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In Joy Birth proudly trains and mentors doulas in the Central Florida community through our 7-month intensive mentorship program. Our doula mentees receive hands on training with Heather & Alyssa, who pass on their 20 years of combined experience and wisdom. They created this program with the mission of building a collective of skilled, competent doulas who could broaden the reach of quality birth support in our community. Affordable care was another part of the vision behind the mentorship collective, ensuring all families receive the quality of care they deserve. We are honored to have graduated 3 mentorship classes as of July 2022.
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When you hire a doula from the In Joy Birth Collective you receive a comprehensive care package including childbirth education/planning, 24/7 on-call support, individualized birth, postpartum and lactation support for only $700. We believe every birthing family should have a doula by their side help navigate their experience with joy and ease!
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Below you'll find a list of Birth Doulas that are enrolled in our mentorship program.
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Please review the bios below and select your top three choices.
Then contact us to schedule your free, non-obligatory consultations today, mentorship@injoybirth.com.
Anna W.
Anna is mother to two lively toddlers and an energetic dog. Rooted in her Christian faith, she is passionate about supporting women through their birth journeys. Inspired by the transformative birth of her son in 2020 and the empowering VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) of her daughter, Anna felt compelled to empower other women in taking charge of their own birth stories.
Trained by DONA, Anna brings a calming presence to the birthing space, helping mothers stay grounded and empowered. She is knowledgeable in the Bradley Method and about breastfeeding. She also offers valuable support to birthing partners by educating them in techniques like hip squeezes and other comfort measures so that they can be an active participant in the birthing space.
Anna understands the challenges of pregnancy, particularly with core strength, and offers various methods to enhance comfort and aid in optimal fetal positioning. She is enthusiastic about babywearing, advocating for its benefits from pregnancy through postpartum, and is skilled in safe babywearing practices.
Whether it's belly wrapping, holding space, or squeezing hips, Anna is dedicated to supporting mothers every step of the way, ensuring each birth experience is as empowering and fulfilling as possible.
Bailey N.
Bailey N. is a mother of two wonderful boys. Her journey into motherhood began at a young age, and had the unique experience of both a vaginal and a surgical birth. These experiences have profoundly shaped her understanding of childbirth and inspired her passion for supporting and educating new moms.
Bailey is an avid lover of the outdoors, and her family. She cherishes her time hiking, exploring the great outdoors, and enjoying vacations by the water. "Whether it's a quiet moment by the lakeside or an adventurous day on the water, we thrive in nature's embrace."
Currently, Bailey is undergoing an 18-month hands-on training mentorship program with In Joy Birth. This comprehensive program is helping her deepen my skills and knowledge, equipping her to provide compassionate support and education to families during their birthing journeys. At the end of the program, she will be certified as a birth doula, placenta encapsulation specialist, and lactation support provider.
"Becoming a doula has always been a dream of mine, and I'm thrilled to have found the right time to pursue this calling. My goal is to provide compassionate support and education to families during their birthing journeys, drawing on my own experiences and love for nature to create a calming and empowering atmosphere. I'm here to help new moms navigate this incredible journey with confidence and knowledge."
Yolonda T.
Yolonda has dedicated her career to working with children and their families since 2000. Her journey began as a health educator for Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando and then as a counselor at Pace Center for Girls, Orange. As a lifelong advocate for women's rights, her personal experiences with fertility challenges and the joy of becoming a mother deepened her commitment to supporting other moms and families. As a wife, empty nester, and mother of a young adult daughter, she brings that wisdom to her endeavors. Over the years, Yolonda has served mothers, children, and babies through various roles, including owning Amaya Papaya Play Lounge, where she created numerous programs such as Mindful Play Learning, to support moms and kids individually and collectively.
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Yolonda is excited to bring her expertise as a certified yoga teacher specializing in children’s yoga, prenatal, and postnatal yoga (E-RYT 200, RCYT, RPYT, YCEPT) to this new role. Passionate about helping to combat the alarming rates of Black maternal mortality and morbidity, Yolonda strives to cultivate safe spaces for moms where they can show up authentically and revolutionize how we address mental health stigma and disparities in prenatal and postpartum care. She believes that PLAY and mindfulness are the foundations for positive mental health and happiness, which she integrates into her care for pregnant and postpartum moms to support their emotional well-being and overall health during these transformative times. Yolonda finds joy in going to the house of the mouse, spending time with her plants, searching for murals, learning about history, taking nature walks, and listening to the sound of violins. Guided by the inner wisdom of her grandmothers, her superpower lies in helping humans heal through play, mindfulness, and yoga.
Helen C.
Helen is a mother of one spunky toddler. She found that becoming a mother brought out her most authentic essence and she deeply believes in the transformative nature of birth. Not only does it give us babies, it has the power to create strong and confident mothers.
When Helen became pregnant with her son, she was in school for mental health counseling. Her eyes were opened to the world of birth and became fascinated by the mind-body-spirit connection that is woven into this significant life event. This, combined with the overwhelming fear that so many of her friends and family members felt towards birth, lit a flame to empower more women to bring their babies into the world with love and confidence.
Helen was trained by DONA and is knowledgeable in hypnobirthing. She enjoys helping clients discover their ideal birth and overcome mental roadblocks. As an empathetic listener, she works to understand her clients’ wishes so that she can best support them on their journey.
Kaley W.
Kaley is excitedly entering into the world of birthwork with a passion for nurturing, educating, and advocating. As a former special education teacher for 10 years, she prides herself in her ability to truly see everyone as individuals, with unique needs, strengths, and backgrounds. Her naturally compassionate nature and dedication to advocacy make her a strong support for mothers and families, helping to ensure that they feel empowered and cared for throughout their pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum journeys.
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Being a mom to two beautiful little boys, she understands the challenges and joys that come with pregnancy, birth, and motherhood more now than ever. She has had to navigate the gaps in information and evidence-based care, especially when dealing with her own breastfeeding struggles and postpartum anxiety with her first baby, and her diagnosis of Cholestasis late in her second pregnancy. She has since had multiple friends go through traumatic birth and postpartum experiences, which has further sparked her passion for this work.
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Kaley is a BEST certified birth doula, and soon to be certified postpartum doula and childbirth educator. She is so happy to have found the amazing women at In Joy Birth and looks forward to being a part of the birth team for many wonderful families around Orlando. Kaley believes every mama deserves to have a beautiful birth experience where she feels informed, empowered, and most of all, safe and loved.
Indre B.
Indre B.'s 23-year journey is a fusion of cultural roots and a deep commitment to empowering women through their postpartum journey. With a background initially geared toward psychology, her life took an unexpected turn with the birth of her own child, an experience that ignited her passion for guiding and informing women during the incredible journey of becoming a mom.
As a postpartum doula and mother of two young children, her knowledge and experience are fresh and relevant. I understand that the postpartum period is life-changing for every mom, and support is essential. Whether you need help with cleaning tasks, laundry, breastfeeding support, or simply someone to take care of your baby so you can rest, I'm here to provide that support. Every journey is unique, and I believe that offering assistance during this pivotal time can significantly reduce anxiety and make postpartum a bit easier for many moms.
Kira V.
Each child brings a new light into this life and brings joy into a new family. Kira is
extremely grateful for the opportunity to empower women as they welcome their new baby into this world.
As a Certified Birth Doula, Kira enjoys spending time with new-to-be mothers and discovering their excitements and concerns. As you embark on the journey of birthing together, she provides encouragement and support for you and your partner to connect and experience all that arises. Kira will be with you from pregnancy to the birth and after. She is here to be your safety net, listen to your needs, and support your decisions.
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Kira guides you into poses that can help shift the baby. She will advocate for your
needs. She is here to care for you. You and the baby’s health are the #1 priority. Kira
comes with presence, experience, and wisdom to see your picture through the fog of your physical labor sensations. Kira says “I am here for you!”
Ariel H.
Ariel is a graduate from UCF with a Bachelors in Sport and Exercise Science and a Minor in Studio Art and Photography. She has been local to Orlando for 10 years but grew up living all over the world, because her Father served in the U.S. Air Force.
In 2022 she earned a 200 hr yoga certification; specializing in restorative yoga and sound healing to help one transcend away from the weight of stress and anxiety. She has been called a lightworker and thoroughly enjoys setting up a peaceful space for her clients to let go in.
Her Dharma, life mission, is simply to empower her community; she wishes to make all that seek out her help to feel grounded, educated, strong and capable enough to handle anything that is in their path. She offers a guiding hand that is dependable for new families while they navigate these life changing events. Let Ariel be the support that catches you even before you fall, let her be your grounding presence in the midst of the storm and she will help make your transition to parenthood as magical as it should be.
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Jai Bhagwan | Victory to the Spirit
Sofija J.
Sofija comes to InJoy after over a decade of working and living in Washington DC, where she began her work as a professional doula with Doulas of Capitol Hill. Sofija is now a mentee with InJoy, she completed her training with Ancient Song Doula Services in 2021.
Sofija is trained as a full-spectrum doula and offers a wide range of support services to her clients. Sofija is an experienced doula, having attended more than 10 births, and has assisted many new parents in the postpartum period and beyond. She is a dedicated caretaker so expect for baby, mom, and dad to be pampered! Sofija is known to bring a light and cheerful disposition into any birthing suite, keeping things calm and allowing you to experience the joy of bringing your new one into the world surrounded by love. Sofija is a knowledgeable and focused doula with experience in lactation and nutritional support. She believes in providing all of her clients with non-judgmental, inclusive care. Sofija will be available to you throughout pregnancy to answer any questions, no matter how big or small, she's here to be your champion, best friend, cook, back-up, and pregnancy dictionary.
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Amy K.
Amy is a Certified Doula (IJB), DONA trained. She is certified in birth, postpartum and placenta encapsulation. She provides services in the Seminole County area both at home or in Hospital/Birth Center settings.
Amy, a mother of four, joined the birthing community after her fourth child seeing how important it was to have choices and caring support. She started her journey with DONA and it led to continued education in the Bradley method, VBAC, breastfeeding, placenta encapsulation, and postpartum with
In Joy Birth's mentorship program.
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Vonda O.
Vonda is a mother to 6 children; 3 teenagers and 3 little ones. Being young when she had her older children and very uneducated about birth, she followed whatever the doctors told her. She has grown through her own birth experiences and through friends and families she has attended. She is currently a birth assistant at Tree of Life and has served many families through In Joy Birth over the last 2 years.
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“I believe that all mommas and their families deserve to be educated and supported no matter what they decide is best for them. If that means you want pain medication the moment you walk into the hospital or if you want a home, water birth then I will be there to help and support you with love and no judgement.” ~Vonda
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Ashley F.
Ashley, a mother of two, discovered her passion for birth work through her own transformative birth experience. Her first birth involved a cascade of unwantd interventions, which led her to seek a more supportive and personalized experience for her second birth. In January 2021, she hired In Joy Birth, and the exceptional support she received ignited her commitment to helping others through their birth journeys. It was the detailed information about choices, hospital procedures, and resources that helped her navigate her second hospital birth with confidence. It is that very feeling she'd like to share with other expecting parents.
With a background in education as a teacher and school administrator, it is no suprise that Ashley seeks to stay up to date on valuable, evidence-based information families may need and to handle all of the logistical support, allowing you to release and focus on what truly matters during your birth. She is currently furthering her knowledge and skills through an 18-month mentorship with In Joy Birth, to better empower and support expectant parents. Her personal approach is centered on understanding each individual's unique needs.
Ashley understands that every journey into motherhood is unique and is committed to offering support tailored to your personal needs and preferences. She believes in sharing information to empower you, allowing you to take what resonates and leave the rest, ensuring you are well-informed and supported in making choices that feel right for you.
When she’s not supporting families, Ashley enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, traveling, practicing yoga, and exploring new recipes in the kitchen. She stays engaged with social issues affecting children and mothers while embracing the ongoing journey of rediscovering herself post motherhood.
Choosing Ashley as your doula means you will have an attentive doula with a lifetime of experience in supporting communities and families.
Make what you love, be what you do.
- Rumi
Interested in joining the doula mentorship program?
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7 month in-depth, continuing education program.
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Extended doula support and 24/7 guidance for all birth work and business needs.
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Integration into support circles and birth networks.
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Get paid while studying and receiving our guidance.
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Monthly workshops with specialized and local experts.
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Hands on experience through apprenticeship while building clientele base.
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Create partnerships with birth centers, home birth midwives, and certified nurse midwives.
Our 2024 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM is OPEN.
Apply for the Fall 2024 Collective here: Be the change email: mentorship@injoybirth.com to RSVP