Angelique Millette

Angelique Millette (PhDc, MFTt, PCD/CD [DONA]) is a parent coach, sleep consultant, infant/toddler sleep and postpartum mood disorder researcher, lactation educator, DONA-certified birth and postpartum doula, and infant-child therapist intern who has worked with families across the Bay Area, the United States and Europe for the past 15 years. She specializes in infant/child development and how parents can meet their own sleep needs while helping their young ones meet theirs. Angelique does not follow one specific sleep program, but rather helps families by taking into account family schedule, infant/toddler/child development, temperament, and parenting philosophy, all while keeping an eye on sleep deprivation, parental overwhelm, depression and anxiety. Angelique’s doctoral research addresses the correlation between infant sleep locations/methods, maternal postpartum depression/anxiety, and maternal attachment. Angelique teaches sleep workshops at Day One in San Francisco, The Parents Center in San Rafael, BirthWays in Berkeley, and professional conferences across the country.

Visit www.angeliquemillette.com for more information.

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Anna Griffin

Anna Griffin is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with more than 20 years experience teaching CPR and First Aid to schools, businesses and healthcare professionals. Instructor certified by the American Heart Association, she has taught at Alta Bates Medical Center for many years, and is currently Training Center Faculty at Washington Hospital in Fremont. She is committed to teaching classes that are fun, engaging and low stress.

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Anna Hurty

Anna has been active in the birth community for twenty years. She began her work in Berkeley where became she helped start the volunteer doula program at Alta Bates Hospital while working as a childbirth educator, tour guide, lecturer, certified doula (having now attended over 400 births), and serving on several birth-related committees. After moving to Palo Alto, she founded the non-profit Blossom Birth Services and served as its Executive Director while continuing her doula work, becoming a Dona-approved doula trainer, and teaching prenatal classes at Stanford and Palo Alto Medical Foundation. At Stanford she created and taught the first "Natural Birth Prenatal Series" and taught half-day trainings entitled "Non-Medical Pain Management" to third-year residents. While at Blossom, she created and taught several doula trainings, attended Elizabeth Davis' midwifery training and was an invited guest at Midwifery Today's "Charting the Future" conference in Seattle. After moving to the midwest Anna became nationally certified as an EMT and worked in the trauma center at Trinity Hospital in Illinois.

Now back "home" in Oakland, Anna spends her time teaching private and group VBAC and birth preparation classes, encapsulating placentas, working as a doula, training doulas, creating and decorating belly casts and working to perfect her pregnant mama's henna belly art. She is the wife of Mark and mother of two grown sons (and a wonderful soon-to-be daughter-in-law Zina!) whose amazing company she enjoys whenever possible.

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Carrie Flemming, M.A.

Carrie Flemming is a birth advocate and visual artist with experience supporting families in community as a birthing doula, counselor, health worker, group facilitator & nanny. She is a Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner, and holds master’s degrees in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and Women’s Spirituality & Social Change from New College of California. Carrie’s support is compassionate, open, creative and from the heart, and she hopes to inspire people to access their innate power, potential and creativity.

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Constance Williams

Constance Williams comes to her role as a birth and postpartum doula and teacher from a rich tapestry of life experience. She attended her first home birth in 1969 in San Francisco which inspired her own natural hospital birth in 1975 and then a home birth in 1977. Her profound appreciation for those experiences and love for her daughters and their many friends are the impetus and inspiration for what she considers her calling.

As a birth assistant for more than 300 women since 1997 when she attended the first of many doula, midwifery and lactation trainings, her focus is in helping the mother and father to achieve a fear free labor and birth for the benefit of the baby. As a student of midwifery, her two year apprenticeship at the Birth Home in Pleasanton under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Bleecker and Midwife, Beah Haber added to her store of valuable skills, experience and insights which inform her work.

For more information see www.mydoulaconstance.com

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Dana McMahan

Dana McMahan has been working with La Leche League since May of 2002. After their extensive training period Dana started the Berkeley La Leche League group that meets at BirthWays. She also fields helping calls and meets with moms and families. She is the mother of 9 year old identical twin boys. She is currently studying for the IBCLC exam to be held this summer.

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Eleanor Lew

Eleanor Lew works with couples and individuals in her private practice in Berkeley. She has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. Coming from a perspective that we heal in relationship and that healing is an integration of mind, body and spirit, she specializes in compassionate communication that helps clients discover joy, passion, love, meaning and purpose in life.

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Gina Hassan, Ph.D.

Gina Hassan, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and mother with over 20 years experience working with pregnant and postpartum women. She has a private psychotherapy practice in Berkeley, CA and is co-founder of Perinatal Psychotherapy Services. Gina has a strong interest in incorporating mindfulness practices into her work with pregnant women and new moms, and runs Mindfulness-Based Mothers' Groups. She works with women during the transition to motherhood including: identity issues, early parenting, postpartum depression and anxiety, processing traumatic birth experiences, and difficulties of attachment and bonding as well as working with couples to navigate the the transition to parenthood. She has extensive training in perinatal mood disorders and is passionate about helping new moms learn to trust themselves in the journey of parenting Gina has been on the BirthWays board since 2007. For more information see www.ginahassan.com

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Jason Nery

Jason has provided health education to youth, adults and in-service training to medical personnel for over 10 years. He is currently a Mental Health Counselor / Disaster Preparedness Liaison for the County of San Mateo as well as an Instructor for the American Red Cross. As a former preschool teacher and current nursing student, Jason has a passion for empowering parents to help children reach their highest potential.

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Kathy Woo

Kathy Woo is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Birth Doula and HypnoBirthing® Educator. She holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and has a background in counseling and social work. Kathy's approach focuses on her clients finding their own path to healing and making choices that are suitable for their lifestyles. Her training and experiences teach her the importance of listening to one's inner wisdom and guidance. Kathy is also interested in Buddhism, yoga, shamanism, sewing, pottery and energy medicine. www.kathywoo.com

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Kim Lyons

Kim is a certified massage therapist trained at the Esalen Institute in their advanced studies program. She also has certification in CranioSacral therapy through the Upledger Institute and additional training in other modalities. She holds a Masters in Early Childhood Development/ Education and focuses much of her practice on pediatrics and pre and post natal care. In addition, she is a doula, a yoga instructor for children with special needs and has lead play and infant massage groups in the Bay Area for over 10 years. You can find more information at her web site: www.tumetime.com.

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Laura Gardner, MA

Laura Gardner has a Graduate Degree in Counseling and works holistically with individuals, couples, and teens struggling with various issues including relationship problems, depression, anxiety, compulsions, body image distortions, infertility, extramarital affairs, and more. She has experience running a women's group; working with rape & sexual assault survivors; and working with teens diverted from the juvenile justice system. She works in North Berkeley and can be reached at 510.594.4300 or laura@holisticgardner.com. For more info, visit www.holisticgardner.com.

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Liz Creditor

I am a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. My path towards becoming a childbirth instructor began with the birth of my first daughter by cesarean section after 4 hours of pushing back in 2002. After the birth of my son in 2005, a vbac, and with the encouragement of my husband and doula, I began training to become a childbirth educator.

I also hold a Masters Degree in Infant and Parent Development from Bank Street College of Education in NYC and worked with infants and toddlers for a few years before becoming a mommy. In addition to teaching at Birthways,I also teach private vbac classes.

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Molly Brannigan, MA, ICCE, IBCLC

Molly Brannigan, MA, ICCE, IBCLC has been working with expectant parents, babies and new mothers since 2004. She provides non-judgmental, inclusive Childbirth Education that encompasses a variety of techniques and strategies, and supports parents in preparing for a meaningful and personal birth experience. She hopes that over the course of her class, parents will develop confidence in themselves, discover the path that is right for them and build community with other families.

In her Breastfeeding class, Molly employs her training in infant and child nutrition and her experience as a Board-Certified Lactation Consultant to provide families the support and information they need to develop a successful, easy, and satisfying breastfeeding relationship with their babies.

The more time she spends with mothers and babies, the more Molly is struck by the capabilities of newborn babies, the depth of mothers' intuitive knowledge of their babies, and the intensity of the relationships that babies and parents create together. Molly is the mother of three children.

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Nickie Tilsner

Nickie Tilsner is a Certified Doula, Doula Trainer, and Childbirth Educator with over ten years experience in the birthing community. She began her training ten years ago with a midwifery apprenticeship in a free-standing birth center in San Francisco. Throughout the last decade she has worked as a Labor and Postpartum Doula having attended births in all settings. She has also worked as an outreach worker, HIV test counselor and crisis counselor, as well as founding a doula training program and teaching integrated methods childbirth preparation courses to expectant mamas and couples. Nickie is the proud mother of Violette, who was born in 2007.

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Paula Santi

Paula Santi has been active in the birth community since 2001. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (say that three times fast!) who makes home visits. She lives in Walnut Creek with her husband and sons, aged 13 and 11. www.paulasanti.com

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Rebecca Husband

About seven years ago, I began my doula training. I took two trainings, trying to gain as much knowledge as I could about birth. Soon after that, I started going to births and working as a birth doula. Over three years, I went to over 50 births. I also started training to become a childbirth educator and I became a certified massage therapist and a certified infant massage instructor. I taught classes at California Pacific Medical Center and I specialized in pre and post natal massage at the Women's Health Resource Center. I also started to prepare to become a mom and switched to postpartum doula work in search of a more sane schedule. In March 2004, I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy and have been enjoying motherhood immensely. Shortly after that, I became a certified childbirth educator with the International Childbirth Education Association. For the past, five years I have been on the BirthWays board, serving as president for the past three years.

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Erin Stege, RN, MSN, CPNP

I am a pediatric nurse practitioner and have worked at Children's Hospital Oakland for the past six years. I went into the field of nursing so that I could work with babies, children and families, and I absolutely love what I do. I obtained my master's degree in pediatric nursing at Vanderbilt and completed a lactation educator course through the University of California-San Diego.

In addition to my professional experience, I am also the mother of a little boy born in 2009. Motherhood has been a tremendous experience and has made me even more excited about working with children and families.

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Sabrina Easterling, MPH, IBCLC, ICCE

Sabrina began working with breastfeeding families following more than a decade of experience in public health, perinatal health, and reproductive health training. Passionate about supporting women as they learn about their bodies, their babies, and breastfeeding, she dedicates much of her time helping lead MilkSupport.com and the Lactation Services program for BirthWays, where she facilitates the new Breastfeeding Café & Clinic and serves as a lactation consultant. Additionally, she works at UCSF as a perinatal educator and at California Pacific Medial Center as both a prenatal lactation educator and providing in-hospital lactation support in the days after the baby is born. Sabrina holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Boston University, specializing in Maternal and Child Health, is a graduate of the UC San Diego Lactation Consultant program. To learn more, find Sabrina at www.milksupport.com.

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Shiela VanDerveer, CPM LM

I began my initial midwifery training in 1999 and completed my clinical and academic training in Taos, New Mexico through the Northern New Mexico Midwifery Center and the National College of Midwifery in 2005. Since this time I have been in private practice both in Northern New Mexico and in the Bay Area of California. Please check out my website at www.comadresmidwifery.com to learn more about my practice.

As part of my commitment to establishing global access to midwifery care, I began a small nonprofit in 2004, called the Gatekeepers Fund. The fund is dedicated to "Giving Childbirth Back to Women" by helping to provide midwives (including students) in areas of need and raising awareness of this global need through artistic educational campaigns. Please check out www.gatekeepersfund.org to learn more about our mission.

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Stacia Biltekoff, CMT, CD

Stacia Biltekoff has been serving families in the East Bay since 1991 with a background in early childhood development, social work and massage therapy. In 1998 she became nationally certified in massage with a specialty in injury treatment and prenatal massage. In 2001, shortly after giving birth, a few friends invited her to provide labor support for them and a doula was born. She hopes that with unconditional support, informed consent and non-judgmental guidance, the mother has an empowered birthing experience no matter the outcome. She also aims to support partners so that labor can give the couple an opportunity to strengthen their bond on their journey toward parenthood. Stacia has been on the board of Birthways since 2006 and has served as both referral line coordinator and publications co coordinator. She is committed to providing unconditional support to pregnant, laboring, and postpartum women and their families through her work as a Birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, support group facilitator and most importantly, mama.

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Stacy Stoddard, MA

Stacy Stoddard is an experienced Marriage and Family Therapist Intern with a practice in North Berkeley. Stacy works with individuals and couples, and specializes in pregnancy and new parenthood issues. Stacy holds dual masters degrees from Yale University and John F Kennedy University, and she works in a warm, relational, and down to earth way. Stacy can be contacted at 510.496.2733 or www.newparenttherapy.com.

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Suzanne Harkless

Suzanne Harkless is a Certified Instructor for the Baby Signs® Program. She teaches sign language to help families discover the joys of signing with their babies, and the enhanced communication which results. She offers an introductory Parent Workshop for BirthWays and teaches Baby Signs play classes at preschools and community centers in the East Bay.

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Tabitha Ames

Originally obtaining Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Psychology, Tabitha worked as a Research Associate in a molecular biology lab. Leading up to the birth of her daughter in July 2008, she researched and studied everything she could about birth and support, and knew that after the birth she wouldn't be able to leave the birthing community. Shortly thereafter, she trained as a childbirth educator through CAPPA and has been teaching birth classes since April 2009. Becoming further involved in supporting new families, she was trained as a Post Partum Doula in June 2010.

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Tisa Ocean Bowser

After attending the births of my siblings as well as that of my niece I felt compelled to go further into the birth field. I began with training to be a Birth Doula and became certified thru DONA. I loved being a part of each birth. I continued to attended births through pregnancy with my son. Once he was born, I found I was not able to give enough to each couple while still fulfilling the needs of my baby. I decided to put my childbirth educator training to use. I had trained with Pam England author and creator of Birthing from Within. This style teaches women to birth in awareness and to embrace their birth experience. I have found that I enjoy teaching as much as attending parents at their birth. It gives me a chance to share my experience and knowledge. I have served on the board of directors for Birthways as Treasurer and as Class Coordinator for the last 5 years. I teach childbirth classes and am a full time mom of two.

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Willow Lune

Willow Lune, CMQ is a mama, healer, and spiritual seeker. She is dedicated to bringing about joy, laughter, empowerment, and healing on your parenting journey. Willow's relationships with friends, family, and with herself, have dramatically improved since she discovered NVC. Her son was "Diaper Free" from birth. For more information, visit her web site at www.seaofqi.org

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