Kiwi Bird Doula

Phase 2 in our cloth diapering journey, diy bamboo stretchy flats. Happy to help answer any of your cloth diapering questions.

Love that nitrous oxide is now available at CBWC!!!

Beyond excited to be part of birthing this group!! The Lake County Birth Resources page was started by a collective of local birth workers to support birthing families in Lake County!!! We have doulas, midwives, lactation specialists, birth photographers and more!!!

Melissa Yates is a professionally trained and certified (DONA & ProDoula) birth doula, professionally trained postpartum doula (DONA), and graduate of the InJoy Birth Doula Mentorship program. She is a former Birth Assistant for Tree of Life Birth & Gynecology and current Birth Assistant at Community Birth and Wellness Center. (A Birth Assistant provides an extra pair of hand to assist the midwife during labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.)

“In 2019, after many years as a homeschooling mum, I knew I needed a new direction. All 3 of my children were off doing their own things in the world, and I needed to figure out what would keep me busy and give me purpose for this next phase of life. I have always been a huge birth nerd and loved geeking out on all things birth related. A friend and fellow doula suggest that I train as a doula, and I’m so glad I did! Five years later, I have supported many, many families prenatally, during labor and birth, and in the postpartum period.”

Melissa is passionate about serving local families in the Lake County area. She takes private pay clients and is part of The Doula Network, who provide doulas for families with Medicaid. If you have Sunshine Health or UHC, Medicaid pays for your doula support. Melissa also offers childbirth education, lactation counseling (from July ‘24), and Newborn 101 classes to families with Sunshine Health.

“When not doula-ing, I love spending time with my hubby and kids, walking & swimming, and being with my church family. I have a 19 month old granddaughter who I love with a passion and am completely obsessed with!!”

You can reach her at 407-680-2580, [email protected], or Kiwi-Bird-Doula.com.

Excited to support Kaleen and this maternity clinic in the Philippines!

Teaching Waterbirth in Philippines, organized by Kaleen Richards I have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to the Philippines with Barbara Har… Kaleen Richards needs your support for Teaching Waterbirth in Philippines

Medicaid is paying for birth and postpartum doula support! Lake County mommas, if you have United Healthcare (high risk only) or Sunshine Health and you want to discuss doula support, let me know. I was the Doula at the birth of this baby, who just happens to be my granddaughter!

21 hours into supporting a momma with a necessary induction. Reassurance, comfort when tears flow, my cold hand on her fevered brow, a touch on her shoulder and whispered words while she vomits, hip squeezes and "you've got this momma!" Snacks, cat naps in the car, and the joy of this exhausting work keeps me going. Baby's birthday is today!