Doula Bios
Ananda Lowe
DIRECTOR
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Lactation Specialist
Workshop Instructor
Ananda has been a leader in the local, national, and international doula movements since 1995. She is co-author of The Doula Guide to Birth (Penguin Random House), as well as a Lamaze-trained childbirth educator and a retired Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in pregnancy. For seven years, she was Assistant Director of ALACE (now ToLABOR), the oldest doula training organization in North America. Ananda has spoken on parenting topics for The Boston Globe, FOX Television, NPR, and PBS. She is also an avid Latin dancer and has danced in Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Madrid, San Juan, and Tel Aviv!
Brenda Morris
Postpartum Doula
Brenda grew up in Ireland as the middle of thirteen children, and has cared for babies her whole life. She is a Postpartum Doula, Certified Nursing Assistant, and Eldercare expert. Her specialties include caring for multiples, kids with special needs, LGBTQ families, grandparents, furry friends and historic houses. A mother of teens, Brenda fully breastfed her twins for three years. She is an amazing cook, a former Journeyman carpenter, a long-distance cyclist, and an all-star fundraiser for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. When she's not burping babies, Brenda runs her agency, Boston Caregivers Home Health, LLC.
Celeste LeMieux
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Celeste is an experienced birth and postpartum doula, an expert yoga teacher, and a women’s empowerment coach. In her twenties, Celeste decided that she wanted to help new families to bond deeply. She believes that this desire came from her own experience of being a preemie.
Celeste is a born teacher, whether she's teaching yoga, coaching, or educating new parents on how to care for their newborn! She is calm, patient and kind. She will hold infinite space for how challenging new motherhood can be while reminding you how amazing you are and helping you to believe in yourself!
Celeste LeMieux
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Celeste is a longtime doula, a women's empowerment coach, and an expert yoga instructor who was the second person in all of Boston to specialize in teaching prenatal yoga starting in 2002. She has taught classes for new families at Isis Parenting, MIT, Harvard Vanguard, and Healthworks Fitness.
Celeste is a born teacher, whether she's teaching yoga, coaching, or educating new parents on how to care for their newborn! She is calm, patient and kind. She will hold infinite space for how challenging new parenthood can be while reminding you how amazing you are and helping you to believe in yourself!
Natalie Lawson
Birth Doula
Natalie is a birth doula who has provided care and support to growing families for over a decade. Natalie holds two Bachelor's degrees: one in Psychology, and one in Nursing. She spent 7+ years as a bedside staff and travel nurse across four states. In that role, and through her doula work, she has helped hundreds of people have an empowering birth experience. She lives in Boston with her partner, his son, and their beloved cat, Pepper. Outside of BDC, she loves playing tennis and provides childbirth education catering to the special needs of Black birthing people through her company, Before the Birth Plan.
Rachel Freedman
Postpartum Doula
Rachel is a Postpartum Doula and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health degree at Tufts University. Rachel decided to pursue doula work after working as a Certified Nurse’s Aide during the pandemic. Rachel supports those in the postpartum period with a compassionate mindset and is ready to assist in any way possible. Outside of doula care, Rachel can be found advocating for maternal health bills, reading at the Boston Public Library, or exploring local farmers markets.
Jillian Hollis
MANAGER
Postpartum Doula
Lactation Specialist
Jillian has dedicated her career to supporting growing families and newborns and has provided expert support to new families for nearly two decades. She is a Newborn Care Specialist, Postpartum Doula, Miscarriage Doula, Certified Infant Sleep Coach, and Lactation Counselor. Jillian and her husband welcomed their first daughter last fall, after a 3-year fertility journey. They spend their time watching soccer, traveling, and snuggling their rescue dog, Hamilton.
Kerri Babish
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Lactation Specialist
Workshop Instructor
Kerri is a full-spectrum doula who provides birth and postpartum support for the Boston Doula Circle team. She has had a passion for helping children and families throughout her life, from babysitting as a teen, to her fourteen years as a public school teacher, to her current doula work. As a mother of three, Kerri often says she wishes she could go back and impart the wisdom she now has to the first-time mom version of herself. Since that's not possible, she's pleased to pass it along to new and growing families instead! Kerri loves working with families of all shapes and structures, and she has a special place in her heart for helping support big siblings as they welcome new babies into their homes!
Joanne Daley
Postpartum Doula
Workshop Instructor
Joanne is a doula as well as professional Massage Therapist with more than 20 years of experience in settings including hospitals, spas, and retreat environments. A teacher of Massage Therapy techniques for professionals and Infant Massage for parents, she specializes in Ayurvedic body treatments, and Swedish, Craniosacral, Prenatal and Postpartum Massage. Joanne’s personal experience with high-risk pregnancy, maternal bedrest, and parenting a preemie motivates her to support parents as they navigate gaps in their care and advocate for their needs.
Monica Woods
Postpartum Doula
Monica is a certified Newborn Care Specialist with 10+ years of childcare and professional Nanny experience. She recently earned a Master's degree in Human Nutrition, aiming to embark on a career as a prenatal and postpartum nutritionist. She is passionate about supporting families during the early stages of parenthood, and committed to providing expert care for newborns. She is interested in becoming a lactation consultant in the future. When she is not supporting families, she enjoys spending time with her dog, trying new recipes, and participating in various types of fitness.