Cora Crain is a Master Massage Therapist, Certified Doula, Childbirth Educator, and the owner of Balanced Mama. She received her certification in Massage Therapy in 2001 from White River School of Massage in Fayetteville, AR. Her massage career soon led her to an invitation to attend her first birth of a friend in 2002, where a passion for serving women in their childbearing years was ignited.
She received training as a doula through DONA that same year and completed a more extensive certification through Birth Works of Central Arkansas in 2008. She has now attended close to 300 births.
Throughout the continued years of her career, Cora has acquired over 400 hours of continuing education, including focused study of reflexology, oncology, myofascial release, and craniosacral therapy. But the majority of her continued education and experience lies in prenatal and postpartum massage. Her most recent passion and education completing an extensive prenatal balancing bodywork training and becoming certified as a Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner. All of this, combined with over a decade of doula experience, gives Cora a deep understanding and connection with the needs of the body, mind, and spirit during the childbearing year of a woman’s life. She loves being an important part in promoting health and well-being as well as positive experiences during this most important time in a woman’s life.
Desiree Girard–Baxter is a Birth, Bereavement, and Postpartum Doula, and a Certified Lactation Counselor. She is certified and trained through DONA International, Stillbirthday, and the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice. She is a Babywearing Educator through the Babywearers of Central Arkansas, a non-profit group dedicated to promoting babywearing, and is the current librarian for the Little Rock branch of the BCA. Desiree runs the Big Blue Blanket, a postpartum support group that meets weekly at Balanced Mama. She is also a yoga instructor (RYT200), and hosts our bi-monthly prenatal and postpartum yoga classes. She is dedicated to ensuring that families flourish and thrive during their year of childbearing and postpartum- no matter what challenges come their way! Learn more about Desiree by visiting desireethedoula.com. You can also reach out to her directly through desiree.girard.baxter@gmail.com or 501-952-8241.
Melanie Robinson is the newest doula at Balanced Mama! For Melanie, personal experience became an opportunity for service. As with many doulas, her own birth stories led her to birth work by experiencing what a difference personal education and support can make. She is a DONA certified birth doula, and is currently working on her childbirth education certification. Melanie is a Texas native living in Little Rock with her three children and husband. She is eager to work with all types of families to help them have their best birth experience, and find joy in the process. You can follow her on Instagram @melanie_thedoula, or get in touch directly through melanie.carlile.robinson@gmail.com or 501-766-7945.
Christina Frey has spent her physical therapy career in pediatrics, treating babies and educating parents on gross motor development. When she became a mom of two girls, her perspective shifted to fully understanding the natural and variable progression of gross motor development. She has a unique family-friendly perspective that is baby led, play based, and appreciates a natural timeline. Cristina is passionate about providing tools to parents to help cultivate their parenting instincts when it comes to gross motor development. Learn more about Christina at balancedbebe.com.