MEET OUR SMES
Subject Matter Experts for the Babywearing Educator Programâ„¢
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) contribute to all facets of module content and certification exam development. SMEs are consulted in the following subjects: wording of test questions, babywearing basics, available research, carrier types, adult learning theories and philosophies, inclusivity, and practice management.
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FARAH ANTOINE-MAYBERRY, OT, CLC, DONA
Babywearing Educator Program™ SME
Farah Antoine-Mayberry, is founder and owner of Epiphany Birth Services, LLC. She has worked as an occupational therapist for 15 years gaining experience working with infants and families in the NICU, PICU, home health, and outpatient settings.
Her recognition of the gap in communication and support that so often exists between the hospital world and the grassroots world resulted in her “epiphany”. She transitioned into a career as a Certified Lactation Counselor and Birth Doula to provide expectant and new mothers individualized birth services. Farah is in training as a Midwife Assistant with Spirited Birth & Midwifery Services.
She and her husband are the blessed parents of 5 incredible children, including a set of twins. Self-care activities for Farah include dabbling in photography, reading, watching movies, and traveling.
BRIANNA LOVELACE, DOULA, BWE-I
Babywearing Educator Program™ SME
Brianna has volunteered with Oklahoma City Babywearers since 2017 and holds the positions of Vice President and Community Outreach. Brianna and her family work with at-risk youth, coordinating after-school programs and family centered events.
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Brianna works as a birth and postpartum doula and providing prenatal and postpartum services to mothers through her business, Wild Beginnings Doula Care. Wild Beginnings Doula Care provides prenatal and postpartum doula services to expectant mothers.
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Her inspiration to support women in their birthing choices and provide them the tools they desire is born out of concern for the emergent problems of Oklahoma’s high maternal and infant mortality rates. Racially congruent care is evidence-based to reduce quality gaps in maternal care and babywearing is a tool in her work to improve birth outcomes.
SARAH OLEKSAK, PT, DPT, PCS
Babywearing Educator Program™ SME
Dr. Sarah Oleksak is a physical therapist and a Pediatric Certified Specialist with extensive experience treating patients who have a variety of orthopedic and neuromuscular diagnoses from birth to age 18 years. She is currently developing a pilot research study on the use of these infant carrying devices for children with torticollis and plagiocephaly.
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Sarah is a mama of four and founder of Lift Me Up: Babywearing to Thrive. Lift Me Up, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing ergonomic babywearing carriers to families who have children with disabilities. Founded in 2014, Lift Me Up is entirely volunteer driven and made possible by donations from the community and babywearing businesses.
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Sarah is also founder and owner of Bloom Physical Therapy & Wellness, LLC whose purpose is to guide moms through unexpected physical changes throughout the birth process in order to return to wellness and encourage optimal bonding.
WHITNEY MASON BYNUM, BBA
Babywearing Educator Program™ SME
Whitney Bynum is founder and owner of RISK Unraveled, LLC working to mitigate risks for small business through organizational planning and process improvement. Whitney is also a Stewardship Partner for DecisionGrid, LLC working to align organizational values and finances. Whitney is very active in her community, involved with both Hope Link and Oklahoma Family Network to provide support and connections for families caring for children with special healthcare needs.
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Whitney began using carriers to carry her daughter Tessa in 2013 on the suggestion of a good friend. Read about Whitney and Tessa’s transformative babywearing experiences on her blog, Ten Tiny Toes.
