Ashley Meissner Birth Doula in Portland, OR

I'm so grateful that Ashley could be a part of our birth and pregnancy. She made the entire experience so much better in more ways than I could describe. I felt confident going into my induction because I knew I could count on Ashley's support, and trust her judgement in situations I might otherwise have been unsure about. Throughout my pregnancy, both my partner and I would say all the time how glad we were that we had Ashley. She even had to balance my induction with supporting another client who gave birth less than 12 hours before me, and she was amazing through all of it. Ashley helped me and my partner feel confident, informed, and calm during the whole process. And she's been so helpful afterwards as well, answering questions about our baby and our plans for the future. If we have another child in the future, I would absolutely want Ashley to be our doula again.

— Skyler Witherspoon

There is something so magical that happened when I hired Ashley. From the beginning we navigated a beautiful birth experience that wouldn't have happened if I had not met her. Ashley is confident, kind and knowledgeable. She will support you and guide you in the best way imaginable for both your pregnancy and birth. I think she has a keen intuition and is able to see what you are capable of before you even know it yourself. Her presence during labor is warm, friendly and assuring. Like having a best friend that you 100% trust by yourside. I highly recommend you talk with her if you have any interest in hiring a doula for your birth.

— Kristina

Ashley was recommended to us by a friend and I am forever grateful! She was both direct and empathetic throughout my entire pregnancy and labor. I had a goal of no pain medications and as natural of a labor as possible. Ashley provided resources for both me and my husband and was a wealth of information. When there was a possibility of me needing a c-section Ashley lent both a listening ear and literally a shoulder to cry on. My husband and I went into our induction feeling educated and confident that we could advocate for our goals. I was able to avoid all pain medications and welcome our baby girl into the world after over 30 hours of labor. I believe Ashley was a HUGE part of that, she maintained a calm energy and helped me breath through my contractions and helped keep my labor moving. She also checked in regularly postpartum and made sure we recovered alright. I'm also incredibly grateful for the education and assistance she provided my husband through the whole process, they were both my team throughout labor and I cannot recommend Ashley's services more!

— Ashley

Both my husband and I cannot sing Ashley’s praises enough. We feel so lucky she was able to help us navigate our first birth. We both acknowledge hiring her was the best thing we did to prepare for baby’s arrival. I felt safe under Ashley’s care, knowing she would protect and advocate for me during labor and after. I will hire her again in a heartbeat if the opportunity arises!

— Rebecca Oetken

Ashley was great! Her prenatal and post partum visits were so informative and helpful. She also put us in touch with a lot of great resources. My labor happened so fast, she was only present for the last few minutes of pushing, but she snapped some amazing pics, helped us with nursing afterwards, and was supporting us via phone throughout the day. If you want to work with a warm, compassionate, evidence-based yet intuition driven Doula, I recommend Ashley!

— Nichole

When I was searching for doulas on Doulamatch I saw a review for Ashley saying it felt like they'd already known her forever. I am here to let you know 1.) that review worked on me and it made me reach out and choose Ashley and 2.) I have to whole heartedly agree. Although I wouldn't recommend this, she was the only doula we interviewed and we chose her immediately. From the beginning she provided us with information and numerous resources that helped my partner and I immensley as first time parents. Her advocacy with my OBGYN helped me feel confident in my own ability to speak up for what I wanted. She helped me feel confident in my decisions during birth. She set us up with a wonderful Lactation Consultant. Her communication through pregnancy, birth and postpartum was wonderful. Thank you, Ashley, for all you did for us.

— Jules Kelly

If you're considering having a doula present for your birth experience, I highly recommend it and you cannot go wrong with Ashley. She made an immense impact and I was so glad she was there. I had a really difficult birth and she made the entire experience a little less painful and added a lot of laughs. She makes you feel so comfortable and it's just great having someone to talk to with so much knowledge before and after giving birth. Ashley works so hard in everything she does and inspires a lot of trust. She's well trained, certified and it's so easy to feel a strong connection with her and she immediately puts you at ease. I also really love how honest and genuine she is. Her experience is really well rounded and really was glad she was there when my birth experience changed from birthing center to hospital. Cannot recommend Ashley enough.

— Suz L.

Could not be more grateful for Ashley's support before, during, and after the birth of our first child! Our adventure turned into an extremely, long, drawn out induction, with a lot of uncertainty during our hospital stay, but I felt prepared and confident to make every decision with Ashley by our side. I could not recommend her services enough to anyone; regardless of their wishes or birth ideals because she will give you unwavering support through it all. I would work with Ashley again and again, no questions asked.

— Carly Fulton

Oh my goodness! Ashley is incredible! I know for a fact that my redemptive second birth wouldn’t have played out the way it did without Ashley’s guidance. She helped me navigate (and self advocate!) through a hospital induction. She gave my husband and I so much time and knowledge any time we met, always so warm and easy to talk to. She’s genuinely an amazing human. I love that she was part of the birth of my daughter. She worked in tandem with my husband and guided me through specific labor positions that I would’ve never known to do. I know this kept my labor moving along! She created such a calm environment in a hospital setting. If I started to waiver, she kept me calm and brought me back to my breath. Labor was 5 hours start to finish, unmedicated, and truly one of the best experiences of my life!

— Elizabeth Burcham

Ashley was absolutely essential in helping us navigate the challenges of pregnancy and birth. When I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at my 37-week appointment, Ashley’s reassurance that the birth experience I envisioned was still possible was such a comfort. Her experience with this diagnosis was obvious as she knew exactly what my options were, which was confirmed by the doctors. That was a testament to her ample experience as a doula. Despite needing to be induced and having my birth plan altered, Ashley helped me stay focused on my goal of an unmedicated birth. Her candid, resourceful guidance was invaluable, often providing more clarity than the nurses during the birth itself. Thanks to Ashley's thorough prenatal sessions, my husband and I felt confident in the decisions we made during the induction, as we were well-educated on the medical options available to us and the pros and cons of each. We felt empowered to ask many questions of the staff and doctors, and demand time to make decisions. Her education is what allowed me to feel empowered during my birth. Her support made all the difference, ensuring I had the perfect birth experience—one I truly believe wouldn't have been possible without her expertise and care. If we have another baby, there's no doubt I would hire Ashley again.

— Lorrie Spencer

We could not be happier with the service that Ashley provided throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She was friendly, supportive, informative, and a calming presence for myself and my husband. Her prenatal visits helped prepare us not only for birth but also how to manage family expectations, set up a registry, what to expect postpartum, how to work best as a couple/team, and more. Ashley was extremely helpful in getting my body ready for labor by leading me through exercises and movement at home and then continued focusing on movement while laboring in the hospital. My baby was transported to the NICU and Ashley stayed by my side the whole time I was being treated post-birth, answering my questions, supporting me, and making me feel like I wasn’t alone. She has also provided great local resources for prenatal massage, lactation, moms groups, and more. My birth experience would not be as positive as it is without Ashley. I am excited to work with her again in the future and highly recommend her for anyone looking to hire a birth doula.

— Savannah Plusquellec

Right from our first interview, Ashley was very warm and felt like a close friend which made choosing her to be our Doula easy. She educated my husband and I on all things prenatal, birth, and postnatal during our meetings and helped us feel prepared. I ended up being induced and having to change my birth expectations but still had a positive birth experience and am so thankful that Ashley was there with us navigating each step. My favorite part of having Ashley as my Doula was how she empowered and helped teach my husband to be the best partner for me before, during, and after birth. I cannot recommend her enough!

— Noelle D

The birth experience of my daughter was undoubtedly improved by working with Ashley as our doula.  Working with a doula for the birth of our first child was an excellent decision for which we have no regrets. Looking back, I have the most wonderful reflections on the whole experience and that is largely attributed to Ashley's contributions.  I chose to have an unmedicated birth experience and there is no way I could have carried through with that without the support of a doula.  From middle of the night contractions to comforting me through a long, uncomfortable labor, Ashley was there the whole time and it was so reassuring.  She is dependable, extremely responsive, experienced, and professional yet warm so you instantly feel comfortable in her presence.  All essential traits for an excellent doula! Ashley also provided a wealth of knowledge and resources to help my husband and I feel prepared before, during, and after the birth which was super helpful.  For the weeks leading up to birth, during the birth, and afterwards, having Ashley as our doula was incredibly beneficial and I couldn't recommend her more.

— Shauna Rasmussen

Ashley helped to make my birth experience exactly what I hoped for! This was my first pregnancy and I knew that I wanted to try and do it unmedicated (while also preparing for alternative paths and interventions). Ashley was so helpful in helping to educate me and my husband on these choices and go into the birth experience as prepared as possible. She was instrumental in making sure that we went into the birth experience feeling calm and prepared. When it was go-time she helped me to stick to my birth plan and keep me moving and trying different coping techniques. She helped with the decision-making and discussions in the hospital so that my husband didn't have to. She helped to make the birth space calm and joyful. She was also a super valuable resource in the weeks postpartum when I was working through all these crazy new changes! I truly believe that I would have had a very different birth experience (and possibly one I would look back on with some disappointment) if she hadn't been there to support me. My husband and I are both super grateful to have had Ashley on our team, and I definitely hope to have her there with me if/when we have another baby!

— Allison Walker

Ashley provided everything we were looking for in a Birth Doula and more! She was always on time to our meetings and spent so much time answering our questions and explaining what we should expect along the way. When it came to having our son, she was in constant communication with us the entire time and was there when we needed her. She helped me through the contractions, eventual epidural, pushing, and immediately post-birth. I truly cannot imagine what my experience would have been like without her. I wouldn't hesitate to hire her again with our next child!

— Kelsi Fitch

From supporting me through the unpredictability of a preeclampsia diagnosis, to an emotionally taxing labor and delivery that didn’t go as hoped for, Ashley was there for me. She was compassionate and informative, supported my decision making, and made my family members feel comfortable throughout my journey. I’m so glad she was a part of my birth team!

— Lauren Kaemingk

Ashley was warm and friendly from the first email sent. She’s delightful to work with, and we were truly blessed she was a part of our birth team. Things didn’t go as planned, but she was still available to help us through the bumps on the road, and then some! I could not recommend her more!

— Diana K

We are so happy we chose to include Ashley in our journey! Being new to the area, she helped us understand our hospital and providers to make sure we had the right team in place for us. Working with her was a confidence building & empowering experience- she created space for us to make decisions, rest, receive constructive feedback during delivery, and sincerely cared for our needs throughout labor. She has so much knowledge and a strong network of pre/post natal care resources. Thank you Ashley!

— Gabby Aslett

Where do I even begin?! Choosing Ashley to support me through my pregnancy and birth experience was by far one of the best decisions I've ever made. Not only did she provide support during labor, but she also provided support and was just a phone call or text away whenever I needed her throughout my pregnancy and postpartum. Her support was gentle, loving, and professional. I felt like I knew Ashley my whole life, she was the perfect fit for my husband and I during our first pregnancy. I had a beautiful and positive birth experience and I provide a tremendous amount of thanks to Ashley for that! She's amazing in so many different ways. Would use her support over and over again and would recommend to anyone looking for a doula!

— Mackie Phillips

Ashley was an amazing doula. She provided expert care during our first child’s delivery. Ashley gave us lots of useful information during our pre-birth meetings and made sure we were prepared. She even added a last minute meeting to discuss my induction including what to expect, and review my wishes. During birth, Ashley was a strong advocate for what we wanted, and she also integrated herself perfectly with our hospital team. Her support was a huge factor in the comfort of our first birth. Our Labor & Delivery nurse changed multiple times the day we gave birth, but Ashley was always there. Lastly, Ashley’s post-partum visits were invaluable as she gave us reassurance that we were doing the right thing. We cannot recommend Ashley enough, and will absolutely use her services if we are lucky enough to have another child.

— Veronica Kohtz

I don't even know where to begin with my praise for Ashley, she is truly incredible. I had been so anxious about my second pregnancy following a Cesarean, but the second I made the decision to hire Ashley, I felt a rush of relief and newfound confidence. She provided me with helpful evidence-based information and words of encouragement so that I could advocate for the prenatal care and birth plan that I had hoped for. I honestly believe I would not have been able to give birth to my (giant) baby without her guidance, support, and knowledge. During my labor and delivery, Ashley knew exactly what positions I needed to be in and the words of encouragement that were necessary for my situation. Not only did she support me, but she made my husband feel confident and empowered as a birth partner. Her presence during my birth felt like it was meant to be! I feel so lucky to have had her be a part of such a special time in my life, I don't think I have ever recommended anyone as highly as I do for Ashley.

— Olivia

Ashley is an absolutely amazing doula! Throughout my pregnancy, birth, and first few weeks postpartum she was supportive, caring, kind, and patient. She was always there to answer my texts and calls for questions along the way and provided me with so many resources and information to help me feel confident. The day of my birth, she was so helpful and such a valuable addition to my care team. I will be forever grateful to her for helping me have a birth that I feel good about!

— Chloe Medina

Hiring Ashley as our doula was the best decision we made during my pregnancy with our first baby. Having her emotional and educational support through pregnancy was so helpful as everything was new and scary, she was able to help us plan and know what to expect. She also helped us prepare for postpartum and visited us twice after our birth and was so helpful and comforting during a really hard and emotional time! Having Ashley’s support during our son’s birth was incredible and I can’t imagine what it would have been like without her. I was able to have the natural, unmedicated birth I had hoped for even though I was induced and my baby was over 10lbs - because she advocated for what I needed, encouraged me and reminded me of my own strength, and helped my husband know how to support me as well. To anyone expecting a baby - I can’t recommend hiring a doula enough and Ashley is absolutely amazing!

— Emily S

My husband and I were completely surprised when we found out we were having twins!! We felt overwhelmed, excited, and shocked. We didn’t know what to expect, but one thing we knew for sure was that we wanted to work with Ashley again. She was such an important part of our birth story with our daughter that I couldn’t imagine going through another pregnancy and birth without her. Ashley provided us with compassionate and informative support throughout the whole process; including when we found out one of the twins had IUGR, and when my birth plan had to change to a scheduled cesarean. Ashley truly made me feel empowered, strong, and relaxed. Her amazing support postpartum was also critical for me. When my feeding plan changed she helped me through everything and made me feel at peace with the new plan. Hiring Ashley was the best choice we made for our pregnancy/birth journey and we are so grateful to have had her be part of our birth stories.

— Cassie Stoltz

If you are looking to hire a knowledgable, supportive, calming, positive doula that will also advocate for you, Ashley is the perfect choice! This was my first pregnancy and with all the overwhelming amount of information out there for pregnancy, labor and postpartum, having Ashley guide me through the process, answer all my questions, and help me focus on what's important was instrumental in my birth story. Hiring her was the single greatest investment we made for our pregnancy journey and we are so grateful for her support!

— Carissa Mossman

Ashley was a great addition to our birth team. She did a thorough job getting to know us and our birth wishes. She helped us advocate and was excellent support during labor. She was also in touch frequently postpartum and helped us with any questions we had.

— Lana ferris

I am so glad I chose to use a doula for this birth, and Ashley could not have been a better fit! She is confident and knowledgeable, which is so helpful when talking through options and making decisions. She has such a strong, yet very calming, presence. She was able to advocate for me with hospital staff while also being right in my ear with encouragement and care. She was helpful with positioning during my very fast and intense labor, and she held my leg (while also taking photos/videos and talking me down from my panicked state) while I pushed. She helped direct my partner a bit, and took a more active support role, allowing him to observe. Her flexibility was invaluable in such a fast-paced situation, and then she was able to comfort and encourage me immediately afterward, while laughing with the nurses. Our postpartum processing visit was exactly what I needed, and her check-ins were so timely and helpful. She exudes comfort, caring, and strength! I'm so thankful that she was part of my experience!

— Kat Williams

We chose Ashley as our doula because we believed she would be the best match for our family. During interviews she was very friendly, offered tons of information, and was clear on what she could provide for our family. She was easy to talk to and we knew she would provide great support. Throughout my pregnancy she provided tons of support. As first time parents we had a lot of questions and wanted to soak up as much information as possible, and understand all of our options. She would send resources and provide references (postpartum doula)! During the birth she was great. She provided a lot of coaching and support for my husband so he could be a great birth partner. She helped us advocate and worked well with our doctors and nurses. I highly recommend Ashley for anyone looking for a doula.

— Sarah Boulot

If you're looking for a doula who is kind, confident, positive and supportive: Hire Ashley! We worked with her to support us during the birth of our second child in hopes of achieving an unmedicated and empowering birth experience. Throughout my pregnancy she took the time to help me process some of the trauma from my first birth and discuss my goals for the second. During my labor Ashley fostered a calming environment by keeping the room quiet and the lights low with twinkle lights for ambiance. She had me change positions frequently, did hip squeezes/counter pressure and helped me labor in the bath. My nurse was not very kind/supportive and Ashley dealt with her and advocated for me when I wasn't able to. She's simply the best and we cannot say enough about our experience with Ashley!

— Katie

Words can not describe how thankful we are to have had Ashley as our doula. The care she provided before, during, and after the birth were beyond our expectations! We did not have the birth that I dreamed about early on in my pregnancy and had more medical interventions than initially anticipated. Even with this, the birth was the best day of my entire life in large part because of Ashley. We just loved her warm presence and encouragement. She was also a very strong advocate and knowledgeable helping to guide us every step of the way. What I loved most was even with an epidural she was able to help me change positions for comfort, to lower the baby, and during pushing to decrease the risk of tearing. She helped our medical birth feel very natural. We are sad that we are no longer working with Ashley but grateful to have graduated and now have a happy healthy baby! If you are at all on the fence about getting a doula, definitely do it and you will be lucky if you can get Ashley!!

— Amyko Wells

I can't recommend Ashley enough. This was our second child and second doula. My first birth was wonderful and I loved my first doula but I knew exactly what I needed if I invested in one again. When you're facing baby prep and hospital prep financially, thats exactly what a doula can feel like- an investment. I'm so glad we made the last minute decision to hire one and that I was connected with Ashley. She's kind, relatable, direct and such a strong advocate. She worked to support my partner to ensure he felt empowered to assist me before birth, through the actual birthing process and postpartum. She made my intervention free birth happen and even made sure I got my water birth. Her knowledge and support are unparalleled and her responsiveness is so appreciated. 12 out of 10 stars.

— Anya Slinde

I hired Ashely for the birth of my 3rd child (my first hospital birth) and I am so grateful I made that decision. The short review is: having a doula for the hospital system was essential for me - I highly recommend Ashley! She helped me with: 1.knowing what to expect at the hospital and being prepared for the ways it would be different from a birth center 2.helping create the atmosphere that I wanted for birth 3.providing me with the research on going past my due date at my ‘advanced age’ (I was 37) 4. when I decided to induce, she talked me through the options and gave me straightforward information. I had ‘my chart’ to get in touch with my hospital midwifes but it felt very impersonal and I never knew who was going to repsond. I really liked a few of the midwives but none of them were assigned to me so I didn’t have a consistent person throughout the pregnancy. Ashley was that consistent person. At the end, I was overdue and went as long as I felt healthy and safe. I decided to induce because the baby just wasn’t coming and I knew it was time. But we’re in a nursing shortage and the hospitals did not have room for me. I spent the last 2 days of pregnancy receiving a barrage of information from the hospital - I was talking to whoever was on staff and they had to keep their liability insurance in mind. I called Ashley every time I spoke with the hospital and she talked me through each decision. We could talk about my body and make decisions based on all the NSTs that came back showing my body was not in distress. On our own, my husband and I would not have been equipped to navigate the hospital system. Ashley’s support meant we could enjoy the day together instead of being completely overwhelmed by the situation. During the birth, she supported my husband so that he could be present with me which is exactly what I wanted her to do.

— Michelle

Ashley was everything we needed her to be to prepare for our first birthing experience. She was willing to learn the methods we wanted to use and was also flexible in using other techniques. She was right there when our birth did not go as planned and helped us each step of the way. She helped me feel calm, she helped my partner know how to support me, and was always quick to step in when needed. Ashley was also able to process the experience afterwards which was extremely helpful. Thank you Ashley for all your love and support during our most special (and stressful) time!

— Whitney H

My husband and I absolutely loved working with Ashley during our pregnancy and birth experience. She is incredibly kind, compassionate, and offered so much useful information. As a survivor of rape I was looking for someone to help me advocate for certain things during my pregnancy/birth and Ashley was the perfect person to do that. She helped me feel strong, empowered and informed on every decision I made. I can't say enough how much of a pleasure it was working with her!

— Cassie