WHO WE ARE…

We are a holistic birth company that integrates yoga with pregnancy, provides tailored guidance during birth, and advocates for perinatal wellness.

Brittany and Stephanie met at a labor doula training in October 2015, and launched Apple Birth & Wellness in 2016. As owners of a birth company, it’s critical for our team to reflect our compassionate care philosophy, commitment to health equity and anti-racism, and to have an appropriate level of snark and love of GIFs. You can rest assured that anyone you hire from our team will be an amazing support person for you and your family!

 

Stephanie Cruse, MA

Stephanie Cruse, MA

Owner | Birth Doula |Postpartum Doula | Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Teacher | Childbirth Educator | Integrative Health & Wellness Coach

Reassuring, Sincere, Humorous

My unique vibe: Tuning into you and your partner and holding space for you to say the things you feel like you can’t say to anyone else, ask the questions you think are “silly”, and being a strong, steady, and mood-lifting presence for you during labor.

Birth happens from the brain, so we’re going to work a lot on the mental and emotional pieces for birth prep in order to help you effectively manage the intensity and discomforts of labor.

Specialties: Pregnancy and New Parent Coaching, Mindful Resilience From Trauma, Supporting Clients with Anxiety, TENS Unit Trained

Favorite podcast/TV show: Unlocking Us / Parks & Rec / Ted Lasso

Brittany Dowell, RN

Brittany Dowell, RN

Owner | Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula | Prenatal Yoga Teacher | Childbirth Educator | Certified Breastfeeding Specialist

Loyal, Warm, Brave

My unique vibe: Each client and family is unique but we all have the same need for respect, safety, and support. I come to work with each family and assess their individual needs to determine how I can best support them to have a positive experience.

There’s no one perfect way to have/parent a baby; there’s only what’s right for you and your family.

Specialties: VBAC

Favorite podcast/TV show: New Girl

Rebecca Henry

Rebecca Henry

Birth Doula | Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Teacher

Generous, Empathetic, Communicative

My unique vibe: All births are good births – no matter what they look like. My job is to lead you through the experience that you want to have, not to convince you of otherwise.

We are a team – mom is the president of the team, with your partner there as the vice-president, and as the doula, I’m the CFO or financial officer – I’m there in the background with information so that you can make the most informed choices. But mom is the leader – we follow her lead.

Specialties: Spinning Babies, Pre/Postnatal Yoga Teacher, Pelvic Floor Yoga Certified, Trained in Supporting Clients with Trauma

Favorite podcast/TV show: This American Life

Shaina Moreira

Shaina Moreira

Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula | Prenatal Yoga Teacher

Empathetic, Diligent, Adventurous

My unique vibe: My approach is to establish a deep and meaningful connection with clients. Building a relationship by listening, sharing, and holding space for birthers (and their partners) helps to establish the trust necessary for families to have fulfilling and meaningful experiences throughout the entire birthing process.

I am committed to providing you with a safe and comfortable environment with unbiased support, that empowers you to make the right decisions for yourself and your family.

Specialties: Spinning Babies, Rebozo Method, Feldenkrais Method, B.S. in Early Childhood Education

Favorite podcast/TV show: Seinfeld

Sharnice Senior

Sharnice Senior

Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula

Vibrant, Personable, Motivated

My unique vibe: I support each client based on their needs.

Remember to stay hydrated!

Specialties: High-Risk Pregnancy, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

Favorite podcast/TV show: For the past year, it’s been the BabyFirst TV Channel!

Jaely Chamberlain Turner

Jaely Chamberlain Turner

Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula

Authentic, Warm, Intuitive

My unique vibe: I have become increasingly passionate about helping birthing people tune into, trust, and find their voices to advocate for what their inner knowing is telling them, as they navigate a culture that can easily pull them away from their own invaluable wisdom.

Specialties: High-risk pregnancy, Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Teacher, Postpartum Peer Mentor

Favorite podcast/TV show: The Birth Hour and Caffeine for the Soul!

Ariel Rubin, CLC

Ariel Rubin, CLC

Certified Lactation Counselor

Adventurous, Kind, Attentive

My unique vibe: Meeting families where they are, always checking in on their goals before offering advice.

Every parent should have support to feed their baby.

Specialties: High-risk pregnancies, Twins/multiples

Amal Hammoudeh

Amal Hammoudeh

Birth Doula | Postpartum Doula

Sincere, Objective, Thoughtful

My unique vibe: I work with you to be present in this journey and be emotionally in sync with your body, to make sure we are taking care of your needs.

I will listen to you and I will hear you, and I will support you the best way I can.

Specialties: VBAC, Support after a traumatic birth, sibling preparation

Podcast: Eib | Show: Outlander

Lisa Signorile

Lisa Signorile

Birth Doula

Empathetic, Big-Hearted, Supportive

My unique vibe: Showing up with a smile and sticking by your side with empowerment, positivity and reassurance every step of the way!

You’ve got this, breathe and let your body lead.

Specialties: Spinning Babies, Pregnancy, Birth & Newborn Photography, Experienced Nanny

Favorite podcast/TV show: The Birthful Podcast

Olga A Kochergina

Olga A Kochergina

Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula

Open, Soft, Attentive

My unique vibe: I aim to create space for folks to be generous with themselves; to deemphasize outcomes and prioritize the experience; to help understand what tools are available, their roles and limitations. I will love learning about you, and internal and external journeys you are taking.

Specialties: VBAC, releasing anxiety, parenting

Favorite podcast/TV show: Stephen Universe, Adventure Time, Bluey

Tonya Howe

Tonya Howe

Postpartum Doula

Observant, Candid, Silly

My unique vibe: I enjoy watching birthing people step into their power, advocate for themselves, and transition into parenthood right in front of my eyes. I have found that families prepare for birth but seldom do so for postpartum and I love to step in to provide an extra pair of hands, validation, support, and resources.

You have a CHOICE.
Favorite Podcasts: Adulting, The Read, J.Ill the Podcast
Favorite Shows: Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Peaky Blinders, Ozark
Alison Knotek

Alison Knotek

Birth Doula

Eager, enthusiastic, empathetic (triple E!)

My unique vibe: Empathy, Support, and Education.

It doesn’t matter how or where you have your baby, I will educate you on your options and support you in any way you need.

Specialties: High-risk pregnancies, Twins/multiples, VBAC, Support after a traumatic birth

Favorite podcast/TV show:

Currently, Smartless (podcast) and Shameless (even though it just ended)

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We serve the Washington, D.C. area, including the communities of

Adams Morgan, Alexandria, Arlington, Annandale, Bethesda, Brightwood, Brookland, Burke, Capitol Hill, Chevy Chase, Clarendon, College Park, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, Fairfax, Falls Church, Foggy Bottom, Fort Totten, Fort Belvoir, Friendship Heights, Glover Park, Georgetown, Hyattsville, Logan Circle, Lorton, McLean, Merrifield, Mount Pleasant, Mt. Rainier, Navy Yard, Oakton, Palisades, Penn Quarter, Petworth, Reston, Rockville, Silver Spring, Springfield, Takoma Park, Tenleytown, Tysons Corner, Vienna, Woodbridge, Woodley Park, and more.