Our Story
DANIELLE MERLINO, founder
I’m Danielle, the founder of Wellpartum.
After having my first baby, I felt isolated, overwhelmed and confused by whose advice to trust on things like breastfeeding and physical recovery. I heard story after story from other moms who spent hours searching the internet and talking to providers who couldn’t or wouldn’t help them solve the challenges they faced, as they navigated postpartum and new parenting.
I became obsessed with helping people have more joyful, healthy postpartum experiences supported by each other and the right types of professional providers. Our Wellpartum providers have amazing knowledge of the ways to help your postpartum body and mind feel their best, accessible at the tap of a button. We’re so glad you’re here.
SHANNON GILL
Shannon is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), mother of two, and proud trailing spouse in the US Foreign Service.
Shannon believes that all parents deserve skilled feeding support, no matter how they feed their baby. She says, “All babies deserve to be optimally fed and thrive. Nothing is more powerful than seeing parents grow in confidence as the expert in their own babies and that is my absolute favorite part of my work.”
Shannon is a wealth of information when it comes to complex breastfeeding issues like oral ties. Her score for her IBCLC exam was the highest in her cohort! Where other lactation professionals might use shame to encourage breastfeeding, Shannon aims to find the best care and feeding plan for each individual family, and to support them in meeting their goals.
DR. AMY OSBORNE
Amy has been helping women and mothers for over a decade.
As a Pelvic Physical Therapist and Functional Nutrition Practitioner in Denver, Amy says, “When I graduated PT school a decade ago, the peripartum and postpartum populations were very underserved. Although there’s more awareness surrounding the importance of postpartum pelvic PT, many women still don’t receive the education and care they need!”
Amy has also been a part-time personal trainer and group fitness instructor for nearly 20 years, and guides postpartum people (and others) through safe, effective movement to help them feel their best.
IMANI WILLIAMS
Imani is our go-to for all our doula care questions. A birth and postpartum doula, Imani has a special interest in mental health and Black maternal health.
She says, “I am passionate about helping in postpartum because I feel it’s a time that requires care and nurturing, and endless support. We bring a lot of focus to pregnancy and birth, and it’s important that we bring just as much attention and care to postpartum.”
SARAH PARADY
Sarah is a workers' rights attorney and policy advocate, and most recently, a Denver City Council candidate. Her knowledge and tips for negotiating parental leave can be found on Wellpartum Community!
She knows firsthand how important it is to rest and care for ourselves after having a baby.
A mother of two, Sarah says, “I wasn't prepared for my mind and body to need recovery time after having my daughter, and wound up with panic attacks and a mental health crisis. Raising kids is important work and new parents need support to do it well.”
Dr. BETHANY FLECK DILLEN
Dr. Bethany lends her expertise on mom guilt and shame to Wellpartum Community.
A professor of Psychological Sciences, she’s a mother of two, and a workout fanatic. Her most recent research project investigated well-being outcomes for mothers who regularly exercise using a Peloton, measuring elements like stress, guilt, shame and depression.
She says, “Mothers are the most powerful, beautiful and amazing people in this world. They do so much for us. It is past time that we as a society start taking better care of them.”
StEFANIE DONNELLY
Clinical psychotherapist Stefanie Donnelly provides support and education on perinatal mental health at Wellpartum.
Stefanie has experience working with a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and shame, as well as lived experience as a mother.
Stefanie says, “In my practice, I hold space for all the joy of becoming a parent, however, also nurture space for challenges the perinatal stage creates for parents. These topics often don’t get talked about enough, and are extremely important for our wellbeing and the wellbeing of the family.”