Jan S. Mallak, 2LAS, ICCE-CD-CPD-IAT, CD-PCD(DONA), CPD(CAPPA)

Jan has over 30 years of experience in childbirth education, labor support, breastfeeding and related fields. She is a Certified Childbirth Educator through the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and has certification as a Birth Doula through both ICEA and DONA (Doulas of North America). Jan is an ICEA Approved Trainer and is a DONA Approved Birth Doula Trainer. She is also a Certified Postpartum Doula through ICEA, DONA and CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association). Jan served as an initial faculty member for the ICEA Birth Doula Certification Program and is currently initiating their Postpartum Doula Certification program. She has been published many times (including Doulas’ Guide to Birthing Your Way, March 2010), is a consultant and has presented topics locally, nationally and internationally at professional conventions and workshops. Jan is lovingly supported by her husband of 38 years, Frank, and their grown children Frank, Jr., Heather, her husband, Dror and their son Zeev. Jan is thrilled to be ZV’s “Baba!”

Nancy Aaron

I am the "grandmother" of the group being 61 years old. However, with age does come experience. I am a wife of forty years, the mother of three and the grandmother of nine. I am a registered nurse, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a La Leche League Leader, and a Certified CPR Instructor. Bith is one of the most life-changing events in our lives. I fervently believe that new families benefit immensely from help during birth as well as during the early days of the new family. Families need support that the immediate family does not always have the knowledge, the confidence, or the opportunity to provide. A doula can offer information to help the family make the choices that are best for them. My expertise is in the days and early weks following birth known as the postpartum period. My contribution is to smooth the way during that time and do some of the tasks that allow the family to be nurtured both physically and mentally and provide the help and information to help with making decisions about integrating the baby into the family.

I breastfed my own children and all of my grandchildren have been breastfed. My experience as a La leche League Leader of over 30 years has given me the opportunity to help mothers with a wide variety of breastfeeding issues, such as getting a baby to latch on to the breast, dealing with sore nipples, and breastfeeding twins. In addition I beleive the families I have helped as a doula benefitted from my preparing nourishing meals, doing the laundry, running errands and other tasks that have allowed them to rest and direct their attention to the more important issues surrounding recovery from birth and those early days and weeks following birth. My feeling is that every new family needs a doula. Some families are lucky enough to have someone in the family who can fill that role, sometimes a family needs a professional doula to fill that role.

Joyce Alcorn

Teresa Bailey, CD

Website: teresadoula.com

Teresa Bailey, CD (DONA) has been a doula with "Heart and Hands" since 2000. She has written a birth book together with Jan Mallak called Doulas' Guide to Birthing Your Way. She is a very experienced birth doula, and she also does postpartum work, especially with mothers who need help with breastfeeding. She is a La Leche League Leader and is working on becoming a lactation consultant. She is happily married to Chris, a writer, and has a son Simon born in 2001 (and of course she had a doula attend her birth).

Kathy Chiaramonte, CD

I am 47 years old, married 27 years to Glenn, the love of my life.I have two amazing daughters, Brianne age 23(married just this past summer 2009 to Ben) and Kacy age 17.I also have a really neat foster son, Morgan age 12 .I gave birth to both of my daughters unmedicated and with no interventions. An accomplishment I am very proud of (Oh, how I wish I had known about doulas then!).

I've been working as a birth doula for 4 years and have been certified for three of those years. I am also trained as a post partum doula. I began this whole wonderful adventure after attending the birth of a very good friend, where I met Jan (who was working as their doula!). She called me 2 weeks after to ask if I'd be interested in joining her group, less than a month later I was in training! I've attended births of all kinds at most of Pittsburghs hospitals, including the Midwife Center on Penn Avenue.

I consider it both an honor and an absolute priveledge to be invited to play a part in one of the most intimate and important days in your life, and will do everything I can do to help make it the best experience possible for you and your loved ones.
I wish you all the best on your birthing day.

Jami Conn, CD

I am 35 years old and gave birth in September 2009 to a beautiful healthy boy. I have an adopted 4 year-old son. I strive to help every woman I know have the birth experience she desires. Each birth is different and exciting, and I look forward to each baby's arrival. I trained to be a doula with Jan after assisting a friend in her birth, and because I love empowering, educating and supporting women, and nothing is better than welcoming a new life into the world. I have only been with H&H's since the beginning of 2009, but it has already been the most rewarding work I have ever done. I have experienced a pregnancy loss and a difficult labor, and feel that my experiences give me great compassion and understanding for women having a more difficult time with pregnancy and delivery.

Karen Crow

I have always been fascinated by birth, and bought my first birth book when I was twelve years old. Many years later, I had an incredible, empowering, natural birth with my first and, I was lucky enough to have Jan Mallak, the doula of doulas, as my doula for my second and third babies. I am so blessed with my three, very cool children and my loving spouse, without whom my doula career would not be possible. I became a Bradley Natural Childbirth Teacher in 2002 and have been very happy to share birth classes with hundreds of couples. My dream, however, was not only to teach, but also to provide new moms and dads with support and information throughout the birthing processes and those precious postpartum days and weeks. Once my littlest one was in school, I was lucky enough to train with Jan to become a doula and am honored to be a part of “Heart and Hands.”

Danielle Gorman

My passion for birth and womens' health has set the course for my life's journey. I joined Heart & Hands after completing Jan's doula training in October, 2009. I am currently working on my birth doula certification with DONA. I have experience with both midwife and doctor attended births. I am also a nursing student, working on my RN. Less than a year after graduation, I will continue my educational journey in a Master's Degree program to become a certified nurse midwife, (CNM). My husband and I have been married for nearly 9 years. We have two boys, ages 5 and 2. Both were delivered by our midwife, one with pain medication, one doula attended and no meds. My wish for every woman is a personally satisfying, happy, safe birth.

Linda Hemmes

I have trained as a registered nurse and paramedic, and am also a certified massage therapist with 20 years of experience. I taught Lamaze classes from the mid 1970’s and into the early 1980’s following the unmedicated births of my children and was able to attend a number of births as a coach - experiences that were amazing, extraordinary and left me with a sense of wonder and awe at the miracle of birth!

My niece (who is also a doula for Heart & Hands) suggested that I would be a good doula and I trained under Jan as I prepared for the birth of my grandson in January of 2008. It was an enormous learning curve for me - but an enlightening one! Today’s Moms have so many more options and opportunities and I have absolutely loved being a part of the lives of these families as they welcome their new additions! It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this wonderful, life changing event.

Ellen Huffmyer, CD,CPD

I have been a doula for fourteen years, and have been with "Heart & Hands" for the past thirteen years. I am a certified birth doula with DONA, and have attended many births over the years, including home births, hopsital births, and birth center births. I am also a certified postpartum doula with CAPPA. I have over ten years of experience in postpartum work, and I was the second doula in western PA to be certified as a PP doula.

I love my job, being able to help women. I became a doula after the birth of my first child, in order to be able to offer caring support to women in the birth year. I am married to a wonderful man, and we have four children. I feel that my job makes me a better mom, and that, as a mom, I have more to offer the women with whom I work. I was recently accepted into the Bradley teacher training program for chirldbirth education, and that this will continue to help me serve women in this very important time of life.

Kim Huss

have been with Heart & Hands since 2001 after the birth of my 3rd child. I am a certified birth doula and I became a doula to help woman have a more natural, wonderful, and memorable birth experience that they dreamt of. I have 4 children ages 12, 10, 8 and 2 and had 4 successful medication free births. I have been married for 16 years to my wonderful husband who actualy encouraged me to become a doula. I am, however, on the in-active list with our group due to the busy lives of my children. I am looking forward to helping woman again in the near future.

Sara Krisfalusi, CD

I have been a certified doula with Hearts & Hands through DONA International since 2007. I am the wife of a loving husband for 11 years and am the mother of 3 amazing children, Emma, Michael and Nora. I find my experience of being a doula to be privilege and gift to be apart of one of the most intimate experiences of a person’s life. I have background with young moms, VBAC clients along with families with sensitive issues. I believe it us my job to give full, unconditional support with the highest of empathy and respect.

Rene Marasco

Joined the group in March 2008 Married 7 years with two beautiful, bright and sweet little girls Birth and postpartum work - mostly overnights for families with twin. Prior to working with the group I worked as a social worker and doula for a social service agency that performs doula work for women with disabilities - funded by grants - the scope of the work included prenatal, birth, postpartum, case management and child development - my "specialty" was young moms with mental health issues/recovering addictions - I also worked in a maternity home for a number of years.

Events effecting my journey to become a doula:.

* a long-standing love for working with children and families.

* my desire for an unmedicated birth where I ended up having an epidural, my daughter had respiratory distress and we almost needed an emergency cesarean - I felt responsible because of my decision to use pain medication! (I wasn't!).

* my oldest daughter cried for seven months and was what I like to describe as a spirited, sensitive child who was in her fourth trimester (and fifth ) - I cried with her! I don't want any mom to go through this anxiety and depression without encouragement and support, and enjoy being able to help during such an important time! (FYI - she is the loveliest, sweetest and most easy going child now ).

* our decision to have a midwife and doula for our second birth - resulting in an unmedicated delivery - and, still, respiratory distress. It was a wonderful experience having had each girl differently - one with an epidural and one without - I feel like this is helpful in my role as a birth doula as I have personal experience with both choices! * my success with breastfeeding, having nursed each girl for 2 years - this was especially helpful for our youngest daughter who has eczema, numerous food allergies and a predisposition to asthma..

I believe that we are never more open to growth and change as during birth and postpartum. I believe that the process of becoming parents has, not only it's blessings but, it's struggles; and that society too often speaks of this time as solely positive. This leaves parents feeling like something is wrong with them if they are anything but completely thrilled or if they are unable to know exactly what their child needs at all times. I want parents to know that it's okay to be learning about their baby and their baby about them, to be adjusting to their new roles and how that fits with each parent as individuals and as a couple. Change is never easy, not even positive, wanted change. It can be stressful, especially exacerbated by sleep deprivation. Everyone could use a little extra help embracing the ride! I wish all of you great luck and love in your journey to become parents!

Cortnie Meehan

My name is Cortnie and I am 29 years old. My hubby Iman and I are blessed with two kids and expecting our third... our son, Malik, who is 5 years old and our daughter, Maliah, who is 2 years old.
I had a deep desire to birth naturally, however, due to fetal distress, our first born was a true emergency cesearen. It was during that pregnancy that my dream/education of becoming physican assistant switched gears and my goal now is to become a midwife.

I came upon "Heart & Hands" and Jan one day, only to attend her birth doula workshop the following week. It was there that I am absolutely certain I am where I am suppose to be and that all things happen for a reason. Being a doula is my passion and my calling. I am so blessed that this is the path I am lead on and I feel privileged that I can help women (& partners!!) achieve something so beautiful as a satisfying birth experience and a transition into a new life. I am honored to be not only a doula but also a newly certified Lamaze childbirth educator.To you, yours, and your baby(ies)... I wish you all good health and a blessed journey!

Monique Powell

I have been attending births for a little over 5 years on and off. In the fall of 2009, I decided to formalize my experience, got training as a doula, and started the process of certification through DONA as a birth doula. I joined H&H in October 2009 have been attending births regularly since then. I am currently a DONA trained birth doula and a candidate for certification and a doctor of chiropractic with specialized training through the ICPA in prenatal and pediatric care. I have had experience with Cesarean birth, VBAC, induction, epidural assisted birth, midwife assisted birth, birth center birth, and homebirth. I became a doula because I believe that all woman should have the opportunity to experience birth in a positive, nurturing environment, one sheltered by the role of a doula. As a doula, I have learned that the emotional state of a mother in labor is as crucial to the outcome as the physical work aspect of childbirth, and that every birth has its own story that should be embraced and honored. My husband (also a DC) and I have three boys, all ages 6 and under, all born at home, and all nursed well into toddlerhood. I practice part time at our Regent Square office and spend the rest of my time enjoying my children and life in general.

Karen Sharif

I believe that birth is a normal, natural, process that can be aided by emotional, physical, and informational support.  Whether a birth is medicated or non-medicated, the birth of a child is without question a sacred event and the experience will be more empowering and positive when a woman makes decisions in an informed manner and with the support of those around her. 

Pat Wolfgang, CPD

I am a Certified Postpartum Doula and a Registered Nurse. I have been with Heart & Hands Doula Service since 2003, when my job at Magee-Womens Hospital was eliminated.  I had worked there as a nurse and Consumer Educator for 35 years.  I bring to you my teaching background, so a lot of advice and wisdom come with that.  I love to come into your home to care for you and your baby in order to take the burden of running the household off of your shoulders so you can rest, and learn to care for your baby with confidence.  I have two grown children of my own, whom I breastfed, no grandchildren, yet. I live in Export with my husband, Glenn.