Melanie Smith
Birth Doula, Innate Postpartum Practitioner, CLEC
My journey into birth work began during my pregnancy with my first child in 2010. I was eager to learn all that I could about pregnancy and unmedicated birth in preparation for my son’s arrival. I prepared for birth using Hypnobabies techniques. However, the unexpected twists and turns of my labor lead to a cesarean birth of my son. An experience which profoundly changed me.
For the next two years, I sought to understand my son's arrival, processing feelings of pride and shame, defeat and triumph, and grappling with diastasis recti and healing from his birth. When I learned my daughter would be joining our family later that year, I began again researching my options. I chose a midwife to oversee our care and hired a doula. My VBAC was such an empowering experience and my doula’s reassuring presence was invaluable. The birth of my daughter provided a contrasting experience, deepening my curiosity, love, and reverence for birth. I was inspired by this birth experience to answer the call into birth work.
I completed my doula training with DONA International in 2013 and began attending as many births as I could while mothering two young children. Each birth taught me something unique and humbled me in a profound way. After a year or so working as a birth doula in our community, I noticed an enormous lapse in postpartum care that was greatly impacting my clients. Shortly thereafter, I trained with Birthing from Within, La Matriz Birth, and Innate Traditions for postpartum certification and began tending to families in postpartum.
My philosophy of childbirth is rooted in the belief that mothers have the innate ability to give birth. Physiological birth requires a deep felt sense of safety and an environment of unconditional love. I believe birth contains one part mystery- that can sometimes feel uncomfortable to confront- and one part surrender and trust to those things that are out of our control. I believe birth can be a very empowering experience, no matter how it unfolds, when families are well supported through the journey.
As a birth doula, my role is to support my clients in their choices and provide guidance when needed. I encourage them to trust the wisdom of their bodies, babies, and birth, while honoring their inner wisdom at every moment. We work together to maintain an awareness of any attachments to particular outcomes that may influence what’s needed in the moment. I use different comforting techniques such as massage, counter pressure, encouragement, affirmations, and reassurance during labor and birth support. Additionally, I draw on my Spinning Babies training to support increased maternal pelvic balance and baby misalignment, when needed.
My philosophy of postpartum care is rooted in the belief that when we center maternal wellness, families thrive. I offer a holistic approach to maternal wellness, addressing both the physiological and emotional needs of new mothers. Guided by Rachelle Garcia Seliga from Innate® Traditions, I integrate sacred and scientific principles to support families during the transformative period of welcoming a child. I have developed a deep understanding of my role in facilitating co-regulation for postpartum mothers, assisting them in regulating themselves and their newborns.
Our work together will focus on meeting you where you are, with the goal of expanding resources that will support you throughout your parenting journey. I offer in-person, hands-on birth and postpartum support, birth story listening sessions, lactation counseling, and nutrition support for postpartum families. I attend home, center, and hospital births in Orange, south Los Angeles, and north San Diego counties.
As a doula committed to resourcing the families I support, I am currently training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner with Ariel Giaretto. I have training in trauma-informed care, Spinning Babies body balancing techniques for an easier birth, and healing modalities for the postpartum body. Below you can see a complete list of my trainings.
Certifications and Trainings
University of California, San Diego- Certified Lactation Educator Counselor
Innate Traditions - Certified Innate Postpartum Care Provider with Rachelle Garcia Seliga
La Matriz Birth - Belly Binding and Postpartum Care Practices with Tema Mercado, CPM
DONA, International - Birth Doula Training with Stacey Scarborough
Spinning Babies® with Nicole Morales
Birthing From Within® with Virginia Bobro
Birth Story Medicine® with Pam England
Lumos Transfroms- The Resilience Toolkit with Devika Shankar
Somatic Experiencing® International with Ariel Giaretto