Why choose me as your trainer and mentor?
- I've held hundreds of trainings.
- I've trained a couple thousand doulas.
- I've supported a couple thousand families.
- I've taken a tailored approach with all of the above. Every. Single. Time.
About Me
Greetings. My name is Jackie Kelleher and there are so many things I want to tell you about myself! If you're anything like me, you'll be wondering, "Who is this woman? Why her training rather than another? In what ways is she qualified to mentor me?"
Who I am professionally
I started working as a doula in 1993, while living in Japan. This was pre-internet, so I had no idea that DONA was newly founded back home. The best part is that I didn't know the word doula yet. I would explain that, "I help people when they're having babies." That's pretty accurate still today.
I came back to the States, became DONA certified as a birth doula and hit the ground running. After a few years, I had a thriving doula practice, attending about 4 births per month, as well as providing postpartum services. Soon I had too much work, and I founded a doula co-op, Delaware Valley Birthing partners. I managed an average of 8 doulas supporting dozens of clients at any given time.
I became a DONA birth doula trainer in 1998 and have consistently trained doulas ever since. In 2002 I became DONA's Director of Postpartum Services and a cofounder of the postpartum certification program. With this, my role expanded to training trainers.
In 2007 I founded BirthMark, a local natural parenting resource center and store in my home town. I thought I knew something about families when I opened BirthMark, but I have to say that those mamas and papas taught me more in the 5 years I was open than anything else. I ran 5 support groups per week, as well as a breastfeeding clinic (I became a CLC in 2007). This is all to say this: I have quite a bit of experience. I'm pretty certain that we each have something to learn from and teach one another.
I came back to the States, became DONA certified as a birth doula and hit the ground running. After a few years, I had a thriving doula practice, attending about 4 births per month, as well as providing postpartum services. Soon I had too much work, and I founded a doula co-op, Delaware Valley Birthing partners. I managed an average of 8 doulas supporting dozens of clients at any given time.
I became a DONA birth doula trainer in 1998 and have consistently trained doulas ever since. In 2002 I became DONA's Director of Postpartum Services and a cofounder of the postpartum certification program. With this, my role expanded to training trainers.
In 2007 I founded BirthMark, a local natural parenting resource center and store in my home town. I thought I knew something about families when I opened BirthMark, but I have to say that those mamas and papas taught me more in the 5 years I was open than anything else. I ran 5 support groups per week, as well as a breastfeeding clinic (I became a CLC in 2007). This is all to say this: I have quite a bit of experience. I'm pretty certain that we each have something to learn from and teach one another.
More about me
There are other major factors that have shaped who I am. My family life, of course. My husband Pat and I have four children ranging in age from 25 to 9. My birth and early parenting experiences have a wide range, from a cesarean to vbacs, from high tech birth to home birth. I've had a singleton who didn't learn to nurse for a month, twins who nursed like champs from the start--my own life has taught me quite a bit. While my personal history doesn't translate into doula expertise, it does generate a great deal of empathy. Whether you've had babies or not, you life experiences will generate empathy, as well.
The other major factor and focus of my life has been martial arts and self-defense. I'm a 3rd degree black belt and have been teaching martial arts since 2011. You might think that these are divergent fields, but I find constant intersections. Finding voice, making choices, feeling amazed by the power of what our bodies can do--in my view, the two intertwine more often than not.
The other major factor and focus of my life has been martial arts and self-defense. I'm a 3rd degree black belt and have been teaching martial arts since 2011. You might think that these are divergent fields, but I find constant intersections. Finding voice, making choices, feeling amazed by the power of what our bodies can do--in my view, the two intertwine more often than not.