Meet the Doulas

Hello, I'm Tameko! Before I ever discovered the doula profession, I was drawn to supporting young mothers in my community during their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. I would often purchase necessary items for the baby as well as help the mothers navigate social services that may be available to them such as WIC.

In 2017 I received doula training from DONA International and began my journey as a trained doula. As a doula, I strive to offer professional, constant, and personalized support with the purpose of encouraging a woman to have a satisfying birth experience, however she defines it. I am committed to serving with compassion, love, and gentleness by God's grace.

My mission is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience. I enjoy developing relationships in which the mothers feel free to ask questions, express their fears/concerns, and take an active role in creating their birth plan. Being a family-oriented wife and mother of two has been a major influence in my role as a doula. I understand the importance of this process and I am honored to be part of the sacred birth space. In addition to being a Doula, I am experienced as a Population Specialist and a Certified Medical Assistant II.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my granddaughter, Ava, working in my flower garden, and providing companionship for the elderly in my community.

My name is Iriana, a DONA International trained birth Doula. I specialize in Prenatal support, labor support, belly binding , and breastfeeding education. I began this work because I am passionate about helping women feel empowered and supported while making the best decisions for themselves and their children. My approach is a blend of traditional and intuitive practices while incorporating evidence-based practices.

My purpose is to not only assist mothers on their journey through pregnancy, labor, and delivery but to also provide tools and resources for a healthy postpartum. The integration into parenthood is not just about breathing techniques and comfort measures during labor, but about being in tune with ones mind, body, and soul throughout this transition. I know that birth is a physical, spiritual, and emotional journey that requires honesty, support and love to be accomplished. My purpose is centered on liberating the woman in her experiences and choices, growing and strengthening connections within her support system, while providing physical and mental comfort measures throughout pregnancy and labor.

Hello there! I'm Kaylicia , a passionate advocate for maternal and infant health with a background in public health and hands-on experience in the birthing and postpartum journey. With a Bachelor's degree in Public Health and over four years of dedicated work as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, I've had the privilege of supporting families during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

My journey as a Birth and Postpartum Doula began over two years ago, driven by a deep desire to make childbirth and the postpartum period as smooth and empowering as possible. Through compassionate guidance and personalized care, I've assisted numerous families in navigating the beautiful complexities of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

In addition to my doula practice, I've gained invaluable hands-on experience within hospital settings. As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), I've had the privilege of working in various units, including Mother/Baby, NICU, and Labor and Delivery. This exposure has enriched my knowledge of medical procedures, protocols, and the intricate dynamics of these critical care environments. It has also enabled me to bridge the gap between medical interventions and holistic, emotionally supportive care. I'm committed to fostering a nurturing environment where families can make informed choices, find their inner strength, and welcome new life with confidence.

Hello, my name is Yanire but I go by “Yani”. I completed my Birth, Postpartum, Childbirth Educator, and Breastfeeding training through DONA International. I have personal experience with birth and caring for newborns from my own six children and three grandchildren, which led me to birth work.

My personal experiences have shaped me to provide unmatched empathy and support to the birthing client. I am passionate about filling that gap of support missing from the birthing process and postpartum. I pride myself in being able to attune my guidance to their needs and wants.

My strategy for working with the medical team involves demonstrating a collaborative attitude and offering assistance where needed. Advocating for my clients begins with understanding their birth plans. This helps to advocate with confidence and professionalism with the medical staff. In the birth space, I enjoy helping to manage pain via comfort measures pertinent to the stage of labor a birthing person is in. I enjoy helping to create a calm and peaceful environment to help with relaxation and addressing any doubts and fears throughout the process.

Hey, I'm Ashley. I am a wife and mother of two girls, living in Durham, NC. In 2019, I added Doula and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist to her credentials after more than a decade within the non-profit sector. Graduating from North Carolina State University with a B.A. in Psychology with minors in Africana Studies and Biological Sciences, as well as obtaining a Master’s in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, I bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and compassion to my clients.

My approach is surrounded in evidence-based practices, while listening and honoring the intuition of the birthing person. Trained as a DONA Birth and Postpartum Doula, I love continued learning. Due to this love, I became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), allowing me to assist individuals with their lactation journeys.

A firm believer in women's empowerment and allowing space for the systematic advancement for all people, I am adamant in allowing birth to be a sacred experience.

When not wearing my “Doula hat”, I enjoy time with my family and friends, reading, volunteering, and traveling.

Hey, my name is Eboni. I am a Durham native and love all things birth. I am married and have two beautiful children. I graduated with my Bachelors in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and am currently finishing my Masters in Science Education from NCSU.

I am a Certified Birth Doula through Birth Arts International and a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, certified through Women’s Choice Perinatal Services. I am also a Certified Maternity Reiki Specialist. I fell in love with birth work after my birth plan took a detour with my first child. I decided to use my knowledge and passion about birth to help and support other women. Each birth is beautiful and every woman deserves a doula.

In my spare time I love listening to music and spending time with my family. Exercising is also extremely important to me, and is my way of clearing my mind and taking care of myself. I love learning and I feel like life has so many lessons for us, we just have to pay attention.

Hi, I'm Jekisha! Before embarking on my rewarding journey as a certified doula, my professional background involved supporting high-risk pregnant women who were dealing with the profound challenges of miscarriages and stillbirths. Many of these women faced not only the emotional toll of their loss but also systemic hurdles within the healthcare system. As a community liaison, I connected these individuals with vital community resources, including housing and transportation vouchers, clothing, and more. Through this role, helping women navigate their way back into the healthcare system, my passion for becoming a doula was ignited.

I earned my birth doula certification through Pro Doula and have since been committed to providing comprehensive physical and emotional support, empowering women to have positive birthing experiences that align with their perspectives. Each birth is a unique journey, and I am grateful for the profound blessings that come when parents meet their children for the first time. Advocating for maternal and child health is central to my mission, driven by a deep-seated desire to serve women and families. My extensive background in healthcare administration includes involvement in various initiatives, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act.

Throughout my career, I have been a steadfast advocate for underserved populations, addressing health disparities in areas like safe sleep practices, care coordination, healthcare services management, insurance, and HIV education. Additionally, I have experience as a special needs teacher, working with middle and high school students with learning disabilities and autism.

Tara is a Certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula and Labor doula through Prodoula. After years of working with children ages 0 to 9 years-old, she finally found her passion caring for families doing doula work. She cares about the mental health and the functionality of families.

Tara believes that knowledge is power; so she is never done learning so that she is able to provide the best up-to-date support and knowledge for families she serves. She has experience with multiples, tongue-ties, circumcisions, sleep training, prenatal and infant loss training, sibling support, and surrogate support.

When Tara is not doing birth work, you can find her exploring the town, hiking, cooking, doing yoga or watching a movie.

I am a DONA trained doula that assisted in my first birth over 10 years ago. From the first birth I knew I was connected to the birthing world. I have birthed five daughters, whom I homeschool and devote my time. After reflecting on my experiences with labor and delivery, I felt drawn to working with women to have their optimal birth. I firmly believe in educating women on their bodies, babies and the birth process. I believe that every woman should have the birth they desire, if possible. I am a lead doula for a non-profit doula service that provides doulas to qualifying women of color.

I come from a family of birth workers. My grandmother and her sisters were birth and postpartum doulas. I do this to educate, empower, and continue my family's legacy. I believe in going back to the basics in all things, even in delivery. Women have been equipped for the beautiful task of labor and birth; I want to help women find their strength and voice through the process. In addition to birth doula support, I also offer VBAC support, postpartum doula support, sibling doula support, childbirth/breastfeeding education, meal prep, and healthy pregnancy support.

I have received advanced training in Spinning Babies (Certified), Cesarean Section support and am a midwifery student. I have experience supporting births in homes, birth centers, and hospitals. I believe that the Most High is leading and guiding my life. I graduated from Appalachian State with a BS in Computer Information Systems and NC State with MA in Business and Marketing Education. I taught for 15 years in the public school system. I love learning, traveling, firearms, and working out. I am here to help create a harmonious journey for your family.

Hi, I'm Janay! I am an outgoing Raleigh native with a passion for education and whole-family wellness. As a professional nanny of 8 years, she saw the vulnerability of pregnancy and childbirth and fell in love with postpartum support.

After spending a year abroad as an au pair, she returned to the states with a newfound appreciation of what communal support looks like, and what it can do for a family. Janay completed her certification through Doulas of the Diaspora in Boston, a program centered on cultural sensitivity and bridging the gap in maternal health care for mothers of color. She is an Early Childhood Education major and spends her evenings and weekends teaching Musical Theatre and any other dance styles that get thrown her way. A common mantra in her classroom is “I can do hard things”, a mantra that highlights her belief that hard work is good work.

Janay takes an open-minded, empathetic, and evidence-based approach to family support and caregiving. She believes that all parents should feel empowered to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. When she isn’t chasing kids or providing post-partum support you can find her at the dance studio or with her nose in a book.

Hi, I'm Elisha. I received her Postpartum doula certification through ProDoula. I found the calling to become a postpartum doula after being a nanny in the Triangle for seven years.

After listening to her nanny families talk about their experiences and struggles during postpartum, She felt a calling to start the journey of being a postpartum doula.

Elisha provides compassionate, nurturing, and unbiased support to all families.

When Elisha isn’t doing doula work, she is spending time with her husband and two little ones. In her free time, Elisha loves spending time with her family and friends, binge-watching tv, retail therapy, and traveling to the beach.

Hi, I'm Briana. I am an IBFA Certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and an IPPA Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. My advanced training and certifications include When Survivors Give Birth, Rebozo Use in Labor, Postpartum Belly Binding Professional, Eco-Baby Educator, Systemic Racism & Implicit Bias in Perinatal Health, and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Advocate.

I received my BS in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where my passion for maternal and reproductive health sparked. I have experience with couples, single parents, advanced maternal age, VBAC/VBA2C, sexual trauma and assault survivors, high and low risk births, and families who have experienced or are expecting a loss. I have extensive experience working as a doula and an educator in all of our local area hospitals, birth centers, and in home.

I am passionate about providing evidence-based, unbiased education and helping her clients to make their own informed decisions, by arming them with the information they need. I know that a fulfilling birth experience often leads to a more enjoyable transition into parenthood for all parties. My open, direct, and honest communication style paired with my empathic, compassionate personality allow me to be the best advocate and support for families before, during, and after birth.

I currently live in Raleigh (though I'll always be a northerner at heart!) I absolutely love the beach (my dream is to own a boat one day), but also loves snuggling up in a blanket with hot chocolate in a log cabin in the winter time (ah, there's that New Englander side!) Since COVID19, I've also started a new hobby: soap and wax-melt crafting!