Welcome to Natural Abundance! We are a natural health school with an emphasis on women’s wellness. Natural Abundance was founded in 2008 to provide doula support to laboring parents. In the years since then, it has expanded to offer the wide variety of classes and consultations that you see today. Our goal is to help as many people as possible discover the Abundance of Natural resources God has given us for health and healing. It is all around us, and we would love to show you how to use these resources with confidence. We are so glad that you are here!
Hi, I’m Laura! I am the owner and founder of Natural Abundance Health & Birthing, and I have been working professionally in women’s health since 2008.  In my classes and in my life, you will find a undying love of Jesus, herbal medicine, and science – 3 things you may have been told can’t go together, but here at NA, we’re living proof that they can!Â
I am currently living the beach life in Murrells Inlet, SC with my husband and biggest supporter, Eric. We have five amazing children who serve as a daily inspiration to grow and learn and teach.
I have always been passionate about natural health. Growing up, my mother always chose healthy food options for our family. She was also versed in home remedies and chose them over pharmaceutical options whenever possible. She had two un-medicated labors and breastfed both her babies (which was quite rare at that time!)
My own entrance into the worlds of natural birth and natural health began in Tennessee in 2005 with the birth of my first child. I had an amazing doula for this birth who taught us about natural birth as well as alternatives to standard care. She not only prepared me to labor well, she equipped my husband to support me and also taught us how to work through labor as a team. This set my view on birth as a natural process and transformed my relationship with my husband. That doula was also a midwife, and she attended my second birth which took place in our home. It was around this time that I began to discover herbal medicine and started experimenting with making traditional remedies for myself and my family.
As I was now staying at home with my children, I had the time to dig further into studying medicinal plants. Out of that passion, I began my first entrepreneurial business: an online tea shop! For 3 years, I made and sold my own blends of herbal tea.Â
Our third child was born in 2008 in Illinois where it is very difficult to have a safe home birth. So, we had this baby at a local hospital while on state healthcare, and the difference in the care was shocking. This experience was eye opening for me. I saw how much support women needed when they were a part of the standard care system: prenatal education, tools to communicate with care providers and hospital staff, continuous care throughout labor and birth, and follow-up care with particular attention to breastfeeding and postpartum depression awareness and resources.
Two months after this birth, our family moved to North Carolina. Bringing the experiences that I had, and being encouraged by some new local doula friends, I went ahead and took the plunge! I took the next available doula training and thus began my birth career. As I built my new doula business (and kept having more babies of my own!), I continued to be amazed by plants and herbs. I began growing healing herbs in my garden, learning about the wild, medicinal plants that grew all around my home, and incorporating natural health education into my doula work. This lead me to begin my formal herbal education in 2012, studying the science behind herbal medicine and cementing my passion for whole herbs.Â
In 2015, I joined CAPPA’s faculty and spent 7 years training and mentoring labor doulas and childbirth educators. Out of a desire to provide more comprehensive mentoring, I co-founded two birth organizations in Charlotte, improving birth options for families and increasing networking and support for professionals. In 2021, I launched my brand new, one-of-a-kind, Perinatal Wellness certification program. This program has allowed me the opportunity to train professionals not only in birth but also in holistic wellness. It has been an unbelievable blessing to serve families and professionals all these years, and I know there is more yet to come!
2000 – BA from Belmont University in Education
2000 – K-12 Teaching license in TN
2009 – 2013 – DONA Birth Doula Training and Certification
2009 – present – CAPPA Childbirth Educator Training and Certification (CCCE)
2009 – Herbs for Birth Professionals workshop with Vintage Remedies
2010 – Dancing for Birth professional training (using rhythm and movement in pregnancy, labor and postpartum)
2011 – present – CAPPA Labor Doula Training and Certification (CLD)
2012 – 2014 – Studied Family Herbalist program with Vintage Remedies
2014 – 2018 – Course Mentor and Essentials Program Director with Vintage Remedies
2015 – present – CAPPA Childbirth Educator Faculty
2016 – founded Charlotte Birth Collaborative professional organization
2016 – co-founded Carolina Birth Trainings mentoring organization
2017 – HUG Your Baby professional training (newborn sleep, cues and communication)
2017 – 2018 – Studied Master Herbalist program with Vintage Remedies, Inc.
2017 – present – CAPPA Labor Doula Faculty
2020 – AFPA Certified Holistic Nutritionist
2021 – CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator
*Member of the American Botanical Council, SC Herbal Society, CAPPA, and AFPA
*Additional advanced training includes: rebozo techniques, scientific research methods, botanicals for children, postpartum belly binding, herbal first aid, evidence-based aromatherapy, racism in the medical system
*CPR certified with American Heart Association
Hello! My name is Carson Fernander, and I am honored to be the Director of Student Services for the PWP Certification program! My husband, Trey, and I live in Portland, OR, having moved from Florissant, CO where we met in 2019. We have an Australian shepherd, Nova, who loves to go on foraging hikes with us!
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When I was 10 years old, my aunt introduced me to herbalism and integrative wellness. She made me a relaxing bedtime tea with chamomile, lavender, and lemongrass, which amazed me how herbs could help me sleep so well! I still love that blend and have been passionate about natural remedies ever since. As a child, I was fascinated by ancient nomadic cultures and their reliance on hunting and gathering instead of farming. I’d explore our backyard, observing plants and wondering if Native American tribes used them, which is how I found my love for foraging. When I finished high school, my aunt gifted me all her tea and herbal infusion recipes, so I could pursue my dream of starting an online tea business. As I delved deeper into herbs and their uses, I realized I wanted to do more than just teas. Once again, my aunt pointed me in the right direction…
In June 2017, I joined the Franklin School of Integrative Health Sciences. I took part in the Diploma of Dietary Supplement Science program and also did an internship there for 2 years. During my internship, I helped with research and clinical studies, hosted Open Houses to talk about our program options to potential students, and led workshops. I also went on an 8-day study trip to the UK. While in the UK, I attended lectures at Oxford University and a 2-day interactive seminar with the Penny Price Aromatherapy Academy, a leading authority in Aromatherapy. I also organized discussion groups and activities with the other participants. In July 2021, I graduated with my Diploma of Dietary Supplement Science. Throughout my studies, I completed 15 case studies and spent 200 credit hours on research and study in various subjects including Anatomy & Physiology, Nutraceuticals, Herbal/Botanical Safety, Botanical Identification, Client Consultations, Case Reporting, Product Formulation, Chemistry of Essential Oils, Clinical Application of Essential/Aromatherapeutic Oils, and more.
2023 – Attended CAPPA labor doula and postpartum doula trainings, and currently working on certification
2017-2021 – Diploma of Dietary Supplement Science, at Franklin School of Integrative Health Sciences
2017-2019 – Internship at Franklin School of Integrative Health Sciences
2019 – Natural Health Study Abroad tour in UK
Experience:
– assisted with research and clinical studies
– represented the Franklin School at Open Houses, explaining program options to prospective students
– led herbal & aromatherapy workshops
– attended lectures at Oxford University during study abroad tour
– 2-day, hands-on workshop at the prestigious Penny Price Aromatherapy Academy
– facilitated discussion groups and activities with fellow participants
– created portfolio of detailed 15 case studies and 200 credit hours of research and study in the following subjects:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Nutraceuticals
- Herbal/Botanical Safety
- Botanical Identification
- Client Consultations
- Case Reporting
- Product Formulation
- Chemistry of Essential Oils
- Clinical Application of Essential/Aromatherapeutic Oils
