Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your baby! My name is Areline Williams, and I am a Licensed Practical Nurse, Certified Birth Doula, Certified Childbirth Educator, and am certified in waterbirth. I am married and the mother of four children. I have been an LPN for almost 30 years. I began my nursing career in maternal child health and stayed there until I chose to stay at home with my children. I have worked all aspects of maternal child health including labor and delivery, newborn, pediatrics, and neonatal intensive care, with NICU being the area in which I stayed the longest in my career. In 1982, I began doing Doula work for family and friends. A Doula is a professional labor coach. When I decided to get back into the work force, I knew the demands of full time work would be too much for my family. That is when I learned about DONA International and decided to become a Certified Doula. I also received my Childbirth Educator certification from Prepared Childbirth Educators, Inc. and studied waterbirth with Barbara Harper. As part of the Sweet Child O’ Mine team, I attend births along with the Midwife to assist both the Midwife and the delivering mom.  In addition, I provide Doula services. I work with women during their pregnancy to formulate their personalized labor and birth plan. Then, I assist laboring moms through all of their labor and birth, whether they deliver at home or at the hospital. My philosophy is simple: I am here to support you no matter how you chose to birth. I will provide the physical, emotional and informational support you need to have the birth experience that you are looking for. I will support your decisions whether you have a medicated or un-medicated birth. This is your body, your baby and your birth!

Charlie Rae is a mother, doula, natural birth advocate, and aspiring midwife. A substandard birth experience opened Charlie’s eyes to the current crisis in America’s maternity care system. Shortly after, she began her work in the birth field with the Coalition for Improving Maternity Care Services (CIMS) as a grassroots ambassador for The Birth Survey. She has trained with the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) and works as a Birth Assistant for midwives in the area. Charlie plans to attend the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery with the goal of expanding and synthesizing her many areas of expertise. Charlie believes that women still have an innate ability to give birth without intervention and strives to make a positive difference in the total birth experience for new mothers.