Birth Doula Profile Meet Mary Feeney, MS, RN-BC Birth Doula Hi, I'm so happy you're here! My name is Mary and I am a DONA trained birth doula working on my official certification. For some background, I have been a registered nursed for 8 years caring for liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant recipients. Prior to becoming an RN I was a care tech on a labor and delivery/postpartum unit. I assisted during vaginal births, c-sections, and postpartum care of mom and baby. Since having my two boys, I was reminded of my passion for birth, postpartum, and lactation. I am almost a certified lactation counselor (CLC)! I cannot wait to nurture you and help you have the empowered birth experience you desire. Thank you for reading and I hope to meet you soon! :) ​ 7466289536 mfeeneydoula@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Angela Payne Birth Doula, RN Student My name is Angela, I am currently a Nursing Student 👩🏻‍⚕️💉and mother of 6 (🎀🏈🎀🏈🏈🎀)with the goal of becoming a Midwife. I am a trained Doula and am currently obtaining my credentials as a Lactation Counselor🍼,Prenatal Yoga instructor 🧘🏻‍♀️and Childbirth Educator 👩🏻‍🏫. My mission is to educate and empower pregnant women, birthing partners, and new families who want better outcomes and more positive birth experiences, through emotional, physical, and educational support. I would like to help in bridging the gap in having people be heard in their choices and help them stand firm in their choices. It’s not often you see people who not only see you but hear you. I have a passion for helping others and for empowering women in any stage of life, especially as they are bringing new life into the world. Whether it be emotional support, information on classes, physical support, pre-natal yoga, relaxation techniques, Lactation counseling, or to simply occupy space so that they know they don't have to go through birth alone. ​ 5854485390 doula@madonnachildbirthservices.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Julie Hobart Birth and Postpartum Doula, Massage Therapist After devoting many years to massage therapy and holistic body work, I have realized that the balance between good health, career, relationships and spirituality are vital. I found a passion for working with expecting mothers and attended a birth doula training in February 2021. I then continued on to also take my postpartum doula training. I enjoy being able to guide birthing people from pregnancy through postpartum and provide a sense of calm when everything can feel so overwhelming. My goal as a doula is to help you feel empowered and support you through your birth and postpartum journey. I also continue to grow my prenatal massage practice in Victor. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. Healing Hands Wellness Studio https://healinghandsvictor.com/ 5859759904 hobartlmt@gmail.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

Welcome to the Doula Cooperative of Rochester, NY We are so glad you are here! What is a doula? About Us Support for families and doulas We are a collaborative group of doulas serving families in Rochester, NY and its surrounding areas throughout pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Additionally, we offer community and educational support for doulas in our area. Get to know us! Looking for a doula? You're in the right place! This site is packed with information about birth and postpartum doula support. You will find answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about doulas and get to know some of the doulas in our cooperative. If you are inquiring about doula support, we invite you to contact a doula individually through their profile or by completing our contact form which will be circulated to all the doulas in our membership. Meet the Doulas! Looking for a doula community? We welcome all doulas to our cooperative regardless of their training organization, certification status and areas or frequency of practice. Membership benefits include monthly opportunities for networking, skill enhancement and professional development. Additionally, our members have access to doula service requests and have the opportunity to list their profile and contact information on our site. Join our Community!

Birth Doula Profile Meet Allison Kelly Birth Doula Completed training for birth and lactation with Beautiful Birth Choices. ​ 5854899961 akelly1013@live.com

Childbirth Educators Click the photo of any educator below to access their profile page and learn more about them or get their contact information. Kirsten L Elting Birth Doula, VBAC Doula, Body Ready Method Pro, Lactation Counselor Adriana Lozada Group and individual childbirth preparation Tara Rice, IBCE Birth doula, postpartum doula, postpartum nutrition coach, belly casting Tamara L Albert CD(DONA), LCCE Birth Doula, Childbirth preparation classes

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. ​

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!

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!

Lactation Support Click the photo of any lactation specialist below to access their profile page and learn more about them or get their contact information. Melissa Ebner LC Early support for lactation needs and education Mabel Primus, CLC Lactation Counseling, Postpartum Doula Care

Fertility Doulas Click the photo of any doula below to access their profile page and learn more about them or get their contact information. Michelle Grosodonia-Maiola FULL SPECTRUM DTI Fertility Doula. Fertility yoga Molly Deutschbein, LMT, CD, RYT Fertility Doula, Full Spectrum doula, Fertility Bodywork, Yoga for Fertility

About Doulas Birth Doulas Helping families feel empowered to make informed choices about their care in pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Providing physical and emotional support throughout labor, birth and the early postpartum hours. Meet the Birth Doulas Postpartum Doulas Helping families make a smooth transition into parenthood by providing assistance with newborn care, breastfeeding support, household duties and emotional support in the postpartum period. Meet the Postpartum Doulas Birth Doulas - What is included with their support? Every doula offer their own unique aspects to support, however the majority include the following: ~One complimentary consultation (over the phone, in person or via video chat) ~One to two (or more) prenatal visits ~Unlimited email, text and phone support ~Access to carefully curated list of community resources ~24/7 On-call support from 38 weeks until your baby is born ~Continuous support throughout labor, delivery and immediate postpartum support in the birthing location of your choice ~Backup doula support if needed ~One or more postpartum followup visits This is typical of birth doula support, but may not reflect the specifics of every doula's practice within our cooperative. Be sure to ask about this at your complimentary consulatation to discover what their particular offerings include. Postpartum Doulas - What is included with their support? Postpartum doula support is tailored specifically to you and your families needs. It can be provided at any time throughout the first year of your baby's life and may look like any of the following (please be sure to check with an individual doula to learn about what their specific support entails): Physical Support - Assistance with postpartum recovery, breastfeeding support, nutritious snack and meal preparation, care for child while parents rest, help with babywearing, assistance on outings, an extra set of hands to help with anything! Emotional Support - Listening without judgement, validating your joys and concerns, support as you bond with new child and adjust to the transition of life with them, watching for signs of postpartum depression, discussing various options and supporting your choices, care for child while parents take personal time, support for non-birthing partner, strategies for positive family communication Household Support - Laundry, light housework, nursery and supply organization, spending time with other children in the home and facilitating their adjustment to a new sibling, taking photos for you Informational Support - Sharing techniques on feeding, bathing, dressing, newborn care and development, etc, providing evidence-based information on numerous topics pertaining to infants and parenthood, sharing of local resources and support groups, information on baby gear, providing resources for partner, help with navigating various sources of information What other support services can a doula offer? The doulas in our cooperative offer a variety of complementary support service options to our community. We have acupuncturists, chiropractors, placenta encapsulation specialists, massage therapists, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, a hospital-grade breast pump rental provider, breast milk jewelery designers, feeding therapists, yoga instructors and so much more! Additionally, there are other kinds of doulas beyond birth and postpartum as well! Doula support can be utilized in bereavement, pregnancy loss, fertility and more. There are specialized trainings for the full spectrum support, but we do have some doulas in our community of offer these levels of support. If you are interested in a specific support service and would like to be connected to the appropriate person, please use our contact form to let us know. Who typically hires a doula? The short answer is anybody who is preparing to have a baby or who has a baby at home! Doulas are all about providing you with an abundance of care, support and all the information you need to make fully informed, confident decisions. So, regardless of your choices in pregnancy, birth or parenthood, a doula is there for you 100% and wants to see you succeed in your goals, however you may define them, and connect you with the resources you need to do so. Where do doulas attend births? Birth doulas attend births wherever their clients are. Doulas in our cooperative have attended births at all the local and regional hospitals of our area and have worked with the homebirth midwifery groups to provide support to birthing people in their homes as well. Birth Doulas - What do they do and what their benefits? Birth doulas are trained in the normal process, anatomy and physiology of birth. They use a variety of methods to infuse the birth experience with calm, peace and unconditional support. A great deal of work is done prenatally to establish a trusting relationship with clients and enhance their intuition, knowledge and confidence in the birth process. Support can be provided in both home and hospital births to all people regardless of their particular choices about how their birth will unfold. Doulas offer continous support and individualized strategies for comfort throughout labor and they can help facilitate conversations with medical providers to ensure birthing people know their options in order to provide informed consent. Numerous studies have shown that impartial, continuous doula support during labor can increase the satisfaction of the experience for both the birthing person and their partner as well as reduce the need for augmentation, instrumental intervention or surgical birth. Because birth doulas are hired directly by the clients they will be working with, they answer only to them. They are able to support birthing people without distraction or conflicts of interest within any particular system. Is there a difference between a midwife and a doula? Yes! There's a big difference between doulas and midwives, but we typically get along really well! Midwives are trained medical providers who support women from puberty all the way through menopause. They generally uphold the midwifery model of care which is highly person-centered, holistically supportive and promotes the normal, phsyiologic process of birth. As with doulas, midwives care for patients who make any number of choices in their birth experiences. Midwives work collaboratively with a physician in cases where instrumental or cesarean birth is required. Doulas and midwives often have similar approaches to birth and so we compliment one another very well. Though they are both focused on the overall well-being of the birthing person and their baby, they have two very distinct roles in that the midwife will always be the one to perform clinical tasks or exams, make diagnoses and catch the baby and the doula is there to support the birthing person and their family to enhance their overall mental and emotional well-being and physical comfort. How do medical providers and doulas work together? Birth doulas work collaboratively with nurses, midwives and physicians to provide holistic support for their clients throughout the birth process. Often, a doula can help facilitate conversation between a birthing person and their provider to ensure their questions are being answered, their concerns are being heard and their preferences are being honored. Birth doulas offer a unique role on the birth team in that their only responsibility is to the birthing person and their family. Often in pregnancy, doulas and their clients develop a level of trust and familiarity that is a welcomed addition to the birth room in which providers can be unknown. Because doulas do not perform any clinical tasks, conduct exams or make diagnoses, they are able to focus their attention solely on how the birthing person is feeling and coping with the experience at any given moment. How much does doula support cost and why? The average fee for birth doula services in Rochester is around $1,000. The average fee for postpartum doula support is around $30-35/hour. When a doula sets their fee, they take into account the following: -Unlimited text, email and phone support throughout time of contract -Prenatal and postpartum visits -On call access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 38 weeks until baby is 1-2 weeks old -Length of the birth - while some may only be a few hours, they can stretch to a few days -Childcare costs, travel fees, administrative and business costs, etc. -Amount of time and money invested in professional development to enhance skills There is a misconception that newer doulas can offer their services for free. However, to create a sustainable work environment and situation for themselves, each doula often decides to establish at least a minimal fee in order to cover the basic costs of doing this work. 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? Will the doula take the place of my spouse, partner or family member?" Not if we're doing it right! Doulas seek to facilitate a positive experience for all people involved in both the birth and pospartum experience. Our wisdom of caring for a birthing or postpartum person is only one component to the equation. Your other chosen support people know you much more intimately than we ever can, so they bring a critical knowledge to the equation as well. When the two team members work together to create a circle of support around a birthing or postpartum person, that is when the real magic happens. Even the most supportive and knowledgeable of partners or family members will need breaks for rest, nourishment, and emotionally processing such momentous events. A doula can provide care for all involved in large and small ways so that they can be fully present and participate at the level they are most comfortable. Postpartum Doulas - What do they do and what are their benefits? Postpartum doulas offer informational, physical and emotional support to families within the first year of a baby's life. Postpartum support can allow the birthing parent to devote the time needed to recovering after birth and tend to the intense demands of adjusting to the transition of life with their new baby. Additionally, it can difuse the stress of caring for basic household tasks such as meal preparation and housecleaning. Lastely, postpartum doula support can help build confidence by providing newborn-care and evidence-based education. Studies have shown that postpartum doula support can decrease postpartum mood and anxiety disorders and enhance the feelings of positivity surrounding the postpartum period.

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.

Postpartum Doulas Click the photo of any doula below to access their profile page and learn more about them or get their contact information. Mindy Class, CD(DONA), CLC Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula Kat Head Postpartum Doula Morgan Moy M.S., CCC-SLP/L TSSLD Birth and Postpartum Doula care Rebecca Dilley CLC, Birth and Postpartum Doula Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Breastmilk Jewelry Michelle Grosodonia Maiola Full Spectrum Doula, Pre-Birth, Birth and Postpartum, Pre-Postnatal Yoga, Reiki Healing Ashley Wyffels Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Childbirth Educator Chelsé Inman Postpartum Doula Babywearing Educator & Consultant Julie Hobart Birth and Postpartum Doula, Massage Therapist Erin Hegeman, Advanced Holistic Doula Postpartum Doula Stephanie Kiesow, MA, MPH, CLE Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Certified Lactation Educator Sarah Ozimek Birth & Postpartum Doula Melissa Ebner Birth Doula CD(DONA), Postpartum Doula, Lactation Counselor Kirsten Elting -BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, CLC Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator and Counselor Janet McAdoo Post Partum Doula Heather Acomb Postpartum Doula, Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Instructor Mabel Primus, CLC Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counseling Amanda Moore Postpartum Doula Bert Kiehle Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula Debbie Birth/ postpartum- DONA trained

Birth Doula Profile Meet Kirsten Elting -BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, CLC, SBD, CVD(TVL) 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 Believedoulas@gmail.com

Childbirth Educator Profile Meet Tara Rice, IBCE Birth doula, postpartum doula, postpartum nutrition coach, belly casting I have been providing childbirth education and supporting birthing families as a doula in the Rochester and Finger Lakes area since 2005. My absolute passion is providing the knowledge and support needed for a healthy, empowered, and positive birth experience. I have experience in our areas hospitals and birth centers and at home birth, and I love sharing what I have learned through my trainings and years of experience. Joyful Birth http://www.joyfulbirth.us ​ tararice.joyfulbirth@gmail.com

Birth Doula Profile Meet Danielle Cisneros Birth doula My name is Danielle and I’ve recently completed the doula training! I have experienced two births myself, one an emergency c section and a VBAC! I’m so passionate about beginning my doula journey to help support women during their births! ​ 9074408965 Weilandwoodslearning@gmail.com

Postpartum Doula Profile Meet Heather Acomb Postpartum Doula, Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Instructor Heather understands from her own postpartum experience how important this sacred period is for recovery— physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In addition, her years of training, teaching, and self-practice in the field of somatics gives her the necessary empathetic tools to support your labor and childbirth recovery in the immediate days and weeks postpartum. She is a dance educator, hatha yoga instructor, and holistic wellness practitioner. ​ https://www.heatheracomb.com/ (585) 455-5231 heatheracomb@gmail.com