About Us

About Baby Matters

At BabyMatters, our mission is three-fold: to support families from pregnancy to parenthood, to teach others how to support families as postpartum doulas, and to help other birth professionals gain knowledge to improve their care.

Our purpose is perinatal education for both families, the community, and professionals. We educate families as they prepare to bring their new little one home. We walk beside them during the birth and help address the critical gaps in postpartum support for families in America and beyond. We recognize that the transition to parenthood can be overwhelming, with many unanswered questions and challenges. BabyMatters provides comprehensive, holistic support that addresses the physical, emotional, and practical needs of families during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period and beyond.  In addition, we take pride in our commitment to supporting and educating providers, leaving them with specific skills and training based on three-plus decades of experience to strengthen their capacity to deliver direct care to families throughout the prenatal and postpartum stages.

BabyMatters emerged as a beacon of comprehensive care and guidance for families in a landscape where perinatal education, birth, and postpartum support were often lacking. Founded by Debbie Young, a seasoned advocate for families in the childbearing year, BabyMatters was born out of a deep understanding of the challenges and uncertainties that accompany the transition into parenthood.  The pregnancies, birth, and postpartum periods with her own five children taught her a lot.  She had unanswered questions in some cases, and a lack of education in others. She was supported in postpartum by her mother who came and stayed for a few weeks during postpartum with each child, offering many resources and filling gaps left as Debbie focused her attention on self-healing and bonding with the new baby.

With a desire to address the critical gap some families experience in support, BabyMatters set out to provide families with holistic assistance that addressed their physical, emotional, and practical needs during the perinatal period. Through a range of services, including childbirth education, lactation support, birth and postpartum doula care, BabyMatters has become a trusted resource for families seeking guidance and reassurance during this transformative time.

But BabyMatters didn’t stop there. Recognizing the importance of supporting providers at all levels, Debbie and her team also dedicated themselves to empowering healthcare professionals, educators, and doulas to enhance their ability to provide direct care to families during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and educational resources, BabyMatters became a catalyst for professional development within the birth community by providing continuing education programs, postpartum doula training, in-services that enhance professional development around serving patients, and speaking on perinatal topics to communities and professional associations.

As the story of BabyMatters unfolded, its impact has reverberated throughout the birth community and beyond. Families have found comfort and empowerment in the compassionate care provided by BabyMatters, while providers discovered new avenues for supporting and empowering the families they served. With each birth, each class, and each interaction, BabyMatters continued to work toward creating a better world, one birth at a time.

Today, BabyMatters remains steadfast in its commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of families they reach. Through a combination of compassion, education, and community engagement, BabyMatters continues to pave the way for a brighter, more informed future for families in the childbearing year.

• Empowerment: We believe in helping parents find their power through knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate the joys and challenges of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
• Compassion: We approach our work with empathy, understanding, and nonjudgmental support for every family we serve.
• Education: We are committed to providing evidence-based education that equips families with the information they need to make informed decisions about their birth, care, and parenting journey.
• Collaboration: We value collaboration with healthcare providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive support for families.
• Diversity and Inclusion: We prize the uniqueness and dignity of all families and strive to provide culturally aware care to all individuals we serve.

At BabyMatters, we believe that every family deserves compassionate, personalized support during the childbearing year. By addressing the physical, emotional, and educational needs of families, we can help create a positive and transformative experience that sets the foundation for a lifetime of health and well-being. We are committed to making a difference, one birth and one family at a time.

Debbie Young

Hi! I’m Debbie Young, and I’ve dedicated over 30 years to pouring my heart into supporting families during the incredible journey of the “childbearing year.” As a mother of 5, my own experience ignited my passion for helping pregnant, birthing, and postpartum women and families.

My journey began with my own children, who are now grown and starting families of their own. Throughout the years, I’ve served at over 400 births and provided more than 900 hours of postpartum doula care. I’ve also taught childbirth education, breastfeeding basics, and newborn care classes, both in group settings and privately. Nothing brings me greater joy than directly supporting families during this precious time.

With a Bachelor’s in Health Promotion: Women’s Health and a Master’s in Leadership, I’ve built a solid educational foundation to complement my extensive experience. I hold multiple certifications, including MSL, ICCE, ICPD, ICBD, LCCE, CLC, and IAT, among others. Whether as a certified childbirth educator, birth doula, postpartum doula, or trainer, my commitment to excellence can be seen in every aspect of my work.

My dedication to the birth community extends beyond direct client care. I am a Past President of DONA International and currently hold the position of President for ICEA – International Childbirth Education Association. I’m deeply ingrained in the birth community, both locally and internationally. Whether it’s through writing, speaking engagements, podcasting, webinars, or conference production, I’m passionate about sharing knowledge and empowering families and professionals alike.

At BabyMatters, my calling is simple: to make the transition to parenthood less scary and more successful for families. Whether you’re looking for doula support or are interested in taking one of my prenatal or postpartum doula classes, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.  And if you are looking for professional development, I can help there too with postpartum doula training, in-services for the medical community, or offering valuable information at conferences.

With my wealth of experience, qualifications, and dedication to the field, I strive to be a trusted leader and resource in the birth industry, committed to supporting families and professionals alike.  Whether you’re seeking guidance, resources, or simply a listening ear, I’m here for you every step of the way.

Let’s connect and explore how I can be of service to you!