“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” ~Walt Disney

On one of my earliest paths, I studied respiratory therapy at Northeastern University. As a licensed registered respiratory therapist I worked at a variety of trauma centers and ultimately at Boston Children’s Hospital. At Boston Children’s I worked with all ages of the pediatric population including the neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. During my time there I discovered that I really loved being a member of the care team for infants and interacting with the families.

Married, 39 years, to a doula supportive spouse, I started my second career as a full time mamma of our four very individual children. I quickly became very aware that even within the same gene pool each child has their own particular personality and needs. This was not a “one style fits all” situation. (Since you are here seeking a doula then you might be curious…I did have epidurals, one of my births was an emergency C-section, all four babies were breastfed at least 6 months and 2.5 wore cloth diapers.)

While navigating my children from toddler-hood through teen years, I also traveled down many paths as an active advocate in my community, founder and coordinator of an after school program, member of 3 School Improvement Teams, mentor, event planner, child care provider, and coincidently-helped my friends and family as they started down their paths as new parents. My experiences during these years fed my natural passions and broadened my views to appreciate differences in people and how each family is truly unique. Eventually the tables turn and parents grow from their children’s experiences. I am completely grateful to my accomplished adult children and their significant others for enlightening my perspective of the world.

What would I tell my younger self? Learn about all my options, understand my value, and care for myself better. Maybe those realizations led me to my most recent path of 12 years – my third career as a RI Certified Perinatal Doula (DONA Postpartum, 2013). While I am trained to support births (DONA, 2016), postpartum is my passion.

In order to round out my postpartum support I am also a  Certified Lactation Counselor (The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, 2015). I also pursued further education in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (2017), newborn sleep education (Kim West, 2016), and lactation and sleep (Sleep Savvy-Moorea Malatt, 2022). I currently have one more practicum to finish the certification to be a Sleep Counselor (Sleep Savvy-Moorea Malatt, 2022). Recently, I added Certified Perinatal Behavioral Health Coach to my resume (Family Well, 2025). 

My goal is to nurture new parents with emotional and physical support as well as provide science-based information so that they have a better awareness of their options as they develop their very own parenting style. “Even heroes need heroes sometimes and even the strong need someone to tell them it’s all right.” ~Ne-Yo

This is my story. I am excited to hear yours.

Jacquie Procopio