About Me

I’m Laura Carlson Keely — postpartum doula, Certified Lactation Counselor®, and founder of Peapod Postpartum®.


My journey into nurturing families began in childhood, and my commitment has only grown since then. 

From my teenage years as a babysitter, where I found joy in both caregiving and creating a peaceful, organized environment for parents, to working in childcare settings during high school, college and graduate school, I’ve always been driven to support families. These early experiences honed my skills in caring for infants and assisting parents as they navigated new parenthood.   

My decade-long experience as an at-home parent deepened my understanding of the unique challenges and joys of caring for young children. Volunteering within my local parenting community, I also served as an accredited La Leche League leader, offering education and support on lactation, nutrition, and parenting to both new and experienced mothers. 

Before launching Peapod Postpartum, I applied my positive energy and organizational skills as a project manager, which translates well to household support during the busy "fourth trimester." Today, I’m delighted to bring my passion and experience to my role as a postpartum doula, nurturing growing families!

My husband and I raised our four children in the Twin Cities and continue to enjoy time in Minneapolis as well as in Ely, Minnesota.  Outdoors you'll find me being active in nature, and indoors I love to cook, read, and plan for our next adventure!

What my clients are saying …

  • "If you're on the fence about hiring a Postpartum Doula, let me do my best to sell you on why Laura is the best investment for families welcoming a new baby: First, Laura is incredible with babies AND moms. She is kind, compassionate, a good listener and knows when to lead and when to "be with." Her presence is calm and grounded. Second, she's very knowledgeable about breastfeeding. Third, she's a wonderful educator on babywearing. Fourth, she's a wonderful cook! Fifth, she helped me with laundry, even for my older children! I would highly recommend working with Laura for any families welcoming a new baby. We hired her to work with our family for our third baby but I wish we would have hired her with our first two!"

    Kendra

  • “We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Laura. What I loved the most: her non-judgmental support, her clear and thoughtful communication, her uncanny ability to know where she is needed most, her nuggets of advice and wisdom when I needed it most, and her ability to build trust and a positive relationship in a short amount of time. She helped us welcome our second child into our family, laying the groundwork for a successful and enjoyable breastfeeding journey and teaching me how to use the cloth/wrap baby carrier to ‘wear’ my baby. Thank you, Laura, for allowing us to savor the early days of our daughter’s life, not just to survive them.”

    Simone

  • "Laura brings a valuable blend of experience to her work. Her background in child-rearing, cookbook writing, dog training, and corporate project management gives her a unique understanding of the complex demands of modern family life. What appears effortless is truly the product of meticulous preparation, organizational skills, and heartfelt dedication to supporting families. While her care centers around mom and baby, she never loses sight of the entire family. She has a remarkable ability to tune into what a family truly needs. On top of all of this, she’s an exceptional cook, preparing delicious nourishing meals for the whole family! Any household would be incredibly fortunate to have her."

    Cristen

  • "I worked alongside Laura for a number of years as co-leaders of a breastfeeding support group. Laura was gentle, warm, and upbeat in all her interactions with the mothers and their babies. She shined in instilling confidence in mothers to develop their own parenting style, while also drawing on her experience and knowledge to help guide them through rough patches. Behind the scenes, Laura is very organized and reliable. Helping families get off to a good start has been a passion of Laura's for over 20 years. I highly recommend her services as a postpartum doula!"

    Jean

Training & Certification

DONA International Postpartum Doula (Certification in Progress)

AALP Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®)

DONA International Lactation for Doulas Course

DONA International Postpartum Doula Course

La Leche League International Leader (Retired) 

American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Certified

American Heart Association Basic First Aid Course

Education & Professional Details

— Master of Arts —
American Studies
Michigan State University 

— Bachelor of Arts —
History
University of Minnesota

Professional Liability Insured