Doulas

The doulas contracted through Buffalo Doula Services are highly trained and insured professionals. We work cooperatively as an integrated team, ensuring Buffalo, New York families benefit from top-tier labor and postpartum support.

Jennifer Lombardo | Owner

Birth Photographer, Educator, Labor + Postpartum Doula

Jennifer (she/her) established Buffalo Doula Services LLC in 2014, embarking on her journey as a solo doula while just entering the postpartum phase​ herself. Driven by a profound commitment to enhancing the childbirth experience and the transition into parenthood for all ​birthing people and families, Jennifer is dedicated to ​a​iding soon-to-be parents in ​understanding their distinct pregnancy, birth, and postpartum ​c​hoices without ​judgement or bias. The pivotal moment in 2019 when she saw her vision of transforming BDS into an agency come to fruition was a realization of her deepest aspirations​.

Jennifer is a certified birth photographer ​a​nd has been the recipient of numerous accolades and acknowledgments for her ​r​aw, honest imagery. As ​a seasoned birth photographer​, she has spent over a decade refining and enriching her ​a​rt, skillfully ​capturing ​the emotions​ and intricacies of each client's unique birth story. To view a selection of her work, ​v​isit her portfolio here or ​f​ollow her on Instagram @buffalodoula.

A lifelong resident of Western New York, Jennifer grew up in the hills of the southern tier and still feels most at home in forests and mountains. Her children are the greatest joys of her life and inherited her deep love of nature and animals. She enjoys hiking, planning and experiencing vacations with her family, a cold beer on a sun-filled patio during the Buffalo summer, and is an avid reader.

kaitlyn Gardner-capriotto

Labor Doula

Kaitlyn (she/her) is a labor doula, trained through DONA International. Kaitlyn was inspired by her own doula to serve others during pregnancy, labor, and beyond and considers this work to be her true passion. Kaitlyn believes a doula’s presence alone can change the course of a birth. She maintains that every birthing person, regardless of sexual orientation/identification, race, or socioeconomic status, deserves the support needed to achieve the birth they desire. Kaitlyn is passionate about learning and plans to continue her education and expand her services to include postpartum services, childbirth education, and lactation support.

Originally from the Southern Tier, Kaitlyn now resides in the southtowns with her husband, two children, dog, and cat. Kaitlyn has a plethora of hobbies including trying new teahouses, gardening, crocheting, reading, writing, playing games, and exploring the outdoors.

danielle foti

Labor Doula

Danielle (she/her) is a labor doula, certified through DONA International. She is also a childbirth educator and a certified placenta specialist, and has a Master’s degree in Biological Anthropology. This cumulative knowledge has led her to truly appreciate the incredible ways in which our bodies are built to grow, carry, birth, and nourish our babies. 

Upon witnessing the birth of her eldest nephew, Danielle was immediately struck by the transformational power of the process, and knew that she belonged in the birth world. Danielle believes that every birthing person deserves to be fully supported, informed, and celebrated in their journey, regardless of their background, identity, or choices in birth. As a doula, Danielle aims to embolden her clients to advocate for what they want and need, to enhance the quality of their birth experiences, and to increase positive birth outcomes in WNY and beyond.

Danielle lives in Pendleton with her family.  She is a homebirth mom of one, as well as a retired breastfeeder. When she’s not at a birth, Danielle enjoys visiting local breweries, creating art, spending time at her cabin in the Adirondacks, and listening to true crime podcasts.

holly paolicelli

Labor + Postpartum Doula

Holly (they/she) began their journey into doula work in 2019, driven by a passion for supporting individuals and families during their childbirth experience and beyond. With a commitment to inclusivity and compassion, Holly strives to provide unwavering support to clients, meeting them wherever they are in their journey without judgment.

Holly has received training and certifications in various aspects of doula care, including labor and postpartum support, childbirth education, and bereavement doula services. A lifelong advocate for collective efforts, Holly is excited to join Buffalo Doula Services and collaborate with fellow birth professionals to serve the community. They continually seek to expand their knowledge and skills to better serve their clients and community.

Outside of doula work, Holly is an artist and educator. Holly enjoys crisp mornings in a tent, bullet journaling, watching true crime, and listening to Dolly Parton and 90’s Hip-Hop vinyl with their partner and 3 cats.

meghan warner

Labor Doula, Certified Lactation Consultant

Meghan (she/her) is a certified birth doula, with special training in VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Meghan became a doula after her own empowering births and felt a calling to support families throughout birth and breastfeeding. Meghan believes that birth is a unique, individual experience that deserves presence, encouragement, and support. Being a guide as one navigates the unknowns and weighs the decisions of birth is one of her greatest honors, next to being a mother. She believes that doulas can change the world by inspiring calm and confidence in birthing parents. She loves the power of birth to connect couples and delights in helping them work as a team. Birth is a deeply transformative experience and one that Meghan will guide you through with compassion and enduring support.

Meghan loves spending time with her three little boys and husband, going on nature walks, reading or journaling, and digging in her flower and vegetable gardens.

Rhiannon Needham

Labor + Postpartum Doula

Rhiannon (she/her) is a full spectrum doula who has been working with families and offering support since 2019. She supports families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and everything in between. Rhiannon has completed her full spectrum training with Cornerstone in addition to labor and postpartum certification programs. These trainings have equipped her with inclusive resources to work with all individuals through reproductive stages in a comfortable and judgement-free way.

Rhiannon is currently completing her doctoral studies to become a Clinical Psychologist with a focus on perinatal and postpartum mental health and intimacy support for partners. She began supporting friends through pregnancy and training as a doula felt like a natural progression. Since her training, she has seen the absolute need for education and support in reproductive, birthing, and postpartum spaces.

Originally from Central New York, Rhiannon currently lives in the southtowns with her husband and two cats. Aside from working as a doula, she is an artist and crafter of all sorts. She also loves to cook, make homemade applesauce, listen to true crime podcasts, and watch (tons of) horror movies.

KIM NEUPERT

Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny

Kim (she/her) is a certified postpartum doula, trained through ProDoula. She found her passion in overnight newborn care, and her support is an incredible asset to anyone seeking a more restful postpartum experience in those first months with a new baby.

Kim has been working with families throughout the drowsy days and restless nights of the postpartum period for over six years, helping to get families on the road to healthy sleep habits. As a mom of four, with a set of twins in the middle, she realizes how important care and support (and sleep!) during the postpartum period is.

Kim lives in Tonawanda with her family and three dogs. To unwind, she enjoys traveling to her cabin in the Southern Tier and relishing the outdoors.

rachel meyerowitz

Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny

Rachel (she/her) was drawn to postpartum doula work after watching many of her friends and family members bring new little ones into their lives and witnessing firsthand what “it takes a village” really means when it comes to raising children. After serving as a babysitter and nanny since 2013, she noticed that parents were in need of just as much support and care as they were giving to their children.

Rachel is passionate about community health as well as positive maternal and child health outcomes. While earning her Master's degree in community health and health behavior, Rachel realized there was a great connection waiting to happen between doula work and supporting parents in the immediate postpartum period. Rachel hopes to serve as that extra branch of judgement free support to all family structures while they get into the swing of things.

Rachel was raised in the city of Buffalo and in her free time enjoys trying out new recipes, crocheting, film photography, and listening to live music.

Marissa Bierl

IBCLC, Postpartum Doula

Marissa (she/her) is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), certified breastfeeding educator, and postpartum doula. She is also certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Aromatherapy for infertility, pregnancy and postpartum.

Marissa is passionate about making sure moms and families have adequate, timely and comforting care in the fourth trimester. She believes this care is so important to set everyone up for a healthy future. For those who are planning to breastfeed their baby for any amount of time, early education and immediate support after birth are key to a successful breastfeeding relationship.

Born and raised in the Buffalo area, Marissa currently resides in the southtowns with her family and golden retriever. She and her family are avid hikers and spend much of their free time outdoors.