I’m Kelley, St. Louis birth doula, mom to 3 boys, married to the guy I fell in love with in high school. I became obsessed with birth after our first was born via cesarean after an induction for “dates” for “failure to progress.” Air quotes intended. The disappointment I felt surprised me; I dove into research about birth in America. I learned all about my fertility, chose a provider who would be supportive of a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), and hired a doula. Best laid plans and all that… I had a cesarean for high blood pressure at 42 weeks. I definitely still felt disappointed over his birth, but because I was educated and well supported, I knew we had made the best decisions with the options we had. I still planned for VBA2C for baby #3, and was able to push him out of my body right into his daddy’s hands – with a lot of help from my medical team for high blood pressure again, and so much support from my doula. When my former industry got flip-turned upside down and my structural engineering days were forced to end, I decided to follow my passion and dreams and become a birth doula, and now life has moved us from our native Houston to St. Louis. I see my role as a birth doula like being a good coach. I’m on the sidelines with all the information for you, but you’re the one who has to execute the plays. I’m here to educate you and support you whether you’re having a baby at home in the water with twinkle lights, epidural or not at the hospital, or a planned cesarean. I’m going to meet you where you are and dig down into that hole with you. And after the baby is here and you’re overwhelmed, I’m available to help you out, listen to you, and get you through those first few weeks. When I’m not doula-ing, I’m training Jiu Jitsu, at the baseball fields, a wrestling meet, a choir or band event, playing banjo, or I’ve got my nose stuck in a book. And I’m always down for some Tex-Mex.
Bachelor of Science, Maritime Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University (2000)
CAPPA (2018)
English
Hi! I'm Kelley, a birth doula in St. Louis. I absolutely love supporting people becoming families. Whatever choices you want to make for your birth, I'm there to support you with the education and facts behind those choices to make sure you're informed and supported. I firmly and wholeheartedly believe you should be in charge of every decision about your body from pre-conception all the way to birth and feeding your baby. It doesn't matter to me if you're birthing at home or the hospital, with or without an epidural, if you want a vaginal birth or a planned cesarean. I just want you to feel supported each step of the way.
Kelley was the perfect fit as our doula! From the moment we started prepping for birth, her deep knowledge and evidence-based approach reassured us we were in the best hands. We wanted someone who had a lot of experience with different births (c-section and vaginal) who understood childbirth scientifically and could support our decisions, and Kelley exceeded every expectation. During labor, she was truly a force—instinctively knowing what I needed at every moment (peppermint oil, colorful lights, peanut ball). She kept me calm and motivated, even during a scare I wasn’t fully aware of, making a potentially traumatic moment feel manageable and empowering. Her communication skills were outstanding, not only with us but also with the nurses and doctors, creating a seamless and supportive environment. Kelley brought an arsenal of techniques for my partner and me to use during labor, stepping in when needed and giving my partner tools to actively support me. Her ideas and encouragement made all the difference in what could have been an overwhelming experience. On top of all that, Kelley brought laughter and a sense of ease to a wild ride, and the photos she took throughout are treasures we’ll cherish forever. We are thrilled with our decision to hire Kelley for our first pregnancy and birth.
- Andrea S.
Kelley is absolutely amazing. From her knowledge on pregnancy, birth and postpartum to her compassion, understanding and empathy- she was my rock through my pregnancy and becoming a mother. Kelley is always there to answer questions or concerns I have, provide me with resources and education materials (articles, podcasts, referrals). I sincerely appreciate Kelley’s honesty, integrity and genuine personality. Just her presence alone is comforting to me, it brings peace during an uncomfortable situation. Her ability to know exactly what to do or say- even in high stress moments for me- shows me how passionate she is about supporting and empowering other women. You can tell this isn’t just a job for her, it’s her sharing her gift.
- Astacia v.
Kelley was a true best friend during pregnancy, with her prompt and upfront communication, I was able to talk to her about anything. She made sure I was on top of my care and ready to deliver, supporting my wishes while offering helpful input. During labor, she was light hearted and fun when things were easy going, she made me feel safe when I got scared, and most importantly, she kept me moving when I would have chosen to lay down. I appreciated Kelley’s overall demeanor of being direct but respectful, she made me feel strong!
- Molly M.
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