Check out our Birth, Babies and Breastfeeding Virtual Academy online courses! Click for more info!
Angela with her kids at Nutmeg Consulting

Nutmeg Consulting is proud to offer
non-judgmental support THROUGHOUT YOUR PARENTING JOURNEY!

Owner and founder, Angela Grant Buechner has assembled a team of amazing professionals who have a passion for caring for new parents, babies and their families during Pregnancy, Birth, and the often stressful and exhausting Postpartum months after having a baby.

Untitled (18 × 10 in) (1)

Angela Grant Buechner BA, BScN, RN, IBCLC

The Owner and Founder of Nutmeg Consulting, Angela Grant Buechner, is a Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Birth Doula and Educator, who has spent over 20 years working with new parents and babies.

Angela (she/her) has worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at a major, Toronto teaching hospital as a nurse for over 20 years, has worked as a Childbirth Educator for Peel Public Health, and since 2009 has worked as an NICU Lactation Consultant. Angela is a published author of a textbook chapter on Breastfeeding Challenges in the NICU, she is the current President of the Canadian Lactation Consultant Association, is a Breastfeeding Educator for Health Care Professionals, and has presented at the International Lactation Consultants Association Conference.

Angela is a mother of three exclusively breastfed children and she knows the benefits and rewards of breastfeeding/chestfeeding, but also understands that there are often challenges to overcome. As a Lactation Consultant she understands the importance of providing NON-JUDGMENTAL support to help you reach YOUR feeding goals, no matter how things are going.  Angela offers Private Breastfeeding Prep consults, and she can provide Private Lactation Support for any feeding challenges you experience once your baby is born.

Angela has also worked as a Birth Doula since 1998, and has been privileged to attend hundreds of births ranging from beautiful home births to amazing Cesareans (and everything in-between!) Angela has experienced 2 un-medicated births and a wonderful cesarean birth, and so she has built a team of supportive, non-judgmental Birth & Postpartum Doulas who are happy to offer support to all parents who wish the support of a Birth Doula, no matter what kind of birth you want!  We believe in providing care for all types of birth, and continue that support throughout the Postpartum months!

MEET THE TEAM

Our Birth Doulas can offer constant, professional and unbiased support to you throughout your pregnancy labour & birth • Lactation Consultant sessions can bring non-judgmental support into your home or hospital room, to help you • Registered Nurse Education Sessions can help you feel ready to take on all the new things to come (so you can take care of the new tiny person you just brought home!) • Our Postpartum Doulas can help you during the transition to parenthood, day or night, and allow you to better enjoy this new role • Our other amazing professionals can help you to get more sleep, feel better and will support you through out the whole process!

We look forward to supporting you!

Brittany Marziani, ECE

Brittany is a passionate postpartum caregiver. She focusses on the new family as a whole instead of just a new baby. She has critical background knowledge and experience from her time as an early childhood educator and a postpartum doula. 

Having helped over 100 babies in her career. Brittany has a wealth of knowledge in areas regarding breastfeeding, bottle feeding, swaddling, sleep safety, and tips for calming everyone’s mind. As a mom to two little ones she has been through the postpartum experience and can easily relate to how new parents are feeling. Brittany’s goal in life is to ensure new families get off to the best start possible.

In addition to offering overnight Postpartum Doula support, she is available for consults for parents and caregivers to learn about developmentally beneficial ways to play with their babies and children.  Brittany also facilitates our Nutmeg Moms Toronto Meetups!

Natalya Wheeler

Natalya has always had a knack for working with people. After nine years working in Customer Service and Management, she is able to anticipate people’s needs and expectations. Once Natalya was exposed to the world of Birth/Postpartum, she knew the career fit her perfectly.

Since attending the Maternal Support Practitioner (MSP) course with Bebomia in 2016, Natalya has become so passionate working in this field, supporting new families. She has truly learned the power of the birthing person, and especially enjoys supporting the strong bond between partners during such a special time.

AIDAN BLACK-ALLEN

Aidan has worked with families and children for over 10 years, and during her own pregnancy she truly realized how vital prenatal and postnatal support is to new parents. As a Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, Infant Sleep Educator/Holistic Sleep Coach and Lactation Educator, she is 100% committed to her clients. 

Aidan knows that this time in your life is a rollercoaster of emotions and is determined to provide the tools you need to navigate your unique family’s circumstances.  She will find ways to help your babies sleep better (and longer!) without sacrificing our own emotional and physical needs.  Her holistic, attachment based approach honours babies’ needs while making sure you get the necessary rest and relaxation to be your best.  

Katia rock

As a Certified Doula with over 30+ births and 100+ postpartum clients in experience, Katia’s is very experienced with aiding couples to develop assurance and self confidence as they embark on their new adventure into parenthood.

Katia equips her clients with evidence-based information so that they are able to make informed decisions throughout the pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.  She is a mother of four who experienced a very different birth journey with each of her children. They each had their own individual challenges and like many of us she had no outside support or knowledge of doulas at the time.

Katia has always been described as a natural nurturer and mother. She is empathetic to the fears and worries that come with prenatal and postnatal concerns for parents.  She believes it is an honour and a privilege to be invited to take part in the most personal and private moment in a client’s life.  Her goal is to be encouraging and supportive as she guides clients during birth and the transition from birth to the beginning of parenthood. Whether you choose breastfeeding/chestfeeding or bottle feeding sh can guide you through that new
experience and aid you in honing your parenting skills.

Julie Saunders

Julie has been a birth and postpartum Doula for 7 years, and thinks preparing people for birth and parenthood is a ton of fun. Helping parents feel more prepared and ready is the greatest reward.

Her gift is her natural intuitive ability to connect with people quickly and create intimate bonds. This is pivotal to the foundation of trust that leads to her ability to support positive birth experiences for both the labouring person as well as her partner. It can be difficult to convey the value of a Doula to a person yet to experience labour and postpartum. She finds that often it’s not until one has had the “doula experience” that they learn the true value of one. 

Julie has three kids of her own, and when she is not at a birth or lending a hand with newborn babes, she’s adventuring through life with her partner Scott.  They collectively raise 5 little humans, and she loves to read, travel, play monopoly, listen to live music, read anything birth related, and thinks podcasts are great.

Julia MORSON

Julia is a Birth and Postpartum doula, professional member of DONA and C.A.P.P.A. (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), a longtime caregiver of people with special needs and the elderly, and nanny with over 15 years experience.

 

Julia provides in-home and travel doula support, and specializes in labour and postpartum doula care, single parent support, c-section clients, home and hospital births, clients with both physical and mental special needs, mood disorders, pregnancy loss support, surrogacy support, queer families, multiple children, international travel care and companionship, and high-profile clientele.

Julia is also a multiple Juno and GRAMMY®-nominated musician, educator, and recording artist, and a provider of holistic, integrative caregiving services.

erin turcato RN, IBCLC

Erin is a Registered Nurse, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 9 years experience working in Maternal-Newborn Health. Erin currently works as a Lactation Coordinator in the NICU at a major teaching hospital in Toronto, where she practices holistic, evidence based approach that is individually tailored to meet each family’s needs and goals.        

Erin aims to support families to achieve their OWN breastfeeding goals, whatever they may be.  Erin is providing families in the Downtown core with In-Home visits when possible, for breastfeeding/chestfeeding & pumping support.

Elyse Waugh Doula

Elyse Waugh

Hello! My name is Elyse (she/they). I am a Queer, able bodied, white settler living on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki, Mississaugas of the New Credit River and Wendake-Nionwentsio.

I am a graduate of the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts in Theatre & Performance Studies), a certified Yoga and Meditation teacher, and a certified Birth & Postpartum and Abortion doula.

At heart, I am a mover, shaker, thinker and explorer. I have spent a large part of my twenties letting my inner child play, marvel and absorb the world around me. I love the mountains, I love to dance and I love to care for others. I feel most at home when I am teaching, guiding and holding space for the people around me.

Movement and the body has always been a part of my life. I am intrigued at the ways in which our bodies change and adapt to the world around us. I like exploring the mind-body connection and discovering new ways to feel, see and imagine the body. 

Elyse is committed to providing a safe, supportive and holistic space for all bodies.  Her teaching and birth work is rooted in making folks feel comfortable, heard and judgement free. As a yoga teacher and birth worker, she is also committed to the principles and practices of anti-oppression, anti-racism, intersectional feminism and affirming LGBTQ2S communities.

Simone Johnson, MSN, NP-Peds

Simone is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, registered with The College of Nurses of Ontario. She specializes in postpartum and infant wellness, newborn assessment and breastfeeding/chestfeeding education.  Simone has a passion for providing personalized, quality pediatric care that is focused on creating a direct patient-provider relationship. Simone is a graduate of Brock University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She obtained her Master of Science degree in Nursing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the University of Toronto. 

Simone has 10 years of combined Nursing and Nurse Practitioner experience providing care in Labour and Delivery (L&D), Postpartum and to Pediatric patients. She has provided nursing care for patients within the neonatal intensive care unit, in several of the GTA’s prominent NICU’s. In addition, Simone has also provided pediatric nursing care in the areas of Oncology, Orthopedics and Primary Care. She routinely participates in conferences, engages in hands on continuing education and frequently reviews pediatric publications to provide her patients with the safest, most up to date, patient-centered and evidenced based care. Simone is excited to share her expertise and hopes to create a lasting impact on the health and well being of families across the GTA!

KELLY JOWETT

Kelly has a background in special education and fitness, but has found her passion in supporting parents and being part of the journey into parenthood.   Her recent experiences becoming a new mother has helped her have even more insight into the support that new parents need and deserve.

Kelly believes that the job of a doula is to give you unconditional support both physically and emotionally during labour and delivery.  She holds space and helps create a welcoming environment for your baby to be born into, and supports you during the early days of parenthood.

Kelly married her highschool sweetheart and has a Boston Terrier named Rodney.  The recently welcomed a baby girl of their own in December of 2020.  Kelly supports clients in Burlington, Oakville and the GTA.

Allison Kohl

Allison is a Birth and Postpartum doula, childbirth educator, CPR instructor and all around birth geek!  Hailing from Toronto (but a country woman at heart), Allison resides in Thornhill with her four children, partner and their three crazy dogs.

 

Allison has spoken at several international birth conferences and has even taken her work across the pond to South Africa to participate in the Zulu Birth Project.

With over a decade of experience under her belt, and her own life experience of mothering four rambunctious kids (including a set of twins!) , Allison is well prepared and willing to support you on whatever pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey you choose.

Nutmeg Doulas

SEEMAL HASSAN

Seemal has always had an interest in understanding human relationships at a deeper level, which led her to receive a BSc in Social Policy and Sociology from the London School of Economics.  After studying and working within a corporate environment, she knew this was not where her passion was.  

After two very positive pregnancy and birth experiences, she realized the impact she could have on others who also needed support to have the best experience possible, and an interest sparked to becoming a doula! 

After also attending births that did not go as planned (do they ever?!) the knowledge that being able to comfort and guide families throughout the birthing process and postpartum period no matter the outcomes, confirmed for her how important it is for all parents to have unbiased support and encouragement through their journey through parenthood.  Seemal is formally trained and certified through ProDoula as a Postpartum & Infant Care Doula and Labour Doula and currently works in person and virtually.  She would love to be a pillar of support for you and your family! 

bethany Jillard Krohn

Bethany (she/her) is a doula, a yoga teacher, an actor, a dancer, a sometime rockstar and an all the time mom.  No matter what your hopes or preferences surrounding birth are, count her in!  She’ll strive to increase your confidence and decrease any anxiety by providing non-judgemental support and practical strategies that inform, uplift and empower you on your journey to parenthood and beyond. 

 

Bethany brings to birth work, her decades of experience exploring the power of breath, movement, creativity and living in the present, and she has been continually inspired by how transferable these artistic skills are to doula care. 

She believes that pregnancy and birth offer an opportunity to use  the innate strength of your mind, body and intuition.  As a doula, her aim is to help people tap into this immense personal power – so you can stay open and centred through the twists and turns that are the hallmark of every birth journey. 

Sharon Shakespeare-birth doula-cloth diaper expert

Sharon Shakespeare

Sharon Shakespeare is a Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula with Nutmeg Consulting, who has been working with babies and children for over 15 years. She has four children of her own, and she is caring, supportive and energetic (and even loves overnight shifts!).

Sharon is intuitive, and passionate about supporting new parents in all their birth and parenting choices.  She is also a Cloth Diaper expert, and knows about all the newest Baby gear! 

daniela marin platero

Daniela (she/her) is a full spectrum doula providing Birth, Postpartum & Abortion support, that focuses on providing client-centred care that is flexible and meets the different and changing needs of her clients and their families. She takes pride in providing care that is holistic, trauma informed and supports the decisions and desires of her clients. 

Daniela completed her training with Birth Advocacy Doula Training and a Mexican collective called Colectiva Impruuv.   Growing up in El Salvador, she has also had the privilege of learning from traditional Salvadoran and Mexican Indigenous midwives. 

traceen Hutchinson

Traceen Hutchinson is the mother of 4 beautiful children ages 9 through 20 and has been married to her husband for over 20yrs.

After graduating from Durham College (2004), She was hired right away, and worked at Mount Sinai Hospital for 15 years as a Postpartum nurse and Lactation Counsellor. This was my foundation working with new parents and babies. 

In 2018, I took a Postpartum position at Lakeridge Hospital in Oshawa but decided to take a leave of absence and work in Long Term Care as a frontline worker during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

My passion has always been in Maternity care being hands-on with my patients as they transition from pregnancy to motherhood. 

As a postpartum doula I am able to bridge the gap between the hospital and starting a new life at home with baby, through lactation and feeding support, creating space for family bonding and by providing postpartum care for the birthing person.

Adrienne Wetherell, CD(DONA)

Adrienne is a Birth & Postpartum Doula, yoga teacher, and proud mama. As a doula, she draws on her practice of yoga and mindfulness to support expectant parents through the transformative process of birth and feels honored to work with families during such a life-changing time. Adrienne received her doula certification under the mentorship of Crescence Krueger from Heart of Birth, and with DONA International.

A yoga teacher since 2005, Adrienne is passionate about making the practice a safe and nourishing experience for her students. Adrienne’s prenatal and postnatal classes explore the powerful relationship between yoga, birth and parenthood, and aim to support the development of a healthy parent-baby bond. Adrienne also completed Mindful Motherhood facilitator training, a course designed to teach practical mindfulness tools to help with the ups and downs of pregnancy, parenting and beyond.

In September 2013, Adrienne gave birth to her breech baby Ava and has since been blessed by the many joys and challenges of motherhood.

TARA Bruley

Tara is a birth and postpartum doula who is passionate about her work. She is always excited to talk about all things labour, breastfeeding and babies!  Tara cares deeply for the families she supports and finds fulfillment in journeying with them through their transition to parenthood. Her ultimate goal is to help ensure their experience is a positive one – one where they feel safe, respected, heard & supported.

Tara completed her Birth and Postpartum Doula/ Maternal Support Provider training with Bebo Mia, and also completed the Certified Breastfeeding Educator and Childbirth Educator trainings, so she can provide additional support to help you feel ready and informed about all the up-to-date and evidence based options for labour, birth and feeding.

 

J Haque

J Haque (they/them) is a full-spectrum doula born and partially raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh and partially raised/settler in Treaty 13, colonially known as Toronto. They hold a B.A. in sociology as well as a Social Service Worker Diploma, in addition to their doula training with Birthing Advocacy Doula Training (BADT).  They are committed to providing the latest evidence based information to their clients so they can make informed decisions about their reproductive journey, while making room for emotional processing of new information that comes with each reproductive experience. 

Within their work J holds a person/family centered approach to support each client they connect with. During their down time they re-center/ground themselves by hanging out with their two cats, beans and butter, and tending to their plants.

Heather Fleming

Heather has always had a passion for birth, stemming back to 10 years ago with the birth of her first child. Heather earned a University Degree in Social work in 2006 and after her 3rd child was born, she decided to pursue her doula career.

She completed her Birth and Postpartum Doula/ Maternal Support Provider training with Bebo Mia, then went on to learn hypnobirthing which grew her love of birth even more.

Heather has also studied Sleep education, Placenta Encapsulation and has completed Stillbirth Doula training.

She enjoys spending her spare time doing outdoor activities with her husband and 3 children, and loves to spend her free time up North during the summer, swimming, boating and walking with her 2 dogs.

Carissa Marks-Thomson

Carissa is a Birth and Postpartum Doula, a proud mother of two grown daughters, and loving aunt to her only nephew. After attending his birth 9 years ago, Carissa knew that the role of a Doula was the right fit for her.

Carissa has over 10 years of experience working in cardiac care, and left the corporate world for the work of a Doula on a full time basis. Carissa’s is certified as a Birth & Postpartum from Doula Canada, and she can blend into any situation and make you feel cared for and supported during this important phase of your life.

She lives in Etobicoke with her husband and border collie rescue, Molly! She has a passion for supporting families, loves to walk, is an artist and is also a great cook!

Birth Doula

SARAH MASON

Sarah has been a birth doula for many years in Canada and in the UK, where she first trained, and where she gave birth to her 2 young children. She adores talking all things pregnancy, birth, and babies.  Knowledge, advocacy, and informed consent form the basis of her practice, and she dreams of people talking about pregnancy and birth with positivity and confidence instead of fear and pain.

Sarah provides labour and birth support to birthing persons in homes, hospitals, and birth centres in the GTA. Using humour, education, and evidence-based practice she aims to ensure that clients feel excited and prepared for birthing their child and to have a positive experience while doing so. 

Sarah has a very personal understanding of the experience of having children in a country and health system that is unfamiliar, and far away from the support of family. Whether your family is near or far, she believes each parent has their own unique story which guides their decisions and provides unbiased support to help you navigate your journey.

She completed her Birth and Postpartum Doula/Maternal Support Provider training with Bebo Mia, and has also trained with DONA, BirthBliss Academy, and then went on to learn Hypnobirthing and become an instructor, which grew her love of birth even more.

Rhondda Smiley, BA Hons., CD(DONA), CYT

A self-confessed birth nerd and lactation geek, Rhondda chose to make this passion her focus following a successful career in the corporate world. She began offering breastfeeding support to families around the globe as a La Leche League Leader and published author on the esteemed Kellymom.com, all while still working as a senior manager in arts & entertainment, and holding down the fort as a working mom.

But when the time came to follow her heart’s true calling, she jumped with both feet into the world of birth as a birth and postpartum doula. Her mission is to provide you with the support, encouragement, information and resources you want, so that you feel confident in making your own choices about what is right for your family. She does this by listening deeply to what is most important to you, and hearing what you most need during this profound life transition.

As a Certified Yoga Teacher specializing in Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga, her lifetime practice of yoga, movement and meditation provide a bedrock foundation that she offers to you through her steady, grounded presence. While completing her BA in Dance at York University, Rhondda first encountered yoga, which in turn led her to the life-changing benefits of meditation. She has been teaching meditation and mindfulness across the GTA for a decade, and teaches yoga at Toronto Yoga Mamas, Spynga, The Yoga Sanctuary and other Toronto studios. She shares concrete tools for using breath, movement and mindfulness to bring greater ease and joy to you and your family during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.