About Our Team
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 a busy Maryland-based midwifery practice. 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.
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!
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.
Eileen Ackerman
Birth & Postpartum Doula
Kristie Graybill
Placenta Encapsulator
Originally from Louisiana, Kristie now considers the East Coast her home and has spent the last 9 years in a Baltimore City classroom teaching Language Arts to 5th graders. After personally experiencing the benefits of placenta encapsulation following the births of her two daughters, she became interested in helping other women attain these same postpartum benefits. Kristie has trained under Carmen Calvo and as placenta encapsulation specialist through Placenta Benefits. She also holds an OSHA blood borne and pathogens certification and a food handlers certificate.
Kristie believes birth to be one of the most empowering and supernatural experiences that a woman can ever take part in. She is passionate about connecting with moms, both new and experienced, and helping them through this wonderfully rewarding and challenging time after birth.
Kristie currently lives in Baltimore with her husband and two daughters.
Tova Brody
Birth Doula
Maria Barlow
Postpartum Doula
Maria has been a nurse on the mother/baby unit of a local hospital for 2 years and enjoys working with new babies and their parents. Her experience as a dance instructor for children ages 3-14 has given Maria the skills to help families manage busy households with many siblings. While working in the hospital setting, it became clear to Maria that families needed so much more support after going home with their baby. She felt inspired to become a postpartum doula to be able to more intimately support growing families in their transition with their newborn. Maria looks forward to serving Baltimore families.
Katie Kirkpatrick
Birth Doula, Placenta Encapsulator
Katie has trained with DONA International and Spinning Babies. She is certified Childbirth Instructor and is placenta encapsulator. She first became a doula to support a friend in labor and in the process found a calling, falling in love with everything related to birth. It is her joy and privilege to support families during one of the most sacred times of their lives and help them achieve their desired birth experience. She enjoys supporting pregnant moms and helping them research their options so they don't have the dreaded experience of saying "I wish I would've known..." She provides support throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum experience often corresponding with clients throughout the first few years of life. She has two adopted daughters from Haiti and has cared for 10 special needs babies and children through foster care. She has a degree in Public Policy and has spent her career supporting under resourced communities around the world.
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.
