Placenta Encapsulation Specialists in Baltimore, MD

Hello everyone, my name is La'Cara Miles-Chandler but I go by Cara. I am a Certified Birth Doula and specialize in Placenta Encapsulation. I am located in Vienna, VA and offer services in the surrounding areas. Birth is a powerful, sacred journey — one that deserves tenderness, support, and unwavering care. I offer gentle, heart-centered doula support and placenta encapsulation services to help you feel grounded, informed, and deeply cared for as you bring new life into the world.

I’m Chaya, a DMV native, proud mama of three, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), student midwife, and birth worker with a deep passion for supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My journey into birth work began in 2019 when I earned my CNA license, NRP/CPR certification, and full-spectrum doula certification. I originally entered nursing with the goal of becoming a labor and delivery nurse, but in 2020, I began apprenticing as a student and birth assistant alongside a local home birth midwife. That experience completely shifted the way I viewed birth and helped me develop a deeper appreciation for physiologic, intrinsic birth and the importance of protecting a birthing person’s autonomy. Since then, I’ve continued growing both in nursing and midwifery. I became a Licensed Practical Nurse while continuing my education toward my ultimate goal of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). I’ve also spent several years working in a local hospital’s Labor & Delivery unit while running Nova Birth & Wellness, which has allowed me to experience birth from both the clinical and community-based sides of maternity care. As a doula, placenta encapsulation specialist, birth photographer, student midwife, nurse, and perinatal advocate, my heart has always been centered around supporting mothers during one of the most sacred and vulnerable seasons of their lives. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of attending more than 200 births in different roles, and every experience has continued to strengthen my passion for this work. While I have a special love for natural, physiologic birth, I believe there is no single “right” way to give birth. Every person deserves to feel informed, respected, supported, and in control of the decisions surrounding their body and their baby. Whether someone chooses a home birth, hospital birth, epidural, induction, cesarean, or an unmedicated birth, my role is to help them understand their options and feel confident in the path that feels right for them. Advocacy is at the core of everything I do. My goal is to create a relationship built on trust, safety, and genuine connection so my clients know they can confide in me, depend on me, and feel completely supported during such an intimate time in their lives. Many of the relationships I’ve formed with families have grown into lasting friendships, which is one of the things I value most about this work. My dream is to become a CNM and eventually open my own practice where I can provide families with compassionate, evidence-based, autonomous maternity care and offer the option of home birth—the same kind of empowering experience I was blessed to have with my own children.

Hey there! I'm Jenn Carlson, your friendly neighborhood doula! I call Springfield, VA home, where I live with my husband, Eddie—a rock musician who moonlights as a film critic. (Or maybe it’s the other way around? Either way, there's a lot of passionate reviews in my house!). I spent over two decades as an IT pro and a stage manager before diving headfirst into my most exciting production: raising two amazing daughters. Both of their births were high-drama—think less "rom-com" and more "medical thriller." But those experiences sparked a fire in me to help other women feel empowered during labor, and thus began my journey as a doula. Since 2013, I've been lucky enough to attend over 700 births and help nearly 300 new moms recover through the magical art of placenta encapsulation (yes, it’s a thing and it’s awesome). I'm a CBI and DONA Trained, Madriella Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, a Childbirth Educator, an AHA Infant and Pediatric First Aid and CPR instructor, a certified Reiki practitioner, and a placenta encapsulation specialist. Whew, that’s a mouthful! My goal? To be whatever my clients need. Natural-minded or more into the medical approach, I’m here to make sure you have the birth experience you want—with all the options on the table. My definition of a successful birth? One where the mom feels respected, empowered, and ready to write her own birth story, no matter how her baby arrives. Because education is key, I teach breastfeeding, infant CPR, newborn care, and childbirth classes. I've got experience with Bradley and Hypnobirthing techniques, and I bring along my trusty rebozo and TENS unit to help families through labor. I also have special training to support moms who have experienced trauma or loss, and a big, soft spot for high-risk mothers like me who need to know they have options. So whether you’re looking for a bit of guidance, a lot of support, or just someone to laugh with while you figure it all out—I’m here for you!

Hi there! I’m Ashley- a Certified Birth Doula through A Woman Who Serves, a certified Childbirth Educator, Placenta Encapsulator, and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. My philosophy of birth is that it is made to work! A mother is innately designed by God to birth her babies, and when supported in the right way, she can leave her birth feeling empowered. My goal is to support a family in whatever way they feel is most important- through education, hands-on support, emotional support, and encouragement. I would love the chance to speak with you to see how I could best serve you during this special time!

I am a pro-life doula and childbirth educator (including SpBCPE, BRM pro). I am passionate about walking alongside women and their partners with individualized support, encouragement, and evidence-informed care that honors the body’s God-given ability to birth. I spent years in the healthcare setting compassionately caring for others before making the switch to support women in this most special time in their lives. I hold a deep concern for the disturbing ethical changes our American healthcare system and seek to make a difference. I believe every life is sacred—and every mother deserves gentle, informed, and respectful care. I specialize in: *Doula care rooted in compassion and medical truths *Perinatal Parent Advocacy *Clients/partners who are Neurodiverse *Empowered individualized education for physiologic (natural) birth including peri-natal activities and positioning for pregnancy/birth *Partner-inclusive support, education and advocacy skills *Informed decisions, birth plans and birth rehearsal *Lactation counseling, flange fitting *Placental Encapsulation *Care of special needs babies, NICU informed doula

Hello, I’m Ranjani (pronounced "Runjini"), founder of Nurtured Beginnings Doula Care. I am a Certified Birth Doula through DONA International and A Woman Who Serves, a mother of four and grandmother of three, and a woman devoted to serving families with grace and compassion. I believe birth is a sacred, God-designed journey — a powerful expression of His love and creativity. Through Nurtured Beginnings Doula Care, I provide nurturing, faith-centered, and evidence-based support to families throughout Northern Virginia and within about an hour of Lovettsville, VA 20180. I also offer placenta encapsulation services to promote balance and healing in the postpartum season. My heart is to walk beside you with peace, encouragement, and prayerful presence — helping you feel supported, confident, and cared for as you welcome new life into the world. “For with God, all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26

As a Certified Perinatal Educator, I provide lactation support, childbirth education, pain management techniques, birth plan creation and more. I also serve as a full spectrum doula, assisting birthing people with any decisions from conception to postpartum.