About Melanie
Melanie Julion, B.S., HCHI, HCHD, LCCE, PFC
Greetings! I started my journey as a birthworker shortly after finding out I was pregnant with my first son, and even more so after our accidental unassisted homebirth in 2016! I've been supporting youth and families in various capacities for 10+ years, graduating from Northern Illinois University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Family & Child Studies and an emphasis in Family Social Services and a minor in Child Psychology. Who knew a "mom-degree" could be add so much value to my life and my community!? I’m a mama to two little ones, both of whom had very beautiful, peaceful, natural births. Early in my journey I began supporting primarily cannabis-consuming families, Black women, close friends and family, which has wildly shaped my mission in providing culturally-competent, evidence-based care to Black communities. I am a proud SMC Full Circle Provisional Doula, DONA-trained Birth Doula, and Hypnobabies HypnoDoula.
As a doula, I support families from early pregnancy through postpartum, providing holistic and herbal support rooted in the legacy of African American birth traditions. I’m especially passionate about childbirth education and cannabis education. I’m a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor, and Nurturing Parenting Facilitator. It has been my pleasure serving my community in the capacity that I have, and I’ve had the honor of supporting and educating families and doulas from all over the country, and internationally, from various backgrounds and cultures through The Cannabis Doula, Inc. (www.thecannabisdoula.org). I'm currently pursuing a Masters in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics at the University of Maryland-Baltimore, School of Pharmacy. I have additional training in cannabis medicine, natural holistic remedies, peristeam hydrotherapy, African American birth traditions, and lactation.
Happy Brown Baby was birthed after being inspired by the births of my own happy brown babies, and seeing other families just like ours being supported and loved during pregnancy through early parenting, and onward. In 2018 we started as an online baby boutique and blog, with all proceeds going to fund doula services, support circles for moms, and childbirth education to families. Over time, we’ve evolved to include early childhood learning, a beautiful variety of the best childbirth education classes, as well as parenting classes and holistic doula services.
The joy and freedom that I’ve gained from being empowered to own my birth experiences is a form of revolution that I hope to share with other families all over the world.
We are birthing and blooming happy brown babies and families.
