My Team.

I heard recently that the average length of time that a Doula practices is 1-2 years. It's unfortunate that such a fulfilling career is short-lived for so many. However, the unpredictable timeline, the potentially long hours of labor support (often through the night) and the lack of community with coworkers makes this statistic understandable. It's just not sustainable for some folks to stay in practice.

But alongside an amazing team of fellow Doulas, I'm working toward creating a model that serves our clients well and enables us to maintain our joy, rest and commitment to our own families. Contact me for more information on how team support can benefit you. And now, let me introduce you to my team.

Natalia Helmerich

Shannon Popa

Beth Richmond

Lisa Smith

Natalia

I am a DONA & Carriage House trained birth doula and began my
education and practice in 2015, after I had an empowering birth that
introduced me to how profound and intriguing the birth experience is. I also
realized how few people, including myself, are taught about maternal health before
pregnancy. That blossomed my passion for pre/postnatal education and for
supporting women through their transition into motherhood. My main goal is to
make mothers feel that they are loved and understood through their journey. I
carry this out by connecting and listening to families and mothers, to best know
how to use my knowledge and experience to help them achieve their goals.
I want to be the calm, steady and judgment-free support for women and
families through their pregnancy, labor and postpartum. I supports all types of
births: medicated, unmedicated, cesarean, vaginal, multiples, adoption, vbacs, etc.
I especially love following up with clients for support with breastfeeding and
the emotional transition to parenthood. Natalia and her husband have two daughters.

Shannon

I’ve been supporting families as a doula since 2017, and the miracle of birth never ceases to amaze me! Some of the most rewarding aspects of my work include witnessing families grow in confidence as they prepare for the birth of their child, learning to ask important questions, and developing their unique birth goals. Reflecting on my own experience, I recognize how invaluable it would have been to have a doula during the births of my children. Even though my husband and family were encouraging, a doula was the missing piece in my support system. This realization inspired me to embark on this fulfilling career. I’ve been married to my best friend since 1991, and together we’ve raised three beautiful daughters —two living in Tulsa, and one we're hoping will move back soon!

Fun fact: My husband and I met and were married in the country of Austria!

When I'm not at a birth or prenatal visit, I love spending time with my family—cooking, playing games, cycling, walking, reading, and crocheting. I also enjoy traveling when I'm not on-call.

My hope for you is a happy, healthy pregnancy and a peaceful, empowered birth!

Beth

Hello! I’m a mom of two teenagers and a passionate advocate for childbirth support.

My journey into this field began with my certification to teach Prenatal and Trauma-Informed Yoga in 2016, and it has blossomed into a fulfilling career as a birth doula. My family consists of my husband of over 25 years, our daughter and son and a lively mix of pets including three dogs, one cat, three chickens and a variety of foster animals. I was born and raised in Tulsa.

In 2022, I began volunteering as a birth advocate for refugee women arriving from Afghanistan. This deepened my commitment to supporting families during pregnancy and childbirth. My passion and experience led me to complete my doula certification through Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative. I am proud to be part of a supportive community of doulas who uplift and encourage one another. My approach as a doula is rooted in client autonomy and respect. I provide comprehensive educational, emotional and physical support to honor your choices and empower you during this transformative time. It is truly a privilege to support families in such a meaningful way.

Lisa

I am a Birth and Postpartum Doula and completed my training with DONA International and began supporting families in the Fall of 2023. My husband and I attended a 6 week long natural birth class when I was pregnant with our first born 14 years ago. I really immersed myself in learning all I could about how to trust birth and my body and that is where my love of all things birth began. I was able to have a successful natural hospital birth with all 4 of my children. It is such an honor for me to get to journey with families through such a sacred and special time in their life. My goal is to bring a calm, peaceful environment no matter where you choose to give birth. I am committed to providing my clients with the information to make informed decisions and use the Evidence Based Birth resources to make sure my clients are able to weigh the risks and benefits and make the decision they feel is best for their body and baby. I’ve been married to my husband for nearly 20 years and we now have 4 children. We are enjoying this world of parenting older kids and all the fun that comes with it. They keep us busy with all their activities and homeschooling. We enjoy traveling when we can and serving in our church Preschool.