Our Doula Hive Team

Supporting Families in Birth & postpartum

The Doula Hive Team

Rachel Website

Meet Rachel

My name is Rachel Coughlin, cofounder of Doula Hive. I am a Birth Doula, Body Ready Method Pro, Hypnobabies Childbirth Educator,Birth Photographer,  and Certified Health Coach. For the past six years I have been providing a distinguished level of care and evidence-based support to families in my community. Through in-depth training, I have learned many tools to physically and emotionally comfort a parent, on the path to bringing their baby into their arms. That journey, and the weeks after are a wondrous time, one that requires the utmost respect and consideration. My own experience as a mother of 3 has helped shape me into the doula I am today.

I started my journey as a birth worker while pregnant with my second child. I was overwhelmed by all I was learning, despite already having had a child. I discovered what the pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey could be when families have the tools they need to create their best experience.

Birthing Classes and Doula Support Tampa, FL

Meet Morgan

Hello! My name is Morgan Syrja. I am a fourth generation Tampa native, wife, mom of two and lover of
all things outdoors. I have always been nurturing by nature and became a caregiver at a young age.
Lived experiences have led me to take special interest in the wellness of families. I have over ten years
of experience in family and household support. My path opened to birth work when I had my son in
2017 as a young adult. I decided that I wanted to be the source of support which I really needed at that
time.

I am a labor and postpartum doula as well as a lactation support educator certified through
MaternityWise International, and am continuing my education. I believe that birth support should be
accessible to everyone in the community, and I work hard to provide each family that I serve with care
unique to their needs during their sacred journey into parenthood. I have been practicing as a doula for
three years, and am elated to be rooted with Doula Hive as a full spectrum doula.

Aubrey site

Meet Aubrey

Hi! My name is Aubrey and I am a birth doula, postpartum doula, lactation counselor, and childbirth educator serving families of the Tampa Bay area. I’m also a mother to 2 beautiful children. I love all things education, activism, and advocacy. I have a background as a Childcare Provider and Medical Technician which I credit to the start of my passion supporting families through all walks of life.

I was introduced to birth work through my own experiences as a teen mom. I struggled during my pregnancy to advocate for myself, knowing what questions to ask, and what my options were as a birthing woman. I often wondered “Is this how everyone feels?” After the birth of my first child freshly postpartum, I fell down a google rabbit hole and discovered what a doula was. I fell in love and made it my goal to empower families so they could take an active role in their care and have informed gratifying experiences. This was my calling… so I took the leap. 4 years (and many births later…) I’m incredibly honored to be a part of the Doula Hive team.

The Bloom Team

Bejay Connolly Doula

Meet Bejay

Hey! I'm Bejay Connolly, I am a wife and mother of five. I am originally from Mississippi, but have planted roots in Tampa for the better half of 25 years. I am a trained birth doula with Mama Glow and postpartum & infant care doula with ProDoula. I currently am working towards becoming a certified lactation educator to further support new parents in their feeding journeys.
My interest in birth work began when I entered nursing school as a teen mom. I knew that after completing nursing school that I did not want to be a nurse, but I knew that I wanted to help families, I was just not sure in what capacity I could do so. It wasn’t until I got pregnant with my fourth baby that I had my ‘aha’ moment and realized that being a doula was my true calling. I really fell in love with the level of care that I received from my midwifery team and thought man everyone one deserves that! It was extra comforting to know that there was a midwife on board who looked like me.
My goal is to not only provide compassionate and knowledgeable care to families during one of the most transformative times of their lives. But also, being a familiar face and providing that same level of comfort that I received to our black and brown families!
Bejay is part of our Mentorship Team, and accepts Doula clients through Doula Hive.
Rachael Barber Doula

Meet Rachael

Hi! I’m Rachael Barber and I’m an ICU nurse turned Full Spectrum Doula, a freshly postpartum mom and I’m actively working on my lactation counselor certification. I have
an intense passion for education and advocacy, as I have been on the other side of the healthcare team. I know what it feels like to be intimidated by physicians and feeling out of the loop- so demystifying medical jargon is my jam!

Being part of Doula Hive is truly a full circle moment for me, as I hired Doula Hive for my own birth. I joked that I hired a doula for my husband (he’s also an ICU nurse), as I worried more about him during labor. But genuinely, Aubrey was a key figure in keeping both me and my husband grounded throughout the journey of labor. Now whenever anyone asks ‘What should I put on my baby registry?’ Even my husband says “A doula.”

As a nurse, I knew I had choices when it came to my prenatal care and birth team. For me, that looked like a birth center, midwifery care, and doula support. As a doula, I aim to empower, equip, and educate, so that you feel supported, informed throughout the creation of your birth story. I can think of no greater honor than to be part of your birth team in helping create and share your unique story. Because at the birth of your baby, you’ll meet an entirely new you, too.

 

Rachael is part of our Mentorship Team, and accepts Doula clients through Doula Hive.

Collective Members

Our collective is comprised of community members and birth-workers who are in alignment with Doula Hive's priorities and values. Together we create greater resources, and support for families in Tampa, St. Petersburgh and beyond! To learn about membership opportunities please contact us today!

diana hirsch birth doula (2)

Meet Diana

​Hello! Welcome to our Hive! I'm Diana, founder of the Doula Hive collective. I've been a doula since 2003 and I learned that, in order to better support families, we, as doulas, have to have support as well, and working with people that we love makes us even better doulas.

I'm a certified Birth Doula, Birth Photographer, Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Educator and Instructor, Spinning Babies Certified Parent Educator, Body Ready Method Pro and mom of 3 daughters.
I found my love for everything pregnancy and birth related after the birth of my first baby, back in 2002. I loved my birth so much (I had a Doula! 🙂 that I felt like helping other people to also have a great experience.
I realized that we barely know anything about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and that it is hard to make informed decisions if you don't know your options.
I believe that birth is a big event in someone's life and I'll do my best for you to have a fantastic birth experience.
Taylor Powers

Meet Taylor

​Taylor Powers RN, BSN, IBCLC, CEIM owns Violet Lactation and offers in- home and virtual lactation consultations.  She also offers wonderful infant massage classes!

Taylor has over 15 years of experience working with families and their newborns. She believes in each mother’s journey being unique and that all families deserve individualized, compassionate support, and we couldn't agree more!

Learn more at Violet-lactation.com

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Meet our newest member!

If it feels like Doula Hive has been calling your name- maybe it has been! To learn more about our collective, and how you can grow your business, your circle, and your spirit at Doula Hive, please reach out to us via our contact page, or by calling 813.337.7227

Tampa Postpartum Doula

Meet Jocelyn

Hi! My name is Jocelyn Takacs, and I am a childcare provider and soon to be postpartum doula! I am currently pursuing my postpartum certification through Birth Advocacy Doula Training and soon after will be seeking a full spectrum certification. I am CPR and first aid certified as a part of my years of experience in childcare.

Watching my mother build this business with her amazing partners led me to exploring the world of pregnancy, birth and postpartum support, and to beginning my own journey as a doula. I am so happy to be joining this team! If I have learned anything so far, it is that education about women’s and birthing people's health is so important, not in just pregnancy and childbirth, but in life. This team and I find education and advocacy so important to discovering what works for each growing family. I am more than eager to learn and grow with such an amazing team of doulas, and build lasting relationships along the way!

The Doula Hive Vision for Tampa Bay

The Doula Hive Vision for Tampa Bay

Doula Hive is a thriving and growing collective (not agency) of birth workers coming together to cultivate an outstanding support network for families in the Tampa Bay area. If you are a birth worker in the Tampa Bay area, we would love to connect and learn about you, as well as the work you do in our beautiful community. Who knows…you might find that the Doula Hive is right where you bee-long!