Maternal Health Program

EDUCATION
Education classes to fit your needs

Childbirth Education – how to know you are in labor, pain management, induction and interventions, and the postpartum period. We cover it all in this hands-on class. Available quarterly in English and Spanish.
Breastfeeding Education– we cover everything from latch, pumping, and infant feeding. This class is available quarterly in English and Spanish.
Special Series– we offer some amazing one-off presentations for parents around topics like infant massage & safe sleep. Keep an eye on our social media to see what’s coming up next.

CONNECTION
Check out our community parenting groups

Milk Diaries- Breastfeeding Community Support Group
Black Mama Magic- Community Group for African American Mamas
Mama Meet Up- Postpartum group for mamas of infants-toddlers

For more information or to register for a group email [email protected]

ADVOCACY
Community Based Doula Project

What is a doula?

A doula is “a trained professional who provides continuous physical,
emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and
shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. ” ~ DONA International

Basically – a doula provides extra support for a positive birth and postpartum experience. Doulas don’t replace the support of a partner or family member but rather enhance that support!

Research shows that women who use a birth doula are:

less likely to need Pitocin
less likely to have a cesarean
less likely to use pain medication

Who is eligible?

Henderson County residents
Medicaid eligible or uninsured
Low-income, under-resourced families
No immigration status required

For more support and resources in English and Spanish,
visit Mother to Baby!

What is offered?

Bilingual Prenatal and Postpartum support, from early pregnancy up to one year postpartum, including: insurance navigation, transportation to appointments, childbirth preparation classes, breastfeeding education and support, lactation consultation, reproductive health information, resource referrals and more!
Connection to a birth and/or postpartum doula for eligible participants
Membership in our Full Tum, Dry Bum diaper and formula assistance program

Meet our Doulas

Kim Nuwowkunski,
Certified Birth Doula

“Having been a stay at home wife and mother, raising four sons and cheering on a hard working husband, my calling is to love, nurture and encourage. and that is what a doula does! Being certified through three different doula organizations (DONA , Dar la Luz and Stillbirthday) gives me a holistic, faith-based, well-rounded approach to working with families.”

Colette Featherston,
PCD(DONA), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)

Colette’s passion lies in nurturing parents so they are able to show up with their loved ones in ways that are healing and connective. Coming from over a decade in the mental health field, she finds familiarity in the messiness of postpartum and values walking alongside parents in this transformational time. Colette often supports the families she works with by preparing meals and snacks, helping navigate baby gear like carriers and pumps, offering chest/breast or bottle feeding support, helping families find and build community and skills for navigating the rollercoaster of emotions that often accompany the postpartum time. Colette brings non-judgmental nurturing for the whole family and evidence-based information to support clients in making informed choices that best fit their family.

Elisa Junco-Raturi,
Certified Birth Doula, Bilingual (English/Spanish)

“Elisa believes that birthing a child is one of the most amazing miracles in a woman’s life.

Elisa believes it is an honor and privilege to assist and offer caring support for mothers and their families as they enter the transition of the birthing process and into the path of parenthood. She brings a nurturing and grounded presence and is able to attune authentically to people from all walks of life. She draws from many years of studying whole food nutrition, breathwork, dance, and is a certified Herbalist.

She also serves as an EMF ( Electric and Magnetic fields) wellness coach for families. Elisa also enjoys offering mother blessing / blessing way ceremonies for women who feel called to this type of celebration. She is very excited to offer her doula services to the Latin and Hispanic community.”

Lorna Festa Hanson,
Certified Birth Doula

Lorna aspires to support birthing people in her community with empathy and inclusivity. As a writer, Lorna studies mental health and customs from a variety of cultures. “Acknowledging the needs of marginalized people is paramount to my code of ethics. I am always seeking ways to advocate for those whose rights are still owed to them, whose services should be provided with equality, and whose voices deserve to be amplified but often go unheard.” She is honored to support people from different backgrounds and leads with her down-to-earth spirit of nonjudgment. She promotes normalizing mental health – needs that are just as vital as physical well-being. Lorna enjoys facilitating the creation of ritual space, allowing the family to reclaim their environment, and sitting with or “wit(h)nessing” others and responding to their needs. “It is my goal to offer connection and solidarity for birthing people while educating myself about the specific, individual needs of those I support.”

Interested in serving as a community-based doula?

View the job description here.
Download the application and return to [email protected]