Therese Fread has been providing pregnancy, birth, newborn care, and lactation services to women and families across the United States and internationally for over three decades. A traditional birthworker since 1987 and a doula since 1993, Therese brings a rare depth of experience rooted in cultural immersion, hands-on care, and lifelong devotion to birth work.
Native to Louisiana, Therese spent her early childhood in Folsom, Louisiana, before traveling throughout the United States and Mexico with her parents and siblings while engaged in humanitarian and missions work. During her young adulthood, she spent significant time in India and Mongolia, with a brief stay in China—experiences that profoundly shaped her understanding of birth, family, and community across cultures. She later settled in Minnesota, where she married and raised six children. Her personal birth history includes three hospital births, three home births, and several miscarriages.
Over the years, Therese has served families in many capacities, including as a birth assistant, monitrice, placenta encapsulation specialist, incorporating massage therapy and aromatherapy, certified nursing assistant, and hospice and end-of-life care. She is Spinning Babies Certified, trained in Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation, and certified in Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and First Aid. She is also trained in basic American Sign Language with a desire to serve the Deaf community.
Therese is the founder of Mother Ease Tea Company and the Mother Ease Postpartum Herbal Healing Package, thoughtfully designed to support postpartum recovery through traditional herbal remedies, nourishment, and gentle, restorative care during the fourth trimester. Through her own lived experiences of birth, loss, and healing, Therese brings deep compassion and practical wisdom to every family. She believes that recovery is a sacred transition—one that deserves time, care, and respect—laying the foundation for long-term maternal health.
In 2020, following her husband’s retirement from the military, Therese and her family returned to her hometown area in Louisiana. They are currently building a small blueberry farm in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. In 2024, Therese joined the local midwifery community as a student midwife, and in 2025 she entered a formal apprenticeship with highly respected local midwives, receiving her official Louisiana State Approved Midwife Apprenticeship License.
Therese’s work is grounded in faith, family, tradition, and service. Her interests include religious history, military life, homeschooling, sustainable living, gardening, foraging, natural healing, herbalism, homeopathy, essential oils, fermentation, cooking, baking, fiber arts, jewelry making, Deaf culture, American Sign Language, foreign languages, and lifelong learning.
