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Meet Terri Schelkoph

Founder of Confident Mama | Twin Cities Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator & Birth Coach

I’m Terri Schelkoph, founder of Confident Mama and the birth doula behind Doula Mama. Since beginning my work as a doula in 2018, I have had the honor of supporting more than 350 families through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the early postpartum transition.

My experience includes hospital births throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Twin Cities metro, along with births at freestanding birth centers and in families’ homes. I support many different birth paths, including physiological birth, epidural birth, induction, planned and unplanned cesarean birth, and vaginal birth after cesarean.

I am a DONA-certified birth doula, Body Ready Method® Certified Professional, VBAC Link® Certified Doula, and Hypnobabies® Certified Hypno-Doula, with additional training through Spinning Babies®. This combination allows me to offer more than encouragement alone. I help families understand the physiology of labor, prepare their bodies through functional movement and positioning, explore their options, communicate with their care teams, and develop practical tools for navigating both expected and unexpected decisions.

As a childbirth educator and birth coach, I bring that same experience into Confident Mama Birth Academy. My teaching is evidence-informed, practical, and designed for real birth—not an imaginary “perfect” birth in which every contraction follows the lesson plan.

I believe preparation should build confidence without creating pressure. You do not need to predict every turn your birth may take. You deserve clear information, useful tools, compassionate support, and the confidence to make decisions that reflect your needs and values.

Terri Schelkoph, CD(DONA), CVD (TVL),HCHD
Founder, Confident Mama
Certified Birth Doula • Childbirth Educator • Birth Coach

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My Mission

Congratulations on your upcoming birth journey!.

As an experienced birth doula serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, I am passionate about coming alongside women as they prepare for one of life’s most meaningful transitions. Through the Body Ready Method, I help mothers prepare physically for birth while also offering thoughtful, compassionate support for the emotional journey ahead.

With extensive training and experience attending over 300 births, I provide informed guidance and continuous care throughout pregnancy, labor, and the early postpartum days. My approach is rooted in preparation, clarity, and honoring the intentional design of birth.

Whether you are planning a physiological birth, an epidural, a VBAC, or a cesarean, you deserve support that respects your choices and equips you with confidence.

It would be an honor to walk with you as you prepare for birth with strength and intention.

When I’m not attending births, I love staying connected to the community through prenatal education workshops, mentoring aspiring doulas, and directing a Doula Intern Program in partnership with New Birth Midwifery and Wellness. I am also honored to serve families through Everyday Miracles, an organization committed to improving birth outcomes and reducing health disparities by providing evidence-based education, compassionate and culturally aware support.

Training and Experience

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My Own Birth Stories

My journey into birth work began long before I ever heard the word "doula." After my husband and I married, our family grew one baby at a time — six pregnancies, six births — each one stretching and shaping me in ways I still can't fully put into words. I experienced firsthand just how sacred, powerful, and transformational the process of bringing a baby into the world truly is.

Those births planted something in me. Friends, neighbors, and women from church began coming to me with questions about labor, their options, and how to prepare — and I found myself diving deeper every time. The more I learned and shared, the more I came alive. That spark of seeing another woman feel informed and empowered about her birth? That's what led me to doula training in 2018, and I haven't looked back since.

 

Local Relationships

If you are looking for a birth doula in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area or an online childbirth educator who will walk beside you every step of the way, I would be honored to be part of your journey. Whether you are navigating your first pregnancy, planning a VBAC, or preparing for the arrival of multiples, I am here to ensure you feel informed, supported, and truly cared for as you welcome your baby into the world.

I regularly support births at local hospitals including Abbott Northwestern, United Hospital, Fairview Riverside, Fairview Ridges, Regions Hospital, and Methodist Hospital as well as birth centers and home birth settings across the Twin Cities metro.

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When I’m Not Working

Outside of birth work, you can find me spending time with my husband, Jon, homeschooling our children, and cheering them on in all of their latest adventures. I love savoring a good cup of coffee, cherishing friendships, cheering on the Vikings, and serving at my church—loving Jesus and loving people along the way.

Let’s work together to make your birth experience a beautiful and empowering one!.