This week, I’ll be joined by Rosana Moreno Rodriguez with We Care Ultrasounds. She will tell us about her mobile ultrasound company and the types of ultrasounds they provide.

Rosana Moreno Rodriguez, We Care Ultrasounds

Catrice Harris, Melina Laverde, Shannon Wallace, Debbie Hull, Natalie Guzman, and Jackie Griggs join for a conversation about the upcoming 22nd Annual BIRTH Fair.

We talk about the value of BIRTH – Bringing Information and Resources to Houston – and what you can look forward to at this year’s BIRTH Fair.

22nd Annual BIRTH Fair
Saturday, October 3, 2026
10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007

22nd Annual BIRTH Fair

Valerie Zabinski of To Heal is to Love, a CranioSacral Therapist who is passionate about supporting women and families through every stage of the childbearing journey—from preconception and pregnancy to postpartum healing and beyond.

Her work is rooted in the belief that the body has an incredible capacity to heal when given the right support. Through gentle, hands-on therapies, Valerie helps clients release tension, improve pelvic and whole-body balance, support fertility, prepare for birth, recover after birth, and reconnect with themselves during life’s many transitions.

As a mother herself, Valerie understands that pregnancy, birth, and motherhood are deeply transformative experiences that deserve compassionate, individualized care. She is passionate about creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and empowered to trust the wisdom of their own bodies.

Valerie is honored to serve on the leadership team for this year’s Birth Fair, a beloved community event on October 3, 2026, that has connected families with local birth professionals and resources for more than two decades. She is excited to help continue its tradition of educating, supporting, and celebrating growing families in our community.

Valerie Zabinski, CranioSacral Therapy

Monisha Holley-Cherry is founder of Her H.A.V.E.N. Birthwork and a full-spectrum birthworker dedicated to supporting families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She is passionate about helping parents make informed decisions, rebuild the village of support, and experience birth and postpartum with confidence, dignity, and compassionate care. She will tell us how Her H.A.V.E.N offers birth support in our community and what that advocacy looks like during labor, plus information on traditions and cultural ceremonies.

Monisha Holley-Cherry, founder of Her H.A.V.E.N. Birthwork

Dr. Diljot Virdi is a chiropractor and co-owner of Mulberry Chiropractic in Houston, Texas. She specializes in family, pregnancy, and pediatric chiropractic care and is passionate about helping women have healthy, empowered pregnancies and postpartum experiences. Through her work, she helps support mothers from preconception through motherhood with a focus on nervous system health and whole-family wellness.

Using a gentle, nervous-system-focused approach to chiropractic care, Dr. Virdi helps identify and correct areas of stress and tension within the spine that can affect how the body functions and adapts. Her goal is to help mothers and families feel, move, and function at their best throughout pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and beyond.

With over five years of experience, Natalie Guzman is a dedicated Salvadorian doula and apprenticed midwife passionate about supporting Spanish-speaking families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Rooted in cultural traditions and and holistic care, Natalie Guzman provides compassionate guidance, education, and advocacy to ensure families feel empowered and nurtured during their birthing journey.

Committed to creating a safe and informed space, Natalie Guzman specializes in personalized birth plans, emotional support, and postpartum recovery, always honoring the unique needs of each family. Whether it’s a first-time parent or a growing family, Natalie Guzman is devoted to uplifting and empowering the community, one birth at a time. You can find her on Instagram as Sweet Surrender Doula

Dr. Diljot Virdi & Natalie Guzman

Jolene Tollett is a twenty year veteran of Montessori, discovering the educational method right here in Houston. Jolene graduated from Texas Tech University before trying out many places before settling in Houston where she taught in one of HISD’s public Montessori schools. She has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Curriculum and Development and is the Director of MOLO Bilingual Montessori School in Westchase. She has presented her own curricula as well as research within the state and nationwide.

Her daughter who is now 13, started Montessori at three months old and went through 5th grade. She spends her free time driving her child around to various sports practices and managing a household with three dogs and a teen in it. She also makes time to volunteer with the local dog rescue Pup Squad, Houston Heights Woman’s Club and an supports TEAM (Texas Education and Advocacy for Montessori) where she can.

Jolene Tollett on Montessori Eduction

Jackie Griggs, CNM, is a Certified Nurse Midwife who has been practicing in the Houston/Beaumont area for the past 35 years. She is a mom of 5 grown sons, 3 born at home with the help of midwives. Three grandchildren, ages 2,6, and 9, who are the light of her life. She has helped mainly with home and birth center births, but has worked in the hospital some as well. She is the owner of a birth center in Beaumont, Birth Center of Beaumont and also helps with home births in the Houston area. She has been on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Birth Centers, and still is a very big advocate for midwifery care at a birth center or home, for the women of this country. She is also focused on training new midwifery students and helping to increase the number of birth centers in Texas and the United States.

Kailee Viator is a 35 year old artist, working mainly as a tattooer. Her husband Trevor is a personal trainer and Brazilian jiu jitsu instructor. They have been together for ten years and finally decided to try for a child one year ago, after a long time of claiming that they did not want children. Their son Forrest was born on March 27th. They are planning on him being an only child and are looking forward to raising him in their home in the woods.

Kara Chandler is a mom of five energetic kids, four boys and one girl. She is originally from Utah, where she studied music at BYU. She has been married 18 years to her handsome chemical engineer husband and they have lived in Texas for about 13 years. Her oldest three sons are ages 16, 14, and 10, followed by a spunky six year daughter, and her most recent baby, Kaleb (a.k.a. “chunky little love”), was born on Valentine’s Day and is about three months old. She loves her children more deeply than she ever thought possible, even though she was a bit hesitant about becoming a mother. She enjoys learning about natural health, walking with her baby, playing horn with the Bay Area Philharmonic, watching her kids devour homemade sourdough bread and perform their various sport and musical events, playing piano for her church, and doing pilates on the porch. She plans to keep homeschooling, ease back into running with her husband and kids, and camp as much as possible with her family this summer.

Jackie Griggs, CNM, Kailee Viator & Kara Chandler

Suzanne Juel provides a holistic, family—centered approach to lactation, infant feeding and parenting support. Her journey began in 2003 with the foundation of Merry-Go-Round in Kingwood, a haven for moms seeking both community and lactation guidance.

By 2014, she was instrumental in establishing a breastfeeding-friendly environment at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. Shortly after, she teamed up with Dr. James Liu, known for his expertise in addressing oral restrictions. Together, we ensured comprehensive care for families grappling with challenges like lip and tongue ties. However, her passion didn’t stop there. Recognizing the need for more tailored support, Bayou City Breastfeeding was born in 2016. We passionately believe in empowering parents, firmly holding that they are the true experts on their children.

In today’s often confusing landscape of parenting advice, we bridge the gap. Beyond mere lactation advice, we’re here to build lasting relationships, offering insights on everything from infant feeding to mental health, viewing each family holistically to ensure everyone’s needs are addressed. Professionally, she stared out as a Certified Lactation Counselor and achieved the gold standard International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant certification in 2014. She values continuing education and has pursued additional training in numerous areas related to breastfeeding and infant feeding. Presently, she is honored to serve as President of HALCEA, nurturing growth in the lactation community. On a personal note, she is privileged to celebrate 24+ years of marriage and the joy of parenting. Outside of work, she relishes running, reading, and painting. She’s here to stand by you, ensuring you feel valued and heard on this incredible journey.

Kathy Lenert, RN, IBCLC, has dedicated over 30 years to supporting mothers and babies through every stage of the perinatal journey. Her passion for maternal-child health began with her own personal birth and breastfeeding experiences, which inspired a lifelong commitment to helping families feel confident and supported. Throughout her career, Kathy has worked in a wide range of settings, including as a mother/baby nurse, NICU nurse, lactation consultant, staff trainer, and patient educator. She has provided care in both hospital and private practice environments, bringing a well-rounded, evidence-based, and compassionate approach to her work. Kathy is known for her ability to combine clinical expertise with practical, real-life guidance, empowering families to meet their feeding goals and navigate early parenthood with confidence.

Jennifer Robert is a passionate Maternal-Child Health advocate with over two decades as a Registered Nurse and Community Health Educator. Her journey began in New Orleans where she graduated from LSU Health Sciences Center’s School of Nursing. Her love for Maternal-Child Health truly blossomed after witnessing a Midwife-assisted delivery while in nursing school.

From an RN at The Birthing Place at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, to volunteering post-Hurricane Katrina, and moving to Houston pregnant with her twins, her passion for supporting moms intensified during her tenure at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas.She soon realized teaching was her calling. As a Certified Childbirth Educator, teaching an array of topics from Infant CPR to Marvelous Multiples, she specializes in empowering parents. And her own NICU journey with my preterm twins fueled her commitment to lactation support. In 2014, she became a Certified Lactation Counselor, and soon after, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Contributing to The Woman’s Hospital of Texas becoming the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in Houston is a badge of honor for her. Her heart is with the fierce moms and their tiny NICU warriors. With her professional and personal expertise, she was pleased to bring her passion to her community by leading the opening of Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital’s Lactation and Perinatal Education Departments. Come 2022, she joined the fantastic Bayou City Breastfeeding crew! Now, from their Webster and West NASA Offices to your cozy homes, she is here for you.

Outside of work, she cherishes time in Pearland with her husband and four children, engage in her church’s Women’s Ministry, and daydream about sandy beaches.Ready to embark on this journey together? Let’s make your breastfeeding experience memorable! Remember, together, we’ve got this!

Suzanne Juel, CLC, IBCLC, Kathy Lenert, RN, IBCLC, & Jennifer Roberts

Lindy Myers, MS, CCC-SLP, pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and Clinical Lead at Coral Care, discusses the first few weeks of newborn life and how SLPs, occupational, and physical therapists can help families as they adjust to their new normal, including bringing home babies who have spend time in NICU.

Lindy Myers, MS, CCC-SLP

Natanya Champney is a dedicated midwife with over 17 years of experience, transitioning from a thriving practice in rural New Hampshire to her current role as the Staff Midwife and Clinical Director at The Addice Birth Center in North Houston, Texas. Throughout her career, Natanya has passionately provided compassionate care and support to families, helping them navigate the profound journey of childbirth.

Before moving to Texas, she founded and operated As It Was Midwifery in Littleton, NH, where she served over 300 families, gaining invaluable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of rural midwifery. Although Houston is vastly different from the life she led in Northern NH, Natanya and her two sons are thriving here in Texas. She is amazed at how seemless the transition has been.

Natanya is also an emerging author, currently writing a book about her journey into and through midwifery. This work seeks to illuminate her experiences, challenges, and reflections as she adapted from a rural practice to a bustling urban environment, offering inspiration and insights for fellow midwives and those interested in maternal health.

Natanya Champney