SARA ZIA
BIRTH DOULA + STUDENT MIDWIFE
Sara is a Certified Doula, Licensed Midwife and Founder/Executive Director of Virginia Prison Birth Project, a Cville based non-profit providing skilled, compassionate pregnancy, birth and new parenting support services for people in VA prison. Sara has supported over 200 births in a variety of settings including at home, at birth centers and at our local hospitals. She enjoys doubling as a birth photographer when she attends births. Sara grew up in Los Angeles, has an MA in philosophy from UVA and uses poetry to make sense of her world. Caretaking is her love language and she loves nothing more in life than being a mom. Sara is also a seasoned yoga teacher. She teaches prenatal & new mom yoga at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville and on the Rivanna river bank in warm weather. She would love to meet you on your mat or for a free consultation to explore whether she’s a good fit to support you on your parenting journey. Sign-up for prenatal yoga here.
Learn more about Virginia Prison Birth Project: www.virginiaprisonbirthproject.org
Student midwife at CVille Midwifery (2016-Present)
Student midwife at Waterflow midwifery/Winding River Birth Center (2014-2018)
ToLabor Birth Doula training (2015)
OmMama prenatal yoga training (2012)
ADA MORRELL
BIRTH DOULA
adamaymorrell@gmail.com
434.962.1287
https://sites.google.com/view/bridgebirth
Ada is a DONA-trained birth doula working towards her full certification. She holds a BA in Contemplative Psychology from Naropa University and is currently pursuing a second degree in nursing. Her personal approach to birth includes exploring the ways our ancestors have birthed & using some of those methods, and creating rituals and ceremonies to mark the big events in our life such as birth. As a dancer and dance teacher, she loves to incorporate breathwork and movement practice into the birth space. She feels passionate about supporting birthing people across any and all different backgrounds, orientations, and identities. She believes anyone with a womb has the right to birth peacefully with support and care.
SABR LYON
Prenatal Education Doula
Being a Prenatal Doula in the time of Covid-19 means focusing on education, homebirth, and postpartum care. Having stepped away from midwifery after graduating from a 4 year program, Sabr has continued to help birthing people educate themselves and their birth partners on testing, birth lingo, and comfort measures, as well as facilitating sex ed and other, less birthy, classes and ceremonies. Sabr is full of ideas and interest to help you plan your socially distanced blessing ways, as well as the skills and experience required to assist folks through labor, breast/chest feeding, and figuring out personalized steps to the complicated dance of the first few months after birth. Masks are necessary for any in-person meetings, and Sabr offers a sliding scale to those who request one, so please don’t hesitate to inquire!
KIAUNA THOMAS
Full spectrum doula
doulanonnie@gmail.com
434.257.6736
Being the eldest sister of five children, Kiauna cannot remember a time that she was not providing care for another. As an adult, she has taken this knowledge and filled the roles of a Certified Nurse Assistant, Nanny, Direct Support Professional, Doula, Perinatal Educator, and Wellness Coordinator. As both a Nurse Assistant at the University of Virginia, and Wellness Coordinator and the Fluvanna Correctional Facility for Women, Kiauna has attended births and provided care for countless moms and babies.
Kiauna is certified as a full spectrum doula through the Common Sense Childbirth Institute, taking special interest in newborn care, postpartum care, and lactation. Kiauna believes in creating a sacred, trauma and culturally informed, birthing-person-led birth environment. After expanding her heart and skillset as a doula, Kiauna aspires to become a Certified Professional Midwife.
Although not a mother of human babies yet, Kiauna has two fur babies: Kendrick the cat and Katana the German Shepherd. Katana is currently being trained as an emotional support dog and will soon be able to attend births when requested! In her down time, Kiauna enjoys threading eyebrows, body sugaring hair removal, and spending time in nature. Being that she is passionate about anything that makes one feel beautiful, Kiauna is a strong advocate for Women’s Rights and LGBTQ Rights.
SANDRA CRAWFORD
Birth + Postpartum doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, Childbirth Educator
doulasand@gmail.com
434.665.0819
www.doulasand.com
Driven by a deeply rooted passion for serving others Sandra feels strongly that every family deserves the support and information they need to make confident decisions throughout pregnancy, labor and the newborn stages. She focuses on serving women and families compassionately and without judgement, and she feels that the birth of a child is a sacred family experience deserving of an atmosphere filled with respect and absent of fear. It is her goal to ensure that you are well prepared to enter confidently into your birth and the journey of parenthood.
DONA International Certified Birth Doula 2015-present
ALPP Certified Lactation Counselor
Evidence Based Birth® Instructor
Advanced Doula Training, Carriage House Birth 2016
LGBT-Inclusive Obstetrics and Nursing Support 2017
Gena Kirby Method Rebozo Training 2015
Use of TENS in Labor DONA International 2018
Spinning Babies Workshop 2017
“Sandra was a kind and helpful presence in our lives both before and after the birth of our twins. She was always available to listen and provide direction to well-reasoned and researched information about pregnancy and childbirth. I never felt that Sandra was telling me what to do, but rather supporting my husband and I to make the right decision for us and our babies… Sandra provided us with postpartum doula services and I looked forward to every time she came to our home. She calmed me both through her words and attitude in that early period of sleep deprivation and wondering how my husband and I were ever going to take care of two tiny children during a global pandemic. I would unreservedly recommend hiring Sandra; she combines total professionalism and pre/postnatal knowledge with a steady and kind presence in even the most stressful times”
GWENDOLYN BRIGHT
Full Spectrum Doula
brightbirthing@gmail.com
831.247.1433
Painter, poet, and mama to Matilde Zadie (born at UVA) and Gideon Apollo (born at home), Gwen is a California native full-spectrum doula trained at Natural Resources and by the Bay Area Doula Project in San Francisco. She has a strong commitment to reproductive justice and an insatiable need to plug into storytelling of all kinds. She is the founder of Bright Birthing and has attended many births in and out of hospital since 2010 (close to 90 at last count).
Along with a BA in literature and religion and work toward a Masters in traditional Chinese medicine, Gwen's additional studies have included Jane Austin's Prenatal Yoga Teacher training; Essentials of Prenatal Massage with Dominique Clothiaux; Trauma to Triumph with Nurture in Richmond; and Penny Simkin's When Survivors Give Birth. In 2018 Gwen completed postpartum doula training with Cynthia Jordan-Fisher and Dianne Bearinger of Month 10 and Nearby Baby. Most recently Gwen has completed coursework through San Francisco Zen Center in chronic pain and chronic illness, and is studying with Yolonda Coles Jones in a program called Design Your Family’s Education Reality.
Gwen is working on a second collection of poetry, homeschooling her kiddos, and looking forward to supporting out of hospital birth again.
RITA HUNT
BIRTH DOULA
ritahunt213@aol.com
434.996.0824
Rita's goal is to empower women during birth and support every mom/couple in their birth choices. She has assisted with births at Martha Jefferson and UVA hospitals as well as The Birthing Center. She always feels privileged to serve as a doula providing emotional, physical and informational support. She works with the mother's birth partner to help him/her be a part of the birth process. She works respectfully with other healthcare providers; doctors, nurses and midwives. She uses a variety of techniques/interventions during the birthing process and is willing to provide guidance during prenatal meetings.
Coordinate and lead a "Comfort Measures Workshops" for OB nurses at UVA to assist with their orientation (2014-2016)
Completed "Science of Lactation" at UVA School of Nursing (2015)
Certified Birth Doula through DONA International
CPR certified infant, child and adult
Licensed Occupational Therapist
La Leche League Leader for one year
“Everyone asks me how I was able to push out my 10lb.13 oz. son without any drugs. My answer is my doula Rita Hunt. My birth experience was incredible and I wouldn’t change a thing. I was so glad to have Rita by my side to help me with breathing/relaxation, massaging by back, collaborating with my doctor on best positions to get my baby to turn, and helping my fiancé feel a part of the process. I couldn’t have don’t it without Rita’s support and guidance!”
MEREDITH NELSON
BIRTH + Postpartum Doula, Exercise Specialist
meredithdoula@gmail.com
801.856.0886
www.bornmover.com
Meredith specializes in preparing clients for unmedicated birth, and for confidently navigating the informed choice process. Meredith is a Nutritious Movement™ certified Restorative Exercise Specialist and offers all clients a personalized system of daily practices and exercises that will promote a stable and comfortable pregnancy, pelvic floor function, optimal fetal positioning, and a smooth postpartum recovery. Meredith will help you find the evidence-based answers to your questions, and support and uphold your choices.
Certified Restorative Exercise Specialist (Nutritious Movement™)
DONA International® Birth Doula Training (2013)
Spinning Babies® Training (Gail Tully)
One Strong Mama™ Body Ready Method
Your Pelvic Matters© Program (Claire Mockridge)
Optimal Fetal Positioning (Cornerstone Midwifery)
Rebozo Certified (Gena Kerby)
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that choosing Meredith as our doula was the best and most important decision we’ve made in our lives in recent years. As first-time parents, we both learned a tremendous amount from Meredith about babies and birth — and learning about nutritious movement transformed the way that we think about our daily lives and choices, far beyond the birth experience. Meredith served us so graciously as a wise teacher, as a calm guide through the wild journey of birth, and as a compassionate confidant in these hazy postpartum days.”
DEBBIE WONG, CPM
Birth, Postpartum + (In)Fertility Doula, Midwife
debbiewongcpm@gmail.com
434.987.1257
ninemoonsmidwifery.com
Debbie's passion is to support an intended parent during their journey into and through the childbearing year. Over a decade ago, she started her career as a doula by attending births. This was part of her early training to become a Certified Professional Midwife. Since that time, she has supported over 300 families in welcoming their babies. Motherhood, however, is not isolated to pregnancy and birth. Often the intended birthing individuals need support during pre-conception, and often after the baby is born. Debbie's role as your doula is to provide you with care so you may feel informed, empowered, and confident wherever you are in your process of building your family.
Adult/Child/Infant CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (current)
The Maternal Child Health (MCH) Specialist Training (2015)
Resolving Neonatal Birth Trauma Training (2015)
Arvigo Techniques in Maya Abdominal Therapy-Professional Training (2011)
Certified Professional Midwife (2009)
BS Midwifery, Birthingway College of Midwifery (2009)
Seattle Midwifery Doula Training (2004)
“Debbie was my doula for my first birth. She was an indispensable part of the experience. She has a calm, supportive and comforting presence which helped my husband and I make our son’s birth everything we were hoping for. She is awesome!!!”
DANIELLE RADLE
Birth doula & Childbirth Educator
danielle@experiencebirth.us
434-288-3008
http://experiencebirth.us
Danielle is a wife and mama of five. She is passionate about evidence-based birth and finds joy in seeing birthing women and their families gain peace and confidence as they learn to trust the birth process, come to understand their options, and build a solid support system. As a doula, Danielle is honored to advocate for you and support you (individually or as a couple) in achieving a satisfying birth experience. As an educator, she will help you explore your options, build your birth team, and prepare mentally and physically for your baby's birth-day.
toLabor Doula Training (2013)
Certified Birth Languages Childbirth Education Instructor (2017)
Family Herbalist certification from Dr. Christopher’s School of Natural Healing
“I can look back on the experience as a wonderful one, thanks to Danielle. I highly recommend her, she was so immensely helpful...and down to earth. Fear was truly replaced by peace when all was said and done.”
LOGAN CUMMINGS
FULL SPECTRUM DOULA
Logan has been working with young children and babies for over ten years with a passion in infant & child development. She is intentional, loving and kind with a flare for connection and supporting human needs. What she seeks is to help ease the mental load of those experiencing major life transitions and being calmness through transitions. Logan believes that birth, postpartum, and death are sacred times that deserve her grace and understanding throughout these processes. Logan wants the people she is working with to feel comfortable, prepared, and a major sense of relief during the ever changing journey of these transitions as she shows confidence hoping to extend that feeling to you as well. Logan offers deep practical, emotional, and spiritual support. Logan wants everyone she works with to feel empowered in their decisions and to help ensure all the wishes of her clients are being met.
Though we can’t plan for what is to come, we can find solace in ourselves, our beliefs and values especially when we find the right person to assist, found in the hands of Logan in those moments.
Logan has experience working with families who have children with different medical complexities, autism, use varying types of medical equipment and devices. She is always willing to learn more about your families specific needs to help give the appropriate aiding in all dynamics. Logan believes in meeting each person exactly where they are and helping them to find their own level of autonomy.
Month 10 - Postpartum Doula Certified (2023)
ToLabor - Birth Doula Trained (2023)
International Doula Life Movement - End of Life Doula Certified (2024)
RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) Trained
MOLLY DUNCAN
Dona trained Birth + Postpartum Doula
434.825.5721
www.belovedbirthcville.com
Molly has always been inspired and amazed by the journey women make through pregnancy and birth into motherhood. Her own birth was transformational and called her towards a path of uplifting and supporting women during this time period of their lives. Molly has completed her doula training through DONA and is a certified yoga instructor. She has also completed her 85 hour prenatal yoga teacher training through Kelly Cox at Bend. As a Doula, her aim is to help facilitate a birth in which Mom feels empowered, heard and safe. She feels that birth is an experience defined by the deepest emotions, and is honored to bear witness as new families are born.
Lauren Durrer
Birth doula + childbirth educator
ldbirthservices@gmail.com
434-760-2447
www.ldbirthservices.com
Lauren is a certified birth doula and childbirth educator with a passion to help families find joy in their birth journey. Joy isn’t typically the first word women think of regarding birth, but how amazing would it be if it was? Lauren believes joy surrounding birth has less to do with having a textbook one, and far more to do with confidence and preparation that comes through practical education and loving, genuine support. She seeks to give individualized and sincere care that allows every woman to meet her birth goals.
Lauren is a mom of two cuties and married to her best friend, Evan, who is a local chiropractor. They share the desire to serve growing families in their area and as a recipient of the many benefits of chiropractic care pre- and postnatally, she includes chiropractic care for mom and baby as part of her doula packages.
Lauren prays you are encouraged to know that birth, however it unfolds, can be an amazing experience. And she hopes she gets the opportunity to support you through it!
“I would not have had anything resembling the birth I had hoped and planned for were it not for Lauren. Long before the birth of my daughter, Lauren immediately felt like the big sister I never knew I needed. She walked me through months of preparation, all the excitement and the unknowns. Knowing she would be with me gave me—and my husband—a profound sense of peace that I needed in order to labor safely at home. Once I was in labor, Lauren never left my side. She knew what exercises to run me through, how to coach my husband, and when to coax me to rest. She never wavered when I was discouraged… She is the doula I wish every woman could have in those precious hours!”
HAYLEY CIELUCH
BIRTH Doula
276-238-7057
hayleycieluch@gmail.com
Hayley’s goal as your doula is to give you the knowledge and support that you need to feel empowered during your birth experience. She believes that every family needs personalized care and support as they move into this scary yet inspiring part of their lives. Hayley strives to keep learning and uses all resources available to provide you with the best birthing experience possible. Hayley currently provides two different doula packages and works with a prenatal and postnatal yoga instructor along with a prenatal masseuse. She will always believe that knowledge is power and support is key, not just in the birth experience, but in every area of life.
HIDAYAH WALKER
Birth + Postpartum Doula, Lactation Counselor, Childbirth Educator
babguidance@gmail.com
614-398-1110
www.birthbyguidance.com
Hidayah has been a lifelong lover of the birth process and is passionate about protecting, promoting, and supporting families during their transformative childbearing year. She began her formal trainings in 2015 and has had the honor of supporting families in hospitals, birth centers, community clinics and private homes. She has a particular passion for educating families on their rights and options in all birth settings and enjoys facilitating positive, mutually agreeable conversations between women, partners/family members and healthcare professionals. Hidayah believes that one of her most important roles in supporting birth is to simply hold space and walk beside families as they come into their own given birthing power with confidence. When she is not focusing on birth work or midwifery studies, she fulfills her favorite position in life: boy mom to 3!
Adult/child/infant CPR/BLS and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (current)
Certified Lactation Counselor (2016)
DONA International Birth and Postpartum Doula Training (2017)
Evidence Based Birth Member (2019)
Spinning Babies Training (2020)
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (2020)
Birth Emergencies Skills Training (2020)
Heart and Hands Midwifery Intensive (2020 - present)
“Hidayah is amazing!! She’s incredibly knowledgeable, patient, a calming presence, and truly an indispensable force to have at your side for your birthing journey...please PLEASE don’t hesitate to consider having Hidayah with you throughout your birth journey! You will be so so glad you did.”
REAGAN GREENFIELD
Birth + postpartum Doula
aroundwegrow@yahoo.com
434.531.5686
reagangreenfield.com
Reagan became a birth doula to support all birthing people. She is passionate in her support of mothers of multiples and women with high-risk pregnancies to feel empowered in their births. She supports all people, not just those desiring natural childbirth. Sometimes our journey to parenthood takes roads we didn’t intend to travel. Reagan believes that if you feel educated, prepared, safe and loved, you can have an uplifting labor and delivery. She enjoys being actively present in a calm and grounding way for my clients. She looks forward to talking to you and hearing your thoughts on your pregnancy, labor, delivery and time after birth.
Finishing doula certification with toLabor
Training to be a FullCircle Placenta encapsulation specialist
Emergency Health Sciences degree
Board member of Birth Matters VA
Bereavement training
“We loved working with Reagan! She exhibited the perfect level of professionalism for such an intimate occasion; she was kind, insightful, available, well-informed, and totally personable. She put a lot of time and effort into understanding our vision regarding this birth and she was invaluable in helping us achieve it. We absolutely recommend her services as a birth doula and wouldn’t think twice about hiring her for future births.”
SARA REIMOLD
BIRTH + postpartum doula
sarareimold@gmail.com
434.531.8005
beyondbirthsupport.com
Sara has been attending births as a birth doula since training with ToLabor in January of 2010. She has attended births in many different settings and enjoys helping families to understand all of their options and make decisions for their births that are right for them. Sara also offers Bengkung Belly wrapping, a traditional Indonesian way to assist in postpartum healing, and postpartum doula services.
Sacred Pregnancy Postpartum Training (2014)
ToLabor Professional Doula Training (2011)
Spinning Babies with Gail Tully (2011)
“She suggested positions ... and knew when to step back and allow me to labor in the way my body told me....Every woman should have a doula for every birth and they should all be as insightful, respectful, and intuitive as Sara.”
CARLIE COPAL
Traditional Midwife, Death Keeper, full spectrum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Placenta Specialist
inyourownhandsva@gmail.com
www.inyourownhandsva.com
434.414.1067
Carlie is a Medicine Woman, a midwife in the most traditional sense of womb-to-tomb care, a deathkeeper, a tender of liminal spaces, and a ferrier of souls. She is hedge witch, healer, and anchor in sacred spaces. She is a guardian, a mother, and a keeper of deep truths. She is your villiage wise woman.
She believes in individual sovereignty, the innate physiological wisdom of the body, and the role of spiritual wellness on holistic health. She practices radical acceptance and unyielding honesty. She recognizes and respects the need for ritual within her work. She supports clients in holistic and ancestral nutrition, pregnancy & birth, postpartum, [m]otherhood, and death.
Carlie is formally trained in childbirth education, nutrition for fertility and pregnancy, doula support, postpartum care, placenta processing, vaginal breech birth methods, adult and infant cpr, and bereavement support.
“I knew Carlie and I were a birthing match made in heaven during our first meeting! Carlie’s aura is simply warm and genuine. Although she’s extremely knowledgeable, she never pushed any personal beliefs or ideology about birth onto me. She listened, was attentive, and most importantly (for me) she was supportive.”
EMMA ANDREWS
Doula + Reiki Master + intuitve
emmacatherineandrews@gmail.com
816.260.0340
www.emma-andrews.com
Emma is a certified Reiki Master, Childbirth Doula and Intuitive who has spent the last decade of her life discovering deep healing and connection to the divine. Highly perceptive as a child, she became aware of her intuitive gifts after the death of her father. She enjoys working with individuals through transformative times, using her intuitive gifts to bring clarity and her skill at moving energy to bring healing and balance. Emma lives in Scottsville with her husband, dog and herd of goats.
She offers Reiki Healing Sessions, Intuitive Readings and Postpartum Doula Support.
DONA International® Birth Doula Training with Homegrown Babies (2018)
Breastfeeding Basics Training (2019)
Spinning Babies® Training (2019)
Sacred Plant Traditions Herbalism Course (2018)
Reiki I, II, III Certifications (2020)
Crystal Reiki Certification