As a first time mom, there were two things that I was certain of. First, that I knew absolutely nothing about the journey ahead, and second, that there wasn’t a professional that I trusted more than Ashlee to be by my side to walk me through it all. I got to stand on the sidelines and watch her walk through pregnancy journeys of very dear friends of mine, and they all raved about the quality of support and care that Ashlee provided them. She always came to our appointments incredibly prepared, complete with physical reminders for us to keep in our house of what we learned and discussed in that appointment. Having experienced the loss of my first pregnancy, I felt like I carried a little extra anxiety over the “trust” part of my pregnancy. Ashlee was always there to be a sounding board, provide grounded reassurance, and even come over to let me hear my little one’s heartbeat in the moments where words weren’t enough. There was never a time where I didn’t feel like her top priority. When it came time to labor, I felt confident and prepared. Ashlee was right there by my side, intentionally advocating for me and checking in with me to make sure that I was heard, supported, and respected. She provided my husband with the education, tools, and confidence that he needed to be an integral and special part of welcoming our first baby into this world. After this experience, I can’t see myself ever going without a doula, and when that time comes, I will be requesting Ashlee for her services.
Ashlee was an amazing Doula during our pregnancy. From day one she made herself available and ready to go on this journey with us. Her knowledge & tips were so encouraging and made this process smooth and kept us on top of all the things that we needed to know & achieve to have a successful pregnancy. Ashlee would constantly check in, go through classes (The Bradley Method) with us and if there was anything we were unsure about she would help us to find the answers. On the day of labor, Ashlee’s persistence and care for us was incredible. She advocated for us when we needed time and the role of support and active help that she played during the entire laboring process will never be forgotten. Ashlee truly is trustworthy, reliable and will do whatever she can to make sure that you’re prepared and ready for your special day. We couldn’t ask for a better person to be with us and now a part of our daughter's life.
I had the absolute blessing of having Ashlee as one of my doulas. Getting to have her calming and assured presence at the birth of my first child was something I didn’t know I needed. She was crucial to my team and always considered what I wanted first and foremost, while also helping with other options when questions arose. I had a very long, difficult labor and she was there with the same consistent energy as hour one to hour 36. She worked alongside my other doula and my husband beautifully and seamlessly and physically and spiritually held me up when I needed it most. I’m forever grateful to have had her by my side throughout the entire process. She was also a huge help in postpartum care and was willing to be there at any time to help me through the transition at home. I highly recommend adding Ashlee to your team because it will help make what is already an incredibly beautiful time, an even more special one.
During labor and delivery, it is vital that a mother has an advocate, and Ashlee Heyward has a rare combination of qualities that makes her an excellent doula. I had a very smooth, 7-hour, natural birth with my second baby, and I’m so thankful Ashlee was by my side the whole time. Ashlee was able to support me emotionally with verbal encouragement and prayer; mentally with timely factual reminders; and physically with massage and counter-pressure. Even in stressful situations, Ashlee remains unphased, steady, and calm yet empathetic and attune to a mother’s needs. She is not rattled by emergent situations, or the stresses of labor and delivery, but celebrates every small victory along the way. Ashlee brought a levity to the room which helped me relax during some of the most intense contractions. I even remember a moment between contractions where she seemed like my boxing coach in the corner of the ring. She understands the mental game required for natural birth, and acts as an anchor for the long haul of labor. Due to a previous traumatic birth, there were elements of my Birth Plan that were very important to me. Ashlee held the hospital staff to the most important specifications, resulting in a perfectly smooth labor, delivery, and post party recovery. I would highly recommend Ashlee to any expecting mother as she is an excellent labor support professional.
Ashlee Heyward traveled across 3 states and provided phenomenal postpartum doula services for our family. From the day we brought our babygirl home, she was there assisting with housework so my husband and I could focus on adjusting to our new life as first time parents. As I recovered from a c-section, Ashlee made sure I rested, stayed hydrated and massaged my legs and feet. She anticipated every need and even went above and beyond when she helped us do our own newborn photoshoot. She was able to capture some beautiful moments that we will cherish forever.
Ashlee was there to support my 62 hour birthing experience. Her support started well before my labor with several in person and phone check-ins. At each step of pregnancy, she was thorough in walking me through both the emotions of each stage of pregnancy, as well as preparing me with important information for the next step. She talked through my birthing plan with me to understand each decision I had made so that she could help carry out my wishes during our hospital stay. I knew I could call her and she would offer support at any time. During my labor, she provided me with at home and hospital support. She supported my physical, mental, and emotional needs during labor with empathy and encouragement. She was there for whatever I needed, and was able to guide my husband with how to support me as well. She has a wealth of knowledge about different positions and strategies to make me more comfortable during labor. While at the hospital, she was an advocate for me with the hospital staff and a sounding board to me during the process. When things in labor were not progressing as I had hoped, she was able to help me process through my feelings, and support me to make choices that I would feel comfortable with. She empowered me with information so that I could make the best choices for my baby and myself with no pressure or judgment. She was dedicated to helping me achieve the birthing experience that I desired, with a healthy baby, and a healthy mama as the priority. She even made sure that the songs that I wanted to play when my daughter came into the world were playing. She truly cares about the details of your desires. She was so physically involved in supporting me for tireless hours on end, and she never wavered in her encouragement, even though I know how long my labor turned out to be. My husband and I still (months and months later) discuss that her presence was an essential investment during our pregnancy and birthing process. The day after my daughter was born, all of the other midwives and nurses were raving about how impressed they were with Ashlee and how lucky we were to have her. We couldn’t agree more.
