Mary's journey in the birth world started back in 1875 when her great great Aunt Hilda helped deliver thousands of the Paiute Indian babies as a midwife. The love of birth and supporting women is in her maternal lineage. Marys mother gave birth to her at home with her 7 year old brother assisting the doctor in delivery. From a young age Mary's mother had always loved all of her 5 home births and had spoken so highly of them, in fact 30 of Marys cousins were all home birth babies. Mary was overjoyed when she got pregnant with her daughter Summer. She had her daughter at the hospital after 15 minutes of arriving, it was a quick and funny labor and delivery. Mary was laughing as Summer came out. About 6 months after her daughters birth, Mary, her mom and her sister became Yoga instructors. Mary started sharing her love of yoga with other new moms. About a year after that, she ran into a friend that was pregnant and her friend asked her to be at her birth. That friend offered to pay for her doula training at Bini Birth with the incredible Ana Paula through Dona International. Mary attended that friends birth and loved every second of it. A few years later Mary finally got her home water birth with her son, and it was everything she dreamed of. Then 3 years later she had her 2nd son the same way. Marys friends and family started asking her to attend they're births. It wasn't too long after that she realized this is her true calling. Combining her love of yoga and the poses that work so well in labor, as well as the meditation and breathing that can be so helpful. She uses Spinning babies and The Body Ready Method, as well is Hypnobirthing in all her Prenatal Yoga class and with clients.
Mary currently teaches yoga and prenatal/postpartum yoga classes as well as mediation and sound bath healing weekly. She incorporates the 2 worlds into one healing modality to allow the mama a peaceful and fearless birth. Marys been trained in labor massage and healing touch, she's taken lactation courses and an Ayurvedic postpartum doula training, where she learned from Heng Ou, the Author of the books "The First Forty Days and Nine Golden Months". She loves to cook and combines that love of feeding new moms in her postpartum work. Mary supports and helps all births, she's done home birth, birth centers, hospital, medicated, unmedicated, inductions, cesarean section, single moms, surrogates, and VBACs.
When she's not supporting mamas, you can find her surfing at the beach with her kids, rollerskating while her kids skate or singing karaoke.
After having 6 natural home births of her own, Jen felt a great desire and passion to educate herself further and eventually help other families create their own beautiful birth and postpartum experiences. In 2011, Jen was trained as a (DONA International) birth Doula and immediately started serving families in hospitals, home, and birth centers. Since then she has added training in Hypnobirthing, belly binding, Abhyanga massage, herbal remedies, natural doctoring, nourishing foods, newborn soothing techniques, and other holistic techniques.
She is a mother and birth worker and is passionate about empowering families. She is currently focused on supporting families by offering her services as a Birth & Postpartum Doula. She brings a nurturing presence, calm, but confident approach. Jen envisions guiding women through the transformative journey of motherhood and empowering families to tap into their inner strength and own wisdom. She hopes to build confidence and resilience as they adjust to their new roles.
Amanda is a mother and Birth/Loss Doula originally from LA and started her Doula journey there. Currently she is in Thousand Oaks, 5 mins from Los Robles. With 2 natural births (one at a birth center and one at home) and 5 miscarriage losses, she can guide her clients on many experiences. Trained with Emily from Free Birth Society and guided by the midwife Hayley Oaks, she began serving women almost 9 years ago. She is a Christian and can offer faith based encouragement (or not). She loves to provide clients with tools like hypnobirthing tracks, affirmation cards and of course engaging prenatals that prepare moms birth plan and education. She breastfeed her children for a total of 6 years and can offer advice and wisdom on nursing. She approaches birth with humor, evidence and patience. Amanda believes Doula Life is a calling and her passion for birth has led to training new Doulas as well
Michelle is a mother of two and a birth doula. Her deepest joy in life has been motherhood. She has always possessed an affinity for babies and fascination with pregnancy and childbirth. During her children's formative years, she served as a teacher's aide and substitute teacher at their school. Later, she dedicated five years to nurturing two boys, one of whom was on the autism spectrum, as a nanny.
Michelle's own traumatic birth experience at the age of 17 left her feeling uninformed and powerless. Determined that no woman should endure such distress, she channels her passion for women's health and wellness into creating beautiful, empowering experiences surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Michelle believes that her diverse life experiences uniquely qualify her to provide compassionate and supportive care to mothers.
Hendrika was introduced to birth as a 8 year old when she watched her mother deliver her sister at home. She remembers vividly watching her mother pushed and the midwife unwrapped the cord from around her neck 3 times! She would go on to watch 2 more siblings home births. Her own journey as a mother included 2 epidural births, 3 unmedicated and completely natural births, and 1 induction so she’s not only familiar with the differences in delivery but also experienced them. She’s been working with mothers pre and postpartum for the last 20 years but decided last year to make it official by completing her DONA training. She supports both births and postpartum but if you give her a newborn to snuggle she will be in her happy place. She has supported clients during their birthing experience in everything from c-sections to Vbac’s, medicated and unmedicated, but specializes in supporting and advocating for women of color and teens. Her greatest joy is in educating and empowering women to fill the measure of their creation.
As a dedicated childcare provider, postpartum doula, and massage therapist, Natalie brings compassion, expertise, and unwavering support to mothers and families during one of life’s
most transformative periods. With a genuine love for nurturing and empowering women, Natalie strives to create a supportive environment where both mom and baby can thrive.
With over 15 years of invaluable childcare experience as both a nanny and registered behavioral therapist, with experience in supporting children with special needs, Natalie brings a
deep understanding of the intricacies involved in fostering young lives. Additionally, her 13 years of expertise in massage therapy, particularly in pre and postnatal massage, further enrich
her ability to support families during the journey of welcoming in new life into the family. Natalie is currently training to become an herbalist and is studying at School of the Sacred Wild.
She hopes to add herbalism and plant magic into her healing practice to help aid in the transitions of pre and postnatal stages.
Growing up with her identical twin sister that has special needs, Natasha assisted her mother to care for her twin. For 20 years, Natasha has worked with toddlers, children, and adults with disabilities. She has also worked in Special Education Elementary School and managed group homes, teaching teens and adults to live independently.
Being a mom of three, having three pregnancies and births that differed from each other, she had a few challenges of her own including, developing postpartum depression. Natasha “understands that everyone's journey of birth and post-childbirth is as unique as their fingerprint and should be treated uniquely”, so she’s here to reinforce and empower you through one of the most important journeys of your life.
Because of these experiences, Natasha has always loved caring for others. She finds joy in helping other mommies through their fourth trimester. Her passion is to support moms in what can be a most exciting and challenging time. She provides a soft and hands-on approach, enabling new parents a gentle transition to parenthood. Encouraging them and teaching them as they learn to care for their baby and themselves.
Natasha focuses primarily on late night support, including holistic sleep training and encouraging healthy sleep habits. She offers invaluable assistance with the tasks and needs of your baby throughout the night, providing enormous relief and an opportunity allowing exhausted parents to get some much-needed rest. As a night doula, she offers invaluable help with the tasks and needs of your baby throughout the night.
She teaches infant soothing and coping skills for new parents. She offers breastfeeding support and will do light housework on overnight or day shifts. i.e.,
• Meal prep, i.e, making sandwiches, cutting up fruit
• Washing bottles, tidying the nursery, laundry
• Maintaining a daily log of infant’s feeding times and ounces consumed, diaper changes, etc.
Natasha makes it a priority to offer non-judgmental care with an aim to create a supportive environment for you as parents where you can express your concerns, ask honest questions, and receive tailored support based on your specific parenting style.
When Natasha isn’t out there helping mom’s she’s enjoying watching her children play their favorite sports, coaches' high school lacrosse, sings carpool karaoke with her daughter, designing and making t-shirts, being in nature, and going to the beach.
Ali Palacios is a physical therapist who specialized in women’s health and orthopedic injuries. She has a passion for helping moms return to life post partum. She treats conditions including painful sex, return to exercise, leaking, prolapse, back pain, hip pain, tailbone pain, c-section scar management, and so much more. Her approach is hands on with an emphasis in manual therapy along with involving fitness forward active movements to allow for improvement in function and symptoms. She has a passion for women’s health because of the lack of health care in this area and the need for advocates for the health of all women!
Not only does she treat a variety conditions involved with women’s health and orthopedic injuries she is also a pregnancy and postpartum athleticism coach and does group classes and 1:1 programming to progressively and safely return to exercise in these phases of life! She works out of MBODY Physical Therapy + Wellness in Westlake Village Alipalaciosdpt@gmail.com www.mbodyptandwellness,com
Babies have always been a part of Michelle’s life. Having been the first born in her family, Michelle helped care for her many siblings and cousins growing up. Prior to becoming a mother herself, Michelle worked as a Certified postpartum doula specializing in multiples, as a healthy sleep habits coach, breastfeeding counselor, professional high profile nanny and also was California’s only trainer certified with the International Childbirth Educators Association (ICEA) to educate and hold certification workshops for future postpartum doulas as well. Michelle is registered and background checked with the Trustline organization. After experiencing an amazing natural childbirth with a midwife and birth doula, Michelle’s passion to help other mothers grew even stronger. She was able to experience how powerful being supported truly is during such vulnerable and tender moments as a new mother. Michelle is passionate about empowering new parents with information so that they can make the decisions they feel best for their growing family and thrive into parenthood.
Sports have always been a big part of Dr. Rachel Sanders life. Growing up she was involved in softball, soccer, and basketball and needed to see a Chiropractor for various sports injuries and injury prevention; she experienced first-hand how beneficial chiropractic care can be. Dr. Rachel quickly learned the many different types of chiropractic care and learned about pediatrics and pregnancy care.
This led her to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Sonoma State in 2018. While at Sonoma State she became more passionate in the world of Chiropractic and caring for the community, and she pursued her dream of becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic. Following graduation, Dr. Rachel attended Palmer College of Chiropractic, West in San Jose. She holds certificates for FMT Basic and Advanced Rocktape, FAKTR, and Webster. Dr. Rachel graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West with magna cum laude honors. During chiropractic school, Dr. Rachel fell in love with pediatric, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Dr. Rachel has her Webster certificate which is a specialized treatment for pregnant patients. Dr Rachel has also taken ICPA courses for pediatric care. Dr. Rachel works with the doulas in the area as well as pelvic floor PT’s.
Dr. Rachel uses a diversified approach to her treatment to help decrease pain, increase function, and promote more movement. Dr. Rachel personalizes each patient treatment plan and includes spinal adjustments, extremity adjustments, and multiple soft tissue techniques such as Manual Release, IASTM, and Cupping therapy. Dr. Rachel will provide exercises, movements, and foam rolling tips to help promote health and overall well-being.
https://synergychiropracticpt.com/services/prenatal-chiropractic-care/
Dr. Heather Valinsky, owner of Nurture Family Chiropractic, is a Chiropractor with offices in Los Angeles and
Simi Valley specializing in pregnancy, postpartum & pediatrics. It is her passion to provide the best care
available to pregnant women, babies and the whole family. She is Webster Certified and currently working with
pregnant women and babies throughout LA and Ventura counties. Dr. Valinsky is having great success in
relieving the most common pregnancy pains including SI joint, pelvic pain, pubic symphysis, round ligament
pain, sciatica, hip & back pain and many others. It is important to start care sooner rather than later, in
achieving the best results not only to remove pain, but in allowing for women to experience an easier birth and
delivery. In pediatrics, she removes the neurological interferences and tension in infants and babies to correct
colic, torticollis, plageocephaly, constipation, reflux, latch issues, gas and ultimately making babies happy, calm
and relaxed to reach important milestones.
As a dedicated childcare provider, postpartum doula, and massage therapist, Natalie brings compassion, expertise, and unwavering support to mothers and families during one of life’s
most transformative periods. With a genuine love for nurturing and empowering women, Natalie strives to create a supportive environment where both mom and baby can thrive.
With over 15 years of invaluable childcare experience as both a nanny and registered behavioral therapist, with experience in supporting children with special needs, Natalie brings a
deep understanding of the intricacies involved in fostering young lives. Additionally, her 13 years of expertise in massage therapy, particularly in pre and postnatal massage, further enrich
her ability to support families during the journey of welcoming in new life into the family. Natalie is currently training to become an herbalist and is studying at School of the Sacred Wild.
She hopes to add herbalism and plant magic into her healing practice to help aid in the transitions of pre and postnatal stages.
Meet Meredith Cashman, LCSW, a perinatal therapist who's all about supporting new moms through the rollercoaster ride of motherhood. From navigating birth trauma to handling postpartum anxiety and depression, Meredith is here to provide a comforting presence and a listening ear. Trained in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting, Meredith brings a unique blend of therapeutic techniques to help moms heal, grow, and thrive on their motherhood journey. With a warm and relatable approach, Meredith is committed to supporting moms as they find their footing and embrace the adventure of motherhood. Whether you're seeking guidance, understanding, or simply a nonjudgmental space to share your experiences, Meredith is here to walk alongside you every step of the way. www.soulfirepsychotherapy.com
The Midwife & More Christy Cannon is a board certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner. As a former NICU nurse of 23 years, Christy felt the call to midwifery after attending a home birth and witnessing the raw and extraordinary experience of natural childbirth. She earned a masters degree at Georgetown University where she learned the art of midwifery and developed a passion for women’s health. In the first few years of working as a midwife, Christy has supported nearly 300 women during their birth, and has cared for many women throughout the lifespan with their individual health care needs. Christy is experienced and well-equipped to support you with your health goals, and if you need more specialized care, she has excellent resources to ensure you get the medical care you need for optimum health and wellness. Christy not only does home births, but she can do birth center births and will soon has privileges at Los Robles Hospital. She is the only Midwife in the Conejo Valley with the option of all 3. In the event you need to transfer to the hospital, she will stay with you for continuity of care. When she's not supporting mamas, you can find her spending time with her family. She is the proud mother of 5 beautiful children. www.themidwifeandmore.com
Becky Castaño is an Integrative essential health care practitioner and Licensed Acupuncturist. Becky has deep respect for western and eastern medicine. Her deepest joy has been motherhood, as a mother of four. She loves supporting and empowering woman throughout pregnancy to support positive birth outcomes. Becky's Initial acupuncture experience in 1998 ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in Chinese Medicine in 2006. In 2010 she achieved her (MATCM) Master's Degree Traditional Chinese Medicine from YoSan University and is California Acupuncture Board Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc). National Credential from (NCCAOM) The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine honored as Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (Dipl.OM). She has completed post graduate studies in esoteric acupuncture, pregnancy, postnatal, pediatrics, male fertility and female fertility. Becky is a mother of four has a passion for God, family, nature, travel, gardening, waterpolo and natural child birth. She is an advocate for human rights and informed consent. She loves to surround her self with like minded practitioners and midwives. https://bcacupuncture.square.site
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