Merrill Durham

RN, BSN, CD(Dona)

Merrill has immersed herself in the birth world for 10 years. She has had the privilege of witnessing hundreds of powerful women usher life into this world and that honor will never grow old. Her experience and training also grows each year.

Merrill became a certified birth doula through DONA in 2013, worked as a home birth midwife assistant for a couple of years, became certified as a bereavement doula, attended The Midwifery Assistant Workshop at The Farm, and got her certification as a Childbirth Educator. She now holds her BSN and works as a Labor and Delivery Nurse, with hopes of continuing her education as a Certified Nurse Midwife.

Her love for teaching and mentoring led her to create her own childbirth education curriculum and doula training manual (which is being used by Harbor Birth Institute). She is also the founder of Nashville Doula Services and has loved watching the Nashville birth community grow in the last few years.

She has two children (6) and (4) born at home and in the hospital. Merrill is currently pregnant as a gestational carrier for her dear friend. You can follow this special journey at @growingbabyflowers.

Merrill’s calling in life is two-fold: to hold space and be a guide for families during pregnancy and childbirth, and to train new doulas and nurses in evidence-based, trauma-informed care.