About Us
Carmen Calvo
Founder
Carmen Calvo founded The Nurturing Root in November 2011. Having struggled with postpartum fatigue, anxiety and sadness after the birth of her first child, Carmen was eager to find a natural way to avoid these feelings again when she became pregnant with her second baby. Carmen began studying the benefits of placentophagy, and with the help of Placenta Benefits, she had her placenta encapsulated.
The difference it made in her physical and emotional well being made Carmen a firm believer in the healing properties of a baby’s placenta – her mood stabilized, her energy levels rose, and her breast milk supply greatly increased. Gone was the feeling of being on an emotional roller coaster; the placenta encapsulation experience helped Carmen to experience motherhood the way she had always wanted to experience it.
Carmen was so passionate about placentophagy that she dedicated herself to training as a placenta encapsulation specialist. Eager to share the placenta’s restorative powers with other mothers, and inspired by the image a placenta created when printed, she started The Nurturing Root, and has been happily offering her services ever since.
If you’re a Maryland mother-to-be, let Carmen be a part of your birth experience – and give yourself and your baby the gift of postpartum health and contentment.
Hannah Morgan
Placenta Encapsulator, Birth Doula
Hannah Morgan is a student midwife and attends births with two busy Maryland-based midwifery practices. She believes birth is
a beautiful and natural event, and enjoys helping mothers feel empowered to make their own decisions during their pregnancies and births.
Hannah is enrolled in Birthwise Midwifery School and is working toward becoming a Certified Professional Midwife. She just returned from spending two years in Togo, West Africa, working as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, she witnessed many unassisted births and led infant and prenatal care groups with the women in her village. She is DONA International trained as a birth doula, and trained by Carmen Calvo and ProDoula in placenta encapsulation services. In December 2016, Hannah took a Mayan Abdominal Massage course in Guatemala, Central America. She is also enrolled in Aviva Romm's Herbal Medicine for Women's Health course and enjoys learning about the power of traditional plant medicine in women's reproductive health.
Hannah lives in Baltimore with her two kittens, Placenta and Polenta.
Alison Shely
Postpartum Doula
Alison has been a nurse for 3 years and started her career in the intensive care unit. She transferred to the postpartum unit at Sinai Hospital last year and fell in love with birth and postpartum work. As a nurse in a hospital setting, she noticed how little support new parents are offered when they leave. After doing research she discovered the role of a postpartum doula. She trained with DONA and immediately started working, hoping to help new mothers transition into their new lives.
While she has not had the motherhood experience for herself as of yet, she has dedicated her career to the pursuit of healthy moms and babies during this postpartum period. She can offer emotional support, extensive breastfeeding assistance, and evidence-based information for any family. She will help you have the postpartum period you have always dreamed of.
Anne Fraim
Birth Doula
Anne Fraim received her birth doula training through DONA International. As a birth doula, she knows that birth is an experience that a mother will remember all of her life. Her role is to assist a woman and her birth partner in carrying out their birth plan. To achieve this, she will provide continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and non-clinical advice throughout your labor and delivery.
Anne has worked as a physical therapist assistant for 35 years. She has a vast knowledge of comfort measures such as massage, movement, and positional changes. In her years of clinical practice, she has enjoyed working with a diverse clientele. Her calm and objective demeanor are a great asset and comfort to her birth clients.
Anne is committed to helping women create great birth memories!
Alayna Spratley
Director, The Nurturing Root Ohio
Alayna became interested in birth work while living abroad and pregnant with her first child. There is so much information regarding the perinatal period and beyond; through research it became clear that being prepared and finding an excellent support system is key to a having a smoother birth and gentler postpartum period.
After having her second baby, Alayna trained as a postpartum doula with MaternityWise International.
Welcoming a baby is such a transformative experience, but it is not always easy. As a postpartum doula, Alayna offers emotional nourishment, practical assistance, and evidenced-based information for the entire family. She will honor your wishes for the postpartum period while helping Mother and baby heal, rest, and bond. Alayna wants everyone to feel included, confident, and cared for while establishing a new rhythm with baby.
Ashley Collevecchio
Postpartum Doula
In today’s world, it seems new mothers are expected to pick up where they left off immediately after having a baby. In the past, women supported women during the postpartum time and a new mother’s community would come to take care of her, allowing her to heal and bond with her baby. After the birth of her daughter, Ashley Collevecchio realized the importance of having a community to care for a new mother. As a trained postpartum doula, Ashley supports women as they embark on their journey as mothers—first-time and veteran mothers alike. She currently serves her community by leading a Breastfeeding Moms’ Support Circle. Over the last 2 years, she has given support to hundreds of mothers both in-person and online.
Knowing that it is hard to take care of a new baby, let alone herself, her family and her house, the mother needs someone to care for her. Through postpartum services, Ashley is able to provide exactly that – to feed and nourish the mother, to care for her home and nurture the bond between mother and child. At the heart of her work is Ashley’s belief that no mother should have to be distracted from her healing or mothering her new baby. Her calm presence and ability to meet women where they are in their own journey make Ashley a great match for families in those first days and weeks with their baby.
Darcy Flamholz
Postpartum Doula
