the story of
BETTER BEGINNINGS

Today, we are a go-to resource for the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Duluth metro areas, referred to not just by our happy clients, but also by physicians, midwives, chiropractors, mental health professionals, and more.

MEET OUR DOULAS

the story of
BETTER BEGINNINGS

Today, we are a go-to resource for the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Duluth metro areas, referred to not just by our happy clients, but also by physicians, midwives, chiropractors, mental health professionals, and more.

MEET OUR DOULAS

It all started with the fourth trimester…

It all started with the fourth trimester…

Better Beginnings was founded in early 2013 by Hallie Rogers, PCD (DONA), CLC, CLEC. After having two babies and experiencing the emphasis on pregnancy and birth followed by the general lack of postpartum support available to new parents, she set out to make a difference for other families.

She began offering support to other parents by becoming a certified postpartum doula and, soon after, a certified lactation counselor. As her own family grew (she now has four children), Better Beginnings also grew. More families were choosing to invest in their postpartum time by hiring postpartum doulas for in-home support in the weeks following childbirth.

Over time, Better Beginnings added a variety of complementary services to more comprehensively support families in the weeks and months following birth. The feedback from our clients has been incredibly positive, as families feel that having our support truly allowed them to thrive in their postpartum time, rather than just survive it.

We are pleased to now offer full wrap-around support and care to our clients, beginning in pregnancy with educational support, in labor and birth with birth doula support, and—of course—continuing through the postpartum time. Because it truly does take a village, to raise a baby and to nurture a family.

Better Beginnings was founded in early 2013 by Hallie Rogers, PCD (DONA), CLC, CLEC. After having two babies and experiencing the emphasis on pregnancy and birth followed by the general lack of postpartum support available to new parents, she set out to make a difference for other families.

She began offering support to other parents by becoming a certified postpartum doula and, soon after, a certified lactation counselor. As her own family grew (she now has four children), Better Beginnings also grew. More families were choosing to invest in their postpartum time by hiring postpartum doulas for in-home support in the weeks following childbirth.

Over time, Better Beginnings added a variety of complementary services to more comprehensively support families in the weeks and months following birth. The feedback from our clients has been incredibly positive, as families feel that having our support truly allowed them to thrive in their postpartum time, rather than just survive it.

We are pleased to now offer full wrap-around support and care to our clients, beginning in pregnancy with educational support, in labor and birth with birth doula support, and—of course—continuing through the postpartum time. Because it truly does take a village, to raise a baby and to nurture a family.

Nominated for the Twin Cities Birth + Baby Expo’s
‘Best of the Twin Cities’ Award in every year the award existed.

Nominated for the Twin Cities Birth + Baby Expo’s
‘Best of the Twin Cities’ Award in every year the award existed.

All babies are gifts, and we serve all families with specific and personalized care to ensure all clients have the support they want and the care they need. Birth support and postpartum support are human rights.

All babies are gifts,  and we serve all families with specific and personalized care to ensure all clients have the support they want and the care they need. Birth support and postpartum support are human rights.

The best Minnesota birth + postpartum support.

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we are
SMALL.

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we are
AVAILABLE.

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we are
CERTIFIED.

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we are
EXPERTS.

We are small.

In the case of hiring birth, postpartum and lactation support, small is good. Small means more personalized, streamlined, and continuous support. We work in small teams with each client, so you always know who will be assisting your family.

When you hire us prenatally (or with enough notice before you need our services), you have the opportunity to meet our team—your team—of support professionals beforehand, so you can get to know each of us and so we can familiarize ourselves with your family’s needs.

The birth and postpartum time is vulnerable, intimate and unique, so it’s important to establish trust and positive connection beforehand.

We are available to you.

Why is having a small team of doulas better than just having one doula? The short answer is we are available to you and your needs—whatever that may look like. By having our team of dedicated professionals serving your family, you’re more likely to get all the support you want when you want it.

You also benefit because your doulas work together to bring you the very best of their varied specializations and skills and strategies. When we work together, for you, you get the very best of all of us.

Finally, a team of doulas means you are never left without the support you need, wherever you are in your pregnancy or parenting journey. Our small but mighty team can be with you every step of the way.

We are independently trained & certified.

We have the highest standards.

We are independently trained & certified.

Some doula agencies train and “certify” their own doulas.

While this is certainly a financial and business advantage for those agencies, it may not be the best for you, the client. Imagine if a school trained and certified their own teachers, or a clinic trained and certified their own doctors and nurses. Would you feel as confident in that training and certification process as you would with teachers, doctors, or nurses who were trained by actual universities and accredited programs?

Better Beginnings believes families deserve the best, so we are trained and certified by independent, well-known, and reputable certifying organizations, such as Doulas of North America (DONA) or Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA). These are organizations that have a long history of training and certifying birth and postpartum doulas, and they have the outside governance, such as boards of directors and advisory boards, to provide a more reliable, up-to-date, and trusted training and certification process.

Also, when certified by one of these certifying organizations, a doula is required to partake in continuing education. This means she must ensure she can provide the best evidence-based, currently-informed care of you.

We have the highest standards.

The professionals of Better Beginnings have been carefully selected from a growing pool of birth and postpartum doulas and lactation counselors.

They have undergone a rigorous vetting process and are continuously developing their knowledge and skills through team trainings, peer and mentor support, and our organization’s positive team atmosphere.

None of us are here because birth or postpartum work is just a way to pay the bills. We are here because we’re passionate about assisting families in birth and the postpartum time.

Meet Our Doulas

We work together as small teams to ensure the best quality and continuity of care to you and your family.

Our birth and postpartum doulas are trained and experienced in supporting the specific needs of the birth and postpartum time, and most of us are also certified lactation counselors, so we can provide specialized support for families choosing to breastfeed, including families with multiples.

We are certified in infant and adult CPR, all our team members have clear background checks, and our standard of care to birthing and postpartum families is very high. We regularly engage in continuing education. The quality of our services to you and your family is our top priority.

the postpartum team

Our day team and night team of postpartum doulas provide top-notch care for families as they recover from birth and settle into bonding with their new baby/babies. They are independently trained and complete ongoing continuing education to stay up-to-date on the best practices for safe and effective infant care, lactation, pumping, and bottlefeeding support, postpartum health and wellness for the birthing person, mental health for the whole family, and more. They are experienced in working with all types of families with all kinds of needs.

the postpartum team

Our day team and night team of postpartum doulas provide top-notch care for families as they recover from birth and settle into bonding with their new baby/babies. They are independently trained and complete ongoing continuing education to stay up-to-date on the best practices for safe and effective infant care, lactation, pumping, and bottlefeeding support, postpartum health and wellness for the birthing person, mental health for the whole family, and more. They are experienced in working with all types of families with all kinds of needs.

Team Member Lindsey Twin Cities
Team Member Karen Twin Cities
Team Member Claire Twin Cities
Team Member Emily Twin Cities
Team Member Maddie Twin Cities
Team Member Janine Rochester
Team Member Eileen Twin Cities
Team Member Kayla Duluth
Team Member Thea Twin Cities
Team Member Dinora Twin Cities
Team Member Jennifer Twin Cities
Team Member Najma Rochester
Team Member Hallie Rochester, Twin Cities, Duluth

the birth team

Our birth doulas are independently trained and complete ongoing continuing education. They are experienced in attending all different types of births in all types of settings, from hospitals to freestanding birth centers, to home births. You don’t have to be planning a certain type of birth in order to work with our birth doulas; they are there to empower you to birth your way!

the birth team

Our birth doulas are independently trained and complete ongoing continuing education. They are experienced in attending all different types of births in all types of settings, from hospitals to freestanding birth centers, to home births. You don’t have to be planning a certain type of birth in order to work with our birth doulas; they are there to empower you to birth your way!

Team Member Laura Twin Cities
Team Member Psalms Rochester and Twin Cities
Team Member Aubrey Twin Cities
Team Member Bethie Twin Cities

We’d love to serve you as you navigate your birth and postpartum time.

VIEW OUR SERVICES

We are committed to equity and justice. If you are Black, indigenous, or a person of color and want to be a birth doula or postpartum doula, please click the link below and scroll to the lower half of the page for information about our scholarship program.

LEARN MORE