Melissa Yates

Kiwi Bird Doula

Hi, thanks for checking out my site. I love that you are considering doula support! I am a certified birth and postpartum doula, birth assistant, and lactation counselor.

It’s an honor to support families through all aspects of pregnancy, labor & birth, the postpartum period, and beyond.

Kiwi Bird Doula…odd name. I’m sure you’re curious. Scroll down to learn more.

I grew up in Illinios and met my hubby, Craig, in college. We spent 17 years in New Zealand (where he is from) and began raising our family. We have 2 sons via international adoption and a daughter conceived using IVF. In 2005, we moved to central Florida to be near my family. After spending the majority of my parenting years as a home schooling mom and taxi driver to our kids who were very active in soccer, sailing, and ballet, I knew I would need to find something personallly fulfilling for the empty nest years. A doula friend suggested I consider becoming a birth and postpartum doula. This idea sat well with me…I’ve always been obsessed with all things pregnancy, birth, and babies. In 2019, I completed the DONA birth and postpartum doula trainings, and in 2020, I completed the InJoy Birth Doula Mentorship program to increase my skills as a birth doula. I’ve since trained in Spinning Babies, become a Lactation Coulselor, and hope to pusue cranial sacral training in 2026. Craig and I and our daughter and son-in-law purchased a home together at the end of 2024. With 2 grandchildren in the house as well as our teenage foster daughter, life is never dull…or quiet! I’m not a fan of the empty nest, so the daily chaos suits me just fine. When I’m not doula-ing, you can find me holding a grandbaby, walking, swimming, and enjoying my church family.

Join us for Motherhood Support Circle in Eustis on the 1st Friday and 3rd Saturday of each month. Details are on the flyer.

My Services

  • Birth Doula Support

    Fee $0 for Medicaid Receipients $1000 for self-pay

    As your birth doula, I provide educational, physical, and emotional support. We meet 2-4 times prenatally to get to know each other, discuss your hopes and dreams for labor & birth, prepare for labor & birth, become educated on breast/bottle feeding, and plan for the postpartum period. From the time you choose me as your doula, I’m available to you via text, phone call, and video chat. During labor, I provide continuous, in-person support through the birth of your baby and into the immediate postpartum period. I provide one postpartum visit in your home in the week or so after your baby’s birth.

  • Postpartum Doula Support

    Fee $0 for Medicaid Receipients $30 per hour for self-pay

    As your postpartum doula, I provide emotional and educational support in your home after the birth of your baby as well as assistance with light household chores.

  • Lactation Support

    Fee $0 for Medicaid Receipients Price varies for self-pay

    As a Lactation Counselor, I provide in-home support on the basics of breastfeeding; latch, frequency & duration of feeding, signs baby is getting enough milk, and pumping.

  • Childbirth Education Classes

    Fee $0 for Medicaid Recipients Price varies for self-pay

    Classes cover childbirth education, feeding baby, and newborn care

Kiwi Bird Doula… Why?

The name, Kiwi Bird Doula, was my son-in-law’s suggestion. I liked it! It’s a little different from traditional doula business names, and the Maori legend of how the Kiwi bird lost his wings resonates with me. You see, when Maui fished up the islands of Aotearoa (New Zealand) from the depths of the ocean, Kiwi was brightly colored and lived in the treetops. One summer, a great plague of insects arrived and attacked the trees, eating the bark, leaves, and roots. Tane, the father of the forrest, asked that some of the birds come down, live on the ground, eat the insects, and save the forrest. Kiwi was the only one willing to do so and in the process, was changed in form - becoming flightless, dull brown, having strong legs and a long beak. He was willing to sacrifice all that he was for the good of others. It’s a great story!!

This story paralells well with becoming a parent and also with doula work - there is sacrifice and putting other’s needs ahead of our own. There is also great joy!