Labor Assistants/Doulas in the Rochester Area

A Doula is a trained professional birth assistant whose focus is on the informational, emotional, and comfort needs of the woman and her partner before, during and immediately following birth.

It is my hope that this list will help you find a Doula who is right for you.  Experience and training, services offered, and fees vary widely, as do personalities.  It’s important that you feel comfortable with your Doula (that’s her job!), so we suggest that you contact a few of the Doulas listed here to find the best match for you.

(You can also find a doula at www.FindaDoulaToday.com , or The Doula Cooperative of Rochester (585) 234-0164 www.doulacooperative.org )

A New Life Acupuncture, Dr. Patrick Boswell DACM, L.Ac, LMT, birth doula, 2139 North Union st suite 7 Spencerport, NY 14559 (585-746-2187), (anewlifeacupuncture.com) Specializing in hormonal health, fertility, pregnancy, labor/delivery, and postpartum care. I have credentials and inpatient privileges with the University of Rochester OB/GYN department. This allows me to treat at Strong and Highland hospitals right in your room. Available for house calls, home births and hospital visits. 

Dr. Nicole Clemente, CACCP @ Rochester Chiropractic & Pregnancy, 2139 North Union Street, Suite 7A, Spencerport, New York 14559, 585-617-3494, Fax:  585-617-3496, clemente.dc@hotmail.com , www.chiropracticandpregnancy.com , Dr. Clemente is first a Doctor of Chiropractic trained to treat pregnant women throughout their pregnancy but also has trained as a Birth Doula and does go to births.

Mary “Molly” Deutschbein, LMT, CST, C-ATMAT ; CST of Rochester/Spirit Organic, 99 Cathaway Park, Rochester, NY,14601. molly@spiritorganic.net. (585)746-4682 www.spiritorganic.net. Molly works with clients with fertility challenges, pregnant moms, and newborns as part of her all ages and stages wellness practice. Molly is a doula, NYS licensed massage therapist, certified Craniosacral therapist, Certified Arvigo Maya Abdominal Therapy Practitioner with advanced pregnancy training, and Spinning Babies training. She has more than two decades of experience helping families. Since 1990 Molly has studied traditional healing: making herbalism, homeopathy, aromatherapy, flower essences, and Craniosacral therapy part of her practice focusing on the body’s spiritual and physical well-being. Molly has experience as an independent childbirth educator and a breastfeeding peer counselor.

The Doula Cooperative of Rochester – https://www.doulacooperative.com/  doulacooperativeofrochester@gmail.com A list of birth and postpartum doulas. 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.

Kirsten Lynn Elting, BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, CLC,585-750-4549, Believedoulas@gmail.com 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. (Familiar with Bradley)

Erin Hegeman – Birth and Postpartum Doula; erinhegeman.com 315-573-1900 erin.hegeman.doula@gmail.com I am a believer in the process of birth, and center my practice on the trust that each of us hold the knowledge and wisdom within ourselves to birth our baby and make decisions surrounding this transformative time. With training as a postpartum doula, I can also offer support in the transition to motherhood at home. Postpartum services can be an extension of birth doula services, or as a stand alone. I am trained in Rebozo for labor as well as Hypnobirthing, and will soon complete my certification in Advanced Studies for Holistic Childbirth. My job as a doula is to offer reassurance and encouragement for you to claim your power.

Danielle Major  – 808-268-3973 Doula_Danielle@yahoo.com I am a trained Birth Doula, seeking DONA certification. I believe a Doula is an essential role in a women’s birth and that women should have the best birth possible with the circumstances that are provided for them at that time. I am familiar with the Bradley Childbirth Method and support natural childbirth and breastfeeding mommas. I had a natural labor with my son in 2011.  I look forward to working with you on your journey into motherhood.

ROC Doula   rocdoula@gmail.com, 585-503-0358, ROC Doula is a team of doulas trained by DONA to provide support to you and your partner throughout your labor and birth. We offer birth planning, education, evidence-based resources, and postpartum guidance. Services include Postpartum Doula, Placenta Encapsulation, Certified Lactation Counselor, Belly Binding, and Breastmilk Jewelry. Contact:  Petra Letter.

Sherry S.  Smith –  S2d3rd@yahoo.com  585-358-8443 – Having served women in the Rochester Community for over 35 years, Sherry is the most experienced Doula in our area.  She is well versed in the Bradley Method, and is a favorite among students.

Julia M. Sittig, MSW, AdvCD(DONA), LCCE  585-613-1051,  julia@bbcroc.com ,  www.bbcroc.com   I have had the joy of supporting women and their partners since 2004, rewarding years of experience! My belief is that women have been designed to participate in natural, normal birth, not just experience it. As a doula, I offer continuous support, birth planning and education, assistance with comfort measures and emotional support in labor, and immediate post partum guidance.  A mother of five with a terrific husband, I am a DONA certified doula (2005), a Lamaze certified educator (2005), an assistant doula trainer with Birth Matters, and a back-up home birth midwifery assistant with Seasons of Life Midwifery.

Alison Spath, CD(DONA), RYT – alison@bbcroc.com, 585-451-9968  http://bbcroc.com I believe that birth is a transformational journey, one that will change your life forever.  Historically, women have been surrounded by experienced mothers during their pregnancies and births for support, guidance and reassurance.  As your doula I offer prenatal support to help you plan, work through fears and concerns and understand your options.  I will be with you and your partner throughout your entire labor and birth.  I also offer breastfeeding support in the hours, days and weeks after your baby has arrived.I have three children, my daughters born via unplanned cesarean and my son was born naturally after two cesareans.  (VBA2C)  I teach prenatal yoga and have been working with breastfeeding mothers in the community since 2008.

Rachel Stacy, Birth Doula & Midwifery Assistant, Experienced in The Bradley Method.www.rachelstacybirth.com

Emily Thompson, Trained Birth Doula (585) 764-7361Eathompson612@gmail.com  I have had a love for pregnancy, birth and babies for as long as I can remember. The desire to become a doula came after my own birth experience in 2021 when I had the first-hand experience of what it was like to birth with a supportive and tender doula…the most incredible experience and one every mother deserves. I completed the DONA birth training in the fall of 2022 and am currently pursuing certification as a Birth Doula though DONA International. My goal as a doula is to help empower and educate women to allow them to have the birth experience they envision. Experienced in The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth.

LaKeisha Washington, CD, LC, (585) 340-7574 lakeisha@flowercitylactation.com  https://flowercitylactation.com/ At Flower City Lactation & Doula Services, we believe every family deserves to feel supported, heard, and empowered. Our doula support offers emotional encouragement, physical comfort, and trusted guidance throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.

 Community Doula Program – http://www.healthconnectone.org/pages/press_release___7_29_2014/368.php

Many Doulas listed mention the following organizations and credentials; here’s what they stand for:

ALACE – Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators  http://www.alace.org/

BAI – Birth Arts International www.birtharts.com

BCCE – Bradley Certified Childbirth Educator & Labor Support  www.bradleybirth.com

CCA –Certified Childbirth Assistant

CCE – Certified Childbirth Educator

DONA – Doulas of North America http://www.dona.org/

ICCE – Internationally Certified Childbirth Educator

ICEA – International Childbirth Education Association http://www.icea.org/doulas.htm

CI – Childbirth International www.childbirthinternational.com

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