Meet the doulas
Melanie Conn, MM, CD, PPD
She/Her
Birth Doula - Postpartum Doula
Mel trained as a birth doula in 2016 and as a postpartum doula in 2023, and really the rest is history; as far as she can tell there is no other calling on the planet that would be a better fit for who she is intrinsically— ever bringing older, wiser, protective, nurturing, validating, encouraging, proud as hell big sister vibes to the table in support of her people. She aims to earn the deep trust of her clients, but more importantly to connect them with their own strength and wisdom so that they trust themselves first.
Melanie’s birth work started in a volunteer capacity supporting under-accessed folks through organizations such as Urban Baby Beginnings and the Richmond Doula Project before she had her own baby in 2018 (whew, the humility). In 2021 she joined the doulas at MyBirth and since has established a warm rapport among hospital staff, homebirth midwives, doulas, other perinatal care entities, and her beloved clients. Melanie has received special training in Spinning Babies Technique, VBAC support, Hypnobirthing for birth workers, PMAD support, and is currently pursuing continuing education in herbal medicine specifically as it pertains to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and lactation.
As a neurodivergent person with a history of eating disorder and body dysmorphia, as well as anxiety and depression, Mel has a passion and aptitude for supporting people who identify similarly in any of these ways. In alignment, she has served as a volunteer on Postpartum Support International’s warmline fielding calls from new parents who are struggling and in need of either just a listening ear or to be referred to a mental health professional.
Melanie lives just south of the James River with her husband, kiddo, 3 cats, 1 betta fish, and 1298715 houseplants. She finds joy in growing native plants and a vegetable garden, being in the woods with her little family, listening to and playing music, and being with the mountains whenever she can be.
Scorpio ☼ Taurus ☽ Cancer ⇡ Virgo
Colleen McDonald, BSW, CD
She/Her
Birth Doula - Placenta Encapsulation Specialist - Prenatal Yoga Instructor
Colleen is a professional birth doula trained by Birth Arts International and is located in Richmond, VA with her husband, two sons, two dogs, and chickens. Colleen holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, is a certified VBAC Doula through The VBAC Link, and is a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist through The Association of Placenta Preparation Arts. Colleen has volunteer experience as a doula with Community of Hope, a CASA Guardian ad litem, and a domestic violence/ sexual assault hospital advocate with RHART/ YWCA. Colleen has trauma informed training and is comfortable working with clients from a variety of backgrounds or mental health diagnoses. Colleen takes an individualized approach to supporting birthing people through every stage of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Colleen is trusting of birth and our bodies to safely bring babies earth-side. She utilizes hypno-birthing techniques like breath work, visualization, and education when working with birthing people and their partners. Colleen is also certified through the Association of Placenta Preparation Arts to offer encapsulation services.
Jesse Waller, LMT, CD, CPPD, CILFS
She/They
Full Spectrum Doula - Lactation and Feeding Specialist - Licensed Massage Therapist
Jesse is dedicated to providing trauma-informed, compassionate, and evidence based care. Her journey to birth work began with attending the labor of a close friend, where a love of learning (and over preparation) led her to begin searching out how to best provide support during birth. That experience began a passion for supporting all genders, all bodies, and all family structures through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Jesse’s personal experiences with birth include a planned home birth that shifted to a hospital induction and unplanned cesarean, followed by a home birth VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean.) Having walked such varied paths, they have gained the understanding that the best birth outcomes are achieved when each person is able to make autonomous and informed decisions about their own care. She especially values the opportunity to support queer and trans families, neurodivergent families, and birthing people planning their next birth after a cesarean. Jesse is committed to addressing the unique challenges of the postpartum period, providing guidance on feeding, and offering families affirmation of their own knowledge and abilities that they will carry with them into parenthood.
Originally from the west coast, Jesse lives in North Chesterfield with their two kids, pet ball python, and some of the houseplants that Melanie gave her (the ones that haven't died yet.) Her hobbies include baking, eating baked goods, and doom scrolling memes while being constantly interrupted.