Who We Are

Charity Bean, CMA, CFSD,CHW, SPM

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Charity Founder

I am a certified pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and postpartum doula specializing in hospital births. With multiple certifications, including Medical Assistant, Lactation Consultant, and Certified Community Health Worker, I bring a wealth of expertise to maternal care. My midwifery journey began on January 8, 2024, at the Midwives College of Utah, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. With 15 years of experience in the medical field (spanning primary care, trauma, psych, ER, and birthing units), I serve as a Bi-State Maternal and Infant Health Advocate, focusing on Black Maternal Health.
As the founder of The Doula Lab Pregnancy Resource Center in Belleville, Illinois, and owner of Doula Bean Maternal Care, LLC, my goal is to become a midwife and establish a freestanding birthing center in St. Clair County, Illinois. My passion for birth work, rooted in my experience as a teen mom and my medical career, is driven by a commitment to addressing disparities in maternal care for BIPOC families. I aim not only to raise awareness but also to be the change our healthcare system needs.
 
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Marvela Ying-Clayburne, BS,CD,CBE

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Charity Organizer

Full Spectrum Doula, Surrogacy Doula, Adoption Doula, Childbirth Educator and Advocate

I am Marvele Ying, the Founder and principal doula at M-Brace Birthing LLC. As a dedicated mother, wife, daughter, granddaughter, aunt, advocate and community collaborator. My personal birthing experiences have propelled me into this sacred work. I l believe birth is a transformative journey for families. My goal is to ensure this transformation is positive, leaving families closer and more loving than before. Whether providing emotional, physical or informational support. I strive to anticipate needs and to facilitate a smooth birthing experience. Specializing as a Full Spectrum Doula; I offer support for Adoption, Surrogacy and bereavement. I compliment these certifications alongside Lactation Support Management, CPR, Hypnobirthing, spinning babies and Evidence Based Birthing Education. 

 

Charisse Montgomery-BS,CHWc, CPRS, LC, CPST, CIMI
Certified Birth Doula
Owner of Black Butterfly Doula

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I am Charisse and as far as I can remember, I have been positioned and afforded the opportunities to empower children, girls and women. From my days on the playgrounds, in higher education and in many job positions over my 20-year career in the healthcare field. I have always felt that my purpose was to stand in the gap for those who felt unheard, unseen and unloved. I have been positioned as "Mama" and/or mentor in one form or another to those that were in need. Those who have come along my path over the years seeking emotional, physical and spiritual support. I have been fortunate to assist because God has blessed me with capacity of aid.

Drawing back on my first experiences as a new mother and reflecting on what my mother and grandmother implanted in me while in their care. I than knew that I wanted to offer those things to my own family. After supporting and coaching my daughter from prenatal through postpartum with my first grandchild, I realized that I wanted and needed to birth something that would serve my own community of birthing persons and their families in the same manner. I also wanted to be a guided with the same type of tender hands that encouraged, nurtured and fed my spirit.
 

Talia- Nurse/Midwife

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Talia is a nurse-midwife, graduate from Vanderbilt University in 2019. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, massage therapist, and L&D nurse previous to becoming a midwife. Talia is married with a beautiful blended family with 5 kids. Talia came from a family of an OBGYN father and OB nurse mother, so pregnancy and birth has been a normal part of her whole life. She has midwifery experience at a hospital, freestanding birth center and home birth. She is happy working at Mercy Birth Center serving the St. Louis and Metro East communities.

Dr. Adriena Beatty, DO, OBGYN

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The most important skill I believe an OB/GYN should have is being personable because the situations that we deal with are very personal in nature. And so, I think you need to be personable and down to earth and relatable, so that people can actually tell you their situations that they may not want to tell somebody else.

Bio: Specialty
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Board Certifications
American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Affiliations
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
 Medical School
Nova Southeastern University
Residency
Genesys Regional Medical Center-Obstetrics and Gynecology
CEO: Made it to Mommy
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Kyra L. Betts, B.S, M.S.

Director of Special Projects
As a dedicated professional with expertise as a full spectrum doula, childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and safe birth advocate, I am eager to utilize my experience and education to drive positive change in maternal health policies, procedures, and legislation. I firmly believe that every individual should have access to safe birth, as it is a fundamental human right. Throughout the reproductive journey, including pre-pregnancy, postpartum, as well as during experiences such as abortion, adoption, and infertility, I am committed to supporting and empowering birthing people.

In addition to my comprehensive knowledge and support in all aspects of reproductive health, I specialize in infant care and parental education. By providing parents with essential information on the safest practices that can potentially save their babies' lives, I actively work to dispel generational myths that have contributed to the alarmingly high infant mortality rate among Black babies. It is my firm belief that through education and awareness, we can create a more equitable and healthy future for all families.

By leveraging my diverse skill set and passion for reproductive health, I am dedicated to advocating for better policies and procedures that prioritize the well-being and rights of individuals during the critical stages of their reproductive journey. I am committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders, community leaders, and policymakers to enact meaningful changes that improve the quality of maternal health care and ensure equitable access for all.

Contact Us

Send us a message using the form below.
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Support  The Doula Lab

Together we can make a difference.

Community members and organizations can make a profound impact by supporting The Doula Lab through sponsorships and donations. Your contributions help us continue our mission to educate, advocate, and empower birthing individuals, especially those in underserved communities.

By sponsoring our programs or events, you’re directly contributing to the health and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Sponsorships help fund essential resources such as prenatal and postpartum classes, lactation consulting, childbirth education, mental health support, and access to necessary baby items like diapers, wipes, and newborn essentials. Additionally, donations enable us to expand our reach, provide free or low-cost services, and ensure every person receives the support they need during their pregnancy journey, regardless of financial means.

Organizations can also collaborate with us by offering in-kind donations, hosting fundraising events, or partnering with us on community projects to improve maternal health outcomes. Together, we can create lasting change and improve birth outcomes for families, one birth at a time.

Your support is vital to our mission, and every dollar or donation helps us continue to serve, educate, and uplift the community.