Meet the postpartum doulas
Most of our postpartum doulas started off supporting births, then got passionate about the chance to keep nurturing new families right through their fourth trimester. The doulas in our network value professionalism, expertise in caring for you and your newborn, kindness and nurture. If there's a doula whose bio calls to you, we'd love to connect you directly. Otherwise, Jessica and our office coordinator Sarah are great doula matchmakers. Let us know a little about your personality and what you're thinking about your postpartum time, and we can get you connected with a doula for an interview.
JESSICA ENGLISH, OWNER
AdvCD/BDT(DONA), PCD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE
Jessica is the owner and founder of Birth Kalamazoo. She is an advanced certified birth doula, certified postpartum doula, and certified childbirth educator. Jessica has advanced training in preventing and treating birth trauma, postpartum mood disorders, and equity. In her sister business, Heart Soul Birth Pros, Jessica trains new doulas for DONA International and new childbirth educators for Lamaze International. She's also a frequent speaker at national conferences and is hired often by hospitals and nursing organizations to train nurses in hands-on skills. As a postpartum doula, she loves watching moms and dads grow into their new role, discovering strengths and resources they didn't even know they had. When she's not taking care of families or training birth professionals, Jessica is also a hockey mom (x2) and she loves spending time on the water with her husband Keith and their boys. Learn more about Jessica.
TERESA YOUNGBLOOD, CERTIFIED POSTPARTUM DOULA
CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), CLC, SBD
Teresa's background as a registered nurse and a VBAC mom informs all of her work with families. In addition to her postpartum work, she is also a birth doula and especially loves the continuity of care when she can provide both services for families. Teresa also offers breastfeeding support to new families as a Certified Lactation Counselor, and she has special training in grief and loss and is certified as a Stillbirthday Birth and Bereavement doula. She also runs Birth Kalamazoo's VBAC & Cesarean Support group, where women gather quarterly to talk about their cesarean birth experiences and VBAC plans. Her favorite part of being a doula is seeing a woman become confident in herself as she makes the best choices for herself and her family. Teresa especially enjoys working with twins and higher order multiples, and she is a twin herself. When she's not with clients, Teresa stays busy as the mom of five and turning the food her family grows into delicious meals. A doula since 2015, Teresa is dual certified as a birth and postpartum doula with DONA International.
TIFFANY BERNSTEIN, CERTIFIED POSTPARTUM DOULA
PCD(DONA), LEC
Tiffany Bernstein has been working with postpartum families since 2017. Whether she's supporting first-timers or veteran parents, she works hard to get families to the point where they feel confident in their new roles. Tiffany loves listening deeply and diving into her toolbox to help make the fourth trimester as smooth and enjoyable as possible. She also has advanced training in grief and loss, and in breastfeeding support as a certified Lactation Education Counselor with UC SanDiego. Together with Jayni Angeli, Tiffany co-teaches Birth Kalamazoo's breastfeeding/chestfeeding class for parents. When she's not working as a doula, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her husband and their two wonderfully energetic boys, tending to their family garden, and preserving and cooking delicious food. Tiffany is a certified postpartum doula with DONA International.
IZZY HARPER, CERTIFIED POSTPARTUM DOULA
CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), CLC
Izzy has been fascinated with birth and babies since she was a little girl, but she didn’t find out about doulas until after she had her own babies. She loves supporting clients through the early weeks and month, offering evidence-based information, practical support and encouragement. As a Certified Lactation Counselor, Izzy brings a special emphasis on supporting breastfeeding. Helping people is in her nature, and she has a heart for serving under-resourced families, those with a history of anxiety or depression, and parents who have experienced infertility. Izzy has a degree in the history of science and has worked for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She is also a birth doula. Outside of doula work, Izzy spends most of her time with her three little ones. She’s a long-distance runner and reports that she’s obsessed with coffee (a helpful obsession for doulas up at all hours). Izzy is certified as a birth and postpartum doula with DONA International.
ASHLEY WHITT, POSTPARTUM DOULA
Ashley’s passion for birth and babies began as a teenager and strengthened on her own journey into motherhood. Having experienced both a cesarean and a VBAC herself, she deeply understands and appreciates the importance of the postpartum healing and recovery process. Ashley has a background as an instructor and in customer service, and she’s working toward a degree in biology and food and nutrition science. She has a deep commitment to addressing disparities for Black and Brown families, as well as a special place in her heart for her fellow military parents. Ashley is trained as both a birth and postpartum doula and loves supporting families with that continuity of care. Trained in 2023, she is finalizing her postpartum doula certification with DONA International.
HANNAH POLOMCAK, POSTPARTUM DOULA
CD(DONA)
Hannah has always had a love for all things birth and babies. She experienced birth and the postpartum journey herself without a doula twice, then describes her experience with doula support the third time as truly life changing — leaving her feeling held, loved, supported, and safe. Hannah has a heart for anyone grieving during pregnancy or after giving birth. She has a reputation as a strong, calm, and peaceful presence for families. Currently finishing her postpartum doula certification requirements with DONA International, Hannah is also a certified birth doula. In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with her husband, son and daughter — hiking, camping, and exploring all the great beaches Lake Michigan has to offer.
REBEKAH OLSON, POSTPARTUM DOULA
CD(DONA)
Rebekah was drawn to postpartum work after the birth of her own children, when she experienced the sweetness of being nurtured as a new mother. Now she works to bring that same nurturing to every family she supports. A former medical assistant, she began her work as a birth doula in 2021 and added postpartum training several years later. Rebekah believes each birth and postpartum time is sacred, and she feels honored to be able to hold space and support people during their journey. When she’s not caring for families, Rebekah can be found cooking, gardening and exploring the outdoors with her children. She is a certified birth doula with DONA International and working to complete her postpartum certification.
CHRISTY KINCAID, CERTIFIED POSTPARTUM DOULA
CD(DONA), PCD(DONA)
Christy found her way to doula work after her own experiences with infertility, adoption, pregnancy and giving birth with a doula. She has a special passion for working with families who have walked similar paths, and she also has advanced training in grief and loss. Although most of our doulas provide daytime and weekday services, Christy has developed a special niche in providing evening and weekend postpartum doula support for new families. Christy started her doula training in 2017 and she is now certified as both a birth and postpartum doula with DONA International. She also has a master’s degree in business administration. In addition to her doula work, Christy works at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and enjoys crafting, sewing, and playing outside with her three kids.
JESS PARR, POSTPARTUM DOULA
Jess is the mom of six and bonus mom to one more. All of her journeys were unique, but across the board she knows that having a doula would have made each birth and postpartum time significantly better. Today she’s dedicated to helping all families have their best possible experience, whatever the challenges. Having been a teen mom herself, she’s especially passionate about supporting young parents and everyone else who’s under-resourced or under-served. Jess has a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She’s both a birth and postpartum doula, trained through DONA International and finalizing her certification. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors with her family, along with gardening, cooking, reading and soaking up quality time with her husband and kids.
DEINEIRA SMITH, POSTPARTUM DOULA
Deineira’s journey to becoming a birth and postpartum doula was sparked by her own profound experience giving birth to her daughter, Elowen. She felt the power of love and support from her own doula and her husband, and that ignited a fierce passion inside her to help other parents on their birth and postpartum journeys. Deinera is an experienced photographer with a specialty in working with families. Guided by the fundamental principles of empathy, respect and advocacy, she works to help her clients feel heard, deeply understood, and empowered to make informed choices about their births, their babies, and their postpartum recoveries. Deineira loves to read and is a member of several book clubs. She is working to complete her final certification requirements with DONA International.
SARAH CUFFE, POSTPARTUM DOULA
Sarah came to postpartum doula work after two very different but equally challenging postpartum experiences of her own. After becoming a mom during the Covid-19 pandemic, working through many breastfeeding challenges, and struggling with postpartum anxiety, she discovered a passion for walking alongside other new parents in their own postpartum journeys. Today she supports families as both a postpartum doula and as our group's office coordinator. Sarah’s friends and family often describe her as a safe person and a great listener, and she puts those skills to great use in her role as a doula. She is particularly passionate about supporting each family’s unique feeding journey and being an advocate for parents' mental health. She loves caring for the whole family, and especially enjoys helping older siblings settle into their new role. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and creative writing, and is working to complete her postpartum doula certification with DONA International. When she’s not supporting postpartum families, you can find her spending time in nature with her husband and two amazing kiddos, volunteering with the Kalamazoo Babywearers, or trying out a new recipe to share with her family.
ALISON SEE, POSTPARTUM DOULA
CD(DONA)
On her journey to welcoming her first baby, Alison became captivated by pregnancy and birth and the fourth trimester. After two wonderful births (one in a birth center and one at home), she wanted to share the skills and knowledge that had helped her on her journeys. In addition to the joy of welcoming new life, Alison also experienced the loss of her mother during her second pregnancy. She's especially dedicated to holding space for others who may be experiencing grief or trauma. She's beyond excited to support all birthing parents, their partners, and families through this transformative moment in life. Alison transitioned into birth work from a career as a lighting designer. She teaches prenatal and postpartum yoga teacher training, and she loves sharing yoga techniques with her clients. When she's not supporting families, she enjoys spending time on the water and reliving childhood through the eyes of her son and daughter. Alison is a certified birth doula, certified HypnoBirthing instructor. She primarily offers backup to other Birth Kalamazoo postpartum doulas.