Meet Us - A Labor of Love Doula and Childbirth Services Inc.
The women of love share the same philosophy about birth. The reason we work together so well is because of this shared philosophy. Each of us brings the most important things to a birth, our hearts and hands. Although we don't all have the same experience, we benefit from the more experienced doulas in the group. We do have more experience than any other group in the state and several of the doulas are actually more experienced than any other doulas in the state. Together, the current doulas in our group, have been the labor support to more than 1000 couples. The lesser experienced doulas are mentored by the more experienced doulas.
Experience is important, but not an absolute essential when we work together as a team. We help each other out when there is something that we need from another doula's experience and expertise. We offer back up to each other as well. We are a team and work together well as such. We do not all charge out at the same fee either. For a more experienced doula you can expect to pay $700 and a less experienced but certified or nearly certified doula charges $475 to $500. Our services are the same.
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us to get a copy of the agreement for our services that detail our fees and give you our contact phone numbers for each doula.
When you select your primary doula, that is who you will have with you barring any unusual situation. We do provide apprentice doulas who can also accompany a Labor of Love Doula if you desire. This is a great way to train a new doula and provide additional support at no additional cost to you. It is rare for your primary doula to not be available. For example, Teresa has missed less than 3% of the births she has attended over the last fifteen years. Meeting the other doulas at the tea is a great way to meet the back up doulas if this rare situation arises.
Our blog has recommendation letters you may want to read. The link on this site is an RSS feed of our most current articles. But if you visit the blog site you will find articles categorized by subject and offering an extensive pool of information! Click here for the Blog. And "like" our facebook fan page as well!
Labor Doula, Lactation & Childbirth Educator, Happiest Baby on the Block Certified Educator,
FEAR to FREEDOM birth facilitator and Certified Dancing For Birth™Instructor
I am a birth guide- someone to help you along your mysterious journey- guiding you when you need it, helping you back on the path if you step off, watching in wonder when you don't, and always supporting you.
I began assisting in births in 1992. I've worked with both high-risk births & VBACs. I have doula'd for both home and hospital births. I've enjoyed working with both single moms & couples ranging in age from 17 to 46. In early November 2011 I was delighted to have doula'd for my 500th baby!. I serve women in the metro area of Atlanta and Athens. This is not only my profession, but my calling!
I'm actively involved with pregnant moms and new parents as both a labor doula and a childbirth/parenting educator. I was certified with Doulas of North America (DONA) for 12 years but decided to not recertify with that organization but am currently certified with the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) as a labor doula, childbirth educator and a certified lactation educator. I am also a retired La Leche League leader and was a certified postpartum doula for several years with CAPPA. I have trained with Pam England in my childbirth preparation based on her book "Birthing from Within" and am also a certified Happiest Baby on the Block instructor and certified Dancing for Birth instructor.
Married to Dallas since 1977, I'm a mother to three grown children, Julie, John and Jami, born without medication using both the Lamaze & the Bradley methods. Jami had my first grandson, Harrison, in February 2003 (a home birth). And Julie followed three months later with my first granddaughter, Savannah, born in May 2003 with a quick, unmedicated hospital birth. Julie gave birth again in April 2005, unmedicated to her son, Jackson. And I got to catch her last child, a daughter in February 2009! I love being a nana!
On a personal note, I have been a breast cancer survivor since November 2007. I have learned so much about doing the next best thing as life throws you curve balls! I understand how you can only control certain things in your life, just as in labor and birth. Cancer has made me a stronger woman. I have walked in the 3Day Breast Cancer walk three times and have learned to push through tough times. I bring this experience to my experience as a doula and educator.
As a childbirth educator, I offer parents a new approach in childbirth education that helps to prepare them for parenthood. It begins in pregnancy by learning to bond with their babies, to make decisions based on informed awareness & to give birth in that same awareness, choosing a path that is right for them. I teach Birthing in Awareness childbirth classes,FEAR to FREEDOM Women's Birth Circles, lactation-breastfeeding couple classes, parenting classes including Happiest Baby, C.A.L.M.S and H.U.G.S. combo classes, infant massage and a childbirth refresher class. I love teaching and helping others explore their options as a new family.
As a doula,I meet with the mother or couple to offer assistance with learning their best birth options that fits their needs & desires. I'm available to give reassurance & support as needed during the pregnancy. I offer to come to her home in early labor if she desires or I meet her at the hospital. I'mnthere throughout labor, offering comfort measures--encouragement, massage, relaxation techniques, and suggestions along the way to aid in helping her to stay comfortable. I offer a follow-up visit with the mom & new baby where we have provide mom with photos and a written birth narrative of her special day, and offer breastfeeding help if needed.
I am also a belly caster. A cast provides a lasting memory of the pregnant belly in full bloom! You can see some of the casts I have created by clicking here BellyCasts.
Contact Teresa for more details at
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Guina Bixler CLD, (CAPPA), Birthing from Within Mentor-Eagle
Childbirth & Lactation Educator
I offer wisdom, love and experience. I am a woman who has traveled before you on the journey into motherhood.
I have always known that caring for others and teaching was my calling. In my 20's I became certified as a cardiac/pulmonary technologist and for ten years worked with patients in cardiac cath and pulmonary labs I also taught Respiratory Therapy students as they rotated through the lab.
As a young woman I viewed a film about unmedicated childbirth called 'The Story of Erick'. I decided two things. One, if I ever had a son I would name him Erick and that my births would be, as the film portrayed, unmedicated. Two years later I gave birth to Erick and, though unmedicated, I was unsupported and frightened. The hospital childbirth class had not prepared me for the intensity of that journey. I also struggled through 3 months of breastfeeding before giving up in frustration. I learned then how lonely motherhood can be for women who are unsupported.
Seven years later I had a cesarean birth due to a breech presentation. I felt hugely disappointed at the loss of my 'dream birth' but, we had a beautiful nursing relationship thanks to the support I received from La Leche League and the books I read before her birth. I felt unsupported in my grief after a surgical birth, and learned then that mothers need education and support through EVERY birth choice.
Our third child was born via VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and it was a wonderfully empowering experience. It was through her birth that I learned what a doula is and how she brings her heart and hands to birth. Our Children are now grown and we have 2 granddaughters and another grand on the way due in the winter of 2011. I am grateful now, for my cesarean birth. Without it I would not be on this path as a previous doula and currently a child birth educator.
I am a certified Birthing From Within Mentor, achieving the Eagle status in May 2011. I am certified with CAPPA as a labor doula and am trained as a childbirth educator, a post partum doula and a lactation educator. I have served at over 225 births. I am not actively doulaing any longer, focusing now on using all I have learned to help prepare parents physically, spiritually and emotionally for their journey into parenthood.
I lead Line Up Your Baby for Birth workshops, Birth Art Process classes to help parents use image making to prepare for or process birth experiences and I teach private and group Birthing From Within/Birthing in Awareness classes.
I have infant CPR training. I have been trained by Gail Tully pertaining to optimal fetal positioning techniques (www.spinningbabies.com).
I look forward to educating and supporting new and expectant families.
Blessings, Guina
Contact us for more details at
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Pam Roe, CLD, CCCE (CAPPA), CD(DONA), Birthing from Within Mentor, CHBE
Childbirth, Lactation & Parenting Educator, Happiest Baby on the Block certified Educator
I teach a variety of classes, including group and private childbirth preparation, breastfeeding couples classes, that I co teach with Teresa, VBAC (vaginal birth after a cesarean) classes, that I co teach with Guina, toddler parenting classes, and a baby soothing class that includes Happiest Baby on the Block, C.A.L.M.S. and The HUG training. I am certified with Doulas of North America (DONA) as a labor doula, with Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) as both a labor doula (although I am not actively doulaing now) and a childbirth educator, with Birthing from Within as a mentor and am a certified Happiest Baby Educator, as well.
I am creating a curriculum now for a series of parenting classes. My intention is to share effective and empowering parenting skills that strengthen communication and create a positive family environment.
Dick and I have been married since 1978 and have three adult children. Richard, born in 1982, and Kate, born in 1986, both arrived via unplanned cesarean births. In 1988, Emily's birth was a VBAC (vaginal birth after a cesarean). We used the Bradley and Lamaze childbirth techniques with the first two births, planning an intimate, unmedicated experience that unfolded very differently than we expected. We prepared for our third birth using a less-structured approach based on the writings of Dr. Michel Odent and Janet Balaskas, and experienced that powerful, unmedicated joy we had hoped for. I learned so much from each of our birth experiences and would not change any of them. I now see birth as a threshold experience, an opportunity for a woman to step into the courage and strength that she will call upon throughout motherhood.
I have been involved with La Leche League since 1986, becoming a leader in 1990 and am now a retired leader. As a stay-at-home mother, I wore many hats. I did accounting work for small businesses, ran two food co-ops, helped create and operate a support network of more than 100 families, and worked with a midwife/herbalist.
I cherish the time I spend with families before and after births. I enjoy continually updating and broadening my knowledge to better assist them. Mothers, fathers, babies and birth have been my passion for as long as I can remember and it is an honor to support families during these memorable events in their lives.
We have taken the most experienced educators in our company and teamed them together to form theLadies of the Labyrinth which includes
Teresa Howard, Guina Bixler and Pam Roe
These three educators:
we have all trained with Pam England with Birthing from Within
have all breastfed their children and have trained or certified with more lactation training
comprised the most experienced doulas within the Atlanta doula community for many years, with only Teresa now actively doulaing
are the older and mature “mothers” of our group with over 150 years of life experience
have over 850 births among the three of them
their families are in the next phase- they are the empty nesters and crones of our group
We all teach from the same curriculum. Our curriculum is very fluid, always evolving. When we learn new ideas and receive additional training it morphs a bit to include those ideas and concepts that we feel will help to educate, inform and empower couples in their journey of exploration toward becoming families. Teresa and Pam teach the 18 hours over six weeks- usually consective weeks. Guina teaches the curriculum over 18 hours divided into two weekends.
Teresa began teaching first even before her training with Pam England. She has been teaching for over 12 years. She completed two of the then required three trainings to become certified with Birthing from Within. The year she was to complete her training with the final session was filled with a lot of obstacles- limited trainings being offered due to 911 that year and also her daughters were both due to have babies within only a few months of each other. Time did not allow her to complete her certification within the time limiits without having to start all over again. Teresa decided to certify with CAPPA and forgo her final step toward BFW certification at that time. She had arleady been teaching for several years and decided to move forward doing the next best thing. This is why Teresa's classes hold the title of Birthing in Awareness instead of Birthing from Within.
Guina and Pam began their journey toward Birthing from Within together. They have both completed the two trainings and the curriculum to become full mentors with BFW. Guina has recently received her Eagle certification as a full mentor and Pam hopes to complete this process in the upcoming few months. They both have also taken some addendum training to help with art exploration as a technique to help couples process life and birth experiences for a step toward healing and empowerment. Guina now offers this as part of the classes she provides.
Continuing education as educators remains of paramount importance to this team. They are always reading, attending conferences and events and learning from other avenues to keep abreast
Kim Bennett, CLD (CAPPA)
Labor Doula
I have been a labor doula with Labor of Love for over 9 years. I am married and the mother to three homeschooled boys. I used Teresa as my doula for my last two children. Being with birthing woman and witnessing the creation of new and growing families has called to me for longer than I can remember. Women, and their partners, are entitled to experience the births of their choosing. I love helping them achieve this. I have discovered over the years that my role is not to protect women or guarantee a specific outcome. Rather, my job is more to empower these families with information and support, so they know that all the choices they make during their journey are the right choices for them.
I am in the process of pursuing my midwifery education and so will only take a few clients each year. I have also agreed to be that occasional back-up to Teresa Howard if a rare need arises.
I am honored and blessed to be a part of this amazing group of women.
As long as I can remember I have been fascinated by babies. After attending my sister's birth to my niece, I knew I had found my calling and became a certified labor doula with CAPPA which then led to me offering postpartum services. I was blessed to have my sister and mother encourage and guide me during those first precious days of my son's life. I remember my sister supporting me while I was learning to nurse my son and the euphoria I felt when we finally were successful. I smile at the memory of needing the pillows to be just right while I nursed to a short time later answering the door for the UPS man while my son was nursing peacefully in my arms. I remember my Mom preparing meals and doing laundry to keep my household running smoothly while I bonded with my baby. They both taught me to listen to my instincts in addition to practical knowledge on how to soothe my baby. It brings me great joy to help and nurture a family while they bond with their baby. I believe getting to know your new baby is one of the most special and important times in a parent's life. I feel honored to assist families in this process.
I began my journey to being a doula almost ten years ago after the homebirth of my second child. I started apprenticing with Teresa and LOL and became certified as a labor doula with DONA and CAPPA and pursued childbirth educator certification with CAPPA and Birthing From Within. I also became certified as a postpartum doula and lactation educator with CAPPA. Besides my mothering experiences, I have never felt so rewarded. Due to the changing needs of my family, I took a break from doula work for several years. I am grateful that I can re-enter the world of empowering families and supporting them.
I believe birth can be an empowering, exhilarating time for a woman when she is educated and committed to following her birthing instincts. I am an ALACE certified birth doula and I apprenticed with Labor of Love Doulas and audited a series of Birthing in Awareness classes offered by LOL. Six years ago I gave birth to my son drug-free and he was born underwater in his own time after less than 12 hours of labor! I believe that pregnancy, labor and birth are normal physiological events and women deserve to be supported in doing what feels right for their bodies & their babies.
As a Doula, I am passionate about helping moms allow the process of normal birth to work in its own time and to its own rhythm. Because I am a full time registered Music Together™ teacher (music classes for moms & babies), I cannot regularly attend births as a birth doula. But I can still help new moms in their transition into motherhood. As a LOL postpartum doula, I help new moms find their confidence in their new roles by encouraging them to follow their instincts when it comes to caring for their newborns. I offer breastfeeding support, lifestyle transition support and many tips to ease the new baby into the family..
I believe that every woman should have the support that she wants for her birth and postpartum period.I believe that the continuity of care a doula provides can help empower the parents to have the best birth experience possible for them. I attended my first birth in 1988 and my desire to learn more about the process, comfort measures and how to help the father support the mom was started. I Certified with DONA in 1994 the year after my son was born. I kept my certification for 9 years before I allowed it to lapse when my two children needed me more at school/home. I have kept my skills active by attending family births and a handful of second time clients.
My children are older now and need me less, Brian is 18 and Katherine is 15 years old. They both are the joys of my life and have taught me so much. It was a family decided for me to return to my calling to help new families.
I am excited to return as a postpartum doula. I have extensive experience with breastfeeding.I was able to nurse both of my children for an extended period of time. I experienced many common issues and a few unique ones that helped me better understand the nursing relationship. Helping new families adjust to life at home with a newborn is something I enjoy. I look forward to working with you and the Labor of Love family of doulas again:-)
I am currently attending classes that will allow me to re-certify soon.
Labor and Postpartum Doula, Parenting Educator & Dancing For Birth™ Instructor
I first came to Labor of Love as a student in the Birthing in Awareness series and immediately found myself passionate about pregnancy and birth. The birth of my daughter inspired me to help women achieve the same thing- not a birth just like mine, but a happy and memorable birth. I began my journey by pursuing trainings with DONA and CAPPA and an apprenticeship with Labor of Love. Women have the power to grow life, give birth, and meet our babies’ most basic needs. I am honored to support women during these life-changing times.
In addition to being a DONA certified labor doula and CAPPA trained educator, I am the mother of two precious girls and wife to a wonderful and supportive husband.
Raising my family in a way that is healthy for us and our environment is a priority for me. It’s not only better for our well-being, but also teaches a respect for ourselves and our planet. I'm very excited to share my enthusiasm in Labor of Love's newest classes- Growing Green Families: Creating a smaller carbon footprint and Dancing For Birth™.
Certified Labor Doula , Certified Dancing For Birth™ Instructor,
FEAR to FREEDOM Birth Facilitator, Relaxation Therapist, Yoga Teacher,
Massage Therapist and Body-Worker
Hello, my name is Charlotte Scott. I am a labor doula. I am a mother of 5, 4 I gave birth to… 4 boys and 1 girl now ranging in the ages of 16-35. I also have 3 grandchildren of which I was able to attend their births. My granddaughter, now 8, was born at home and I was present. I always like to tell myself I was the first face she saw.
My first child was born at a time when I was very young and without the support of other women. I was alone in an “operating room” and heavily sedated. After he was born there was no one around me to coach me about breastfeeding and I sadly gave up very quickly. My body seemed to want to but I had no support and I gave in to the pressures around me. There were no wise women to help me feel okay about the changes and needs of my body. With each child I did a lot of self discovery and spent a whole decade where I was either pregnant or nursing. It was an amazing time.
The last 15 years of my life have been spent nurturing and assisting women through all kinds of transitions. Teens into adults; women through their pregnancies and births; women through menopause and the humbling experience of women in hospice. I have a great passion to serve as one of those women I was missing in my births and in my early life.
I am a relaxation therapist, yoga teacher, massage therapist and body-worker. The natural course of events as I worked with women brought me opportunities to attend and support them in their births. I attended in the role of a relaxation guide and to provide that female, nurturing support. I remember the first time someone looked at me in the hospital and asked…”so you’re the doula?” I realized…yes, I suppose I am. Since then I’ve taken the training and currently working on the CAPPA certification for labor doula and apprenticing with Labor of Love. I am also planning to be trained as a lactation and postpartum doula.
One of my great passions is dance. I am a drummer and have been a dancer for nearly all of my life. I am very excited to now be offering Dancing For Birth™ classes. These classes are about so much more than dancing. The classes are full of birth wisdom, a chance to connect with other women, a means of staying fit before and after birthing and a priceless tool teaching women to align their bodies for birth.
I began assisting mothers as a labor doula in 2006. Since that time, I have had the privilege of assisting moms from Atlanta to Macon along the journey of childbirth. I have a wide range of experience, including medicated and natural births, VBACS, hospital and home births, clients using hypnosis and water births, high risks and teen moms. . My certification is through Doulas of North America (DONA). I personally have birthed non-medicated at the hospital and at home. My labors have been both mild and intense, so I appreciate what mothers are experiencing on both ends. My personal experiences, and my experiences as a doula, have taught me that every labor is different, as are the mother's needs during that labor.
My birth philosophy is simple: I believe in the female body's ability to give birth naturally and safely. I know first-hand the feeling of empowerment that comes from giving birth on one's own terms and my passion is to help other mothers experience the same. I do this by encouraging mothers to LISTEN, LEARN and FORGET. Listen to your intuitive knowledge of your body and your baby, and don't be afraid to follow your instincts.
Melanie Naysmith, CD(DONA)
Placental Encapsulator
For me, there is no journey more magical than that of a woman becoming a mother. Whether it is her first or fifth baby, each pregnancy is unique and belongs solely and completely to that mother and baby. Childbirth is important, and something that a woman remembers for the rest of her life. It is my passion to serve women in childbirth--to help prepare them for and support them through the birth they desire.
I became a doula after the birth of my first daughter in 2006. Her birth was a fairly typical hospital birth beginning with an unnecessary induction and ending with an epidural. While everything went smoothly and I left with a healthy baby, I felt afterward that I had been cheated out of something that I couldn't put my finger on. I wanted to know what other women were experiencing, so I began researching birth stories, watching birth videos, and reading anything I could get my hands on about childbirth. Soon I was training to become a labor doula and completed my certification with DONA International in 2008. Meanwhile, I had become pregnant again, and this time I worked hard to educate myself about my birth options and how I wanted to experience my labor. I prepared for a natural childbirth, and had an empowering waterbirth in the hospital. I continued working as a doula and for a short time as a homebirth midwife's apprentice. I have since had a third daughter, whom I birthed on my bed in my own home after an intense and difficult labor. I am so grateful for all these birth experiences as they have all played a vital role in my own journey as a mother and as a doula.
While I believe that natural childbirth is the safest option, my job first and foremost is to support the mother, however she wants to give birth. I believe that education and support are the most important tools in preparing for childbirth, and it is my pleasure to offer you my services as you take your own journey to motherhood.
Melanie is currently on maternity leave but continues to do placenta encapsulation- but has taken a break from labor doula work currently.
For more information contact
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We Offer Apprentices
For the pregnant couple: Occassionally we have newly trained doulas who desire to be mentored by an experienced doula. We offer the ability to have an additional apprentice doula accompany you when you have hired one of our trained and experienced doulas. If you are interested in including an apprentice, we will certainly include her if we have one available. Some hospitals have strict policies regarding the number of people allowed in the labor room. Usually three is the limit- this includes the partner and two others- but others are not so strict. Let us know if you would like a doula in training to attend your birth along with your primary doula.
If you desire to invite a doula in training to your birth, it is a free option that not only helps the training doula but also is an extra pair of hands and another gentle heart. Your primary doula would remain so if a doula in training is included.
Apprentice Labor, Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counselor
My first experience supporting a woman during childbirth was over 20 years ago at the tender age of 18yrs old. That experience opened my mind and heart to this wonderful journey called childbirth. Through the years I have supported many friends & family members during their childbirth not realizing there was a special name given to such a woman. I am honored to be given this name of “Doula”. As I begin my Doula apprenticeship I look forward to helping women to become empowered by learning that this is “their” beautiful and amazing journey, not to be afraid of it but to embrace and trust the gifts within. Along with being a wife and mother of two daughters I am also a certified lactation counselor through the “Loving Support” peer counseling training. I have completed a 20 week Doula training course through “Families First” in Atlanta and I will begin my apprenticeship with Labor of Love in January 2012 during this time I will also be working towards my CAPPA certification. I look forward to being a part of your childbirth journey.
Becoming a doula has been a dream of mine since the birth of my two daughters in 1988 and 1989. I have always been captivated by the labor/birth process, inspired by the innate beauty and magic of pregnancy, and motivated by a deep desire to help women have an empowered, positive birth and postpartum experience. I am thrilled to be working toward DONA certification, honored to be part of Labor of Love’s apprentice group, and dedicated to honing my craft. I will be attending births with a mentoring doula and attending new families with a mentoring doula over the next few months. I hope to apprentice a childbirth series and breastfeeding class as well very soon.
Interested in becoming a doula?: We are often asked if she offers classes to train doulas. She does not. But what we do offe r is an opportunity to join our childbirth series with a mentoring educator to learn some techniques needed to be a great doula. This also meets most certifying organizations requirement that you attend a childbirth series as a non pregnant person. We encourage you to find an international organization- not a local organization for your training as a doula or as an educator. That way, when you move from the area, the training you have had will be accepted and recognized outside of the area. We are mostly certified with CAPPA (www.cappa.net) or DONA (www.dona.org).
The requirement to apprentice a childbirth series is a full committment to attending the full series and bring a snack for the students. You come early to help set up and prepare for class and stay late to clean up and reset the class space for the next class. It is best to attend the class series prior to your official certification training as it prepares you for your training.
We also offer the opportunity for you to attend births - when desired by couples- and attend the prenatal meetings to get to know those couples. We offer this as a time to work along side of the mentoring doula. Depending on the length of the birth and your opportunity to serve the client, this could qualify for a certifying birth. We only have you attend births once your certifying training workshop has been completed.
After apprenticing a series of classes and attending a birth, an evaluation is made to determine if we would ilke to offer you an opportunity to join our company. Sometimes you may not desire to become a part of a group and sometimes we may not have a need to add an additional doula. So apprenticing does not guarantee that you would join our group.
Most of the doulas with our company have come through this apprentice opportunity. Let Teresa know if you are interested in joining an apprentice opportunity.
Labor Doula
Renea Jones 
Colleen Goidel 