Our Fundamental Principles.

Doulas of PG County was built and is guided by a practical and ethical responsibility to families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Our foremost goal is to support confident women and families and help them to grow and thrive. We do this by providing expert support and dedication for each and every client that we serve. Guided by these first two objectives, our final stone in laying our foundation is the acknowledgement that black women across America are dying at rates 60% higher than white women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. While hiring a doula statistically shows people have better birth outcomes and can bridge the gap between care providers and families during the postpartum period, we are aware we cannot broadly effect maternal and neonatal health disparities. We feel it is our ethical responsibility to support our individual clients and to contribute to our broader community by donating a percentage of our income to non-profits who are dedicated to solving these disparities and keeping black women and babies healthy, heard, and safe.   

Support Confident Women and Families.

Doulas of Prince George's County provides personalized physical, emotional,  and educational guidance for women and families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. Working as your dedicated support team, we promise to be with you answering questions, confirming your instincts, and most importantly, leaving you feeling confident that you've got this! 

Provide Dedicated Expertise.

Doulas of PG County is made up of a group of highly trained, local women who are ready to help you navigate your options, including relationships with your doctors, hospitals, and community. We want to help bridge the gap to better care, more options, and access to the tools needed to help you reach your birth and parenting goals. 

God Forbid Guarantee.

Doulas of Prince George’s County is committed to supporting new parents in all stages of pregnancy, labor and postpartum. This also includes events of loss or miscarriage. God forbid you experience either of these tragedies, we will refund your payment in full. We will still provide contracted services as outlined and provide referrals as needed. 

Jacquelin Knighton

owner, birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, placetna Encapsulation Specialist

Jacquelin is an Owner and Regional Outreach Director of Doulas of PG County. She has been supporting women and families for over 4 years, and has two children of her own. Jacquelin originates from Columbus, Ohio and has a Bachelors degree in Sociology. She worked in Child Welfare for 7 years before making the career change to maternal and infant health. Jacquelin's own birth experiences with her son being born via Cesarean and daughter being born via VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) are what caused her career change and interest to infant and maternal health.

Jacquelin focuses on educational, emotional and physical support for her clients and wants your birth experience to be one where, ultimately, you felt supported.

Emily smith

owner, birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, placenta encapsulation specialis

Emilys’ background as a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and placenta encapsulation specialist since 2008 has given her unique insights into the challenges that new parents face in the DMV. Emily has a B.S in Anthropology from Florida State University. 

If you peered into Emily's life you'd see her binge watching Netflix with her husband, Jack, and a glass of red wine; spending time with her four children, Elora, Luca, Nico, and Apollo, her cat Patience and dog Chianti; planning a trip to see her family in North Carolina or Pennsylvania; or working with her other agency, Doulas of Capitol Hill.   

Charnise Littles

ibclc, birth doula

Charnise has over 4 years experience in maternal and child health, including 3 years of providing lactation support. She earned her Bachelors in Health Science and Health Education from Howard University and is currently pursuing a Master In Public Health from The George Washington University.  Charnise is passionate about providing culturally competent care to all the families she serves! One of her biggest challenges was finishing undergraduate studies while working two jobs and breastfeeding!

Celina Sargusingh

birth doula, newborn care specialist, childbirth educator

Celina was raised in Prince George’s County and currently resides there with her husband and 2 children. Through her years of work in family child care and college health, she has been honored to work in service to people from every demographic, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic background. Celina is a doula trained through DONA International. She is passionate about the miracle of birth, and empowering women and their partners to achieve their desired birth experience. She will help her clients with unbiased kindness, compassion and a healthy dose of humor. She will provide her clients with continuous physical, emotional and informational support throughout the transformational experience of birth.

Rose Mwobobia

Birth Doula, Postpartum doula, certified lactation educator

Rose is a native of Kenya but currently resides in Washington DC. She has over 20 years of experience working with mothers, newborns and families both in Kenya and the greater DC area. The love and satisfaction she receives from working with children and new parents motivated her to pursue a career as a postpartum doula. In 2018, she became a DONA International certified postpartum doula. She found her career to be rewarding and has since become a certified breastfeeding educator through Birth Art International. Additionally, Rose holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Virginia Community College.  As a postpartum doula her role is to provide education, non- judgmental support and companionship. Rose offers evidence- based information on infant feeding, newborn care, infant soothing, emotional and physical recovery from birth, coping skills for new parents, family adjustment, meal and snack preparation and light household tasks. Rose enjoys watching documentaries on Netflix, hiking, and running.

Ella Mink

Birth doula, Newborn Care specialist, Placenta encapsulator

Ella is a birth doula trained through Center of Excellence. She is currently attending classes at George Mason University with the goal to become a certified nurse-midwife. Ella has been involved with childcare, babysitting, andy nannying for many families including those with special needs children. Having a positive water birth with her daughter has inspired Ella to help other women love their birth experience. Ella believes that a mother knows best for herself and her child(ren) and that her role as a doula is to support whatever those decisions may be. Ella’s biggest value in being a doula is listening. She hopes you feel seen and heard as well as supported and respected during this time no matter what your situation or background.

Renee Goodman

Birth doula, newborn care specialist

Renee is a native Prince Georgian and mom of three beautiful children, her own experiences and trauma during childbirth inspired her work in the birth industry. Renee believes that childbirth is a sacred experience and that our past, present, and futures are in each individual birth.

Renee is a DONA trained Birth Doula, where the curriculum included breastfeeding support, childbirth education, and physical comfort measures. Prior to Birth Doula training Renee has spent the past 20 years as an administrator in the field of healthcare research, her experience and appreciation for evidenced based healthcare informs her approach to Birth Doula care and advocacy for maternal health. Renee’s experience with diverse populations supports an experience to use her trained skills and natural talents to support all birthing families. 

Jada Gainer

BIRTH DOULa, POSTPARTUM DOULA, Certified Lactation Support Counselor, placenta Encapsulator

Jada knew from the first day of her birth doula training with Debra Pascali-Bonaro that she would find so much joy and fulfillment as a birth worker. Alarmed by the maternal mortality rates of Black women, Jada majored in psychology with the intention of becoming a prenatal and postpartum therapist but was inspired to train as a doula by her great grandmother.

Jada heavily emphasizes education, empowerment, choice and accountability in her doula practice, wanting to provide families with the best tools to feel confident making decisions and communicating them as well as holding herself and others accountable in providing the best support during labor and delivery and postpartum. She’ll also always come with words of affirmation, helpful tips and tricks and a few good stories to make you laugh.

If Jada isn’t supporting a client, you’ll likely find her watching Real Housewives of Potomac, playing with her dogs, Kanye and Saint, or completing the steps to becoming a midwife.

Natalie Crane

Birth doula, POSTPARTUM DOULa, Newborn care specialist

Natalie was born and raised in Texas and recently moved to the DMV area in 2023. She has over 15 years of childcare experience in professions ranging from babysitting, nannying, doula work, and even helping teach in the preschool setting. Her transition to doula work full-time has since then been a dream come true.

Her passion for doula work began when she realized that there was a lack of additional support for birthing people or babies beyond the birth room. She acknowledges this disparity and seeks to remedy it by offering continual unwavering support for clients of all backgrounds for as long as they need. Natalie is heavily focused on providing care to communities who are underrepresented or feel neglected by the modern day healthcare system.

Natalie is pursuing certification of birth and postpartum work through DONA International and offers evidence-based information on all things baby, parent, and birth or postpartum related. You can expect her to be an honest communicator, empathetic listener, and personal cheerleader during her time with you. Her goal when working with your family is for you to be seen, heard, and respected while feeling empowered in making choices that work best for your family.

Jewel-Joye Walker

Postpartum Doula

Jewel was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Prince George’s County. While attending Howard University she worked with young children in early learning centers. From there she transitioned into private childcare. As a nanny, Jewel was able to cultivate close bonds with the families she cared for by providing compassionate nonjudgmental support.  After years of being a nanny, she realized that she wanted to do even more to help new parents feel more comfortable in their new roles.  Jewel has been a Birth Doula and Newborn Care Specialist since 2016. 

Over the last seven years Jewel has gained invaluable knowledge about the care of newborns and infants. She has encountered many different experiences working in this field resulting in a wide range of skills. She’s cared for preemies, multiples, babies with reflux, and so many more! When working with clients, Jewel believes it is important to listen to their concerns and needs while addressing them directly but gently. Jewel is passionate about birth work and supporting parents during the postpartum period and beyond. When she isn’t supporting new parents, you can find Jewel curled up reading a book and spending time with her husband and son.

Jessica Faulkner

Birth and Postpartum

Jessica is a born and raised doula from Maryland. She has gained a renewed since of her work from 2022-2023 as a traveling birth doula learning about different practices surrounding birth. She now is transitioning back to Maryland for 2024 to support the wide DMV area. Through her 5 years of being a birth doula and yoga instructor to now a postpartum doula, she has discovered ultimately, trusted and wholesome care is a priority to her services. She is passionate about helping families and bringing balance to them throughout the care of the birthing persons' experience. Jessica is also certified through DONA International.

Genesha Michelle

Birth Doula

Genesha is a certified birth doula and yoga teacher. Her personalized approach centers on body awareness, stress management, and mindful movement. She is committed to personal and collective healing and is honored that you are considering her to join you on your sacred journey of parenthood.

Genesha is a natural caregiver, supporting friends and family members in their pregnancy, birth, and baby care since girlhood. She offers clients a calming, grounded presence and advocacy tools. She aims to remind people of their innate power and resources to usher in their ideal labor and birth experience. She incorporates breathing, visualization, sound, and massage to comfort and support families navigating this momentous transformation and honors all birthing preferences.

She has a professional background in pediatric care and early childhood development. She is originally from Wisconsin and calls on her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to help promote healthy conversation and dynamics within care teams.

Porsha Mitchell

Postpartum Doula

Porsha was born in Washington, DC and raised in Prince George’s County, MD. She has always had a passion for caring for others and being of service. She began her study in Child Development at Largo High School, and by her senior year she began a half day work program in which she went to school in the morning and worked in a childcare center in the afternoon. She continued her education at Prince George’s Community College in Early Childhood Education specializing in infant and toddler care. In 2020, Porsha transitioned from working in centers to in-home nanny care where she was able to cultivate wonderful relationships with families in MD and DC that she is still in touch with today.

Porsha had accumulated 10 years of childcare experience, in pursuit of elevating her career and her realm of care. In 2022 Porsha took a course from a DONA certified instructor and IBCLC to become a postpartum doula. Porsha is currently working on her certification through DONA international and is also CPR certified.

Her goal is to help birthing people and families to experience a wonderful and supported fourth trimester!

Megan Milbrand

Postpartum Doula

Beginning with her brother, Megan has cared for newborns for over two decades. After her journey to the DMV, she began growing her own family with her husband. After overcoming the challenging (and rewarding!) newborn chapter, Megan returned to work in human resources, but felt that something was missing. Here, she knew her purpose had changed forever, and felt the calling to help new parents regardless of their situation, beliefs, or background.

Trained through DONA International as a postpartum doula, Megan is committed to being the calm in your storm. She particularly values two-way communication and active listening to understand the unique situations of those she supports. Most importantly, she believes the hope of our society depends on the next generation, and ushering in the next generation with care, love, and respect are the most crucial part.