About

Hi, I’m Raychel Franzen (she/her). I became a doula in 2016 because of a firm belief in every person’s right to make decisions regarding their own body and birth experience. I offer my clients physical and emotional support as well as relevant information so they can feel safe and confident in their decisions throughout their pregnancy, birth, and beyond. I grew up the oldest in a large family so I’ve been around birth and babies my whole life, and my own experience as a birth mother in an open adoption taught me about the power and transformative nature of birth. I know and love that every family and every birth is unique so I’m passionate about listening and meeting people where they are to give the right support for the moment.

I am a Certified Birth Doula, an ALPP Certified Lactation Counselor, and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. I have also completed complementary trainings on many topics including comforting touch, acupressure, Spinning Babies®, perinatal mental health, cloth diapering, VBAC, and pelvic floor health. I am also NRP trained and occasionally fill in as a birth assistant to a local home birth midwife.

In my free time, I enjoy fantasy novels, word puzzles, board games, and live theatre; I’ve also recently gotten into birdwatching and photography. I live with my husband in South Slope, Brooklyn.