I am a Vermont-based doula, student midwife, birth justice advocate, and all-around birth nerd. Working with families in their child-bearing season of life is my ultimate passion!

After the birth of my daughter in 2020, I felt an immensely strong calling to birth work. I decided while in recovery from PPD to dedicate myself to providing evidence-based prenatal, labor, and postpartum support to help improve both birth experiences and outcomes.

In 2021, I began working in postpartum and newborn care as a Mother/Baby Licensed Nursing Assistant at UVMMC. I began my midwifery apprenticeship at Jumelles Wellness Midwifery the same year. I attended my first birth as a student in early 2022 (fun fact: I attended my very first birth in 1999—the birth of my youngest sister! Maybe that’s when this all really started).

When I’m not immersed in the birth world, I can be found reading a good book or jotting down my thoughts as a writer. I have the incredible joy of being called “Mama” by my two precious little ones: Frances, who’s four, and sweet baby Isaac. I am also deeply grateful to have the support of my adoring husband, Matthew, who encourages me every step of the way as I pursue my dreams as a birth worker.

Thanks so much for your time and interest. I look forward to hearing from you!

Hi, I’m Aless.

    • Doula Training: I recieved my formal doula training through Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings—an action-oriented full-spectrum doula training with an emphasis on diversity and reproductive justice.

    • Midwifery Studies (ongoing): I did a midwifery apprenticeship at Jumelles Wellness Midwifery from 2021 to 2024. attending home births as an assistant. I also attended Midwives College of Utah as part of my formal midwifery education.

    • Nursing: I completed my Licensed Nursing Assistant training at UVMMC in 2021, where I served as a Mother-Baby LNA. I gained many valuable skills in postpartum and newborn care and gained a deeper understanding of perinatal care in the hospital system during this time. I am currently taking classes to further my nursing education with the goal of becoming an RN, as the next step in my journey toward becoming a midwife.

    • I attended Blossoming Bellies Pelvic Dynamics & Obstetric Bias workshop in 2023. This greatly informed my understanding of the pelvis and the importance of movement in labor, as a tool for labor progress and preventing unnecessary interventions.

    • I encourage expectant families to use Spinning Babies techniques and have used the techniques prenatally and in labor with many families.

    • I’m a big believer in preparing prenatally for postpartum mood changes, and implementing mental health strategies and supports as part of postpartum planning.

    • Attended a perinatal mental health for birth workers workshop from Postpartum Support International in 2023.

    • I received lactation education from my doula training, a Human Lactation course from Midwives College of Utah, and experiential training through my apprenticeship and by working on the Mother-Baby unit at UVMMC.

    • I am versed in positioning, basic latch issues, nutritional needs for lactation, pumping, storage guidelines, and colostrum harvesting.

    • Most importantly, I focus on the role that adequate personal and professional support has in successful lactation and can help identify when latch/feeding issues are not normal and when a referral is necessary.

    * I am not a lactation consultant! *

Training, Workshops, & Professional Foci

Click to expand for highlights of my training and how I incorporate each focus into my work as a doula.