Meet the Doulas of The Scripted Birth
OWNER: Melinda
Certifying Body: The Biblical Birth School
Certified Birth Doula
Certified Childbirth Educator
UT Doula Collaborator
Taking clients: Now
Melinda grew up in a small town in Texas. She married her husband in 2013 and was soon expecting their first baby. She stayed in Texas for the birth in 2015 but soon after they moved to East Tennessee.
She now has five children plus one in heaven. It wasn’t until Melinda had her first home birth with baby number three in 2021 that birthwork began to interest her. She began noticing two things: women are treated like they can’t give birth and the birth world is being muddled with new age terminology that contradicts God’s word.
As a devoted follower of Jesus Christ Melinda enrolled in The Biblical Birth School in the fall of 2024 and became a certified childbirth educator in early 2025 and certified doula in 2026.
When she’s not busy doing birth work you can find her baking, homeschooling, and being with her family on their little homestead in Seymour, TN.
DOULA: Idaly
Certifying Body: Aura Institute
Certified Birth Doula
Taking clients: March 2027
Idaly was raised here in Sevier County, but after marriage, moved to Texas and lived there for 10 years. It wasn’t until recently she moved back to these beautiful Tennessee mountains.
Idaly had 1 hospital birth, 1 unplanned accidental home birth, and 1 beautiful home birth. She is mama of 3 kids (soon to be 4) and absolutely in love with all things babies, birth and truly just being in someone’s corner during one of life’s greatest blessings. After a traumatic hospital birth, she didn’t really know any other option. She was terrified of giving birth again. In her own words, “I know it was God allowing that accidental home birth to help me realize I could this. I realized there were tools out there to equip women and have a joyful + empowering birth.”
After her third, there was no question she wanted to be in the birth space. So she got her Doula Certification under Aura Institute and went for it!
Her passion is to walk alongside mothers and families during one of the most sacred seasons of life- bringing a gift from above into the world. A role never to be in the spotlight but simply quietly and faithfully in your corner offering a steady hand, calming presence and a warm encouragement when you most need it.
DOULA: Bri
Enrolled in The Biblical Birth School
Taking clients: Jan 2027
Bri has lived in Knoxville off and on (growing up as a military kid) her whole life. After getting married in 2015, her & her husband were surprised to find out we were expecting only a few months later. Shortly after their son was born, the mountains began calling, and they moved from South Florida back to her hometown of Knoxville in 2017.
In 2018, they welcomed their daughter with their first birth at home! After her, Bri had two more sons at home. Their 5th son changed things up a bit, and instead of a planned home birth, they had to have him at UT.
Throughout each experience, Bri’s love for all things birth began to grow, but it wasn’t until her 5th child that the desire to be a doula began to grow. Watching as her midwives switched roles and become doula in the hospital, helping her to advocate for herself and her baby, walking with her through the process – that’s when she knew she wanted to be a doula.
Now three years later, she’s finally stepping into a calling that has been on her life far longer than she has realized. The Lord has called Bri “mother of many,” and she believes that includes empowering, encouraging, and uplifting other mothers in the birth process.
Bri is currently enrolled in The Biblical Birth School to become a certified childbirth educator and doula.
When not doing birth work, you can find Bri worshipping, homeschooling, and planning the next diy-project for her husband on their homestead in East Knox!
DOULA: Jessica
Certifying Body: Bebo Mia
Birth Doula
Taking clients: Now
Hi Friends, my name is Jessica, but you can call me Jess if you like! I have always loved all things birth, but my perspective shifted after the birth of my second son. My first birth was a hospital induction with an epidural, and my second was an empowering free birth at home (team was on the way)! That experience shaped my perspective of birth in a whole new way. The way I felt supported, loved, informed, empowered, and respected made me realize I wanted other moms to feel and experience that too.
Flash forward a year, and I had just graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Soil Science when I had the opportunity to support my niece through her birth. I knew then that God was calling me to this role, and I began my doula training through Bebo Mia a month later!
I love giving my heart to the women I serve—showing them what true support can look like, helping them see what their bodies are capable of, and loving on them like Jesus. I believe birth is not only a physical experience, but one that can transform the mind and soul as well. When I’m not supporting women, you can find me in the country with my babies, probably gardening, cooking, or reading a book in my rocking chair. I also love hiking, camping, and traveling to new places—hopefully somewhere with a waterfall!
DOULA: Amanda
Certifying Body: Currently enrolled with DONA for Birth and Postpartum Doula
Taking clients: Now
My name is Amanda Newkirk and I have been passionate about pregnancy, labor, birth, and newborns for as long as I can remember. That passion first took root when I was 16 years old and traveled to Haiti on a mission trip. There, I witnessed a woman laboring on a five-gallon bucket in a simple cement room. Two days later, I watched her and her newborn make the journey home on the back of a moped. That experience stayed with me and gave me an even deeper appreciation for the strength of women and the incredible journey of bringing new life into the world.