ABOUT US
Barefoot Birth is a birth service company specializing in concierge home birth services with a midwife, personalized prenatal care, doula support, childbirth education, massage therapy, postpartum support, professional birth photography, and acts as a resource for expecting families.
Meet The Team
Charlie Rae Young, LM, CPM, CLC is a graduate of the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery and Florida Licensed Midwife (MW276). A Florida native, Charlie was called to Midwifery after her own experience with the over-medicalized model of childbirth. She began her service as a doula by founding Barefoot Birth in 2008, and has worked as a strong advocate for better care for families alongside the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, The Birth Survey, The Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery, and others. She has attended hundreds of births over the last 15 years, filling a niche with naturally-minded families as well as those who are often marginalized from conventional medical care due to social stigma. She has written for and been featured in SQUAT Birth Journal, Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Tribune, FOCUS Magazine, Radical Doula Blog, and been interviewed for the Tampa NBC Affiliate for her community projects The Barefoot Bus--a fully mobile prenatal care unit operating under the easy access model of care as well as her 501c3 The Community Roots Collective. Charlie's belief is that every family deserves safe and quality care, and hopes to continue to build stronger communities through beautiful births.
When she’s not midwifing you can find Charlie wrangling her two gals Elliot and Rainy, in a hot yoga class, hollerin on a bicycle, or probably floating in or on some body of water deep in the Florida wilderness.
Sarah Waugh LM is a Florida Licensed midwife and graduate of the Florida School of Traditional midwifery. She was born and raised in a small town in upstate New York where she originally started working with infants. Sarah’s interest in birth originated from watching puppies be born as her father bred them for the local K9 unit for years. The dream started as a labor and delivery nurse and transpired into becoming a midwife after moving to Florida and witnessing her sister’s home birth experience. She started working at a birth center as an assistant while finishing the necessary credentials to be accepted into the midwifery program and hasn’t looked back! Since then, she has worked at multiple birth centers and home birth practices around Florida. Her ultimate goal and passion is to safely bring beautiful babies earthside while being in the comfort of the family’s home. Sarah enjoys cooking, gardening, and being outdoors with her partner and pup.
Lauren Johnson has been a birthworker for over a decade serving Central Florida with doula, lactation, and placenta encapsulation services. She has 5 children and has given birth in what she likes to call "tour de birth". Her oldest was born in a hospital, next at a birth center and her last 3 were born at home, with Charlie. Midwifery has come full circle for her from being a client to attending the very first Barefoot Doula training, to eventual provider as she has entered the roll as a Student Midwife. Being able to offer the same personalized care to others as she received in an out of hospital setting is critical to her desire to help improve birth outcomes, especially for marginalized folks.
Meet Amanda Ruiz, a dedicated mother of two, Aliyanna (5) and Mateo (2). Balancing the beautiful chaos of motherhood, Amanda is not only the Program Director at Community Roots Collective but also the newest member of the Barefoot Birth Family, where she flawlessly manages the office while embracing the multitasking art of delegating tasks with a baby attached to her breast – a true supermom in action!
Born in Newark, NJ, Amanda's journey led her to the vibrant waters and sunny shores of Tampa in '99. Her heart lies in fostering birth education, breastfeeding support, and maternal mental health. Having experienced the challenges of postpartum depression and birth trauma herself, she transformed her personal journey into a mission to ensure that every member of her community, regardless of background, has access to quality birth education and the support they need. Amanda's commitment to these passions shines through in both her professional roles and personal life. Maternal mental health is a cornerstone of Amanda's advocacy work. Recognizing the vital role it plays in the well-being of both mothers and families, she actively champions the cause by providing resources, support, and education within the community. Amanda leads a weekly mother support group, creating a safe and nurturing space for women to share their experiences, seek guidance, and form connections. She truly embodies the philosophy that "it takes a village," emphasizing the importance of community support in the journey of motherhood.
When she's not empowering others, you can find her immersed in everything water-related or whipping up delightful creations in the kitchen. Join Amanda on her journey of embracing motherhood, community, and the joy found in the simple pleasures of life.
Becca Pascarella is a Full Spectrum doula and Certified Lactation Counselor. She is a proud mom of two and a Florida native. Becca works with us as doula and also serves as an office and birth assistant in St. Pete. Additionally, she provides doula support to at-risk families in Pinellas County through Healthy Start.
Her journey into birth work was inspired by her own struggles with lactation and mental health after having her children. Wanting to help other families in similar situations, she decided to become a doula. However, those who have known her for a while know that she always had a fascination with placentas and other unusual topics that most people wouldn't discuss at the dinner table.
Some things Becca thinks you should know: She is a Swiftie, plant mom, oddity collector, and also a bit of a silly goose.
Becca is passionate about supporting families during their journey into parenthood and providing them with the care and guidance they need. She believes in the power of education, empathy, and open conversations to create a positive birth experience.