Hello

I'm Rebekah a licensed massage therapist, birth activist, founder of Birthing Well, and mother of 10 kids (yes, I gave birth to them all myself). I love children and birth and have been working in this field for 30 years. I believe that every woman should have the support she needs mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to birth well. Opening this center will help moms have access to resources.

My Story

Reclaiming Your Birth Journey

Over the past century, maternity care has shifted dramatically. What was once intimate, personalized care with strong community support has become increasingly clinical and rushed. Today's healthcare providers often manage hundreds of patients, leaving little time for the individualized attention and comprehensive education expectant families truly need.

I learned this the hard way.

When my first child was born prematurely, I thought I'd done everything right—childbirth classes, good birth location, all the standard preparations. Yet I felt completely blindsided and unprepared for what actually happened. The depression that followed was isolating and overwhelming. It took six months before I could even leave the house and connect with other moms who helped me find my way back to joy.

That experience opened my eyes to a painful truth: too many mothers are saying, "I wish I had known—I would have made different choices." They feel inadequately educated, blindsided by their birth experience, and isolated during recovery when they need support most.

Your Safe Haven for Joyful Pregnancy and Birth

This is exactly why I created this space. As Maya Angelou said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." My mission is to help you get the information and support you need—because when one mom's course shifts for the better, it affects her whole family for generations.

When you walk through our doors, I want you to know: I've been in a similar space before. I've learned skills to help me navigate this journey, and you can too. Here, you'll find a welcoming community where you're valued, supported, and empowered with the knowledge you need to make confident decisions.

Because there can be joy in the journey—even when it doesn't go as planned.

Education and Experience:

Education:

Postpartum Support International Provider • June 2024

Mental Health First Aid Trainer • May 2024

Upledger CST for Pregnancy/Birth/Postpartum • Sept 2023

Upledger Somatic Emotional Release • July 2023

Licensed Massage Therapist • Sept 2022

Upledger Cranial Sacral Trained • Aug 2022

Nashville School of Massage Therapy Franklin, TN • Apr 2022

Cumberland Institute for Holistic Therapies Franklin, TN • Jan 2022

ALPP Certified Lactation Counselor • Aug 2020

Healthy Children Project Lactation Counselor Course • May 2020

DONA Birth Doula Certified • Feb 2017

Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education,

Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Dec 1996

Mediation 101: Become a Peacemaker in your home, workplace, and community • Aug 2021

St. Thomas Hospital OR Certified Doula • Apr 2021

Advanced Spinning Babies Workshop • Dec 2020

Wise Woman Herbal Workshop for Midwives and Birthkeepers • Oct 2020

Spinning Babies Workshop • May 2020

Rock the World Attachment Parenting/ La Leche League Conference • Nov 2019

Evidence Based Birth Conference • Sep 2019

Evaluation of the First 100 Hours: Optimizing Mother-Baby Transitions in the Early Postpartum • July 2019

Beautiful Midwifery Conference • Apr 2019

Penny Simkin: Birth Trauma • Apr 2019

Claudia Booker: Racial Disparity • Apr 2019

Melan Smith-Francis: Barriers to Care for Women of Color • Apr 2019

Ina May Gaskin: Emotions at Birth Course • Aug 2018

Beautiful Midwifery Conference and Workshops • Apr 2018

Mary Cooper: Sacred Ground of Birth • Apr 2018

Carol Gautschi: Alternative Therapies

Taylor Broggie: Pelvic Floor Restoration and Alignment for Birth

Spinning Babies Workshop • May 2016

Premier Birth Tool Peanut Ball Training • 2016

Baby Loss Family Advisors • Oct 2015

Gena Kirby Rebozo Training • Jan 2014

DONA Birth Doula Training • Oct 2012

Experience:

TN Doulas Association President • March 2023 to Present

Massage Therapist at 100% Chiropractic • October 2022 to Jan 2024

Volunteer Centennial Hospital Doula • May 2018 to 2020

Blissful Birthing Private Doula Agency • Jan 2013 to Present

Nashville BirthNetwork Co-Leader • Oct 2013 to Feb 2017

Volunteer Vanderbilt Hospital Doula • April 2013 to July 2018

TN Solo Doula Practice • May 2006 to Jan 2013

TX Solo Doula Practice • 1999 to 2006

KY Solo Doula Practice • 1995 to 1999

UT Solo Doula Practice • 1993 to 1995

Teaching:

Developed and Recorded Baby Loss Class for AimHiTN Doula Cohort • May 2022

Developed and Taught Postpartum Doula Training Course • October 2020 to Present

Starting a Business Skills
Realities of Postpartum Doula Practice
Newborn Care Skills
Pump and Bottle Maintenance
Sanitary Procedures
Charting & Record Keeping
Managing The Client Interview
Developed and Taught Doula Training Course • Aug 2018 to Present
Business Skills
Realities of Doula Practice
Advanced Doula Skills

Resolving Conflict in the Birth Room

Managing The Client Interview

Developed and Taught Rebozo Training Course • Sep 2014 to Present

Basic Techniques for Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum

Spouse Support Skills

Breech and Occiput Posterior Techniques

Developed and Taught Childbirth Education Courses • Apr 2014 to Present

Developed and Taught Baby Loss Doula Training Course • Jan 2018 to Present

Accomplishments:

Organized and Led 2024 TN Doula Conference • October 2024
Featured positions in "The Peanut Ball Book" • Jan 2022
Baby supplies donation drives for Mother2Mother • Aug 2021
Coordinate with local hospitals about doula policies during covid • Mar 2020 to 2022
Home and Hospital Births at Rock the World Attachment Parenting/ La Leche League Conference • Nov 2019
Breech Babies at Evidence Based Birth Conference • Sep 2019
Rebozo Reborn at Beautiful Midwifery Conference • Apr 2019
Advocate for Yourself at Tennessee College of Applied Technology OB Symposium • Mar 2019
Collaborated with nurses, administration, and educators to create volunteer doula program at Centennial Women’s Hospital • May 2018 to Present
Developed Prepared Families Event • Jul 2018
Prepared resource binders for labor floors of 13 area hospitals • Nov 2016 to Present
Mentored developing doulas • 2014 to Present
Administrated Facebook Groups for Moms and Birth Professionals • 2013 to present
Birth Workers Networking Events • 2013 to 2018
Organized and conducted annual Empower Your Birth conference • 2013 to 2017
Raised funds to donate peanut ball sets to 14 area hospitals • Aug 2016 to Jan 2017
Consulted to improve loss support at Vanderbilt Medical Center and Nashville General Hospital • Nov 2015 to May 2016
Changed Tennessee law to support parents’ rights to decline newborn erythromycin ointment • Jan 2016 to May 2016
Organized and led Labor Day Rallies • Oct 2013 to Feb 2017
Facilitated meetings to establish refugee birth support program • Nov 2013 to Jan 2016
Donated books and media to establish a birth library to Baby + Co Birth Center • Jan 2016
Monthly parent education nights • 2013 to 2016
Set up a toll-free parents’ support number for the Nashville Birth Network • Dec 2015
Hosted Enhancing Loss Care class for hospital staff from Vanderbilt, Centennial, St. Thomas, Baby and Co., and Nashville General Women’s Hospital • Nov 2015
Raised funds to buy a CuddleCot for use in area hospitals • Aug 2015 to Nov 2015
Meet the Childbirth Educators Event • Nov 2014 to Nov 2015
Funded a scholarship to sponsor training courses for 6 loss doulas • Oct 2015
Organized and led ImprovingBirth.org Rallies • Aug 2013 to Sep 2015
Birthed 10 children naturally • Aug 1994 to Oct 2014
Personal Vaginal Breech Births in 1996 and 2014
Managed Mentor Moms program to pair expectant mothers with more experienced mothers for support • Oct 2013 to May 2014
Hosted midwife appreciation day with Healthy and Free TN organization • Mar 2014
Created a birth plan template for the use of WIC and refugee organizations • Jan 2014