Community Birth Companion

Community Birth Companion is an Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention non profit organization.  Our mission is to decrease infant and maternal mortality rates among low income mothers through childbirth education, breastfeeding promotion, and community doulas in Opelousas, LA.
The infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) in Louisiana is 9.7%,  St. Landry Parish rate 10.2%.    Premature births in St. Landry Parish is 13.3% in the African American population and 8.2% in the White population.  Opelousas, Louisiana is the seat of St. Landry Parish.
  
Devin Bailey-Nicholas, affectionately known as Divine, is the Founder and CEO of the non profit organization Community Birth Companion, started in 2012 with the goal of lowering infant and maternal mortality rates in St. Landry Parish. Divine is also a Certified Lactation Counselor, Midwife Apprentice, trained Doula, and traditional herbalist.  Currently, she serves as the Secretary of the Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition Steering Committee, member of Healthy St. Landry Steering Committee and local Ambassador for the National Perinatal Task Force.  Divine is a leader for the Cafe au Lait Breastfeeding Circle in Opelousas, LA. where she lives with her husband and four children. ALL babies deserve to celebrate their first birthday and by helping mothers and families, Community Birth Companion works to make that a reality.  

Charlotte Shilo-Goudeau, LM, CPM is our Maternal Health Advisor.  Originally from Opelousas, LA she is a Licensed Midwife in the state of Louisiana and Certified Professional Midwife. She is a wife, mother and grandmother residing in Maringouin, LA. Charlotte joined Community Birth Companion in 2018 with the goal in providing culturally competent and congruent childbirth education and perinatal health support to our clients and birth companions. 
Mrs. Charlotte is also a Evidence Based Birth® Instructor.