VBAC Doulas in Philadelphia, PA

Planning a vaginal birth after cesarean? These providers list VBAC support as a specialty, from preparing for labor to helping you talk through your options with your care team.

32 VBAC Doulas near Philadelphia, PA

Melissa Lucchesi

Villanova, Pennsylvania 10 years of experience

5.0 (14 reviews)

Melissa Lucchesi

NPI verified Responds within a few hours Accepts insurance

Hi! My name is Melissa Lucchesi. I am a certified fertility, birth and postpartum doula and maternal mental health coach. I own Moon Sage Mama, which is a beautiful agency made up of amazing trauma-informed and mental health and wellness supportive doulas! I have spent the last 2+ decades in the trauma world, and deeply know professionally and personally how much trauma-informed support in the birth and postpartum space matters. That’s why everyone who works with us can be assured gentle and loving, compassionate support through a trauma-informed lens. That means “Your body. Your birth. Your baby.” Whether you carry with you a trauma history, prior birth or fertility trauma, extra fears, history of mental health struggles, or you just want an extra layer of loving kindness in your support, reach out and connect! Wishing you a beautiful, healing birthing day and a connected, supported postpartum!

Recent review

I have been so lucky to hire Melissa twice as a doula now and I could not recommend her services enough. She is a wonderful advocate for mothers and truly listened to what I needed. She gave me the space to think about what my needs might be and I don’t think I would have known without her there to ask those questions. She helped prep our whole family in a way where I felt so well cared for. For both of the births Melissa was there for, as soon as she walked in I felt a huge sigh of relief. She was there and she had me and my back and I fully trusted her to guide me. We were also fortunate enough to hire her postpartum doulas! We had the pleasure of working with Veronica, Danielle and Bernadette. Everyone brought different outstanding qualities that were a total joy to experience. They went above and beyond to learn about our families needs and fit right in. I trusted all of them with my postpartum care, cooking meals, giving my husband a break and endless sibling entertainment for my bigger kids so I could snuggle in bed with our new baby. I felt so well supported my body was able to heal physically and I could emotionally take space when needed. There was always round the clock care and they were quick to fill our schedule when I quickly realized I needed more support than I had initially intended. I wish all mothers could experience this kind of care.

- dani p.

Chelsea McShane

Stafford Township, New Jersey 7 years of experience

5.0 (3 reviews)

Chelsea McShane

Responds within a few hours

Welcome! I'm Chelsea, a mom of 2, and owner of Moonlight Maternity, where I practice as a Full Spectrum Doula, Lamaze International trained Childbirth Educator, and Newborn Care Specialist! I truly feel my purpose is to spend my life trying to make a positive impact on motherbaby health and wellness, and to help foster thriving families from the start. Changing things for the better in the maternal healthcare field is a monster to tackle, but I know that being able to positively impact even just one family at a time will lead to a generational ripple effect, and there's nothing more beautiful to me than to imagine a future like that. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be in the world of birthwork! My favorite show as a kid was "a baby story", (I know... I was a weird kid lol) a show that followed pregnant people through their journey and birth experience, and by the time I was a teenager I knew I wanted to become a Midwife. I was enrolled in a Midwifery program for over a year and on the way to making my dreams come true. Then, when I was 19, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant and everything came to a temporary halt while I spent time focusing on raising my son as a single mother, and working full time to support us. The birth of my son was an incredibly traumatic experience unfortunately, but inspired within me an even greater drive and passion to make a difference. I knew more than ever how important information, advocacy, autonomy and empowerment are during pregnancy and birth experiences. Having those things directly relates to how confidently you begin your motherhood journey, the way you trust your intuition, and the way you raise your babies. I realized on a more personal level exactly how important it is to try to prevent negative outcomes and experiences in the birth space...something which I knew before, but deeply understood now. Over the years, I spent my free time educating myself more, reading anything I could get my hands on, watching birth vlogs on YouTube- still always deeply passionate about birthwork, and longing to find my way back to it. I found my wonderful husband along the way when my son was 2 years old, and we got married a few years later. He has always supported my love of birthwork and encouraged me to chase my dreams. I helped friends and family through pregnancies, birth, the postpartum period, and breastfeeding using everything I had learned, and loved any opportunity I had to talk to people about the subject. The idea of becoming a doula was something I talked about frequently, but didn't feel it was possible for me to act on timing wise. The people in my life who love me always encouraged me and believed I could do it, and one day, a conversation with an amazing friend flipped that switch for me to take the leap, and the stars finally aligned! That same day, I immediately started researching training organizations and what type of doula I could become, spent a while finding the program I felt was best for me, went to start the application, and it just so happened they had a scholarship opportunity available that closed the very next day. The requirements were to write an essay about why I wanted to become a doula, any issues or hardships that have kept me from doing so, a bit about my life story, and to share how I dreamed I could impact my community through my work. To me, this seemed like a no brainer and the easiest, most exciting thing I had ever written...my dreams becoming reality were on the other side of that essay. I got it done quickly and submitted my application for the scholarship before dinner time that night. I nervously waited to hear back, and a week later, I received an email congratulating me with a full scholarship opportunity! The most beautiful and affirming part of all of this to me, is that the day it all happened- the conversation, taking the leap, the scholarship opportunity... just so happened to be my birthday...a sign I took to be the universe confirming & guiding me on the path to my life's purpose. I still get chills thinking about how it all fell into place perfectly, and am so grateful it did. Once training began a few weeks later, it affirmed further everything I felt about my passion for this work... I finally felt aligned with my dreams, and a sense of knowing that this is how it was all supposed to happen- all in the right timing for me. In 2022, I had now been a Full Spectrum Doula for over a year, and my husband and I were elated to find out we were pregnant with a baby girl! I felt so much more confident throughout my pregnancy, knowing that this birth was going to be fulfilling, redeeming, and everything I had always hoped for. My experience was truly something incredible...I was able to see the beauty of knowledge, empowerment, and healing come full circle. I gave birth on my own terms, my body and my choices were respected and held with care, I was surrounded by support and love, and my soul was healed as my daughter was born- a re-birth of me as well. A beautiful opportunity to step into a new phase of motherhood and womanhood confidently! Experiencing pregnancy and birth again myself through new perspective was cathartic, eye-opening, and truly life changing for me. I will forever hold that in my heart, and an experience like that is ALWAYS my goal for my clients. In practicing birthwork, I offer a holistic and practical approach, ensuring that in the balanced approach I take, my clients feel confident in themselves and in my support. I take pride in being able to support the entire reproductive journey and have a personal connection to each modality of care that I offer, so my heart is in it all. Whether you're with me for pregnancy & birth, fertility, postpartum, loss support, or anything else, I will give you an unmatched level of attention and care- something I hold with the utmost importance. I will always offer quality time and opportunity for real connection. I don't believe in being surface level with each other, because birthwork is intimate and sacred. Connection is comfort and a nervous system at ease. I want you to feel safe, nurtured, and at-home in my presence. I want to hold space for your thoughts, feelings, needs, and comfort. I'm always a safe space, a non-judgmental listening ear, and shoulder to lean on when you need it most. All of it matters to me, and the way it impacts your experience is important. During your pregnancy, we will spend plenty of time on evidence-based education, so you feel confident and empowered in informed decision making, and more clear on what you may experience during your birth. We will craft your ideal birth plan together so we can prepare to make it attainable. I'll make sure you understand the "why" behind birth experiences changing (as they always will), and that in creating that birth plan, what we're really doing is creating a woman who feels confident in standing strong in her choices, and in control of her own birth. I will never judge you for changing your choices or doing what you feel is best for you in the moment, and will continue to make sure you feel confident and supported no matter what. I will always be authentic and forthcoming, because I don't believe in infantilizing women when you deserve transparent information. Inauthenticity is not the kind of person I am anyway lol, and I hope that encourages you to be yourself around me too! Authenticity builds trust, comfort, and a feeling of safety in communication. I want to build on that connection with you, learn about you, have conversations that make you feel seen and held, and allow you to get to know me as well. As I said above, It means everything to me if you feel safe, nurtured, and at-home in my presence. Birth is intimate, raw, humbling, and empowering- honoring that for you is an honor to me. By extension, fertility beforehand, the postpartum period afterwards, your lactation journey, newborn care, and every part of the path to and through parenthood is intertwined. That's why I chose the path of Full Spectrum work, to be able to support you through any and every part of your journey should you want me to. I will dedicate myself to you, respect you, hold space for you, be a friend to you, and help you see that YOU are the most powerful and important part of it all. I'm excited to be a part of your journey- we're in this together ❤️

Recent review

I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it was having Chelsea as our doula for the pregnancy and birth of our baby girl. Being that this was our first baby, we were looking for guidance when it came to almost everything birth and labor related. Chelsea was so genuine, sweet, caring, knowledgeable, and considerate from the start. She was there for me via text/call and in person throughout my pregnancy, and her presence during my (long) labor and delivery was so invaluable. She was a calming wealth of knowledge when it came to labor techniques and advocating for me all the way through to baby girl’s arrival, and even postpartum. I’m so thankful to have had her with us and to have made a lifelong friend! I would highly highly recommend her to anyone and everyone in their birthing journey.

- Nikonia G.

Amber Baughman

Gloucester City, New Jersey 4 years of experience

5.0 (24 reviews)

Amber Baughman

Responds within a day Accepts insurance

Hi I’m Amber and I am a loving mother of 3 beautiful children. Owner of Like Me Doula Services, LLC. I am a NJ Family Care Medicaid Provider. I come from a diverse background and have had 3 very different birth experiences. After having my last baby in 2021 I became incredibly invested in women’s birthing experiences, before, during and after and through research saw that there was a need in my area for supportive women just like me. I decided to take the journey to become a Doula and will be continuing my education in all areas. I want to help change the way women think of their birthing experience and make Doula service and Breastfeeding services more obtainable for all women no matter your circumstances. Please reach out if you have questions about how I can help make your birthing experience better. ❤️

Recent review

My Amber, my Amber (yes !! I literally yelled her name during delivery 😂)… where do I even begin? Amber was simply AMAZINGGGG. From answering late-night messages to showing up for impromptu emergency visits, she was always present. She made me feel instantly comfortable we clicked right away because Amber is truly a whole vibe. What I loved most is how wholeheartedly involved she was. She advocated for me every step of the way and brought so much knowledge and passion into this journey. And listen… as a mom who has birthed FOUR babies, she still taught me things I never even knew. That says everything. In such a short time, Amber became family. We’re going on three months postpartum and I can still text her, vent, and just be real no judgment, just love and support. She made this experience unforgettable, and honestly, I just wish I had found her sooner. If you’re looking for a doula who will make you laugh, cry with you, turn the delivery room into a karaoke concert, hold you accountable (because she DOES NOT play 😌), while holding your hand and making you feel completely seen and validated she is the doula for you. TENS, TENS, TENS ACROSS THE BOARD 👏🏽✨

- Whitney Doughty

Lorraine Mejias

Edison, New Jersey 7 years of experience

5.0 (50 reviews)

Lorraine Mejias

Responds within a day

Hi! I'm Lorraine. I'm a doula and lactation counselor. I'm also the founder of Repose Postpartum, a postpartum care company that focuses exclusively on recovery, newborn care, and breastfeeding. I've worked with about 300 families throughout NJ and NYC over the past 8 years. I encourage you to think of yourself as the CEO of your home, and to bring in a doula as a postpartum consultant who will help you navigate their new normal and help you start their parenthood journey on the right foundation. That looks like: • Ensuring that your physical and mental health is prioritized, as it's the foundation for your family's unit • Translating newborn care into systems that actually support rest and recovery • Guiding you on how to better understand and respond to your baby's cues and behavior • Providing breastfeeding counseling so that you can feel more informed and supported on how they feed their baby • Educating you on the intricacies of newborn sleep, and helping to implement gentle and realistic sleep routines. I accept most benefit programs offered by employers. I'd love to learn more about how my team and I can support you during the early postpartum period.

Recent review

Repose Postpartum was a true game changer for our family. From the very beginning, Lorraine was professional, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgeable. She helped us feel confident in caring for our baby while also prioritizing rest and recovery. I can't recommend Repose Postpartum highly enough to any family looking for meaningful and professional postpartum support.

- Shawn -SB- Burnett

Christina Duff

Havertown, Pennsylvania 20 years of experience

Christina Duff

Accepts insurance

Christina Duff, CD(DONA), CLC, MS, is a Philadelphia and Main Line birth doula with more than 20 years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care. Since 2006, Christina has supported more than 1,800 births throughout the Philadelphia region. Based in Havertown, PA, Christina is the mother of three. Her oldest son attends Saint Joseph’s University Graduate program, her middle child attends Georgetown University, and her youngest is a student at the Academy of Notre Dame. Christina co-founded Well Born Baby with the goal of providing expert, compassionate support to growing families. In addition to her work as a birth doula, Christina is a postpartum doula, certified breastfeeding counselor, and childbirth educator. Christina's path to birth work began in science. She earned her B.S. from Drexel University in 2000, then pursued Master's studies in Biology, specializing in biomechanics and functional morphology. During that time, she served as a teaching assistant in Anatomy and Physiology, deepening her understanding of the human body. Before becoming a doula, Christina worked as an Environmental Planner with the Chester County Planning Commission. After becoming a mother, she felt a powerful pull toward supporting other families through pregnancy and birth. In 2006, she co-founded Well Born Baby, a respected doula agency known for providing compassionate, evidence-based support for all kinds of birth experiences. Christina is a DONA International-certified birth and postpartum doula and a certified breastfeeding counselor through the Nursing Mothers Alliance. She also teaches childbirth education and served as a seminar leader at Lifecycle WomanCare, where she helped orient families to birth center care. Her work in both clinical and home settings gives her a wide range of experience and the ability to connect with families planning hospital births, birth center births, and home births alike. Whether supporting a non-medicated birth, an epidural-assisted labor, a VBAC, a scheduled cesarean, a twin delivery, or a high-risk pregnancy, Christina tailors her care to each family's values and goals. She believes that every parent deserves unbiased information, emotional steadiness, and respectful support, no matter how they choose to give birth. Despite receiving acceptances from top nursing programs at Villanova, Jefferson, and the University of Pennsylvania, Christina chose to remain a doula. She believes that this role allows her to provide continuous, personalized care in a way that medical systems often cannot. Her commitment to helping families feel informed and empowered is central to everything she does. In 2014, Christina’s doula work was featured in The New Yorker's short film An Unnecessary Cut, which documented her client’s successful VBAC birth and highlighted broader issues surrounding cesarean rates in the U.S. Today, Christina continues to serve as a trusted doula on the Main Line and in Philadelphia, guiding parents through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period with knowledge, compassion, and unwavering support. She believes that birth is not one-size-fits-all—and her mission is to help every family feel confident, cared for, and heard throughout their journey.

Janet Cappetta

Maple Shade, New Jersey 17 years of experience

5.0 (9 reviews)

Janet Cappetta

Hello! My name is Janet. I have over 15+ years of experience as a Doula and Birth Educator. I am passionate about the work I do and honored to share your birth journey with you. I teach Birth Education Classes online and in your home if you are local to me., All classes include a postpartum follow up and postpartum check-ins as needed. I attend births as a Doula on a limited basis, generally taking one client per month. I have experience supporting clients that are giving birth at home, in the hospital or a birth center. I will assist you in creating a birth plan if you desire one. Together we will discuss what your plans are for your birth, whether you plan to go unmedicated, or desire pain medication. You will have support from an experienced Doula to make sure your questions are answered and you have the tools you need to feel confident and empowered. I facilitate an online VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) Support Group which helps those who are planning a VBAC or want to learn how to avoid a primary cesarean. I’m looking forward to meeting you and assisting you on your pregnancy journey!

Recent review

Where to start? My husband and I met Janet earlier in our pregnancy when we decided we wanted to have a doula for our first birthing experience. As soon as I spoke with Janet, I knew it was going to be a great match. Janet not only took care of me, she also made sure my husband was taken care of. During our prenatal meetings, she asked us a lot of questions about what we wanted for our birth experience and took our wishes very seriously. She did not try to push anything onto us and made sure we were making educated decisions on subjects we weren’t as familiar with. Janet came with an abundance of resources and knowledge, as well as a lot of experience. Leading up to the day I went into labor, Janet and I spoke on a very regular basis via text and she was always available for any questions I had. During my labor, Janet helped to remind me the techniques we discussed in our prenatal meetings and to take things one contraction at a time. I am so thankful for her and could not recommend her doula services more.

- Brooke Landis

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