Amos Culbertson

6/14/2024

Alison was so warm, professional, and knowledgeable. This was our first baby, and feeling prepared and supported was very important to us. The experience of birth is so big that I really can't imagine what our birth would have been like without Alison. I learned so much in the weeks leading up to birth, and was so grateful to have her there throughout and after. She was a wealth of knowledge, and provided us with many helpful resources that we used as well. As the male partner, knowing that Alison was there and taking care of certain things so that I didn't have to - allowed me to really be with my wife in a way that would have been more difficult if I had had other logistical things to think about as well. The fact that she was an integral part of bringing our daughter into the world is something I'll cherish forever. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula. 
 

Emily Spaeth

1/24/2024

Alison was so wonderful. From the incredible resources she had throughout pregnancy and postpartum to her hands on skills during the birth, I couldn't recommend her more! She is grounded and present and did not leave my side. She knows her power and uses it beautifully. Thank you for a wonderful birth experience!

Claire DiBlasi

12/7/2023

Choosing Alison to be our doula was the best decision we made while I was pregnant with our son. Alison went above and beyond to help us prepare and be confident in the wild ride of childbirth. When it was clear my OB was not the right fit, Alison helped me switch providers (so late in the game!) and found me the most amazing midwife to which I am endlessly grateful. Alison was at home with us for labor, and the most amazing advocate at the hospital when I didn't want to be induced, wished to breathe our baby out vs bearing down, and help with switching nurses when it wasn't the right fit. We are eternally grateful for her help, love, encouragement and support. I have such happy memories of our time with Alison during the birth of our son! 

Kendra Swartz

9/4/2023

Alison is simply the best doula anyone could ask for.  She provided a wealth of support both before, during, and after my birth. When things didn't go as planned, she helped me throught it and was right by my side.  She is kind, thoughtful, and tuned into specific needs.  I give Alison the highest recommendation possible!

Jessica Bartley

8/26/2023

Having Alison as our doula for the births of both of our children was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Her expertise, kindness, active listening skills, and attentiveness to detail in ensuring the needs of all involved are addressed and cared for are just some of the many characteristics she possesses. Alison truly has found her calling in this profession, and I would recommend her to anyone who is preparing to have a baby. 

Erin Phillips

3/23/2023

Working with Alison for the birth of our first child was the best decision we could have made; the support she provided during the birth, as well as during pre- and post-natal visits and check-ins, truly shaped the entire experience for the better! She has a wealth of knowledge and shared so many incredible resources (articles, videos, podcasts, etc.), which were SO helpful - while there are unexpected surprises that come with new parenthood, my husband and I knew we could always turn to Alison for guidance versus going down the Google rabbit hole. 

I opted to have an unmedicated birth at a hospital, and because of the work we did with Alison I felt confident in my decisions and comfortable advocating for myself. Throughout the birth I often found myself turning to her to ground myself, and it was amazing to have someone who could anticipate my needs so easily - cold washcloths while in the tub, warm blankets on the bed, birthing balls, counter pressure... puke bags... you name it. Her support also allowed my husband to focus on me, instead of him trying to converse with the nurses to get what I needed. While it was absolutely the most challenging thing I have experienced, I think back on that day with nothing but joy and a deep sense of pride.

I would recommend Alison to anyone, but especially someone looking for a doula that is genuinely excited about birth, interested in evidence-based research, and has a wonderfully calm (yet lighthearted!) and reassuring demeanor! 

Laura and John Wrend

3/9/2023

Do not hesitate and book Alison immediately. :) Working with Alison was one of the best decisions we made in our birthing experience. She was a constant source of support, education, calm and expertise throughout our first birth. Alison did such a great job before our birth helping us feel educated around what could happen and therefore way more empowered throughout the experience. To be honest, we didn't have many questions for whatever reason, but Alison took charge and really informed us. So, going into the birth, I felt really knowledgable. Then, we ended up having an earlier that expected induction that lasted for days. Our baby clearly wasn't ready to come out and it was a quite long and exhausting experience. Alison was with us the whole way making me and my husband feel comfortable and confident that things were progressing exactly how they should be. We really liked our healthcare providers, but shifts change and you after a few days you certainly see serveral new faces. It was really immeasurable to have Alison with us they whole time. Especially when labor was more active, Alison was such a wonderful guide not only physically supporting me and my husband but offering emotional support, too. She was there for laughs as well to help us keep the labor light when we could. And, when it came to pushing she was really my beacon for so much of that process helping me keep a clear mind around what I needed to do. After the birth she was a great resource and support system. She checked up on us regularly and it was wonderful to have her visit and help with postpartum questions especially around breastfeeding and bath time. We really valued having Alison on our birth and postpartum team. I'm so, so glad we could work with her! 10/10, 5 stars, love it, cop it don't drop it.

Christina

2/20/2023

Alison is a true gem! She is warm, genuine, and knowledgeable. She was invaluable part of our successful VBAC. During labor and delivery she knew exactly what would be helpful in the moment, very intuitive. She provided many helpful resources and was always available for questions and support before and after birth. I would highly recommend her to everyone. I thought maybe I didn't need a doula for my second birth, but I am so glad I found Alison because she was essential! 

Kristin Gosney

2/13/2023

We loved working with Alison. Immediately upon interviewing her on a video call, we knew we wanted to work with her because we could tell how warm and wonderful she is. She makes you feel comfortable right off the bat. In the prenatal period, Alison provided us with tons of information, which at first I found to be overwhelming, but ultimately the info is a jumping off point and helped us to think about further questions (because we had no idea what kinds of things to ask while preparing to be new parents). It was awesome to have her in our home to help us with imagining/visualizing what it would be like to labor at home and went over good positions and breathing techniques. Alison even helped with silly things like how to put on a baby carrier wrap using a teddy bear--we were clueless and she made it fun and engaging. 

During labor, I cannot say how invaluable it was to have Alison there supporting myself and my partner. She met us at the birth center in the middle of the night and started figuring out how to make me most comfortable immediately and helped my partner support me as well. She was so patient when I'd want to change positions(say, from the bath to the bed) after only having just changed positions minutes before that. Her words of encouragement really kept me going; any time I thought I couldn't, I'd say out loud "I can do this", and Alison and my husband would repeat the words back to me. Her encouraging words really helped me through this crazy, life changing experience. 

Alison is truly incredible and has such a wealth of knowledge for new parents. I highly recommend hiring her to make your birth experience as amazing as it can be. Thank you so much, Alison, you are amazing and we are so thankful for you!!

Lindsay

1/17/2023

Alison was the wise older sister and confidant I didn't know I needed for my preganancy and postpartum journey. She is attentive, extremely knowledgeable, and empathetic. When my husband and I were given the unexpected news that our baby was breech, Alison immediately responded with empathy, evidence-based resources, and genuine support. I'm not one to typically write reviews, but Alison is absolutely worth it! She provided both my husband and I with the information we needed to approach our labor and delivery with confidence. It's far too easy to feel like no one understands you when you are in the throes of pregnancy and postpartum, but Alison was there for us each step of the way to listen and made me feel like we weren't alone. 

Jessica

12/16/2022

I am so grateful for Alison. The love she has for the work she does is so apparent every moment you are with her. From the time I was 12 weeks pregnant to 6 weeks postpartum, she has been there every step of the way, with all the knowledge, resources, and information. I tell everyone that I could not have had an unmedicated vaginal delivery without her. She guided me through every contraction and she helped deliver the most precious gift. My fiancé and I felt so supported. We both highly recommend Alison.

Vanessa Margolis

11/8/2022

Alison is amazing.  We hired her in our second trimester and as first time parents were on a very steep learning curve. She did an amazing job educating us on what to expect in our first session and we were pleased.  However, when we made the painful  but necessary decision to leave our doctor and find a new practitioner to deliver our baby in our third trimester she became our lifeline with emotional and practical support.  She tapped her network, gave referrals and encouragement and we thankfully landed in a supportive environment.  She was the best labor doula ever for both me and my husband.  We could try to list all the reasons but there’s not enough space.  She’s there for you emotionally and she knows so much about the whole process and how to help you.  Alison is the full package real deal with incredible skills, experience and a vast network to tap into for questions.  And most importantly, she’s on a constant quest to be the best person she can be which translates into being a phenomenal doula.

David Backes

10/17/2022

My wife and I were so happy to have found Alison! We loved her energy, knowledge, and compassion that came through both during the pre-birth check ins and during the birth itself. It was so helpful not worrying about sending oddball text questions randomly as they popped into our heads -- Alison made it very clear that all questions were welcomed anytime. Really can't recommend her enough. 

Shelby Regner

5/28/2022

I don't even know where to begin- Alison Akan is worthy of such beautiful praise and I am not sure how to capture the sentiment in a google review. Birth comes with a lot of "what if's" and unanticipated moments. She gracefully supported myself and my husband as we navigated each decision both before and during the birth of our second child. Her bright energy is coupled with a plethora of knowledge. She is so deeply in love with the work she does! I appreciate her more than she will ever know.

Hallie

3/6/2022

We were so lucky to have Alison as our doula! From the start she was responsive, full of suggestions and ideas, and took the time to get to know us and really listen to our hopes and wants. She provided tons of resources and information — from healthy smoothie recipes to how to get baby to move into a head down position — and checked in regularly to see how things were going.

When our pregnancy and delivery circumstances changed, she was there every step of the way and did everything she could do make sure we were taken care of as a family. She provided a ton of emotional support as well as practical advice and reassurance. 

During labor and delivery, her calming nature and capable presence were fantastic to have guiding us, and it was such a relief to have her coordinating with nurses, helping us advocate for our desires, and giving us suggestions to keep things moving. We are so glad she was there with us when our daughter was born!

Postpartum, Alison continues to be such a huge help and support person as we navigate this new journey - reaching out to check in, coming to help with the baby, giving tips and tricks for newborn life. We appreciate her so much and can’t imagine having had any other doula by our side! 

DZ

2/27/2022

We have so much love and appreciation for our doula Alison Akan — she has been and continues to be a huge support to our family and we are beyond grateful to have found her and honestly can’t imagine this journey without her!! Alison is an INCREDIBLE human and brings such a joyful and positive energy to everything and everyone around her, which is much needed during the different ups and downs of pregnancy/labor and beyond. Throughout pregnancy she provided so many wonderful resources to ensure we were making informed decisions and felt prepared for not just the labor, but how to thrive once the baby was here.

I had an unmedicated out of hospital birth and she was by my side supporting me the entire time - I truly believe I was successful in sticking to my birth plan because of her (though as I learned nothing will go as planned so important to be flexible!), she 110% supported my decisions without judgement, which really allowed me to trust my intuition and not second guess myself.

I could go on and on about Alison, but when you meet her you’ll know right away how amazing she is :). So grateful she chose this profession and that it led us to her!!

Bryce Thompson

2/27/2022

Two words. ALISON AKAN. My first birth was an incredibly traumatic and unnecessary c-section so I wanted to do things right this time. My husband and I debated back and forth on hiring a doula because money was tight and we weren’t sure it was necessary. I decided to go ahead and interview a couple anyway and when I met Alison I KNEW I had to have her for my VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) attempt. I literally drove for Uber eats to raise the money to pay for her because it was THAT IMPORTANT that I have her there. Alison equipped me with tons of knowledge during my pregnancy to prepare for my birth. Once I was in labor, Alison came to my house and I don’t think she left my side for literally 15 hours. Even though I know that I’m the one who pushed out my baby unmedicated and no one could do that for me, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I couldn’t have done it without Alison. When I started to really doubt myself and my body’s ability to birth my baby unmedicated, she helped calm my mind and remember that I was BUILT to do this! An incredible doula and now a lifelong friend. One thing is for certain going into my next pregnancies, Alison will always be an essential part of my births! Thank you birth first doulas! Thank you Alison! (On a side note, loved meeting Rebecca and her ability to match me with Alison and taking the classes they offered. I found them helpful and informative!)

Anita Hannig

2/24/2022

I LOVED my experience with Alison -- I can't imagine having navigated a birth without her help. From the outset, she was the absolute rock by my side. Alison brings 150% of herself into any situation, and from our prenatal visits, her thoughtful check-ins, the actual birth experience, and her postpartum attention I felt completely supported and held. She has a compassionate but direct and effective way about her that makes you have total confidence in yourself and your body. She is tireless, calm, and unfailingly professional; I am in total awe of her capacity and energy. She never left my side during the birth and helped make the experience manageable when things threatened to fall apart. Her postpartum visits, too, restored my sanity and made me feel a million times better about everything. If I didn't have a name picked out for my daughter already, I would have named my firstborn after Alison :-). She is worth her weight in gold.

Randee Hagan

10/22/2021

Forever grateful that we found Alison - she is the most wonderful soul and a true Earth angel! From the moment we hired her, she was so attentive, supportive, and extremely helpful. She is full of so much knowledge surrounding pregnancy and birth. If she didn't know an answer to something or wanted to be sure she was giving the correct advice, she was incredibly determined to find the answer and respond in a timely manner. Never once did she forget to follow up when she said she would! She made us feel very seen and cared for throughout the entire journey of becoming first time parents. Her energy is radiant and her passion to ensure you have the best birth experience possible is truly remarkable! Meeting Alison has turned into one of the biggest blessings in our lives. She made what could've been a traumatic birth experience into one of the most positive experiences we've ever been through. The day our daughter made her journey Earthbound is now a memory we cherish and love to relive very often, and we give many thanks to Alison for this. She never left our sides (except for bathroom breaks of course!) throughout the whole day, and did everything she possibly could to comfort us both during uncharted waters. If you are looking for a genuinely radiant person to join your birth team who is extremely nurturing and knowledgeable, we HIGHLY recommend Alison!!!!

Rachel Orbistondo

4/7/2021

Calm, capable, intuitive, gentle, soothing, compassionate, and encouraging. Those are all excellent ways to describe our doula Alison. Though it was her first birthing experience here in the States, my husband and I always felt confident in her abilities. She has a unique medical background, having chosen a career in health care in the country of Sweden. Once she moved back to America, Alison decided to become a certified doula, and I am sure glad she did. Having her as an extra support person while laboring with my second child was indeed a God-send. Carrying a child and giving birth is one of the most demanding physical experiences a woman can endure, and having to do it during a pandemic made it a bit more challenging. I never thought that COVID-19 would have an impact on my labor and delivery in February 2021 when it had become a problem nearly a year previous. It did, however, and Alison was there to assist both my husband and I. Not only did she give me excellent exercises (i.e., the Miles Circuit) to do towards the end of my pregnancy, she also had several labor positions for me to try. She helped me stay calm and relaxed while breathing through my contractions, and she encouraged my husband as my primary support person. For anyone who is not sure if they should have a doula, I would highly recommend that they do. And they should most definitely look into getting Alison. They will not be disappointed.

Angie Badillo

3/3/2021

Alison is simply amazing. She was a real lifesaver for both myself and my husband during my labor. I'm grateful to have had her aid me through the most memorable yet life-changing experience that I've ever had.

When I first met her, I knew right away that she's the doula that I wanted to work with. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable in her profession, but also genuinely passionate and takes pride in helping mothers and babies alike. She took the time to get to know me and how I wanted my birthing experience to be. Then she walked me through what I can expect before, during, and after my daughter's birth. I was super nervous and excited, just like any new mother would be, but Alison helped me calm my nerves and reassured me that she would advocate for me all the way through.

And, of course, she did. She showed up right when I needed her and was patient and extremely calming throughout my agonizing labor process. She made sure that I was well taken care of by nurses and doctors. If it weren't for her, I would not have had the beautiful pictures that I will cherish forever! She also followed up with us post-partum to ensure we were doing well and if we needed anything.

Overall, Alison is an incredible doula that I would recommend to anyone. Thank you once again, Alison!

Bryana Kappadakunnel

3/2/2021

Alison is a gem of a human being.  She provided doula care and emotional support throughout my pregnancy, labor, and delivery.  She was the first person who came to our home when I went into labor, and supported my husband in being an active participant in this part of the experience.  She kept me feeling calm and collected throughout the process.  Alison communicated the entire time with my midwives, and knew exactly when it was time for us to head to the birth center.  While there, she was a hands on support, offering touch massage and encouragement throughout the process.  I couldn't have birthed without her.  And I wish she would have been here for my seond birth!  She is such a wonderful gift of light, and I will always think fondly of her.