Terri Schelkoph, (CD)DONA, HCHD, Body Ready Method® Pro,
**Congratulations on your upcoming birth journey!**
With more than **350 births attended**, I am an experienced and compassionate birth doula dedicated to walking alongside families through one of life’s most meaningful and transformative experiences. As a **DONA-certified birth doula**, I combine professional training, years of hands-on experience, and personalized support to help mothers and their partners feel informed, confident, and well cared for throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period.
My additional training allows me to offer specialized support for a wide variety of birth experiences. I am **Hypnobabies® certified**, using evidence-based comfort and relaxation techniques to help families approach labor with greater calm and confidence. As a **VBAC Link® certified doula**, I have a particular passion for supporting families preparing for a vaginal birth after cesarean and helping them understand their options.
I am also a **Body Ready Method® Pro** and have completed **Spinning Babies® training**, which complement my strong interest in **body mechanics, movement, positioning, and physiological birth**. I love helping mothers better understand how their bodies move and function during pregnancy and labor. By incorporating intentional movement, positioning, body-balancing techniques, and practical comfort measures, I work with families to encourage mobility, create space for baby, promote comfort, and support the natural physiology of labor.
Rather than waiting until labor begins to think about positioning and movement, I especially enjoy working with families **proactively during pregnancy**. Helping mothers develop greater body awareness, explore movement patterns, and learn practical tools they can carry into labor is an important part of the support I offer. My goal is never to make the body perform a certain way, but to provide tools that encourage **balance, mobility, adaptability, and confidence** throughout pregnancy and birth.
I am especially passionate about **educating and equipping women** so they can understand their options, advocate for themselves, and make decisions that honor their individual emotional and physical needs. I also have a special interest in supporting families expecting **twins and multiples**, providing individualized preparation and support for the unique considerations that can accompany these births.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: **every birth is unique and deserves to be honored with respect, compassion, and unwavering support.** Whether you are preparing for a physiological birth, planning to use an epidural, navigating an induction, pursuing a VBAC, or welcoming your baby through a planned cesarean, my role is not to define what an empowering birth looks like for you. My role is to help you understand your options, feel confident in your decisions, and remain supported throughout the journey.
As a devoted Christian, my faith is an important part of who I am. For families who desire it, I am honored to incorporate **prayer, spiritual encouragement, and faith-based support** into our time together.
When I’m not attending births, I enjoy connecting with my community, leading prenatal education workshops, mentoring aspiring doulas, and directing the Doula Intern Program at New Birth Midwifery.
Outside of birth work, you’ll usually find me spending time with my husband of 20 years and our six children, homeschooling, reading a good book, savoring a cup of coffee, cherishing time with friends, cheering on the Vikings, or serving at my church.
It would be an honor to walk alongside you as you prepare to welcome your baby. **Let’s work together to create a birth experience where you feel informed, supported, respected, and empowered—in your choices and in your body.**
