Gainesville Doulas

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Holli Best

Holli is a DONA trained doula, with a background from the University of Missouri in Family Life Transitions and Child Development. She is also a preschool teacher, mother and birth educator caring for families since 2005. 

In 2005 she was trained and certified through DONA International. She spent a few years working at a birth center with midwives and doctors who were very intentional about holistic family care during parenting transitions. She is currently certified through Commonsense Childbirth in Orlando, FL.

Holli has a background in trauma and loss and has walked alongside women during miscarriage and adoption choices. Being a resource to offer choices, options and companion care. While this can be difficult to navigate, having a loss trained doula to walk alongside your family during such a difficult time can allow grief to happen in a protected space. 

Services: Birth Classes, Postpartum Consultations, Sibling Prep Classes, Home Birth Support, Hospital Birth Support, In Home Postpartum Care, Over-Night Care, Nursing Support, Infant Education.

Contact: 352-246-1590

hollibest@gmail.com

https://hollibest.wixsite.com/gainesville-doula

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Julia Rainer

Hey there! My name is Julia Rainer! I am a labor doula certified through DONA International. I am a mother of three beautiful girls. When describing myself I always tell people I am a lover of love! Before I knew what a doula was, I was already acting as one by holding space for women journeying through their birthing experience. When someone told me “ Julia, you should be a doula!” I hit the ground running 5 years ago and have been in love with helping women hold and sometimes create that sacred space of birth ever since. The name of my business is Create Space because where I am come from, sometimes we don’t have a peaceful place within ourselves to feel safe and secure to bring our babies into. It must then be created, and this is what I have a true passion for. I am a labor doula, but I also dabble in birth photography, sibling classes and up and coming Childbirth Education!

My email is empower.inspireforever@gmail.com

Facebook: Create Space

Instagram: @empower.inspire.forever

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Angela Daniel

Angela Daniel is a wife and mother to two awesome boys. She has always had a love for birth and discovered doulas when she became pregnant with her first son. It was after the birth of her first child that was long and challenging that she felt drawn to working with families as they prepare for the journey of parenthood. 

Angela is a dedicated birth and postpartum doula serving families in the Gainesville area. She holds a Master's of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville and is a DONA certified doula, ICEA Certified Childbirth Instructor, and a Certified Lactation Counselor.  Angela is actively involved in the birthing community and strives to stay up-to-date on the latest research and techniques surrounding labor and birth, as well as breastfeeding and baby care. 

Services Provided:

Birth Doula Support, Postpartum Doula Support, In-home Lactation Support, Childbirth Education

Contact Information:

Phone:  (352) 477-2139

Email: angela.fcbs@gmail.com

Website: www.FamilyCenteredBirthServices.com

Stephanie Romelus

Calm Presence. Grounded Support.

I believe that birth is a significant family milestone that deserves to be approached with confidence, clarity, and intentional support. My approach to doula care is centered on providing a steady, continuous presence for families in Gainesville and the Greater Alachua area. As a DONA-trained doula, my role is to provide the practical and emotional consistency you need to feel prepared as you lead your own birth story.

I am honored to bring my background as an Infant-Toddler Developmental Specialist to the families I serve. This allows me to offer a long-term perspective- helping you transition from the beauty of birth into the first milestones of your baby’s life with developmentally informed preparation. Whether we are walking through evidence-based prenatal education or honoring a faith-rooted birth plan, my goal is to cultivate a grounded, peaceful environment where your family can flourish.

At home in Gainesville, when I’m not supporting families, I am likely cooking, moving my body, or enjoying our community with my husband and our three children. My own journey through motherhood deeply informs the grace, intentionality, and steady presence I bring to yours.

Services Provided:

  • Hospital & Home Birth Doula Support, Birth Preference Planning Session, Developmentally Informed Newborn Prep

Contact:

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Amy Vaknin

My name is Amy Vaknin. I am a mother of four, a counselor, an educator, a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a woman. My connection with my woman identity is strong, and as I go through life experiences, I realize just how much women need other women to support them through our life cycles. 

I trained with DONA International in 2013 and have been practicing ever since then. I have a Masters/Specialist Degree School and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida. What I love about birth work is it gives me the opportunity to practice counseling in real time with real life experience. There is nothing better than to witness a woman learn to manage her anxiety/fears through her laboring process and be able to access her own internal warrior within. This is the true gift of birth work and I am humbled by it. Every. Single. Time. 

Services Provided: Birth Doula Support

Contact:

Phone: (407) 921-1474

Email: wisewarriordoula@gmail.com

Vanessa Valdes

Vanessa Valdes is a devoted community advocate and the owner of Prism Birth. Her path began as a Spanish teacher before shifting toward advocacy and, eventually, birthwork. In 2018, she stepped into the world of perinatal support, focusing on nervous system regulation and becoming a doula in 2019 through Jennie Joseph’s Commonsense Childbirth Institute.

Vanessa went on to study midwifery at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery and is honored to walk alongside families through one of life’s most transformative seasons. She is passionate about providing education, nurturing informed choices, and empowering families as they welcome new life.

 When she’s not supporting families, Vanessa can be found exploring Florida’s beautiful state parks, connecting with friends and loved ones, and drinking just one more cup of coffee… all day, every day.  

Services offered: Childbirth Education, Birth Doula Support and Placenta Encapsulation

Contact:

Email: info@vanessavaldes.com

Website: https://www.vanessavaldes.com/