Melanie Smith

Accepts insurance

Birth & Postpartum Doula

Aliso Viejo, California

13 years of experience

About
Services
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About me

Hello, My name is Melanie, and I have been proudly supporting my community as a birth and postpartum doula, as well as a lactation counselor, for over 12 years. As a birth doula, my primary focus is to ensure your care is centered, you are informed of your options at all times, and feel safe and supported in your birth space. I enjoy working collaboratively with care teams and focus my efforts on achieving your goals for birth. It’s important to me to get to know you and your partner well, understanding your expectations of birth, each other, and me as your doula. My postpartum practice centers on the care of new mothers through nutrition support, postpartum bodywork (including massage, abdominal binding, and warming practices), lactation and feeding support, newborn education, and practical household assistance, including sibling and partner support. Please reach out for a complimentary consultation. I look forward to connecting with you! Warm regards, Melanie

Education

BS Psychology (2014)

Certification and training

Innate traditions certified postpartum practitioner (2019)

DONA (2014)

Spinning Babies (2016)

Somatic Experincing (2023)

Credentials

CLEC CD

Specialties

Acupressure During Labor Advanced Maternal Age Anxiety Anxiety and Depression Babywearing Belly Binding Birth and Lactation Birth Assistant Birth Doula Birth Support Birth Trauma Breastfeeding Assistance and Support Breastfeeding Consultation Breastfeeding Support Breech Birth Building Healthy Communication Cesarean, Episiotomy and Scar Pain Cesarean Scar Tissue Remedial Massage Childbirth Education Childhood Growth and Development Contraception and Family Planning Evidence-Based Care Exclusive Pumping/Bottle Feeding Family Consultation Fathers' Issues Grief and Loss Healthy Eating Herbal Postpartum Care High Risk and Low Intervention Obstetrical Care High-Risk Pregnancy Home Birth Hypnobirthing Method Infant Care Infertility Labor Doula Latch Issues Low Milk Supply/Over Supply Massage Mental Health Mindfulness Multiples Natural Birth Natural Childbirth Newborn Care Newborn Prep Nipple and Breast Pain Overnight Newborn Care Parenting Parenting Support Pelvic Pain Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Postpartum Adjustment Postpartum Care Postpartum Chef Postpartum Depression Postpartum Doula Care Postpartum Life Pregnancy Complications Pregnancy Loss Prenatal Care Preventative Care Regulation Problems Relaxation Techniques Reproductive and Parenting Returning to work (pumping, breastmilk storage, etc) Sexual Health Sibling Preparation Sleep Consultant Somatic Techniques Sports Medicine Support during Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Support in Pregnancy Loss Teenagers Toddlers Trauma Recovery Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Vaginal Steam Water birth

Languages

English

Accepted insurance

Carrot

Service introduction

Birth doula support includes two prenatal sessions, on-call support from 38 weeks until labor begins, early labor support, Hands-on physical an emotional support for mom and partner from active labor through delivery, immediate postpartum and lactation support and one follow up postpartum visit. Postpartum support is tailored for your individual needs but often focuses on maternal healing modalities, newborn education and support, and practical household support.