Meet The Birth Center Doulas

Sarah Korbeck, DPT, CIMI, CLD

(Private Doula)

After fourteen years as a practicing pediatric physical therapist, Sarah feels beyond blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of The Birth Center community. She truly believes that supporting birthing mothers, their beautiful babies, and their precious families is a gift.

She received her Bachelor of Science from Towson University, then continued on to complete her Masters and Doctorate of Physical Therapy, at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. Following graduation in 2003, she has practiced as a licensed pediatric physical therapist in the Cecil County Public School System’s Infant and Toddler Program, Child Find Program and Special Education program. She is certified by the International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. as a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) and teaches “Mommy and Me” style infant massage class at The Birth Center. Sarah is also an essential oils educator and distributor with Young Living Essential Oils and will be incorporating some essential oils education into her classes. Sarah completed her doula training at The Birth Center through DONA and is a Certified Doula through The Birth Center.

Sarah recently had the opportunity to participate in a mission trip to Haiti, where the birth of a child can be very dangerous due to the conditions they live in and the lack of medical care that they have available to them. Sarah says, “It is something that will fuel me for years to come. We are so very blessed to have amazing places like The Birth Center to support us as we begin the beautiful adventure we call parenthood. What greater gift could I be given, then to have the privilege of walking alongside families and support them on this amazing journey?”

 

Samantha Sheffler

(Private Doula)

Samantha is a trained doula through TBC. She received her bachelors degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech. After college she spent some time working with adults, children, and pregnant parents on healthy practices to manage diabetes. While she enjoyed her work, she didn’t feel a lot of passion for that path. She decided to switch careers and work with animals. She spent 15 years working with “aggressive” dogs, and honing her skills in reading body language. She carries that skill into her current doula work. In 2015 she became pregnant with her first daughter and decided to shift attention to her family and become a stay-at-home-mama. This has been her favorite career, by far, and she loves spending her days with her two beautiful little girls. Receiving amazing care from TBC sparked her love for birth and helping parents on their journey into parenthood.

As a doula Sam provides a calm, gentle, easy going environment for birthing parents to relax and be themselves in. Her superpower is staying incredibly calm and focused in chaotic environments. She is resilient and loves when birthing parents feel free to use whatever tone and language suits them during birth. She is skilled in the nuanced art of body language, and takes direction well. She is dedicated to providing individual, attentive, intuitive, and compassionate care.

Breana Jones

(Private Doula)

Breana is beyond grateful to officially join The Birth Center team and live out one of her dreams! After completing her BS in Behavioral Health Science, she worked in the inner city of Chester, PA as the Education, Cribs for Kids and Zeta Phi Beta Storks Nest Coordinator. Witnessing the healthcare disparities, and the disconnect between breastfeeding initiation and duration rates within the Black, and multi-ethnic families she served, was one of her driving inspiration to begin her career as a doula.
To better serve her families, Breana completed a Master of Science in Management and a Master of Business Administration both concentrated in Healthcare Administration. She is dedicated to helping all birthing parents from all walks of life through her work, and continues her advocacy and support with a focus on Black, multi-ethnic, and families most impacted by inequities in the U.S. healthcare system.
As a certified birth Doula through TBC, a trained birth Doula through DONA International, and a Certified Lactation Counselor through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, Breana provides all birthing parents with a calm reassuring atmosphere, evidence-based information, comfort measures and breathing techniques to ensure they have the education as well as the emotional and physical support they need and deserve throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.
She will provide education in areas of prenatal childbirth, breastfeeding, birth planning, and limited postpartum support, as a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist and Health and Wellness Coach. Breana’s goal is to ensure birthing parents can live out their dream birth by bridging the gap and eliminating many if not all birth fears.

Lynda DeCesare

(Private Doula)

Lynda’s two children were born at The Birth Center, and she has carried those transformative experiences with her ever since.  She learned firsthand how joyful and empowering childbirth can be when a woman is informed, feels safe, and is treated with compassion and respect.

It was the desire to help other women share in this experience that inspired Lynda to become a doula.  She completed her professional doula training through DONA and is certified through The Birth Center.  Lynda also works as a writer and editor, but her passion lies in helping women and their partners have a fulfilling childbirth experience they will remember with joy and pride. 

“The birth of a child is one of life’s biggest events,” says Lynda, “and I feel truly honored to be able to support moms and their families during this very special time in their lives.”

Maire Durkan

(Private Doula)

As a mother, of nine, Maire Durkan understands that small things done with great love can make all the difference and that throughout labor it is often the small acts of support (a helping hand, words of affirmation, encouragement, and healing touch) that create a good birth experience and beautiful memories.
 As a certified birth doula, CD(DONA) and DONA trained postpartum doula with 
certification in the Hug Your Baby postpartum program, it is Maire’s passion to hold space and compassionately support clients and their families throughout their prenatal, birth, and postpartum journeys. Her approach is holistic; as well as continuous physical and emotional support before, during, and after labor, she provides informational support , teaches and empowers self advocacy and advocates for the birthing person (and their partner) when needed. A former teacher, Maire has a BA in English-Education and completed her doula training at Christiana Hospital and The Birth Center of Delaware where six of her nine children were born. Maire and her husband Patrick have been part of The Birth Center family for 30 years. She is a published children’s book author, poet, and journalist and enjoys studying folk herbalism, supporting her clients, spending time with her family, attending folk and bluegrass concerts, and hiking in the beautiful Brandywine River Valley near her home.

Jennifer Badillo, CLD

(Private Doula)

Jennifer is fluent in both Spanish and English. She obtained her Associates degree in Nursing with The University of Puerto Rico. Her first nursing endeavor was in the Emergency Department in her home town of Puerto Rico right before moving to Delaware with her family.

Jen has three beautiful daughters and is a TBC mom herself, she gave birth to her youngest daughter in our old center. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. She is a proud Phillies fan and enjoys a good baseball game.

Being a labor doula has enlightened her life she believes that every laborer deserves to have a strong support system to make them feel strong, able, and empowered starting with prenatal, Labor, Birth through postpartum. Jennifer’s favorite quote is “Birth without Fear!”

Annetta Lidy, CD, CBC, CPD

(Private Doula) 

After having felt led to become a doula, Annetta feels truly blessed to be working with families at The Birth Center. The gifts she is able to provide her clients cannot compare to the gifts she receives in return by being welcomed into such a beautiful part of their lives.

As a mom of four, Annetta understands the importance of a birth environment that is loving, accepting, fun, and empowered. Annetta prides herself on supporting a safe and caring space for all walks of birth. Having experience in births ranging from homebirth to planned cesarean and everywhere in between, Annetta knows the most important and lasting piece of a birth story is the love and connection felt in the room. 

In addition to being a Birth Center certified doula, Annetta is a DONA trained birth doula, a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor with advanced lactation training, and a Postpartum Doula through the International Doula Institute. With a background in theater and early childhood Annetta brings life and fun to every day, especially a birth-day!

Meet Our Postpartum Doula

Shannon Kearney, CPD

(Postpartum Doula) 

Shannon is one of six children and has 30+ years of experience with babies. Shannon has been a mother’s helper, babysitter, daycare infant teacher, foster mom to a 10-day old baby, experience with twins and an aunt to 14 nieces and nephews. Shannon is from a very large family with 64 first cousins and that has led her to having a special love for babies. She was never seen without a baby in her arms at all the countless family gatherings. Babies bring a wealth of joy, love, and happiness to her heart. She also enjoys helping others and making them smile and laugh.

Shannon earned her Postpartum Certificate through The International Doula Institute. She is excited to be a postpartum doula, where she finally found a way that she can always be around a baby and provide love and support to each member of the family. She wants to be there for you and your family by providing physical, emotional, and informational support. This involves anything from household chores to a foot and back massage, a listening ear, helpful resources and more. Shannon will support you with breast feeding and bottle feeding as well as teach you how to swaddle your baby, dress, change, bathe, calm a crying baby, help your baby sleep through the night, and ways to include care for siblings so that they don’t feel neglected.

 In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga, meditation, being out in nature walking or hiking, spending time with her family, listening to music, creating art, and baking her famous chocolate chip cookies. Shannon has a BA in Art Education and her Early Childhood Certification.