Website: www.feminine-earth.com Phone: (352) 455-2419 Type of Practice: Solo practice Clients per Month: 1 to 3 births and 1 to 5 postpartum families Birth and Postpartum Doula Birth Doula Experience: 3 years and 40 births attended Postpartum Doula Experience: 3 years and 10 families served Area of practice: Tallahassee, FL Travel range: 35 miles Travel comments/restrictions: Languages spoken: English
Specific certifications for the above: I am trained through DONA International and Birthing From Within but have chosen not to obtain certification.
Breastfeeding Certifications
Extensive breastfeeding training during midwifery school by an IBCLC and Licensed Midwife.
Childbirth Educator Certifications
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association)
Birthing From Within
Dancing For Birth
Other Credentials
Neonatal Resuscitation Certified (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Placenta Preparation Specialist, Student Midwife at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery
College Education
AA/AS
Specialized training or previous experience:
Teens
Over 40
VBAC
Home Birth
LGBTQ Families
Adoption
Relinquishing mothers
Postpartum mood disorders
Single parents
Waterbirth
Special services available:
Placenta encapsulation
Belly casting
Cloth diapering education
Babywearing education
Baby-led weaning
Reduced rates for military members/spouses
Reduced rates for women considering adoption
Sibling support (for your older children at the birth)
Antepartum doula
Relevant volunteer or advocacy work: Member of Florida Friends of Midwives, Birthing From Within, Dancing For Birth, and DONA International.
Attends hospital births? All Hospitals Attends birth center births? All Birth Centers Attends home births? Any Home Birth
Birth doula fee: $500 to $550 Postpartum doula hourly rate: $20 Fee details: I charge $500 for doula services in a homebirth or birth center setting and $550 for doula services in a hospital setting. I also have a scholarship program for teen mothers which covers the full cost of my birth doula services and Birthing From Within classes.
Client Testimonials for Melissa Marks
Laura Bishop
Melissa's support with any and all decisions I made for my birth and my baby is one of the main things I greatly appreciated about her. Actually, a lot of the knowledge she has on so many different things allowed me to make informed, educated decisions. She was always available to talk about whatever I needed to talk about, whenever I needed to talk. Melissa is NURTURING, compassionate, LOVING, and sweet. She always had up-to-date information, and was always accommodating during pregnancy and our water birth. If I have another child, I PRAY God allows her to be involved and present for the whole experience. I LOVE Melissa.
Posted 6/21/2011
Nicole Stern
Melissa was such a dedicated and knowlegable doula & I am so happy to have found her & had her by my side during the 36 hour natural labor and birth of my sweet daughter Samantha Hawk. I would have never been able to be as brave and focused and on track as I was if it weren't for Melessa helping me feel calm, relaxed, and present. It was great having her be there for my husband as well, who needed reassurance and a break from time to time. She provided me with excellent information that was not covered during the prenatal classes we took at the hospital & gave me guidance post pardum as well. I would recommend Melissa to anyone wanting a support person for themselves through the process of bringing into this world a new life. Happy, cared for mama = happy, cared for baby = happier world.
Melissa's support with any and all decisions I made for my birth and my baby is one of the main things I greatly appreciated about her. Actually, a lot of the knowledge she has on so many different things allowed me to make informed, educated decisions. She was always available to talk about whatever I needed to talk about, whenever I needed to talk. Melissa is NURTURING, compassionate, LOVING, and sweet. She always had up-to-date information, and was always accommodating during pregnancy and our water birth. If I have another child, I PRAY God allows her to be involved and present for the whole experience. I LOVE Melissa.