My name is Ashley and I have been working with families for seventeen years. I started working with families when my oldest son was born and I became an active member of La Leche League and then began a support group for young moms. Throughout my career I have worked with parents and their young children in many different capacities. I have led parent-child playgroups, provided in home parent support and education, and have taught many workshops to parents as well as other professionals. I am a mom to five and was also a foster parent for infants for two years. I hold Certifications as a DONA Doula, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Counselor, Passenger Safety Technician, Parent Educator and Circle of Security Facilitator as well as Parents as Teachers, Touch Points and have earned a Family Development Credential. My goal is to support prenatal and postnatal families as they try to navigate parenthood. I am passionate about providing parents with options and helping them decide what works best for their family. I can offer personal as well as professional experience to empower parents to make the best decisions. I never tell parents what they should or should not do and never judge. I offer emotional support during the journey of parenthood.
Doula Dawn has attended more than 800 births over the past 24 years. She felt called to birth work after being asked to attend the birth of a friend. That birth taught her that it isn’t about what we think we have to offer, or what is planned for, but tuning into what the laboring person needs as labor unfolds.
She believes in the power of compassionate support as well as being able to meet families where they are. Over the course of her career Dawn has experience in home, birth centers and many of the hospitals in Connecticut, as well as having worked across the border in NY and MA.
Along with her support skills she has offered pregnancy & birth photography, breastfeeding support, childbirth classes, breastfeeding & newborn care classes and placenta encapsulation.
She has developed the reputation with families and providers as one of the most trusted doulas in the state. Dawn has worked with all different types of families and prides herself on being incredibly intuitive and on her ability to anticipate the birthing person’s needs as well as the needs of their partner.
When she isn’t at a birth, with a client or taking photos she’s watching Call The Midwife!