About Me
Hello!
My name is Melissa and I have been happily married to Rob since 1978.
We have three children, all grown with their own families. Our daughter and her husband have 3 girls. Our youngest, a son, and his wife have 2 girls, and our middle child, also a son, and his wife have 2 girls plus the only boy of our 8 grandchildren. None of my three labors were quick and easy. I have a lot of experience doing what I will be teaching you about!
After college my career for several years was being a mom to three children. When they were 2, 4 and 6 I began to teach childbirth classes once a week at a Fresno obstetrician's office. Over the next several years I gradually added more classes, and expanded to teach breastfeeding, CPR, sibling preparation, newborn care, and after-baby classes.
In 1993, I left the obstetrician's office to begin teaching for Community Medical Centers. In 2000, Childbirth Certification became a thing and I studied to achieve my International Childbirth Education Certified Childbirth Instructor (ICCE) title. After that I began to also work at the hospital as a Lactation Educator, becoming certified through UC San Diego. In addition I have had the extreme honor of attending many births as a doula.
I continued to work at Clovis Community for 28 years, teaching childbirth classes and also as a lactation specialist at the postpartum bedside, assisting newborns from as early as 20 minutes old until their hospital discharge. This career path brought untold fulfillment as I helped expectant parents prepare for the birth of their baby, then held and assisted precious newborns with their first feedings.
I chose to take an early retirement from the hospital when all classes were cancelled in April 2020. I am now thrilled to offer childbirth classes in my home. I love the honor of being a part of expectant parents' lives at this amazing time. It is my calling and my great joy. I greatly look forward to meeting YOU and helping you have the birth experience you want!
