Rayna Reid Rayford is the reigning Mrs. Black United States 2026 and Founder and Executive Director of Pregnant and Black, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to improving maternal healthcare experiences through personalized, non-medical advocacy.

Inspired by her own life-threatening pregnancy complication, Rayna is working to ensure pregnant and postpartum people are heard, believed, and supported. An attorney, former educator, and mother, she uses her national platform to champion maternal health, education, and community empowerment. She will tell us how and why she created Pregnant and Black and how this helps expectant and new mothers and how pregnant women can prepare for medical appointments, communicate their concerns, and advocate for themselves.

Rayna Reid Rayford

Dr. Valerie Akinwande is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with more than 14 years of clinical experience and the founder of PELAPY, a telehealth and concierge pelvic health practice that also offers community education and events. Dr. Akinwande holds advanced certifications in pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and pelvic health. She specializes in helping women navigate the physical changes of every life stage with confidence and clarity.

As a mother of three, Dr. Akinwande understands firsthand many of the challenges women face. Her personal experiences and years of clinical practice have fueled her passion for ensuring that women and girls feel informed, supported, and empowered—not dismissed or confused.

After witnessing many women struggle with unanswered questions, feeling uncertain about their own bodies, she founded PELAPY to make pelvic health education more accessible, honest, and empowering. Through her work, she helps women and girls understand what’s normal, recognize when something needs attention, and advocate for their health at every stage of life.

Dr. Valerie Akinwande – Pelvic Health & Recovery

Join us as we welcome Samantha Elizabeth of Missing Pieces, a Houston-based organization dedicated to helping families who have experienced miscarriage. Find out more about their plans for October, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Missing Pieces:
Need support after loss? Warm Line – 832-409-0002; Call or text — we’ll respond within 24
hours
General: 832-409-2389 | [email protected]
Website: https://missingpiecessupportgroup.org

Samantha Elizabeth of Missing Pieces

Members of the BIRTH Fair Leadership Team share what you can expect at the 22nd Annual BIRTH Fair.

Joining us on this week’s show:

Christine Diaz — Sponsor & Vendor Coordinator
Monisha Holley-Cherry — Community Outreach Coordinator
Natalie Guzman — Community & Spanish-Speaking Outreach Coordinator + Healing Arts Room Coordinator
Kiwasi Apeh — Volunteer Coordinator
Shay Wallace — Family Area Coordinator
JacQue Colson-Smith — Afua Hassan Midwifery Scholarship Raffle + Swag Bag Coordinator
Dr. Randy Holmes — Logistics Coordinator

We’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look at what we’ve been working on and why we’re so excited to welcome the Houston community back to BIRTH Fair!

BIRTH Fair will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026

10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007

BIRTH Fair Leadership Team

Our guest this week is our beloved co-host of Whole Mother Show – Debbie Hull who is a community Doula and a Cappa Leader and she is the BIRTH Fair Speaker Coordinator. She will tell us about the speakers for BIRTH Fair this year and more!!

Debbie Hull began learning about birth in 1996 after the birth of her first baby and has been serving Houston area families as a labor doula and childbirth educator since 1999. She was at the meetings way back when BIRTH was named and is very proud to have served in some capacity at every BIRTH Fair since the beginning. This year, she is the speaker coordinator and in her spare time attends births, teaches childbirth classes, and trains new childbirth educators and doulas for certification. Debbie is most proud to be the mother of two amazing formerly breastfed and homeschooled adults, the youngest of whom has been on a 25+ year nursing strike. When she is not working on her feelings about that, Debbie enjoys travel, movies, reading, and game nights, even when she looses

BIRTH Fair will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026

10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007

Debbie Hull, BIRTH Fair

Kirsten Nottleson, Parent and Teacher Educator/Consultant and Certified Hand in Hand Parenting Instructor. She will share with us the powerful Hand in Hand theory and techniques for healing and listening with ourselves and children no matter what their age. She will also share her upcoming classes (see below) and she will be speaking at BIRTH Fair from 2:00-2:50 pm and she will have a booth where you can talk with her in person.

BIRTH Fair will be held Saturday, October 3, 2026

10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007

Kirsten Nottleson, Hand in Hand Parenting

Whole Mother welcomes Moni Tang, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Texas and Oregon, LMFT Supervisor in Texas, and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C) to introduce the Houston Moms Collective and discuss ways parents can set themselves up for success in their postpartum period.

Moni Tang, M.A.

Suzanne Juel, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and founder of Bayou City Breastfeeding and a speaker at the 22nd Annual BIRTH Fair on October 3, 2026. She is also author of a new book – Family Traditions Workbook: A Parenting Workbook for Building Family Rituals, Rhythms, and Meaningful Connection”

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

Suzanne Juel, Bayou City Breastfeeding

Kathleen Vande Giessen has been a Certified Nurse Midwife for nearly three decades, indicating her expertise in providing healthcare and support to pregnant women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

· Masters in Nursing 1995: Obtaining a Master’s degree in Nursing demonstrates a high level of education and specialization in the field of midwifery.

· Registered Nurse for 25 years: With 25 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, Kathleen likely gained a strong foundation in healthcare before specializing in midwifery.

· Worked as a staff midwife at Baylor College of Medicine for 4 years: Her work at Baylor College of Medicine indicates a dedication to providing midwifery care in a hospital setting.

· Started a Midwifery service at a small community hospital for 6 years: Her experience in starting a midwifery service at a small community hospital demonstrates her leadership and commitment to expanding midwifery care to underserved areas.

· Started a free-standing Midwifery service at North Houston Birth Center in 2005: Establishing a free-standing midwifery service suggests her entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to providing women with alternative birthing options.

· Continues with full scope Midwifery: Kathleen Vandegiessen’s dedication to full-scope midwifery means she provides a wide range of healthcare services to expectant mothers, from prenatal care to delivery and postpartum care.

Her extensive experience, education, and career achievements suggest a passion for women’s healthcare and a significant contribution to the field of midwifery

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

Kathy Vandegiessen, CNM, North Houston Birth Center

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