has attended and supported first births to second and third births, natural and medicated births, and provided early post-partum and breastfeeding support. Kirsten provides evidence-based, factual, information and continuous emotional and physical support. By doing so, she hopes to help guide women and their families in making informed choices and decisions during pregnancy, birth, and early post-partum. With her love of learning and education Kirsten has attended many DONA International and Lamaze conferences around the country. She has also attended many seminars and continues to read many evidence-based books and articles on all things related to pregnancy and birth. As a member of BBC and the Doula Cooperative of Rochester she keeps in close contact with all her “sisters” in the birth community. While planning to explore more avenues of training and certification her goal is to provide and share as much as she can to families in all stages of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Kirsten works full-time from her home office managing the finances of some Rochester based companies and owns her own small furniture refurbishing company. She is fortunate to have a very supportive husband who understands all her passionate “hobbies”. You can find them both haunting bookstores, antique stores, flea markets, and the occasional curbside picking up pre-loved items for her shop or their home. Although Kirsten does her best to make every soccer game and school event, her teenage daughter is incredibly supportive when she needs to be with a client. As an avid animal lover, Kirsten currently has 1 dog and 3 cats. ​ 585-750-4549 Believedoula@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Margo Fox, MSW, DONA Trained Birth Doula Birth Doula Services My background is in social work where I graduated with my Masters from Nazareth College in 2014. After getting married and starting a family in 2016, I decided Stay at Home Mom Life in addition to nannying was my desired path. While pregnant with my 3rd son in 2021, I trained as a birth doula at Beautiful Birth Choices in Rochester, NY. Since then I have attended a handful of births-- from home births (with my newborn in a baby carrier the whole time!) to medicated and unmedicated, spontaneous and induced hospital births. I feel I have found my true calling in applying my social work skills to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I have a passion for helping others help themselves, though education, empathy, and empowerment. It is my goal to provide support and assist parents in building confidence in pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. I have additonal training in pregnancy loss. I plan to have my DONA certification completed in the coming months. I have future goals of CLC training and Post Partum Doula Training. Margo Fox Doula 5857048621 Margoasfox@gmail.com

Become A Member It takes a village Doula work can be some of the most fulfilling areas of work you may ever find yourself in, but it can also be some of the most isolating and draining. We can't sustain this work without the support of other professionals who understand and can hold space for us as we navigate the ins and outs of this great support work. Benefits of Membership Informal mentorship and networking opportunities with other doulas and birth professionals Supportive community (in person and online) to process experiences with and learn from ​ Educational opportunities to increase knowledge and enhance professional skills Option to have profile and contact information featured on Doula Cooperative website Learn More Doula Membership $ 50 50$ Every year Join Now Join us for our monthly doula meeting! ​ 7 PM Second Thursday of the Month* Contact us for location information *Check the Doula Cooperative Facebook Group for occasional changes to dates or location.

Birth Doula Profile Meet Mindy Class, CD(DONA), CLC Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula Mindy Class, CD(DONA), CLC Mindy began her Doula career in 2016 after the birth of her fourth child. She has always been fascinated with pregnancy and birth and knew she wanted to continue that passion and help others. Mindy believes every woman should have the opportunity to have an empowering and fulfilling birth experience. Mindy is a certified birth Doula through DONA International and has attended both hospital and home births. She also has a special interest in breastfeeding which led her on the path to becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor. Mindy is a member of the Rochester Doula Cooperative and serves on the Steering Committee as the referral coordinator. In her spare time, or when not running her kids to sporting activities and events, Mindy enjoys movies, crafting, baking and reading. Mindy is also very involved in volunteering in her community, she serves on boards for her local preschool and sports clubs. Mindy feels so grateful to be part of such a wonderful birthing community. ​ http:// (585)576-9200 mindyclass@hotmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Sarah Ozimek Birth & Postpartum Doula Sarah is a birth and postpartum doula who believes every family deserves a respected, informed and transformative birth experience. Following the birth of her daughter in 2015 with two incredible doulas by her side, she found a calling to birth work and trained/certified with DONA International. She admires the strength of parents before, during and after childbirth, and encourages having a well-rounded support team to aid the journey to parenthood. Sarah is deaf, can provide services in English/ASL and enjoys meeting new families within Rochester's vibrant Deaf Community. She loves hiking with her family, swimming in lakes and exploring all the outdoor beauty Western NY has to offer throughout all four seasons. ​ 484-716-8065 sarah.e.ozimek@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Natalie Skomski Birth Doula & Postpartum Support Hi, I'm Natalie! As the mother of three beautiful children, I've personally navigated the challenges of difficult births. It was those experiences which deepened my passion for assisting expectant parents in their unique birthing experiences. My own journey has equipped me with empathy and I am committed to helping you through one of your most transformative moments. My doula journey began over a decade ago when I had the privilege of assisting a dear friend during her birth. Since then I’ve given birth to my own children and had the privilege of supporting other parents in their birthing journeys. I'm in the final stages of earning my certification through Childbirth International. My doula philosophy is rooted in the belief that every parent deserves to have the birth they desire. I am here to support, empower, and educate you throughout pregnancy, delivery and post-partum. This will include: •Two in person consultations •Unlimited support via text, email or phone •Constant labor & birth support •Two postpartum visits You feeling confident and supported throughout your birthing journey is my #1 goal. When I am not doula-ing I love making memories with my husband & children, caring for my far too large plant collection and tackling DIY projects. As I finalize my certification, I am looking for experience and I am offering my services at a very discounted rate. I look forward to getting to know you! Please don’t hesitate to contact me with absolutely any questions you have at: yougotthisbaby.doula@gmail.com You Got This Baby! 5185380228 yougotthisbaby.doula@gmail.com

Postpartum Doula Profile Meet Kat Head Postpartum Doula Hello! I'm Kat Head, and I would be honored to support you during your postpartum period. I trained as a postpartum doula through the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) in March 2019 and have been working with Rochester families ever since. In 2020 I became a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and really love the collaborative detective work that is lactation support. I enjoy working with families that use spoken English and/or American Sign Language. I became passionate about the postpartum period after having my first daughter in October 2017. I had a birth doula for that experience but hadn’t ever heard of a postpartum doula. I found that there is so much information out there about what to do or not do that it was tough to know who to believe or where to start. Now, as a doula, I feel strongly about providing evidence-based information and supporting whatever decision my clients come to. I am truly here to assist you in becoming the kind of parent you want to be. Areas of focus that I excel at include assistance with how to ask for help and community building, food preparation, spending quality time with older siblings, mental health support and bringing a calm and curious perspective to lactation challenges. In other areas of life, I am interested in ASL-English interpreting, being outside, homeschooling/unschooling, my amazing women friends, tarot, and the time to enjoy one amazing cup of coffee Kat the Doula https://www.katthedoula.com/ ​ katheaddoula@gmail.com

Postpartum Doula Profile Meet Rebecca Dilley CLC, Birth and Postpartum Doula Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Breastmilk Jewelry I am blessed to be the mom to two fantastic kids. My children make my life as beautiful an adventure as they do at keeping me on my toes. As a wife, I have the privilege of being married to a great guy, who not only puts up with my birth enthusiasm and but also my crazy on-call working hours. My journey as a doula, in some ways, started with the love and wisdom of my mother. She taught me to believe in my own strength and abilities and to trust my instinct and my heart. With the birth of my daughter in 2012, her words truly impacted me in ways I had not expected. I realized that not only could my birth have been better but that all women deserve to have a birth where they take the lead in how their bodies bring their babies into this world. That knowledge weighed on me and with the upcoming birth of my son, in 2016, I decided to look into ways I could take the lead and that guided me to hiring a doula. Having a doula was so very beneficial and it changed the way I looked at birth and as a result launched me into a career of being doula, myself. I became a DONA trained doula in 2017 and with my newly gained confidence and knowledge quickly started to attend births. I went on to complete more certifications, including but not limited to, The Matrona's Holistic Birth and Postpartum Certification, the Certified Lactation Consultant training (CLC) and a certification in creating and selling Breast Milk Jewelry. The Doula Duo https://www.thedouladuo.com/ 5857485557 Thedouladuo2@gmail.com