About Us

Michelle’s credentials:

MS.Ed, BS.Ed, MCH, MTM(CE), MTM(BD), MTM(PD),  ICCE, ICBD, ICPD, LC, CHT, CEIM, SBD  (see below for explanation of initials)

Michelle is a former certified trainer for ICEA where she offered childbirth educator, birth doula, and postpartum doula workshops.  

Michelle is the founder, owner, and director of Mothering the Mother, Inc, a non-profit organization which helps all families but has a special focus on helping teen and low income families.  

Michelle’s history, and how she began in the field.

     Michelle's interest in working in the birth field began in 2001 (when pregnant with her 7th child; she now has 9 children and one grandchild)....at that time her doctor suggested that she and her husband hire a doula for their upcoming birth.  Her doctor felt that hiring a doula would help them achieve the birth that they were looking for and also to help calm her husband's nerves so that he could be more involved in the birth (unfortunately Michelle birthed her daughter before she was able to find a doula).

     After that birthing experience the seed was planted.  Michelle spent the next two years thinking about the importance of doulas and how much she had wanted to be one.  Finally in 2003 while she was working on her masters degree and running a full time in home licensed daycare she decided to take the plunge and work towards becoming a certified birth doula and starting a birth business.         

     In 2003 she became a doula and in 2004 she graduated with her masters degree.  When Michelle began birth work she worked mainly with teen and low income families (serving families in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Ozaukee counties) - after a few years of doing that she moved onto the more traditional family, but her passion for teens and low income families never left.  In the years that followed Michelle added to her skill set by becoming a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, hypnotherapist, and licensed massage therapist.  

     In 2009 Michelle decided to follow her passion even further and she founded Mothering the Mother Incorporated - a nonprofit organization that serves all women (catering especially to the underserved population).  This organization brought together many birth professionals from around the area to help serve a larger population.

     In addition to doing birth work Michelle spent many years training and mentoring new birth professionals locally.  In 2014 she took her workshops and mentoring on the road and traveled the United States training for her organization and for ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association).  

     In 2015 she joined the ICEA Board of Directors, and held positions as the treasurer, director of public policy and communications, and director of the doula programs.  Michelle also served as the chair for the postpartum doula program (updating the program and later writing a new program called Postpartum Doula: care through the first 1,000 days)..  

     In 2016 she started her path to becoming a La Leche League Leader and went on to become a certified breastfeeding counselor and educator, and led a breastfeeding group in West Allis until 2020.  In 2022 Michelle resigned as a trainer with ICEA, but continued to train for her own organization (which she continues doing to this day).

     Michelle believes in always continuing her education and advancing her knowledge, so she regularly attends trainings and workshops to advance her skills.  To learn more about all of her trainings, certification and education please see below.   

     Michelle loves every aspect of her life and is always very grateful when someone invites her to join them on their journey through pregnancy, birth and parenting.  

Education:

Professional Massage Therapy Program (Lakeside School of Massage Therapy) / September 2006
Masters of Science in Education (Walden University) / April 2004
Bachelors of Science in Education (Alverno College) / December 1999

Certifications & Licenses:

• Aromatherapy for Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum / 2018
• Certified Breastfeeding Counselor / March 2018
• Stillbirthday Certified Doula / January 2018
• La Leche League Leader / December 2016
• Maternal Child Health Specialist / October 2016
• Hug Your Baby Certified Educator / April 2016
• ICEA Approved Postpartum Doula Trainer / September 2015 (retired)
• ICEA Postpartum Doula / August 2015
• ICEA Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness Educator / June 2015 *
• ICEA Approved Birth Doula Trainer / June 2015 (retired)
• Prenatal Care Coordination / 2015 *
• ICEA Approved Childbirth Educator Trainer / January 2014 (retired)
• ICEA Birth Doula / January 2014
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) / December 2008 *
• ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator / October 2007
• Institute of Somatic Therapy - Prenatal Massage / September 2007
• Institute of Somatic Therapy - Infant Massage / September 2007
• Massage Therapy state licensed (license #3819-046) / December 2006
• National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) / November 2006 *
• Member (American Alliance for Hypnotists) / May 2005 *
• Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (New England Institute of Hypnotherapy) / June 2006
• Master Hypnotherapist and Weight Management Specialist (New England Institute of Hypnotherapy) / October 2005
• Advanced Hypnotherapist (New England Institute of Hypnotherapy) / August 2005
• Certified Hypnotherapist (New England Institute of Hypnotherapy) / August 2005
• CAPPA Certified Postpartum Doula / May 2005 *
  CAPPA Adoption Certification / May 2005 *
• Happiest Baby on the Block Certified Educator / December 2004 *
• CAPPA Certified Childbirth Educator / September 2004 *
• CAPPA Approved Labor Doula Trainer, August 2004 *
• CAPPA Certified Labor Doula / March 2004 *
• DONA International Certified Labor Doula / December 2003 *
  

*Certifications that Michelle chose not to renew, but held at one time.

Professional Trainings: 

• Aging and Exercise: Considerations and Special Needs of Older Clients / February 2019
• Applying Research to Practice / February 2019
• Advanced Email Marketing: Tips and Techniques for Crafting Inbox Gold / February 2019
• Communication for Massage Therapists: How to Network, Interview, and Speak Like a Pro / February 2019
• Communication Techniques for the Interdisciplinary Patient Care Environment / February 2019
• Creating Devoted Clients with Simple Marketing Techniques / February 2019
• Cultural Diversity in the Patient Care Environment / January 2019
• Ethics in Therapeutic Practice / January 2019
• Ethics, Compliance, and Consequences / January 2019
• Chill Out! Stress and Burnout in the Healthcare Profession / January 2019
• Aromatherapy for Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Training / 2018
• Childbirth International Breastfeeding Counselor / 2017-2018
• Stillbirthday Doula Training / January-February 2017
• Rehab Your Social Media Marketing Strategy - Advanced Techniques, Tools and Best Practices / January 2017
• Developing a Business Plan for Your Private Practice / January 2017
• La Leche League Leader Training / December 2016
• Aromatherapy for Health Professionals / December 2016
• Stress Management During Turbulent Times: Understanding, Treating and Managing Stress / December 2016
• Overcoming Compassion Fatigue: When Helping Hurts / December 2016
• Marketing Essentials for Health Professionals / November 2016
• What is Cultural Competency? / November 2016
• Effective Online Marketing / November 2016
• Maternal Child Health Specialist / October 2016
• Overcoming Compassion Fatigue: When Helping Hurts / September 2016
• Hands on Help for Headaches / September 2016
• The Significance of of Childbirth to the Birthing Person: Influences of Care and Place For Birth / September 2016
• Learning Through Our Senses / May 2016
• Cultural Diversity in the Patient Care Environment / April 2016
• Ethics in Therapeutic Presence / April 2016
• Hug Your Baby Train the Trainer / April 2016
• Hug Your Baby Certified Educator / April 2016
• Hug Your Baby: Roadmap to Breastfeeding Strategies / January 2016
• Hug Your Baby: Hug Strategies / January 2016
• Hug Your Baby: Helping Parents Understand their Newborn / August 2015
• ICEA Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness Educator  / May 2015
• LGBT Sensitivity Training for Healthcare Workers / May 2015
• ICEA Facilitating Early Lactation Training / March 2015
• ICEA Childbirth Educator Training for continuing ed / October 2014
• VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesaran) Training / October 2014
• Social Media Strategy /August 2014
• Delegation Strategies for Managers and Supervisors / August 2014
• Caring For the Sorrow of Pregnancy and Infant Loss / April 2014
• Bereavement Training / April 2014
• Perinatal Mood Disorder training / February 2014
• Coaching and Mentoring, including Personality and Learning   Style / January 2014
• Engagement.  Culturally Responsive Practices and Strategies / January 2014
• Role of Self Care and Reflective Practice / December 2013
• ICEA Doula Training / November 2013
• Goal Planning and Family Teaming / October 2013
• ICEA Childbirth Educator Training for continuing ed / July 2013
• Supporting Moms, Supporting Babies - Domestic Violence / April 2013
• Parents as Teachers / April 2012
• Home Inventory Training Part A / November / December 2011
• Strengthening Families / November 2011
• Parent Cafe / November 2011
• ASQ Training / October 2011
• Home Visitation Training / October 2011
• Facilitator Training / September 2011
• Great Beginnings Start Before Birth / September 2011
• Trauma Informed Care / August 2011
• Supporting Infants and Toddlers / August 2011
• Couple to Couple Natural Family Planning Teacher Training / July 2011
• Brio Birth Educator Training / January 2011*
• DONA International Postpartum Doula Training / November 2010
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) / December 2008
• ICEA Perinatal Fitness Educator / September 2007
• Institute of Somatic Therapy - Prenatal Massage / February 2007
• Institute of Somatic Therapy - Massage Doula - February 2007
• Institute of Somatic Therapy - Infant Massage - February 2007
• ICEA Childbirth Educator Training / July 2006
• CAPPA Advanced Adoption Training / May 2005
• CAPPA Postpartum Doula Training / December 2004
• Happiest Baby Educator Training / November 2004
• Perinatal Mood Disorders (prenatal and postpartum depression issues) / October 2004
• Hospital based couple's massage class / September 2004
• DONA Advanced Labor Doula Training / September 2004
• CAPPA Childbirth Education Training / August 2004
• Teen Support Professional Training / July 2004
• DONA International Birth Doula Training / March 2003
• Couple to Couple League Natural Family Planning Training / 

Wondering what Michelle’s credentials and for?

MS.Ed - Masters of Science in Education

BS.Ed Bachelors of Science in Education

MTM(CE) - Mothering the Mother Childbirth Educator

MTM(BD) - Mothering the Mother Birth Doula

MTM(PD) - Mothering the Mother Postpartum Doula
LMT - Licensed Massage Therapist (retired)
ICCE - ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator
ICBD - ICEA Certified Birth Doula
ICPD - ICEA Certified Postpartum Doula

ICPFE - ICEA Perinatal Fitness Educaator
IAT(CE-BD-PD) - ICEA Approved Trainer for Childbirth Education, Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula (retired)
MCH - Maternal Child Health Specialist

LC - Certified Lactation Counselor
CPMT - Certified Prenatal Massage Therapist (retired)
CHT - Certified Hypnotherapist
CEIM - Certified Educator of Infant Massage 

SBD - Stillbirthday Certified Doula