Doula of the Month

• Arabic
• English
• Spanish
• Farsi
• German
• French
• Ebonics
• Somali
• Hmong
• Luganda
• American Sign

• 2 native to Mexico
• 1 native to Peru
• 1 native to El Salvador
• 1 native to Guatemala
• 1 native to Laos
• 4 native to Somalia
• 1 native to Uganda
• 1 African American
• 1 Doula lived in Ecuador

• Midwife and psychotherapist in Mexico
• Masters in Education
• Masters in Counseling and Psychological Services
• Certified Hypnotherapist
• Certified Yoga Instructor
• Doula Trainer
• Certified CB Educators (2)
• Breastfeeding Educator
• Certified Massage Therapist
• Vegetarian Student of Women's Holistic Health
• Student of Midwifery
• Social Worker - Case Management
• Certified Postpartum Doula
• Spanish Medical Interpreter

Lana Anderson-Kuchynski Passion! That’s right - Passion. Trust! Trust in the laboring woman. These are the two key things that have motivated me to become the doula I am today. I absolutely and positively love working with expectant and laboring women. I have two children, both boys. I have a Master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological Services, which has immensely helped me with my work as a doula. I also am a certified hypnotherapist and offer hypnotherapy for pain management during labor to my clients if they choose. Yoga is another interest of mine and I received a certification as a yoga instructor. And yes, of course, one more important certification, I am a certified doula through Doulas of North America (DONA).

I love learning about other cultures and languages, so with this love I know a little bit, and I do mean little bit, of Russian, Spanish, French, German, Farsi, Swahili and American Sign Language.

I am currently on the Board of Directors for a new development in Haiti that will serve the underdeveloped and medically-lacking Haitian community. Specifically, I have developed a manual to train other woman to become doulas to their fellow sisters and also to the nurses and doctors, which there are few of.

Some of my hobbies are Martial Arts (Tae Kwon Do), reading, swimming, bowling, playing miniature golf and traveling.

I have been a doula since 2002 and attend approximately 2 births per month. My style is relaxed, reassuring and focused. I may sound busy but not really, it’s just good time management and I always have time for an expectant mom who goes into labor!

I grew up in Buffalo, MN and attended college at Philadelphia Biblical University, where I met my husband. Ryan and I now have two beautiful daughters Nora and Ellary (with hopes for more in the future). After having a typical hospital birth with Nora, I set fourth on a journey to discover a better birth. On that journey, I took the steps necessary to become a doula for the purpose of educating women and families, allowing them to make informed decisions. There was so much I learned that I wish I would have known before I experienced birth. Birth is a beautiful thing! I will never get tired of seeing a woman go through the journey of becoming a mother (even if she already is one). And not just seeing it happen, but being an advocate, cheering them on each step of the way.

When Ellary decided to make her way into the world I felt so confident and prepared. My journey to discover a better birth almost came to an end in the car! Less than 10 minutes at the hospital and there she was. But I did complete my journey and look forward to guiding others along the way to their own better birth.

I am a Certified Birth Doula with Everyday Miracles. I am certified thorough DONA International. I have been working as a birth doula since 2004. I started out volunteering as a doula at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury to gain experience; I have enjoyed it so much that I still continue to volunteer there once a month. I also work with the Missing GRACE Foundation, which is an organization that offers support services to bereaved families. I am a student practitioner in Healing Touch therapy, which is a form of energy work with the body. I have found that using Healing Touch with laboring mothers has been very beneficial in reducing pain and promoting relaxation. I believe that it is my passion in life to support women on their journey into motherhood. Everyone’s journey is different, their needs are different and it’s important to make sure that they feel safe and fully supported during their birthing experience. It is truly an honor to be a part such an incredible time as a family welcomes its newest member.

I am married to a wonderfully supportive husband and we have two beautiful daughters ages 8 and 4. When I am not doula-ing I enjoy traveling, watching movies, doing yoga, playing games and having “Baker family fun nights” with my family.

I was born in Guatemala, Central America, I speak Spanish fluently. I have been a Doula for about 6 years. I have two beautiful children. My goal in life is to make a difference in the life of a woman, one woman at a time. I believe that each one of us has the knowledge deep within ourselves on how to birth a baby and I am there to support that knowledge as well as to support the woman's partner by bringing them closer together in that special time of their life.

I was born in Puebla, Mexico and moved to Minnesota in 1996. I am the mother of three wonderful daughters. Becoming a mom has opened my eyes to the wonder of the natural process of giving birth. Becoming a Doula has given me the realization that even the simplest of gestures can be the strongest support for an expectant mother.

En Español: Nací en Puebla, México y movido a Minnesota en 1996. Soy la madre de tres hijas maravillosas. Llegando a ser una mamá ha abierto mis ojos a la maravilla del proceso natural de dar a luz. Llegando a ser un Doula me ha dado la realización que aún el más sencillo de gestos puede ser el apoyo más fuerte para una mujer encinta.

How are you? Como estas? Oli otya?

I am native born Uganda, and have lived in the U.S. for 19 years. I love to learn about different cultures, speak Spanish proficiently and Luganda fluently. I went to the University of San Diego where I studied Ethnic Studies, Spanish, and Biology.

I decided to become a Doula after my experience of having a very understanding, helpful, and supportive Doula during my pregnancy and birth. I believe every woman deserves to be fully supported and encouraged throughout her pregnancy and birth because the process is such a sacred part of life. I believe with the right resources and great support a mother can be the mother they want to be, and be happy.

I live in Minneapolis with my beautiful daughter, who I love to spend time with. The best thing about being a mother for me is being able to experience what my mother experienced with me, and knowing that one day my daughter may feel the same.

Since I can remember, I have been deeply passionate about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. From countless visits to the labor and delivery unit where my mother worked as a nurse, to attending childbirth classes that she taught, to years of babysitting, into my own experiences as a mother, and now as a certified doula through DONA (Doulas of North America) and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, I just can't seem to get enough! I absolutely love sharing in the experiences with those embarking on this incredible journey into parenthood.

I believe that knowledge is the key to a positive experience during pregnancy, birth, and parenting, which is why I developed Enlightened Mama. I serve as a resource for expectant and new parents through my doula services, childbirth education classes, a website, and personal consultation. "Nurture Your Mind, Nurture Your Child"--that's the Enlightened Mama slogan. With the endless choices to make, it is so important to gather all the information that you can, and then make whatever decision feels right for you and your family. Trusting your instinct is essential in this entire process.

I am so excited to share my talents and love for birth with such an incredible organization as Everyday Miracles. Every woman deserves to have a wonderful, empowering birth experience and needs good support to make that happen.

My husband, Chris, and I are the proud parents of an incredible 4-year-old boy, a vivacious 2-year-old girl, and a sweet baby girl.

Olga Salmeron has been working with Every Day Miracles for 4 plus years and has been a Doula for 8 years. Olga was born in El Salvador and has lived in Minnesota with her husband and their children since 1997.  Olga attended the University of El Salvador to be a Physical Therapist and now is a Doula certified by DONA.

I love supporting woman during their pregnancy and delivery because every birth is different.  I love to witness and to be part of the “miracle of the life”. When I attend a birth I do not work.  I serve with love to make the mother feel that she is not alone but a self-sufficient woman that goes from a scared expectant to a happy mother.  It is so exciting to see when the mother seems to forget all the pain that she went through while she holds her baby on her arms for first time and her proud smile tells that she have accomplished the most important and unique woman’s gift… being a MOTHER

My name is Shamsa Idle. I was born and raised in Mogadishu, Somali. I am happily married with five grown children. Before, the Civil War took place in my country in 1991, I was a registered nurse working at Banadir Hospital where I helped pregnant women deliver babies and also consulted with mothers about any health issues that they had while they were in the hospital. I was also a midwife at a center called Mother Child Health in Mogadishu and my main job was to educate mothers about prenatal care, nutrition, immunizations, and health in infants in order to prevent illness. I  worked at the Mother Child Health Center for about five years. I was a scholarship recipient selected to go to Rome, Italy to learn about infant nutrition. I then returned to Somali to continue with my career as a Family Educator. As a Family Educator I was responsible for educating families about nutrition and healthy eating habits.
In 1991 when the Civil War took place I was forced to move out of my country, and became an immigrant in Nairobi, Kenya. I resided in Kenya for about five years before I came to the United States in 1996.
After coming to the United States my goal was to continue with my work as a family educator and in order to help my community the best way that I knew how. My focus was to find occupations that mainly focused on the well being of family and children.  In 1997 I was fortunate enough to find a job at Way to Grow, which focuses on promoting the well being of the family as a whole. I use my knowledge as a registered nurse, midwife, and a family educator to assist families. I help mothers with children with early childhood education and school readiness so that when their children start school they are ready. I also work as a Doula through Everyday Miracles because of my previous experience as a midwife and registered nurse. I do this type of work because I am very passionate about helping and giving back to the community. I teach mothers about the importance of prenatal care, nutrition, and the process of healthy pregnancies.

Hello! My name is Alia Salim, I am the mother of six children ranging from 2-22 years old. I have been a practicing doula for 8 years, and have been working for Everyday Miracles for two years. I have attended almost 80 births, and am currently studying to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. I am currently enrolled at MCTC, working on my RN degree. I enjoy my work as a doula, and I look forward to working with the mothers I meet through Everyday Miracles!

My Name is Leila Ahmed.  I was born in Somalia and I grew up in a lot of different countries.  I am fluent in Somali, English, Swahili, Ugandan, and a little bit of American Sign Language.
I attended North Hennepin Community College in  Brooklyn Park where I earned my degree in Public Health and Nutrition.  I am a certified birth doula with DONA International (North America) and  am birth doula with Everyday Miracles.  I am also active in the volunteer Doula program at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury.
In addition to my  Doula  work  I am also involved in the community and speak on KFAI radio in Minneapolis once a week.   I  enjoy working with the radio station because I like to communicate and answer a lot of questions that people have for me.

I am a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula through DONA International.  I have worked with Everyday Miracles since February of 2008 and so honored to be a part of this program.  I am currently working with 3-4 mothers per month and enjoying every minute and late night that goes along with the job!  My belief is that every expectant mother deserves to have an advocate and be taken care of to ensure a positive birth and postpartum experience.  I am also a member of our Isis Rising Prison Doula program.  I am looking forward to educating and supporting the women who need love and support.  I also volunteer for the Missing GRACE Foundation to work with a crisis care team to go to hospitals and support families dealing with the loss of a child.

I am a graduate from the University of North Dakota with a B.A. Degree in Public Relations.  Advertising and mortgage were the industries that I worked in for many years, but after the birth of my 3rd child, I realized how much help I needed physically and emotionally.   At that point I made a career change and have never looked back.  I feel that being a doula is my calling.  I am passionate about helping others!

I am Taryn Runck a birth doula currently awaiting certification through DONA International. The work that I have chosen has always been based on an understanding that people are the experts in their own lives. People, given enough information and support, are better equipped to make decisions about themselves than are “authorities”. I have been a women’s advocate in a variety of forms for over 5 years. When I graduated from college, I worked as an advocate for women who had experienced abuse by intimate partners. I have been an advocate and crisis counselor at programs for aid to victims of sexual assault, and I also facilitate support and education groups for women who have experienced abuse. I have also worked in restorative justice facilitating nonviolent conflict resolution and peacemaking/healing circles.

I am passionate about creating safe spaces where people are free to be themselves and do what they need to heal and grow. I find that the roles of facilitator or circle keeper, advocate and doula are all very similar- respecting people and their knowledge of what is best for themselves, and providing information, resources and support in the process. It’s a privilege and a blessing to work with women in this way and aid in their empowerment through childbirth.

Pati Kester

Pati Kester is a born and bred Minnesotan. She has been advocating for children for over thirty years in a variety of capacities. Pati began her working career as a Licensed Practical Nurse and has also worked for Head Start and with Family Child Care. She has actively lobbied the legislature on behalf of children's issues. Pati was drawn to the work of a birth doula by her love of children and her belief that supporting mothers as they bring their babies into the world would be an effective way to promote healthy parent /child attachment. It is her belief that our community depends on the health and well-being of our children and that we need to begin supporting them and their parents as soon as possible. Pati has one daughter and a recently born grandson (01/04/06), her life's joys.

I am a DONA certified birth doula, a certified lactation counselor and a DONA trained postpartum doula.

I bring to my doula work a lifelong fascination with and respect for birth, 15 years yoga experience, and a certificate in Health and Wellness Counseling from the College of Saint Catherine.

I am humbled and exhilarated by this work. It is an honor to support the birth of your baby and your new family.

Hi there, my name is Gabrielle Hurd, but most people call me Gabby. My fascination with birth has grown slowly and unexpectedly.  I grew up with an unusual birth story having been born at home with midwives.  I enjoyed my birth story, but it didn’t occur to me to pursue brithwork as a career until a couple of years ago when I read Ina May Gaskin’s “Spiritual Midwifery,” a book that describes empowering birth stories and how to have them.  Ever since then, I’ve been following the signs telling me to support laboring women.

Before I caught the birth bug, I graduated with a degree in Family Social Science and have always wanted to support families.  I am so happy that I now get to do that in the very earliest stages of a family’s creation.  I have collected several skills to assist birthing moms: counseling skills as well as knowledge of yoga, massage, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.  It is so important to relax and trust your body and I can pass on the skills I have learned to you as you build your strengths before, during, and after birth.

I believe in the strength and beauty of women’s bodies and their amazing ability to bring babies into the world.  My desire is to support you, encourage you, and cheer you on as you enter into the unforgettable journey of birth and parenthood. 

Gloria has been a Doula since 2003 and has worked with Everyday Miracles since 2006.  She brings with her a wide range of skills and education.  Gloria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies along with an Associate’s degree in Applied Science, Legal Assistant Program.  She was born in Texas where her family worked as migrant farmers.

Gloria has received many awards including Bilingual Education Paraprofessional of the Year and the Black, Indian, Hispanic & Asian Women in Action-Award of Honor.

Along with being a Doula, Gloria has worked as an Outreach Specialist for the Civil Society, providing outreach to clients needing legal support.  She is also involved in advocacy work with women who are victims of sex trafficking. 

Gloria and her husband have five children, fourteen Grandchildren and are foster parents to two girls.

The Everyday Miracles program values Gloria’s passion for the families she serves.  Gloria is also active in the formation of the Isis Rising Prison Program.