My name is Jessica Ruscetta (she/her) and I am a birth & postpartum doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, placenta encapsulator, wife, mother and adventure traveler. I love to work with families during one of the most wonderful, crazy, life-changing times in their lives, when they are expecting a new baby! I also love mentoring new doulas and hearing all about people's journey to birth work.
In 2008 I gave birth to my first child and it was not the experience I had hoped for, from the pregnancy to the birth to the postpartum it was disappointing. Of course I had a healthy baby and I was physically healthy but was mentally and emotionally unhealthy. When I became pregnant again in 2011 I was not going to let history repeat itself and I armed myself with more information and support during my pregnancy and the birth of my second child. The difference was life changing! I knew that if first time parents had support, information, education and guidance that they could have a better outcome than I did with my first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I wanted to help these families so I began to research becoming a childbirth educator and with that the Pandora's box of birth work was opened!
With very supportive family and friends behind me I began my training in January of 2013 to become a birth doula, reading everything I could get my hands on, studying, and attending education and doula training workshops. Two Hands Birth Services, my doula practice, was born in 2013 in southern New Jersey as I felt with my two hands I could make a difference in the lives of the families I served. All my hard work paid off as I became a certified birth doula through DONA International in July of 2015. My hunger for more knowledge continued and I soon also trained and certified as a postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor as well. I wanted to be of as much service to families that called on me as possible.
During my experiences supporting families through pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period I also developed wonderful, supportive relationships with other birth workers. I found that these partners in birth work were essential to the services I was providing. I enjoyed hearing their stories into birth work just as much as the stories of the families I supported. After the home birth of my third child, in the summer of 2016, I transitioned my solo practice into a doula co-op and think it's one of the best decisions I ever made. As a co-op we shared our passion for birth work with each other and supported each others' careers and lives.
In the fall of 2017, in a time of transition both personally and as a family my husband and I decided to do something radical. On a long drive to a client I had an epiphany about how to merge my calling as a birth worker and our family's dream to tour the country in a converted school bus. We went on the road in 2019 and I offered birthwork and doula mentoring as The Nomadic Doula to families and doulas all over the United States. This adventure gave me more knowledge and understanding so I could be of better service to the families who I am honored to support and my doula family who lean on me as I lean on them.
Sadly, due to many factors including a global pandemic and my family relocating to Maine, Two Hands Birth Services closed in 2021 but my relationships with all the doulas and clients I have had over the years remains strong. I am excited about all the possibilities the future holds and all the families Rooted In Birth can serve. I am once again a solo practice but I am definitely not alone. I look forward to meeting you and your family where ever you are on your birth journey.
In 2008 I gave birth to my first child and it was not the experience I had hoped for, from the pregnancy to the birth to the postpartum it was disappointing. Of course I had a healthy baby and I was physically healthy but was mentally and emotionally unhealthy. When I became pregnant again in 2011 I was not going to let history repeat itself and I armed myself with more information and support during my pregnancy and the birth of my second child. The difference was life changing! I knew that if first time parents had support, information, education and guidance that they could have a better outcome than I did with my first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I wanted to help these families so I began to research becoming a childbirth educator and with that the Pandora's box of birth work was opened!
With very supportive family and friends behind me I began my training in January of 2013 to become a birth doula, reading everything I could get my hands on, studying, and attending education and doula training workshops. Two Hands Birth Services, my doula practice, was born in 2013 in southern New Jersey as I felt with my two hands I could make a difference in the lives of the families I served. All my hard work paid off as I became a certified birth doula through DONA International in July of 2015. My hunger for more knowledge continued and I soon also trained and certified as a postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor as well. I wanted to be of as much service to families that called on me as possible.
During my experiences supporting families through pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period I also developed wonderful, supportive relationships with other birth workers. I found that these partners in birth work were essential to the services I was providing. I enjoyed hearing their stories into birth work just as much as the stories of the families I supported. After the home birth of my third child, in the summer of 2016, I transitioned my solo practice into a doula co-op and think it's one of the best decisions I ever made. As a co-op we shared our passion for birth work with each other and supported each others' careers and lives.
In the fall of 2017, in a time of transition both personally and as a family my husband and I decided to do something radical. On a long drive to a client I had an epiphany about how to merge my calling as a birth worker and our family's dream to tour the country in a converted school bus. We went on the road in 2019 and I offered birthwork and doula mentoring as The Nomadic Doula to families and doulas all over the United States. This adventure gave me more knowledge and understanding so I could be of better service to the families who I am honored to support and my doula family who lean on me as I lean on them.
Sadly, due to many factors including a global pandemic and my family relocating to Maine, Two Hands Birth Services closed in 2021 but my relationships with all the doulas and clients I have had over the years remains strong. I am excited about all the possibilities the future holds and all the families Rooted In Birth can serve. I am once again a solo practice but I am definitely not alone. I look forward to meeting you and your family where ever you are on your birth journey.
Workshops, Conferences, and more
- Lamaze International Childbirth Educator Certification (LCCE)
- Organized and attended Amani Birth Childbirth Educator and Doula Training as program director of Community Doulas in collaboration with NEAAO, Westbrook, ME
- Trauma-Informed Across Cultures Lecture Series with Bridge To Belong and Connecting Differences sponsored by MaineHealth
- Why Not Home? Homebirth Q&A host, and screening, The Gem Theater in Bethel, ME to benefit The Sacopee Valley Midwives Postpartum Project
- American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Training and Certification
- Community Doulas, Current Board Member, Program Director, and Doula Mentor, Portland, ME
- Birth Roots Current Childbirth Education Facilitator, Portland, ME
- IPPA, International Placenta & Postpartum Association, Placenta Encapsulation Training, Online
- Why Not Home? Homebirth Q&A host, and screening, The Village in Collingswood, NJ
- Why Not Home? Homebirth Q&A host, and screening, Pinelands Library, Medford, NJ
- Why Not Home? Representative at the Midwifery Today Conference, Mt. Laurel, NJ
- Evidence Based Birth Professional Training, Haddonfield, NJ
- Expecting Parents & Baby Expo, exhibitor and invited speaker, Cherry Hill, NJ
- 2017 Burlington County Times Holistic Practitioner of the Year, Burlington County, NJ
- Birthworks International Conference Organizer and Attendee, Mt. Laurel, NJ
- Healthy Children's Project Lactation Counselor Training and Certification, Philadelphia, PA
- PALS (Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support), Volunteer member
- Birthworks International Childbirth Educator Workshop, Medford, NJ
- Madriella Doula Network, Postpartum Doula Training and Certification, Online
- DONA International Workshop for Birth Doula Training and Certification, Nassau, NJ
Supporting All Births & All Families In Any Birthing Location Since 2013.
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Kind Words From Clients"I cannot recommend Jessica highly enough! My husband and I wanted a doula for my first birth, but didn't know any in the area and found Jessica online. We met with Jessica for the first time and immediately connected. We were impressed by her warmness, respectfulness, and knowledge. She emphasized how important it is to feel like it's a good match as the doula will be there for such an important and intimate day! After we left our meeting, my husband and I already had our minds made up to work with Jessica." -B.M. |
Reach OutServing:
Portland, Windham, Raymond, Minot, Lewiston, Auburn, Poland, Gray, Casco, Hebron, New Gloucester, Bridgeton, Norway, Paris, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Standish, Mechanic Falls, Oxford, Hollis, Hiram, Naples, Scarborough, Gorham, Pownal Cumberland, Harrison, Sebago, Buxton Durham, Westbrook, Freeport, Cape Elizabeth, Denmark, Cornish, Baldwin, Limerick, Linington, Topsham, Brunswick, Lisbon, Sabattus, Greene, Turner, Buckfield, Hartford, Livermore and anywhere virtually! |