Meet the Tree Town Doulas!
Toni Auker
Birth Doula, Private Childbirth Classes, Babywearing Consultant
When I graduated with a degree in psychology and women’s studies, I had no idea what I would do with it. I knew that I wanted to work with families, but never seemed to find the right fit. After the birth of my first son in 2011, everything changed. I became passionate about pregnancy and helping women feel empowered in their birth experiences. I attended birth doula training and I immediately knew that I had found what I was looking for.
Since 2011, I have taken classes to teach babywearing, began teaching childbirth classes, and continue to attend as many births as I can. As a birth doula, I aim to give you informational, emotional, and physical support so that you can feel in control during your birth. It is your birth, and I am lucky to be a small part of the story.
Contact Toni: 734/730-2909 or toni@treetowndoulas.com
Martha Baum
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Private Childbirth and Infant Care Classes, Breastfeeding Support, Placenta Encapsulation
Hi, I’m Martha and I have been a doula for over 16 years. My love for moms and babies has led me to have a career that I love and hope to continue for a long time to come. I am wife and mom of two awesome young men and grandma to one fun toddler. In my down time, I enjoy cooking, music, and spending time with family and close friends, and am constantly learning about all new things birth related! My own journey began with their births, breastfeeding and challenges, but I have been fortunate to have people that helped to guide me through. As a doula, I am here to lend comfort, support you and your family, educate, nurture, and provide resources to help you with your journey.
Contact Martha: 734/347-2560 or martha@treetowndoulas.com
Anna Fernandez, CPM, MH
Birth Doula, Certified Professional Midwife, Community Herbalist offering Herbal Support for Fertility, Birth, Postpartum and Women’s Health
During my first pregnancy, I lived with two doulas. Before that time, I had never even heard the word doula. These women opened my eyes to the power of support during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. They would come home after births and despite the often late or early hour, I would beg for details and was fascinated with every word.
When my son was 6 months old in 1999, I took a doula training course and began attending births. Since then I have also become a Certified Professional Midwife and have attended hundreds of births. I have two children myself. I love working with each unique family, tailoring my skills around each birthing mother’s desires and working as part of a team to make the birth experience the most positive it can be.
I am also a Community Herbalist and offer herbal support for those interested for before and during pregnancy as well as postpartum and beyond.
Contact Anna:734/395-5868 or anna@treetowndoulas.com
Catherine Fischer, MA, CPD
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Private Infant Care Classes, Classes and Consultations for Parents of Young Children
I love supporting families! As a mother, former elementary teacher and long time parent support group leader, I come to my birth and postpartum doula work with a deep respect for parents and the hard work we do to birth and love our children well.
I have specialized in postpartum doula work since 2010. That work lead me to also offer birth doula services starting in 2013.
I have extensive training helping parents with the emotional challenges of parenting, in comfort measures for birth and in breastfeeding support.
In addition to my doula work, I offer private postpartum planning meetings, infant care classes, parenting consultations and a class for parents of young children.
Contact Catherine: 734/395-5244 or catherine@treetowndoulas.com
Cynthia Gabriel, Ph.D.
Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, Medical Anthropologist
I love birth! I started attending births in 1998 in California before I had my own children. Since then, I’ve attended births in Russia, Canada, and across the United States, at home, at birth centers, and in hospitals. Along the way, I gave birth to three children of my own. In addition to attending births, I’ve interviewed over 200 women who had achieved natural hospital births and wrote the book “Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds.” With a PhD from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Post-Doctorate Fellowship from the University of Michigan, I have conducted research on a variety of childbearing issues. My current projects are about Muslim-America women’s birth experiences in U.S. hospitals and African-American birth choices.
Contact Cynthia: 734/929-7317 or Cynthia@treetowndoulas.com
Gillian McClinsey-Powell
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Eduactor, Placenta Specialist, CPST, Babywearing Educator
I had two sons, one in 1998 and the other in 2001. I knew that one day my job would be to support and empower other women during pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Over the years, I have found so much joy in supporting the people in my life as they welcomed their babies. I have always been a helper.
After I married my husband, we welcomed our daughter in the summer of 2008. I researched the idea of birth work and trained as a birth doula at the Center for the Childbearing Year in the fall of 2011. Following that, I trained as a postpartum doula at the center, and then continued on to train as a babywearing educator, childbirth educator, placenta encapsulation specialist, CPST (child passenger safety technician).
My passion and intention as a doula is to enable women to have the most satisfaction from their births and experiences as parents/caregivers, no matter how that path looks. It’s so important that each individual feels empowered and owns their experiences. I strive to support that with informational, physical, and emotional support.
I look forward to meeting you and talking about how I can support you and your family.
Contact Gillian:734/626-8508 or gillian@treetowndoulas.com