Meet Our Team
Mary Kate Shanahan
Co-Owner
Director of Birth & Additional Services
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Mary Kate (she/her) is a passionate woman with a thirst for knowledge. Originally on the path to a career in medicine, Mary Kate quickly realized that the difference she had always dreamed of making had more to do with empowering the people she works with rather than diagnosing and treating. With the matriarchs in her family setting a clear example of caring for and educating new parents, Mary Kate refocused her energy and pursued her passion of maternal and child health by becoming a professional doula.
As a child, Mary Kate told anyone who would listen that she would one day grow up to own an adoption agency and an animal shelter. The two businesses would be side by side so that each child would be paired with an animal for love and support. Mary Kate knew then the power of attunement and continuity, and in her work today as a doula, she is constantly reminded of how powerful one can feel when they have the support of someone they feel attuned to by their side.
Mary Kate is a trained and experienced birth and postpartum doula with a background in maternal and pediatric medicine, behavioral and mental health, emergency medicine, and bereavement.
She has specialized training in multiples, high risk and medically complicated pregnancies, and specialized postpartum care.
Mary Kate is also experienced in education (childbirth, postpartum, infant care), photography (birth, postpartum, pregnancy loss), and NICU families (transitions, coping, bonding).
Mary Kate’s doula related training includes the following: DONA International Birth Doula Training; CAPPA Labor Doula Training; CAPPA Postpartum Training; UVMMC Volunteer Doula Program Training; Childbirth Educator Training with Birth-Media;Bereavement and Loss Education; Mental Health & Substance Abuse Counseling; ProDoula Labor Doula; Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care Certificate Program; NILMDTS Medical Affiliate.
Mary Kate’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Medical Biology with a minor in Psychology from the University of New England. She is a formerly Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/ EMT Educator and Practical exam facilitator. Additionally, she is a Certified Pediatric Clinical Assistant, a trained OB/GYN Medical Assistant, and a Certified Pediatric Behavioral Health Professional for the state of Maine.
Mary Kate is a national conference speaker with guest spots on Vermont Public Radio. She is also the cheerleading coach for a competitive youth team and a volunteer for an animal rescue program. In her down time, Mary Kate lives an active lifestyle but also very much enjoys downtime cuddling with her rescued sled dog, Sirius. She and her fiance, Jake, met singing together in a contemporary a capella group called Root7. You’ll know it’s them on the road when music is blaring from the car and they’re dancing behind the wheel while singing along at the top of their lungs!
Haley Parizo
Co-Owner
Director of Postpartum Services
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Haley (she/her) is a pediatric RN, a professionally trained and certified labor and postpartum doula, a new parent educator, and an infant feeding educator. Haley’s extensive compilation of training, education, and accomplishments enhance her support of Vermont families. She has experience supporting a wide variety of families, varying from families with multiples, high-risk pregnancy and birth, cesarean birth, surrogacy, LGBTQ+ families, single parents, and home birth. She has extensive breastfeeding experience and particularly loves and specializes in postpartum overnight support.
Growing up in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, birth and early parenting was normalized by the life experiences that surrounded her. Stemming from a lifelong interest in birth and babies, and following in her aunt’s footsteps, she decided to pursue a career in nursing. While finishing her degree she spent three months as a nurse extern on the Birthing Pavilion of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Here she gained invaluable experience in labor and delivery, as well as newborn and postpartum care.
Shortly after she graduated from UVM with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, she began working as an RN for a small pediatric practice in Richmond, Vt (Richmond Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine), where she continues to work to this day. She enjoys the continuity of care that working for a small practice brings and can’t believe how quickly all of her patients are growing up! Haley also worked for two years per diem as a nurse at Northwestern Medical Center (St. Albans, Vt) in their Family Birth Center. While working at the birthing center it became clear to her that something was missing for her. Due to the role of a modern nurse (focusing mostly on the medical aspect of care, administering medications etc…), she was unable to give the individual attention and support to each of her patients that she so desired to give. Her passion for education and individualized support led her to end her time at NMC and pursue her doula career. Haley trained and was certified as a labor doula through CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association).
It wasn’t until the taxing postpartum period that followed the birth of her son, that Haley’s true passion for providing postpartum support was ignited. A long, difficult, medication-free birth, with no sleep for many days, followed by extensive breastfeeding difficulties, and undiagnosed postpartum anxiety led Haley to the revelation that planning for the postpartum period should be as equally emphasized as planning for birth. She trained and is certified as a postpartum doula and new parent educator through CAPPA.
“No one should have a baby and be left to feel isolated, alone, and trapped in a dark and scary place. The postpartum period is powerful and requires tremendous support.” - Haley Parizo
In 2018 Haley officially founded Island Doula, LLC, providing pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support to countless Vermont families. In addition to running Island Doula, in 2019 Haley helped build UVMMC’s Volunteer Doula Program, and then coordinated it until September 2021. She is one of the program’s trainers and still participates in their biannual training for new volunteer doulas.
Over the years Haley has taken various courses to complement her training and certifications: CAPPA’s Annual Conference for Perinatal Professionals; several breastfeeding classes; ProDoula’s Postpartum and Infant Care Doula training; ProDoula’s Infant Feeding Specialist training; childbirth education class; hypnobirthing class; and Postpartum Support International (PSI)'s "2020 Mom" 8 week maternal mental health training. Haley is currently working toward certification with Stillbirthday for bereavement doula services, and Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep; a photography training to provide services for families who are experiencing fetal or infant loss.
Haley reminds her clients that this is their birth, their body, their baby, and their family and that they have choices even when things seem like they are spiraling out of control. She encourages them to take in all of the (usually unasked for...) advice, and information with a grain of salt, and then proceed as it feels most right for THEM!
Haley lives in Grand Isle with her husband, Dustin, who is as passionate about his business, Island Excavating Corp., as she is about Vermont Doula Company! Together they have 2 children, Bryson and Tenley, as well as two cats and two dogs. When not working with clients, you can usually find her listening to audiobooks and podcasts via a single earbud. She also enjoys taking pictures, reading, camping or boating with her family, and traveling to tropical places.
Shari Corr
Postpartum Doula
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Shari Corr LM, CPM, CMT has spent much of the last two decades immersed in the perinatal community and birth world in Vermont. After her two daughters were born she realized her calling is to help support others through the huge transition of growing a family. Shari is a Certified Massage Therapist (2004), Birth Doula (2006), Postpartum Doula (2009), Childbirth Educator (2010), a practitioner of the Arvigo Techniques for Maya Abdominal Therapy (2012), and a Certified Professional Midwife (2021). For 16 years Shair ran her own successful massage and doula business in Vermont. She is now thrilled to be on the Vermont Doula Company team!
Shari is honored to have been part of hundreds of births over the years, as well as supporting countless families postpartum. She knows that there are lots of “right” ways to do it (both birth and early parenthood). She loves getting to know families and helping them to discover their unique style.
In her free time you can usually find Shari in nature; hiking, swimming, cross country skiing, kayaking, or at the beach. She also loves hot yoga, live music, crossword puzzles and getting lost in great books. She is as passionate about traveling as she is about birth and has traveled to 22 different countries so far. She is on a lifetime quest to find the world’s most beautiful natural hot springs.
Alexis Dougherty
Postpartum Doula
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Alexis (she/her) is a native (upstate) New Yorker. She originally came to Vermont in 2015 to attend Saint Michael's College and fell in love with the place. She moved back to NY at the start of COVID to be closer to family for the birth of her niece. Two years later, she returned to Vermont to pursue training in parent-child interaction therapy. Alexis has a master's degree in psychology with a focus in child development. She loves working with families and comes to Vermont Doula Company for a change of pace. She completed the postpartum doula training through CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association). She has previous experience working with parents and babies at the Lund Family Center. As an auntie and someone who has worked with kids for many years, one of her catchphrases is "I love returnable kids!"
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her niece and nephew, her two black cats, gardening, crafting, and listening to podcasts and music. You may find her hammocking in a park with friends or in the water attempting to learn how to kayak.
Abagail Hurd
Postpartum Doula
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Abagail Hurd (she/her) has experience in both birth and postpartum doula work through her involvement in the Volunteer Doula Program at UVMMC and is pursuing formal certification as a postpartum doula through Childbirth International. Abagail graduated from UVM in 2023 with a BS in Microbiology. While at UVM, she diversified her education by studying French, Women’s Studies, and Public Health. She is particularly interested in how microbiology and public health intersect with pregnancy, birth, and the newborn.
Abagail believes that doulas are an integral part of bridging women’s health inequities. A knowledgeable and open-minded advocate in your corner can drastically shift one’s birth and postpartum experience. She enjoys seeking information and insight from other cultures’ birth and postpartum practices and philosophies to inform and complement her work. She is honored to witness and support the intense personal growth in the postpartum period for birthing people, babies, and family units. She enjoys providing overnight support as parents often feel renewed confidence and resilience after a good night’s sleep.
Abagail is also a Microbiologist at an environmental laboratory in Williston. Abagail enjoys spending time at home with her partner Austin, a dachshund named Watson, and a cat named Mittens. She grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont and enjoys visiting and caring for the farm animals when she travels home. She enjoys casual downhill skiing in the winter and also loves cooking, baking, and eating.
Chelsea Takamine
Postpartum Doula
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Chelsea (she/her) is a heart-centered and nurturing postpartum doula trained through DONA International. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology (with minors in Public Health and Exercise Science) and a Master of Public Health in Global Health, both from George Washington University. With a calm and intuitive presence, Chelsea finds deep purpose in holding space for others and supporting families through the profound transition of early parenthood.
After 15 years in nonprofit program management and consulting, Chelsea felt called to engage more directly in health equity work within her community. Her lived experiences — including pregnancy loss, IUI, two births, the early stages of motherhood, and the sudden loss of her mother to suicide shortly after her daughter’s birth — have shaped her practice with empathy, resilience, and authenticity.
Chelsea believes that the early postpartum season holds a unique kind of wonder: intimate, raw, and life-altering. She brings a special interest in the mind-body connection, mental health, and sibling adjustment to her care, offering grounded, compassionate support to families during this transformative time.
She lives off a bumpy dirt road in Essex Junction with her husband, two young children, and two golden retrievers. She finds joy in thunderstorms, tea, gardening, camping, cooking, handwritten notes, poetry, podcasts, musicals, and traveling near and far with her family.
Darcie Talbott
Postpartum Doula
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Darcie (she/her) is a postpartum doula in training through Birth & Baby University, with prior education in lactation basics and birth. Darcie was born in Montreal and raised on a farm in Vermont. She is the oldest of three siblings and fourteen cousins which cultivated her love of babies and exposed her to birth in many forms. She gave birth to her own son in 2022 and became a single mother days after, prompting a move across the state and back in with her parents. Navigating postpartum alone brought many challenges and required her to lean on family and friends for support. One of the many blessings of this experience is that it gave her a fierce passion for creating the same safe space for others navigating their own postpartum challenges and experiences.
Darcie has a double Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Sociology with a concentration in Race, Gender and Equity Studies and a minor in World Religions from Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Darcie spent the last four years working as a paralegal and yoga teacher but stepped away from both fields to focus on perinatal and postpartum work. She completed her lactation basics certification through Lactation Learning Collective LLC and is currently completing a two year Birth Doula Certification through Carriage House Birth.
In her free time Darcie enjoys cooking, baking, reading, yoga, maple lattes, snuggling her kiddo, spending time with family and friends, and watching Gilmore Girls.
Krizzia Belén-Trineo
Birth Doula
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Krizzia Belén-Trineo (she/her) is a Certified Birth Doula through Perinatal Professionals. Krizzia was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has been based in Chittenden County since 2021. Krizzia has always been passionate about healthcare equity, environmental justice, and reproductive education at all ages. Krizzia's career in birth services is deeply rooted in the belief that reproductive justice, environmental justice, and public health are inextricably linked. She is an advocate for clinical literacy, informed consent, and empowering mothers and caregivers through an environmental lens. She loves home births and keeping birthing people engaged in labor through movement and sensory stimulation (sound, sight, smell, etc).
Krizzia is also the Community Doula Program (CDP) Lead at VDC. Through the CDP, she hopes to offer accessible doula care to families facing poverty, addiction, homelessness, and teen pregnancy. She roots her community doula practice in the belief that community engagement is the first line of action for all forms of justice.
Outside of work, you can find Krizzia on long walks or hosting gatherings with her husband, their foster kids, and two perfect kitties named Margaret and Reggie. Krizzia intends to become a Certified Nurse Midwife after a few more years of doula work.
Cherie Chaloux-Warren
Birth Doula
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Cherie Chaloux-Warren (she/her) is a DONA-certified Birth Doula and proud native of Franklin County, Vermont. After more than 20 years in a professional career, she followed her passion for supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with calm, compassionate, evidence-based care.
Her dedication to birth work is deeply personal. Alongside her own transformative birth experiences, Cherie has also been a surrogate for two families, strengthening her belief in the power of connection, advocacy, and supportive care throughout the perinatal journey.
Cherie also holds certifications in TENS for doulas and surrogacy support, allowing her to offer thoughtful, individualized support to every family she serves.
Outside of birth work, Cherie is involved with local volunteer work, photography, continuing education in the birth and perinatal field, and spending time with her family.
Anna Rankin
Birth Doula
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Anna (she/her) was drawn to babies when she herself was a young child and spent her teenage years babysitting, nannying and working at summer camps. It wasn't until many years later that she realized the many ways this innate love for babies could be integrated into her professional life.
Anna is a trained birth and postpartum doula through the Vermont Full Spectrum Doula Training Program. She has a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Special Education and has been working with families and young children in a variety of capacities over the last 20 years.
Anna has four children and was profoundly transformed by each of her transitions through the prenatal, birth and postpartum periods. She was moved by these experiences to find ways of supporting others through their perinatal journeys, first exclusively as a postpartum doula and then as a birth doula as well. She has been volunteering with Good Beginnings of Central Vermont for many years, providing postpartum support and building community with families throughout Central Vermont. For Anna, relationships lay at the heart of supporting people as they move through life’s transitions with tenderness and respect. Anna believes we all fundamentally need to feel supported and nourished throughout the perinatal period and she uses evidenced-based practices and offers non-judgmental support to all families in this heart-centered work.
Anna loves spending time with her family, often attending a sporting event of some kind. She loves hiking and spending time outside. She is an avid knitter and loves baking.
Charlotte Thornley
Birth Doula
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Charlotte is a care worker based in Central Vermont. She originally trained as an actor and took from that an enduring love for play and connection. This has been fed over the years by her work with children of all ages–as a postpartum support, nanny, after-school teacher, and Shakespeare camp counselor. She has spent the last five years as an early childhood educator in the woods and streams of Montpelier, and is looking forward to supporting families in new ways as a birth doula.
The many beloved children in her life have given her deep wells of patience, an appreciation for chaos, strong sense of humor, sleeves full of tricks, and humility, all of which translate well to birth work. Charlotte also has a background in advocacy.
Beyond birth, she is passionate about growing, cooking, and eating food (especially with friends), spending time in nature, and being in community with children.
Erin Tevnan
Birth Doula
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Erin (she/her) is a birth doula in training with a background in progressive politics, bringing a deep commitment to reproductive justice, informed choice, and equitable care. Erin is focused on supporting families with compassion and autonomy at the center of care.
Born in Massachusetts, Erin spent many summers in Vermont, where her mother was raised. Growing up as the third of four siblings in a large, close-knit family nurtured her lifelong love for babies and caregiving. She has always been drawn to the magic of motherhood and birth. Her path into birth work deepened after supporting her sister through the birth of her first child (Erin’s goddaughter)! This experience sparked a profound connection to birth and postpartum support.
Erin graduated from the University of Vermont in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Theatre. She plans to attend law school next fall while continuing birth work. Her diverse academic and professional background reflects an open-minded, adventurous spirit grounded in empathy and equity.
Outside of birth work, Erin enjoys being an auntie, swimming in natural bodies of water, attending live theatre, a good documentary, strength training, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Juju Montera
Birth Doula
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Juju (they/them) is a queer, justice-oriented doula that comes to this work with years of experience as a preschool teacher and social worker with a trauma-informed lens. Juju's undergraduate degree is in early childhood education and they have worked with young children and families in a variety of settings. They also have their master's degree in education with a focus in gender and sex education. As a doula they are excited for families to feel heard, seen and supported through pregnancy, birth and beyond. Juju is passionate about creating genuine and non-judgmental relationships as a tool to support all people. From a young age, they have been keenly interested in pregnancy, birth and babies. Combining their skills for working with people and their deep interest in birth feels like an incredible intersection! Juju is specifically interested in thinking and talking about social determinants of health, swaddling babies, the human body and podcasts. In their time outside of being a doula, they love being with their loved ones, taking walks, sewing, and playing with children.
Sarah Bissonette
Birth Doula
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Sarah (she/her) is a proud Vermonter, born and raised. While watching seasons change for decades, she was always drawn to supporting others from an early age.
With experience supporting family and friends as a doula and building the knowledge and compassion, she is a trained Birthing Doula through Dona International. She also is a certified Postpartum Doula, and currently working towards her Certification as a Doula with specialized trainings for use of the Tens Unit. Sarah is currently working towards becoming a Certified Birthing Doula through VDC and Dona International as well.
Sarah has an educational background within the Criminal Justice and Social work Field, with specialized Trauma informed/focus continuous trainings throughout the years. Sarah historically has worked in the social work field and supported many individuals in different aspects of life. Her passion to walk side by side and supporting individuals has lead her to transitioning to becoming a Full time Doula . Something Sarah is proud of, is the compassion, empathy, and ability to build rapport and be that safe support system for others that she has worked so hard to accomplish.
Sarah is known to be by the water, baking sweet treats, and woodworking during her down time. With a wealth of lived experience as a mom and caretaker, that shifted a year ago when she was promoted to Gigi. Since holding that title, her Granddaughter has shown her a different light on life and holds that title to be the best promotion one could receive!
Sophie Krotinger
Birth Doula
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Sophie (she/her) is a birth doula who was born and raised in Warren, Vermont. She has a passion for creating empowering birthing experiences where women’s voices are valued and respected throughout the birthing process. She believes that building trust starts with genuine listening, empathy, compassion, and respect for each person’s unique story. Sophie deeply values the individuality of every person she works with and appreciates the diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that shape each individual’s birth journey. Sophie also works as a medical assistant in internal medicine and is planning to apply to medical school. She hopes to be involved in expanding rural healthcare access in Vermont for marginalized communities.
Sophie is strongly committed to giving back to her community. Her doula journey started out with volunteering at UVMMC, and she also currently volunteers in the pediatrics department doing art with children and their families. She brings a positive and caring presence to healthcare spaces, helping others to feel comfortable and supported.
In her free time, Sophie enjoys spending time outdoors, going for runs, and watercolor painting. To unwind, she loves taking long walks outside and spending quality time with her family and her sister, whom she is especially close to.
Lauren Lockhart
Birth Doula
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Lauren (she/her) is a certified birth doula originally from Tennessee and has recently relocated with her family to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Her journey in supporting families on their birth journey began through her own home birth experiences and through supporting friends in bereavement care, which deepened her calling to walk alongside others during life’s most tender moments. Certified in 2016 through DONA International and recertified in 2023 through Birth Arts International, Lauren is passionate about serving families with compassion, intention, and purpose. She is also dedicated to Capturing Hope’s Little Lights Bereavement Photography, where she began serving as Coordinator in 2024. As an intentional homeschooling mom and advocate for families, Lauren believes that everyone who desires a doula should have a doula and is committed to helping families feel supported, seen, and empowered through every season of their journey. She values building relationships and creating deep community connections. When not spending time with her little Tinyloves, her affectionate name for her doula babies, you can find her embracing her newest role as Gigi while snuggling her grandson, hiking, homeschooling, exploring the world with her kids, nieces and nephews, teaching music, or refinishing furniture.
Oriana Favreau
Birth Doula
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“Through parenthood, Oriana (she/her) has learned the true meaning of love, patience, understanding and resilience. “That quote perfectly reflects both Oriana’s journey through motherhood and the compassionate care she brings to families during the perinatal period.
As a mother of four children, three of whom have special needs, Oriana understands firsthand the beauty, challenges, and emotional depth that comes with parenting. She considers motherhood her greatest life achievement and brings that lived experience into every connection she makes with families. Through her own experiences with high-risk pregnancy, being GBS positive, induction, and breastfeeding for 7.5 consecutive years, she had developed a deep appreciation for the importance of informed, loving, and nonjudgmental support during pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond.
Oriana’s passion for birth work deepened when she served as the primary support person for a family member during labor and delivery. Witnessing the strength and vulnerability of birth solidified her desire to support and empower families through one of life’s most transformative seasons.
Known for being deeply empathetic, nurturing, funny and supportive, Oriana strives to create a safe and comforting environment where families feel truly seen and cared for. She believes that kindness, encouragement, and even laughter can make a meaningful difference during the parenting journey.
Outside of birth work, Oriana volunteers through her children’s school PTO and serves on the Finance Committee. She loves spending time with her family, children, and five beloved pets.
Sienna DeVoe-Talluto
Birth Doula
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Sienna (she/her) is a birth and postpartum doula who approaches her work with deep presence and compassion. She has been supporting births in the community since 2021 through the UVMMC volunteer doula program and with private clients. She is so excited to now be a part of the VDC team!
Sienna grew up in Vermont and holds bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from UVM, where her academic studies and travel opportunities deepened her interest in cultural traditions surrounding birth, healing, and community care. Sienna has spent time in Guatemala, studying alongside midwives and learning about traditional birthing practices across cultures. These experiences along with her experiences with families in Vermont continue to inform her grounded approach to supporting parents and families preconception through postpartum and beyond.
In addition to doula-ing, Sienna is a Birthing From Within Birth Educator, yoga instructor, and bodywork practitioner. She weaves together Mayan abdominal massage, prenatal massage, and myofascial release and offers sessions to clients in Burlington and Shelburne. She also co-founded and co-facilitates Cycles & Self, a learning journey for girls ages 9–12 that centers menstruation, body literacy, and the transitions of early adolescence with openness, education, and empowerment.
In her free time, Sienna loves long walks by the river with her dog, spending time with friends and family, dancing, and backpacking.
Are you ready to have a doula by your side?
Contact us today to discuss how we can ease your mind and help prepare you for birth and postpartum!
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Kay
Birth Doula
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Kay (she/her) is a Jamaican birthworker, educator, environmental justice activist and mental health advocate based in Vermont. Her path to birthwork has been shaped for 20 years of supporting people through major life transitions, including crisis support, trauma-informed care, childcare, family support, and advocacy. Across these roles, Kay has often played the role of a doula: helping people feel grounded, informed, cared for, and less alone as they move through major life changes. She’s spent the last 10 years focusing specifically on birthwork.
Kay’s approach is rooted in empathy, whole-person approaches, cultural connection, and meeting each birthing person where they are. They have worked with people from many walks of life and believe connection is possible when we lead with compassion, humility, and a genuine desire to understand each person’s needs. Kay is especially passionate about supporting birthing people and families in ways that honor their relationships, values, identities, and lived experiences. No judgement here.
In addition to birthwork, Kay has worked extensively with infants, children, and families as a nanny, educator and advocate. She provides doula support for all stages of the birthing journey including postpartum. She recently trained to volunteer as a Labor Doula and is honored to deepen her practice here at the Vermont Doula Company.
Outside of care work, Kay feels most at home outside—near water or in the woods. She brings that same grounded, attentive presence into their work with birthing people and their support people.