Find a Newborn Care Specialist Near Me in St. Johns, FL

Hi, I’m Melissa, a birth doula and HypnoBirthing® educator. I help families approach birth feeling calm, confident, and empowered through supportive care and intentional preparation.

Melissa was an extraordinary support person through my pregnancy and the hypno birthing courses. I had such a peaceful, confident, and beautiful birth this time (my second child). My first birth was nothing like this! Melissa taught me a lot about the birthing process and we practiced relaxation technique and positive affirmations to give me a calm and peaceful birth. Apart from having a positive attitude when I look back on my birth I also have applied the hypno birthing techniques to life and it has been such a great asset during this postpartum period. Melissa went over and beyond and came and visited us postpartum and brought treats and encouragement! I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula!

- Madilyn Meyer

Jacksonville Beach, Florida

5.0 (7 reviews)

Janet McIlroy

55 years of experience

For decadesI have worked with expectant and new parents as a childbirth educator (certified with ICEA), doula (certified with DONA and Hypnobabies), Bringing Baby Home educator and a retired nurse. I consider it an honor to help couples along this journey toward parenthood. I also have a masters degree in counseling and have been a couples therapist for years and recently became board certified as a mental health coach.

Janet is truly a professional- we felt so prepared for our baby to come into this world knowing she was going to be by our side the entire way. We are so thankful for her and all of her expertise. Would highly recommend!

- Miriah S.

Jacksonville, Florida

5.0 (2 reviews)

MJ Boyd

16 years of experience

Sacral Bloom Wellness was born from a call to action to expand healing energy and compassion into our generation and those following our paths. Pregnant people, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, BIPOC, and people who are neurodivergent and disabled are all embraced, highlighted, and celebrated here. With nearly 15 years of combined experience as a yogi, group educator, and naturalistic healer, MJ (she/they) brings compassion, spiritual wisdom, trauma-informed care, and transformational energy into the spaces they occupy.

Sacral Bloom Wellness is everything you'd hope and dream of for prenatal support. You make an instant connection, feel supported, accommodated no matter how much or how little you know, and most of all you are heard. MJ will make you feel like family. She kept me grounded through a traumatic loss of our first and has now been there to provide support through our first full term pregnancy. You’re already overwhelmed by the many decisions in life. Take that moment for yourself and if you are considering Sacral Bloom Wellness then why not just take that chance. You won’t ever have to take that chance again because you’ll become apart of the Sacral Bloom community and never look back.

- Cathleen M.

Jacksonville, Florida

5.0 (1 review)

Patricia Karas

12 years of experience

I’m a professional newborn care specialist with 10 years of experience working with babies. I am a devoted mother myself, with two young adult children whom I adore (25 and 27 years old). I love children and babies, and take care them as if they were my own. My approach is gentle and mindful to the needs of both parents and the new baby. I’ve taken care of newborn twins solo (without a team), premature babies and babies with medical conditions (such as severe reflux). I help establish a routine so that once the baby is old enough you can choose to sleep train them if you wish. I do not believe in the cry out method because if we establish the routine, they will learn to sleep without having to let them cry it out. I pour love and patience into my job and feel that working with babies and families during this special time as a new angel comes into the family is definitely my calling. My ideal role will be with a family that I can feel comfortable to work with, exchanging my experience and working as a time to make the baby and mom time more enjoyable possible. Some skills: - Baby-Led Weaning - Bottle Prep - Bottle Sanitation - Swaddling - Sleep Training – Assisting with Nursing - Medical Management - Routine Development - Log Keeping - Organization and Cleaning.

My main message is: if you’re considering having a baby I wouldn’t recommend doing it without Patty. I had the pleasure of having Patty with me full for the first 6 months of my third daughter’s life. When she arrived, Patty was the 6th baby nurse I had in the house over a 5 year period. She was by far the most skilled in terms of knowledge of babies, curiosity about how to get better and she was a wizard when it came to helping the baby with gas, burping and discomfort. I really felt she was an expert in babies and she truly has a deep passion for babies and constantly learning. She is reading about babies and in baby forums constantly. Patty was an executive assistant in Brazil at a major global pharmaceutical company. I am a CEO and my schedule is pretty high pressure and she was superbly adaptable and flexible with me if I was late on a call or needed to shift things real time. She is organized, energetic, quick, efficient and insanely reliable. You can set your watch by her. She worked 6 months straight without a day off and did 18 hours a day. I don’t know how, but she never was tired or grumpy or negative. She is like the energizer bunny. Once we had a really bad travel problem coming back from Hawaii with the whole family and she and I had to completely shift our travel and we went with the baby from Kona to Phoenix overnight, we checked into a hotel where she and the baby slept while I did a conference and 20 hours later we got on a flight and flew home. Patty was completely fine with this. This is just an example of how flexible and calm and collected she is. She is not fussy at all. I really wish I had had Patty with one of my older daughters who had really bad gas and belly issues as an infant. I know that if Patty had been there with us then, her expertise in burping and baby / GI massage would have lead to much less crying and a more pleasant infanthood for that baby. One of the things that was most important to me is that despite having had weak supply I really wanted to breastfeed through the first year. Patty was a complete and total partner to me in this and she is the only reason I made it to 9 months. Even though it made her job much harder having to wake me up every few hours, sit with me while I nursed and then bottle feed the baby while I pumped (plus dealing with all the pumping equipment!)— she was totally in, she was a wonderful cheerleader for me and she helped me never feel alone or discouraged. I cannot thank her enough for this and my guess is most baby nurses would never have been so committed, kind and self-sacrificial. I would be remiss not to mention why I picked Patty after interviewing over 30 baby nurses. The baby nurse business / industry is one I have a love / not love relationship with because when it’s your baby and your home, you want someone there who is working (it’s obviously a job) but also feels a real calling and spiritual connection with the sacredness and preciousness of babies. The first time I met Patty on video during the interview process I knew my search was over because her love for children— her own and others — was so deep and visceral. Lastly, I would note that although we never let my baby "cry it out" ever (I think that practice is super wrong), my baby was sleeping through the night when Patty left when she was 6 months old.

- K. T. R.

Jacksonville, Florida

5.0 (1 review)

Bianca Hart

3 years of experience

Hello, my name is Bianca, and I’m from Jacksonville, Florida. I am a college student, entrepreneur, and the founder of Be Encouraged Doula Services, where I serve as a faith based Full Spectrum Doula. My passion is supporting families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and times of loss with compassion, advocacy, and evidence based care. In addition to my work as a doula, I enjoy writing, encouraging others through my faith. I consider myself compassionate, dependable, and eager to continue learning and growing both personally and professionally. Whether I’m serving families, pursuing my education, or working on new business ventures, my goal is to inspire, uplift, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

I am a very picky person and am stubborn when it comes to what I want. And I knew from the moment I fell pregnant that I not only wanted a doula, but needed one. I spoke to several doula's who I liked, but when I spoke to Bianca...I loved her! From the first moment we spoke we clicked and she made me feel safe in a way no one else had so far. She was there for me day one, and has continued to support me and my bun in the oven since taking my family on! She's caring, kind, compassionate and has a desire to help any and all, and most importantly to me, she hears me, and sees me. I have had so many traumatic experiences with doctors who have bulldozed over me, and acted as though they knew best, and I was terrified that my first birthing experience would be much of the same. But Bianca has given me the peace of mind and the courage to pursue a hospital birth, and I'm confident she will be there to guide me, help me, and advocate for me. I would never dream of using anyone else but her, and I look forward to using her again in the coming years. In her I have found an advocate, a friend, and a companion, and I'm no longer anxious. Thank you, Bianca! From my growing family, to your amazing family! Thank you!

- Aries R.

Jacksonville, Florida

5.0 (21 reviews)

Amanda Saxon

4 years of experience

I have lived in Florida all my life. My happy place is by the ocean listening to the waves. I am married to my college sweetheart and we have 3 beautiful, wild boys. I became fascinated by the magic and mechanics of birth during my first pregnancy in 2013. I had an emergency c-section followed by medicated and unmedicated vaginal births in 2016 and 2019. For all three, I had the same doula by my side sharing her 30+ years of wisdom. In 2023, I formalized my training and certifications and have been focusing on doula work full-time. Aside from parenting my sons, it is my biggest privilege and joy to serve mothers in this vulnerable time, and I look forward to knowing and serving you during your journey. I strongly believe it is the right of the birthing person to choose whatever path is right for them. Every body, baby and pregnancy is different. If you choose me to be by your side, my promise is to help you and your partner bring that vision to life. Knowing birth can be unpredictable, I will do everything I can to ensure you feel safe, loved, empowered and strong every step of the way. I would love to talk with you about your wishes for your birth. Get in touch with me today to set up a free consultation.

I cannot recommend Amanda enough! From the very beginning, she was incredibly nurturing, comforting, and supportive. She made me feel heard, reassured, and cared for throughout the entire experience. Her calm presence brought so much comfort during every stage of the process. She always knew just what to say or do to help me feel at ease, and her encouragement gave me confidence when I needed it most. Knowing she was by my side made the entire experience feel less overwhelming and so much more positive. If you're looking for a doula who genuinely cares about her clients, provides unwavering support, and will be your biggest advocate, I wholeheartedly recommend Amanda. I am so grateful to have had her by my side and couldn't imagine my birth experience without her.

- Brooke O.

Jacksonville, Florida

5.0 (1 review)

shira sharifi

17 years of experience

Hello everyone, my name is Shira Sharifi and I am a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula. in Jacksonville, Florida. All facets of birth fuel me with so much light. I’m very passionate about sharing evidence based information and resources to families, empowering birth parents by giving them the ability to have positive birth experiences. My practice is inclusive and free from judgement. This means you come as you are; No matter your race, gender, or sexual orientation. In my free time, I love to write poetry, go to the beach, go to the farmers market, dance, and have dinner & Netflix nights with friends.

Shira Sharifi is an amazing doula. She helped me with my baby girl.She is patient, loving and trustworthy. She offers postpartum care day and night. If you want an advocate, a professional that is supportive and knowledgeable than you have found your Doula. I am very grateful I was recommended to hire her through my first time becoming a mother. My birthing experience was exactly what I wanted it to be and she made sure to support me and my needs. I also got some beautiful intimate pictures of our family and first moments with our baby.

- Cristina C.

Palm Coast, Florida

Gabrielle Rhines

7 years of experience

My name is Gabrielle and I’m from Central Florida . I started this journey of birth world years ago when I gave birth to my son. As the years passed the birth world just stood out to me little by little. Becoming a Doula was something that I thought about but after witnessing my first birth with a family member that is where it sparked the fire . I attended a Dona training and other trainings that helped me get certified as a doula and with placenta encapsulation. I have also birth assisted for a few years with local midwives . I continue to grow with every birth that I have been blessed to be a part of . It brings me joy to know i can help the birth world one person at a time.

Fernandina Beach, Florida

5.0 (2 reviews)

Pebbles Gilbert

I am a certified international labor Doula that specializes in Postpartum, Epidural (Epi) labor, Lactation support and Birth consulting services. Providing guidance and help to others mommy and their families throughout their motherhood journey!

Pebbles is an amazing doula. She went above and beyond what I even expected, providing exceptional service. She basically became an extension of our family during this prenatal/postnatal time and is always available to answer questions, give advice, and provide encouragement.

- Shanda C.

Gainesville, Florida

5.0 (6 reviews)

Kathryn (Katey) Godwin

My name is Kathryn Godwin I am a DONA trained birth and postpartum doula serving Marion, Alachua, and the Tri-County areas. My services are to provide honorable doula care to expecting parents. Prenatal services, birth and postpartum doula services, and lactation help. I love what I do and I'm here to offer resources, comfort, and information to expecting family's. I have a passion to help mamas feel confident and comfortable when it comes to giving birth and having a baby. My #1 goal is to establish a strong connection and help with educating as many people as I can about their babies and their bodies. I have special packages for teen moms and low income families to make these services that I feel so passionate about available to everyone who wishes to participate in having a birth or postpartum doula. Please reach out to me with any questions you may have.

10/10! Katey is amazing, caring, and supportive! She is always there no matter what day or time she will always make the time when someone is in need, no matter what she has going on she is there. I trust her with everything. She is the best person I know.

- Rylie S.

St. Augustine, Florida

5.0 (3 reviews)

Franchesca Edwards

15 years of experience

Hello everyone, my name is Franchesca Edwards, and I am a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Newborn Sleep Consultant, Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Life Coach, and Newborn Photographer with over 15 years of experience. Alongside my husband, Ian, I work at The Affinity Studio, helping families navigate the transformative journey of pregnancy, birth, and the newborn months. We proudly serve families in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, St. Johns, and offer travel options to South Florida and beyond. Our approach is holistic and personalized: we support parents in finding calm, managing colic, establishing healthy sleep routines, and preserving timeless memories through newborn photography. At Bornbir, we believe every family deserves gentle guidance, emotional support, and a nurturing environment during these precious early days. In our free time, we enjoy exploring nature, creating meaningful family traditions, and celebrating the little moments that make life so special.

We couldn’t be happier with The Affinity Studio! Franchesca Edwards and Ian provide an incredible combination of birth and postpartum doula support along with professional photography and videography, capturing the most intimate and meaningful moments of our family’s journey. Their guidance made the entire experience calm, empowering, and supportive, while their photography and video preserved memories we will treasure forever. Whether you’re in South West Ranches, South Florida, or beyond, Franchesca and Ian travel to ensure families everywhere can experience their holistic approach. They truly go above and beyond, offering emotional support, practical advice, and timeless keepsakes that celebrate every stage of life—from birth to newborn milestones and beyond.

- Fernanda P.

Saint Johns, Florida

5.0 (2 reviews)

Milla Lafleur

22 years of experience

Hello parents, my name is Milla I am a PPD certified, with certifications in both NCS (Newborn Care Specialist) and PPD (postpartum Doula) with a sleep training support.

Milla has exceeded all expectations as a nanny! We have been lucky enough to have Milla in our family since our daughter was born and it is obvious how much she loves and cares for her. My daughter is not only safe, watched over and adored but Milla monitors her milestones, helps with our sleep & feeding schedules and has always had excellent communication. We truly could not ask for a better caretaker!

- Alexis R.

Jacksonville, Florida

Karen Leishman

Hello, my name is Karen Leishman and I live in Jacksonville, FL. I am a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator and certified lactation counselor. I’ve also been a registered nurse for 30 years. I love babies, pregnancy and teaching parents evidenced based information. I also love informing them about what to expect and what their choices are. Let me help you achieve the birth experience you desire or help you care for your new little ones.

St. Augustine, Florida

Shaye Maxwell

3 years of experience

Hello, I'm Shaye Maxwell! I am a Dona certified Birth Doula working in the st. Johns area. I focus my practice around the needs of the Mamas I serve. Birth the way you desire! Whether that be at home, private center or hospital birth. Working on beneficial nutrition, labor sensation management, and prenatal yoga are just some of the ways we can work together during prenatal visits. During your labor, I will be there to support you and guide the team through your birth plan. At Birth with Balance we also offer Postpartum care, this service is truly molded by mama! Whether you need support for feeding, help around the house, or support on doctors visits a postpartum doula might be just the trick. Whatever your needs may be I can be there for assistance. Postpartum is a time of changing emotions, routines and habits an extra hand and heart could always be of good use. Hope to hear from you soon!

Fruit Cove, Florida

Katie Welch

4 years of experience

Jacksonville, Florida

Olivia Carter

10 years of experience

Peace and love, im a holistic birth Doula dedicated to providing a luxury pregnancy journey experience for you. God gave you the gift of creation and im here to guide you through your journey. You will tap into your highest self and practice trusting your whole body and tuning in to your little ones needs. Pregnancy is a beautiful journey and I look forward to exploring it with you.

Jacksonville, Florida

Gabrielly Tonolli

4 years of experience

Please note, if you message me here I might not see it. Please text me or send an Instagram DM. Thank you. My name is Gaby, I am a nurse, doula and mother, located in Jacksonville, FL. I have Christian/ Catholic values, and I believe every baby is a miracle. I am an advocate to bring holistic, natural and traditional birth methods to mothers from the high risks population to regular. I believe birth and labor are an invitation to live safe, goodness, truth and beauty, and if the mother is not invited to live that, something is wrong! Get a doula like me to educate you& your family and take all your fears away! I am used to water births, home births, OR births, birthing centers, hospital births, really everything! I will help you build the birth plan of your dreams! I am passionate about bringing strength to difficult moments and I love to assist with breastfeeding, and will go above and beyond to make that happen if that’s your desire! I also love photographing the delivery moment. I also offer postpartum services to help families adapt to the newborn phase. I also love chocolate. Hope we can connect!

Jacksonville, Florida

Kailee Lowe

Hi! I’m a medicaid accepting Full Spectrum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Counselor and Placenta Specialist. Birth work is entirely my obsession and my passion. I am honored to help all families and birthing people. I offer a wide variety of services at manageable price points! Bereavement services are always at no cost. 💫 I look forward to meeting with you!

Jacksonville, Florida

ERIKA WATSON-LAWSON