birth team

Melissa’s earliest memory of delighting in the birth process was as a child while visiting the Science Museum. She remembers watching videos, one of a mother dancing in her labor room, another laboring mother was surrounded by her young family, while another escaped into a birthing pool  to focus inwardly. It was not until Melissa became a mother herself that she realized just how sacred the birth space is.

Melissa & her husband, Matthew, live on the South Shore with their four children ranging from age 7-14.  They enjoy living life close to their extended families, friends and church community. 

Another passion of Melissa's is photography, which over the past two decades has allowed her to see into people’s lives, to capture and celebrate that which makes their lives unique and treasured.  It was while photographing a dear friend giving birth, that she began thinking about how she would love to support laboring mothers.  

As a doula, Melissa desires to bring calm and compassionate care to mothers while they experience one of the most intense yet miraculous mysteries of life.

From an early age, Rophe was drawn to birth work and the beauty of the experience. Rophe is passionate about advocating for couples and giving them the education they need to make informed decisions to take charge of their births. She believes strongly in the beauty and strength of a women's body and its intended design for birth.

When attending births, Rophe brings her experience of endurance sports into her work. The notion that our bodies are created for more hard and holy things than we often realize. Rophe finds purpose in supporting mothers in their journey to find strength and the ability to do hard things with dignity and peace

Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding have always been a welcomed conversation. Through her own, and very different, children's births, Rophe's passion for helping mothers during this sacred experience find their voice and dignity was ignited. 

Rophe has three children, she is an avid runner & triathlete. Her and her husband, Paul, have treasured their birth experiences and the balancing act that parenting brings into their worlds. 

Sara Pugsley serves as a labor doula in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area. She works to bring peace, comfort, and knowledgeable care to her clients. As a mother of four amazing children, she understands the formative journey pregnancy, birth, and the newborn season are. The importance of tenderness and compassionate care during the birth experience cannot be overstated.

With a background in cross-cultural studies, international travel, group leadership, birth work since 2014, fitness-lover, and so much more, Sara's passions and dreams are limitless. Serving others is the common theme in all of her dreams. What better role for her than a doula ("female servant for the child-bearing woman")? 

Sara seeks to help families be stronger through their birth experiences. She sees serving women and their families as a vital role and a true privilege

Since she was a little girl, Casey dreamed of growing up to be a mother. It was in her nature to nuture and care for others. She spent her pre-teen and teenage years caring for family, friends and neighbor’s kids. As an adult, she and her husband created six beautiful children. 

Casey feels called to share her experiences as a mother with other mothers both in the delivery room and out. Casey’s love of sports and working out help her appreciate how the human body is capable of doing with the right mindset and proper tools at hand. 

Casey is eager to help couples make informed decisions while maintaining control, peace and dignity before, during and after birth. While labor and delivery are Casey’s passion, she is excited to focus on postpartum care while her children are still young. Having breastfed all six of her children, she can provide a wealth of knowledge to such a beautiful bonding experience. Casey enjoys reading and is always trying to expand her knowledge to better serve the families she works with. 

Mandi has always had a love for birth and helping others. Birth is such a wonderful and beautiful experience. As a mom herself Mandi knows how important it is to support parents after birth. Mandi has a love for helping others and providing new parents with support as they navigate this new time in their lives. She believes in empowering new parents, helping them find their new balance and strength. 

Mandi knows new parents need to be supported when bringing home baby. She is able to help support with feeding, changing, holding baby while you take a shower and many things in between. Mandi believes new parents should feel they have the support they need and should be able to ask for help without judgement.

Mandi and her husband Derek have 5 children. They are a homeschooling family who live on and operate a growing homestead. They enjoy learning with their children and having family and friends as a close part of their lives. 

As a postpartum doula, Mandi will be there for your needs. She will support without judgement and help empower you thought every moment.