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.
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 $650 and a less experienced doula charges $450. Our services are the same. Email 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. But this is a very rare situation. For example, Teresa has missed less than 3% of the births she has attended over the last ten years. 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.
Take a moment to read our recommendation letters. Click here.
Teresa Howard, CD (DONA), CLD, CLE, CPD, CCCE(CAPPA) , CHBE
Labor Doula, Lactation & Childbirth Educator, Happiest Baby on the Block Certified Educator
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'm a certified labor doula, an independent childbirth educator, and a lactation educator. 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 gave me 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.
I'm also active in La Leche League and am a retired leader. 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. I have been a doula for over 350 births as of April 2007. I take three labor doula clients per month and serve women in the metro area of Atlanta and Athens.
I'm certified with Doulas of North America (DONA) and the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) as a labor and postpartum doula, and a certified lactation educator and I have trained with Pam England in my childbirth preparation based on her book "Birthing From Within" . 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 a six-week prenatal series with two additional postpartum classes, totaling over 18 hours of instruction. I am also a certified Happiest Baby on the Block educator, teaching techniques to soothe new babies.
As a doula, I meet with the mother or couple to offer assistance with a birth plan that best fits her 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'm there 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 in which I 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, providing a lasting memory of the pregnant belly in full bloom!
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topAkai Baraka, CD (DONA)
Labor and Postpartum Doula
As
a certified labor doula with DONA, I welcome the opportunity to assist
families in the miracle of birth. I have always been interested in
the birthing process and began my work as a doula by supporting the
births of several close friends and family members. I
have a degree in Early Childhood Education and have
worked many years in the Cobb County School District
with children who are gifted – students who have IQ's
slightly below normal, and or behavioral disorders.
I am an active member of Doulas of North America (DONA), Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) and the Le Leche League. I have two wonderful daughters of my own ages 20 and 22 and I believe that giving birth is a natural process that all women should face with confidence and surety over fear and anxiety.
My goal as a labor doula is to inform, nurture and support mothers as they journey through the normal process of birth.
As a post-partum doula I teach the core principles of attachment parenting, assist with breastfeeding and address issues such as time management, scheduling and sibling integration. I also teach basic infant massage and how to calm and soothe your baby using techniques from Harvey Karp’s “Happiest Baby on the Block.”
I have a passion for mothers and families and would love share my experience and knowledge with you as you transition into parenthood.
Birth equals Joy, Wisdom and Love
************************************
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topKim Bennett, CLD (CAPPA)
Childbirth Educator, Labor Doula
I'm
a labor doula and have been with Labor of Love since 2002. I was born
and raised on the island of Bermuda, and met my husband Richard when
we were both attending Emory University. We have been married since
1992 and have three wonderfully active boys, Richard, Liam and Aidan.
Richard was brought into this world in 1997 through a medicated, intervention-filled
birth. However, it was still an amazing and empowering experience.
With Liam in 2000, I had met Teresa, taken Birthing From Within classes,
and was able to have a wonderful, non-medicated birth in awareness.
When Aidan was born in 2004, I had an incredible water birth with a
little IV medication.
I'm a La Leche League member and have breastfed all my children. Richard weaned after 10 months. I didn't have the support then that I do now. Liam nursed for several years, until the middle of my pregnancy with Aidan. Aidan is still a breastfeeding boy.
I first felt the calling to work with birthing women while in London on an internship through Emory. I had the opportunity to observe both natural and cesarean births, and I fell in love with the whole process. I trained as a labor doula in 1996 just before learning of my first pregnancy. I decided attending births would have to wait until my children were older, as being on-call and being an "attached at the hip" Mom did not pair well. After Liam was born I just couldn't ignore that pull any longer and I attended another training and earned my certification.
I am currently working towards my childbirth educator certification with "Birthing From Within." As a childbirth educator, I teach parents to use their own strengths to embrace the power of birth and to accept birth as a rite of passage. Parents learn to labor "in awareness" and to understand that the ideal birth can take many forms.
I welcome the opportunity to work with new and growing families as they begin this exciting journey.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topGuina Bixler CLD, (CAPPA)
Labor and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Lactation Educator
It is with joy that I offer my services to families, giving them something I wish I had been given. I offer the wisdom, love and experience of a woman who has traveled the journey before them.
As a senior in high school, I attended night school to become a nursing assistant. I knew immediately that caring for others was my calling. I became certified as a cardiac/pulmonary technologist and for ten years I worked with patients in cardiac cath and pulmonary labs.
After viewing a film titled 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. Although 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' with my husband by my side 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.
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. My Children are now 32, 24 and 17 and we have 2 granddaughters. I am excited to now be that woman who is there for others.
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 infant CPR training and I am training to become certified as a Happiest Baby on the Block instructor.
I look forward to 'mothering the mothers' and supporting the partners of new and expectant families.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topPersis Bristol-Dodson, CLD (CAPPA), CD (DONA)
Labor Doula
"As
a doula I love to assist in restoring women to their rightful place
as warriors."
Persis has always been in awe with the gift of giving life. It is only natural that she would be drawn to be a part of one of the most significant moments in ones' life. With a belief that the body and spirit has all it needs to meet life's challenges, Persis delights in the opportunity to be a part of that discovery. The birth process is one of the events in life that call for inner peace, safety, security, and love. Parenting starts at conception and as in all things it is the strong who survive. Persis works to allow that strength to be realized from the very beginning. She has been blessed with the desire and ability to be among the "women who love the women". Persis is also blessed to have a wonderful husband who supports these endeavors.
She became a doula from a unique path. As a freelance sign language interpreter is a human service profession, she came in contact with people of all walks of life in various situations on a daily basis. During that contact she was exposed to people in medical situations and longed for an avenue to provide support that was not limited to language facilitation. With a natural disposition to nurture and encourage along with a history of advocacy, labor support came as a logical step.
She started mothering mothers in 2002 and earned certification the following year. Although her life experience will not include a personal birth experience, she has been blessed with the heart and hands that will serve as the anchor for women and men as they experience life's most blessed event.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topTracey Bond, CD (DONA), LLLL
Labor and Postpartum Doula, Educator, Maternity & Child Photographer
I
joined Labor of Love in the spring of 2006. In addition to Labor Doula
support, I also offer Postpartum Doula support and maternity/child
photography. My husband and I have three sons, Morgan, Charlie and
Daniel and have been married since 1997.
In the early 1990's I attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, majoring in psychology and minoring in women's studies and visual art. As a young woman I'd not yet given much thought to the idea of childbirth, but through my women's studies courses I learned about midwifery and how a woman could become empowered through her journey into motherhood. It was an idea I'd never considered until that time but I decided it was something I needed to look into should I ever have a child.
Carrying that forward, I chose a midwife to attend me in the birth of each of my three sons. Personally, I have experienced both hospital and homebirth. My third child was born peacefully at home in the water, into his father's hands. Without question, I trust women's bodies and women's biology in birth. It works if given the chance.
In June of 2006 I had the honor of attending The Farm in Summertown, TN for my DONA (Doulas of North America) Labor Doula training. I have attended Teresa's Birthing in Awareness childbirth education series as an apprentice doula and am certified with DONA as a labor doula.
Since 1997 I have been involved in La Leche League and have been a La Leche League Leader since 2000. In my spare time I knit, bead, paint and have been an avid photographer for over 17 years.
It is my honor to attend women at their births and to support them afterwards. There is nothing quite like the birth of a new baby and the changes it brings to a woman and her family.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topJennifer Fargar, CD (ALACE)
Postpartum Doula
I have been a birth enthusiast for almost 10 years. 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. I apprenticed with Labor of Love Doulas and audited a series of Birthing in Awareness classes offered by LOL. Four 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 fierce labor and I felt on top of the world, like I could do anything!
Through Georgia Friends of Midwives, I am active in birth politics and am helping to facilitate change in the status of Certified Professional Midwives and to influence change in the current maternity care system. I became a Trust Birth facilitator, a woman-to-woman support group whose goal is to tell the truth about birth: Birth is safe. Interference is risky. I believe that pregnancy, labor and birth are normal physiological events. Controlling them doesn’t work. Allowing them to happen in their own way and own time does.
As a Doula, I am passionate about helping moms allow the process to work in its own time and to its own rhythm. Because I am a full time certified Music Together® teacher (music classes for moms & babies), I cannot currently attend births as a birth doula. But I can still help new moms in their transition into motherhood. As a LOL post partum 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.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topMelanie Moss, CLD (CAPPA)
Labor Doula
I
am a certified labor doula through CAPPA. I have apprenticed with Labor
of Love and have attended a Birthing in Awareness series taught by
Teresa.
I have always been interested in pregnancy and childbirth, even as a young teenager but had no desire to go into the nursing field. I learned what a doula was through a wonderful friend of mine when she was expecting her child. The profession immediately caught my interest, but I was not able to pursue training at that time. A little over a year later, that same friend was a wonderful support to me through my own pregnancy and childbirth, which resulted in a cesarean due to breech presentation. Throughout my daughter's first year of life, I did a lot of research and reading on doulas and realized that this was a perfect way to be involved in something for which I had always held such a passion.
I am currently taking on Athens and some northern burbs of the Atlanta area labor doula clients.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topSerena Newhall, CLD (CAPPA)
Labor and Postpartum Doula
After
growing up in the Midwest and graduating from the University of Colorado,
I was determined to lend my time and skills to volunteer work until
I decided which career path I wanted to pursue. I eventually joined
the Peace Corps and I spent the next two and a half years living and
working in Kenya.
Soon after returning to the States I met John Paul. It was love, and as our lives together began to unfold, it was not long before we found out I was pregnant and all of my energies began to focus solely on the life inside of me. I was very discouraged by the lack of support by my initial care provider. I decided I would find the answers to my questions elsewhere. I read book after book from the library and spent countless hours researching on-line. I began to feel empowered by all of the information I found and truly excited, rather than scared to death, to birth my baby. I changed care providers to a group that truly supported me and I hired a magnificent woman to be my doula.
After giving birth to Grayson, naturally and without incident with the help and support of my husband, doula and midwife, I knew for sure that I had found my true passion. Every woman deserves to be supported, especially during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. There is a unique birth path for every woman. I have now grown roots as a mother, wife and most recently as a trained labor doula through CAPPA. As a doula, my desire is to support you and your partner as you educate yourselves. I will assist you with understanding your birth options and by helping to guide you to resources which are relevant to your personal birth goals. Through knowledge of the birth process, I believe that fears can be dispelled and trust in birth can be realized. During labor I will be there to offer encouragement, emotional support and techniques for physical comfort while trusting that your birth will unfold exactly the way that it should. Whether this is your first child or your sixth, I look forward to supporting you throughout your amazing journey.
I also offer postpartum doula services to new parents in the metro area.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topAlicia Pillsbury
Labor Doula
I am many things, but my greatest identity is found in being a wife, a mother, a teacher, and a nurturer. I married my husband, Charles, in 1996, and quickly settled down to start a family. I obtained a degree in Early Childhood Education, and while I still teach in a classroom one day a week, I have chosen to focus my teaching gifts on homeschooling my three priceless children: Jake (1997), Sam (2003) and Grace (2005). Our personal childrearing practice has included breastfeeding, attachment parenting, co-sleeping and vegetarian nutrition.
My passion for birthing has been growing within me for many years. With my first child, I desired and received a fully medicated birth, but I felt unprepared and thus unfulfilled in my experience. It was during a 6-year struggle with infertility that I began to research and implement natural methods of conception, and that led very naturally into an interest in healthy, natural pregnancy and childbirth. I began to realize that birth can be much more than an event, but a journey that can be embraced and experienced; and I went on to have two confident, empowering births. While my own births have included both medicated and natural, I have learned that a wonderful birth is not defined by what path it takes, as much as how it is experienced. It is my belief that the emotional components of birth are just as strong as the physical, and that women should be understood and supported in all aspects of their birthing experience. I consider it my privilege to work with women to help them find their own voice and assist them in achieving the birth that they feel called to.
I am a trained labor doula with CAPPA, and am working on completing my certification as a childbirth educator. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, logic puzzles, and scrapbooking, and I am an avid collector of all things Pepsi.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topPam Roe, CLD, CCCE (CAPPA), CD(DONA), CHBE
Labor and Postpartum Doula , Happiest Baby on the Block Certified Educator, & Childbirth Educator
I
offer labor doula and postpartum support with Labor of Love and I teach
a variety of classes, including group and private childbirth preparation,
Happiest Baby on the Block, Breastfeeding, and Parenting Your Toddler.
I am certified with CAPPA and DONA as a labor doula and am a certified
Happiest Baby Educator, as well as a certified childbirth educator
with CAPPA.
Dick and I have been married since 1978 and have three children. Richard, born in 1982, and Kate, born in 1986, both arrived via unplanned caesarean births. In 1988, Emily's birth was a VBAC (vaginal birth after a caesarian). We used the Bradley childbirth techniques with the first two births and a less-structured approach based on the writings of Dr. Michel Odent, with the last. I learned so much from each of our birth experiences. 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 active in La Leche League since 1990 and am a retired leader. As a stay-at-home mother, I've worn many hats. I've done accounting work for small businesses, run 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, during, and after births. I continually update and broaden my knowledge to better assist them. Mothers, babies and birth have been my passion for as long as I can remember and it is an honor to support families during these special events in their lives.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topCedar Anne Spain, CLD (CAPPA)
Labor and Postpartum Doula
My
name is Cedar Anne Spain and I would like to share some tidbits about
who I am. I am a mother to 6 beautiful children who I had the wonderful
experience of having naturally. I was raised in Maryland, but have
lived in Georgia for many years. My husband and I helped form a foundation
in Mexico to help underprivileged children. We have done disaster relief,
counseling, and distribution of supplies, to help better the lives
of hundreds of children and families. Because of my time in Mexico,
I speak Spanish.
A large part of my life has been dedicated to serving and helping children and families, but the one thing that has brought the greatest joy and satisfaction in my life has been attending to new mothers during childbirth Since I can remember it has always been a dream of mine to be doula or midwife assistant. My husband and I are settled here in Atlanta now, so I have the opportunity to make this dream a reality.
I am a certified labor doula with CAPPA. Besides the experiences I had birthing my own six children, I assisted a midwife for a brief time in Maryland, and have either assisted or attended many other births. I plan to continue my training as a doula, as it is an ongoing process.
There is nothing more incredible to me than being a part in the miracle of life. My goal is to be a help and support to women and their partners during this extraordinary time in their lives-the birth of their little ones When I am not attending births, I am a stay-at-home mom, soccer, football, and school room mom, etc. I love (trying) to be a gourmet cook, scrapbooking, camping with my kids, reading books, and doing yoga. My most important job is to be a mother to my growing kids; I always want to be there for them. My husband and children are fascinated that I am a doula and they are very supportive of my job.
Currently I only take an occasional client who is Spanish speaking and needs a doula to be able to communicate with her family.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topJen Gordon, CLD (CAPPA)
Labor Doula
Due to family needs, Jen is not actively taking
clients right now, although she may be providing back
up services for active doulas.
I come from a line of women in the business of birthing babies. My grandmother was a L&D nurse, as was my mother. I've had an interest in birth since I was a child. And while the women in my family had a more medical view of birth, I found myself fascinated by the more primal aspects of it. I studied drawing and painting in college and found myself time and time again fascinated with the pregnant female form. It was the primary subject of my drawings and paintings. After college I began working for a woman who had a doula attend her birth. It was the first I had heard of such a thing! After learning what a doula did, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to be. I read Pam England's book: Birthing From Within and felt that it embodied everything I believed about birth and the mystery of womanhood. I immediately pursued certification and have been assisting women in birth for 5 years now. I'm certified through CAPPA and currently working towards dual certification with DONA as well.
I have given birth to two very spirited children. My first was a planned homebirth that ended up being a natural hospital birth. My second baby came 2 years later in a very smooth hospital birth. I was a doula before I had my children and was even more passionate about being a doula after the birth of my children. Helping women trust their bodies through pregnancy and birth is one of the most rewarding experiences I can have. There's no "right" way to give birth and every woman and birth is so different.
As a doula my goal is to help you find your own birth path. Each path is different. Some are up hill, some are bumpy, some are short and smooth, and some come with unexpected detours. You never know which path you get until you're already on the journey. I help you find your way. It's a joy to be a part of each woman's journey through birth.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topApprentice Doula Program
Labor of Love offers an opportunity to newly trained doulas to be mentored by a seasoned doula in our apprentice program. Apprentices attend as an assistant to our labor doulas once they have completed their certification training. They are included in our childbirth and parenting education program as well. For more information contact Teresa.
Parents can invite an apprentice doula to accompany their Labor of Love doula during their labor and birth. This is a way to provide hands on training and enables them to be even more supported with an extra pair of hands at no additional cost to them.
Click here to find out more.
Vikki Clark, CMT
Therapeutic & Prenatal Massage Therapist
Vikki Clark is a Certified Massage Therapist. She has had additional training in prenatal and reflexology massage and has worked with many expectant mothers. Massage Therapy is a passion for her and she loves nurturing the mother and child(ren). Her clients enjoy her pregnancy massage table with a cut out for the belly and breasts. The Mothers love laying on their stomachs for massage.
Her heart and soul are her two children, Cody and Mackenzie. She enjoys spending time with her children, family and friends, and loves music and working in the yard.
You may visit Vikki at her office in her home located in Bogart, Georgia (just outside of Athens) for therapeutic or pregnancy massage. The charge is $55.00 an hour. We offer home visits and packages for multiple massages. The price for a individual home visit is usually $90 per hour unless it extends outside of the normal driving range where they may be a surcharge for any great distance.
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topAmy Holaday, CMT
Certified Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular, and Perinatal Massage Therapist
Amy
Holaday is a nationally certified massage therapist. She is a new mom
herself and used a Labor of Love doula herself. She enjoys sharing
this wonderful time of a woman's life and using her skills to help
relieve the discomforts of pregnancy or help with the healing after
the birth. She specializes in deep tissue, neuromuscular and pregnancy
massage.
We offer home visits and packages for multiple massages. For a list of the package places, see massage services. The price for a individual home visit including the travel charge is usually $90 per hour unless it extends outside of the normal driving range where they may be a surcharge for any great distance. She offers couple massages in your home as well at a discount. Please feel free to contact her directly at amyholaday@comcast.net or call her at 404-931-2639 and let her know you heard about us from our site!
Contact Teresa for more details at teresa@alaboroflove.org.
Back to topAnnouncements
Need a birthing refresher for your second pregnancy? We have a Birthing Again class for you!