Meet Our Doulas

Mari-Elena Leckel

Founder/Labor and Postpartum & Infant Care/VBAC Specialist/Labor and Postpartum & Infant Care Doula Trainer/Infant Feeding Specialist/CBE/CLC /Yoga Teacher

Mari-Elena Leckel is extremely passionate about supporting, educating, and empowering families during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. She was born in New York and is the oldest of three children. Mari became a mother at a young age and met her husband when her daughter was seven years old. With the love and support of her husband and family, and her determination to succeed, she decided to go back to school and went on to graduate from Tufts University with a degree in Sociology. Upon receiving her degree, she began working in law enforcement.

Mari and her husband decided in 2009 to expand their family but were challenged by infertility issues. The next few years were filled with a multitude of doctor visits, moments of excitement and also heartbreak. In 2012, she gave birth to her second daughter and because of the tremendous amount of love and support throughout her journey, she wanted to “somehow, give that back.”  She completed trainings as a Childbirth Educator, Labor and Postpartum Doula through CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), Dancing For Birth™ Instructor, Belly Binding Artist and Child Passenger Safety Technician.  She received her Certification in Lactation Counseling and is certified by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Procedure.  Mari is also a Certified Labor and Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, Certified Labor & Postpartum Doula Trainer  and Infant Feeding Specialist and completed the Labor Doula Masterclass to become a VBAC Specialist through ProDoula.  She has been featured in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine’s “Ask the Experts”, The Boston Globe, written a blog for Motherly “A Pep Talk to Mamas during Coronavirus”  and facilitated a workshop on running a successful doula agency at the 2017 annual ProDoula Conference.  In 2018 Mari was invited by a Massachusetts hospital to provide a training to their labor and delivery staff on comfort measures in labor.   Mari received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification in May 2019 and helped to create and name the “Doc & Doula” Podcast. She was the Director of Doula Services and built a successful doula agency for Acelleron Maternal Health & Wellness until the company decided to close their doors in October 2017.  Mari and her team had a passion and commitment to continue to support families and Boston Birth Associates was born.

The journey to motherhood is different for everyone but Mari believes every mother and family deserve to be loved, encouraged, educated, and empowered with non-judgmental and unconditional support. Mari considers it an honor and privilege to work with families during such intimate and special moments.

Nicolette Moisan

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Infant Feeding Specialist/Childbirth Educator/Sleep Specialist/Team Coordinator/Client Relations

Nicolette Moisan has always felt a strong connection with babies and children in all lines of her work. When she realized the impact she had on helping parents, she found her true passion. Nicolette attended Regis College and later SNHU for Psychology, focusing on Mental Health & Substance Abuse. She went on to be a career childcare provider, as well as answering crisis calls for mental health and substance abuse patients. When Nicolette came across the profession of “all things doula”, she knew it was a perfect marriage between empowering parents to confidently bring babies into this world and being able to provide care for them once they bring their baby home! Through ProDoula, Nicolette is a certified Labor and Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, Infant Feeding Specialist, and Childbirth Educator. Through certification in Pediatric Sleep at SleepSavvy, she is inspired to work as a Sleep Specialist. With this, she will support families in balancing the parents’ need for sleep and mental wellness with the baby’s needs. Nicolette cannot wait to provide all of these non-judgmental services to families as well as ensure they will feel comfortable and supported in such a special time of their lives.

Martha Bishop

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/CLC/Educator

Martha Bishop was raised in Wayland and Framingham MA and then moved out to Western MA for college and stayed for 30 years!  Her first job was as a neighborhood babysitter and that’s when her life-long interest in babies and children began. She worked as a child-care provider for 12 years before taking a side step into the world of corporate sales for many years.  Fortunately, she was able to step away from that and get back to her true love of caring for babies and families with young children.  Although Martha has no children of her own, she does have nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and even a great grandnephew, in her life.

Martha trained as a Labor Doula in 2015 and is certified through ProDoula.  She trained and certified as a Postpartum & Infant Care Doula through ProDoula in 2017.  Martha is also certified through AALP as a Lactation Counselor.  She is currently working on certification as a Childbirth Educator through ProDoula and recently became a massage therapist.

Martha has a passion and is excited to help support and educate expecting and new families during this important life transition.

Reanna Murphy

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator/CLC/IFE/VBAC Specialist
Reanna has a strong passion for supporting and instilling confidence in families. After the birth of her first daughter, she truly understood the importance of being there in such a pivotal moment for others. As a new parent she was at the forefront of the many challenges one experiences after having a baby. Reanna found her support when she discovered a local new moms group. She finally realized she was not alone on her journey in motherhood. This is when she knew what she was meant to do! As her family continued to grow, her and her husband welcomed another daughter. Throughout her journey of expanding her family, she has also experienced loss. Despite her heartbreak, she has been an incredible advocate for families dealing with loss and wants others to know they are not alone. Reanna is a certified Labor and Postpartum & Infant Care Doula. She is also a Certified Lactation Counselor and co-facilitates the New Mom’s Group for Boston Birth Associates. Reanna is continuously excited to help families with unbiased support.

Rosemarie Tieri

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Childbirth Educator
Rosemarie Ward Tieri was born and raised in England in the countryside northwest of London. She has always had a passion working with infants. Rosemarie completed a degree in Maternal Child Welfare at Stamford College of Further Education, Lincolnshire, England. She started babysitting for local families at the age of 12. After college, she became a Nanny to a family in England. After emigrating to the USA, Rosemarie continued working as a Nanny for several years. She then worked as an infant teacher in several daycare centers, including supervising and becoming an Assistant Director. Over the years, she has worked in early education in different day care centers, nursery schools and also a Montessori school. After years of working in an office she decided to go back to what she loves, caring for and supporting new families and babies. Rosemarie became a certified ProDoula Labor, Postpartum & Infant Care Doula and Childbirth Educator. She looks forward to supporting your growing family. Rosemarie has three adult children and in her free time enjoys kayaking, painting, drawing, walks, hikes, spinning, (Peloton), and traveling.

 

Alexandra Crafts (Lexie)

Postpartum & Infant Care/ Certified HypnoBirthing Educator/CLC/Prenatal Fitness Specialist

Alexandra Crafts (Lexie) was born and raised in Massachusetts where she still lives with her husband Rob and their three children. Lexie noticed a difference in her entire pregnancy and labor experience during her second pregnancy when she added HypnoBirthing, a doula for support, and weekly fitness classes to her routine. She wanted to educate herself and others on the benefits of exercising safely during pregnancy. In 2017 she got certified as a Prenatal Fitness Specialist through AFPA and soon after received her group fitness certification through The American Council on Exercise!

Lexie also got trained as a postpartum doula in 2018 and has been certified as a HypnoBirthing educator through The HypnoBirthing Institute! She is so excited to be continuing as a postpartum doula and teach the HypnoBirthing course at Boston Birth Associates! HypnoBirthing changed Lexie’s whole perspective of labor and birth and she is ecstatic to be able to help others experience the empowering and peaceful experience of a natural birth using the evidence based practice of HypnoBirthing!

Ayla Hull

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator/Postpartum Placenta Specialist/VBAC Specialist
Ayla’s interest in birth work was sparked at the age of 12 when she supported a family before and after the arrival of their twins. Even at that young age, she felt honored to be invited into that intimate and powerful transition.
With a compassionate and evidence-based approach, Ayla supports clients without bias or judgment in choosing the care best suited to their unique family. She is trained and certified as a Labor Doula, Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, and Postpartum Placenta Specialist, has completed the Labor Doula Masterclass to become a VBAC Specialist through ProDoula with additional training supporting clients through cesarean birth, gestational diabetes, baby feeding, NICU experiences, bereavement and loss, mental health, and self-advocacy. She is currently in school pursuing her nursing degree to go on to become a midwife.
As BBA’s Postpartum Placenta Specialist, Ayla provides placenta encapsulation services, as well as tinctures, placenta prints, and cord keepsakes. She also offers 1:1 belly binding sessions to support healing after birth.
Additional Training & Development:
– Bereavement & Loss
– Formula Feeding
– Cesarean Birth Support
– Gestational Diabetes
– Supporting NICU Families
– Mental Health Emergencies
– Patient rights
– Supporting past birth trauma
– Supporting LGBTQ families
– Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders

Rachel Echeveri

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator/IFE/VBAC Specialist

Rachel Echeveri is a mother to a spirited 7 year old daughter. She was inspired by her 15 years of experience as a professional early educator to support families more intimately. Rachel enjoyed the deep connections formed with the families of her students, and the teamwork atmosphere of a classroom. She also studied Art Education at the Massachusetts College of Art. She became enthralled with birth work and fell in love with helping parents feel empowered and lift up their voices.

Rachel is a Certified Labor Doula and Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, has completed the Labor Doula Masterclass to become a VBAC Specialist through ProDoula . She is also a Childbirth Educator and Infant Feeding Educator. Rachel also teaches Newborn Care and Breastfeeding classes for Boston Birth Associates. Rachel’s interpersonal skills and caregiving nature always puts her doula clients at ease. In her free time Rachel enjoys biking, hiking, yoga, reading, baking and creating artwork. She looks forward to providing your family with nonjudgmental and evidenced based support!

Abby MacMillan

Certified Fertility Doula
Abby was born and raised in Northern Massachusetts. She graduated from Plymouth State
University with a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Communication and decided to settle in Southern New Hampshire after graduation. She went on to pursue a 10-year career in Project Management before making the decision to step away from the corporate world to raise her daughter. Personal experience led Abby to develop an interest in women’s health and fertility. After navigating personal health struggles, Abby pursued the guidance of both Eastern and Western medicine to heal herself to achieve optimal health for conception. She quickly learned how complex women’s fertility truly is. This inspired her to continue her education and help the community!
Through years of trial and error, Abby was able to balance her own hormones and optimize her
personal fertility to achieve a successful pregnancy. She instantly became the go-to person for everyone in her life who was trying to conceive. Abby loves exploring the delicate process of “TTC” (trying to conceive) and thoroughly enjoys being a non-judgemental support to families during this special time.
Abby is a Certified Fertility Doula through The Midwifery Institute and she is incredibly
passionate about educating clients on healthy fertility and supporting them through the journey
of starting or adding to their families.

Kate Racca

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator
Kate Racca has a strong belief system that “It Takes a Village”. Her hard work and determination led her full circle to become a Certified Labor Doula and Certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, through ProDoula.
Kate began her education in Rhode Island, studying nursing, in the hopes to become a nurse midwife. She completed her clinical rotations in Geriatrics and Postpartum. As things turned out, she changed her major to education and transferred to Lesley College, where she obtained her degree in education. After years of teaching in the Lawrence schools and loving it, her passion for caring for others outweighed her love for teaching. She obtained her Certified Nursing Assistant and PCA Credentials and began working with the elderly community. Never losing her deep desire to work with mothers and infants, Kate fulfilled her dream to become a doula.
Her love for helping others and giving of herself, is one of her finest qualities. Kate takes pride in the fact that she gives 100% of herself to everything she does in her life and does it with LOVE.
Kate lives with her devoted husband of 25 years. Together with her husband, they created the most amazing, blended family! Kate is excited for the future of her growing family and the prospect of someday having little feet pitter-pattering around the house again.
She feels blessed to have come full circle. With her passion to serve others she enjoys every step of the way while supporting her clients!

Alexa Goldin

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator

Alexa Goldin was born and raised in San Francisco and moved to Boston in 2015. She got her start caring for families and their children when she herself was a child! Alexa was drawn to babies at a very young age and always asked parents if she could help care for their little ones. After studying theatre arts at the University of Oregon and multi-subject education at Mills College, Alexa found her calling as a doula when a colleague asked her to support her twin birth. Since then, Alexa has trained as a Certified Labor Doula through ProDoula, DONA, and BEST. She is also a Certified Postpartum & Infant Care Doula through Prodoula, and is a LacPro with Go Milk Yourself. Alexa is currently studying to become a CLC and provide full-spectrum support to all types of families. In addition to being a doula, Alexa is an avid knitter and loves the theatre. She enjoys using her knowledge of the arts in any way she can while supporting births (singing/dancing to alleviate discomfort or as a distraction, if necessary, or finding creative ways to support). Alexa lives with her husband, daughter, and their dog, Whiskey.

Bianca Curtis

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator

Bio coming soon!

Mayrenis Javier

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator/VBAC Specialist
Mayrenis Javier has always had an intense interest in the birth world. Her appreciation grew into a successful career shortly after the birth of her first child. Her knowledge and confidence drew family and friends close to Mayrenis for advice, and education. Coming from a background in dentistry, she found her passion in pregnancy, breastfeeding and newborn care! Mayrenis is a Certified Labor Doula and Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, has completed the Labor Doula Masterclass to become a VBAC Specialist through ProDoula and is currently studying to become a CLC. She is dedicated to providing reliable and comforting care to all of her clients. Mayrenis takes great pride in providing families with unbiased and unconditional support. When she is not supporting her clients, she enjoys spending time with her family!

Caitlin Darisse

Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator

Caitlin was born and raised in northern Vermont.  She graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and Global Studies. Since then she has worked in higher education and with nonprofits, and she spent the last 12 years specializing in knowledge management and organizational learning. 

 

Caitlin and her husband have two daughters, eight years apart in age. They were fortunate to have labor and postpartum doula support for their younger daughter, and the experience was so transformational that Caitlin made a career change in order to pursue work as a doula.  She is a certified ProDoula Postpartum & Infant Care Doula and is studying to become a Certified Lactation Counselor. 

 

She is passionate about maternal health, and specifically maternal mental health.  She strongly believes that prenatal, labor, and postpartum support helps parents gain confidence and thrive during such a tremendous and complex life transition.  She is committed to providing non-judgmental and evidence-based support, information, and peace of mind to all of her clients.

Kaleigh Selan

Labor/Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator/Sleep Consultant

Kaleigh Selan has always had a passion for helping others but truly found her calling after having her first child. Having personal experience with some of the challenges of early motherhood, she dove into the birth world and never looked back! She has a strong passion for helping other women thrive through the transition into motherhood and beyond. She strongly believes the better supported women are, the stronger and healthier they are, too. Her natural empathetic nature has led to a love of deep connections, unbiased support and compassionate care for her clients.

Kaleigh is certified as a Labor and Postpartum & Infant care Doula. She is also a Certified Childbirth Educator and Infant Sleep Consultant – because everyone’s life is better with some knowledge and a little sleep! Kaleigh has spent the last 14 years moving around the states as an active-duty military spouse and is thrilled to be making Boston their final home! She and her husband have four amazing children and two ‘old timer’ dogs. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hanging out with her family and traveling! She is excited to support your family during this special time!

Nancy Saperstone

Postpartum & Infant Care/Educator/Infant Massage

Nancy is a certified ProDoula Postpartum & Infant Care Doula. She is also trained by Infant Massage USA on the practice and benefits of infant massage and loves all things baby! After raising three (now grown) children of her own, she
understands the challenges caregivers face with their babies and is looking to ease the struggles of the first year. Nancy’s professional career includes 30 years in Human Resources, and she graduated with a M.Ed. in Health Promotion and a B.S. in Human Development, both from Vanderbilt University.  She looks forward to supporting and educating expecting and new families!