Traci Weafer
CLD (CBI), Evidence Based Birth®Instructor, Spinning Babies®parents educator
Traci is a wife of 26 years and has home-schooled four children, three of which have gone on start their adult lives. She has been serving women and families through their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period in the River Region for over 20 years. She is passionate about birth and is committed to educating, supporting, and serving in any way she can to help a family meet their birthing goals.
Traci began her childbirth professional education after the birth of her first son, Christopher. Christopher was born with a heart defect and underwent open heart surgery at two months, at which time Traci was not encouraged to continue breastfeeding. While educating herself during her second pregnancy, Traci knew she wanted this birth to be different. She grew angry and the educational choices in Montgomery, and knew she wanted to one day bring better childbirth and breastfeeding education to her community. She was a teenage mom who was under the impression that her age was the reason she was not provided with the education or support she would have gotten otherwise.
Traci is committed to the River Region communities in that she has made it her life's goal to help provide current, personal, and evidence based information and individualized support to families. Throughout the years of growing in doula work, Traci has educated herself through some wonderful organizations and has learned from amazing people. Not only is Traci serving her area as a doula, but she is also a mentor and coach to her fellow doulas, is an excited Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and a Spinning Babies Parents Educator. She is excited about the educational opportunities to provide to families. Traci also serves in a focus group for breastfeeding at Baptist East and is a member of the Central Alabama Breastfeeding task force. Traci is diligently working to make positive changes in maternity care for all women no matter the birthing choice.
Traci began her childbirth professional education after the birth of her first son, Christopher. Christopher was born with a heart defect and underwent open heart surgery at two months, at which time Traci was not encouraged to continue breastfeeding. While educating herself during her second pregnancy, Traci knew she wanted this birth to be different. She grew angry and the educational choices in Montgomery, and knew she wanted to one day bring better childbirth and breastfeeding education to her community. She was a teenage mom who was under the impression that her age was the reason she was not provided with the education or support she would have gotten otherwise.
Traci is committed to the River Region communities in that she has made it her life's goal to help provide current, personal, and evidence based information and individualized support to families. Throughout the years of growing in doula work, Traci has educated herself through some wonderful organizations and has learned from amazing people. Not only is Traci serving her area as a doula, but she is also a mentor and coach to her fellow doulas, is an excited Evidence Based Birth® Instructor and a Spinning Babies Parents Educator. She is excited about the educational opportunities to provide to families. Traci also serves in a focus group for breastfeeding at Baptist East and is a member of the Central Alabama Breastfeeding task force. Traci is diligently working to make positive changes in maternity care for all women no matter the birthing choice.
Certifications
1998-2001 Postpartum doula
2001-2004 Postnatal Educator
2001-2004 Midwife Assistant
2015 Childbirth International Experienced Doula Certification
2016 Novice Rebozo Certification (Gena Kirby)
2016 Evidence Based Birth® Instructor (more information click here)
2018 Spinning Babies® Parents Educator Certification
Other Studies, Workshops, And Continuing Education
2015 Hug your baby
2015 Stillbirthday (loss and bereavement) workshop
2015 Sacral Carnial Therapy workshop
2016 ROSE (Reaching our Sisters Everywhere) Summit
2016 Spinning Babies workshop
2016 The Significance of Childbirth to the Birthing Person: Influences of Care and Places of Birth, Penny Simpkin
2016 Evidence Based Birth® Due Dates and Advanced Maternal Age Certificate
2016 Evidence Based Birth® How to help Families get Evidence Based Care
2017 Evidence Based Birth® Instructor re certification
2018 Birth Monopoly Rights In Childbirth
2018 Evidence Based Birth® childbirth class training
2019 Spinning Babies Workshop
2019 Update Evidence Based Birth® newborn procedures
Additional Contact hours earned through: Trauma/Informed care, Motivational Interviewing, Change Agent, Homebirth Resource, Peanutballs & community, induction & 39 Weeks, Failure to progress, Birth Centers, Informed Consent in 2nd stage, Collaborating w/ L&D nurses, Prenatal Vaginal Exams, ACOG Recommendations on Normal Birth, Eating and Drinking in Labor, Protecting the Perineum, Pushing Positions.
In 2017 Alabama Legislature Passed the Childbirth Safety Act making homebirth an option in Alabama. Certified Professional Midwives are recognized under this law and currently Alabama now has FIVE licensed midwives.
Karen Brock, Layla Brown, Stacey Bufkin, Tori Dennis, and Rebekah Myrick
In 2017 Alabama Legislature Passed the Childbirth Safety Act making homebirth an option in Alabama. Certified Professional Midwives are recognized under this law and currently Alabama now has FIVE licensed midwives.
Karen Brock, Layla Brown, Stacey Bufkin, Tori Dennis, and Rebekah Myrick
Cher Sealy
RN, IBCLC
Cher Sealy is an RN IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). She has two adult daughters who were each breastfed, but both times she ran into problems. In 1983, after the birth of her 2nd baby, she sought help from La Leche League (LLL), an international mother-to-mother breastfeeding advocacy and support organization. She was so grateful for the help and support she received that she decided to become a LLLLeader herself. This happened in 1985 and she then began helping other mothers, both leading group meetings in Montgomery and Prattville, and also volunteering to help moms with breastfeeding in their homes.
In 1987 she became certified as an IBCLC and started her own private practice lactation business, The Breastfeeding Encounter. For nearly 23 years she conducted home/hospital visits for families in the tri-county area, in addition to teaching breastfeeding classes and presenting workshops and in-services for health professionals.
From 2003-2004 she worked part-time for Medela Inc, presenting Peter Hartmann's Lactation research and conducting Breastpump Technology workshops at hospitals throughout the Southeast. She worked in the hospital setting for 12 years, including 15 months as a Travel Nurse Lactation Consultant at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, known for delivering more babies per year than any other in the US. In 2015 she retired from the hospital setting and is once again in Private Practice. She can be reached at 3343010135 or cnibclc@gmail.com.
In 1987 she became certified as an IBCLC and started her own private practice lactation business, The Breastfeeding Encounter. For nearly 23 years she conducted home/hospital visits for families in the tri-county area, in addition to teaching breastfeeding classes and presenting workshops and in-services for health professionals.
From 2003-2004 she worked part-time for Medela Inc, presenting Peter Hartmann's Lactation research and conducting Breastpump Technology workshops at hospitals throughout the Southeast. She worked in the hospital setting for 12 years, including 15 months as a Travel Nurse Lactation Consultant at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, known for delivering more babies per year than any other in the US. In 2015 she retired from the hospital setting and is once again in Private Practice. She can be reached at 3343010135 or cnibclc@gmail.com.
Ashley Weston
Doula apprentice
Ashley Weston is wife to Danny, and mom to Lorelei (10), Parker (8), Jude (5), and Oliver (2). She homeschools her kiddos and loves the calling that the Lord has given her to serve her family and the people placed around her. She has always had a heart for women and all things babies. Each of her pregnancies and deliveries was unique and each brought its own batch of joys and challenges.
Through each child, she learned more, and grew more and more passionate for the whole process. Ashley has continued to walk out her love for this by encouraging other moms and walking through the process of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum with many women. It is important to Ashley that women in the community have the resources to be knowledgeable and have the confidence to have the births that they desire.
Through each child, she learned more, and grew more and more passionate for the whole process. Ashley has continued to walk out her love for this by encouraging other moms and walking through the process of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum with many women. It is important to Ashley that women in the community have the resources to be knowledgeable and have the confidence to have the births that they desire.
Lacy Jeffreys
Web designer & Copywriter
With a background in marketing and writing, Lacy Jeffreys has a passion for telling stories beautifully. After working with Traci in 2015, Lacy was delighted by Traci's invitation to collaborate on her website; the two work closely together to showcase Maternal Instincts Doula and its passion for education and advocacy.
As a freelancer, Lacy builds websites and writes for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She holds a BA in English, and is a certified screenwriter and fitness instructor. She's had the opportunity to live all across the US and in Asia and has worked in organizations ranging from the US Capitol to small not-for-profits. She jokingly calls herself "The Queen of Ideas" and is a tenacious problem-solver.
You can see Lacy's work on her website: LacyJeffreys.com
As a freelancer, Lacy builds websites and writes for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She holds a BA in English, and is a certified screenwriter and fitness instructor. She's had the opportunity to live all across the US and in Asia and has worked in organizations ranging from the US Capitol to small not-for-profits. She jokingly calls herself "The Queen of Ideas" and is a tenacious problem-solver.
You can see Lacy's work on her website: LacyJeffreys.com
A doula provides non-medical education, support, and information to a mom and family wanting to prepare for the birth she desires.
A doula does not provide medical advice, diagnose, or do any clinical services.
A doula does not provide medical advice, diagnose, or do any clinical services.
