Stacy Ash Doula Profile

My wife and I decided early in the preganancy that we wanted a doula, and we are so happy we did. The funny thing is, we hadn't chosen Stacy as our doula. Our original doula ended up being very ill, going through some treatments about the time of our delivery, in fact. So, she set us up with an awesome backup. However, our backup doula ended up helping one of her other clients with a difficult delivery just before we checked in at the hospital. So, now what? By no fault of theirs, we'd gone through two doulas before we really got started! Then came Stacy. Stacy was the backup for our backup. So, we're on doula number three. The thing that stuck out to me most, was the obvious community among doulas. They were very willing to help each other out, and in turn, help us out.

Stacy came immediately and stepped right in. She was great! We had never met before she came, but she was incredibly kind and helpful. She coached both of us, keeping us calm and informed as we went through the process of delivery. My wife ended up delivering very quickly, in fact, and Stacy ended up being instrumental in the process. As it happened, Stacy and a nurse were the only people in the room when our daughter came! She decided not to wait for the doctor or the delivery team. So, we were very glad Stacy was there to help us because the nurse was obviously focussed on catching our eager daughter! 

We are so thankful for Stacy, and we will definately use a doula next time around as well!

We decided to have a doula because my desire was to have a natural birth, and my husband and I both felt that extra support would make a huge difference, especially since it was our first child, and neither of us knew really what to expect!  We actually hired a doula, who I knew previously; but she ended up becoming ill and couldn't make it to the birth. Her back up doula was the teacher for our birthing class, who ended up having another birth the same night... so Stacy came to the rescue!  Even though we had never met prior to that night, Stacy was a great fit for us. She kept us calm and talked us through each stage of labor - as they happened rather quickly in our case. Besides my husband, she and the nurse were the only ones that were actually there for the birth of our daughter. The doctor didn't even have time to get there before she was born:)  Having someone that never leaves your side throughout the process of childbirth, who knows what's going on and can help you understand what your body is doing and also educate you on decisions that need to be made, was invaluable.  I would definitely recommend having a doula, and Stacy was amazing!

I wasn't sure about having someone that I didn't know involved in my birth experience. My husband would be with me, and I felt confident we could learn all that we needed and he would give me all of the support I needed. My husband  was the one that encouraged me to talk with Stacy. She had been referred to us by one of his co-workers. I met with Stacy and felt at ease with her. She explained what a doula does, and how she would work with both me and my husband - helping us to work together, and provide us with support from the time I would go into labor until after our baby was born. She talked with us about our birth goals, and we talked about what I envisioned for my birth experience. I felt that she gave us great information, and answered questions for us to help us understand how the birth would work. She didn't try to steer us in one direction, or away from our goals. But what I really appreciated was her time with us while I was in labor. She was in constant contact with me until I asked her to join us. She responded quickly, and when she arrived she began helping us right away. She helped us labor at home and then at the hospital. Stacy showed my husband how to help me by supporting me in different positions, and to use pressure in certain spots to help with contractions. She used accupressure to help with pain, and I ended up needing no pain medications at all which was one of my goals. I appreciated the constant encouragement and felt very relaxed and confident having Stacy with us.

I delivered my second son in Feb 2012 with Stacy assisting as my doula.  She had helped me in my delivery of my first son and I was very calmed and reassured by her presence and asked for her to help us again.  The difference between the deliveries was I had said I wanted to stay home longer than I did with the first one and Stacy was available by phone at all hours of the night and came over to our house at 4:30am.  She again calmed me and reassured me that I could do this when I started freaking out at home and we had a very quick delivery once we got to the hospital.  She listens to what I wanted and helped me have the birth experience I wanted as well.  I highly recommend Stacy as a doula.

Stacy Ash was my birth doula. I was a single mom and Stacy was very supportive while I was pregnant and helped me greatly while I was in labor. She really helped me to understand what was happening, and coached me in a way that helped me to relax and feel strong. I really wanted to not use any pain meds unless nothing else worked and Stacy was able to use accupressure to help me through my contractions. She stayed with me until I felt settled after my little girl was born. I even needed some help with breastfeeding and her reassurance and suggestions really helped. I can't imagine going through childbirth without a doula, and Stacy was wonderful.

I birthed my first child, Christian Samuel, on 9/11/09 with Stacy's help as my doula and can say the experience was so rewarding. It honestly a lot easier than I feared it might be. Stacy was so calming and reassuring and supportive that I never felt out of control or at a loss as to what needed to happen next. My husband felt very reassured with her there helping and felt empowered to know what to do to help me.  I highly recommend her services.

With Stacy's help I achieved a better labor and delivery experience than I ever could have imagined.  I did not realize how invaluable she would have been to us.  Stacy came to my house to help me through the early parts of labor after my water broke.  She helped me feel in control and knowledgeable about what was happening to my body.  When we got to the hospital she stayed by my side and again helped me through the contractions.  The reminders to breathe and the accupressure she did kept me calm and managed my pain in a natural way.  I did not want any sort of pain medications and without Stacy's knowledge and presence I don't think I could have managed the pain.  She was reassuring and motivating through all the stages of labor.  Stacy helped guide my husband about how he could support me.  I ended up having a beautiful baby boy in the birthing tub completely naturally so no medication.  Stacy's presence after the birth was also invaluable so that my husband could be with our son and I had a comforting person by my side while my placenta was delivered and I received stitches.  I, along with my husband, highly recommend Stacy as a doula no matter what your birthing plan looks like.