Meet The Doulas!

Our Leadership Team

Kate Dewey CD/CDT(BAI) (she/her)
​Co-owner, ​Overnight Postpartum Doula, Lactation Educator

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Kate Dewey is a Lactation Educator and Postpartum Doula who has been working with newborns in the Seattle area since 2004. Kate has raised 5 babies of her own and each kiddo taught her more and more about the ever-changing needs of newborns and new parents. Kate brings her background in childbirth & new parent eduction to each shift, guiding new parents with real-time education about their baby and the baby's needs. Her extensive experience with postpartum support means there is very little she hasn't seen and her compassion for the new-parent experience is deep. Kate also pulls from her other roles as birth doula, doula trainer and grief & loss doula trainings. Her goal for the morning after a shift is that all parents have gotten more sleep than they planned on and they feel more confident about how well they are responding to their baby's needs!

Jane E. Drichta CPM, CNCS (she/her)
Co-Owner, Overnight Postpartum Doula and Certified Newborn Sleep Specialist

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As a postpartum doula, Jane can help you identify and implement early parenting skills based on YOUR values. Nobody knows your baby like you do, even if you don’t quite feel that way yet. As a midwife, Jane is accustomed to providing physiological and psychological support to new family, including early breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, hints for recovery after a surgical birth, SIDS prevention, and caring for premature or medically fragile infants. Jane concentrates on overnight care, spending what are literally and emotionally often the darkest hours encouraging and problem solving. A family that is well rested and supported with hands on help, relevant information, and love can move forward into early parenting with confidence and joy.

Our Postpartum Doula Team

Corinna Sullivan (she/her)
Postpartum Overnight Doula

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Originally from Mississippi, Corinna has lived in Seattle for 15 years. After working as a biologist and college instructor, Corinna shifted to full time caregiving for her three children. What began as a gift of time to her friends during their new parenting journey shifted to a career as a postpartum doula.
Corinna offers calm and intuitive newborn care and is ready to support caregivers during tender and transformational times. She has experience postpartum anxiety and depression and is able to connect with parents gently. Corinna also gets a special joy working with twins.  Corinna breast-and bottle fed her own children and supports all parent-chosen feeding options. As a queer woman, she especially values inclusive feeding choices for queer, non-binary, and trans families

Maria Pardo (she/her)
​Postpartum Overnight Doula, BSN, RN, IBCLC

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Maria has been a nurse for 15 years, working alongside postpartum parents for the last almost 6 years as a lactation consultant at two different hospitals. She now works as a school nurse and misses working with parents and babies. She is a mother of 3 girls who are now in middle school and 2 in elementary school. They have a lot of fun together. In her spare time, she loves to garden, do house projects, paddleboard, run, travel, and enjoy the sun and nature.

Maria is also fluent in Spanish! 

​Jamie Villarreal (she/her)
​Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Specialist

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Born and raised in Chicago, Jamie has been a caregiver most of her life. She had a brief stint in social media marketing but knew it was not the right fit. After 10+ years as a nanny, Jamie became a certified Newborn Care Specialist and Postpartum Doula and realized this is the work she was meant to do. Jamie always does her best to meet families where they are each day, as every day and each baby is different. Her goal is to empower parents, support them during this special time in their lives and leave them feeling confident in their new roles. She brings a calming presence, a wealth of knowledge and experience, and is always ready to jump in. Jamie's focus is on overnight care and encouraging restful and restorative sleep for families. In her spare time, you can usually find her curled up with a book, hanging out with her dog and enjoying her new city.

Marisol Ruiz-Dominguez (she/her)
​​Postpartum Doula

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After decades working in her home country of Mexico as a postpartum nurse, Marisol is thrilled to be working with Seattle area parents and babies! She has a strong background in nanny work and infant care, and specializes in infant sleep and sleep training of older infants. Marisol has worked as a birth doula with Open Arms Perinatal Services and in the Swedish Doula Program. 

Marisol is also fluent in Spanish! 

Danielle Dean (she/her)
​Full Spectrum Doula

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Danielle has been a doula since 2016. She provides intuitive care to her clients, knowing and believing that they will each have different goals and visions for their birth experience. She makes it her priority to connect with the families she works alongside, to help them feel comfortable and supported through the unpredictable journey that pregnancy and birth can be. Her ultimate goal is to carry peace into this season of transition for families. Danielle cares deeply that her clients feel heard, seen, and validated in their emotions and their experiences.

She believes in creating a safe space for her families to uncover all of their options, and then supporting and empowering them on whichever path they choose.

On an average day, you can find Danielle adventuring outdoors with her tiny village. She loves finding new hiking trails and dilly-dallying around the Puget Sound. The key to her heart is some decent green chili, a good book, iced americanos, and a solid hammock nap.

Ále Johnson (she/her/ella)
Postpartum Doula, BS, BA

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Salachon comrades & relatives. I’m Ále (AH-leh), the Earthen Mami. I am a queer Afroindígena BirthKeeper (doula), artist, and activist living on Medicine Creek Treaty Territory (Seattle, WA). I come from the Maya Ch’ortí, Lenca, and Garífuna/Garínagu Indigenous & Afroindigenous peoples of Honduras through my father. I also carry Northwestern European heritage, namely German, Celtic & Norwegian. I am a radical lover, mujerísta, fur mama, auntie to twin boys, daughter, sister, and friend.

I have Bachelor’s degrees in Biological Anthropology (Human Biology), where I studied the evolution of female primate sexuality and reproduction, as well as German studies. I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Biology, concentrating on the intersections of Indigenous Women’s Reproductive Health & Rights, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and intersectional decolonial conservation (rematriation).

My birthwork is deeply rooted in my spirituality & identity as a Mesoamerican Indigenous woman. I am a lifelong learner and am keen to learn and share the traditions of my ancestors while honoring and celebrating yours. I believe that the postpartum period is a sacred time in which parents and children deserve to be cared for tenderly and empowered to trust their intuition and innate wisdom. Healthy communities begin with healthy parents and children. It is an honor to serve our community in such a way.

​I aspire to become an ajk’op ch’urkab’ (midwife) and to birth and raise my own babies when the time is right. Ále is also fluent in Spanish and German!

Lindsey Steffener (she/her)
Postpartum Doula

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Lindsey’s journey into birth work began with her first pregnancy in 2008. For over a decade she specialized in maternity, birth and newborn photography. Before she had a baby of her own, she was already learning how to soothe newborns to sleep. Now, a mother to three daughters ranging from toddler to teenager, Lindsey is passionate about helping parents transition into their new roles as they expand their family. Bringing home a baby (or babies) is such a special, unique undertaking and her goal is to help parents through this transition with support and empowerment. When Lindsey is not soothing babies, you will find her reading a good book, cheering from the sidelines of a lacrosse game or enjoying her favorite meal with friends…brunch!

Sarah Johnson (she/her)
​Postpartum Doula

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Sarah is a birth and postpartum doula. She became a doula to support families as they experience the changes associated with parenthood. Sarah is passionate about meeting parents where they are and providing unbiased support.

Sandy Szalay (she/her)
MPH, BSN, RN, Postpartum Doula

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Sandy is passionate and highly experienced in serving pregnant and birthing people and families as they begin their journey into parenthood. A mother of three grown adult children, and grandmother to five, her lived experience is culturally informed, and encompasses maternal mental health challenges. Sandy’s professional experience includes over 40 years as a nurse, women’s health nurse practitioner, childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula and doula trainer. In these various roles, she continues to learn from each family and work setting. Sandy also completed a Fellowship in Infant-Parent Mental Health. Fostering and nurturing new parents learning to recognize and value their inner wisdom and intuition is one of her deepest satisfactions. In this way new parents become the ‘experts of their own child/children’ in the grand journey of parenthood. It is always an honor and privilege to assist families in this sacred transition of birthing and welcoming a new child and nurturing their growing family.

Jasmyne Bryant (she/they/jas)
​Postpartum & Sleep doula

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Jasmyne radiates lighthearted joy and thoughtful care in every aspect of her life. Jasmyne has always had a desire to care for the community around her. Like many intuitive caregivers, Jasmyne has always been caring for young children in her life. Early on she discovered the power of nourishing bonds and openhearted support in building resilience and self determination. Informed by her lived experience and work in human services, Jasmyne became passionate about racial, reproducative, and LGBTQ+ justice. Quickly, Jasmyne discovered the importance of doula care in improving birth and postpartum outcomes for marginalized communities as well as a way of preserving Black and Indigenous knowledges around parenting. Knowing this is the right path for her, Jasmyne is constantly pursuing continued education to better care for her clients including specialized training in sleep consultation. Jasmyne lives her purpose by supporting people through intense and tender transitions. Jasmyne meets people where they are at and takes a warm, empathetic, evidence based approach to doula care. When Jasmyne is not working as a doula she is focusing on the transformative power of art and study. Jasmyne is always growing and imagining new ways to foster more caring futures.

Alice Arden (he/him/his)
​​Full Spectrum Doula and Educator

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Alice is a doula and parent educator with a special interest in intentional living and growing secure relationships. Alice believes strongly in the power of connection and brings that into his work by using a relational and trauma informed care approach. He understands that every family is unique with their own intricate histories and interpersonal dynamics. He has a passion for psychology and the ways that the brain and nervous system impact one's perception of life. Wellness is not only about physical heath, but comes from the integration of body, mind, and community. Alice has a deep appreciation for this work and is honored to walk alongside families during this transitional time.​

Hayley McKie (she/they)
​Full Spectrum Doula

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Everyone deserves to feel cared for during the transitional and impactful moments in their life! I am a certified full-spectrum doula, supporting families through pre-conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, abortion, loss, adoption, and surrogacy. My goal is to be a reassuring, calm, down-to-earth presence, helping ease your transition into a new family. As a queer person, I came to birth work to advocate for birthing people of all genders and family structures. My belief is that YOU are the expert in yourself - my role as a doula is to support you physically, and emotionally, and in advocating for your wants and needs. I also love providing support to partners and anyone else who finds themself "born" into a new role, making sure the whole family feels nurtured!

Jen Laird  (she/her)
​Full Spectrum Doula

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With over 15 years of experience and over 500 families supported, Jen combines her expertise and knowledge to provide individualized support for each client. You get the best from her midwife, doula, and mentor training. She is passionate about providing trauma-informed care.

Jen can't remember a time when she wasn't drawn to babies and birth. She launched her professional career in birth work in 2007, completing her birth and postpartum doula training through Seattle Midwifery School. Soon after, she enrolled in midwifery school at a university in New Zealand. This year provided a wealth of book learning and experience attending births in hospital settings, breastfeeding, and postpartum recovery. She and her family relocated back to Seattle, where she continued her midwifery education and midwifery internship. Nearing the end of her midwifery training, Jen choose to change course and go back to her first love, supporting families as a doula. In the following years, she worked as a birth assistant for home births as well as taught childbirth education classes. She has quite literally worn all the "hats" - birthing person, doula, student health care provider, childbirth educator, and postpartum doula.

​Jen has three young adult children, a husband of 26 years, and two adorable "weenie" dogs she considers her furry children.

Nazma Noray (she/her)
Postpartum Doula, BA, MPH, BD and PD

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Hello! My name is Nazma. I am a trained birth and postpartum doula currently working towards certification. I also have a background in psychology and a recent Master of Public Health degree. My journey in public health has led me to focus on reproductive and birth justice. I've spent considerable time in reproductive health education and community outreach serving as a peer educator. As I expanded in my expertise, I absolutely fell in love with birth work and education which ultimately led me down the path of being a doula.

I deeply understand the importance of cultural competency, inclusivity, and equity in the birth and postpartum space. This translates directly to my work as a doula, where my goal is to ensure all expectant parents and birthing individuals, regardless of background, feel empowered, informed, and fully supported throughout their journey. I prioritize collaborative and client-centered care. This means honoring client desires, concerns, autonomy, and right to self-determination. People that know me would describe me as empathetic, compassionate, affirming, friendly, and outgoing.

​Guiding families through this transformative time is a passion of mine. I'm here to advocate for positive pregnancy, birthing and postpartum experiences, creating a nurturing and supportive environment for everyone. ​

Araenae Webster (she/her)
Postpartum Doula, NCS

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Araenae has been working with children for over 20 years. Currently she specializes in working with newborns and enjoys assisting parents, however needed as their family grows. Araenae uses an attachment based approach tailored to the child and family’s needs. When not working she can be found helping out with her nieces and nephews, reading, traveling, and learning new things.

Elsie Walles-McConaughey (she/her)
Postpartum Doula

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​​Hello! My name is Elsie, and I am a birth and postpartum doula. I love the opportunity to help care for new parents in such a tender time. I love watching folks get to know their babies and grow in their confidence. I am a firm believer that YOU are the best expert on your baby and your body– I am here to be a support, guide, and resource as you navigate this season. The newborn time is wonderful and difficult, and I believe no one should have to do it alone. My doula practice is grounded in reproductive justice, trauma-informed care, equity, and community. I bring with me empathy, compassion, creativity, a sense of humor, and an open-mind. I live north of Seattle with my spouse and our sweet kitty. In my free time, I enjoy drinking coffee, watching movies, going on walks, and doing puzzles

AK Stroman (she/her)

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A.K. Stroman is a certified postpartum doula with an extensive background in both newborn care and supporting families. A native to the Seattle area, A.K. has worked with children for as long as she can remember. She was a career infant nanny for over 15 years before transitioning into the postpartum doula world.

As mother of four energetic and wonderful boys herself, A.K. is passionate about helping families navigate the life-changing journey that takes place after birth, by providing unbiased, non-judgmental support. It is her personal goal to provide restorative rest and healing for parents, as well as offer them information, education and support to make their own choices that work best for their family.

​In her spare time A.K. can often be found with her boys at T-Mobile Park or Lumen Field as a big supporters of Seattle sports teams. She also enjoys baking, jigsaw puzzles, indulging in her creative side and spending time outdoors with her 2 dogs.

Sean Hoke (she/her)
Postpartum Doula

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Bio Coming Soon! 

Carlee Rollins (she/her)
​Administrative Assistant

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Carlee joined Let It Be Birth as our Administrative Assistant in the summer of 2024. Years of leadership and organizational experience with her school's academic competition groups make her uniquely qualified for this position, as does the fact that she is one of Kate Dewey's children and has grown up alongside this business. Carlee's work in TSA, DECA and Model UN, as well as her status as a volunteer for a teen mental health hotline have brought her business experience and she's excited to be on the team.