WELCOME

 
 

Planting native trees in my ancestral homelands (Boriken).


My name is Melissa (they/them) and I offer full spectrum birth, death and grief care with the support of the plants and traditional, ancestral medicine. I identify as Queer and Two-Spirit and my family has roots in Boriken/Puerto Rico and Poland. I live as a guest in Huichin (South Berkeley, CA). I have been called to a healing path through the steady guidance of my well ancestors, the whispers of my dreams, and the teachings of the plants. With over 21 years of experience in the healing arts, I am committed to reproductive justice and offer loving, trauma-informed, and culturally conscious care.

I work with all people who feel aligned with the type of care I offer, and I specialize in supporting Queer, Non-binary, Trans, and Black Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC).

As someone who works at the portals of life and death, I am deeply grateful for the many mentors who support me along this journey and share their medicine for my own healing and growth.

What is a doula?

A doula is a non-medically trained professional who supports the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of a birthing or dying person. Doulas also offer support to partners and/or other members of the team. Traditionally the role of the doula was played by family members and community healers, though colonization and the medicalization of birth and death has interrupted these roles in many communities. The word “doula” comes from an ancient Greek word, meaning “a woman who serves” or “female slave.’ I will often use the words birthworker or death companion in an effort to decolonize language and ways of thinking. I see this work as a continuation of the legacy of the Black and Indigenous healers and midwives that have come before me.

How do I approach my work?

Enjoying a sweet nap during a postpartum visit.

I am passionate about this work because I believe that no matter the outcome of one’s reproductive journey, it is a transformational and potentially deeply healing time that deserves compassionate and skilled care. I am committed to supporting you in feeling respected and empowered. I am here to hold space for you and other members of your team. I am here to be a steady, grounding presence.

I first felt called to Reproductive Justice work in my early 20’s when I learned about the forced sterilization of women in Puerto Rico by the united states government. I then began to connect this state violence with the ongoing legacy of colonization and the experiences of sexual and reproductive trauma within my own family. Around that same time I first learned about homebirth midwifery, however I didn’t see myself reflected in that world, so I didn’t pursue the work. 

Finally, in 2016, a friend told me about a training geared towards supporting Queer People of Color to become doulas. I landed in a space where people understood birthwork as reclaiming our ancestral legacies and as a radical act of healing with and caring for our people in a system that seeks to erase us. I felt at home. Shortly after I began practicing as a doula, I became an active member of the Roots of Labor Birth Collective (RLBC), a group of low income birth companions of color committed to providing accessible support for birthing members of our community.

My passion for birthwork has also been shaped by my own experiences with reproductive loss. For several years as a solo queer person I tried getting pregnant and experienced round after round of unsuccessful Intrauterine Inseminations (IUI) and eventually two unsuccessful In Vitro Fertilizations (IVF). It was a very stressful and isolating time that led to a level of grief, that at the time, I wasn’t sure I would be able to move through. I couldn’t imagine my life without being a parent and I struggled with birthwork when I was carrying so much raw grief about my own inability to conceive. 

Looking back, I understand how much that journey taught me about my path and what it really means for me to be a full spectrum birthworker. I now love providing postpartum care for people as they heal and integrate after a birth and are welcoming a new baby into their homes. I also feel even more clear and passionate about my work to support folks who are navigating the complexities of reproductive loss and release. I believe all of these outcomes are sacred and I am honored to accompany folks on the journey.

Celebrating after facilitating a doula training with the Roots of Labor Birth Collective.

Selected Trainings & Certifications