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Hello, I am The Distinguished Doula.

The Distinguished Doula LLC was created in January 2022 after the owner worked as a Postpartum Doula under the name Clarissa Michael for the years prior. It is currently composed solely of the owner and founder Clarissa Michael whose bio is below. Thanks for visiting and reading about her business!

Picture of Clarissa Michael, Founder of The Distinguished Doula
Clarissa Michael PCD(DONA), LEC
  • Certified Postpartum Doula

  • Lactation Education Counselor

  • Educator for Newborn and Lactation Basics Classes

Before I Joined 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 17 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 full-time as a doula, primarily at night. 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, and became Certified in 2022. Before 2023 came to an end, I completed the UCSD Extended Studies Program for Lactation Education Counseling and am now an LEC. This credential allows me to not only provide lactation support to my postpartum clients and counseling sessions to the public, but education through teaching prenatal workshops. My ultimate plan is to become an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) as I continue to work in my doula practice. I intend on applying to an IBCLC program with a start date of Spring 2025. 

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