2018 Cohort
Jasper Claypool
Jasper is a Sacramento native who has been interested in pregnancy and child development from youth, having worked in childcare for several years before discovering their path towards becoming a doula. They are most enthusiastic about providing care for marginalized and nontraditional families in the Sacramento region. In their free time they like to read, write prose and poetry, and develop meaningful connections with their community.
Michelle Davis
Immediately after giving birth to my first child 21 years ago I knew I wanted to help women and families through their birthing experience. I believe giving birth is one of life’s most amazing moments and women deserve support and education. Since then I have given birth to 5 more beautiful children and I still have a passion to help support families. All of my birth experiences have been very different; I have had some naturally and some with medication, some at a young age and one in my forties. I am very excited to work with the mentors at WHMS supporting other families during their birth experience.
Previously I have worked at a nonprofit here in Sacramento helping to bring counseling services to underserved communities. When I am not chasing a toddler around the house, I enjoy traveling, exploring local swimming holes and cooking.
Previously I have worked at a nonprofit here in Sacramento helping to bring counseling services to underserved communities. When I am not chasing a toddler around the house, I enjoy traveling, exploring local swimming holes and cooking.
Jazmin Williams
Growing up we’re asked, “What is it you want to be when you grow up?” When you’re five years old that seems like an easy question to answer. When I was younger my answer was a Super Model. (Thanks Barbie!) However, the older I got, the harder this question became to answer but there was one thing I knew for certain. I wanted to be a mother and that I can thank my mother for. My mother is my role model. She’s inspired me to be the greatest mother I can be. My mother has taught me the importance of love, nurturement, and most importantly; patience. Along with wanting to be a mother I have always connected with being a healer. Now that I’m a mother, these things all have really come into effect and on a whole other level! Nothing compares to the love that a mother has for her child and now that I’ve become what I have always dreamed of, I have found myself craving more. This is where being a healer comes in…
My first experience with live birth was when my sister-in-law gave birth to my nephew. I was present in her hospital room along with her grandma, sister, best friend, and of course my mother-in-law. I saw everything! My sister-in-law, sixteen at the time, made childbirth look so easy! Three pushes and we welcomed my handsome nephew into the world. It was a beautiful experience. I think the overall best part of the experience was just the energy in the room of all of us women there to support my sister-in-law in such an emotional time. We all cried tears of joy and relief. It wasn’t until my personal birth experience I realized just how scary giving birth can be. It was a long twenty-five hours for me. I ended up having my son via cesarean. I was nervous, I was excited, I was afraid, I was proud, but most of all I was in love.
My son is now twenty months old (I almost have a two-year old!) and through all my experiences I found myself doing some self-reflecting and asking myself “What is it that I WANT to do with life?” and here I am. I’m here to be that support system for those who need it most in these precious times. I want to give mother’s and their families a memorable, comforting, and heart-warming
experience. I find self-satisfaction in being someone to count on. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure anyone I care about or care for is well taken care of whether it be physically, mentally, or both. That’s what brings me joy. Even if it’s for a stranger, I’ll go out my way because I feel everyone deserves comfort and love. You never know what battles someone is facing, and one small act of kindness can go a long way. I firmly believe in that.
Through this opportunity I hope to achieve a few things. Most importantly, complete satisfaction with clients. I want to go above and beyond for these clients and perhaps give them an experience unlike any other. I also would hope to learn a few new things about myself as a person, future doula, and mother. Life is a learning experience I love to embrace and being a doula is going to bring on a whole new perspective that I am very much excited for.
My first experience with live birth was when my sister-in-law gave birth to my nephew. I was present in her hospital room along with her grandma, sister, best friend, and of course my mother-in-law. I saw everything! My sister-in-law, sixteen at the time, made childbirth look so easy! Three pushes and we welcomed my handsome nephew into the world. It was a beautiful experience. I think the overall best part of the experience was just the energy in the room of all of us women there to support my sister-in-law in such an emotional time. We all cried tears of joy and relief. It wasn’t until my personal birth experience I realized just how scary giving birth can be. It was a long twenty-five hours for me. I ended up having my son via cesarean. I was nervous, I was excited, I was afraid, I was proud, but most of all I was in love.
My son is now twenty months old (I almost have a two-year old!) and through all my experiences I found myself doing some self-reflecting and asking myself “What is it that I WANT to do with life?” and here I am. I’m here to be that support system for those who need it most in these precious times. I want to give mother’s and their families a memorable, comforting, and heart-warming
experience. I find self-satisfaction in being someone to count on. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure anyone I care about or care for is well taken care of whether it be physically, mentally, or both. That’s what brings me joy. Even if it’s for a stranger, I’ll go out my way because I feel everyone deserves comfort and love. You never know what battles someone is facing, and one small act of kindness can go a long way. I firmly believe in that.
Through this opportunity I hope to achieve a few things. Most importantly, complete satisfaction with clients. I want to go above and beyond for these clients and perhaps give them an experience unlike any other. I also would hope to learn a few new things about myself as a person, future doula, and mother. Life is a learning experience I love to embrace and being a doula is going to bring on a whole new perspective that I am very much excited for.
Courtnee Booker
Hello! My name is Courtnee and I am a Student Midwife at WHMS.
After experiencing the transformational power of birth first hand and chatting with other new parents about their birth experiences I began to realize that there was a major gap in the level of support and care folks often experience during this time of amazing physical and spiritual growth. The more birth stories I listened to, the more passionate I became about becoming an advocate for pregnant people and their childbearing experience.
In 2016 I attended my first birth as a doula and was hooked! Supporting pregnant folks and their families with holistic, judgement free, and culturally sensitive care during the childbearing year is my life's greatest passion.
Outside of birthwork you can find me exploring local trails with my family, eating way too much chocolate, drinking the blackest of coffee and spending time in my garden.
After experiencing the transformational power of birth first hand and chatting with other new parents about their birth experiences I began to realize that there was a major gap in the level of support and care folks often experience during this time of amazing physical and spiritual growth. The more birth stories I listened to, the more passionate I became about becoming an advocate for pregnant people and their childbearing experience.
In 2016 I attended my first birth as a doula and was hooked! Supporting pregnant folks and their families with holistic, judgement free, and culturally sensitive care during the childbearing year is my life's greatest passion.
Outside of birthwork you can find me exploring local trails with my family, eating way too much chocolate, drinking the blackest of coffee and spending time in my garden.
Amy Adams
My name is Amy Adams and I am a Student Midwife and Midwife Assistant with WHMS.
I have two children of my own, with two vastly different birth experiences.
Being a teen mom the first time, I didn't know I had choices! I knew as I got older that I wanted to help people have the experience they deserve, the one they want. I want to see everyone treated with respect and dignity. In my second birth, I had two incredible midwives helping me along the way from beginning to end. I planned a home birth, but as it progressed we chose to go to the hospital. Being informed about what was happening and what my choices were and then giving consent to my treatment made all the difference in the world. What could have been a traumatizing and demeaning experience was changed by my midwives and the strength they believed I had.
I want to help give that to everyone. If I can be even a small part in changing the way people are brought into this world, with a loving and respectful environment, I will do it. I know that WHMS provides this to people. I know that ALL people regardless of income, age, gender, ability, etc. deserve this.
I trained as a Midwife Assistant with Welcome Home and I am super excited to assist at births and clinic with WHMS.
I have certifications in Basic Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation, and I am also a Certified Massage Therapist.
I have two children of my own, with two vastly different birth experiences.
Being a teen mom the first time, I didn't know I had choices! I knew as I got older that I wanted to help people have the experience they deserve, the one they want. I want to see everyone treated with respect and dignity. In my second birth, I had two incredible midwives helping me along the way from beginning to end. I planned a home birth, but as it progressed we chose to go to the hospital. Being informed about what was happening and what my choices were and then giving consent to my treatment made all the difference in the world. What could have been a traumatizing and demeaning experience was changed by my midwives and the strength they believed I had.
I want to help give that to everyone. If I can be even a small part in changing the way people are brought into this world, with a loving and respectful environment, I will do it. I know that WHMS provides this to people. I know that ALL people regardless of income, age, gender, ability, etc. deserve this.
I trained as a Midwife Assistant with Welcome Home and I am super excited to assist at births and clinic with WHMS.
I have certifications in Basic Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation, and I am also a Certified Massage Therapist.
Chloe Girot
My name is Chloe Girot and I am proud to be a Birth Doula and Midwife Assistant at WHMS. Having completed the Birth Doula Apprentice Program myself in 2017, I strive to help WHMS train aspiring doulas and midwife assistants to thrive in their communities.
I have been fascinated with the natural process of childbirth from a young age. I remember nothing from 6th grade science class except that I was introduced to how babies were born and that amazed me! Ever since, I was hooked on the idea of helping a birthing parent achieve parenthood. After much research about birth experiences I kept finding how some are blissful and others are more traumatic. Before I even knew what a doula or midwife's purpose was, I instinctively knew that birth should be a happy, loving and rewarding accomplishment, not a scarring event. Once I was introduced to doulas and midwives, and what they are all about, I thought to myself I was meant to support and encourage women in their greatest time of need!
Although working in the birthing community is my passion, in my spare time I enjoy swimming, going to the movies or snuggling with my two kitties.
I have been fascinated with the natural process of childbirth from a young age. I remember nothing from 6th grade science class except that I was introduced to how babies were born and that amazed me! Ever since, I was hooked on the idea of helping a birthing parent achieve parenthood. After much research about birth experiences I kept finding how some are blissful and others are more traumatic. Before I even knew what a doula or midwife's purpose was, I instinctively knew that birth should be a happy, loving and rewarding accomplishment, not a scarring event. Once I was introduced to doulas and midwives, and what they are all about, I thought to myself I was meant to support and encourage women in their greatest time of need!
Although working in the birthing community is my passion, in my spare time I enjoy swimming, going to the movies or snuggling with my two kitties.
Madeleine Shernock
My name is Madeleine Shernock, and I provide care to families as Licensed Midwife and a Birth Doula through Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc.
I also facilitate trainings for our organization's staff and help to oversee general operations of the organization with our Board of Directors.
I began supporting families as a doula since 2010. I became a doula because when families are supported by doulas during pregnancy and childbirth, these families tend to better advocate for their children, they have better and more secure attachments, and everyone seems to be more healthy. I decided to train doulas to support communities that otherwise did not have access to doula care.
The providers at Welcome Home often teach families for the first time what it means to receive nurturing, empathy, gentle touch, and helpful guidance. We remind families that their voices matter and that they are the experts on their own bodies. We help people ask their providers important questions, and we help families find answers and strengths they do not yet know they have. We help families find other people who also do all of these things. We normalize these behaviors for parents, then we sit back and watch parents normalize them for their children. We have the fortune of watching the world become a little more gentle, kind place one family at a time.
I sometimes have to remind myself that my job is real life because it is just that special.
In 2017, I became a Licensed Midwife (LM), meaning I am licensed to provide midwifery care services (including prenatal care, labor and birth care, postpartum care, and family planning care) to families during the childbearing year. It's truly a pleasure to attend to families as their midwife or as their doula through Welcome Home.
In my spare time, I loves to cook and eat treats, spend quality time with my spouse, and play with my sweet pet bunny named Dennis Hopper.
I also facilitate trainings for our organization's staff and help to oversee general operations of the organization with our Board of Directors.
I began supporting families as a doula since 2010. I became a doula because when families are supported by doulas during pregnancy and childbirth, these families tend to better advocate for their children, they have better and more secure attachments, and everyone seems to be more healthy. I decided to train doulas to support communities that otherwise did not have access to doula care.
The providers at Welcome Home often teach families for the first time what it means to receive nurturing, empathy, gentle touch, and helpful guidance. We remind families that their voices matter and that they are the experts on their own bodies. We help people ask their providers important questions, and we help families find answers and strengths they do not yet know they have. We help families find other people who also do all of these things. We normalize these behaviors for parents, then we sit back and watch parents normalize them for their children. We have the fortune of watching the world become a little more gentle, kind place one family at a time.
I sometimes have to remind myself that my job is real life because it is just that special.
In 2017, I became a Licensed Midwife (LM), meaning I am licensed to provide midwifery care services (including prenatal care, labor and birth care, postpartum care, and family planning care) to families during the childbearing year. It's truly a pleasure to attend to families as their midwife or as their doula through Welcome Home.
In my spare time, I loves to cook and eat treats, spend quality time with my spouse, and play with my sweet pet bunny named Dennis Hopper.
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Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit midwifery organization, providing healthcare services and provider training to Sacramento and its surrounding communities.
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Welcome Home Midwifery Services, Inc.
Administrative Office: 2830 I Street, Suite 306 Sacramento, CA 95816 Welcome Home Community Birth Center 4500 47th Ave, Suite 5 Sacramento, CA 95824 Mailing Address: PMB#302 5960 South Land Park Dr. Sacramento, CA 95822 |
Phone: 916-668-WHMS
Fax: 209-336-6814 |