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Diary of a Doula

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Manchester, CT
Diary of a Doula

I’m a birth doula and doula mentor located in central Connecticut. Come hang out with me here whil

My name is Melissa Duenas and I am a birth and postpartum Doula. I support parents through pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum and beyond. I love this work and feel honored to be part of such an amazing journey for so many. I specialize in dealing with those who have perinatal mood disorders, anxiety, or have PTSD (this include spouses). I also work with many military families or those with schedules that may require specialty care.

09/06/2025

Big things are happening with insurance + doula coverage… but like all good things, it takes time.

Right now, about 95% of my services are still out-of-pocket for clients. But the landscape is changing! I’m already in-network with Kaiser, on Carrot Fertility’s preferred list, and beginning Medicaid (Husky) spots in Connecticut. I’m also actively working toward Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Aetna coverage.

🕰️ Here’s the honest part: Insurance contracts, approvals, and reimbursements are not quick processes. I can’t give you guaranteed timelines—but I can promise I’m pushing forward every step of the way.

I’m excited to see progress, grateful for your patience, and committed to making doula care accessible for more families.

💛 Because your birth support shouldn’t depend on your bank account.

09/02/2025

*The spelling errors on the last one were destroying me. Edited and reposted*

A lot of the advice my clients are still being given by their OBs, pediatricians, and even well-meaning friends is outdated when it comes to clogged ducts and mastitis. I am going mad over here 🤪

For years, parents were told:
❌ Apply heat
❌ Massage the area aggressively
❌ Feed or pump more often

But new evidence shows this can actually make inflammation worse, increase clogs, and set you up for mastitis.

Here’s what current recommendations look like instead:
✅ Ice for 10 minutes after feeds to reduce inflammation
✅ Ibuprofen to help with pain + swelling
✅ Lymphatic pressure strokes (gentle, toward the ni**le)
✅ Sunflower lecithin & probiotics for prevention and healing
✅ Continue feeding or pumping as normal (not more, not less)

And here’s the biggest shift: antibiotics should be reserved for confirmed bacterial mastitis only. Most mastitis is inflammatory, not infectious.

The bottom line? If you’re struggling with clogged ducts or mastitis, please seek guidance from an IBCLC who’s up to date on the latest protocols. Outdated advice can do more harm than good.

✨ Share this with the parents and providers in your circle, because when we know better, we do better.

Evidenced Based References:

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) Clinical Protocol #36 (2022 update)

UCSF Women’s Health – Mastitis & Plugged Ducts Info Sheet

09/01/2025

✨ Big news ✨

I am now officially a Prepare/Enrich Facilitator—bringing another powerful tool into my birth and parenting coaching practice.

Prepare/Enrich is one of the most widely used and research-based assessments for couples. It can be tailored for:

💍 Married & premarital couples
🏡 Blending families
🎖 Military couples
🙏 Multiple religious backgrounds
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Couples preparing for adoption or foster parenting

Why does this matter? Because the program doesn’t just spark conversation, it creates measurable impact:

✅ Lowers a couple’s risk of divorce by 31%
✅ Improves overall relationship satisfaction
✅ Reduces the impact of unrealistic expectations & idealism
✅ Features strong cross-cultural validity
✅ Accurately predicts long-term couple success

And whether you’re welcoming your first baby, making sure you and your partner are on the same page before adding another child, or simply finding each other again now that you’re out of the trenches of early parenthood, this program helps you pause, reconnect, and build a strong foundation for the road ahead.

I am so excited to begin integrating this into my doula work and to walk alongside couples as they strengthen their connection and prepare for the next chapter in parenting and partnership.

08/29/2025

Gina was probably the most thankful and joyous mom I have ever witnessed. Her husband and her deserved this experience and their beautiful baby more than words can express.

“As a first-time mom who conceived through IVF there were very few wishes I had going into pregnancy: 1) to welcome a healthy child; 2) to have minimal of interventions during labor and delivery. For me, #2 meant having the support of someone with the knowledge, compassion, experience, and the right personality to be in my and my husband’s corner. Tall order right? Queue the search for the perfect doula. Meeting Melissa for the first time was equal parts getting acquainted with a strong, steadfast friend you could rely on and the ultimate fountain of pregnancy and birthing knowledge. A huge part of the matching process for us was finding someone who we “clicked” with and that I could imagine in the room for most vulnerable experience of my life. Melissa was that person for me from the very beginning. She has a calm, confident presence that immediately puts you at ease. She ensured we were prepared and informed to make the best decisions for our family and she was in our corner every step of the way. One sentinment that Melissa shared during our first meeting and echoed throughout was her ultimate goal of limiting, and ideally avoiding, trauma during the labor and delivery process. Being on the other side of pregnancy, I can’t say how invaluable this was. When my water broke spontaneously earlier than expected, Melissa was our first text at 3 am. She called us immediately and put me at ease. When labor progressed faster than expected, she was right by my side to support along the way. When baby wasn’t moving into position, she positioned me to give us the best chance for baby to flip. And when baby finally did flip, Melissa was the one who knew it and when it was time to push. She was there to remind me to listen to my body, to go inward, and to trust myself. I know my birth wouldn’t have been trauma free without Melissa - which looking back, should have been my #2 wish. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Melissa.”

- Gina 1st time mom

08/26/2025

On August 11th, I attended the 200th VBAC of my career. ✨

I hesitated to share this at first because the real credit belongs to the families, the ones who chose to trust their bodies again after being told they had failed.

The ones who handed me their trust when the more predictable route was right there. The ones who stepped into the unknown a second time, even after trauma.

Supporting VBAC wasn’t the path I thought I’d take when I became a doula. But one family’s story lit something in me, and 200 VBAC’s later, this work has become one of the greatest passions of my life.

My 200th VBAC wasn’t just a number, it was with people who feel like family, and I’ll never forget it. I’m endlessly grateful to the universe for weaving our stories together and for allowing me to do this work that I love so deeply, but I’m more grateful to Rachel for allowing me to stand beside her, in her power, in her doubt, in her vulnerability, in her strength, in her worry and in her determination.

Here’s to the next 200.

08/18/2025

I will forever feel thankful for the trust that Stephanie and her husband put in me, when navigating at times, challenging moments. It ended with a pretty great birth experience and it was such an honor to be part of their journey 🩷

“As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I’ve heard countless birth stories, many of them marked by trauma. Too often, they share a common thread: feeling underprepared, out of control, and having to make quick decisions without fully understanding the implications. So when it came time to plan my own birth, I knew I wanted a different experience.

Despite all of my professional knowledge and preparation, my delivery (like so many others) didn’t go as planned. What made all the difference was having Melissa by our side. She was truly essential throughout my pregnancy and labor, offering steady, informed, and compassionate support as well as strategies for navigating tough situations every step of the way.

Melissa empowered my partner and me to make decisions that felt aligned with our values. Her deep understanding of maternal and fetal anatomy and physiology helped us feel confident and grounded throughout the process. She brought a calming presence during moments of uncertainty, and provided invaluable support not only to me, but also to my husband. Her ability to support him, especially during our 48+ hour labor, gave him the reassurance and relief he needed, even allowing him to rest when he needed it most.

After birth, Melissa continued to be a source of guidance and care. Her experience as a lactation counselor and a mother herself was incredibly helpful as we navigated the early days of infant care and feeding.

Thanks to Melissa, our birth experience is one we look back on with true joy and gratitude. She helped us feel safe, seen, and supported, every step of the way. We are endlessly thankful for her.”

- Stephanie 1st time mom

08/05/2025

When some of your favorite humans reach out with April due dates, so you scoot your vacation a week 🤣🙃

I have 3 spots left for early 2026 and then will have 5 spots open for May and beyond.

The current plan will be to travel October 2026.

Thank you for allowing me to support your families while you support my small business 🫶

07/30/2025

One of the most common questions I’ve been getting lately?

👉 “Do you offer payment plans?”

And with the way the economy’s been vibing lately, I get it.

I actually stopped offering them a while back, because I was terrible at keeping track. (Shoutout to the folks who still owed me money after giving birth 😬 and my awkward little heart that hated asking for it.)

BUT…good news! I’ve switched to a new client management system that handles all the reminders for me, so no more chaos.

So yes, if you’re looking for a doula and need a payment plan, I got you. 💛 Let’s make it work.

Also if your employer offers CARROT fertility, I’m on their pre-approved list and my Birth & Education Package is now fully reimbursable.

07/29/2025

I ❤️ NY clients, but don’t love NY traffic.

I will still serve repeat clients in NY, but I will not be taking any new clients going forward.

I appreciate the love and acceptance of the diverse community that I have been able to serve over the years, especially clients of different faiths that trusted me with their most precious people…the wife and mother.

My children have enjoyed many loaves of challah that have arrived to our door on Friday afternoon and have a drawer full of Shabbat candles and prayer pamphlets.

If someone would have told me when I started this work that I would be serving entire streets in Monsey and that prenatal and postpartum visits would be like mini-reunions of past clients, I would have never believed it.

It’s been a beautiful experience of not just serving insanely powerful women, but also being accepted into a culture that wasn’t my own.

Thank you so much for loving me and my family and giving me the honor to love yours 🥹

07/28/2025

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, brilliant, deeply goofy mama.

She’s the kind of woman who makes everything lighter just by being in the room, part warmth, part sass, and part unintentional stand up comedian.

She has always loved with her whole chest, always shown up when it mattered, and always managed to make even the hardest things feel a little softer.

Today we took her out to breakfast, where she laughed with my boys like they were all the same age and honestly, in spirit, they are. She’s the fun grandma, the loudest cheerleader, and the woman who taught me how to find joy even when life gets heavy.

We love you more than pancakes, Meme. Happy birthday.

07/19/2025

It was such an honor to serve another doula and friend who I deeply respect. She put so much trust in me during her vulnerable moments and birthed her baby with strength and power once she got through them. 🥰🥰

07/11/2025

✨Availability Update✨

I’m feeling especially grateful as I look at my calendar and realize just how long I’ve had the honor of walking alongside families during one of the most sacred seasons of their lives.

This work isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. And the fact that I’m still here, years in, supported by word of mouth and return families, is something I don’t take for granted.

Here’s a peek at my upcoming doula availability:
Booked solid through November
1 due date spot left in December
1 spot in January
3 February openings
4 March openings

✈️ No April bookings – family travel + memory making (where should we go?! Still debating!)

Most of my clients hire me between 8–10 weeks pregnant, so if you’re newly pregnant and feeling the nudge to have continuous support, let’s talk soon.

Thank you, truly, for trusting me with your births.

Address

Manchester, CT
06042

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 3pm
Tuesday	9am - 8pm
Wednesday	9am - 3pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18608903970

Website

http://www.diaryofadoula.com/

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Our Story

My name is Melissa Duenas and I am a birth and postpartum Doula. I support parents through pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum and beyond. I love this work and feel honored to be part of such an amazing journey for so many. I specialize in clients who have perinatal mood disorders, anxiety, or have PTSD (this include spouses). I also specialize in parents who are welcoming twins and other high-risk pregnancies. I’m known for my work in vaginal birth after cesareans as well.

I have attended over 300 births in Connecticut and Massachusetts and have extensive information about as well as great relationships with providers in our area.