Our Birth and Postpartum Doulas
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Joanne Dahill LMBT NC#458
Joanne’s pronouns are She/Her. Joanne was certified as a birth doula with DONA in 1999. Joanne’s goal as a doula is to reflect her clients’ unique strengths and capacities, to be a guide and resource, and to offer specific suggestions for greater comfort and ease. She draws on techniques learned through decades of work as a licensed massage and body therapist to bring greater comfort and aid with body alignment before, during, and after birth. By offering each family she serves individualized instruction in the TummyTime!™ Method and Baby’s First Massage®, she hopes to make the first days and weeks with a new baby easier for all. Joanne lives in Durham, as do her two daughters, their partners, and her magical, delightful grandson.
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Julie McBurney CD(DONA)
Julie’s pronouns are She/Her/They. Julie has attended births throughout the Triangle since 2005. The birth of her firstborn created a passion for birth and breastfeeding. Julie is a DONA Certified Birth Doula and has supported over 500 births. She has served her community as a credited breastfeeding leader for the last 16 years. Julie hopes to guide you through your journey into parenthood, as a Birth Doula, a Childbirth Educator, a IPPA Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, a Postpartum Doula, or a Bridge To Breastfeeding (Bodyfeeding) Facilitator. Julie lives in Raleigh with her husband, their two teenagers, and one young adult, along with their two dogs. When they aren’t out catching live music, they are at home playing games or curled up on the couch watching anime or a movie. Julie enjoys hiking with friends on the beautiful trails of the many parks in the Triangle or curling up with her dogs while reading a good book.
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Andrea Denali, NC LMBT #18346
Andrea’s pronouns are She/Her/They. Andrea is a mother of two amazing young adults and has been walking alongside families as a professional doula and childbirth educator since 2005. She offers holistic, experienced care in the childbearing years through unique prenatal classes, bodywork, birth doula care, and ongoing support postpartum. She practices also as an ALPP Certified Lactation Counselor, IPPA Trained Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, and Birthing From Within® Facilitator. Andrea is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist with private studios in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough (formerly with Restoring Balance). Her intention as a birth guide is to support the vibrant health of families as they navigate the unknown, easing the process of birthing + parenting in body, heart, and mind through deep connection and self-discovery.
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Johanna Wright
Johanna’s pronouns are She/Her. Johanna is a DONA Certified Birth Doula and has supported families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum since 2009. She has training and experience in a wide range of additional services, including sibling doula support, lactation support, belly binding, and postpartum care including overnight support. Clients often comment on her quiet, calm, and comforting presence. Her desire is to watch families grow in confidence and joy as they experience nurturing care through birth and parenting. Johanna lives in Mebane with her three children, cats, and dogs.
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Mariam Lam
Mariam’s pronouns are She/Her. Mariam is a DONA Certified Birth Doula and Certified Lamaze International Childbirth Educator. Mariam brings a “back-to-basics” approach utilizing traditional and proven physical and emotional support methods, along with hands-on prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum support. Her mission is to provide others with the prenatal, labor, and birth support everyone deserves. Mariam resides in Durham, with her husband and two children. She enjoys being near friends and family in her spare time, nature walks, crocheting, and cooking with her son.
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Devon Linton Handel
Devon’s pronouns are She/Her. Devon is a Birth Doula and Yoga Instructor. Devon has offered support for birthing people & their partners in the Triangle area since early 2014. Devon's passion is working with couples and people as a guide on the path to parenthood; helping to normalize & make special the pregnancy, labor, birth, and early postpartum experience. She brings a calming presence, knowledge, and experience with physiologic birth and evidence-based education. Devon is also certified in prenatal yoga and offers private sessions with clients in their homes. She lives in Pittsboro with her husband and their two daughters, dogs, cats, and backyard chickens.
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Raya Sagdejeva
Raya’s pronouns are She/Her. Raya, whose name rhymes with Maya, is DONA Certified and has offered Birth and Postpartum Doula support since 2019. She loves to help families navigate the challenges and anxieties that may arise during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. With her gentle guidance, clients find themselves well-prepared to welcome each new addition with confidence and joy. Raya also loves to watch new parents blossom as they learn to be experts in being their new baby's parents - and to help siblings become proud big brothers and sisters. Raya lives in Durham with her two daughters, whom she co-parents with their dad, and she loves her non-totally-traditional family very much.
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Meredith Wilkinson
Meredith's pronouns are they/them. Meredith is full-spectrum doula, trained by Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings, who accompanies birthing people and their families as they move through all kinds of reproductive transitions. Meredith has experience working with families birthing for the first time, as well as those adding additional children to their families. They have worked with individuals planning for VBACs, have supported inductions, medicated, and unmedicated labors, people who have experienced previous miscarriages, and others. As a non-binary birthworker, Meredith is passionate about supporting Queer folx seeking an advocate as they navigate the healthcare system and prepare for parenthood. Meredith lives with their partner and kitty, Nyx in Durham and enjoys spending time in the mountains and near bodies of water, camping, reading sci-fi books, and baking bread.
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Andrea Fowler
Andrea’s pronouns are She/Her. Andrea is a postpartum doula trained by DONA and a Certified Lactation Counselor. Andrea is enthusiastic about supporting all families as they navigate the many stages of parenthood from pregnancy through postpartum and during their lactation journeys. Andrea enjoys helping parents create plans for their physical recovery after birth, discover their own parenting style, adjust to life with a newborn while caring for older children, and set boundaries with postpartum visitors to prioritize the physical and emotional well-being of the birthing parent. She will support your lactation journey every step of the way, so that it can be beautiful whether it lasts 5 days, 5 weeks, 5 months, or 5 years. Andrea enjoys reading about lactation, parenting, historical fiction, and light fantasy. She likes playing board games with her husband and three children, going for family walks, and attending free outdoor events in Chapel Hill hosted by the public schools, library, and the town.
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Ikumi Chan
Ikumi’s pronouns are She/Her. Ikumi is a DONA-certified postpartum doula serving the community since 2020. Ikumi's involvement in this work stems authentically from her lived experiences. Following the birth of her second child, she experienced Perinatal Mood Disorder for several years. Her recovery process and training highlighted the importance of establishing a robust support system for postpartum parents. She is especially knowledgeable and compassionate about perinatal mental health. Ikumi aims to guide parents in mindfully creating a postpartum plan during pregnancy, equipping them with the right tools and support for the postpartum period. This includes providing nutritious meals to support the essential physical recovery and overall well-being of the birthing parent, as well as their families. Ikumi was born and raised in Japan. She lives in Hillsborough with her husband, who is very supportive of her work and who is originally from Hong Kong. They have three wonderful children and a sweet dog who is their forever baby. Ikumi enjoys walking on trails with her dog, as well as enjoying meals with her family.
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Emily Anderson
Emily’s pronouns are She/Her. Emily is a DONA-certified postpartum doula with thousands of hours supporting families with newborns. She also completed additional training in maternal mental health and lactation support. Emily strives to create a calm, supportive space where families feel cared for without judgment. Her goal is simple: to help every family feel confident, cared for, supported, and empowered in their parenting journey. Before becoming a postpartum doula, Emily spent 20 years working as a National Account Director supporting Fortune 500 clients. In 2021, she followed a long-standing passion for supporting postpartum mothers and their families and became DONA-certified as a Postpartum Doula. At Nurtured by Emily, she provides hands-on, personalized postpartum support tailored to your family's unique needs and parenting style. Emily is a wife, mother, and certified postpartum doula passionate about supporting families during the early weeks and months after birth. When she’s not working with clients, you’ll usually find her on the sidelines of her daughter’s soccer games, hiking local trails with their black lab, traveling, baking, and enjoying time with friends and family.
