CHRISTY MUSCATO, Founder, Co-Owner, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Educator, Doula Trainer
CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, SpBCPE, (585) 576-0665 christy@bbcroc.com
Christy is a lover of many things including music, books, art, her husband & kids, and series binging on Netflix. She has lived in many states and many homes. This gives her understanding of being away from family and close friends during life changing events like the birth of your child. She has been honored to be invited into a variety of births and to provide support. Some have included VBACs, high risk, single parent, twins, c-sections, even a vaginal breech delivery! She has supported many natural and medicated births as well as hospital and homebirth. After an “emergency” c-section for her 1st daughter she knew there was more to birth. She looked and was amazed at what she found. Doulas, Lamaze, amazing networks of supportive women. Her tribe. Her second daughter was a beautiful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) supported by her husband and an amazing doula.
Christy has been a practicing Certified Doula with DONA, International and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator for over a decade. She is also a member of the Doula Cooperative and Rochester Area Birth Network in Rochester, NY. Christy is a DONA Birth Doula Trainer and loves teaching new doulas! In recent years, she completed her Postpartum Doula Training through DONA and has become a Spinning Babies ® Certified Parent Educator, and a Certified Body Ready Method℠ Pro. Her witness to how birth can change a woman’s life gives purpose to her goals of educating and empowering families before and during labor as well as provide support during the postpartum period . She is excited to share with women the strength and choices they have.
At BBC Christy is a Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula Trainer, and is accepting birth and postpartum doula clients.
JULIA SITTIG, Founder, Co-Owner, Advanced Birth Doula, Educator, Doula Trainer
MSW, AdvCD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, SpBCPE, (585) 613-1051 julia@bbcroc.com
Julia has had the honor of accompanying women and their partners through pregnancy and birth since 2004, years of invaluable experience that have led her to deeply appreciate the time honored truth that women have been designed to participate in birth, not just experience it! She has supported women and their families through so many different journeys in birth, from first births and singles to multiples, vaginal and cesarean, VBAC and VBA2C, hospital and home, natural, high risk, and more. Julia is an Advanced DONA International Certified Birth Doula (2004) and Birth Doula Trainer (2011), a Lamaze International Certified Childbirth Educator (Passion for Birth, 2004), and has many years of experience as a homebirth midwifery assistant. She is also a Spinning Babies ® Certified Parent Educator, a Certified Body Ready Method℠ Pro, and has completed coursework with Amy Wright Glenn on “Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss.”
Julia’s goal as a doula is to offer continuous support for women and their families throughout pregnancy and birth through prenatal discussions and birth planning, assisting with comfort measures and positions during labor, and providing emotional support and immediate postpartum guidance. In her role as a childbirth educator, Julia seeks to bring a wealth of research based information to the table. Her passion is educating parents about their choices in pregnancy and birth, in order to help guide them through the best possible healthy mom/healthy baby scenario and a wonderful birth experience. There are few joys quite like walking with a family through birth!
Julia is the mother of five, wife to a fabulous and supportive husband, a home school educator, and now – believe it or not – an Oma to a beautiful granddaughter. She stays active in the birth community through the Doula Cooperative (Community Liaison) and has been a member of the Rochester Area Birth Network and a board member for the Institute for Family Centered Childbirth. With a heart for community, Julia has worked alongside the Perinatal Network of Monroe County to grow a Community Based Doula Program, and frequently works alongside of refugee families in the Rochester area as they give birth for the first time in the US. Her goal is to keep learning and growing in her knowledge and understanding of the miracle of birth, and to keep actively sharing what she learns with others.
Side hobbies? Julia loves to walk with her husband and her dog in the woods, attend kid’s sporting events, go camping with her family, sit on her front porch and read, garden, watch movies, and you can always find her at the Roc Public Market on a Saturday, coffee in hand. Unless she’s at a birth.
At BBC, Julia is a Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula Trainer and is currently accepting birth doula clients.
ALISON SPATH, Co-Owner, Lactation Consultant, Educator, Yoga Instructor, Birth Doula
IBCLC, CD(DONA), RYT 200
(585) 451-9968
alison@bbcroc.com
Alison began her work in the birth community in 2007 as a Chapter Leader of Rochester’s International Cesarean Awareness Network and in 2008 as a breastfeeding support group leader offering mother-to-mother breastfeeding support. Today Alison is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) (2018), Certified Birth Doula with DONA International (2014) and Registered Yoga Teacher (2014).
Alison is honored to support families from early pregnancy through early parenthood. Her goal is to help you work toward your goals; whether you desire a non-medicated or medicated birth, to exclusive breastfeed/chestfeed, exclusively pump or to combo feed your baby, Alison cares deeply about the importance of personal and informed decision making and aims to provide her clients with evidence based information in all things related to pregnancy, birth, feeding and early parenthood. Alison’s own birth and breastfeeding experiences along with her work with hundreds of families over the years has taught her that there are often unpredictable bumps and turns on this journey. What’s most important to her is that you were informed of your options and feel supported, heard and respected throughout all the many decisions you will make during this time in your life.
Alison enjoys teaching prenatal yoga because her personal prenatal yoga practice played a very important role in her own physical, mental and emotional preparation for her VBA2C (Vaginal Birth After Two Cesareans). Alison is especially excited to work with clients who are eager to learn more about prenatally preparing their bodies for birth.
Alison is a seeker of knowledge and enjoys continuous professional development through reading, listening to podcasts, connecting with other professionals in birth, lactation and related fields and attending birth and lactation workshops, classes and conferences.
Alison also loves to learn and talk about health and wellness and stays active through walking, hiking, biking, yoga and contra dancing. She loves being a mother to her three children and has always enjoyed talking and learning with others about all the joys and challenges of parenthood.
At BBC, Alison teaches our Intro to Breastfeeding class for expecting parents, facilitates our weekly breastfeeding support group Breastfeeding Cafe, offers private in home (or at BBC) lactation consults and manages our yoga studio. Alison is currently accepting lactation clients and accepts birth doula clients on a limited basis.
Nella Goho, Birth Doula, Educator
CD(DONA), CLC
After the sweet birth of her first child in 2008, Nella grew an interest in the birthing process and a desire to see all birthing parents have better birth outcomes. This journey lead her to have a beautiful homebirth with her second (2011), and a non medicated, intervention free, gentle hospital birth with her third (2013).
Birth and all it involves has not only motivated Nella but inspired her to turn her passion into a profession. Learning that both doulas and education have a positive impact on labor and deliveries, she completed her training as a Bradley Childbirth Instructor 2012. That training then lead to her complete the DONA International Birth Doula training as well the Lamaze Childbirth Educator training. She went on to become successfully certified in both organizations. She has now also completed her Certificated Lactation Counselor program.
A wife to a pretty awesome guy who shares her passion almost to the height of her own, Nella is also mama to three incredible girls. Her second passion is education for her littles. She homeschools daily and loves viewing the world through their eyes. Their glee and excitement for learning is such a beautiful process to experience.
Nella enjoys being an active member of the Rochester Doula Cooperative Board, the Rochester Area Birth Network Board, and PCORI Consortium Committee, which is looking to improve the research used to establish the reasons behind maternal mortality and morbidity rates of black/brown birthing parents in the Rochester Area. She also works as a Doula Mentor through Healthy Baby Network providing access to women of color who need the assistance and guidance of a community doula. Mentoring doulas is a dream come true and she is so excited to be part of such a life changing project.
She enjoys spending time with her family, learning new things, Netflix binges (almost too much), nights out with friends, video games, anime, traveling, and history.
Having attended a multitude of births, all different in their own way, Nella leaves each birth feeling blissful at the thought that such a sacred moment was shared with her, a moment she will never forget.
She is honored to be a part of the BBC team as a birth doula and childbirth educator.
Nella is an experienced doula and is accepting birth doula clients.
Jennie Kieffer, Lactation Counselor, Birth Doula, Educator
CD(DONA), CLC, CVD(TVL)
Jennie believes in the power of birth and the love of strong families. She has developed a passion for helping parents establish strong foundations based on education, trust, and intuition. Her pursuit of knowledge in the fields of birth, postpartum and breastfeeding allow her to give well rounded support from pregnancy through the first year of baby’s life.
Jennie completed her postpartum doula training in 2017 and her birth doula training and Lactation counselor certification in the spring of 2018. She has supported families through all types of birth, and from all walks of life. She is also a member of the Rochester Doula Cooperative. Jennie is committed to helping her clients receive patient centered, trauma informed care and has completed an advanced doula certification program as a certified VBAC doula.
She has a creative spirit and enjoys various projects in her spare time including photography, painting, and graphic design. Most of the art you see around our studio is hers, and has come from her love and appreciation for the BBC community.
Jennie gave birth to her son via unplanned Cesarean in 2016, and had a VBAC with her daughter in 2019. She is wife to a wonderfully supportive husband.
At BBC, Jennie teaches Baby Basics, Thriving Postpartum, Introduction to Breastfeeding, facilitates the Cesarean/VBAC and Life with Baby support groups, and co-facilitates Breastfeeding Cafe.
Jennie is an experienced doula, she is fully booked birth doula clients through 2022.
Mindy Class, Birth and Postpartum Doula
CD(DONA), CLC
Mindy began her doula career in 2016 after the birth of her fourth child. She has always been fascinated with pregnancy and birth and knew she wanted to continue that passion and help others. Mindy believes every woman should have the opportunity to have an empowering and fulfilling birth experience.
Mindy is a certified birth Doula through DONA International and has attended both hospital and home births. She also has a special interest in breastfeeding which led her on the path to becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor. Mindy is a member of the Rochester Doula Cooperative and serves on the Steering Committee as the referral coordinator.
In her spare time, or when not running after her five kids and taking them to sporting activities and events, Mindy enjoys movies, crafting, baking and reading. She is also very involved in volunteering in her community, she serves on boards for her local preschool and sports clubs.
Mindy is an experienced doula and is accepting birth and postpartum doula clients.
Phyllis Sharp, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Educator
CD(DONA), CLC
Phyllis is a wife and mother of five whose love for birth began at age 17. Phyllis’s goal when supporting her birth doula clients to help all birthing persons feel empowered, educated and support throughout their entire birth journey. She is Lamaze educated and has recently earned her status as a Certified Lactation Consultant.
When not at a birth, Phyllis enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and snuggling up with a good book.
Phyllis is a Childbirth Educator at BBC.
Phyllis is an experienced doula and is accepting birth and postpartum doula clients.
Jenna Karns, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Educator
Jenna Karns took her birth doula training with BBC in March 2019 and came on board with BBC shortly after. She is a full time certified child and family development teacher at BOCES who uses those gifts and talents to teach at BBC. Jenna teaches our Baby Basics and Thriving Postpartum classes, as well as our Infant First Aid and CPR course.
Jenna is proud mom of a crazy, energetic little girl that loves to tell people her mom helps women give birth. She is here to help support your birth plan no matter what that birth plan is, and brings a beautiful energy and warmth to every birth she attends.
Jenna is an experienced doula and is accepting birth and postpartum doula clients.
Julie Robert, Birth Doula
CD(DONA)
Julie is a birth doula that has been working with pregnant families since 2018 and is a DONA certified doula (2021).
As a mother of two, with two completely opposite birth experiences, Julie is passionate about creating a positive birth experience for her clients through empowerment and a safe space for creating informed choices throughout the process of pregnancy, labor and postpartum. As a survivor of postpartum depression and anxiety, her passion for the whole process of childbirth was born to help other families have better experiences. Her goal is to make sure each family knows that a positive birth experience should come from a place of positivity, becoming informed and not be created through fear.
Julie lives in Farmington, NY with her two daughters and husband of 10 years. While not at a birth she is a full time mom with a passion for continued education of the pregnancy & birth experience, daily walks in nature, a coffee & craft beer enthusiast and avid podcast listener. Before becoming a mother, Julie received her Bachelors Degree of Education at Keuka College and taught special needs students for five years.
Julie is an experienced doula and is currently on leave from accepting new doula clients.
Jenna D’Annunzio, Birth Doula
A coffee enthusiast, profound lover of music and dance party extraordinaire; Jenna D’Annunzio is a life, business and success coach who has recently expanded her practice to support mothers through their birth and postpartum experiences as a doula. After having children, she uncovered her love and amazement for the process of pregnancy and the miracle of childbirth!
A firm believer that we are all life-long learners, Jenna has a bachelor’s degree in Education and History, a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in counseling and is a Certified Professional Coach through the International Coaching Federation. She is eager to complete her birth doula certification and as well as obtain a certification in parent coaching. Jenna’s goal is create a safe space for mothers to come and express themselves in what they are feeling/experiencing in the moment; to empower them in making the best choices for their care while navigating what it looks like to be the best version of themselves for themselves and their families.
When she’s not coaching, Jenna is soaking up every minute she can with her wonderful husband, Ben, and the three lights of their lives – Addison, Everleigh and Theodore.
Jenna is a newly trained doula and is accepting birth doula clients.
Kirsten Elting, Birth Doula, Educator
BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, CLC, SBD
Kirsten has had the honor to attend many births since becoming a certified birth doula with DONA International in 2003. She has supported families during births at home and at the hospital. Her passion for all things pregnancy and birth related also led her to becoming a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator in 2004, a Certified Lactation Educator and Counselor in 2008, and another breastfeeding certification, Certified Lactation Counselor in 2021 and Stillbirth and Bereavement Doula in 2023. In 2007 she gave birth naturally to her own beautiful daughter with the support of two wonderful doulas.
Kirsten believes in supporting women and their families during their entire journey through pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Believing that women are powerful when they understand their own innate ability to give birth and that pregnancy and birth are NORMAL. She has attended and supported first births to second and third births, natural and medicated births, and provided early post-partum and breastfeeding support. Kirsten provides evidence-based, factual, information and continuous emotional and physical support. By doing so, she hopes to help guide women and their families in making informed choices and decisions during pregnancy, birth, and early post-partum.
With her love of learning and education Kirsten has attended many DONA International and Lamaze conferences around the country. She has also attended many seminars and continues to read many evidence-based books and articles on all things related to pregnancy and birth. As a member of BBC and the Doula Cooperative of Rochester she keeps in close contact with all her “sisters” in the birth community. While planning to explore more avenues of training and certification her goal is to provide and share as much as she can to families in all stages of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
Kirsten works full-time from her home office managing the finances of some Rochester based companies and owns her own small furniture refurbishing company. She is fortunate to have a very supportive husband who understands all her passionate “hobbies”. You can find them both haunting bookstores, antique stores, flea markets, and the occasional curbside picking up pre-loved items for her shop or their home. Although Kirsten does her best to make every soccer game and school event, her teenage daughter is incredibly supportive when she needs to be with a client. As an avid animal lover, Kirsten currently has 1 dog and 3 cats.
At BBC Kirsten is a Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, Certified Lactation Counselor and Stillbirth and Bereavement Doula.
Kirsten is an experienced doula and is accepting birth doula clients.
Olivia Donovan, Birth Doula, Yoga Instructor
Olivia is adventure driven, a lover of the outdoors, an avid snail mail enthusiast, and an advocate for self-love and consent. She feels her strongest asset to the birth space is a willingness to go deep into the unknown with a curious mind and an open heart. Throughout her years in the intense heat of the kitchen she learned to find balance between effort and ease. She learned to help others during moments of panic, stress, and personal struggle. She loves to offer support to others and believes that there is no hurt that cannot be healed by
love.
Olivia is passionate about all facets of pregnancy support. From 2013-2021, Olivia worked as a chef and eventually restaurant management. Her curiosity with the human body and mind has since propelled her into the birth world. In 2021, she followed a strong desire to complete a birth doula training, prenatal yoga teacher training, and 200-hour yoga teacher training. She moved from Missoula, Montana to Rochester, New York in September 2021 to purchase a home with her fiancé and live near extended family members. Since arriving, she has
completed another birth doula training and is eager to finish her DONA certification by the end of 2022.
Olivia’s intention as a birth doula is to help all birthing persons feel empowered, educated and supported throughout their entire birth experience. Her goal is to help her clients shift their attention inward and encourage them while confronting circumstances that arise in prenatal care, labor, and postpartum. She’s here to celebrate the courage and truth within you with a compassionate focus and a tender heart.
Olivia is honored to be a part of the Beautiful Birth Choices community. Surrounded by likeminded individuals, she feels that her cup is full. She is ready and equipped to spread love and kindness as well as offer support to everyone she meets.
Olivia is an experienced doula and is accepting birth doula clients.
Stacy Siftar, Birth and Postpartum Doula
RN
Stacy is passionate about empowering and educating people to allow them to have the birth experience that they envision and to transition into parenthood feeling supported, informed and prepared. She has experienced the journey of birth and postpartum through many different lenses including the birth of her two children, working as a Registered Nurse in labor and delivery as well as postpartum both in and out of the hospital. Over and over she has seen that having a support system in place can positively impact birth.
She has completed her training is currently pursuing certification as a Birth Doula through DONA International as well as a Childbirth Educator through Lamaze.
In her spare time you can find Stacy with her nose in a book, out walking her neighborhood or spending time with her two great kids.
She is honored to be a part of the BBC team and helping families along their birth journey.
Stacy is an experienced birth doula and is accepting birth and postpartum clients.
Bert Kiehle, Birth and Postpartum Doula
CD(DONA)
Bert is a DONA Certified Birth Doula and trained Postpartum doula. She has had birth-work in her heart since she was a little girl. Once she learned what a doula was, she knew this was her ultimate calling! She believes that pregnant and birthing people are the most sacred and precious members of our society, and is honored to be invited to join families in their process.
Bert lives in Conesus with her cat, Tilli. When she’s not being a birth nerd, you can find her taking walks in nature, or reading some kind of nonfiction, likely on spirituality or wellness. Bert and her boyfriend love traveling, catching a concert, or grabbing a tasty drink at a cafe. She loves preparing plant based meals and making herbal infusions and tonics. With an interest in all things spiritual, Bert became a Certified Life Coach through the Dharma Coaching Institute, helping people align with their authentic self and soul purpose.
Bert is an experienced doula accepting both birth and postpartum clients.
Melissa Ebner, Birth Doula
CD(DONA)
Melissa first discovered the amazing world of birthwork after her second child was born almost 18 years ago. She was immediately drawn to learning more about a birth that was her own. She read books, asked questions and met a midwife who helped change her perspective and views of birth. At this time she had no idea what a doula was until years later and she was a nanny for a family who had a newborn and a 2 year old. This family had had a doula to support her birth and it was an eye opening moment for Melissa. She had to learn more. Prior to this Melissa was a 0-3 year Montessori teacher for 7 years and became a nanny soon after. She loves the opportunity to support and meet families where they are on their journey.
Melissa is certified birth doula with DONA International and recently trained as a postpartum doula through DONA as well. Melissa has trained as a lactation counselor with The Healthy Children’s Project and has supported many births in the last few years in a variety of settings and scenarios. She has attended medicated and unmedicated births, VBACs and cesareans. Melissa believes in women and their power.
Melissa is an experienced birth doula and is accepting birth doula clients.