Arkady Brown

Accepts insurance

Birth Doula

Utica, Michigan

5.0

About
Services
Reviews (2)
FAQs
Social media

About me

I am a certified birth doula, VBAC certified doula, birth photographer, and mother of two. My own births, a gentle cesarean followed by a healing VBAC, deeply shaped the way I support families. I understand how important it is to feel heard, respected, informed, and emotionally safe throughout pregnancy and birth. I am also completing my Body Ready Method certification, which allows me to bring more individualized, body based preparation into my prenatal support. Two of the most important parts of my birth philosophy are true informed decision making and helping families have a positive, trauma free birth experience. I believe informed consent should be more than simply being told what is recommended. You deserve to understand your options, the benefits and risks, and the alternatives available so you can make decisions that feel right for you. Birth photography is also a deeply important part of who I am and how I serve families. Birth is filled with powerful moments that can be difficult to fully remember while you are living them. Photographs preserve the strength, emotion, connection, and small details of your story, allowing you to see your experience from a new perspective and hold onto it for generations. Whether you are planning an unmedicated birth, VBAC, induction, epidural, or cesarean, my goal is for you to feel confident, respected, supported, and at peace with your birth story.

Education

BS Criminal Justice (2009)

Certification and training

Lifespan Doulas (2025)

Specialties

Birth Doula Birth Photographer Birth Support Birth Videography Bodywork Breastfeeding Assistance and Support Breastfeeding Photography Family Photography Fresh 48 Photography Home Birth Hospital Birth Labor Doula Loss and Bereavement Doula Maternity and Family Photography Maternity and Newborn Photographer Maternity Photography Natural Birth Natural Childbirth Newborn, Baby, & Birth Photography Newborn Photography Postpartum Photography Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Water birth

Languages

English

Accepted insurance

Carrot Medicaid Meridian Health Plan Molina Healthcare Priority Health UnitedHealthcare

Service introduction

My doula only package includes personalized prenatal preparation, ongoing support, continuous care throughout labor and birth, and postpartum follow up. My doula and birth photography package includes all doula services plus professional documentation of your birth story, preserving the emotion, connection, and meaningful details of the day your baby arrives.

Packages

Doula

**Doula Support | $2,000** • A minimum of two personalized prenatal sessions, with additional visits based on your individual needs • Body Ready Method informed prenatal preparation tailored to your body and birth goals • Ongoing phone and text support throughout pregnancy • Guided birth preparation and reflection journal • Continuous availability throughout our time working together • In person support throughout labor and birth • One to two hours of support after baby arrives • One postpartum visit

$2,000.00

USD Flat rate

Birth Doula and Photography

**Birth Doula + Photography | $2,400** • A minimum of two personalized prenatal sessions, with additional visits based on your individual needs • Body Ready Method informed preparation tailored to your body and birth goals • Ongoing phone and text support throughout pregnancy • Continuous doula support throughout labor, birth, and the first one to two hours after baby arrives • Professional documentation of your complete birth story • 150 or more fully edited images • A private online gallery for viewing, downloading, and sharing • Sneak peek images within 48 hours • Full gallery delivered within 3-4 weeks • One postpartum visit

$2,400.00

USD Flat rate

Ratings and reviews

Average

5.0

# of Reviews

5.0

July 30, 2026

I am so thankful I found Arkady! I was preparing for my 3rd baby and never had a doula before. Arkady truly took the time to get to know me and my family, my past birthing experiences, and my wishes/preferences for this birth. As things transpired throughout my pregnancy, I really appreciated the check ins and debriefing after my appointments. After two previous vaginal deliveries, I almost needed a c-section and her personal and professional experience brought me comfort during the unknown. She also has a wonderful network of resources and is a wealth of knowledge and intuition! She helped me find a wonderful chiropractor at the end of my pregnancy to help get my baby head down, and she helped me find hypnobirthing classes during my pregnancy. During birth I really appreciated how she’d check in with me and advocate for my preferences if necessary. Myself (and my husband) felt unwavering support in the delivery room and a sense of comfort when things did not go as planned. I also appreciate the photos she captured of my birth. This was something I did not have with my first two and these photos are very special to look back on. Arkady helped create a birth environment where I felt safe, empowered, and deeply supported. I am beyond grateful for her care and recommend her to anyone looking for a compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated doula.

- Casey W.

5.0

July 29, 2026

Hiring Arkady was one of the best decisions we made during my pregnancy. After experiencing previous losses, I carried a lot of anxiety into this journey, but she made me feel supported, informed, and cared for every step of the way. What stood out most was how available and encouraging she was. No question ever felt too small, and her calm presence helped me feel confident in my choices throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth. During labor, having Arkady by my side made such a difference. She helped me stay grounded, reminded me of my strength, and created a sense of calm when I needed it most. I felt empowered, supported, and never alone. The photos she captured are something I’ll treasure forever. They allow me to revisit moments that would otherwise be a blur and beautifully tell the story of my daughter’s birth. I would recommend Arkady to any family looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and genuinely caring doula. She played such an important role in making my birth experience a positive and empowering one.

- Taylor S.

Frequently asked questions

When will you join me during labor and birth?

I typically join you in person when labor begins to shift or intensify physically, mentally, emotionally, or in conversations with your care team. I do not base my arrival on a single number or stage of labor. During very early labor, support is provided virtually until in person support becomes most helpful.

How are you able to provide doula support and take photographs at the same time?

Balancing doula support and photography is a careful process of reading the room and paying attention to your body cues. When you are coping well, in a good rhythm, and receiving strong support from your partner or care team, I can step back and document the moment. If you are struggling or need more hands on support, the camera comes second and I am fully present as your doula.

What does your individualized prenatal support include?

**What does your individualized prenatal support include?** My prenatal support is designed to look at the full picture rather than follow a one size fits all plan. As I complete my Body Ready Method certification, I will be incorporating a deeper assessment of how your body moves, breathes, carries tension, and responds to pregnancy. We may also explore your exercise history, previous injuries, past birth experiences, emotional history, and any patterns that could influence labor. For VBAC families especially, this may include looking closely at what happened during a previous birth, when labor changed, why baby may have seemed stuck, and what you hope will feel different this time. Preparation is not only physical. It also includes mental and emotional preparation, birth planning, decision making, and adapting as circumstances change. A minimum of two prenatal sessions is included, but many families may need more. The number and format of visits will be based on your individual needs and may include in person sessions, virtual visits, or phone calls as your pregnancy and birth plan evolve.

What happens if I have an induction or cesarean birth?

**What happens if I have an induction or cesarean birth?** If an induction becomes likely, we will shift our preparation and create an induction birth plan. Many families do not realize that induction is a process with multiple options and decisions along the way. We will talk through the benefits, risks, alternatives, and timing of each step so you can ask informed questions and decide what feels right for you in collaboration with your care team. I also encourage every client to prepare a cesarean birth plan, even when a cesarean is not expected. If a planned or unplanned cesarean becomes necessary, we will discuss what the experience may look like at your specific hospital, including who may be present, whether doula support is allowed in the operating room, and whether photography is permitted. My goal is for you to feel informed, prepared, and supported, even when the birth plan changes.