Diary of a Doula

01/12/2026

Upcoming Birth Availability

📍 I will no longer be taking new clients in Fairfield County at this time.

📍 I will be focusing on central Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts

📍 I will be traveling in December of 2026 and will not be taking clients during that month.

Again thank you for all the wonderful referrals that keep this work sustainable for me. It’s always an honor to serve my clients and their families and friends.

01/09/2026

Hosted a goal planning day for some of favorite peeps at Birth Tribe. We decided to celebrate our wins from 2025 and put our dreams and goals on paper.

We had lots of us hit our goals from last years planning session, with lots of us hitting six figures for the first time.

I forget how much I love sitting in community until I’m doing it!

01/01/2026

This year I stood in more birth spaces than I ever have before. I witnessed strength, surrender, fear, joy and love in its rawest forms. I was trusted in moments that change people forever and that kind of trust humbles me to my core.

I’m grateful beyond words for every family who invited me into their becoming. Those moments stay with me. They live in my body. They shape who I am.

And while I’m proud of the work I did this year, I’m also listening closely to what my spirit learned:

I can do hard things.
I can hold a lot.
I will never do that again 😂

As I step toward 2026, I’m choosing intention over intensity.

✨ I’ll be reducing births in Fairfield County to repeat clients only. The traffic has finally enraged me enough to walk away.

✨ I’m opening myself to beautiful, unexpected opportunities in Southern Massachusetts that I can’t wait to share with you all, when the time is right.

✨ And I’m preparing to launch a Skool community. A place for connection, learning, and being held outside the birth room. Not only for families, but for doulas as well. I think I’ve finally created a mentorship model that won’t kill me.

✨And I will be making more time for in person connections in my space in Berlin, CT

This next chapter feels quieter. Wider. More aligned.
Less proving. More becoming.

Thank you to every client, colleague and community member who walked alongside me this year.

I am deeply, endlessly thankful. 🤍

12/29/2025

“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Melissa. As a couple who struggled to get pregnant and had several losses, my husband and I were nervous and unsure of what pregnancy and birth would look like for us.

Melissa was a constant sense of calm and always made sure to check in on our emotional health. Everyone tells you that nothing can prepare you for childbirth, but we beg to differ. Melissa helped us understand all of our options and what to expect every step of the way. She was objective and factual. She was always available to answer questions, ease anxiety, and give peace of mind.

When our birth plan didn’t go exactly as planned, and I ended up being induced, Melissa was right by my side to help me along the way. In fact, I remember the moment she showed up at the hospital, I cried because I felt such relief. Her presence and expertise is invaluable.

I would highly recommend Melissa to anyone considering hiring a doula.”

- Christina 1st time Mom

12/26/2025

Happy holidays 🤍

As this year gently winds down, I just want to pause and say thank you.

Thank you for the support, the trust, the messages, the shares, the conversations, the learning, the growth, all of it.

These last couple of weeks of slowing down are not just welcome… they’re needed.

Needed for rest.
Needed for integration.
Needed to breathe, reflect, and refill before what’s next.

I hope you’re allowing yourself the same grace and permission to soften, to unplug a little, to be present where your feet are and to rest without guilt.

Wishing you warmth, peace, and moments that feel grounding and real this holiday season.

I’m so grateful to be here with you. ✨

12/10/2025

If you were induced and had a balloon placed as part of your induction process for cervical ripening, I’d love to hear your experience.

I feel like an overwhelming number of my clients, haven’t experienced it as a horrific event, but I’m wondering if I’m just blocking it out 🤔🤣

Mine felt like a full tampon and not much else, so I’d love to have others stories for me to use while educating folks. TIA!

11/18/2025

2026 is just around the corner and my doula schedule is already popping! 🤣🤣

I will be serving 5 clients each month in 2026.

I will forever and always feel thankful to have a fully booked schedule year after year.

2025 I will serve the most clients in 12 months than ever before and the lesson I learned was to never do that again 🤣🙃

Feel free to book a free consult at the link in bio.

09/17/2025

I know you don’t want to tear, but let’s talk a little bit about if ya do…

09/17/2025

✨ 2025 is officially FULL ✨

I am beyond grateful to the incredible families who have trusted me to walk alongside them during such a sacred season of life. Every time I’m invited into a birth space, I’m reminded of how much I love this work and the deep honor it is to serve as a doula.

I’m already filling up fast for 2026! If you’re thinking about growing your family next year, now is the perfect time to connect.

Thank you for trusting me, for sharing your journeys and for letting me do what I love every single day.

📩 DM me or visit the link in bio to start the conversation for 2026.

09/10/2025

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