*At this time I am only supporting folks as an herbalist, please reach out if you are interested in a consult.

Comprehensive Doula Services for LGBTQIA+ Families

With a deep understanding of the diverse needs within the LGBTQIA+ community, my mission is to offer culturally competent care that honors your family’s story, choices, and identity. As a full-spectrum doula, I offer support throughout every stage of your reproductive journey:

  • Pregnancy Support: I provide personalized guidance through every trimester, ensuring you feel informed, confident, and cared for. From nutrition advice to emotional support, I'm here to help you navigate your path.

  • Birth Doula Services: Whether you're planning to give birth at home, in the hospital birth, or a birthing center, I offer physical and emotional support during labor. My approach is inclusive, non-judgmental, and designed to honor your preferences, helping to be a grounding force in your birth space.

  • Postpartum Doula Support: After the birth of your baby, I assist with postpartum recovery, infant care, lactation guidance, and emotional well-being. This crucial phase deserves special attention, and I’m here to provide the care and resources you need as you transition into parenthood.

  • Loss and Healing: As a full-spectrum doula, I also provide compassionate support for families in the case of pregnancy loss or reproductive trauma. My services include emotional care, herbal remedies, and holistic healing methods to help you process your journey.

Herbalism for Birth and Postpartum

As an add-on to my birth doula support I can craft personalized herbal plans to:

  • Support Pregnancy: I provide herbal consultations to support a healthy pregnancy, from morning sickness relief to stress management and immune support.

  • Aid in Postpartum Recovery: Herbal remedies can ease postpartum discomforts, help with healing, and balance your hormones, helping you feel more at ease as you recover.

  • Mental and Emotional Well-being: Emotional support is key, especially for LGBTQIA+ families who may face unique challenges during their reproductive journey. I offer herbal remedies and mindfulness practices that support mental health, reducing anxiety and enhancing overall well-being.

LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care

I understand that the needs of LGBTQIA+ families can differ from those of other families. My services are tailored to honor the diversity of gender identities, sexual orientations, and family structures. I create a safe, inclusive space for all clients, ensuring that you feel respected and supported throughout your journey.

Whether you're navigating fertility, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum, I am here to provide guidance, care, and healing with full respect for your family's identity.

Services

The standard birth support package includes:

  • Monthly Check-ins

  • 2 Prenatal Sessions (90mins-2hrs)

  • Labor and Birth Support

  • 1 Postpartum Visit (1-2hrs)

Add-ons or A la Carte Services:

  • Herbal Consult (60mins) + detailed protocol

  • Childbirth Education (3hrs)

*Sliding scale is available, per request, for LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, with need. Receiving our full fee allows us to provide free and low cost offerings for our community, on a regular basis. We aim to make our services as accessible as possible and thus offer payment plans and accommodate a limited number of sliding scale scale clients a month. 
We enjoy supporting families that are LGBTQIA, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Solo parents, Grandparents, Polyamorous, and “nontraditional” family configurations. We also have experience supporting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) and those who have gotten pregnant via Assistive Reproductive Technologies (IVF, IUI, insemination, surrogacy, etc.). 
United in Birth supports families in Manhattan (Inwood, Washington Heights, Harlem, Upper West, Upper East Side, Midtown, Chelsea, West Village, East Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Financial District, & Flatiron), The Bronx (Bedford Park, Belmont, Fordham, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Norwood, Spuyten Duyvil, University Heights, Woodlawn, & the South Bronx), Queens (Astoria, Long Island City, & Steinway), and Brooklyn (DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, & Clinton Hill). Basically anywhere that is 1hr from our home base in Northern Manhattan.

Testimonials

  • Shamika G.

    “Jen literally was connected to me at the last minute; a few short weeks ahead of my due date. Jen was reserved but reassuring as my due date approached. This was my 1st child and I wanted EVERYTHING to be perfect. As we all know… the last thing you can do is plan. Jen came to the hospital while I was in the early process of giving birth. She made sure I understood what the nurses and doctors were telling me and assured me that I didn’t have to do certain things and of the alternatives. I ended up going ahead with a C-section and I tear up as I think of it because she was in there with me and I couldn’t have chosen a better birth coach! She even captured personal pictures of when my daughter was born. I call her “Auntie Doula” and she will forever hold a very special place in my heart and little family. Thanks always Jen!”

  • Karina R.

    “Having Jen on our team was without a doubt a crucial piece to the puzzle! She came in and made us feel confident everyday with her presence.”

The 5 P’s of Birth

  • There are many hierarchal powers during birth. It’s important to know how that affects the politics in the room and your comfort with birth.

    This may include discussing:

    • Institutional racism & capitalism & how it affects the birth space.

    • Connection with your inner voice & exercises to help.

    • Which environment will be the best and safest for you to birth in.

    • Our own relationship with conflict/power.

  • This involves all the tangible things we can do to prepare for baby’s arrival.

    This may include discussing:

    • birth and/or postpartum plans.

    • childbirth education basics.

    • comfort measures and coping strategies.

    • expectation setting for family members and friends.

  • The most important element of birth! We work together to identify who can support you and with what.

    This may include discussing:

    • Community mapping- who are your networks of support.

    • Plant allies that can support you on your journey.

    • Identifying the birth support team.

    • Resources to help such as, parent support groups, non-gestational parent groups, pregnancy/TTC support groups.

  • You won’t use what you don’t practice! We don’t only talk, we do.

    This may include:

    • Practicing breathing techniques for labor.

    • Identifying comfort and coping strategies for labor that feel good.

    • Rehearsing scripts for various situations, such as, what to say to strangers when they ask you “how did you make your baby?” or the nursing staff keeps calling you momma even though you told them not to or refusing an induction.

    • Role playing you going into labor.

  • this covers the legalities of giving birth in NYC whether at home, in the hospital or at a birthing center.

    • What you should know as a Queer/Trans family.

    • Who you can talk to if you are mistreated.

    • Birthing at the hospital or hospital transfers after homebirth, common scenarios that folks encounter and how to navigate them.

    • Your Birth Rights.

Through our time supporting pregnant people and their families, we have created our own methodology and pillars of support, called the 5 P’s of Birth.

It is based on the fact that 90% of birth is mental and that we are birthing in a world that does not respect bodily autonomy or Black folx, Queer folx, and anyone who is not cis, hetero, & white.

Below is an explanation of what each pillar explores: