Heart to Heart Doula Service Doula Bios
Ellen Huffmyer Senior doula, Co-founder |
Twenty three years ago, I gave birth to my first child. When my son was ten months old, I contacted a doula organization. I wanted to know who they were, what they were doing, and whether or not I could be one too! (It's been said that doulas are born, not made, and right there and then, a doula was born). I started with birth training, after which, I jumped right into this new world that was opening up to me. I attended my first birth, as a doula, 364 days after the birth of my son. From then on, I was hooked. The rest, as they say, is history. I am certified as a birth doula and a postpartum doula. I have loved every minute of it since, having had the privilege of attending hospital births, VBACs, cesarean births, midwife-attended births, physician-attended births, twins, and home births, over 170 along the way! My passion for birth, and supporting moms has also led me into childbirth education. As a Bradley Method® educator, I have a chance to enjoy couples in a warm personal setting, encouraging them to trust themselves and each other, to have a more satisfying birth. I also teach private classes for a tailored, one-on-one experience. I am married to a wonderful man. Together we have four children, two boys, and two girls. I became a doula because of them. Every day of my professional life, I get to be a part of something amazing. I support, educate, and encourage women in a pivotal time in their lives: the birth year. I love my job... www.emhdoula.weebly.com |
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I started as a birth doula in 2008 and have found my calling in empowering, educating, and supporting women during birth. I became a certified birth doula in 2010. Each birth is exciting and different and each one creates a new family; it is my great honor to serve women on that life-changing day. I strive to help each woman have the birth experience she desires. I especially love helping dads get as involved as they are able to be! I have attended hospital births, birth center births, cesarean births, VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and Orthodox Jewish births. My husband and I have one adopted son and one biological son. I have experienced pregnancy loss and a challenging labor and I believe these experiences give me both compassion and insight for women having a difficult pregnancy or delivery. I nursed my biological son beyond the recommended 12 months, so I love to get moms off to a good start nursing and understand the importance of breastfeeding to new moms. |
Jami Conn Senior Doula, co-founder |
Erin Bignell Trained Doula |
My name is Erin Bignell and I have been a trained doula since 2008. I have been married to my husband Josh for more than 10 years. We have two amazing and energetic boys, Ben and Eli who are the lights of our lives. I must admit that our dogs are also an important part of our family! I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. I also enjoy photography as a hobby and am excited to begin working with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep as a photography assistant in the near future!
I have enjoyed caring for babies as long as I can remember and I think I knew I was meant to be a doula when I saw an episode of "Baby Story" for the first time featuring a mother using a doula. From that point forward, I have been soaking up as much as can about birth, and I yearn to help women achieve the most positive birth experience possible. Your birth is your own personal story, I just want to help make sure you have a happy ending and a positive path to get there. I make no judgments about the choices you make, but I will support you and your family the best I can throughout the process. I look forward to meeting you and being a positive part of your birth story! |
Mary Duggan Trained Doula |
Hi! I am Mary Duggan, a wife and mother to 4 adult children (3 boys and 1 girl). I am also a registered nurse with a background in Maternal-Child health. Having worked in Labor and Delivery, postpartum and newborn nursery in various Pittsburgh area hospitals, I became aware of the need to support and educate women about the birth process. In 1984 I became a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and that is my main employment now. In addition to childbirth classes I also facilitate Family and Friends CPR classes. A few years ago I followed my desire to support women through the birth and early parenthood journey by receiving training to become a doula, first post-partum training then birth training. I believe that giving birth empowers a woman to a place she may not know exists. Any help I can offer through support, education and genuine love of new families is available. I look forward to working with you. |
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In 2008, I gave birth to my first child. The support I received from my midwives, nurses, and family were instrumental in having the birth I wanted. As I started talking to others about birth, I found that they weren't always so supported or contented with their births. The seed of the idea to somehow be that support for mothers during their pregnancies and births was planted.
After the birth of my second son in 2011 I decided to bring that plan to fruition. I attended a Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth® teacher training in 2012, where I became trained to teach expecting couples about birth and to attend births as a doula. I started teaching in 2012 and attending births in January 2015 and have been loving every minute of it. Joining Heart to Heart doulas has been an exciting transition for me. I can't wait to help more expectant families birth their way: supported, educated, and loved. I live in the Airport area of Pittsburgh, with my husband, two boys, a dog, and nine chickens. In my free time I run, read, camp, and garden. |
Sara Garside Trained Doula |
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I am thrilled to be a part of Heart to Heart as a postpartum doula. My own experiences with pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and mothering have made me passionate about supporting families in the early weeks. I love babies, new parents, and making sure that mom, baby, and family all get off to the best possible start together.
I am a proud mama of a 6 year-old son and 4 year-old daughter. I live with them and my husband in the East End. We've lived in Pittsburgh for almost eight years, feel deeply connected here. You can often find me walking the trails of Schenley Park, hanging out with my beloved mom tribe, or adventuring around the city with my family. I grew up in Harrisburg and graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in Psychology. I spent five years working for non-profits before doing a two-year stint in law school. After choosing happiness over law school, I loved nannying for several families until I had my second child. It is an honor to be working with families in this role; I look forward to supporting you during your “fourth trimester”. |
Amy Sturtz trained Doula |
Samantha Booth Trained Doula |
I gave birth to my oldest child in 2010, and during the process, I fell in love with birth! I felt loved, supported, educated, and empowered during my pregnancy and birthing, and it became my goal to help women and families experience birth in this way.
When my son was one and a half, I attended a training to become a Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth educator and doula. I taught Bradley Method classes for over six years, and cherished the opportunity to educate pregnant couples and help them prepare for birth. I decided to become a doula because I am passionate about childbirth and about helping families. I am honored and blessed to be a part of the birthing process for those families whom I serve as a doula. I live in Plum Borough with my husband, two sons, daughter, dog, and flock of chickens. In my free time I enjoy reading, doing Pilates, and spending time outside. |
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Over the last 18 years, 13 of them have been spent either pregnant and/or breastfeeding. My husband Jeff and I live in the South Hills, and have been blessed with 5 children-ranging in age from 5-17!
I began babysitting at the age of 11, and was a nanny throughout my high school & college years. I graduated from IUP, and shortly thereafter began our family. After having 5 c-sections, struggling with infertility, breastfeeding 5 babies, experiencing preterm births & a baby in the NICU, I felt called to share my experience & help other parents with their families. I began researching the opportunity of becoming a postpartum doula, and the fire in my belly was lit...I immediately felt led to this field & knew this was my next step! I enjoy assisting with baby care, feedings, and be a helping hand so parents can rest and have peace of mind. Watching a couple transition into parenthood, grow in their skills and confidence as parents, and knowing I played a role in that, is extremely rewarding! However, it really fills my cup to be there for Mom.to have listen, support, reassure, & encourage her in those early weeks. It can be very overwhelming to be in pain, nervous, doubt yourself, & juggle tasks while being exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically. I look forward to helping families as they welcome their miracle home and adjust as the family grows. |
Heather DiGiacomo Trained doula |
Brenda White trained doula |
I am Brenda White, and I am a Registered Nurse since 2002. I have worked in a variety of fields and locations including local hospitals, schools, and home health care.
I am married with 4 children, ages 14, 13, 10, and 5. They are my world. I spend most of my free time with my kiddos at one of their sporting events. I live in the South Hills area and have been here my entire life. I became a trained Doula because of my love of helping others. We get to help moms be the best they can be while helping to care for their amazing little ones at the same time! Every family is different, as are their needs, and their knowledge. I truly feel that a Doula has something to offer everyone. I look forward to meeting you. |
contactdoulaservice@gmail.com, 412-716-8163