Our Team

Ariana and Katy have been friends for more than a decade, and business partners since 2017. They share a belief in physiological birth, evidence based care, and informed choice.  They also know a birthing person’s intuition and connection with their baby is more powerful than is often given credit. All our instructors share the values of empowered choice in all aspects of maternity and postpartum care.

Their work as birth workers in the community keeps their fingers on the pulse of local and current expectations and practices, ensuring the most up-to-date info for their students and clients. Teaching with love and respect has been a passion in their work as doulas, and translates seamlessly into the role of childbirth educators.

photo of Ariana Riegel, LLMSW in a suit jacket and teal shirt. She has blond shoulder length wavy hair and clear glasses. There is a white fence behind her and the sun shining down on her. Ariana Riegel, LLMSW

Ariana is a therapist, parent, Lamaze trained childbirth educator, and occasional doula with a passion for infant and maternal mental health. She has been attending births and teaching childbirth preparation classes since 2014. Seeing expectant folks take ownership of their birth experiences and flourish as parents is one of her favorite parts of this work. This childbearing/rearing time is filled with both vulnerability and opportunity, and she hopes that parents come through being able to lean into both. She lives in Ypsilanti, MI with her partner, two kids, and two cats.

Phot of Katy Gladwin in a oatmeal sweater and green shirt surrounded by fall prairie. She has blond hair and glasses and a big smile. Katy Gladwin, CBD, NBC-HWC, WHC, CHC

Katy is a mother, women’s health coach, doula, childbirth educator and women’s advocate.  She has been teaching childbirth ed for the past 10+ years, starting as an instructor through Pregnancy Arts, and fell in love with the laid-back style,  evidence-based information, as well as supporting families to tap into their own strengths and power. Katy is an active doula, supporting families through preparation and advocacy. She lives in the woods in Ypsilanti with her husband,  son,  daughter, and pets.

Jill Mailing, IBCLC, IFSS Photo of Jill Mailing standing next to a tree. She has long brown hair and big smile. Jill is wearing an oatmeal sweater and a teal and brown pashmini scarf.

Jill is a holistic sleep coach, Certified Lactation Counselor, IBCLC candidate, and mama. She is passionate about helping families understand biological infant sleep, meet their feeding goals, and find joy in parenting by leaning into their instincts. Jill teaches prenatal sleep & breastfeeding classes and provides in-home consults for expecting & new families. She lives in Ann Arbor with her partner, daughter, dog, and many plants.

Photo of Grace Willis in a doula shirt with her birth bag over one shoulder and her hand on her hip. She has shoulder length dark curly hair and a big smile. Grace Willis-Fritz

Grace is a wife, mother, birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and auntie. She is passionate about physiological birth and finds joy in educating and supporting families throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journeys. She has been attending births since the spring of 2021, and mentored with Katy Gladwin as she began her journey into birthwork. She lives in Howell, MI with her husband and sweet cat Marshmallow.

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