Postpartum Care Day Newborn Archives

Susan Jessee

Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Midwife’s Assistant

Susan is our lead Postpartum Doula, certified through DONA International. She has additional training in acupressure for postpartum, infant sleep, breastfeeding support, and trauma-informed care in working with survivors.

She is also a certified Midwife’s Assisant and certified by the American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth (AAHCC) as a birth doula and childbirth educator. She has 17 years of experience teaching Bradley Method Childbirth Classes and is passionate about supporting the laboring person and their partner(s) before, during, and after birth. Susan has extensive experience attending both home and hospital births.

Susan is a former Board Member of the Mt. Diablo Doula Community and is actively involved with fundraising for the McHenry House, a shelter for unhomed families in Tracy. She also volunteers as a childbirth educator at the Tracy Pregnancy Resource Center and is a Childbirth Preparation and Parenting Instructor at the Stein School for pregnant teens and teen parents.

Susan is part of Harmony Doula Group. Other members of the team are:

Teri Nava-Anderson

Kat Schussman

Gabrielle Menzies

Gabi brings a rich background to her work as a doula. With a degree in Psychology focused on Women’s and Gender Studies, she has cared for children of all ages — from newborns to 12-year-olds — as a daycare teacher, au pair, nanny, and loving aunt. Her time working in an OB/GYN office further deepened her commitment to supporting families during pregnancy and postpartum.

Raised in a large family, Gabi knows the importance of strong support systems and carries that understanding into her work. She believes parents deserve just as much care and encouragement as their children, and she strives to create a calm, reassuring presence for every family she serves.

Her goal is simple: to help parents feel confident and cared for, babies feel secure and loved, and families thrive during one of life’s biggest transitions.

Valerie Ybarra

Valerie is highly experienced with over 35yrs of experience working with newborns and families from all walks of life. She is a Professional Certified Newborn Care Specialist, Certified Postpartum Doula, and Certified Lactation Educator, as well as a baby sleep trainer.

She is a former Beverly Hills nanny of many years back in the 80s, and had worked within the maternity unit of the 3rd largest hospital in the country for the most births as a nurse assistant and patient care technician.

She has worked with several high profile and High Net worth families from within the U.S. and out of the country. Valerie is known to be very accommodating, flexible, a direct communicator, and brings a calming demeanor with her. She does travel with families whenever needed and if it works with her schedule.

Valerie has been featured in several newspaper and magazines articles for her work. She was featured in PBS television as well for her work with new moms. She then started her small boutique business, A Doula on the Go, providing postpartum care in 2002

Victoria Ramirez

Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula (fluent in Spanish)

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Victoria offers compassionate, evidence-based support for families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. With a calm and grounded presence, she helps parents feel informed, empowered, and nurtured throughout their journey. Her approach blends professional care with genuine warmth, honoring each family’s unique needs and choices. From birth planning to postpartum recovery, her goal is to be a steady and supportive guide every step of the way. When she’s not supporting moms, she’s tending to her home, volunteering at her local church, and staying active outdoors when she can!

Victoria is part of the team at Great Expectations Doulas, run by Maria Pokluda.

Courtney Jones

Certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Lactation Consultant & Childbirth Educator

Courtney is a proud mother of 3 kids and wife. Born and raised in Texas she enjoys toiling in her garden and baking. Courtney’s journey into all things baby and birth began in 2020. She had her daughter April 2020 during Covid. After that experience, it kicked off her passion for helping new parents feel empowered and prepared for birthing their own babies. Whatever type of birth you desire that being, homebirth, medicated, unmedicated, induction or c-section she is well versed to support you.

Courtney is part of the team at Great Expectations Doulas, run by Maria Pokluda.

Joni Chmiel

Joni is a certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula at Doula Co MKE in Milwaukee, WI.

Bio:

As a mama, Postpartum Doula, Infant Care Specialist, and former Nanny, I am committed to helping parents navigate the challenges of parenthood. I believe that a nurturing community and expert guidance are essential for individuals transitioning into parenthood.

As a postpartum doula and Infant Care Specialist, I am dedicated to providing new parents and their families with the support and resources they need during the postpartum recovery period. My services include emotional and mental health resources, education on newborn care and feeding, and promoting self-care. I believe that parents should not face this transition alone, and I am committed to establishing deep connections with my clients to deliver highly personalized care and guidance. I would love to support you as you thrive as a parent!

Christine Solum

With a background in nannying and household management spanning over 15 years—and as a mom of two—Christine brings a deeply intuitive understanding of life with a new baby. Her approach is warm, steady, and grounded in the belief that early parenthood deserves compassionate, hands-on support.

Christine is passionate about helping families settle into their new rhythm with confidence. Her goal is to lighten the emotional and logistical load so parents can focus on bonding, rest, and personal well-being.

When not supporting families, Christine enjoys spending time with her own, cooking delicious meals, organizing spaces, and planning social gatherings.

In her words:
“I do this work because it’s in my nature to care. Watching families grow and adapt during the first year is a privilege—and being a part of that transformation is what drives me.”

Kyla Saphir

With a background in childbirth education and experience as a prenatal and postnatal yoga instructor, Kyla brings a body-based, grounded approach to supporting new parents. She incorporates yoga, breathwork, and movement to help clients feel centered and empowered during both birth and postpartum.

Kyla was drawn to this work after her own experience with a postpartum doula helped create a more gentle, supported start to parenthood. Now, she brings that same steady care to families navigating this major life transition.

In addition to her doula practice, Kyla is a published children’s book author who enjoys gardening, crocheting, traveling, and spending time with her family and dog.

Amy DeLorenzo

Amy’s passion for caregiving started early and grew through years of supporting families as a babysitter, nanny, and now as a postpartum doula. Her journey into birth work deepened as she watched close friends navigate the early days of parenting—experiences that inspired her to become a steady, supportive presence for others during that tender time.

Amy brings a grounding, calm energy to her work, supported by a personal mindfulness practice and bi-weekly work with a meditation coach. She is committed to holding space for new parents with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for the transformative experience of bringing home a baby.

Before becoming a doula, Amy worked in sustainability and volunteer coordination across Chicago, with a strong focus on food systems and community connection. She’s a proud aunt, avid reader, puzzle-lover, and passionate home cook who believes deeply in the power of nourishment—both emotional and physical.

Sarah Munoz

Sarah is a certified birth doula with over 3 years of experience providing emotional, physical, and informational support to families during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

As a calm and nurturing presence, Sarah empowers mothers through evidence-based education and continuous compassionate care. Her strengths lie in creating a safe, comfortable birth environment and facilitating open communication between families and medical staff. She has attended over 50 births and is highly skilled in pain management techniques like breathing exercises, massage, and labor positioning.

Clients benefit from Sarah’s background in yoga and movement as well as mindfulness and meditation. She brings a wealth of knowledge of chronic pain and pregnancy, pelvic floor physical therapies, symphysis pubis dysfunction, and postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Sarah is truly passionate about advocating for her clients’ birthing wishes while providing reassurance every step of the way. With a depth of knowledge and a warm, patient demeanor, she helps new parents embrace the birthing journey with confidence, support families through infertility treatments, and hold space for those suffering from pregnancy and childbirth trauma.

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Specialty: Postpartum Care Day Newborn