Doula Biographies

Amanda Mehl, B.A., CD (Certified Doula through DONA), CLC (Certified Lactation Consultant), is fluent in Spanish (and English) and has both local and international experiences in Maternal and Child Health. She has worked as a doula for 3 years, serving a multitude of new mothers including pregnant Hispanic teenagers. She has traveled to and witnessed birthing traditions around the United States, in Central and South America, and in West Africa. Her cross-cultural experiences, as well as her full-time position as a Case Manager at the Winnebago County Health Department in Rockford, IL, have added to her tremendous breadth of knowledge and experience about pregnancy and childbirth services. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Illinois-Chicago and she plans to go on to receive her MSN NP in Nurse Midwifery.

Jessie Crow Mermel, AAHCC, BFW, has been teaching Bradley Method Natural Childbirth Classes since 2003. She has given birth in both a hospital and at home. She has completed her Birthing From Within doula workshop and is currently working on her doula certification. She is also an educator at Angelic Organics Learning Center and a co-leader of Holistic Moms Network of Rockford. Her goal with teaching childbirth classes and being a doula is to help restore women’s faith in their bodies to not only handle childbirth, but appreciate the incredible transforming life experience that it can be when a woman gives birth in awareness. Learn more about Jessie at her website.

Melissa Stoltz, BA, LMT, NCTMB, is a licensed massage therapist. She has received specialized training for massage during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. She has also begun her doula training and has completed a DONA certified workshop. In her practice, Melissa places a strong emphasis on body awareness and mechanics to help clients understand where their stress and pain come from. Her goal as both a massage therapist and a doula is to help clients find trust for their bodies' abilities. She is eager to provide bodywork for women during pregnancy and looks forward to continuing her doula training. Melissa is available for massage sessions only or for doula services.

Chris Howard Swan, B.S. (Sociology), has been a La Leche League Leader for the past 9 years. She is currently co-leader of Holistic Moms Network of Rockford. Chris is working on her certification as both a Birth and Post-Partum Doula. She has extensive experience in breastfeeding and attachment parenting.

Catherine Hansen B.S.(Nutrition) offers care as both a labor support and postpartum doula. Drawing upon her experiences from parenting and as a trained and experienced yoga instructor for pregnant mothers as well as babies and moms, Catherine endeavors to help you identify your laboring and parenting style and honors your choices. As a labor support doula trained through DONA, Catherine can offer additional support through her knowledge of yoga, meditation, Reiki and breathwork to help you stay present as you ride the waves of the birthing process. As a postpartum doula, Catherine endeavors to help families connect with their parenting instincts. She is also a certified Montessori teacher, has worked with families with many parenting styles, and comes with experience working with twins, preemies, high and low tone infants, breastfeeding challenges and adopted babies. She is available for daytime and overnight care.Learn more about Catherine at her website.

Jana Hirth (profile coming soon)


Shelly Vandervort (profile coming soon)