Back Up Doulas

Meet the Back Ups

While it is my every intention and hope to be with you and support your birth, I am also human. These incredibly knowledgeably doulas will be available to you if for any reason I cannot attend your birth. They have very similar training and experience as I do and I trust them with my business, my clients, my family, and my own life. The only reasons I would not be available for your birth are family emergencies, illness, or if I am supporting another birthing family when you go into labor. Any other reason will be discussed and agreed to before signing the contract.

Katie Schram

Hi! My name is Katie and I am the owner of Peaceful Doula. I am so happy to be part of the doula community at Everyday Miracles. I became a certified doula six years ago through DONA. I have since become a placenta encapsulator and certified lactation counselor (CLC). Originally from North Dakota, I moved to the Twin Cities to begin doula work full time after working as a 2nd grade teacher in Menahga, MN. I love working with women and am amazed by their strength. I believe every family deserves a doula and I feel blessed with the opportunity to support them in his capacity. I enjoy working with people of all backgrounds and cultures, and learning from others. I live in Crystal with my cuddly cat, Penny. In my spare time I enjoy cooking vegetarian dishes, drinking tea, biking, sewing, teaching, serving at church, and being outside with friends and family.

Samantha Martin

My name is Samantha, owner of Doula Mae Birth Services. Since a young age I have enjoyed helping others and over time it has turned into the desire to educate and encourage families of their pregnancy, birth, and parenting options. At 14, I witnessed the incredible birth of my second brother via cesarean section and decided to focus my energy on exploring a career related to maternity/birth. In April of 2016, after being a certified nursing assistant specializing in postnatal and pediatric care, I stumbled upon a doula training. I have since become a certified doula through two organizations, as well as, a childbirth educator, lactation counselor, placenta encapsulator, and child passenger safety technician. As a birth professional I strive to provide reliable resources, unbiased support, and encourage confidence in families during their journey into parenthood. My goal is to help shape your experiences into a positive and memorable life event. My hobbies include; cooking/baking vegan dishes, walks with my pitbull, raising monarchs during the warm months, kayaking and camping, traveling and above all being surrounded by family and friends.

Stephany Martinez

Hi! I’m Stephany. I have been passionate about childbirth and personal health and wellness for as long as I can remember. I have dedicated myself to enhancing the experiences of those within my life and community. As a certified birth doula, I have gained a vast understanding of and compassion for those seeking the most fulfilling birth experience possible. I’m also a big fan of and educated in aromatherapy and holistic approaches for wellness and healing. I promise to do my best to give you peace of mind and empowerment that your body is incredible and can achieve amazing things. I love to be challenged and I have a strong dedication to those who have chosen me as their guide and support. Born and raised in Minnesota, I love the outdoors and everything nature. I enjoy travel, cooking and baking, writing, gardening and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. After becoming a mother I truly embraced the holistic lifestyle and worked hard to educate myself in natural healing and nutrition. As an adventurous mother of 3, I love exploring life, and embracing the lessons along the way. I became a mother at a young age and it has been the greatest joy in my life. I hope and pray to lead others to fully immerse themselves into this incredible role of parenthood. Birth is a mind & body experience. No matter what your approach is or beliefs are, this is a fact. My approach is to build your confidence in such a way that you go into this experience feeling prepared, empowered and strong. To have connected with yourselves so that you can approach your birth with clarity. Walking away feeling proud of the amazing work that you have done. Pregnancy and birth is the foundation of your parenthood.

Carly Ottery

Hi my name is Carly and I’m a DONA trained birth doula and registered yoga teacher. I came to birth work through means of yoga, first through practice in mind-body awareness then by developing a fascination in what I think is the most incredible thing a body can do- to make and bring forth new life! Since the day I picked up the book that introduced me to what a doula is, the idea of being a doula followed me in everything I was doing and tugged at my gut. I have a naturally empathetic, calm, and advocating personality and knew intuitively that this was the path for me. As a doula my main goal is to help people have better birth experiences. My bachelor’s degree in science and my studies in yoga come together to create a balance of an evidence-based approach with a dash of an eastern, holistic perspective. I have witnessed the unique power and strength that birthing people have, as well as the wonderful influence of having compassionate, non-judgmental support during the beautifully vulnerable time of labor and birth. I am very excited not only in the existence of Everyday Miracles and their mission, but the fact that I can be a part of the team here, making an impact in the lives of families in this community. I firmly believe that the only way we succeed is together. I live in Wisconsin but have equal love for Minnesota (yes, it’s possible)! I spend my free time outdoors, reading books at blindingly fast speeds, and volunteering for causes that support the environment or criminal justice system reform.

Rachel LaMachia Stephens

Hi I'm Rachel. I am trained as a Full Spectrum Doula through Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings. I provide and practice with evidence-based information in order to provide individualized care for my clients. As a Full Spectrum Doula, I strive to help pregnant people and their families feel respected, informed, heard, and held as they navigate life changes in the prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences. I believe that all pregnant people have an innate power and inner knowing that is revealed through the birthing process. My role is to support birthing people (and their partner), whether that’s physically holding hips or emotionally holding space. I have been involved in childcare at nearly every step of life: working for People Serving People as an early childhood teacher, teaching ESL to elementary students, special education in a middle school, and nannying children from ages 2 months to 12 years. Birth work has felt like the natural step since experiencing my own pregnancy and birth of my child, Imogen, last year. I am a Minnesota native who has lived in Central Minnesota, Zimbabwe, Peru, and now has called the Twin Cities home for 5 years. I earned my B.A. in Global Studies and am currently finishing a Masters in Education with the hope of pursuing an expanded view of birth education. I am an avid DIY’er, including wellness and personal care items, love every minute spent at a campsite, and truly love being a parent, partner, and caretaker of an amazing cat (Rupert) and dog (Ladybird). I would like to extend a special thank you to future parents who allow me into their life-changing moment.

Sarah Lillian

Hi there! I'm Sarah Lillian, birth doula + perinatal yoga instructor. I'm passionate about supporting birthing people + their families through the remarkable transformations of pregnancy, birth + postpartum. Along the way to my career in birth-work, I completed a Ph.D. in Entomology + worked as a data scientist using statistics to help businesses make data-informed decisions. I offer the same approach to my clients: I will help you make the best decisions for you - your pregnancy, birth + baby, using the most recent evidence + data available. My support for you is personalized + individualized to match your unique values, priorities + experiences. Yoga, breath-work + mindfulness have supported me through numerous transitions + challenges. I believe in the power of these practices to instill calm, confidence + strength in body, mind + spirit in preparation for birth + postpartum. If you believe you deserve an informed, supported, autonomous, dignified pregnancy + birth - I might be your doula!

Anna Beech

Hi I'm Anna. I am a professionally trained birth doula with additional training in lactation support! I believe that having a doula by your side allows you to let go and connect with yourself and your body in ways you may never have imagined possible during labor and birth and I love providing that support. I am a mother and the owner of Wild Mother Birth Doula and I cannot wait to support you.

Maria Finsness

My name is Maria Finsness. Trained as a full spectrum birth worker, I am eager serve all birthing people. One reason I arrived to this work is an amazement of our body’s anatomy and physiology. The body’s determined intuition to keep us thriving and the mind's ability to adapt perspective when change is needed. This understanding comes from a lifelong relationship with dance and yoga. I consider myself a lifelong learner having studied environmental sustainability at the U of M. I believe integrating evidence based information and intuition will help me be the best doula I can be. As your doula, I am curious to understand your thoughts, concerns and preferences. If you have a primary support person, I want to learn how they see themselves best supporting you. I will hold space for their unique abilities to care for and cherish you, finding my role to fit within the structure you have already created. I am a community advocate as a participant on my neighborhood association in Minneapolis, and I come with a strong foundation in cultural humility. I am fortunate to have spent some longer and some shorter stays in places all around the globe and close to home. Finding the right person to join you at your birth, which is a lasting memory, is vital. If you feel like we could have a connection, I would love for you to meet me and see how I may support you! I am a skilled yoga instructor, BRAVA Certified , Gilligan's Guide trained, and certified through Doula Training International. I have also been a Doula Intern at Health Foundations and Roots Birth Center.
*Francophone? J'ai appris français à partir de 5 ans jusqu'à l'université avec des séjours au Sénégal et les Pyrénées en France (le village du Foix!). Si vous vous voyez avoir une compagne parlant française, j'aimerais vous rencontrer.
(she/her)

Katya Hawthorne

Hello! My name is Katya, I am mother of four. I am a professionally trained Doula (Feb, 2021) with certification in process and a certified essential oil specialist. Since my first pregnancy, six years ago, I have been intrigued with the birthing experience, and started reading, studying and taking classes on the subject. While going through a difficult time with one particular pregnancy resulting in miscarriage, I realized that a trained support team/group/person should have been a part of not only the experience, but the preparation and postpartum period, equally. This is something that I’m excited to be a part of with new birthing persons; as to help make their birth experience something they’ll remember and cherish for years to come. As a Doula, I cannot promise that your birth will be exactly as you’ve planned, however, I vow to be by your side each and every step of the way, and cannot wait to share in your experience with you. Eating healthily, workouts, creating balanced meals/lifestyle are passions of mine, outside of being a wife, mother, and Doula.

Erica Soderlund

My name is Erica Soderlund and I am a trained birth doula through DONA international. In October 2021, I completed Breastfeeding/Chest Feeding for Doulas through MamaWise Lactation Education and Consulting. I also volunteer as a doula through Methodist hospital once per week at their birth center. In May 2022, I plan to take a postpartum training through Modern Day Education in order to increase my knowledge of postpartum work. I cannot be more excited to be engaged in this fulfilling work. I have always been a natural caretaker and enjoy being there for others to support them in whatever capacity they need. Prior to becoming a doula, I was an alcohol and drug counselor for the majority of my life, in which I also supported others and advocated for them, when they were unable to do it themselves (and then provided them tools in order to be able to advocate for themselves). I am married, I am a mother of 2 beautiful kiddos and we live in Shakopee. As a family we enjoy the "simple things in life" and are very happy just being together playing games and dancing to, "I Wanna Dance with Somebody!" :) I enjoy going on bike rides, walks, heading to Vegas (when I can), watching football, playing frisbee, finding amazing deals when I am shopping, and spending time with friends and family.

Meagan Beck

Hello! My name is Meagan Beck. I am a DONA International trained doula and working towards my certification as well as my certification as a postpartum doula. I am currently an intern with the Twin Cities Birth Center. My passion for working with birth families comes from my own birthing experiences and the desire for families to truly have all the support they deserve. I believe that when a baby is born so too are the parents. I am so excited to work with you and your birth partner to build a vision of your own unique birth and plan for your postpartum journey into parenthood. During the birth, I am here to provide you and your birth partner with emotional and physical support as well as knowledge in laboring and birthing positions so you will have a birth experience that leaves you feeling empowered and joyful. I have spent the last 11 years in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and I am currently refocusing my fitness expertise to work with prenatal and postpartum Mamas and their babies. As a mother to two beautiful girls and wife to an incredibly supportive husband our life is never dull but if I do have some down time you will find me sewing, quilting, gardening or exercising.

Jo Kucala

Jo is the enchanting multifaceted artist and doula behind Artfully Empowered, serving the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Jo’s coupled passions in henna and birthwork allow her to bring a calm, encouraging presence to every setting, whether that be a Belly Blessing or providing support to a family in the vulnerable postpartum months. Each pregnancy henna created is unique and thoughtfully composed, celebrating beautifully changing bodies and growing families.
Education is highly valued by Jo, each year she attends several conferences and workshops to further expand her knowledge on henna and birth work. She is certified by ICHNA as a natural henna artist, trained birth doula by DONA, certified as a Dynamic Body Balancing Facilitator, and is currently in the midst of completing her Postpartum Doula Certification through BAI. During her free time, Jo enjoys exploring State Parks with her two spirited children and husband, reading, and playing fetch with her dogs, Pepper and Zora.