What is a doula?
Birth Doula
A birth doula is a non-medical birth professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy and labor. A doula can help you think through all your options for labor, offer comfort techniques, and affirm the decisions you make for your birth and baby. Birth doulas support birthing people and their families through advocacy, education, and gentle guidance. Having a doula at your birth can lead to smoother deliveries and better overall satisfaction in the birth experience. Evidence shows a 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience and that doula support leads to stronger feelings of personal safety and agency*
postpartum Doula
Not every family has support waiting for them once their newborn arrives. Postpartum doulas offer non-medical care through newborn assistance, feeding guidance, physical and emotional recovery support, household help, education, and trusted resources. During the fourth trimester, a postpartum doula acts as a steady, caring presence—offering an extra set of hands while nurturing confidence and strengthening the bond between newborns and their families.
"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it."
- John H. Kennell, MD
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Andria Budbill
Birth Doula
Encapsulation Specialist
Neurodivergence Advocate
DV/SA Advocate
I am a lifelong Alaskan and a major birth nerd. My background is in education, advocacy, and supporting people during some of the most difficult parts of their lives; doula work feels like the perfect role to utilize all my strengths combined with my love of the birth process and supporting families. I completed my doula training in April of 2024 during my first trimester of pregnancy, gave birth to my daughter in December of 2024, and started attending births in May of 2025. My approach is focused on educating and empowering the birthing person and their partner(s) to become confident and feel ownership over their birth experience. I hold strong beliefs that anyone can make a family and love to support clients of all identities. My specialty areas are LGBTQIA+ families, neurodiverse people, and Health At Every Size. I am currently taking 1 client per month for labor & birth support and offer placenta encapsulation at any time.
Contact Andria
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Natalie Norton
Doula For Teens & Young Adults
Certified Yoga Instructor
A little about me!
Hi, I'm Natalie. A mother of five, grandmother to two, lifelong caregiver, and the heart behind Birthing Tides Doula. My journey into birth work began long before I officially became a doula. From a young age, I was drawn to nurturing others, always with a baby doll in my arms, offering to babysit, and helping care for the little ones in my community.
At 17, I became a mother myself, which deepened my passion for supporting young growing families. I worked in my high school’s childcare program while pregnant and continued after my daughter was born. Over the years, I have raised five beautiful children of my own and lovingly cared for the children of friends and family.
When my young daughter welcomed my first grandson into the world, I felt a clear calling, to step fully into birth work and continue the journey of supporting young mothers through one of life’s most powerful transitions.
Today, I offer compassionate, grounded doula support rooted in lived experience, intuition, and a deep respect for each birthing person's unique path. I bring a calm, nurturing presence to the families I serve, meeting them where they are with warmth and wisdom.
In addition to my doula work, I'm a forever student — always learning, growing, and expanding my skills. I’m a certified yoga instructor, an amateur herbalist, and I find joy in painting, spending time in nature, and getting lost in a good book.
Whether you are preparing for your first baby or choosing an entirely different route, I’m honored to walk beside you as your doula.
Contact Natalie
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Nicole Weston
Doula
Certified Encapsulation Specialist
Birth Photographer
About my work
As a mother, counselor, birth worker, and photographer, I bring a compassionate, grounded, and deeply personal approach to supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I’ve experienced both cesarean and unmedicated birth, as well as the challenges of having premature babies — and I know how important it is to feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout every stage of the journey.
My doula services are designed for families who already feel well-supported but would love a “birth doula sprinkle” — that extra layer of calm guidance, encouragement, and reassurance on the day of birth. I offer light birth support combined with birth photography and videography, creating space for you to stay fully present while I quietly document the moments you’ll treasure forever. My practice is rooted in inclusivity, welcoming all birthing people and families with care and affirmation.Training & Background
My path to birth work began over a decade ago, when I was trained under traditional Mayan midwives in Guatemala during my service with the Peace Corps. Their wisdom shaped my understanding of birth as a sacred, intuitive, and community-centered experience. Since then, I’ve worked in both hospital and home birth settings, blending evidence-based care with traditional, heart-centered support.
I am a Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, offering safe and professional encapsulation services to help families recover and restore balance postpartum. My approach combines modern safety standards with an understanding of the emotional and physical transitions that follow birth.
With my background in counseling, I offer trauma-informed, family-centered support that honors each person’s unique story.
Services in Juneau, Alaska
Birth Doula Sprinkle — Gentle, supportive guidance for families who primarily want birth documentation with light doula care.
Birth Photography & Videography — Storytelling through still and film, focused on emotion, connection, and memory.
Placenta Encapsulation — Certified, safe, and handled with care in a dedicated environment.
Postpartum Support — Light emotional and practical support during your transition home.
Philosophy
Birth is powerful. Whether it unfolds in a hospital, at home, or surrounded by family, it deserves to be remembered and supported with intention and respect. My goal is to create an experience that feels peaceful, empowering, and beautifully documented — honoring both your story and the natural rhythm of birth in Alaska’s wild, breathtaking landscape.
Contact Nicole -
Kelly Reed
Postpartum Doula
Therapist
Kelly (she/her) is a lifelong Southeast Alaskan with over 12 years counseling experience and is a DONA trained Postpartum Doula.
Kelly believes in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion and will tailor services to meet people’s unique needs. Everyone deserves to feel seen, heard and valued. Everyone is welcome in Kelly’s space, and she proudly supports the LGBTQA+ community. Please check out her website for the different services she provides.
Contact Kelly
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MEG MCCARTHY
Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula (DONA)
Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula (DONA) Meg is a DONA International certified birth and postpartum doula with over 13 years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Throughout her career, she has held space for numerous families, providing compassionate, evidence-based, and family-centered care. When not supporting families, Meg loves exploring the outdoors, going on adventures with her children, and having coffee dates with her husband. She also enjoys practicing yoga, curling up with a good book, and baking sourdough bread for her family.
As a Coast Guard spouse, Meg has supported families in communities across the country, gaining experience within diverse regions, healthcare systems, and birth environments. This has strengthened her ability to adapt her care to each family’s unique needs while maintaining a calm, grounded, and consistent presence.
Known for her attentive listening and steady demeanor, Meg offers continuous emotional, physical, and informational support during labor and birth. In the postpartum period, she provides nurturing, practical care focused on recovery, bonding, and emotional well-being. Her approach is nonjudgmental, empowering, and deeply respectful of each family’s journey.
With over a decade of hands-on experience, Meg is committed to creating a supportive and safe space where families feel empowered, informed, and deeply cared for during one of life’s most transformative times.
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Jen Mangiacapre / Dear Life Doula
Certified Labor/Birth and Postpartum Doula (ProDoula)
Placenta Encapsulation Specialist
Locations Support is Offered- Home, Hospital or Birth Center
Reflecting back I could argue my doula journey started many-many years ago. But it wasn’t until my best friend had a baby in 2016 that I was introduced to the profession, and how impactful a doula can be on the lives of Mothers, babies, and their families.
My experience as a doula is defined by my sincere appreciation for the unique stories that bring individuals to parenthood, the unpredictable yet beautifully transformative nature of childbirth, and the palpable energy that accompanies the arrival of new life. With an unwavering commitment to offering non-judgmental emotional and physical support during the vulnerable moments of childbirth and beyond, I aim to foster genuine connections with my clients, creating a safe and empowering space for their journey.
I find joy in helping parents navigate the first few chapters of their baby’s life, bolstering their confidence, helping them gain independence, providing coping techniques while adapting to life with a new addition, multiples or high-needs babies, nourishing my families, sharing clever parent hacks learned along the way, and most of all, being your hype girl! Any victory, big or small, I’m celebrating with you!
Outside of the birth world what truly rejuvenates my soul is spending time in nature, cycling, running, hiking and experiencing my nephews and friends' babies grow into tiny humans!
For more information about services offered, or to set up a complimentary consult, please visit www.DearLifeDoula.com or email dearlifedoula@gmail.com