Our Story
Hi, my name is
Valencia Andrews (she/her)
I am a birth and postpartum professional providing holistic support to individuals and families across the lower Hudson Valley, southern Connecticut, northern New Jersey and the greater New York City area.
My path to birth work was inspired by attending my first births as a child and later, through supporting close friends and family during their labor and delivery experiences. After attending the birth of my very dear friend in 2015, I went on to take my first birth training with DONA International and later, my first postpartum training with La Matrona.
In search of community and ways to build my skill-set as a Doula, I joined Manhattan Birth's Mentorship program in 2016. During my 18 months of mentorship, I had the opportunity to study and commune with other incredibly knowledgeable birth-workers, receive invaluable mentoring, participate in healing circles, and work alongside home birth midwives. This allowed me to expand my services to meet the needs of more individuals and families with unique birth plans and stories. It was these formative experiences that guided me during my early and ongoing training, informing my current approach as a birth-worker.
I strive to bring a sense of calm, security and community to my clients and birthing families. I start with getting to know each client and their story--what brought them to this point? This helps me to first understand clients' needs and then, guide clients in understanding their own needs and resources available to them and their families.
My goal in supporting birthing clients and families is to help them get in tune with themselves, their babies, families and ultimately their communities. I believe that healthy and thriving communities begin with birth and that's where I work to close the gap.
Trainings & Mentorships
DONA International Birth Doula Training facilitated by Rina Crane
La Matrona: Homeopathy - Whapio Diane Bartlett
La Matrona: Holistic Postpartum - Tending to the Postpartum Psyche led by Whapio Diane Bartlett
Manhattan Birth Mentorship Program Year 1
Manhattan Birth Mentorship Program Year 2
Comforting Touch for Babies, Birth and Postpartum Support taught by Yiska Obadia
Supporting LGBTQ+ Families led by Doula Morgane Richardson
Birth From The Earth: HomeBirth Assistant Training Series facilitated by Nubia Earth Martin, CM
Neonatal Resuscitation facilitated by Karen Strange, CPM
Manhattan Birth: Infant/Toddler/Adult CPR facilitated by Sarah Lovell, RN
Manhattan Birth: Basic Life Support facilitated by Tanya Wills, CNM, IBCLC
Manhattan Birth: Holistic Newborn Care led by Grace Veras Sealy
Manhattan Birth: Lactation Basics for Doulas led by Tanya Wills, CNM, IBCLC
Manhattan Birth: Integrative Feeding and Lactation Specialist - facilitated by Tanya Wills, CNM, IBCLC and Sarah Lovell, RN
Manhattan Birth: Walking with Whitney 0-6 months, led by Whitney Burke
Moon Arts Placenta Alchemy: M.A.P.A. Placenta Encapsulation led by Grace Roman
Manhattan Birth Advanced Doula Training Certification facilitated by Tanya Wills, CNM, IBCLC
Benkung Belly-binding led by Sangeet Raj Kaur