WA State Certified. Medicaid & Carrot Approved
WELCOME, AND HELLO!
My name is Melanie (She/Her). Originally from New York, I have been living in the PNW area for 20+ years. I feel incredibly privileged to be supporting families in the Puget Sound, during such a magical and transformative time. I am based in Tacoma, and support families from Seattle, down to Olympia, and surrounding areas. I also offer virtual support for Birth and Postpartum coaching, and Pediatric Sleep coaching and support.
INCLUSIVE, COMPASSIONATE AND THOUGHTFUL CARE TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS
I practice trauma informed, perinatal, birth, and postpartum support for all birthing bodies, couples, single and single by choice parents, Queer, LGBTQ+, gender fluid and trans families, Poly families, adoptive parents, and families on their surrogacy journeys. My support is queer competent, weight inclusive and intersectional, and it is always my priority to support people getting the care that helps them feel safe and seen, essential to the health and wellness of both baby and family. Whether you are planning a hospital, birthing center or home birth, I help map out a birth and postpartum plan based on your concerns, values and preferences and then support you through the entire process. I know first hand how beautiful, challenging and exhausting childbirth and parenting is, and I come with a wealth of personal and professional experience to share with you.
“Mel was an absolute gift during the birth of our son last July. From our prenatal sessions to the moment he arrived, she brought such a calm, grounded presence that made me feel completely supported and safe. She knew exactly when to offer hands-on help, when to advocate, and when to simply hold space, and her instincts were spot-on every single time. I cannot imagine going through that experience without her, and I recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a doula who is skilled, intuitive, and deeply caring.”
Every doula has their own way of nurturing, and it can look different depending on your needs. I offer perinatal, birth and postpartum support both as a stand alone service or as a package. I love supporting families ‘Full Spectrum’ through their entire journey, a practice that allows me to be completely focused on one family at a time, and allows me to really get to know my clients and offer them a continuum of care that I find invaluable.
My offerings include:
Perinatal Support
Hospital, birthing center and home labor and birth support and advocacy
Planned and unplanned Cesarian support
Overnight Doula care
Infant education and support
Body feeding and bottle feeding support and education
Post-Frenectomy Recovery Support for tongue and lip tie
Emotional Support for birth or adoptive parents
Providing resources and referrals when appropriate
Support for detection of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Sleep Counseling support
“We had a great experience with Melanie as our Doula! Her guidance helped me achieve the natural birth experience that I wanted. Her presence at our home and at the birth center was calming and encouraging. Her low key photography style was perfect for us and I will forever cherish the pictures she took at the birth center. She was also available and supportive when I reached out multiple times following the birth, which really helped ease our new parent anxiety. Highly recommend.”
“Hiring Melanie as my birth and postpartum doula was one of the best decisions I made when I prepared for the arrival of my daughter last year. She is experienced, communicative, thoughtful, grounded, conscientious, and a wonderful person to talk to about pretty much anything. She was in the OR during my c-section, took beautiful birth pics, and then spent the first night in the hospital with me. There is nothing like being able to get uninterrupted sleep in the first months of parenthood, but more than that, Melanie was a supporter and sounding board, and so sweet and patient with my daughter. I recommend her highly to anyone looking for a doula.”
