Meet The Doulas
Gillian
I’m Gillian Kelly, DONA trained Birth Doula, mother of two, committed community member, and lifelong lover of plants and the outdoors. I am proud to be a part of the robust birth support community here in Rochester, NY and committed to continuing the work of Wildflower Birth Support, LLC.
I found my way to birth through the experience of carrying and birthing my first son. My husband and I attended a childbirth education class during my pregnancy that opened my eyes to the many facets of birth as well as the different options, techniques and strategies used to attain my ‘ideal birth’. Learning about the birthing process and then experiencing it myself exposed me to the wonder of the human body and the amazing things it does to create life. Childbirth is one of the most challenging things I have accomplished and I believe every birthing person deserves support through that challenge.
My goal is to support birthing people and their families throughout their birthing process. I strive to provide evidence based information in order to help families prepare for birthing, postpartum and beyond. I am passionate about helping clients advocate for their individual birth choices and providing practical, hands-on support. I view it as an honor and a privilege to support birthing people in the truly miraculous feat of birthing a baby.
Christine
I’m Christine O’Loughlin - DONA trained Birth and Postpartum Doula and I am proud to be able to offer birth and feeding support to the greater Rochester community. I first attended a birth in my twenties after working as an intern with a local homebirth midwifery group. I was hooked immediately. Witnessing the transformation of someone as they birth a child, and themselves as a new parent, is awe inspiring and simply magical. Over the last 19 years I have supported births as a doula and worked in agriculture. I have found a close similarity between the two fields, each witnessing and helping nurture the explosion of life. As a farmer I helped coax a plant from a seed, as a doula I get to support people as they transform into a parent and birth their child. Being a doula, like being a farmer, requires a willingness to learn, attention to detail, the ability to trust the process and the fine art of letting go.
I’m eternally grateful for the lessons I’ve learned at each birth I’ve attended and the resilience I’ve seen in the people I’ve had the pleasure of supporting. I want every parent to feel heard, seen and safe regardless of where they choose to give birth. I am passionate about birth and try to provide every client with evidence-based information so they can make informed decisions about their care and can have a birth that aligns with their personal goals and values.
The Story Behind Serendipity Birth Services
Serendipity means finding something happy by chance and that is truly what happened when we formed our friendship in 2021. Brought together by our love for and curiosity about birth, we quickly discovered a shared desire to support birthing families in our community. We attended a DONA birth doula training together in 2023 where the foundations for the Serendipity Birth Services partnership began. For the next three years we continued to attend doula and lactation trainings, hospital doula education days and supported some births and postpartum families. All the while, we worked to build a partnership that would balance our ability to support birthing families with the care and commitment of our own families.
Another serendipitous moment occurred that led to the formation of Serendipity Birth Services, LLC. Bridget Strub of Wildflower Birth, LLC decided it was time for her to pass the torch just as we were looking for an outlet to expand how we are able to support birthing families. In the summer of 2026 we formed Serendipity Birth Services, LLC and began renting hospital grade multi-user breast pumps, birthing tubs and TENS units to the birthing community of Rochester, NY!
It is our joy and privilege to be part of this vibrant community. We understand that birth is just the beginning! New parents desperately need and deserve the support of their community. Being able to offer these support services and hospital grade pumps to families in our region is so important. Feeding your child can feel like a daunting task and we want new parents to know they aren’t alone.
We strive to get your pump rental to you as quickly as possible, seven days a week. Most of the time we can accommodate same day or next day delivery if needed. Each rental includes the option for complimentary support with setup/use and troubleshooting throughout the duration of your rental. Should you need further support for your feeding journey, we are also happy to connect you with local or online resources that might be of help.
Professional Training, Experiences & Affiliations
Being a good doula takes a village! We would not be where we are today without the community of birth professionals both near and far that we’ve had the privilege of learning from over the years. A huge shoutout to Bridget Strub for offering these rentals prior to selling us the company in August of 2026. We are beyond grateful for her guidance and the legacy of her devotion to the birth community. Listed below are just a few of the trainings we’ve done over the last few years. We are eager and passionate about learning and we’ll continue to add to this list in the immediate future.
2026 Postpartum Doula Training with Beautiful Birth Choices
2024- Dismantling Learned Compliance with Adriana Lozada of Birthful
Active Members of The Doula Cooperative of Rochester
2023 - DONA Birth Doula Training with Beautiful Birth Choices
Annual Doula Education Days at area Hospitals - RGH, Unity and Highland Hospital
Our Doula Philosophy
Regardless of the circumstances, peace can prevail in birth and parenthood.
It is our goal to be a catalyst for that peace.
We believe...
Every woman has within her an amazing capacity for birth. She may not be fully aware of the power she holds, but with genuine care and knowledgeable support, her limitless potential and immense strength can be cultivated for a lifetime.
The experience of childbirth is one of the most transformative events a woman and her support person will navigate together. It has the potential to bring them together in a way nothing else on this earth can. Our role as doulas is to support that intimate experience by equipping partners or support persons with the tools they need to provide useful support and engage in birth to the level they are most comfortable. We hold space for the entire family as they grow together.
Knowing what options are available for pregnancy, birth and parenthood is key to being empowered and experiencing a satisfying birth. Our role is to share evidence-based information and resources so that women, birthing people and their partners have what they need to make fully informed choices that are right for their family.
A bit more about us…
We live in Rochester, NY with our families and pets. We are both passionate about women’s health, growing food (and flowers and herbs!) to nourish our bodies and souls, and caring for families as they navigate the joys and pains of pregnancy, parenthood and postpartum. When we aren’t attending births, you’ll find us listening to live music, exploring the woods with our children and dogs, spending time with our friends and families, laughing, cooking, and living life to its fullest.
"Respecting the woman as an important and valuable human being and making certain that the woman’s experience while giving birth is fulfilling and empowering is not just a nice extra, it is absolutely essential as it makes the woman strong and therefore makes society strong."
- Marsden Wagner
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
- Mary Oliver