I'm MeriBeth. I am a Christian, a wife and homeschooling mother of six boys and a beautiful little girl. I believe the day a woman gives birth is one of the most memorable days of her life. I want to protect that day by helping her achieve her birth desires, if possible, and I want to enhance the birthing team by offering information, education, prayer, encouragement, and continuos care and attention. Every woman deserves to feel empowered to make informed decisions and able to use her God given ability to birth the way she desires. I love my work because I know I make a difference in the lives of the people I get to know and work with. I love it more because of the way each one of them impacts me. I’ve been trained by Doulas of North America (DONA) as a birth doula and with Childbirth And Postpartum Professional Associates (CAPPA) as a labor Doula. I was a breastfeeding peer counselor with the Venango County WIC office. I am a certified Christian childbirth educator (CCBE) and certified Christian doula (CCD) with Cascade Christian Childbirth Association. I am trained as an emergency medical technician (EMT). I offer midwifery services as a direct-entry midwife. I also work as a birth assistant and back-up midwife for other area midwives.
What is a doula?
A doula is a non-medical person, specifically trained to help a woman before, during and after the birth of her baby. Doulas focus on education and support, empowering and reminding the mother of her wishes in normal circumstances and helping her stay informed in emergency circumstances. A doula works to enhance the "birthing team" and never takes the place of the spouse or partner.
What is a Montrice?
A Montrice is a labor support person who can monitor mom and baby's vitals at home before heading into the hospital. This includes blood pressure, temperature, baby's heartbeat, and cervical dilation. This option is great for moms who are unable to have a home birth, but want a natural birth and want to labor at home as long as possible before heading into the hospital. Once in the hospital, support is provided in the role of a doula only.
Want more information?
Please contact me and request an information pack or schedule a free no obligation consultation at
.Joanna McAfee is the other half of the Merry Blessings team. She is a homeschooling soccer-mom to a busy group of boys and a little princess. Joanna trained with Childbirth And Postpartum Professionals Association (CAPPA) as a labor doula. Joanna is a new direct-entry midwife, a midwife's assistant, an experienced doula and breast feeding support person. She absolutely loves her work and is passionate about educating women. Her willingness to empower, educate and serve women makes her an essential part of the Merry Blessings family!
Merry Blessings is proud to welcome Cindy Wilson to our team. Cindy is a homeschooling mom to four busy teens. She is a new doula and midwife's assistant and is excited to serve in and around the Indiana, PA area. Cindy is currently training with Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association (CAPPA) and is hoping to finish her labor doula certification any day. While she does love out-of-hospital births, Cindy has a heart for serving women planning hospital births. She is an excellent smile to add our MBBS family!
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Hello, I am Carla Baccelli, a midwife's assistant new to the Merry Blessing's team. I am a mother of two, and a wife to a wonderful husband. My heart is with Christ. I spend most of my time cooking with my kiddos, farming, and studying midwifery. It fills me with such peace and joy to be present at a birth. I love meeting the families and serving women as they bring their little ones into the world!
