Who We Are
Tara Brooke CD&PD (DONA)
Founder and Executive Director
Tara Brooke has been working with pregnant women since 2000. Her expertise include counseling, labor and postpartum doula support and teaching childbirth education. Tara was a part of the Philadelphia Alliance For Labor Support and is now a member of the Metropolitan Doula Group, the Brooklyn Doula Group, and the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. She is a DONA certified doula and an active board member of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York where she holds the seat as the workshop coordinator for the teaching certification program.
Tara's commitment and growth in the childbirth community flourished and organically grew into the creation of Power of Birth. Tara has been heard speaking about the role of the doula at New York City events hosted by Big City Moms, Baby Bites, Destination Maternity and Mom Talk Radio. She has been listed in several resource guides and news articles including City Baby, MyCityBaby.com, Urbanbaby.com, TimeOut Kids New York, The New York Guide to a Healthy Birth, The New York Times, Babble and The Family Groove.
Tara is available as a Labor Support Doula and for Private Childbirth Education Classes.
 Gina Martoccio, CD (DONA), LCCE
Director of Doula Services
Gina has been working with families to be since 2003. Her specialties include labor and postpartum doula support, newborn care, breastfeeding support, and childbirth education. Gina is a trained Birth and Postpartum Doula through Doulas of North America (DONA) and a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator. She is a TCP in the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York and a current member of the Metropolitan Doula Group where she serves on the council as Co-Director and is the Director of The Brooklyn Doula Group. As a doula, Gina will provide information and constant support that is necessary to assist the woman and her partner through labor and postpartum care.
Kate Sharp IBCLC starting with the birth of my first baby in 1982, I became active in La Leche League of Manhattan. I have been helping babies and mothers with breastfeeding difficulties since becoming a La Leche Leader in 1984. Certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1988, I have continued my involvement with La Leche League, helping with special projects as a leader on Reserve. My approach to breastfeeding is shaped by La Leche League ideals, combined with the expertise required for certification as a Lactation Consultant. I have a private practice where I provide home visits for breastfeeding problems, and phone support.
I have been active in the community of breastfeeding activists for many years. I have represented La Leche League International, which has consultative status as a non-governmental organization, at the United Nations. I participated for many years in the Steering Committee to Promote Breastfeeding, meeting in New York City, where I met, and learned from, many of the people who do their best to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in our large and diverse city. I am a board member of the New York Lactation Consultant Association, and have assisted in many educational opportunities for local Lactation Consultants. I represent NYLCA at the Breastfeeding Promotion Leadership Committee, a citywide group that brings together the major organizations working with breastfeeding families.
Jessica Senecal -
Following the birth of my first child in 1998, my life changed! now the proud mother of two beautiful children, Saul and kaia, my experience helping others with their births grew organically, from friends asking me to be there for them, through to assisting as a birth doula.
I am a certified flower essence counselor and reflexologist: skills which strengthen my support for the women I work with, allowing me to provide support for all aspects of the mother's welfare and aide in pain relief during labor. In 2006 I gained my certificate training in DONA, since then, I have been a regular volunteer at Bellevue hospital, working as a birth doula and in the post partum ward and as certified breast-feeding counselor. I also taught breast feeding classes at WIC (women, infant & children) - a low income support program In 2007, I traveled to Uganda, in Africa, where as part of a pilot program called 'Birth Africa', I volunteered in a maternity ward, an amazing opportunity, allowing me to see & experience the differences in birthing across the world.
Currently I am attending nursing school, as part of my schooling to become a midwife here in New York, as enthralled by the miracle of birth now as I was ten years ago during my own amazing pregnancy.
Jasmin Sanders has been working to support and nurture families for over ten years. “ I believe that by nurturing the parent/child connection from as early on as possible, families gain a strong foundation from which to grow, thrive and successfully weather the challenges that arise over time.” Jasmin has a BA in sociology and education from Bryn Mawr College. She wrote her thesis as an exploration of the work she did for women and children survivors of domestic violence. Jasmin is an experienced peer counseling teacher. She has worked with families from diverse backrounds in New York, New Mexico, Philadelphia and Israel.
 Emily Dove-Medows is a childbirth educator and is trained as a labor support doula. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the Gallatin School at New York University in 1999, and is currently earning a second bachelors degree in nursing, also at NYU. She has been working with pregnant women and their families since 2004, and serves on the board of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York.
Lana De Lowe, has been working as a doula since 2006 and supporting
families long before. Born in California and raised in Israel, Lana
has a BA in Art & Education, specializing in Photography and Special
Ed. She is certified and trained by the Israeli Childbirth Association
as a birth doula (a nine-month course) and by DONA as a postpartum
doula. She has vast experience in acupressure, massage, visualization,
breathing techniques, breastfeeding and assisting you and your family,
before, during and after giving birth. Lana is fluent in both English
and Hebrew. Her goal is to provide the birthing/postpartum woman and
her partner/family with a continual loving and supportive presence.
 Jennifer Parmelee is a Dona certified doula who offers an emotionally, supportive, holistic approach for pre and post labor. Her wise and calming energy provides comfort as well as a plethora of resources for mother, baby and family during the transition of parenthood. Jennifer is a member of The Metro Doula Group of Manhattan and has enjoyed caring for infants and children for over 22 years. As a Yoga Therapist, Jennifer has also worked extensively and with great success with infertility cases, as well as providing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual assistance for pregnant women. She is also a Yoga Alliance certified Teacher Trainer who has been teaching Pre-Natal and Ishta Yoga in Manhattan for the last 10 years. She is the creator of the chakra meditation CD “Sit Within Yourself”, and she is the author of “The Wholeness of Yoga” published by Sterling Publishing ’08. Jennifer has vast qualifications in pain management, calming breathing techniques, meditation, visualization, aromatherapy, reflexology and herbal therapies. She graciously enjoys helping all through the process and power of birth and is also the mother of one daughter, GeorgiaPeach.
 Chantal Paz-Traub has been teaching and working with pregnant mothers and their families for over 10 years. She is a (A.L.A.C.E) Certified Doula. She is also a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and Prenatal Yoga Teacher,
and specializes in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year.
In addition to her Childbirth Education, Chantal has studied yoga and anatomy extensively.
She applies this knowledge to her understanding and teaching, encouraging her students to a deeper awareness of themselves and to find their own way with birth.
Nicole Heidbreder received her BA from University of Illinois and her MA from New York University. She is a DONA trained labor and postpartum doula. Nicole has been fortunate to attend births all over the world giving her a wealth of information on pregnancy and the birthing process. She brings a comforting and calming energy to her clients. She has experience with massage, acupressure, and aromatherapy. Additionally, she specializes in labor photography, combining her passion for photography with her sensitivity to the precious moments around birth. She is a member of the Metropolitan Doula Group and the Brooklyn Doula Group. Additionally she sits on the New Leadership Council for the International Women's Health Coalition and is one of the organizers of the "Transparency in Maternity Care" research project. http://www.thebirthsurvey.com/
 JANI ALBANS, LCCE, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA) Educating expectant parents, supporting women during labor and assisting new families at home is truly an honor and one Jani enters into with the utmost respect. Having worked with numerous families as a labor and postpartum doula, Jani is able to offer the encouragement and guidance new families need during labor and in the first days and weeks after their baby's birth. She sees first hand how parents who are supported during this crucial period are better able to care for their babies and themselves. Her passion has become teaching childbirth education. Jani co-founded BabyMoon Doulas, is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a certified labor and postpartum doula trained through DONA International and a Reiki master; she holds basic certifications in breastfeeding skills and Infant/Child CPR."
 Sarah Moore has a BA from Brown University, an MA from NYU and an extensive background in education; she has taught acting, playwriting, conflict resolution, sex education and outdoor leadership to teenagers and adults. Her work in the childbirth community began after the births of her two children, Lola and Oscar. She is a certified labor support doula CD(DONA), and a certified childbirth educator CCE (CEA/MNY) and serves as Secretary on the board of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York (CEA/MNY).
 Aimee Brill is a DONA certified labor support, postpartum doula, and childbirth educator. For the last several years she has been joyfully serving women and their families in the New York metropolitan area. She has worked extensively with sexual abuse survivors, and brings a sensitivity and compassionate awareness to pregnant women who have had similar experiences. In addition, Aimee is dedicated to international practices in midwifery, and is developing a midwives’ exchange program in Gulu, Uganda. Aimee is currently studying to become a midwife.
 Maria Graziani has been a professional Birth and Post-partum Doula for 4 years. Trained in Pittsburgh, PA by one of the first 9 Doulas in North America, Kathy McGrath, Maria provides outstanding quality of support to birthing mothers and families in the post-partum. Maria has extensive experience in birth planning and post-partum lactation support and newborn care. She is a member of the Metropolitan Doula Group and Doulas of North America (DONA) and is also a certified herbalist and urban farmer where she nurtures plants the way she nurtures new mothers and babies. Maria works hard to ensure that her clients needs - whether physical, educational or emotional - are fulfilled and that each woman and family has a birth and post-partum experience that is happy, healthy and empowering.
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