Ashlee Mckenzie

About me

Nurture The Roots LLC provides evidence-based postpartum doula care, newborn behavioral support, and lactation guidance for growing families across San Francisco and the Bay Area. Founded by Ashlee McKenzie, a certified postpartum specialist with over 16 years of hands-on experience and more than 150+ families supported, our practice bridges clinical expertise with intuitive, cue-based developmental care. We eliminate the fourth-trimester overwhelm by helping you read your baby's subtle communication cues, establish sustainable sleep and feeding rhythms, and navigate parental recovery with quiet confidence. What Our Care Focuses On: Newborn Cue-Based Communication: Grounded in Brazelton Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO), we help you translate state changes, sensory thresholds, and subtle cries so you can respond before stress escalates. Infant Feeding & Lactation Guidance: Compassionate, evidence-based support for latch troubleshooting, milk supply regulation, bottle/pumping plans, and supplementation. Fourth-Trimester Recovery & Sleep Rhythms: Gentle, protective care designed to prioritize maternal mental health, physical healing, and overnight rest without rigid or harmful sleep training dogmas. Family Transition & Empowerment: Practical household organization, newborn care education, and emotional grounding for the whole family. Whether you need overnight shift coverage to preserve vital rest or structured daytime transitional coaching, our care is rooted in clinical standards, trauma-informed principles, and deep respect for your family's unique journey.

Certification and training

Pro Doula Postpartum and Infant Care Certification (2024)

The Microbirth Plan Course (2023)

Innate Postpartum Care Training (2022)

CAPPA Lactation Educator Training (2023)

Gentle Ventures Newborn Care Specialist Training (2010)

DONA BIrth Doula Training (2009)

DONA Postpartum Doula Training (2009)

Credentials

Specialties

Languages

English

Accepted insurance

Service introduction

Throughout our time together, my focus is on creating a calm, restorative environment where you can step into parenthood with quiet confidence. My practice is deeply rooted in clinical standards and evidence-based developmental care. Grounded in Brazelton Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO), I help you decode your baby's subtle communication cues, sensory thresholds, and state changes so you can respond before stress escalates. Navigating the fourth trimester shouldn't feel like guesswork or trial-and-error. Whether we are protecting your sleep through dedicated overnight care, troubleshooting infant feeding and lactation, or establishing gentle, sustainable sleep rhythms, I am here to provide structured guidance and emotional grounding. Together, we protect your physical recovery and mental well-being while building a strong, confident foundation for your family.

Packages

Ratings and reviews