Alyson Thiel

About me

I've always been passionate about pregnancy and birth, reproductive justice, and mental health. Being a doula naturally combines all of those! After I attended my first birth, I was instantly drawn to being a birth partner. Shortly after, I expanded my expertise to becoming a postpartum doula and lactation counselor, and then gave birth to my own child in 2021. I became a childbirth educator in 2025. I love being a doula because it gives me the opportunity to mentor birthing people and their families, to uplift them in advocating for their reproductive and mental health, and to validate their feelings, instincts, and celebrations. Every person has a right to be supported before, during, and after their birth. Birth is big. It comes with such a spectrum of emotions, joys, challenges, and experiences. I support parents to utilize their own strengths and abilities through all of the “bigness” of birth. I want to provide birthing people with a comforting, nonjudgmental, and empowering support as they and their families go through this exciting and sometimes emotionally intense life transition. I believe that every person deserves love and support; there is nothing special that you need to do or know or be in order to be worthy of it. Pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period are unique to each and every person, and I honor each individual's choices. I offer my services to individuals and families of all walks of life.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (2008)

Certification and training

Birth Doula Training, DONA (2017)

Postpartum Doula Certification, Cornerstone (2019)

Certified Lactation Counselor, CLPP (2019)

Certified Childbirth Educator, Birthing From Within (2025)

Memberships and affiliations

Birthing From Within

Credentials

Specialties

Languages

English

Accepted insurance

Service introduction

As a birth doula, I Recognize birth as a transformative experience that you as the birthing person will remember all your life Understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a person in labor Assist you and your partner in preparing for and carrying out your plans for the birth. This includes creating a birth plan, providing information about what to expect, and offering referrals. Stay by the side of the birthing person throughout the entire labor Provide emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to you in getting the information you need to make good decisions. This might look like massage, verbal affirmation, making sure the environment of your space is comfortable and safe, or providing evidence-based information. Facilitate communication between the you, your partner, and clinical care providers Perceive my role as one who nurtures and protects the memory of your birth experience. Labor and birth can be intense and overwhelming, and it may be difficult to remember everything as it happened. It is my job to help you tell your story of your birth. As a postpartum doula, I: Know birth recovery and how bodies heal after birth. I draw on my knowledge and experience of the postpartum period to help you rest and heal in the best way for you and your family. Know newborn care - I can help answer questions, provide assistance, and most importantly, reassure you that you are doing a great job as a new parent! Assist you and your partner in carrying out a postpartum plan: this includes drawing on the community that you already have, reflecting on your family/heritage/chosen family's postpartum healing traditions, and deciding what is best for you and your family. Offer individualized hands-on care: I meet with you to make a plan that works with the rhythm of your life - sometimes this means doing laundry throughout the day or cooking a nourishing meal. As a Certified Lactation Counselor, I provide individualized lactation support if you choose to breastfeed. Listen to your concerns in creating a safe, non-judgmental space. There is nothing you can't share with me about your experience - I want to hear all of your joys, concerns, little and big accomplishments, and frustrations. Connect you to resources in the community. Serve as an ally for you and your family, in and outside the hospital setting.

Packages

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