(she/they) Founder & Owner, Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, Postpartum Ritual Facilitator, Spinning Babies Trained

Melinda is the owner, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula at Doulas of Marquette (DOM). She is a passionate supporter of families and continually advocates to make birth a better experience for all local families. She believes that birth matters, because birthing people matter. She has been a doula since 2010 (previously Birthed in Joy), serving Marquette and surrounding counties. She created Doulas of Marquette in 2015, when she realized that local families would be best served by centering community and sustainability, and that birth work is the most beautiful work when done in collaboration. She is endlessly thankful for the team at DOM. 

Prior to becoming a doula, she attended Northern Michigan University (Go Wildcats!). Her doula journey and business began a few years later after she welcomed her oldest child. Through her experience in her first birth, she came to realize the deep truth that how a birthing person and their partner are made to feel in their experience, will stay with them and impact them the rest of their lives. As she welcomed two more children, and experienced a few losses as well, that truth was further solidified in her. Her children continue to remind her daily of why the work doulas do is important and irreplaceable. While most days you can find her working behind the scenes or pursuing continuing education, her truest passion is bringing support to birthing and postpartum families. She loves amplifying the voices and desires of parents, bringing skilled knowledge and wisdom, and providing a calm confidence to those walking through the transformative experience of birth or early parenting. Doula work is a calling, and one she has deep gratitude for.

Outside of work, she can be found spending time with her partner, Phil, their children (Zemi, Kiah, and Aza), and their puppy, Lulu. Their favorite adventures are beach days at Lake Superior, getting out on the trails, and exploring local breweries/restaurants with friends. In addition to birth work, Melinda is an advocate for mental health, body acceptance, and inclusivity for all people and families.

(she/they) Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Birth Consultant, Prenatal and Postpartum Core Exercise Specialist, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), Spinning Babies Trained

Kristen is a Birth and Postpartum Doula with Doulas of Marquette. Some of you may recognize her from her role as a prenatal and postpartum yoga teacher at Be Well. It is a passion of hers to assist women in deepening their connection to self from the birthing years onward. She firmly believes that YOU know your body best, and when you really hone in that inner wisdom, then you get to be the one in charge of your journey rather than just along for the ride.

Her journey toward women’s health and birth work began with the birth of her son. She was fortunate to have a close friend who happened to be a midwife support her as a doula. After their son, Atlas, was born they talked about how different things could have been without our birth team. She knew then that this was something she wanted to do for other women. She decided after her son was older to attend doula training with DONA International, worked as a doula for a number of years, then took some time off from doula work to care for herself and family. Her heart stayed connected to mothers through prenatal and mama and me yoga classes.

After the birth of their daughter, Indira, her focus began to shift towards postpartum women’s health. She began training as a Prenatal/Postpartum Core Exercise Specialist with Dr. Sarah Duvall, with extensive training on pelvic floor health. It brings her such deep joy to see the “ah-ha” look on a woman’s face as she re-learns better breathing techniques, better body mechanics, and better body awareness after, quite possibly, years of moving their body on autopilot.

She feels that joining DOM is like stepping into the “Dream Team”. Empowering women, whether it’s in their birth journey or health journey, is her true path in life, her dharma. It is a big part of what gives her purpose in life. Outside of work, you can find her on the trails, be it running in the summer or cross-country skiing in the winter, with her children and their dog Lucy.

(she/her) Katie is a birth and postpartum doula with Doulas of Marquette. She firmly believes that birth can be the most empowering experience a birthing person can have when they are heard and trusted in their experience.

Katie started her career off as an aerospace engineer, but her interest in birth work was piqued after the birth of her first child, Aspen. She quickly realized that the people in the birthing room have a huge impact on how the birth is experienced and remembered. A few years later and after the birth of her second child, Jude, she left engineering to be home with her family. As her children have gotten older, she has found the space to explore her passion of supporting birthing families.

Outside of work, you can find Katie, along with her partner, Jim, on the trails hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, camping, and exploring all of the beauty that the UP has to offer!