Megan

12/10/2023

We are so happy to have been matched up with AshLee through Doula Love. This was our first baby. We had recently moved to Portland so we are quite far from our village. When we interviewed AshLee, she had attended less than 10 births but we felt confident bringing her into our birth team because of the knowledge and care she demonstrated. AshLee was extremely responsive to our texts during the entire pregnancy. When we headed to the hospital she was able to arrive shortly after us even though she lived 45 minutes away. We ended up not getting admitted right then, so she offered to support us at home which we gratefully accepted. She was a calming and friendly presence that helped us get centered. My labor went quite a bit quicker than the average 1st time mom's so I was definitely feeling off balance. We eventually sent her home again, expecting to labor quite a while before returning to the hospital. It was only a few hours after that when we ended up going back to the hospital but AshLee had stayed vigilant. Not long after getting to the delivery room I was compelled to push so I knew I wasn't going to be able to sit still for the epidural I had requested. During my accidentally unmedicated birth, AshLee knew we obviously hadn't had time to implement a lot of our birth preferences. I was too occupied to really communicate. AshLee brought my preferences into focus for both myself and the rest of my care team when I was not able to. I am the most grateful for her calmy going between my care team, who were wonderful but had jobs to do, and myself, who was very much in a primal state. She captured pictures that I will always cherish, especially since the details of the birth are already a bit fuzzy. Her enthusiasm for her work as a doula was clear when we had our post natal meeting. I appreciated her perspective of the experience. It helped me to process my whirlwind of a labor.

Overall, we are so, so happy to have had the support of AshLee!

Sydni Graham

12/10/2023

AshLee was everything I wanted out of a Doula and more! She made sure my Husband and I felt comfortable and supported before, during, and after birth. During the labor and delivery process she helped me most by suggesting different positions to labor in, helping me make the room smell good and adding mood lighting, and most of all being there as someone to talk to between contractions while my Husband got some rest. She also made suggestions to my Husband on ways he could better support me. Overall she made my birth experience one I will never forget, and it would be a dream to have her be a part of my future births. If you need someone to make laugh between contractions then switch into doula mode within seconds, she's your doula! 

Hannah H

11/9/2022

We had a wonderful experience having AshLee as our doula! Being it was my first baby, with very little family around in the midst of a pandemic, her support came at the perfect time and was exactly when we needed. It eased my mind knowing I had someone outside of my doctors to confide in, who understood my needs and would advocate for me- even in the postpartum stages when things got really tough! During labor and birth she was especially helpful by guiding my partner on how to care for my needs. So grateful to have had her be part of that journey!