Community Doula Program

What is a Community Doula?

Before the term “doula” became widely used, family and community members commonly provided the physical and emotional support that today’s doulas offer during pregnancy and birth.

Doulas have gained particular attention for their role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, as well as the experiences of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and in challenging what some see as the overmedicalization of birth in the United States. Many community members, policymakers, midwives, doulas, and other people focused on addressing the maternal health crisis are calling for expanded training of and access to community-based doulas —birth workers who are trusted members of the communities they serve and provide care responsive to the specific needs of their community, often at low or no cost.

Community-based birth workers have the unique capacity to challenge bias in the medicalized birth system and undo the exclusion of traditional, community-centered practices around pregnancy and birth.

learn more about our doula training

Doula support improves maternal and infant health outcomes.

Multiple studies have found better outcomes for birthing people who have doula support, including lower rates of maternal and infant health complications; lower rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants; lower rates of cesarean sections (C-sections), which are associated with higher rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity,and other medical interventions; and higher rates of breastfeeding.

In addition to improved physical health outcomes, doula support is linked to reduced rates of postpartum depression and anxiety as well as increased positive feelings about the birth experience and ability to influence one’s own pregnancy outcomes .

Meet the Doulas

Sherisa Moore
RN, MSN, MA,IBCLC

Full Spectrum Doula, Reiki II Practitioner and Placenta Encapsulation

Meet Sherisa

Ancient Songs Doula Services (ASD) trained doula, a High Risk Maternity /NICU RN that has transitioned into the birth world as a Full Spectrum Doula and the first BIPOC to be an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in The Capital District. The journey into birth work, for me began with my first pregnancy which resulted in an infant loss due to medical bias. My subsequent pregnancies made me high risk and I delivered my rainbow baby at 36 weeks. I’m a childbirth educator who believes in birth justice and support for all.

Altranise Harris
LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST

Doula Services, Prenatal Massage Therapy and Myofascial Release

Meet Altranise

Altranise Harris is a full spectrum doula, graduate of Russell Sage College, University of Albany, and the Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy. She practices massage therapy out of Latham and Niskayuna's Bodywork Professionals.

As a licensed massage therapist, her specialities include prenatal massage and myofascial release. You can contact her at anisemassage@gmail.com if you are interested in doula services or you can call or book online at bodyworkprofessionals.com if you are interested in bodywork.

Najua

Birth and Postpartum Doula Services

Meet Najua

Deshaya
M.Ed, M. Div, CLC, DONA, ASDS

Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula,Overnight Postpartum Care and Newborn Care

Meet Deshaya

Deshaya started as a trained birth doula in 2017 (DONA International). After obtaining a better understanding of the need for birth justice she cross-trained and certified with Ancient Song Full- Spectrum Doula Services.She has found her calling educating, supporting, encouraging women during birth and transitioning through the 4th trimester postpartum journey. She has supported families through hospital births, birth center births, cesareans, and VBAC’s.

Jayana
Doula

Full Spectrum Doula, Birth and Family Photographer and Belly Casting

Meet Jayana

Jayana is a Full Spectrum Doula trained through Ancient Songs Doula Services (ASD) - birth justice advocate located in Troy , NY and surrounding areas within the Capital District. She is studying to become a CLC so that she can help families with their feeding journeys and offers Belly Casting to those wanting to capture memories of their pregnant bellies . She is also an amazing local photographer capturing birth, newborns and families as they navigate their new roles into parenthood.

Tammy
Doula

Full Spectrum Doula, Lactation Support, and Monthly Community Baby Showers

Meet Tammy

Tershia Ellis
Doula

Full Spectrum Doula and Birth / Family Educator

Meet Tershia (Shy-Ah)

Full Spectrum Doula, trained with Ancient Song Doula Services. My training has allowed me to continue to bring new souls into this world and provide safety to birthing people as a Birth/Family educator and Doula.I believe in education , compassion, and inclusive birth justice for all . Currently residing in Troy, NY, I’m a mother of 3 and enjoy reading, live music and traveling with my family/ partner. I’m a junior board member at BirthNet, and work within my community with social activism.

BIRTHNET