Holly Best-Parker
Holly was born in Memphis with midwives in the hospital- one of the first births of this sort in the state. She was raised with an inherent trust in the birthing process and while attaining a Bachelor’s degree from Hendrix she learned what a Doula was as she ushered the life-changing delivery of her very first client. Holly became involved in Birth Works in 2000, completed her first degree, and went on to graduate UAMS nursing school as an RN- all the while continuing to help women learn about and experience more natural forms of childbirth. After becoming a certified Birth Works Doula, teaching childbirth classes, and working in Labor and Delivery at Baptist Little Rock she continues to hone her skills at assisting families in making decisions, advocating for their positions and accomplishing the goals for satisfying births of their children.
Amy Cefalo
I have admired birth since I was first invited to a friend’s home birth in 1997. Since then, I have had 6 births of my own, and attended several other friend’s births before working with Birth Works Doula Services.
With my first pregnancy, the excitement was almost overwhelming! I spent nine months reading every book I could about different childbirth methods and nutrition. The more I learned, the more my love for pregnancy and childbirth grew, and it continues to grow to this day. After several years of studying about pregnancy and birth being a loved pastime, I decided to become a doula to put my passion into practice.
Each birth and every family is unique, and I love the challenge of adapting to each individual situation. I have a special place in my heart for VBACs, and have been so inspired by the women I have witnessed overcome the doubts placed on them and have the victory of physiological birth. I believe as women our bodies are perfectly designed to be life-givers, and I am grateful to be a part of your unique miracle.
Stephanie Corder
Childbirth is a beautiful event in a woman’s life. There is not much more amazing than to witness the moment a woman turns into a mother. I love to see a woman empowered! I am currently finishing my Doula training. I first became introduced to the world of doulas 3 years ago with the birth of my son in the hospital. Having a doula there helped add to the support system my family provided. Her presence alone was incredibly valuable. I completed Bradley Childbirth Classes and used those in addition to BirthWorks classes for my labor.
I also teach art in a local Jr. High. I have my teaching certificate for Kindergarten – 12th grade. I have a true love and passion for working with people in all stages of life.
Cora Crain
I am a certified Birth Works Doula as well as a Licensed Massage Therapist- specializing in prenatal, labor and postpartum massage. I was born and raised in Little Rock, and moved to Fayetteville in 1998. I’ve been married for eight years and have two beautiful children, Eli age 8, and Kyah, age 4. We moved back to Little Rock in 2006, and I became involved with Birth Works shortly after that.
My first birth experience with my son was in the hospital, complete with all the routine interventions. In the end, I had a healthy baby boy, but a terrible birth experience. A year later, I was invited to attend a close friend’s home birth. As I witnessed my friend give birth to her son in a gentle, loving environment, I was simply amazed at the difference from my own experience and what a beautiful event birth can be. I took a doula training through DONA shortly after that. It was there where I first began to learn about the perfect way a woman’s body works in labor, and all the options a woman had in the hospital-options I wish I had known about in my own birth! Since then, I have been privileged to help with numerous births in the home and hospital, and had a wonderful home birth with my daughter!
I realized firsthand what an enjoyable, empowering experience giving birth can be when you take charge of your own body and seek to have the kind of birth that is just right for you. I love guiding women and their families through preparing for this life-changing event, and helping them to fully enjoy and appreciate this special time in their life.
Kim Jacob
My path to supporting women through the childbearing process began with the birth of my own children. My first birth was in the hospital with the support of my husband and our wonderful doula. this led to our second birth which was at home attended by midwives. I gained so much during the process of these experiences, and wanted to give the kind of support and love that I had received.
I love empowering parents by helping them sift through all the confusing choices available in order to individualize their options and create the best birth plan for them. Everyone comes to this point in their lives with different experiences, knowledge, power and fear. I like to remind women that normal birth is perfect. We can learn fearlessness through working through our fears with the help of a calm and reassuring caregiver.
There are so many tools and strategies to pull from to manage the intensity of labor. When I work with a woman I like to get to know her well so that when we’re in the middle of the birth process I know better how to be with her and support her in labor. We often talk about and practice several different strategies for coping with labor to fill up her “tool box” for the big day. That way she’ll be able to pick and choose what works best for her at each phase of labor.
I think one of my biggest jobs as a doula or midwife is to remind women that birth is normal and that all the most intense sensations are exactly the way they are supposed to be. Sometimes we forget this when working so hard but the calm and reassuring reminder can help to refocus energy back to relaxing and empowering thoughts about the amazing job of bringing forth a new life into our arms.
Mary Mannis
Mary Mannis is a home birth mother of two. She is a certified doula with a BSE in Exercise Science and an emphasis in nutrition. “The labor process is the beginning of a lifetime of new discoveries – of yourself, and of life. What a blessing and a privilege to be a part of this unbelievable miracle.”