Dr. Alex Afram

Washington, District of Columbia

Dr. Alex Afram

11 years of experience

Dr. Alex Afram is a licensed psychologist specializing in individual and couples therapy, with a focus on helping clients improve relationships, manage stress, and overcome life challenges. Offering both in-person and online sessions, Dr. Afram creates a supportive, results-driven environment tailored to each client’s needs.

Billie Abdullah

Washington, District of Columbia

Billie Abdullah

3 years of experience
Accepts insurances

My practice is inspired by the idea of radical liberation and justice. I center my service around centering marginalized identities and accepting whoever is open to sharing their journey with me. Entering the birth space with intention of radical joy, agency, and empowerment is what drives and motivates me as a birth worker. With these values in mind, I seek to offer care that embodies an environment of acceptance, affirmation, and protection from hate.

Maya Chevalier

Washington, District of Columbia

Maya Chevalier

3 years of experience

Hi, I’m Maya, a postpartum doula and sleep consultant passionate about helping families feel cared for, rested, and confident in their new chapter. Through Nestled, I provide overnight support, newborn care education, and gentle sleep solutions tailored to your family’s needs. My goal is to create a nurturing environment that allows both parents and babies to thrive. When I’m not supporting families, you can usually find me spending time with my own loved ones, exploring nature on a hike, or winding down with a good TV show.

Valene Locust

Washington, District of Columbia

Valene Locust

6 years of experience

Hello! I'm Valene , a dedicated Newborn Care Specialist with 4 years of experience in providing exceptional care to newborns and their families. My passion lies in supporting new parents during the crucial early days of their baby's life, ensuring both the infant and the family are comfortable and well-adjusted. I specialize in a range of newborn care services including sleep training, feeding support, and developmental guidance. My approach is personalized and compassionate, focusing on creating a nurturing and safe environment for your baby while offering you the confidence and peace of mind you need. I look forward to the opportunity to help you and your newborn thrive during this beautiful journey.

Chassis Hawkins-Younger

Washington, District of Columbia

Chassis Hawkins-Younger

6 years of experience

Hey there! I'm Chas & I'm a full spectrum doula, a certified perinatal nutrition educator, & a personal chef of 10+ years. This supportive service was created in memory of my son Anthony. My mission is to provide physical, emotional, mental, educational, & nutritional support to parents by supporting with a mix of humility, heart, facts, and food.

deborah galvao

Washington, District of Columbia

5.0 (5 reviews)

deborah galvao

4 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello, I’m Deborah Galvao, a dedicated and experienced birth and postpartum doula, newborn care specialist, and perinatal educator based in the DMV area. Over the past two years, I’ve had the honor of supporting families through one of life’s most transformative journeys. My philosophy is rooted in creating a calm, informed, and nurturing environment for parents and their newborns. I believe every family deserves personalized care, whether it’s guiding them through childbirth, supporting recovery during the postpartum period, or offering education to build confidence in their parenting journey. My approach is inclusive, embracing all family structures, including LGBT families and those navigating surrogacy or IVF. I’m here to empower you with evidence-based resources, hands-on care, and a deep commitment to your well-being—helping you transition into parenthood with confidence and ease. To get faster answers please text my #

Recent review

Deborah was an incredible support during the newborn phase with my twins. She brought calm, expertise, and so much care into our home. She helped us with routines, feeding, and soothing, and made sure I could rest and recover. Truly patient, professional, and wonderful with babies — I’m so grateful for her and highly recommend her to any family, especially twin parents. we occasionally still use her services even 4 years later

- Lauren Y.

Yakkell Lavender

Washington, District of Columbia

Yakkell Lavender

6 years of experience

I provide birthing bodies with positive and compassionate support throughout their birth experience while empowering them to lead healthy lives.

Shelly Matthews

Washington, District of Columbia

Shelly Matthews

32 years of experience

I feel being an instructor with DC Lamaze is the best part-time job I've ever had! I enjoy giving expectant families an educational, interactive, and balanced approach to learning in my two day hybrid Lamaze Prepared Childbirth Classes in Wash. DC. I do my best to keep current with changes in birth practices, like to sprinkle my classes with a bit of humor, and make sure to leave time for practice sessions and questions. I am a school teacher full time and reside in Bowie, MD with my family.

Metropolitan Doulas

Washington, District of Columbia

Metropolitan Doulas

11 years of experience
Accepts insurances

​Metropolitan Doulas are a group of trained and experienced postpartum doulas, serving Washington D.C, Northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland. Perhaps you are expecting a baby, or maybe you recently had a baby and are looking for some help. Hiring a postpartum doula can ease you into your role as a parent, and provide you the care, support, and education that will help you feel relaxed and ready to take on the challenge of new parenthood.

Theodora Amissah

Washington, District of Columbia

Theodora Amissah

8 years of experience

Greetings, I’m Theodora! I’m a first generation Ghanaian-American postpartum doula serving families in Washington, DC and parts of Northern Virginia. I trained as a full-spectrum doula and started my doula practice in Brooklyn, NYC in 2018. Since then I have supported birthing and postpartum women, people, and their families on their journeys in Richmond, Virginia and now in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. My doula practice is also shaped by my West African background. I come from a big Ghanaian family and diaspora community, where community care is how we care for each other through life’s transitions, especially birth and postpartum. I provide culturally-rooted and affirming postpartum education, support, and nourishing services and products to birthing and postpartum people. I have several postpartum packages I offer, so that you can find the right fit for you and your family. A portion of all my services and products supports black and brown and immigrant women/birthing people and their families across the spectrum of their reproductive needs to have safe, dignified, and loving reproductive experiences. I look forward to hearing how I can join your team of care to provide a nourishing and supported postpartum journey!

Mel Andrade

Washington, District of Columbia

5.0 (2 reviews)

Mel Andrade

8 years of experience

Hi! I’m Mel, a full-spectrum doula, lactation peer counselor, and student midwife based in the DMV and supporting Florida birthing mamas and birthing people as well. With lived experience in both a cesarean and a VBAC/home birth, along with six years of herbal training, I integrate evidence-based care, trauma-informed support, and holistic traditional practices. I attend all births and prioritize improving outcomes for Black birthers through clear guidance and informed decision-making. My goal is to help families navigate pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding with confidence, accurate information, and consistent advocacy. Birth should be calm, peaceful, and empowering no matter which turn it takes. When I'm not being a doula, I'm being a chef ♡

Recent review

Best support system a mom could ask for. Really love and appreciate this woman for supporting me and my family during this special time. She is a real gem ❤️❤️ thank you for helping me welcome my son into this world. Encouraging me during birth and making the whole experience pleasurable and peaceful 🙏🏾❤️

- Joy C.

Courtney Papanicolaou

Washington, District of Columbia

Courtney Papanicolaou

54 years of experience

We are your one-stop shop for all your postpartum needs. We are your village and concierge for anything and everything those first few weeks and months following birth. Our services include postpartum doulas, newborn specialists, yoga, meal prep, grocery shopping, housekeeping, and more! Whatever you need mama, we got you.

Jenn Brazelton

Washington, District of Columbia

Jenn Brazelton

11 years of experience

I serve the Greater Washington DC area to include Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland, as a Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula, Enneagram coach and Placenta Encapsulator. My main focus is to support families to prepare and experience their best possible birth and minimize fear.

Esthanette Reid

Washington, District of Columbia

Esthanette Reid

6 years of experience

Hi, I’m Esthanette (Es tuh net), and thank you for considering having me as a part of your journey! I’m a trained full-spectrum doula. All that means is that I can support you during the prenatal, labor, birth, and postnatal period. I want to ensure that you receive evidence-based information to make informed decisions about your care. I want to help equip you with the tools not only to navigate your birth space and care but tools to help you feel prepared after your baby comes earthside. My goal is to work with you to provide nonjudgmental, embracing, educational, intimate, and personalized care throughout your journey. I’m ready to embrace you and welcome you to my doula family. I embrace birthing people and their families in the DC Metro Area (virtually and in-person), Atlanta Metro (virtually and in-person), and across the nation (virtually).

Brittani Gates

Washington, District of Columbia

Brittani Gates

3 years of experience

Hello all, I am Brittani Gates a BEST certified birth doula. I am currently serving the DMV area. I am a current Maternal Child Health MPH student and am passionate about maternal everything! My goal as doula is to support my clients in the pursuit of their best possible birth. That may seem rather ambiguous but everyone has different desires and expectations; accordingly, I support them all. In my free time I enjoy music, books, and trying different restaurants. Congratulations on this amazing journey. I leave you with this: With my support and your intuition, there is nothing we can’t do(ula)!

Jessica Vonada

Washington, District of Columbia

Jessica Vonada

22 years of experience

Hello Parents of Little Ones! My name is Jessica Vonada! I have always had a passion for children, especially babies! My initial work with infants was in the setting of an early learning center from 2005-2009 while I was in college earning a B.S. in Elementary Education and M.S. in Education, specializing in ESL. After graduating in 2009, I taught for 2 years before realizing working with infants was my true calling. In 2011, I began working in the role of a Newborn Care Specialist, primarily with preemies & twins. From May 2015 until July 2017, I had the privilege of caring for orphaned & abandoned infants and toddlers in a babies home in Uganda. And in 2018, I received my certification as an Advanced Newborn Care Specialist. My journey to becoming a child sleep consultant began in 2012. At that time I was in a 24 hour care position with a set of twins. Initially their sleep seemed fairly on track, but after hitting the 4 month sleep regression, their sleep quickly began to unravel. By 6 months of age they were waking every 1-2 hours each night and the mom decided it was time to bring in a sleep consultant. I was skeptical to say the least! Much to my disbelief, within a few days they were sleeping 12 uninterrupted hours at night and began taking age appropriate naps. After that I had to know more! And in 2016, I graduated from the Family Sleep Institute as a Certified Child Sleep Consultant. As I continued as a Newborn Care Specialist and Child Sleep Consultant, I realized I was not always able to advise and assist lactating and postpartum moms the way I would have liked to. I wanted to become more balanced and be able to provide holistic support to the families I was caring for. As a result, I took the necessary steps to become a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and Certified Postpartum Doula. And currently I am pursuing the journey to becoming an IBCLC. I have a true passion for what I do and would love to help you and your family get the sleep you need!

Samantha Dandridge

Washington, District of Columbia

Samantha Dandridge

7 years of experience

Hi! I’m Samantha. Certified birth and postpartum doula located in the DMV. I am also currently a student midwife. I LOVE everything birth!! I believe that birth should be your way and every person should be informed to make the best decisions for you and baby. I create a judgement free zone for both birthers and support persons while fully supporting educationally, physically and emotionally. During my free time I am finding new adventures with my girls and husband. I’m also a dance teacher and high school cheerleading coach.

Maxine McIntyre-Gladden

Washington, District of Columbia

5.0 (2 reviews)

Maxine McIntyre-Gladden

21 years of experience

Hello Everyone: I am Maxine, a Newborn Care Specialist. I come with many years of experience developing new borns and toddlers. I m a former day care provider. I have always enjoyed caring for babies and toddlers, and supporting families through those first precious months of life, brings me great fulfillment. My background combines hands-on experience with a deep understanding of infant development, sleep routines, and family adjustment during the early stages of parenthood. I believe a calm and organized environment helps both baby and parents thrive. My approach focuses on creating a safe, nurturing, and predictable routine that allows everyone to rest and feel confident. I also make it a priority to provide reassurance and education, helping parents feel supported and informed every step of the way. In my free time, I enjoy spending quiet mornings with a good cup of coffee, visiting local parks, and finding new ways to make life easier for families during the newborn stage.

Recent review

Maxine has a natural gift for caring for babies and toddlers, and her genuine passion is evident in everything she does. As a first-time parent, I cannot express how grateful our family is for Maxine. From the moment she walked into our home, she brought a calm, reassuring presence that immediately put us at ease. Those early weeks can feel overwhelming, but Maxine guided us through every step with patience, expertise, and genuine care. She has an incredible understanding of newborns - their needs, their cues, and their rhythms. Within days, she helped us establish a predictable routine that made an enormous difference in our baby's sleep and overall comfort. She took the time to explain what she was doing and why, which gave us so much confidence as new parents. We cannot recommend Maxine enough. Any family would be lucky to have her.

- Melisa K.

Traequanda Brock

Washington, District of Columbia

5.0 (1 review)

Traequanda Brock

5 years of experience

My name is Traequanda Brock and my interest in birth and postpartum doula work came about during my graduate studies in the social work program. I have been in the social work field since 2011 and graduated from Howard University with my Master of Social Work degree. I have always been passionate about equity, especially for those who are marginalized. I learned of the disparity among black women/black birthing persons and the rate at which they weren’t surviving due to birth related complications, that are completely preventable when given the right care. As I learned the huge impact doulas could have on the life of black women/black birthing persons, I knew where my calling was leading me. I am trained through the National Black Doula Association as a birth and postpartum doula. I know that my purpose is to be of service to others and that so happens to be in this field. My interest is for birthing persons to get back in touch with their bodies and all that it can do. This looks like, trusting yourselves and tapping into your intuition, nurturing your mind, body, and soul; with the nutrients you feed it, exercise, meditation, ancestral traditions; as well as leaning on your supports through this beautiful experience.

Recent review

Traequanda was my doula. She was excellent from beginning to end. She kept my partner and I well informed, was intentional, and patient. Traequanda is a gem.

- Natalie R.

Gina Valo

Washington, District of Columbia

5.0 (14 reviews)

Gina Valo

5 years of experience
Accepts insurances

Hello and congrats! I'm Gina Valo, a certified labor doula (Childbirth International and ProDoula) and the founder of BirthingKind. My role as a doula is to make sure you have access to the information, resources, and support you need to feel comfortable and confident throughout your pregnancy and birth experience. Our philosophy is simple: Your Body. Your Baby. Your Birth. My practice is rooted in evidence-based information, which serves as critical foundation for informed decision-making. I lean heavily on my academic and professional background in healthcare data to stay up to date on the latest research in maternal health. Before becoming a doula I worked as a healthcare technology executive and White House Presidential Innovation Fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. I earned a Master of Management in Clinical Informatics from the Duke University School of Medicine and a B.A. in Organizational Studies from the University of Michigan. I like to balance research and data with a healthy dose of empathy and emotional intelligence so that we can arrive at decisions that work best for you. I would love the opportunity to meet you and see if we’re a fit.

Recent review

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Gina and I was so incredibly lucky and thankful to have her present at the birth of my daughter. As a nurse midwife myself, I have worked with a large number of doulas and Gina is truly one of the best doulas I have ever worked with in my career. From not only supporting me physically through my unmedicated vaginal delivery (I don’t know that I would have made it without her incredible hip squeezes). Gina made a point to remember that my husband also needed support (he’s a little squeamish haha). Her ability to take care of not only the birthing person, but the entire family made Gina such a valuable member of my team. And then when complications arose and I was bleeding more than normal, Gina was the most incredible advocate. Checking in with the medical team to ask when I would be re-evaluated and when the MDs were coming into the room, which allowed me and my husband to continue to bond with the baby. And ultimately, when I ended up in the operating room, Gina stayed with my husband and newborn, so that he was not left alone with a new baby and a wife in the OR, which I know was an absolute necessity to keep him calm and at peace. Gina was by my side for almost 12 hours, never taking a break, and did not end up leaving the hospital until almost 3AM when me, my baby, and my husband were all safe and sound. Hiring Gina was the best decision I made during this pregnancy, and I don’t know how I would have emotionally survived this delivery without her.

- Maariya B.