Hello, I'm Ashley
Welcome expecting mothers! Thank you for visiting my site. I am a mother of two and a resident of Cambria, California. I am a double-trained Birth and Postpartum Doula (SLOBDC, 2021 & Cornerstone, 2022) San Luis Obispo and am continuing on to certify with Cornerstone Doula Trainings (2022). I am also trained in breastfeeding support, newborn care, postpartum mental health, trauma informed care, birth rights and bereavement support.
My passion for empowered births began when I was pregnant with my oldest over five years ago. After reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, I knew an un-medicated vaginal birth was what I wanted and I continued to read everything I could to encourage my birth plan. The medical interventions I read about further fueled my decision to do my prenatal care with midwives at a birth center. What I was unprepared for was going 15 days overdue. After an unprepared and alarming realization that I would be induced in a large hospital without my midwife, I found myself feeling defeated and scared. Without a birth team I no longer felt confident advocating for the birth I wanted. Following a labor I never imagined, my beautiful daughter was born.
When I got pregnant again two years later here in San Luis Obispo County, I knew I needed to fight for my mind, my body, and my birth. The first thing I did was hire a doula and told her my fears and desires. With her support I was able to not only envision a different experience, but advocate for one. Through my own research on local practitioners, hospitals, birth centers, and using my doula's resources, I felt confident about my birth plan. And in the end, with her support of course, I felt gratified by the unmedicated and natural birth of my son under the care of a midwife.
Having had two very different birth stories, with pros and cons to both, I am open minded to the many potential outcomes a birthing person may face. With that being said, I also believe in the strength of a laboring woman and that her birth plan should be respected. After experiencing unmedicated childbirth, and witnessing it many times, I believe that birth is normal and that the knowledge and instinct to birth our babies lies deep inside of us. When we feel connected to our bodies and our babies, it is easier to trust the process. As a doula, it is my goal to help you feel a deep connection to your pregnancy and birth. I also feel that if we are educated about birth in all of its versions and if we have a support system who respects our autonomy, we will come out from this rebirth empowered and better abled to move forward into motherhood.
Before becoming a doula I lived in Minneapolis, San Francisco and Long Beach working in farm to table restaurants and learning about sustainable and organic agriculture. I have been an avid gardener now for seven years growing just about every vegetable and herb including medicinal herbs that I use in my baby/mama skin care line "SKIN to SKIN."
I am also an artist and published writer. I earned a Bachelor's degree in the Arts from the University of Minnesota. My family and I love living in Cambria and exploring the endless ocean and mountain scene that SLO county provides.
To learn more about me, my story and my work, follow me!
I am also an artist and published writer. I earned a Bachelor's degree in the Arts from the University of Minnesota. My family and I love living in Cambria and exploring the endless ocean and mountain scene that SLO county provides.
To learn more about me, my story and my work, follow me!
|
|
