MEET OUR TEAM OF ROCHESTER DOULAS & CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS

Founded in 2009, we are the most experienced group of birth and postpartum doulas and educators in Rochester, NY and the surrounding area.

At Beautiful Birth Choices we offer a comprehensive platform of support for families during pregnancy as they prepare for their birth and first year of parenting. Our BBC Team includes birth and postpartum doulas, lactation consultants and in house educators that are here to provide a unique and personalized experience as families prepare to welcome their baby into the world.

We promise...

To offer informed, evidence based care and education.
To treat all people and families equitably regardless of ability/disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, ethnicity, race, national origin, political persuasion, marital or relationship status, geographic location, religion, socioeconomic status or age.
To welcome you into our community and to collaborate with your care providers to best of our ability.

Our Founders & Co-owners

CHRISTY MUSCATO

FOUNDER, CO-OWNER, BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM DOULA, DOULA TRAINER, CD/BDT(DONA), EDUCATOR, LCCE, SpBCPE, ACTIVE CERTIFIED BODY READY METHOD PRO

MORE ABOUT CHRISTY

JULIA SITTIG

FOUNDER, CO-OWNER, MSW, ADVANCED BIRTH DOULA, DOULA TRAINER, AdvCD/BDT(DONA), EDUCATOR, LCCE, SpBCPE, ACTIVE CERTIFIED BODY READY METHOD PRO

MORE ABOUT JULIA

ALISON SPATH

CO-OWNER, LACTATION CONSULTANT, EDUCATOR, YOGA INSTRUCTOR, BIRTH DOULA IBCLC, CD(DONA), RYT 200, BODY READY METHOD PRO

MORE ABOUT ALISON

Our Active Doulas

BBC’s Active Birth Doulas are our doulas who are available for many clients each year.

All of our doulas are fully trained through BBC and through our certifying organization, DONA International. You are welcome to specifically request any of our doulas from our Owner, Active or Associate teams as your primary doula. We will be happy to connect you to them as their availability allows.

MINDY CLASS

BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM DOULA, CD(DONA), CLC, BODY READY METHOD PRO

More about Mindy

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 to help others. Mindy believes every woman should have the opportunity to have an empowering and fulfilling birth experience.

Mindy attends 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. When Mindy is not running after her five kids she enjoys movies, crafting, baking and reading. She is also very involved in volunteering in her community.

Mindy is currently accepting birth and postpartum doula clients.

JENNA KARNS

BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM DOULA, EDUCATOR

More about Jenna

Jenna Karns is a Certified Child and Family Development teacher at BOCES. Jenna uses these skills to teach and support families at BBC. Jenna teaches our Baby Basics class as well as our Infant First Aid and CPR course. She 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 loves to bring positive energy and warmth to every birth she attends.

Jenna is currently accepting birth and postpartum doula clients.

KIRSTEN ELTING

BIRTH DOULA, EDUCATOR, BA, CD(DONA), LCCE, CLEC, CLC, SBD, CVD(TVL), BODY READY METHOD PRO

More about Kirsten

Kirsten has been supporting families during their entire journey through pregnancy, labor, and delivery since 2003. Believing that birthing people are powerful when they understand their own innate ability to give birth, and that pregnancy and birth are NORMAL. Because she is constantly researching and educating herself on all things pregnancy and birth related, she provides evidence-based, factual information and continuous emotional and physical support. Kirsten aims to guide families in making informed choices and decisions during pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early postpartum.

Kirsten teaches Childbirth Education and Comfort Measures classes, she is also a Lactation Counselor and Stillbirth and Bereavement Doula.

Kirsten is currently accepting birth doula clients.

BERT KIEHLE

BIRTH AND POSTPARTUM DOULA, CD(DONA), CLC, BODY READY METHOD PRO

More about Bert

MELISSA EBNER

BIRTH DOULA, CD(DONA), BODY READY METHOD PRO, LACTATION COUNSELOR

More about Melissa

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. Melissa is certified birth and postpartum doula. Melissa has trained as a lactation counselor and has supported many births 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 currently accepting birth doula clients.

KELLIE WOODRUFF

BIRTH DOULA, CD(DONA)

More about Kellie

Kellie’s journey into birth work began during her first pregnancy when she found a passion in preparing her own mind, body and soul for pregnancy, labor and birth. Kellie has a Bachelors in Social Work with a minor in Psychology that has equipped her to be attentive and compassionate for others. As a Birth Doula, Kellie intends to educate, support and empower families through their individualized experience. She hopes to help you bring your birth vision to life. Kellie is a mother to two children and a wife to a supportive husband.

Kellie is currently accepting birth doula clients.

TANYA VELAZQUEZ

BIRTH DOULA

More about Tanya

Tanya is a loving mother of two daughters and has been married to her kindhearted husband for 31 years. She has recently retired as a 911 operator after 25 years of service. Tanya has taken thousands of emergency calls, including delivering babies over the phone. Tanya is known for her calm and patient demeanor while under stress. Tanya aims to be a continuous presence to provide support and comfort during labor and birth.

Tanya is currently accepting birth doula clients.

SARA DEMPSEY

BIRTH DOULA, RN

More about Sara

Sara is a dedicated doula with over ten years of hospital nursing experience and several healthcare leadership roles. She encourages clients to trust their instincts during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, and provides informed support for each decision. Trained by DONA International and completing her certification, Sara has supported medical and nonmedical births, including cesareans, and offers lactation education. She shares her motherhood experiences as a mother of two.

Sara is currently accepting birth doula clients.

Our Associate Doulas

BBC’s Associate Birth Doulas are those who take less clients each year, but are available for back up support if/when needed or to step in when births go long and if your primary doula needs to step out to rest.

JENNIE KIEFFER

BIRTH DOULA, LACTATION COUNSELOR, EDUCATOR, CD(DONA), CLC, CVD(TVL)

More about Jennie

Jennie Kieffer is a dedicated doula and lactation counselor with many years of experience in supporting families through their unique birth journeys. She specializes in assisting with Cesarean births and VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), focusing on creating a safe and empowering environment for parents as they navigate these experiences.

Jennie believes that there is no one right way to birth; rather, the best plan is the one that feels right for each client. She is passionate about helping families overcome previous birth trauma, ensuring that they enter their next pregnancy with renewed confidence and peace of mind. At BBC, she facilitates the Life with Baby and Cesarean/VBAC Support groups, providing a space for families to connect, share and heal together.

In addition to her support group work, Jennie teaches Intro to Breastfeeding and VBAC Prep for Parents, equipping families with the knowledge and skills they need for a positive experience. She believes that every parent deserves compassionate support and the tools to advocate for themselves during their birthing journey.

Jennie looks forward to supporting families as they embark on this incredible path to parenthood.

Jennie is accepting birth doula clients on a limited basis.

NELLA GOHO

BIRTH DOULA, EDUCATOR, CD(DONA), CLC

More about Nella

After the birth of her first child in 2008, Nella’s interest in birth started to grow. Her personal journey lead her to have a beautiful homebirth with her second (2011) and gentle hospital birth with her third (2013). Nella soon decided to turn her passion into a profession and went on to become a DONA Birth Doula, Lamaze Childbirth Educator and a Certificated Lactation Counselor.

Nella is accepting birth doula clients on a limited basis.

JULIE ROBERT

BIRTH DOULA, CD(DONA)

More about Julie

Julie is a birth doula, support expecting families since 2018. 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 childbirth was born to help other families have better experiences. Her goal is to make sure families know that a positive birth experience can come from being informed and well supported.

Julie is accepting birth doula clients on a limited basis.

OLIVIA DONOVAN

BIRTH DOULA, YOGA INSTRUCTOR

More about Olivia

Olivia is a birth and postpartum doula, and a prenatal yoga and Pilates instructor. She believes that engaging with our bodies is our greatest tool in staying present. Since her start in 2021, Olivia has helped many parents find their inner strength while navigating the unknowns of pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. In her role as a doula, she aims to help you prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for whatever lies ahead.

Olivia is accepting birth doula clients on a limited basis.

NICOLE TRAYLOR

BIRTH DOULA, CD(DONA)

More about Nicole

EILEEN CASEY CAMPBELL

BIRTH DOULA, RYT-200

More about Eileen

Eileen Casey-Campbell (she, her, hers) is a birth doula and yoga instructor. Eileen brings a fascination with physiology and a love for the wonder of the human body to birth work and teaching our Baby & Me yoga class. Eileen is a Unitarian Universalist minister and has served as a healthcare chaplain in maternal special care and neonatal intensive care, holding many families through difficult pregnancies, births, and postpartum recoveries. She has a soft spot in her heart for families handling pregnancy or infant loss. Eileen shares a life with her partner, their two children, and two goofy dogs.

Eileen is accepting birth doula clients on a limited basis.

MARGO FOX

BIRTH DOULA, CD(DONA), MSW

More about Margo

Margo has a passion for helping others help themselves; through education, empathy, and empowerment. She strongly believes in protecting the birth space and the impact of your birth story memory. It is her goal to provide support and assist parents in building confidence in pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Margo has additional training in pregnancy after loss.

Margo is on maternity leave until 2026.

LAUREN DEARMAN

BIRTH DOULA, ASL INTERPRETER

More about Lauren

Lauren (she/her/hers) works full-time as a sign language interpreter and is fluent in American Sign Language. She believes in supporting birthing people in whatever way will help them best to have a positive, empowering birth experience, and with an aim to remove barriers in communication. Lauren is a wife and mother and looks forward to the honor of working with birthing people and their support people in this capacity.

Lauren is accepting birth doula clients on a limited basis.

KATHRYN FRANKE

BIRTH DOULA, CD(DONA)

More about Kathryn

At Beautiful Birth Choices, our goal is to help inform you about pregnancy, birth and postpartum, empower you in your choices for birth and support you in your birthing and parenting journey.

HIRE A BIRTH DOULA

MEET OUR TEAM OF ROCHESTER DOULAS & CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS

Founded in 2009, we are the most experienced group of birth and postpartum doulas and educators in Rochester, NY and the surrounding area.

We promise...

Our Founders & Co-owners

CHRISTY MUSCATO

JULIA SITTIG

ALISON SPATH

Our Active Doulas

MINDY CLASS

JENNA KARNS

KIRSTEN ELTING

BERT KIEHLE

MELISSA EBNER

KELLIE WOODRUFF

TANYA VELAZQUEZ

SARA DEMPSEY

Our Associate Doulas

JENNIE KIEFFER

NELLA GOHO

JULIE ROBERT

OLIVIA DONOVAN

NICOLE TRAYLOR

EILEEN CASEY CAMPBELL

MARGO FOX

LAUREN DEARMAN

KATHRYN FRANKE

At Beautiful Birth Choices, our goal is to help inform you about pregnancy, birth and postpartum, empower you in your choices for birth and support you in your birthing and parenting journey.

INFORM – EMPOWER – SUPPORT