The High Country Doula classes provided a nonjudgmental space to learn about birth and postpartum. I always felt welcomed to ask questions and left feeling more empowered than I did at the start. Allison was amazing!
-Kaitlyn R.
“Both the child birth express and and support measures classes were really beneficial for me and my partner as we were both able to be on the same page and learn about what to expect together. Taking the classes was fun and it was helpful for us and also really helped to calm our anxieties while preparing for our baby to arrive.”
“We had a home visit after our baby was born to address feeding issues we were experiencing and it was so nice to be able to have the visit in the comfort of our own space. We had previously had appointments elsewhere to address the same issues but found our in home visit with Allison to be so much more comfortable, natural and more informative overall. Allison also helped us to connect to other resources and gave us referrals that have helped with our baby and her feeding issues. It was a very stressful first few weeks after having our baby trying to figure out a lot of new information; and Allison really helped us feel supported and calm which made all the difference in creating a positive outcome and transition into our new routine.”
“Despite having a c-section, I was able to still have the extended delayed cord clamping & baby straight my chest while in the OR. Baby never left my side for the first few hours. Mattie & Chelsey were both amazing! Mattie was helpful on the day of for both myself, husband & baby. She filmed my birth & help with baby once in recovery since I wasn't able to get up for the first few hours.”
Described her birth as “redemptive, relaxed, enjoyable”
-Melissa W
“At the hospital our doula was able to help find different positions that felt comfortable to push. Was able to answer any questions we had about medications or procedures regarding the hospital.”
Described her birth as “amazing, peaceful, beautiful.”
-Rebecca R
“Last week I went by the 3 nap schedule on Wednesday when had church in the evening and that helped him make it till after church to be out down! He’s still fussing at both nap time and bed time about being put down but he is calming quickly and we aren’t having to even go back in to settle he’s doing it on his own! You helped us figured out his wake windows and that has been the game changer… THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!”
-Christine G, mom of two
“Made me feel safe and secure, and like my preferences would be honored. She also helped support my husband and helped me breathe during contractions, and with comfort measures. She was very present and encouraging, and helped me when I had questions.”
-Gloryel M
July 7th my sweet Maggie was brought into this world after 7 hours of labor. Maggie is my third blessing and my quickest and easiest labor, my first unmedicated. I will forever be grateful for the help from my amazing doula Nellie Hensley-Ahrens.
Being able to birth how I wanted with the support from Nellie and my husband made this experience unforgettable. I think that all women should have access to doulas for their babies, because the knowledge and support you get from these women is truly life changing.
-Sabrina S. Third-time mom, Mountain City, TN
“We used the postpartum package with High Country Doulas and it was one of the reasons I was able to successfully breastfeed. Allison and her team offered support and smart insight during a difficult time in the first few months. With their help, we were able to figure it out!
They were patient and kind during an exhausting period and helped walk me through skills like swaddling, soothing, sterilizing bottle, etc. It was nice to have someone slowly re-explain and demonstrate all of these things once you are out of the hospital. I highly recommend their services to first-time parents—it was the extra boost we needed. “
-Lily Hennessy, a first-time mom
“Allison and Lis were the perfect team to support me during my VBAC. Choosing a VBAC at a non-supportive hospital required a lot of emotional support and encouragement, and Allison and Lis gave me that and so much more.
They helped me create a plan of action for birth and troubleshoot potential setbacks or problems that could arise during labor. They listened to my concerns and allowed me to work through and process residual feelings from my first birth.
Lis was with us during labor and drove through a literal ice storm to make it to our home. Her calm demeanor was exactly what I needed to relax, think, and make it through challenging back labor. She supported me in my decisions and captured the moment my son was born perfectly! I was able to achieve a VBAC and I am so thankful for both Allison and Lis for being a part of my incredible birth experience!”
- Bethany B. Boone, NC
“Just knowing I (& my husband) would have someone who was specifically trained & experienced in this area in the room with us was a huge stress reliever for me. In my specific case, I have scoliosis corrective surgery, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to use an epidural. Having Nellie (who ended up being my doula) there helped me stay in the right headspace once contractions got intense & when I struggled to push my son out in the final stage.
While my doula could not give consent for me, I found it extremely reassuring to have her there to help me evaluate recommended courses of action by my medical team. While my awesome Midwife & nurses provided the actual interventions, I consider Nellie’s presence & counsel as an essential part of the care which ultimately saved my life after a massive hemorrhage.
I was initially skeptical about hiring a labor doula, but now would 100% recommend them for anyone needing any level of support in their birthing journey.”
Etta’s husband writes: “Our doulas were very attentive & accommodating. They met our needs as they arose. I would definitely recommend them for others seeking a doula.”
-Etta R. Johnson City, TN
"Chelsey was extremely professional (& punctual!) in preparing/encapsulating the placenta after my birth. I had absolutely no concerns once she arrived & got to work. She was very knowledgeable, personable, & meticulous. In fact, I have referenced the packet of instructions & resources she gave me multiple times throughout my postpartum process. She was also wonderful with my follow-up questions once I reached the 6 week mark and was ready to start using the tincture. I believe the placenta capsules made a night & day difference for me in my postpartum this time compared to my first postpartum without them. I know this may not work for everyone, but I would 100% recommend this process & doula for others interested in this service.”
Etta R. - 2nd time parent
“Having Chelsey with us through our son’s birth was such a blessing. She walked us through so many helpful coping strategies and never stopped being there with us. She was such a comfort to my husband as well when he wasn’t sure how to help me, she guided him and made the experience a lot less stressful for him.
It was important for me to have an unmedicated birth and I have no doubt the doctors would have pressured me into a C-section if she wasn’t there helping me make informed decisions and trusting my body. I was able to make it through 27 hours of back labor and 3 hours of pushing with her and my husband’s support.
I thought I would feel uneasy having someone I didn’t know very well in the room with us in such an emotional situation. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Chelsey made us feel at ease, laugh, and felt so cared for. After our rainbow baby boy was here it was hard to let her go! She had become such a special person to us by the end of our journey.”
Madison Idell - Greeneville, TN
Dear High Country Doulas,
“I wanted to thank you not only for the information on paced bottle feeding, but the guidance you provided when you visited us. We have been using the techniques for soothing and sleeping. Our son sleeps well at night, waking 2-3 times for feedings. It was so helpful to have you come and share knowledge with us, and I appreciated someone caring about my wellbeing as well as our son’s.”
Maggie - 1st time parent
"We had a fantastic experience with the High Country Doulas, utilizing many of their services and working with all of their doulas: labor support, breastfeeding and postpartum classes, and daytime and overnight services.
Without family in the area, we really benefitted from all of this help and knowledge in order to best care for our first child. We had an unexpected long stay in the hospital, followed by breastfeeding pain, followed by the sleepless nights that accompany every newborn, and other questions that popped up as we moved forward with our little one (questions about digestion, sleeping, etc.).
I would recommend any of their doulas, who provided excellent support of all kinds (physical, emotional, etc.) and even are willing to answer questions that pop up off-duty. This is an excellent and trustworthy organization that will help you transition to various stages of parenthood. I can’t recommend them enough."
Katie Montalbano — New parent
"After experiencing awful PPD/A with my first born, I knew I would want to do something different with our next baby. A friend mentioned placenta encapsulation to me--I immediately knew it was worth trying after reading all the amazing benefits. I was assigned Chelsey for the encapsulation. She texted birth affirmations, answered any and every question I had, and was just all around a great support to have before and after birth. Once we were released from the hospital and Chelsey arrived at our house, it felt like I knew her forever. Her calm demeanor is contagious, she referred an IBLC after watching my baby nurse, and she answered my questions without judgement. It was so nice to experience postpartum. If I could change anything about this, it would only be to pay the extra money to have her there as my doula in the hospital. She is an amazing person and was made to do this job. 10/10-- seriously."
Mallory Marsh - 2nd time parent
“How do I describe our experience with our doula? Absolutely amazing! Don’t be like me, dads to be, I was skeptical about using a doula, but they don’t take your place, they help with ideas for comfort for your laboring wife and how you can help. Our doulas were so nice, and were accessible all the time. They helped me as well as my wife prepare for the big moment. My wife was attempting a VBAC, and thanks to High Country Doulas, she was able to have it.”
—Timothy Trimble - Moravian Falls Dad
Placenta Encapsulation art!
“My postpartum visits with High Country Doulas were VITAL for our transition into parenthood and setting me up for a smoother postpartum recovery. Our doula Allison was flexible with scheduling and helped us begin to adjust right from the start. She helped us troubleshoot sleeping, feeding and the setup of our home to accommodate the needs of our growing family. The resources provided during our visit and the support between visits boosted our confidence and assuaged our concerns. The empathy, knowledge and expertise of the High Country Doulas is such an asset to the parents of the High Country! I would recommend EVERY parent book visits with this talented team no matter if this is your first or your fourth child!”
—Ashley W. 1st time mom
“Allison was exactly what I needed during and after labor. She arrived at the birth center and immediately got hands on to help with pain management (I had an unmedicated birth). She was looking out for my every need and allowed me to focus in on delivery and nothing else.
By no fault of Allison’s, we did have a rocky time after delivery and she stayed right by my side to navigate it all. I would have hated to go through that experience without her. I would never want to deliver a baby without her!”
—Brita T. - 1st time mom
“My wife and I used High Country Doulas immediately after the birth of our son and continue to use them for occasional backup support. They certainly made the anxious, early days after coming home from the hospital calm, smooth, and more joyful with their helping hands, emotional support, and willingness to support us in any way we needed. They certainly made us better and saner parents in the first weeks and months after our son's birth.”
—Joe Waters - 1st time dad