A home birthing twin mama to five with over fifteen years of experience in birth work as a Full-Spectrum Doula, Birth Assistant, Childbirth Educator, and Student Midwife currently pursuing licensure in the state of Florida, Marisa brings together lived experience, clinical exposure, and community rooted knowledge in a way that cannot be taught from textbooks alone. For more than a decade, she has educated families preparing for birth and early parenthood, helping them understand their options, navigate in & out of medical systems, and approach birth with clarity and confidence. Her work is informed not only by years spent supporting families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and loss, but also by her own journeys through pregnancy and home birth, giving her an embodied understanding of the emotional, physical, and cultural dimensions of birth.

As a dedicated mentor, educator, and advocate, she has guided many emerging birth workers as they step into this work while supporting countless families throughout the childbearing year. Her approach is grounded in traditional birth practices, herbal knowledge, and a deep commitment to reproductive autonomy, while also recognizing the realities families navigate within modern medical systems. Marisa’s work centers dignity, informed choice, and culturally rooted care, ensuring families feel supported, respected, and truly seen as they move through one of the most transformative seasons of their lives.

A mother of three, Shayla is a Certified Holistic Birth and Postpartum Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, High School Counselor, maternal sepsis advocate, and a core member of The Better Birth Worker team. Her journey into birth work began with her family’s decision to have a home birth, which inspired the creation of Malawi’s House Birth Supply and later evolved into work centered on postpartum care support, childbirth education, and expanding community resources for families beyond birth. Her approach is shaped by both professional training and lived experience, allowing her to offer grounded, compassionate support to families as they navigate pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.

Driven to deepen her impact, Shayla is pursuing a Doctorate in Human Services with a specialization in Leadership and Organizational Management, with research focused on Black maternal and infant health outcomes. She also founded Malawi’s House Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing evidence based maternal health education and financial assistance for families seeking out of institution birth care with professional midwives. Through advocacy, education, and direct support, Shayla continues working to expand access to safe, respectful, and culturally responsive care for families in her community.