Natalie and her family recently began a new chapter in their lives when they relocated to the Black Hills. After a positive birth and postpartum experience in the Chicago suburbs, she quit her job, became a SAHM, graduated from business school, and moved to a new state, leaving behind a loving support network.

Natalie's experience creating a village in a new city inspired her to get involved with both BHBN and the Rapid City chapter of MOMS Club International. These organizations resonate with her passion of helping other moms-in-transition find their new normal. She is also training to become a postpartum doula.

There is truly not much that Natalie does not touch. Her work often goes behind the scenes but as you well know… a birth runs much smoother with a rock star doula and her rock star doula kit! Natalie is our “network doula” and is invaluable to ensuring we are able to offer you the best experience. When you see her, be sure to thank her.

Natalie can be reached at Natalie@blackhillsbirthnetwork.org.

Meredith considers herself very lucky to be an adoptive mom. After struggling to get pregnant, she and her husband became foster parents and eventually adopted two crazy awesome boys. Previously a high school physics teacher, Meredith shifted her focus to birth work and is an ICEA certified birth doula and childbirth educator with Baby Bird Birth Services. She is also involved in foster care advocacy because she is passionate about establishing strong family bonds.

She lives with her family in a multi-generational homestead with dogs, cats, horses, mules, and her beloved chickens.

As our Education Coordinator -- Meredith brings all that jazz to our free monthly meetings. If you have an idea on a topic you’d like BHBN and its Professional Members to cover, contact her today at Meredith@blackhillsbirthnetwork.org.

Lora has always had a love for babies, but her passion for supporting women and families during pregnancy and labor really ignited after the birth of her own children. When looking for support before and after labor, she found there to be a lack of options. From her experience, she decided to dive fully into becoming a certified Birth Doula and starting Doyle Doula Services. Through her business and her work with BHBN, she hopes to help provide some of those resources that help more families make confident and informed choices. 

Lora was born and raised in the beautiful Black Hills. She earned a BA in visual arts from SDSU. Lora is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have three busy boys.

As our both our Marketing & Membership Administrator - Lora keeps us & our amazing  Members in your sights via social media and other outlets. Be sure to check out our media on Facebook & Instagram for all the updates.

Lora can be reached at Lora@blackhillsbirthnetwork.org.

Crystal Pawlus is a mother of three, wife, and nature lover. She worked as a pediatric nurse for several years before the birth of her first child. Postpartum was challenging as she lacked support, so she became a postpartum doula and motherhood coach to support mothers to offer the support she wished she had back then. Crystal teaches newborn & postpartum classes at Apple Tree Midwifery & Birth Center, and is a Babywearing Educator.

Crystal loves to be outdoors as much as possible and is enjoying returning back to the Black Hills after several years away. Crystal can be found sharing her love for the outdoors with her kids, hiking, biking, and exploring this beautiful area.

Crystal can be reached at Crystal@blackhillsbirthnetwork.org.

Even as a young girl, Cori always felt connected to her body and its natural ability to birth despite not knowing if motherhood would be her direction. After becoming pregnant 7 years ago though, she began her search for birth resources in the Black Hills area that aligned with her beliefs only to find ‘the hunt’ to come up short. While there were beautiful opportunities for support, they were not readily known. This sparked Cori’s passion to figure out a way to change this for other moms and families in the area.

Cori immersed herself in the birth community that did exist in an effort to manifest an even larger community that would bring both consumers and birth professionals together in support - a community offering resources, connections, education, and more. It is her honor to be part of the Black Hills Birth Network, working alongside so many other incredible individuals equally passionate about this work.

Cori is currently full-time RVing around the U.S. with her husband and two children but a big piece of her heart remains with the Black Hills. Cori can be reached at Cori@blackhillsbirthnetwork.org.