My name is Keely, and I live in Merchantville, NJ, with my husband, our kids, Monty (4) and Ruby (1), and our adorable Cockapoo, Abu. I love board games, cold foam, and road trips (I’d drive to Disney over flying nine times out of ten!). My husband and I have eaten ice cream together in 28 states and counting, and book and TV recommendations are my love language. When I’m not attending births, working at church, or pouring beers at Eclipse Brewing, you can probably find me on the couch binge-watching a new show.

Every mother has a birth story written on her heart. Some are joyful, some are difficult, and many are more complicated than words can capture. But every birth story matters. Monty's birth didn't go as planned, and as a planner, that shook me to my core. It showed me just how much it matters to have someone in your corner when things don't unfold the way you imagined.

The story behind my name starts with my mom, whose pregnancy with me followed a miscarriage. Two months after her loss, she was pregnant again, and her rainbow baby's due date fell on the same date as her loss. It was meant to be, she thought. So excited to share the news, she couldn't wait for my dad to get home. Instead, she called and left him a message: "Could you pick up pickles and ice cream on your way home?" And that's how my dad found out I'd be joining the family.

Pickles and Ice Cream Doula was born from that story, but it's grown into something even more meaningful to me: a way to show up for families during one of the most extraordinary, vulnerable, and life-changing experiences they'll ever have.

Whether you're bursting with excitement, working through fears, or simply looking for someone who will listen and remind you that you're not alone, I'm here to support you. You don't have to have a perfect birth plan or know exactly what you need. You deserve to feel heard, cared for, and supported as you find your way through your own story.

Let's make it a beautiful one.