DULUTH BIRTH DOULAS

I am an aunt, sister, daughter, lover of animals, plant and cat mom, enjoyer of all crafts, doula and so much more. I have had many different lives so far and am enjoying every minute of them. I hope to experience all the flavors of life I can experience in my little time here. I am looking into becoming an herbalist as well as growing my career as a photographer (so birth photos are a fun add on if you choose). To me, a doula is passionate about bringing knowledge and power to the birthing person and their family.
Birth work is a spiritual experience. When my sister was pregnant with her second child, she asked me to be there for the birth and of course I said I would be honored. She had a home birth. My nephew ended up being breach, which was a startle at first, but she and her midwife/birth team knew what to do next. It was to inform and to have my sister make a decision she was comfortable with. She wanted to continue labor at home. She ended up being in labor for about 12 hours and having my 7.9LB nephew. There wasn’t a time when her birth team didn’t have intuition that she and baby would be okay. She was given space to labor, and it is still one of the most magical experiences of my life. That is why I got into birth work. The spaces we create for birthing people is so important, no matter if you’re at home, in the hospital or at a birth canter.
I believe birth is a natural state of humanhood. In our days and even before us, the hospital has become this machine that “makes it safe” for life to enter the world. I don’t believe the hospital is the only way to experience birth. But I do believe that if you choose to give birth in the hospital, you should have the opportunity to birth how you want. I like to encourage you to slow down (as much as your birth will let you) and really find out how you can take control of your birth.
The story of birth is one we’ve been told is something we can force to happen at a certain time, or something we just must get it over with. But it’s so much more than that. It’s an experience. A change of body, mind and soul. Becoming a mother is more than just having a happy healthy baby. It’s something our bodies know how to do, but our minds become tangled in this web of what doctors say and everyone on the internet has an opinion on. But trusting our intuition and body is something we need to remember how to do. My goal is to help the birthing person know their rights and help them become more powerful in their capabilities of trusting their intuition. Because birth is intuitive if you let it be, like breathing or sneezing. Your body knows what is supposed to happen at the time it needs to happen. Some women need reminding of the power they hold. That’s what I want to be for them. Holding space for women is so important as well. Knowing their truth and worth is important in the beginning of motherhood. When I hold space for someone, it lets them trust themselves more.

I have a deep love for mothers and babies and the special bond that connects them.  Birth is a sacred space, and I am humbled each time I am invited into this space.  As a doula, I believe in the power of knowledge, strength, and connection. I can provide current and relevant information about the birthing process so that the parents can make informed decisions that work best for their family.  I believe in empowering the mother to utilize the innate strength and wisdom within her.  I believe in nurturing the energetic connection between the baby and parents.   I will hold space for your birth journey, whatever that looks like for you.

As a mother and grandmother, I am happiest surrounded by my beautiful family. After staying home with our six children and supporting them as they grew, I began my own journey when our last one left home. When I am not witnessing the profound changes in my clients or experiencing the miracle of birth, you can find me exploring the beautiful North Shore with Doug, my husband of 35 years. We love a good hike and often end our adventures on the shores of Lake Superior, searching for the elusive agate.

CERTIFICATIONS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION:
Dynamic Body Balancing Certificate with Ann Turnquist, LMT
Physical Therapist Assistant, Lake Superior College 2022
Certified Doula (DONA) 2024
Body Ready Method® Pro
CST1 CST2 with Upledger International

I started as a birth doula in 2009 and have found my calling in empowering, educating, and supporting mothers/birthers/families during birth. Each birth is exciting, different and creates a new family. It is my great honor to serve our families on that life-changing day. I strive to help each woman/birther have the birth experience they desire. I especially love helping dad/partners get as involved as they are able to be!

I have attended hospital births, cesarean births, VBACs (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) high risk and twin births. I am a full spectrum doula and support families in all births. My husband and I have one daughter, who is nearly an adult; having her has been the most amazing gift life has to offer. I have experienced pregnancy loss, and at 40-years-old I had a high-risk cesarean birth. I believe these experiences give me both compassion and insight for women/birthers having a difficult pregnancy or delivery. I had a difficult start with breast/chest feeding so I pumped breast milk for our daughter for 6 months. I love to encourage moms/birthers to provide breast milk by breast/chest feeding or pumping because it is simply the best milk, liquid gold, designed especially for your baby's needs

Hello there, firstly, congratulations on being on this beautiful journey of motherhood! My name is Tessa, I am a Duluth native and a member of the Northern Cheyenne people. I am a mother to two sweet boys, 12 & 4. I also have two sweet forever babies in the sky. My knowledge with babies and pregnancies comes from experience and my own research with an emphasis on listening and tuning into our amazing bodies and understanding the physical, emotional and mental changes. As your doula I bring a warm, empathetic, and calming energy to our meetings and a strong support person by your side throughout your journey.
In my free time I enjoy beading, drawing, painting, connecting with nature and passing time with my loved ones. I have four years sobriety from alcohol and a huge factor in my recovery is just being the best me I can be for my children every day. I believe that motherhood is one of the greatest blessings in life as a woman. I mean, wow! Our bodies literally create life.. How amazing are we?
 As a person of color who has faced adversities in life, I believe everyone deserves fair and equal treatment without judgment, no matter what, and I will always be an advocate for that. I want to help you to be able to reminisce on your journey and remember feeling empowered, strong, and proud of yourself and your choices. Having a baby can be scary,  filled with the unknown, and with so much knowledge out there it can be a lot for one person. But it truly takes a village and I’m here to help in any way that I can and am looking forward to navigating through this wonderful, beautiful chapter in your lives as we welcome your sweet pea to the world!

I have been passionate about childbirth, motherhood, and supporting families for as long as I can remember. As a mother of five, my own birth and postpartum experiences have deeply shaped the way I support others through pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby.

My work is rooted in advocacy, representation, and compassionate care. Growing up in Northern Minnesota, I witnessed the lack of diversity and inclusivity within healthcare, especially in birth and postpartum spaces, which inspired my commitment to creating safe and supportive environments for families of all backgrounds.

As a birth and postpartum doula, I support families through the challenges, emotions, and beauty of welcoming a new baby. I am especially passionate about breastfeeding support, postpartum wellness, and helping parents feel informed, empowered, and confident in their choices.

I believe every family deserves individualized care that meets their unique needs and experiences. My goal is to provide comfort, encouragement, education, and advocacy while helping families feel seen, heard, and supported.

Outside of birthwork, I also love photography, music, traveling, and making memories with my children.

I have been passionate about childbirth for as long as I can remember. In college I studied healthcare administration and later earned an MBA with a focus on healthcare management, always with an eye towards critically evaluating the American healthcare system for opportunities to serve populations and communities more equitably.
Birthing people in the US experience poorer perinatal outcomes compared to other similar nations, and those of BIPOC origin are even more at risk. Research shows that doulas and midwives can center the voices of birthing people and support better healthcare outcomes. I want to be part of the change that levels the playing field and ensures birthing people are cared for and listened to. I completed DONA International childbirth and lactation training in 2022. I completed my Certified Perinatal Educator certification through the Commonsense Childbirth Institute in 2023. I see myself on a path of continuous learning to provide the best expertise and service possible, as a birth and postpartum doula.

I have had the privilege of birthing three inspiring humans with the support of nurse midwives, and with my third had the opportunity to break in the new-at-the time freestanding birth center in N. Charleston, SC. During my own pregnancies and births, I found that following my intuition and my body's instincts led me down the right path. I value the expertise that the modern medical system offers with respect to high risk intervention when needed. At the same time I look to a future in which we can match the level of intervention to the needs of the birthing person -- and their situation. As a doula, my goal is to help each birthing person feel that their voice has been heard, that they have been supported, and their choices respected.