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Hi, I’m Merinda! I’m married to my husband of 12 years, and together we’re raising three beautiful kids. I’m an Ohio native, but Florida has been home since 2017, and Sarasota is a place we’ve grown to love deeply. Our home is currently shared with our sheepadoodle, kitten, and four hens who keep life interesting! It’s a little busy, a little chaotic, and exactly the kind of full life I love. My husband and I also have the incredible privilege of serving as pastors of a local church body in Sarasota. We’ve been in full-time ministry for the past nine years, and it is both our passion and our honor to pursue the heart of God and walk alongside others as they seek Jesus. That calling has shaped so much of who I am and how I care for people—especially in the moments when life feels tender, uncertain, or overwhelming. I’m also a life coach, which means I spend a lot of time helping people work through those “stuck” places in their lives. I ask a lot of questions, listen closely, and help people uncover the answers that are often already within them. I love helping people move from feeling overwhelmed or uncertain to feeling clear, confident, and capable. That same heart is what drew me so deeply into birth work. My own experiences with pregnancy and birth have given me a unique perspective. I’ve experienced epidurals, elective inductions without an epidural, IVF, and I also had the incredible privilege of being a gestational carrier for my sister-in-law! Experiencing birth in such different ways has given me a deep compassion for the fact that there is no single “right” way for a birth story to unfold. Every mother, every baby, and every family brings a different story into the room. My approach to doula care is balanced, steady, compassionate, and calm. I’m a huge proponent of informed decision-making, and I believe you deserve to understand your options and feel confident in the choices you make for yourself and your baby. Whether your birth unfolds exactly as you imagined or takes an unexpected turn, I want you to feel supported, respected, and cared for every step of the way. I’m especially passionate about helping both mothers and fathers understand the incredible design of a woman’s body and the power it holds with physiological birth. I want families to walk into birth with knowledge instead of fear, confidence instead of uncertainty, and a deep trust in the process while remaining open to whatever their individual journey may bring. And honestly, one of the biggest reasons I care so deeply about supporting mothers is because other women have done the same for me. There have been women who stepped into my life and held me through some of my most vulnerable moments. I know firsthand the difference that kind of support can make. The power of being seen, encouraged, listened to, and simply not having to carry something alone has driven me to do the same for other women. So if you’re here wondering whether you’re “the kind of mom” who needs a doula, wondering if your questions are too many, or wondering if something is TMI—I want you to know you’re in the right place. There is no TMI here. There are never too many questions. You don’t have to have it all figured out on your own! I’m here for you—to listen, to educate, to encourage, and to support you in the same way other women have carried me. Whatever your birth journey looks like, we’re in it together.
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My Birth Doula Package provides personalized support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and early postpartum. It includes a prenatal meeting to prepare for birth and discuss your preferences, ongoing phone/text/email support throughout pregnancy, continuous in-person support during labor and birth, comfort measures and partner support, and a postpartum visit to process your birth and help you transition into life with your new baby. My goal is to help you feel calm, informed, confident, and supported—whatever kind of birth you’re planning.
I provide warm, evidence-based doula support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and early postpartum. My goal is to help you feel calm, informed, and confident as you prepare for your unique birth experience. Services include prenatal preparation and birth planning, continuous in-person labor and birth support, partner support and guidance, ongoing phone/text/email support throughout pregnancy, and a postpartum visit to process your birth and support your transition into parenthood. I support a variety of birth preferences, including unmedicated, medicated, and medically supported births.
Merinda was exactly what I needed. She was quick on her feet, comforting, calm, had all the tools, zero judgement. Just an incredible doula and I am so grateful that she got to attend my second child’s birth. I’d love to have her attend future births as well. She was exactly what I needed to have a better birth experience.
— Cara B.
I couldn’t have achieved my unmedicated birth without Merinda! She was completely supportive of my goals and made me confident going into labor as a first time mother. My husband was especially appreciative of her tag teaming for hip squeezes and back pressure during labor! Merinda was incredibly supportive through pregnancy and birth. We stayed connected the whole time and I always knew I could reach out to her with any questions. Her wisdom as a doula and as a mother are invaluable.
— Molly L.
If I could give Merinda 10 stars, I absolutely would! She was my doula almost a year ago now, which is crazy to think about, but the support she provided before, during, and after the birth of my beautiful baby girl went far beyond my expectations. The knowledge, support, experience, and genuine love she gave my husband and me made us feel calm, confident, and prepared for this incredible journey. She knew exactly when to step back and give us space and when we needed her guidance and support. She was also such a wonderful advocate for our baby girl! If you’re looking for someone to share this amazing journey with you, don’t hesitate for a second. Merinda is truly one of a kind, and we are so grateful she was part of such a special chapter in our lives. ❤️
— Vanessa B.
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Merinda is based in Sarasota, Florida.
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