All Gentle Seed Doulas work in a team of two for your pregnancy, birth & postpartum. Your team is always on-call for you. We match doulas and families by personality and availability for your estimated due date. We are excited to meet you and learn your birth and postpartum goals!
Birth Doula (CD), Certified Infant Sleep Consultant
Melissa Burton is a Certified Labor Doula and has her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Cincinnati. Her training and education includes certification through CAPPA and Spinning Babies.
Melissa’s interest in birth was sparked during her first pregnancy and continued to grow after the birth of her second and third children. In addition to becoming a mother, always a listening ear and helping hand for her friends during their pregnancies and postpartum helped Melissa realize her passion for supporting moms and families through the transition to parenthood. Becoming a birth professional is something that felt natural to her.
A Cincinnati native, Melissa resides in Anderson with her husband, son and four daughters. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, getting together with friends, reading and running. Melissa can’t wait to support new and growing families.
Melissa Burton
Alyssa Overkamp
Birth Doula (CD), Placenta Encapsulation Specialist
Alyssa came to birth work in 2018 desiring to bring support and empowerment to all those giving birth. While getting her Bachelor’s degree in Public and Community Health from the University of Cincinnati, she realized she wanted to work in women’s health.
Seeing new parents welcome life into the world is such a joy to her. Besides being a certified birth doula through DONA, she is our certified placenta encapsulation specialist.
Alyssa loves spending time with her daughter, husband, and pup. When not at a birth, you can find her hiking, reading, or in the garden.
Postpartum Doula (CPD)
After 4 years of leading an Infant Montessori classroom at Lifespan Montessori in Athens, GA, Lauren realized that one of her biggest strengths in the classroom was communicating with parents and guiding new families.
In September of 2020 she became Postpartum Doula certified through DONA and is eager to support families while they experience their 4th Trimester. Lauren is delighted to be starting her postpartum doula career with the Gentle Seed Doula team.
As well as providing comfort to new families, Lauren is also passionate in creating Montessori spaces for little ones in the home. She enjoys cooking, has a background in singing and songwriting, and is constantly developing her Japanese culture, as she is a quarter Japanese.
Lauren is from all over, having grown up in California, Nevada, Japan, New Jersey, and spent the last 5 years in Georgia. With family close by, she is happy to be settling down in Ohio with her husband Charlie, and are certainly enjoying the newlywed bliss.
Lauren Caldwell
Supporting Your Child's Birth
We Believe In You
All Gentle Seed Doulas work in a team of two for your pregnancy, birth & postpartum. We match doulas and families by personality and availability for your estimated due date. We are excited to meet you and learn your birth and postpartum goals.
Carly Schutte
Birth Doula (CD)
Carly Schutte is a certified CAPPA Labor Doula. She has a B.A. in Anthropology from Northern Kentucky University and is an International Nanny Association Credentialed Nanny.
Carly became interested in supporting families during her time as an outreach educator with the Cincinnati Museum Center. When COVID necessitated a career change, she jumped into action as a professional nanny and has been looking for new ways to support the community ever since. In 2023, Carly completed her mentorship with Gentle Seed Doulas as a Labor Doula and officially joined the team shortly after. As part of her doula journey, Carly will be completing another mentorship with Gentle Seed Doulas in 2024 to begin work as a Postpartum Doula.
In her free time, Carly can be found enjoying the great outdoors either hiking or riding her beloved horse through wonderful natural spaces in Cincinnati.
Birth Doula (CD), Doula Mentor, Birth Doula
Lisa Suttschenko is a native Cincinnatian and has three sons ages 23, 19 and 14. She lives in Loveland where she enjoys being outdoors with her active family and loves to travel. Supporting families through pregnancy, birth and parenthood is her passion. Because of the unwavering support she received during her pregnancies and births, Lisa was inspired to start a career as a birth doula. She believes that having someone there solely devoted to you makes all of the difference in your birthing experience.
Her birthwork education includes doula certification through ToLabor, Gina Kirby’s Rebozo workshop, Spinning Babies training workshop, NRP certification, and Simplicity Parenting Coach. For the past 12+ years, Lisa has been a full time birth doula assisting almost 1000 families as they prepare and birth their babies. She greatly enjoys being a mentor to new doulas while encouraging them and the families they work with!
Lisa Suttschenko
Courtney McGhee
Postpartum Doula (CLC)
Courtney McGhee is a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula and also has her B.F.A. in Photography, and a B.A in Anthropology. She is passionate about mothers receiving the support and care they need and deserve, both during and after pregnancy.
Courtney’s doula journey began many years ago while dealing with infertility issues. While researching, she learned about birth doulas, and how much of a positive impact they can have on birth outcomes, and knew that she would use one when the time came. When she got pregnant about 5 years ago, she hired a birth doula, and was thrilled with the experience. Since then, she studied with Childbirth International and Madriella to complete her certifications, and follow her passion for birth work.
Courtney is originally from Colorado and moved to Florence, KY with her husband, son (4) and stepdaughters (15, & 17) in 2020. In her spare time she enjoys crocheting, macrame, and spending time outdoors.
Postpartum Doula (CPD)
Julia Hall is a certified postpartum doula with a wealth of experience. She began her journey working with Cincinnati families as a nanny during her teenage years and has now found fulfillment in dedicating herself to supporting families in the postpartum stage. Her passion for postpartum care was ignited when she had the privilege of assisting a family welcoming a newborn baby girl. Observing the profound bond between mothers and their infants has deeply inspired her, leading her to pursue a career as a doula to provide invaluable support to families during this significant period. Julia is happily married to her high school sweetheart, and in their down time, they enjoy leisurely strolls around Hyde Park with their beloved husky puppy.
Julia Hall
Courtney Stradling
Postpartum Doula (CLC)
Courtney Stradling is a certified lactation counselor (CLC), postpartum doula, and yoga teacher. She has a bachelor’s degree from Wright State University. She is married to her high school sweetheart. They have one little boy who is four. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and taking classes. After a difficult postpartum experience, she learned how important it is to have a village supporting you. Courtney is passionate about teaching new mothers to advocate for themselves and get the quality of care they deserve.Postpartum Doula (CPD)
Delayne Thornburg has been working with families and children for 28 years. She loves helping parents adjust to life with a new addition by supporting them through the day or night in postpartum. She enjoys supporting parents as they navigate their new normal. Baby snuggles are a bonus!