my Mission

I walk with families through one of life’s biggest transitions, tending to the physical, emotional & mental layers of birth. My mission is to transform birth into a source of strength & healing, one that sustains families today & echoes through generations to come. I do this in honor of my mother, our elders & our ancestors who carried struggle so we could live without it.

Welcome

Written on September 24, 2025

Today is a special day. It marks the 10th anniversary of my mother’s transition, I feel like this is the perfect moment to reintroduce myself.

Hi! I’m Anjanette, a mother to many, a plant hoarder & water lover. When I daydream, I imagine myself strapping on my scuba equipment & exploring a world that reminds me we are limitless.

I am the founder & owner of Birth & Beyond, NYC. It still feels surreal to say that out loud. I’m new to entrepreneurship but not new to healthcare. I’ve spent over two decades in the healthcare system, with 17 of those years as a registered nurse serving patients all across New York City. I am also a mom that experienced two high-risk pregnancies.

Birthwork comes naturally to me, it feels like home. My grandfather was a physician, I am blessed to have had a childhood deeply immersed in healthcare. My path has always been about caring for people, but creating Birth & Beyond, NYC was about doing it on my own terms, for families, in ways that feel healing & sustainable for us.

I support expectant families in Staten Island (where I live), Brooklyn (where I grew up) & Queens (where I raised my first baby). I work with families through birth & beyond, offering personalized doula support, childbirth education & feeding guidance.

I can’t tell my story without honoring my mother. She spent 40 years in public service, navigating unjust systems, carrying far more than she should have had to. When my father passed suddenly, eight months into her pregnancy with my brother, she suddenly became a widow, a single mom raising two children while pushing through barrier after barrier. Losing her made me ask myself the hard questions, the questions that make a lump form in your throat & bring tears to your eyes. What if she had been given the support she needed when my brother & I were younger? Would she still be here?

That grief, as heavy as it is, also lit a fire in me to stand with families so they never feel unseen or unsupported, like my mom did.

Here, we do more than prepare for labor. We laugh, we learn, we cry-openly & safely. We talk about the science of birth in ways that actually make sense & aligns with evidence-based practice. My hope for you is that you walk confidently with the knowledge you gain here & carry it forward. We get into all the juicy stuff, we celebrate body positivity & the joy of being fully ourselves. Like many, I’m a parent who has been through it all & HELL yes, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Parenthood saved my life. My children are my biggest cheerleaders & the best humans I know. I am so proud of my former zygotes :)

At Birth & Beyond, NYC, I’m here to prepare you for birth, help you navigate a complex healthcare system & walk with you in whichever direction you want to go. I may not have an elevator pitch or an eye-catching tagline, but I do have something that runs deeper, a commitment to families, to community & to making sure you feel fully supported through one of life’s biggest transformations.

My fellow doulas, I am here for you too, in community, in mentorship, in any way that allows your work to flourish eternally.

September 24, 2025, marks ten years without my mother. A decade of grief that carried unbearable pain & deep unexpected lessons. I survived the darkness & reclaimed my light. I’m here to help you reclaim yours too.

Cheers to my mother, my elders, ancestors & children, the reason I’m here & the source of my strength. Cheers to you, for wanting support during this transformative time.

A song for you: Farafina Mousso (Women’s Anthem) by Lubiana

With immense gratitude,

Anjanette

Philosophy

Birth leaves an imprint that shapes not just the person giving birth, but the generations that follow. I believe in care that is trauma-informed, culturally aware & rooted in dignity. I approach this work knowing that when families are supported, mind, body, & spirit, they thrive & so do the legacies they build.

Core Values

Equity: Closing gaps in perinatal care for BIPOC & other marginalized communities.
Compassion: Meeting every family where they are, without judgment.
Presence: Holding space fully, being seen & heard changes outcomes.
Legacy: Honoring the sacrifices of those before us while planting seeds for the generations ahead.
Commitment: Uplifting families while helping doulas maintain balance & longevity in this work.

Background

Long Island University, Bachelor of Arts 1998
Mama of 1!
Utilization Management, non-clinical role, 2000-2004
Helped create & manage an insurance-based Mother’s-To-Be Program, serving NYC
Mama of 2!
Long Island University, Bachelor of Science-Nursing 2008
Externship-Kings County Hospital, NICU
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Oncology
NY-Presbyterian Bklyn Methodist Hospital, Pulmonary Step-Down 2008-2011
Babies needed their mama, transitioned to admin life
Emblem Health, NICU Care Manager 2011-2017
Master of Science in Nursing Education, with two classes remaining, I stepped away to support my mom on home hospice.
Shortly after, I lost my mom & was laid off for the first time
United Healthcare, Medical Management 2018-2021
Birth & Beyond, NYC LLC 2021; open for business 2022

Certifications:
BEST Certified Doula 2021
ALPP Lactation Counselor 2022
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator 2022
Level II Usui Reiki Practitioner
BEST Certified Placenta Expert
Sound Healing
CPR & OSHA

Additional Trainings:
Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss
Advanced Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss Training, Understanding and Responding to Pregnancy Related Trauma Within Communities of Color
Mental Hygiene Law, Article 81 Training, Lay Guardianship
Bengkung Belly Binding
Herbal Medicine & Reproductive Health
The Art of Wombcare & Ancestral Healing
(BADT) Birthing Advocacy Full Spectrum Doula Training
Hypnobabies®
Spinning Babies® Workshop

Roles & Memberships:
Lamaze Job Task Analysis, SME Panelist
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grant Reviewer
NY Improving Doula Access & Integration, Community of Practice (CoP) Member
Lamaze International Member
Lamaze Certification Council Governing Body, At-Large Member
Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath & Death Member
Proud partner with New York Coalition for Doula Access (NYCDA) in advancing maternal health & expanding doula access.
Richmond County Black & Minority Chamber of Commerce Member

If you’ve made it to the end, I’m truly touched, thank you. I wanted to share some fun stuff about me for my fellow star loving humans.

I’m a Scorpio Sun & Moon, my rising sign is Virgo. I feel things deeply & I’m happy to observe, staying quietly behind the scenes. Being in front of a camera makes my stomach bubble. I recently discovered that I’m also a Reflector in Human Design. Reflectors are here to mirror the world around them, to sense the health of a community & to remind people of what’s possible when we live in alignment.

For me, this means I don’t just walk with families through their perinatal journey. I reflect their strength, amplify their wisdom & hold space for the transformations happening on every level :) We always have a great time together.