Michelle Paul
Michelle Paul
Hi, I’m Michelle!
Working with expectant parents through pregnancy, birth and postpartum is my passion. After birthing and raising my own three children, doula work felt like a natural next step for me and I have been loving every minute of it! I feel strongly that the wishes of birthing parents be respected and supported in order for them to feel empowered in their labor and delivery, as well as postpartum. My purpose is to provide individualized, nurturing care and emotional encouragement along with evidence based information to help you make informed decisions about your care and that of your baby. I look forward to being a calming and consistent presence during labor and the postpartum period.
When Michelle is not attending births or assisting new parents, she enjoys spending time with her grown and growing children, whether it be going for a hike, playing board games, or watching movies together. She can also be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes or finding a quiet moment with a cup of tea and a good book.
Email: sacredfamilybirthservices@gmail.com
Supportive Education
2023:
2022:
Spinning Babies
2019:
Birthingway College of Midwifery- Birth and Postpartum Doula certified
Acupressure for natural pain relief during childbirth
2018:
Adopting trauma informed care for birth professionals
Collaborative practice and professionalism
Advanced Breastfeeding Skills for Birth Workers
Other Occupational Experiences
12 years working as a professional nanny- privately and contract work with Care Givers Placement Agency
School
Testimonials
“Michelle’s expertise and calm demeanor put as at ease from the start. She suggested different exercises to prepare for labor and get more comfortable in late pregnancy, checked in after appointments, helped us navigate our birth plan options, and aided with (gentle) advocacy at the hospital. With her knowledge of helping labor along we were able to bring our baby into the world naturally, with minimal intervention. We felt so cared for and knew we were in capable hands—literally!” MC
“We so enjoyed having Michelle help us navigate the first months of a new born. The sleep and rest we got made us more alert and enjoyed our baby that much more and the transition to a home life with a new born was seamless. Thank you so much for all your help and reasonable rates. I highly recommend Michelle.” PS
“We were introduced to Michelle after our original doula didn’t work out. As new parents who felt burned by our initial Doula, we felt stressed and lost, and Michelle came in and made everything right. She was fantastic with our son. She helped us understand what he needs and when he needs it. She shows up on time. She listens well and offers advice when asked for. She’s kind and knowledgeable and realistic. Her goal is to take care of your child, support your family, and do so with openness and warmth. She does that extremely well.” JZ
“Michelle was such a joy and help to us as we transitioned from a family of 3 to 4! I only learned about postpartum doulas while pregnant with our second, but I sure wish I had known with our first too. Between helping care for the kids, housework, laundry and/or meal prep our home went from feeling chaotic to calm whenever she was here. One of the main reasons we looked into postpartum support was so we could still give individual attention to our toddler, either from us or someone else, but we were nervous since she’s very timid around new comers. But Michelle is such a sweet and caring individual with a real gift for connecting with kids, our daughter quickly opened up to her on the very first day and eagerly awaited the days Michelle would come over. We trusted her wholeheartedly to care for our girls while I rested, showered or had one-on-one time with either child. I would recommend Michelle to anyone looking for postpartum support, but fair warning, your family will fall in love with her and you’ll never want her to leave!” CP
“I can’t express how much I appreciate Michelle and the help that she was during the process of my pregnancy and the birth of our daughter. Due to some unexpected events, our birth plan had a couple curve balls thrown at us, but yet so much of our birth plan was successful and both my husband and I feel it had a lot to do with the help of Michelle. Michelle encourged me, helped me stay focused, and kept reminding me my body was made to give birth naturally just like I wanted. She walked up and down the halls with me, she massaged me, she gave me words of encouragement and so much more. The thing I will never forget about Michelle and will always be so grateful towards her is how she helped me refocus and breath through every contraction when I “thought” I wanted to give up. When I lost focus, she got right in front of my face and told me to breath WITH her and boy what a difference it was when I was focused and breathing. There are so many things that you don’t think of during labor that having Michelle be there and helping remind us on even the smallest details like making sure both my husband and I were hydrated was very important but something that would have been easily missed if it wern’t for her help. Her support was so great to both my husband and I, that I can’t imagine going through future pregnancies without a doula.” NT
“I felt safe from the moment Michelle arrived. I was in labor, and as contractions came she rubbed my back and helped me breathe. When things got intense, she knew just what to do. Her calm and reassuring presence was so steady and helpful for both of us. My husband was able to gather the things, drive the car, get us to the hospital, and be right with me during the labor while Michelle supported us both. As my baby was born, we were all triumphant together. I had such a positive, empowering birth experience and I am certain that Michelle was instrumental in this outcome. If you are looking for a doula, hire her! We were so lucky to find her. We are continuing to work with Michelle in the post-partum and she has been so supportive to our new little family during this huge life change. She helped teach me how to care for my baby, from her first bath to learning how to burp her. The love and care that she has given us is such a gift. We will be appreciative for the rest of our lives.” AD