Bereavement Doulas in Raleigh, NC

I have always had a heart for serving others and a passion for supporting people through their most vulnerable experiences. As a type 1 diabetic, I take a keen interest in nurturing Mama’s that are dealing with high-risk pregnancies. Some of my own personal experiences have led me to the desire to educate, support and empower women to advocate for themselves and the positive birth experience they deserve!

Hi! My name is Kelly Collins and I am a certified birth & postpartum doula and family caregiver specializing in new parent support and healing-centered care. With an Early Childhood Education background and 27 years of experience as a professional caregiver & family consultant, I have the knowledge and expertise to assist families during any part of their parenting journey. I was "called" to birth work after my own birth experience 15 years ago. It was my transition to motherhood that led me to become a doula and entrepreneur. I know that the family is one of God's greatest creations and I serve my clients accordingly. As a doula, my main goal is to provide full family support during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Not only do I provide evidence-based education and whole body care, but I also desire to facilitate a positive and Spirit-filled birth experience for her clients. As a caregiver, I am sensitive to the health and general life challenges mature adults have and delivers a personal touch with her assistance. I prioritize the needs and preferences of the families I serve whether they are new parents or aging adults.

The Local Doula, founded by Lauren Watkins, is a holistic doula service providing emotional, physical, and educational support to birthing mothers and their families. Based Durham, NC and DONA trained, the business aims to offer personalized birth and postpartum care, building trust and confidence during one of life’s most vulnerable transitions. The Local Doula’s mission is to provide Christ centered, compassionate, informed, and inclusive support to clients of all backgrounds, with an emphasis on evidence-based practices and community connection. Our vision is to become the go-to doula service in our region, known for reliability, warmth, and exceptional care. Our Core Values are to Support expectant mothers and encouraging village culture. Pursuing maternal wellness and sacredly holding space.

Hi there! I’m Jess, a birth and postpartum doula in Raleigh NC and the surrounding areas! I own Oak + Valley Doula Co, and I also work at Wakemed as an education and infant specialist. I’ve been a birthworker for 20 years and truly love connnecting with families and supporting them through pregnancy, birth, and in postpartum. I have two kids, and my outside of work I love travel and volunteering in a local shelter!

Hi! I’m Karen VelMartin, a certified birth and postpartum doula serving families throughout Raleigh and Wake Forest, North Carolina. I’m guided by my Christian faith and a heart for serving others, I’m passionate about walking alongside families during one of life's most sacred and transformative seasons. I believe that every mother, baby, and family is created with purpose and deserves compassionate, respectful, and evidence-based care. I strive to create a safe, nurturing environment where families feel seen, heard, and empowered to make informed decisions throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey. As a birth doula, I provide continuous emotional and physical support during labor through comfort techniques such as breathing, relaxation, massage, positioning, and encouragement while helping families communicate their birth preferences with confidence. As a postpartum doula, I offer practical guidance, emotional support, and reassurance as parents adjust to life with a newborn, helping them build confidence and find joy in finding their new normal in their new roles. My approach is rooted in the belief that caring for families is both a calling and a ministry. Whether I’m offering hands-on support, a listening ear, or words of encouragement, my desire is for every family to experience hope, peace, and dignity throughout their parenting journey. Families from all backgrounds are welcomed and served with compassion, respect, and excellence. Whether you’re a single mom figuring out next steps or a veteran family who would like birth support or a different perspective about pregnancy and birth than you have had before or whatever your story I am interested in connecting with you, becoming part of your story.

I am a natural support person at heart—someone who truly finds purpose in being there for others. I love helping people in meaningful ways, especially during some of the most transformative times in their lives. Offering guidance, reassurance, and a calming presence comes naturally to me, and I’m deeply fulfilled when I can help someone feel safe, seen, and supported. My passion lies in supporting families through the incredible journey of pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. I believe every family deserves compassionate care and unwavering support as they navigate these life-changing moments. Whether it's providing information, emotional comfort, or simply being a steady presence, I am honored to walk alongside individuals and families as they welcome new life and step into parenthood. I am excited to serve Johnston County and surrounding cities with education and support during one of the biggest experiences of your life.

About Mommy’s Way Doula Services At Mommy’s Way Doula Services, we believe that every family deserves compassionate, knowledgeable, and personalized care during one of life’s most transformative experiences—welcoming a new baby. Based in North Carolina, our agency proudly serves families across the Triangle and beyond with a dedicated team of trained and experienced birth and postpartum doulas. Founded on the belief that no one should navigate pregnancy, birth, or the early days of parenthood alone, Mommy’s Way offers unwavering emotional, physical, and informational support every step of the way. Whether you're preparing for your first baby or expanding your family, we meet you where you are—with empathy, expertise, and a heart for service. Our birth doulas support clients through prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery, while our postpartum doulas provide nurturing overnight and daytime care, newborn guidance, and gentle support for the entire household. We pride ourselves on being inclusive, flexible, and family-centered, and we tailor our services to each client’s unique needs and preferences. At Mommy’s Way, we’re more than a doula agency—we’re part of your village.

Briana Smith is an Certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. Her advanced training and certifications include When Survivors Give Birth, Rebozo Use in Labor, Postpartum Belly Binding Professional, Systemic Racism & Implicit Bias in Perinatal Health, and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness. Briana received her BS in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where her passion for maternal and reproductive health sparked. She went on to receive her MPH from East Carolina University. She has experience supporting couples, single parents, advanced maternal age, VBAC/VBA2C, sexual trauma and assault survivors, high and low risk births, cesarean births, and families who have experienced or are expecting a loss. Briana has extensive experience working as a doula and an educator in all of our local area hospitals, birth centers, and in home. She is passionate about providing evidence based, unbiased education and helping her clients to make their own informed decisions. Briana's open, direct, and honest communication style paired with her empathic, compassionate personality allows her to be the best advocate and support for families before, during, and after birth. Briana currently lives in Eastern Wake County (though she'll always be a northerner at heart!) She loves the beach, but also loves snuggling up in a blanket with hot chocolate in a log cabin in the winter time (ah, there's her New Englander side!)

Hello and welcome! My name is Monica, and I’m honored to walk alongside you during one of the most sacred transitions of your life—bringing new life into the world and nurturing your healing journey. I’ve been a Postpartum Doula for 5 years, serving families with compassion, respect, and a deep understanding of the emotional and physical shifts that come after childbirth. I bring to this work the strength of 15 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), which has taught me the value of attentive care, advocacy, and the power of simply being present. As a Certified Childbirth Educator for 9 months, I’m passionate about preparing families for what’s ahead, providing evidence-based knowledge with a nurturing spirit. I believe in helping you trust your body, your instincts, and your voice. My journey also includes 10 years as a Womb Care & Yoni Steam Practitioner, where I guide women in holistic feminine healing, supporting the womb space with traditional care, herbs, and intentional rest. This blends beautifully with my studies and support in Perineal care, making sure postpartum healing is gentle, informed, and honored. I’ve also worked as a professional hairstylist for 11 years, which gives me a unique way of nurturing women from the outside in—because how we feel in our skin and hair matters to our spirit. My philosophy is simple: I believe postpartum care is sacred. It’s not just about diaper changes or swaddles—though I do those too. It’s about creating a peaceful space for you to rest, recover, bond, and bloom. I honor every mother’s story, every baby’s rhythm, and every family’s values. I believe that healing is both physical and emotional, and I walk with you in love, dignity, and strength. With me, you’ll get skilled hands, a calm presence, and a heart full of grace. Whether it’s Yoni steaming for recovery, Perineal care for comfort, or a nourishing meal and a kind word—I’m here for you. You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s do this together—with intention, care, and confidence.

Hi mama, I’m a NICU nurse, mother of 5, and birth doula serving Wake and Franklin Counties, and I am so passionate about helping you achieve an empowering birth. I have experienced an emergency c-section, a twin VBAC, IVF and I’m an adoptive mom to my second son. It is my greatest joy to see moms full of confidence and knowledge going into their births. I work with you to address questions and fears you may have. We work together to change negative thought processes to positive and empowering ones by creating personalized birth and pregnancy affirmations. I help you to create a birth plan that considers all aspects of birth and beyond so that you can feel prepared on your special day. I meet with you in home prenatally and will meet you at your home or at your birth place at any time during your labor. After baby is born I will visit you in your home again to make sure you are transitioning well. I would love to connect to see if you feel like we would make a great team. I look forward to meeting you. You were born to do this!

I'm Kathleen. I am passionate about all things pregnancy, birth and postpartum. My desire is to be and help create "a village" of support for new moms. Sometimes this is physically helping out families in the home, or it may also be taking your call to answer one of the thousands of questions that you have in the first few weeks. And the moments I want to be there for the most are the ones you think aren't important enough to share or you think it's just you. As your doula, It is my desire that you feel fully empowered and supported in your own personal postpartum journey. Free from judgement or pressure.

I am a certified holistic health practitioner and postpartum doula— my passion is helping mamas learn to care for themselves and their babies in every season. I specialize in nutrition specifically for women who are trying to get pregnant, pregnant women, and postpartum health. Join me in discovering the hundreds of ways you can nourish your body in order to create a warm, healthy environment for your baby to grow well. I’m all about creating habits that will last you a lifetime – one change at a time.

I have been a Birth Doula since 2014 and a Fertility Educator since 2016. I am passionate about helping women understand their bodies better from preconception through postpartum. I was inspired by my own experiences throughout my 4 pregnancies and have worked with clients from all backgrounds and delivery scenarios including, but not limited to: hospital, birth center, home birth, c-sections, VBACs, medicated, Un-medicated, multiples, high-risk, micro-preemies, and adoption (birth and/or adoptive parent support). As a Doula, my goal is to help my clients experience the birth of their dreams. My training is body-centric and focused on optimizing fetal positioning for a more comfortable pregnancy, smoother delivery, and better postpartum recovery. I am hands on and often provide comforting touch and release work. As a Fertility Educator I support clients who want to better understand their menstrual cycle to either avoid or achieve pregnancy through private, virtual classes.

Hey everyone, name is Tara Duncan and I am a Certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula as well as Labor doula through Prodoula. After years of working with children ages 0 to 9 years-old, I finally found her passion caring for families doing doula work. I have been a certified doula since 2018 for postpartum, and 2020 for Labor. I care about the mental health and the functionality of families. I believe that knowledge is power; so I am never done learning so that I am able to provide the best up-to-date support and knowledge for families I serve. I have experience with multiples, tongue-ties, circumcisions, sleep training, prenatal and infant loss training, sibling support, and surrogate support. When I is not doing birth work, you can find me exploring the town, hiking, cooking, doing yoga or watching a movie.

I'm a passionate birth doula who is dedicated to serving families during a huge transitional time in their life. With a husband, and 2 children of my own, I definitely understand how critical the journey is!

Stacy is a full-spectrum doula and a community chaplain, currently completing a Master in Divinity in Interreligious Chaplaincy with a Certificate in Buddhist Chaplaincy. With nearly 20 years as a birth and postpartum doula, she has served as a breastfeeding counselor and student of midwifery.Her work supporting families through perinatal and postpartum loss revealed a critical need for deeper understanding, more wisdom, and expansion of care. Stacy spent one year studying the causes, impact and growth within trauma. Over the years, Stacy has been trained at Bumi Sehat, a birth center in Bali, Indonesia, where she had been learning and volunteering off and on for the last 18 years. Stacy is the mama to three daughters who were all born in their own ways on their own time at home. Earlier in life, to stay near her children, she taught in Waldorf education and guided youth on outdoor hikes. Movement and nature contribute to trauma recovery. For Taproot magazine, Stacy wrote an article about Bumi Sehat She loves the feeling of sunshine on skin, the smell of frankincense, the taste of spicy guacamole, the sound of the Gayatri mantra, and the sight of birds dancing together in the sky.

Holistic birth & postpartum doula Hypnobabies hypnobabies-doula Bengkung belly binding Childbirth Education Reiki practitioner Homebirth/Birth Center & some hospitals Doula Mentor Homemade Products and digital resources

Dear Trinity believes everyone who desires a birthing companion should have one regardless of affordability. We are equipped with the tools to support birthing people through the entire spectrum of life (Full Spectrum Doula/Birthworker) and have true hearts for the dedication of birth and 4th Trimester/Post-Partum care. Every family will have a tailored birthing experience with us and we are so glad to be considered to be apart of your journey. Currently 3 birth workers and a peer support specialist dedicated to the support of the non-birthing partner/person is within Dear Trinity. We have been in 13 counties across North Carolina as well as 1 in South Carolina and expanding to Maryland in the Spring of 2024. We welcome all who would like to feel confident and free to birth the way their hearts desire.

**Katie Shepherd, RN | Roots & Renewal** *Compassionate Postpartum Support • Newborn Care • Breastfeeding Guidance • Holistic Family Wellness* Hello, I'm Katie! I'm a registered nurse, mother of three, and the heart behind Roots & Renewal. With over 25 years of healthcare experience, including 18 years dedicated to labor and delivery, mother-baby nursing, and women's health, I've had the privilege of supporting families through some of life's most beautiful, vulnerable, and transformative moments. I believe that caring for a new baby should also mean caring for the person who brought that baby into the world. My approach combines evidence-informed nursing knowledge with nurturing, individualized support. Whether you're navigating newborn care, finding your rhythm with breastfeeding, recovering from childbirth, or simply needing someone experienced and compassionate by your side, I'm here to help. **How I Can Support Your Family** - **Postpartum Care:** Emotional support, recovery education, reassurance, and practical guidance as you adjust to life after birth. - **Breastfeeding Support:** Guidance with positioning, latch, feeding routines, and common breastfeeding concerns, informed by professional education and my personal experience breastfeeding three children. - **Newborn Care Education:** Helping families build confidence with feeding, soothing, diapering, safe sleep, and understanding their baby's cues. - **Family Advocacy:** Helping you prepare questions, understand care instructions, and feel empowered to communicate with your healthcare team. - **Holistic Wellness:** Optional Reiki and relaxation practices to support rest, connection, and emotional well-being. I understand that every family, every birth, and every postpartum experience is different. My role isn't to tell you how to parent. It's to help you discover what works for you while offering knowledge, encouragement, and a steady hand when you need one. You deserve to feel supported, heard, and cared for during this season of life. **Come as you are. Grow from where you're planted.** *Serving families in North Carolina through Roots & Renewal. In-person and virtual support options available.*

Pleased to meet you! I’m Savannah, and I’m a certified Birth, and Postpartum Doula that specializes in infant care, and gentle sleep coaching. I reside in the beautiful countryside of Northern North Carolina with my six awesome kids, their father, and a big ‘ol flock of backyard chickens… and ducks… and guineas… and turkeys :) I absolutely love spending time with my family, and cherish making memories with them whether we’re playing a board game, bowling, or out on the lake for the day.