there are many middle tn doulas and i am having the MOST fun meeting them. in this blog post, you can find their contact info listed first and then their responses to my two questions:
1) share something they were thankful for after having their own babies.
2) what piece of advice would they like to share with newly postpartum moms.
here is the contact information for the middle tennessee doulas that i am getting to know in alphabetical order by first names. i am excited to meet more and more and more local middle tn doulas! ~laura
becca long – postpartum prepared
professional postpartum doula
serving sparta, tn· chattanooga, tn · cookeville, tn
postpartum_prepared12@gmail.com +1 (253) 304-4418
website: postpartum prepared
instagram: postpartum_prepared12 facebook: postpartum prepared
danielle hoose – let’s doula this
certified birth doula
starting maternity leave december 1st, 2025
serving cookeville,tn and surrounding areas
letsdoulathis23@yahoo.com (516) 828-6834
facebook: let’s doula this
destiny macri – mama macri doula services
certified birth doula
serving clarkrange, deer lodge, and crossville,tn
mamamacridoula@gmail.com (931) 319-8128
facebook: mamamacridoula instagram: mamamacridoula
emily leupold – dura mother
birth & postpartum doula and licensed massage therapist
serving putnam county and upper cumberland area, tn
duramother@gmail.com (615) 450-6502
instagram: duramotherbirth facebook: dura mother birth
hannah sevenich – golden hour doula services
certified birth doula
starting maternity leave in january 2026
serving wilson county to overton county
website: golden hour doula services
goldenhourdoulaa@gmail.com
facebook: golden hour doula services
jessa fraley. wild blessings doula
certified birth doula
serving livingston and cookeville areas
wildblessings.jessa@gmail.com (931) 644-6700
facebook: wild blessings doula
karah parkey – nurture postpartum care
certified postpartum doula
serving livingston and cookeville, tn
nurturepostpartumcaretn@gmail.com
laura swift – grammie doula
certified postpartum doula
serving jamestown, livingston, and cookeville, tn
website: grammiedoula.com
hello@grammiedoula.com +1 (540) 239-1866
facebook: grammie doula instagram: grammiedoula
i asked these middle tn doulas to share something they were thankful for after having their own babies and what piece of real advice would they like to share with newly postpartum moms.
becca’s advice: there is power in community, especially during postpartum!
one of the biggest surprises for many new moms is just how isolating the postpartum season can feel. between sleepless nights, constant feeding, and your body healing in ways you didn’t expect, it’s easy to feel like you’re running on empty. in our american culture, there’s often this unspoken pressure to do it all alone — to prove we’re capable and strong. but the truth is, motherhood was never meant to be a solo journey. we were designed for community. having people you can lean on — those who check in, listen without judgment, and show up when you need help — can make all the difference. whether it’s a friend who drops off dinner, a neighbor who folds laundry, or another mom who just gets it, these connections are what help us thrive, not just survive. if you can, start building those trustworthy relationships before your baby arrives. and if you’re already in the thick of it, know that it’s never too late to reach out. community is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself in motherhood.
one simple way to build that kind of honest support is by using a “1 to 10” check-in system with a trusted friend. send a quick text asking, “where are you today, 1 to 10?” if either of you responds with a four or below, that’s the cue for the other to come over, offer a hand, or just be present. it’s a stress-free, judgment-free way to stay honest about where you’re at and to remind each other that you don’t have to do this alone. community is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself in motherhood.”
danielle’s response. “i was thankful for all the postpartum freezer meals i prepped a couple months prior to having my babies.
the advice that i would give is make the meals your future self will love and thank you for later. also when making those postpartum meals, make them in as many throw away trays as you can. buy yourself and your family paper plates/cutlery/cups to make clean up easier after each meal.”
destiny’s response. “the things that i was grateful for the most when i gave birth to my son, was the family that i had to support me. my husband was there, he took such good care of me. my mother in law would come over and sweep my floors. my dad washed my dishes. my family was just there for me. my mom would cook for me. people would let me just spend time with my son and it was wonderful.
my advice to new moms is if someone in your family offers to help it’s okay to say YES. and sometimes it’s the greatest blessing to have someone to come and offer a helping hand. let them help you, and you enjoy those baby cuddles”.
emily’s response. “i was very thankful for my mom postpartum. each time she showed up exactly as i needed her! with my first, she watched him overnight, just waking me to feed him, so i could actually get some rest. with my second and third, she watched my older kids, and ran my house for two weeks. she handled bed times, meals, laundry, i didn’t have to do a thing!”
“make a plan for rest and let go of “bounce-back” culture. it’s fake and it steals the joy that comes from taking it slow in the newborn bubble.”
hannah’s response. “one thing i was thankful for during my postpartum was my husband! he was so hands on with everything! he was supportive, kind, patient and caring! he was involved in everything from making sure i had enough to eat to witnessing every single night feeding!
one piece of advice i give to postpartum mother: be patient with yourself! you just had a baby! that’s a major change in your body as it is in your mental/ spiritual state as well. you and baby are learning this new life together. have grace, you’re doing this and doing it well!
jessa‘s response. “during postpartum, i was thankful for meals brought over and dropped off by close friends and family. this allowed me to not only rest, but rest well. for nearly two weeks postpartum i did not have to think about meals and planning, nor did my husband. this gave me the capacity to focus on adjusting to a new baby, healing, and nutrition.”
“my advice for postpartum mommas is to plan ahead and plan for rest. i like to say to consider the “5-5-5” rule: 5 days in the bed, 5 days on the bed, 5 days near the bed. while this is not always achievable in this exact manner, it does shift your mindset prior to baby being born so that you can prepare to rest and heal. setting yourself up for those first days by making a postpartum cart, having comfy clothes, and gathering snacks, allows your body to heal, restore, and recover. “
karah’s response. the biggest thing i have been thankful for postpartum has been my amazing support system, especially my husband! he’s done an incredible job taking care of baby and me. i am so grateful for him.
my advice for other postpartum moms is to get out of the house and find community! joining moms groups, meeting with a friend, or even just going out for a walk around the park does wonders for my mood and the change of scenery can be amazing for babies who are prone to fussiness.
laura’s response. i had a group of 5 women that met weekly for Bible study. most of us were having babies around the same time and we took care of each other with frequent visits, phone calls, food delivered to the front door, and child care. but the best was the friendship that developed through that. i am thankful for each of these friends and we still keep in touch!
my advice would be to find your people, strong, supportive women. look in your neighborhood, the local church, coffee shops, the library, where you spend your time, the gym, mom’s groups, play groups, and stroller walks. i walked up to a very pregnant mama and said “i am pregnant too, we should be friends”. we laughed at how silly that sounded and we are still good friends.
would you like to know more about what a doula does? check out this blog post.
would you like more meal ideas to have on hand? postpartum meal ideas
more about grammie doula, a middle tn doula:
i offer in-person and virtual postpartum doula support in middle tennessee and my clients call me “grammie d.”. i have 25 years as a labor and delivery nurse and then 10 years as a birth photographer.
i am a mom to 3 grown children, 6 grandchildren and a baby in heaven. i live in a one story house with a view and long front porch with my gray-bearded husband and four pets that prefer his company over mine! ~laura
