Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Mitchell.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a reiki master, birth and postpartum doula, mother of two, and a passionate advocate for love and conscious birthing. A born and raised Minnesotan, I currently reside in Houston, Texas. My path to birthwork was paved with a deep sense of purpose as I spent my childhood caring for my younger nieces and nephews. This early learning ignited my lifelong passion for nurturing and supporting mothers and their infants.
My journey in birthwork has been rich and diverse. I became a Certified Doula under the guidance of Midwife Shafia Monroe in 2008, a transformative experience that redirected my path towards holistic birthwork and away from becoming an OB/GYN. In 2015, I trained as a Perinatal Educator with Commonsense Childbirth and Midwifery under Midwife Jennie Joseph. This brought my focus to the family unit and how the community can show up to support those caring for new infants. Finally, in 2021 I trained with Midwife Gail Tully in Spinning Babies (TM), which helped provide incredible insights into the physiology of birth.
I believe profoundly in the strength and wisdom of the woman’s body, recognizing its incredible capacity to create and nurture life. I birthed “Sunshine Mama Doula Care” from a deep understanding that women yearn for sacred and supported pregnancies and postpartum experiences, complete with the knowledge and plan necessary for this profound life transition.
I approach birth holistically, honoring the mind, body, and spirit connection throughout the birthing journey. I feel truly honored to share my years of expertise with women and families in Houston and beyond, offering both in-person and virtual services including post-partum bath and sealing ceremonies, and women’s wellness workshops. With me, women experience empowerment, connection, support, and, above all, LOVE during their pregnancy and postpartum period. I recognize women as co-creators with the Divine and I’m here to walk this sacred path with those open to my support.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of my biggest obstacles and challenges stemmed from a choice to divorce when I was 36 years old and the mother of 2 young children (at the time they were 7 and 9). The circumstances around that decision allowed me to mold and develop myself into the kind of person, woman and mother I wanted to be. There was no one else to blame for my unhappiness and it took all the strength I had and a praying mother to get me through it. In my deepest darkness- the light was my children. I knew if it wasn’t for anyone else- my choice to be a solo parent was to provide an environment where my best version could flourish. I transformed from being emotionally numb to fully alive and thriving over the last 7 years. That time influenced how I speak with my children, who I allow around them, how hard I’ve pushed them (and myself) into having tough life conversations.
While divorce created a separation and a completely different world for me- I needed that dharma moment of choosing myself to know that I am worthy of the love I give. I was able to heal layers of abandonment wounds from childhood and losing my voice while living unhappily married; tied to vows I was trying to upload alone.
I literally moved back into my mother’s house and spent the first 9 months after divorce redefining who I was outside of a wife and mother. The woman now looking back at me in the mirror is proud of where we’ve come and grateful that the lowest moments brought the greatest transformation to my life. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a full-spectrum doula, perinatal educator, and holistic maternal health advocate, and the heart of my work is supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with education, advocacy, and deeply personalized care. Through Sunshine Mama Doula Care, I specialize in culturally responsive, heart-centered support that helps birthing women feel informed, empowered, and held throughout their journey.
What I’m most known for is bringing together evidence-based birth support with a holistic approach that honors the emotional, physical, and spiritual sides of motherhood. I’m especially proud of the trust I’ve built with families and the way my work centers Black birthing women and other marginalized communities who often deserve more respectful and affirming care.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just provide doula support, I bring lived experience, health equity advocacy, case management insight, and a deep commitment to changing outcomes for birthing women. I’m also proud to be building toward bigger impact, including work in Houston around birth center development and broader maternal wellness support.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk is definitely involved in making life choices. I started taking risks early- as a young woman involved in sports. I utilized basketball and track and field to push myself physically and integrate socially at a new school. I choose to challenge my academics, leaving public school in South St. Paul, Minnesota and switching to a private school called St. Paul Academy. It was not only a culture shock being from a middle-class family and seeing how the wealthy lived, but I also was there on a scholarship- which brought with it feelings of inadequacy and striving to prove myself as worthy of a better education. I graduated with honors and earned a Merit Award, nominated by math instructor Mrs. Scott. She tutored me during half of her lunch hour when I needed additional support with certain concepts and to receive that acknowledgement from her meant more than I realized as an 18 year old.
Risk to me as a 44 year old woman in the United States of America has meant finding my voice, speaking up for what I need, want and desire, and being determined to get every last good thing coming to me. I am my ancestor’s most fruitful dreams and I’m unapologetically walking in my spiritual gifts.
Pricing:
- Sacred bath & sealing Ceremony- $350
- Placenta encapsulation- $222
- Yoni Steam Session (in-home)- $66
- Reiki Massage- $111
- Birth Doula Services- $1,850- $5,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sunshinemamadoulacare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tantradoula/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunshineMamaDoulaCare/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-mitchell-81818love/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SunshineMamaPodcast
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunshinemamadoula
