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Picture of Clarissa Michael, Founder of The Distinguished Doula
Clarissa Michael, IBCLC, PCD(DONA), CLC
Trainings and Credentials: 
  • IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) with IBLCE, 2025

  • AHA CPR Certified and First Aid Red Cross, 2025

  • CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) with ALPP, 2025

  • Educator for Lactation Basics for Birthworkers Class, 2025

  • Educator for Prenatal Newborn & Lactation Classes, 2024

  • Lactation Intensive for Doulas with Darla Burns IBCLC, 2023

  • Birth Doula Training with DONA International, 2023

  • Lactation Education Counselor with UCSD Extended Studies, 2023

  • Infant Massage with Pamm The Doula, 2023

  • Certified Postpartum Doula with DONA International, 2022

  • Postpartum Doula Training with DONA International, 2019

  • Infant Microbiome and Epigenetics Course with Microbirth School, 2019

Before the Birth World:

I have previous experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant working at a hospital for a year. I was enrolled and attended nursing school at CSULA while I kick started my doula career until I realized doula and lactation work are my ultimate passions. My role as a doula is non-medical, but I do have a medical background. I volunteered in the NICU as a nursing volunteer at UCLA where I worked with newborn and premature babies during the time frame of my nursing pursuit. Further, I have been working with babies for the last 18 years, including employment as a live-in nanny for 4 young children, then for twin infants before training as a doula. 

In the Birth World:

Currently, I am working as a Lactation Consultant in the day/afternoons, and as a Postpartum Doula overnight 3-5x a week, specializing in lactation and feeding. I have additional training in Lactation Counseling, Infant Massage, Adult and Infant CPR, First Aid, and Infant Microbiome and Epigenetics. In 2019 I discovered my passion for the postpartum period, decided to train as a Postpartum Doula with DONA International instead of becoming a nurse, and became Certified in 2022. Before 2023 came to an end, I completed the UCSD Extended Studies Program for Lactation Education Counseling and became a Certified Lactation Counselor through ALPP in 2025. After using this credential to provide lactation support to my postpartum clients (clarifying which role I was using for each service I provided), to educate birth workers and expectant families around lactation basics, and to counsel the public in their feeding journies, I decided to further my education and training by following the IBCLC Pathway 1 route. I became an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) once I passed the boards in Sept. 2025. My goal is to continue to empower families through the perinatal period using both of my hats as a postpartum doula and lactation professional, staying within the scope of practice during whichever role I am hired for. 

For Lactation Support: hello@ClarissasNursingNest.com           

For Doula Support: TheDistinguishedDoula@gmail.com          

P: 661-367-1136

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