Experienced post-partum doulas who provide
heartfelt, down-to-earth, no-purple-crystals support
after the baby arrives.

Manhattan Birth
Experienced Postpartum Doulas

Our postpartum doulas provide kind and comforting, down-to-earth, holistic care for your and your newborn in the weeks following your birth or adoption of a new baby.

​Experts in the 4th trimester, infant feeding and breastfeeding, and the needs of the newly postpartum mother, these postpartum doulas will ease your transition and support you as you define yourself as a parent, or as your family expands.

Experienced Postpartum Doulas

---

Manhattan Birth Mentor Program

These doulas are currently matriculated in the Manhattan Birth Mentor Program and are a close part of the Manhattan Birth community.  We think they are terrific! They are all professionally trained as doulas, have taken advanced trainings in a myriad of birth topics, all the courses Manhattan Birth has to offer, and are being personally mentored by our founder, Tanya Wills, and our entire team as they grow their doula practices.

Each has a different level of experience and special skills to offer. We know you will love them as much as we do.

Mentor Program Doulas

 

Manhattan Birth
Experienced Postpartum Doulas

Our postpartum doulas provide kind and comforting, down-to-earth, holistic care for your and your newborn in the weeks following your birth or adoption of a new baby.

​Experts in the 4th trimester, infant feeding and breastfeeding, and the needs of the newly postpartum mother, these postpartum doulas will ease your transition and support you as you define yourself as a parent, or as your family expands.

AUDREY JESSUP

JAYE MAYNARD

AARA KUPRIS MENZI

---

GRACE VERAS SEALEY

ERICA ST. LAWRENCE

 

Audrey Jessup is a birth and postpartum doula seeking to empower and celebrate women and families through this incredible period in their lives. She provides support from pregnancy through the newborn period and has numerous additional trainings in massage techniques/comforting touch, breastfeeding, Spinning Babies, newborn care, and more.  Her goal as a doula is to help parents navigate this challenging time while feeling respected, informed, confident, and joyful.
​
In her postnatal work, she strives to build confidence in new parents or growing families with practical tips, tools and resources while smoothing difficult transitions, whether that is a new baby entering the home or a partner returning to work. She provides non-judgmental support and a helping hand based on the individual needs of each particular client.
Audrey is a native Upper West Sider who received her BA in American History from Barnard College at Columbia University.  She is currently living in Williamsburg with her best friend and many plants, and she is thrilled to serve the women of her home city. 

contact audrey

BACK TO EXPERIENCED POSTPARTUM DOULAS

 

Jaye Maynard attended her first birth while in college for her BFA in Theater from the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a 21 year-old, and fell under the birth-spell of life-affirming transformation that is the gift of the work of labor.

Since then she has lived life in Los Angeles for over a decade before moving to NYC to obtain her MA at NYU, (in vocal performance) and working on both coasts and across the country as a customized personal assistant: improving and producing lives, and quality of life for many wherever she goes.

Now based out of NYC for the most recent decade and a half, she calls Park Slope Brooklyn home with her domestic partner, her cat; Ethel, and his dog; Molly. Her own birth story started in the heartland of the upper Midwest, in the land of Wisco.

contact jaye

BACK TO EXPERIENCED POSTPARTUM DOULAS

 

Aara Kupris Menzi has an MA in Counseling and Guidance from NYU, is a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, and has received Postpartum Doula training from DONA and Tanya Wills, CNM. She works exclusively as a postpartum doula in Manhattan.

​She is the happy mother of 2 boys (one Caesarean birth and one VBAC homebirth). She loves to help coach families through the "4th trimester" and help them feel supported, calm and educated about infant care, feeding and whole family well being. She offers nonjudgmental, evidence based support and cheerleading. She enjoys working with all kinds of families, including adoption and same sex couples.

contact aara

BACK TO EXPERIENCED POSTPARTUM DOULAS

 

Grace Veras Sealy is a birth and postpartum doula, and a certified lactation counselor. She offers labor and birth services for home births, birthing center, hospital births, and planned cesareans.

Her aim as a birth doula is to support parents in labor and birth so that when they look back on the moment can remember that they felt strong, knowledgeable, respected and joyous. By providing postpartum services she offers continuity of care after the birth and early breastfeeding support.

Her approach to postpartum doula care is hinged on helping to building the new parents' confidence while providing practical support to them and their new baby.

​Grace lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.

contact grace

BACK TO EXPERIENCED POSTPARTUM DOULAS

 

Erica St. Lawrence is an experienced birth and postpartum doula, a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor and a pediatric R.N. who has spent the last 10 years caring for hundreds of NYC families both in the hospital and at home.

​Erica loves working with families at all stages, giving parents the knowledge, peace of mind and support to birth and nurture their babies with confidence. With her practical, non-judgemental, evidence-based and warm-hearted approach, Erica is passionate about helping you welcome your child into your life and easing your transition into parenthood.

contact erica

BACK TO EXPERIENCED POSTPARTUM DOULAS

 

Manhattan Birth Mentor Program

These doulas are currently matriculated in the Manhattan Birth Mentor Program and are a close part of the Manhattan Birth community.  We think they are terrific! They are all professionally trained as doulas, have taken advanced trainings in a myriad of birth topics, all the courses Manhattan Birth has to offer, and are being personally mentored by our founder, Tanya Wills, and our entire team as they grow their doula practices.

Each has a different level of experience and special skills to offer. We know you will love them as much as we do.

VALENCIA ANDREWS

ALEXANDRA BLOGIER

JONELLI BORDEN

---

LAURA DESBRISAY

YAMILKA DE DIOS

THAMAR INNOCENT

---

BORBALA LAKI

EMILIE RODRIGUEZ

NICOLE WILLIAMS

---

 

​Valencia Andrews

​Valencia Andrews is a DONA-trained birth doula, providing services in Westchester County and the Greater New York City area. Her path to birth work was inspired by supporting many close friends and family during their labor and delivery experiences.  It was these formative experiences that guided Valencia during her early training, informing her current approach as a doula, of being centered on wholehearted attentiveness and providing a calm presence, while giving non-judgmental, physical, emotional and spiritual support to pregnant persons. 
 
Valencia believes in the immense power of having a positive labor and birth experience and its long-lasting impact on the mother, child, family and mother’s community. She expresses her creativity and commitment to the health of women and babies through her services, and is devoted to embracing the birth vision and tending to the unique needs of each laboring person. 

Contact Valencia

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Alexandra Blogier

​Alexandra Blogier is a DONA-trained postpartum doula. She came to doula work through nannying, which she has done for the last ten years. In her role as a doula, Alexandra offers truly nonjudgmental support to families adjusting to their new lives with a baby. She is grounded, nurturing and compassionate, providing both practical and emotional support to parents. She focuses on understanding the unique desires and needs of each family, believing that postpartum support establishes a basis for happy, healthy families. Alexandra believes that all families have their own rhythm, and wants parents to feel as supported as possible so they can enjoy the magic of those first three months of their baby’s life. $30 hr/days and $40 hr/nights

contact Alexandra

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Jonelli Borden

Jonelli Borden was a Manhattan Birth student before she became a Certified Holistic Doula through Whapio and The Matrona.  Inspired to become a doula while preparing for the birth of her own son, she strives to assist families by providing caring and knowledgeable service and judgement-free support. She believes that families are empowered through choice and works to create an environment where those choices can be made with full confidence and understanding. Jonelli charges $500. 

contact jonelli

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Laura DesBrisay

Laura DesBrisay is a DONA-trained postpartum doula and a Certified Breastfeeding Counsellor, and is certified in American Heart Association CPR. She has long had a love for all things birth and baby, and is thrilled to be able to support new mothers and families during the very special newborn months.
 
Laura also trained to be a birth doula through DONA International, providing support through a wide range of birth scenarios. Among these was her sister’s first baby, and in the weeks following her niece’s arrival, Laura not only discovered a deep respect for the value of postpartum doula support but also the vast and long-lasting benefits it brings for parents as well as babies.
 
Laura provides sensitive and comprehensive help throughout the early months with a newborn. She trusts in the innate nurturing ability that each new parent finds within, and knows that they can better connect with their baby and find their parenting groove when they are themselves well supported. 

contact laura

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Yamilka De Dios​

Yamilka De Dios is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and mother of two, who has been passionate about birth her entire life.  After taking a women's studies course during her undergraduate work, her passion grew through both her pregnancies and births. Yamilka experienced birth trauma with her first birth and despite being a mental health provider, knowing in her core that mental health was imperative to a woman's journey into motherhood, she struggled to find the resources and help she needed.  Through her second pregnancy, she found healing through the support of her midwife and later, her birth team. As a result of her experiences, she has chosen to devote her life to supporting women and families through this life transition.

Yamilka has a deep desire to support, nurture and share her wisdom with her clients so they feel empowered to advocate for themselves. She believes it takes a village to raise a child, therefore a village to nurture a mother! She has a 9 year old son and a 2 year old daughter and is excited to be a part of the Manhattan Birth community. Yamilka's fee is $1000 but will also work on a sliding scale for our students!

Contact Yamilka

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Thamar Innocent

Thamar Innocent is a trained birth and postpartum doula and her goal is to create a space filled with support, resources, advocacy, love and sometimes just a listening ear.  Her passion is rooted in a Caribbean culture that prides themselves on caring for the woman from preconception through her transition into motherhood.

​Thamar feels that her purpose is to support and empower moms to lead a holistic lifestyle that works for them.  Thamar is also a certified health coach and received her B.S in Health Services Administration in NYC.  She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and 7-year-old son.  

Contact Thamar

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Borbala Laki

Borbala Laki is a mother and DONA trained birth doula working toward certification. She has assisted births within her family, has experience in using homeopathy to aid the birth, breastfeeding and postpartum needs. Bori feels that her main goal as a doula is to help the birthing mother feel as safe and comfortable as possible, and, even more importantly, work with her to build her self confidence regarding giving birth.  She believes that birthing happens as much in the mind/soul as in the physical body, and if the mother is well informed and aware of what is happening in her body, it will make her be able to keep her calm, strength and confidence.

Contact Borbala

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Emilie Rodriguez is a DONA trained birth doula and a Birth Mama trained holistic postpartum doula which addresses mothers' nutritional, physical, emotional, and spiritual well being. She believes every woman should have the birth she desires, the information needed to see it come to fruition, and be an advocate for herself and her family. She believes that giving birth is one of the most sacred, yet normal, experiences in a woman's life and wants to help women see their inner power.

Emilie's interests first started in medicine where she worked as a veterinary technician for years before becoming interested in the influences of culture on women's bodies. Emilie received her BA in Medical Anthropology from the City College of New York, focusing on reproductive health in the United States, particularly pertaining to birth. She did her first ethnography on doula work in Brooklyn, shadowing Chanel Porchia from Ancient Song Doula Services, and then another exploring birth experiences in the US and abroad.

​She was also a Colin Powell Fellow for Health Justice, advocating with Health Leads in Harlem Hospital's OB/GYN Unit to give low-income families access to resources they needed to stay healthy, as well as writing health policy to advance equality and civil rights at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

She always knew she wanted to work with women and children, but did not know in what capacity. It wasn't until she experienced labor and childbirth herself that she realized how transformative and empowering it could be.

contact emilie

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

 

Nicole Williams

Nicole Williams – queendoulaservices@gmail.com- As a lover of womens issues, Nicole was drawn to the birth community as a birth and postpartum doula to support and empower women as they bring forth and foster new lives.  
 
She understands the difficulty women face on a daily basis to be a partner, sister and though she has not birthed her own children, sympathizes with the challenges of becoming a mother.
 
Nicole has worked in the health insurance managed care for over ten years and currently works in a busy cardiology office with five doctors. She believes a women should be given the option to birth and raise her children in ways that align with their own values as a person. 

Nicole charges $500 for her birth doula services and $35/hour for postpartum. 

contact Nicole

Back to Mentor Program Doulas

“All babies have heads.”
— Tanya Wills, Founder