Meet the Doulas

I am a DONA trained doula that assisted in my first birth over 10 years ago. From the first birth I knew I was connected to the birthing world. I have birthed five daughters, whom I homeschool and devote my time. After reflecting on my experiences with labor and delivery, I felt drawn to working with women to have their optimal birth. I firmly believe in educating women on their bodies, babies and the birth process. I believe that every woman should have the birth they desire, if possible. I am a lead doula for a non-profit doula service that provides doulas to qualifying women of color. I come from a family of birth workers. My grandmother and her sisters were birth and postpartum doulas. I do this to educate, empower, and continue my family's legacy. I believe in going back to the basics in all things, even in delivery. Women have been equipped for the beautiful task of labor and birth; I want to help women find their strength and voice through the process. In addition to birth doula support, I also offer VBAC support, postpartum doula support, sibling doula support, childbirth/breastfeeding education, meal prep, and healthy pregnancy support. I have received advanced training in Spinning Babies (Certified), Cesarean Section support and am a midwifery student. I have experience supporting births in homes, birth centers, and hospitals. I believe that the Most High is leading and guiding my life. I graduated from Appalachian State with a BS in Computer Information Systems and NC State with MA in Business and Marketing Education. I taught for 15 years in the public school system. I love learning, traveling, firearms, and working out. I am here to help create a harmonious journey for your family.

Before I ever discovered the doula profession, I was drawn to supporting young mothers in my community during their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. I would often purchase necessary items for the baby as well as help the mothers navigate social services that may be available to them such as WIC. In 2017 I received doula training from DONA International and began my journey as a trained doula. As a doula, I strive to offer professional, constant, and personalized support with the purpose of encouraging a woman to have a satisfying birth experience, however she defines it. I am committed to serving with compassion, love, and gentleness by God's grace. My mission is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience. I enjoy developing relationships in which the mothers feel free to ask questions, express their fears/concerns, and take an active role in creating their birth plan. Being a family-oriented wife and mother of two has been a major influence in my role as a doula. I understand the importance of this process and I am honored to be part of the sacred birth space. In addition to being a Doula, I am experienced as a Population Specialist and a Certified Medical Assistant II. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my granddaughter, Ava, working in my flower garden, and providing companionship for the elderly in my community.

Ashley Taylor Jacobs is a wife and mother of two girls, living in Durham, NC. In 2019, Ashley added Doula and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist to her credentials after more than a decade within the non-profit sector. Graduating from North Carolina State University with her B.A. in Psychology with minors in Africana Studies and Biological Sciences, as well as obtaining her Master’s in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and compassion to her clients. Her approach is surrounded in evidence-based practices, while listening and honoring the intuition of the birthing person. Trained as a DONA Birth and Postpartum Doula, Ashley loves continued learning. Due to this love, Ashley recently sat for and passed the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) examination, allowing her to assist individuals with their lactation journeys. A firm believer in women empowerment and allowing space for the systematic advancement for all people, specifically those that are of African descent, Ashley is adamant in allowing birth to be sacred experience. When not wearing her “Doula hat”, Ashley enjoys time with her family and friends, reading, volunteering, and traveling. If you have questions or concerns regarding scheduling or services, feel free to contact me. Have a great day!

Briana Smith is an IBFA Certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and an IPPA Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist. Her advanced training and certifications include When Survivors Give Birth, Rebozo Use in Labor, Postpartum Belly Binding Professional, Eco-Baby Educator, Systemic Racism & Implicit Bias in Perinatal Health, and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Advocate. Briana received her BS in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where her passion for maternal and reproductive health sparked. She has experience with couples, single parents, advanced maternal age, VBAC/VBA2C, sexual trauma and assault survivors, high and low risk births, and families who have experienced or are expecting a loss. Briana has extensive experience working as a doula and an educator in all of our local area hospitals, birth centers, and in home. She is passionate about providing evidence based, unbiased education and helping her clients to make their own informed decisions, by arming them with the information they need. She knows that a fulfilling birth experience often leads to a more enjoyable transition into parenthood for all parties. Briana's open, direct, and honest communication style paired with her empathic, compassionate personality allow her to be the best advocate and support for families before, during, and after birth. Briana currently lives in Raleigh (though she'll always be a northerner at heart!) She absolutely loves the beach (her dream is to own a boat one day), but also loves snuggling up in a blanket with hot chocolate in a log cabin in the winter time (ah, there's her New Englander side!) Since COVID19, she has also started a new hobby: soap and wax-melt crafting!

Hey, my name is Eboni Allen. I am a Durham native and love all things birth. I am married and have two beautiful children. I graduated with my Bachelors in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and am currently finishing my Masters in Science Education from NCSU. I am a Certified Birth Doula through Birth Arts International and a Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, certified through Women’s Choice Perinatal Services. I am also a Certified Maternity Reiki Specialist. I fell in love with birth work after my birth plan took a detour with my first child. I decided to use my knowledge and passion about birth to help and support other women. Each birth is beautiful and every woman deserves a doula. In my spare time I love listening to music and spending time with my family. Exercising is also extremely important to me, and is my way of clearing my mind and taking care of myself. I love learning and I feel like life has so many lessons for us, we just have to pay attention.

Aviance is optimistic, always smiling, exudes positivity, sees the absolute good in everyone, and speaks power into others; she encompasses all those qualities into her doula journey. She enjoys learning new things and expanding her mind (hence the diverse training under her belt). She does not plan to stop her doula education at completing Postpartum, Bereavement, Fertility, and Placenta Specialist training. She is committed to making herself inclusive for all and is dedicated to being trained to assist in various situations. Aviance’s passion for becoming a Doula stemmed from her traumatic postpartum experience. Her distressing life experience drove her to offer support to others in the form of a Doula, which she sadly did not have for herself. She desires to be an active listening ear to her clients and a resourceful guide through their birthing plans. She yearns to empower and, most importantly, uplift mothers and families during postpartum. She has also obtained her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as another avenue of supporting others. Aviance lives in Raleigh with her spouse and their son. She enjoys walking and sitting in nature, spending time with family, and embarking on new adventures. Aviance hopes that her positive energy and unwavering support will be a beneficial factor in helping mothers to have a beautiful and empowering birthing experience. Aviance believes in her inner power to make things happen, and she believes in letting things be, virtues that are inspired by the term, Asé.

Tara is a Certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula and Labor doula through Prodoula. After years of working with children ages 0 to 9 years-old, she finally found her passion caring for families doing doula work. She cares about the mental health and the functionality of families. Tara believes that knowledge is power; so she is never done learning so that she is able to provide the best up-to-date support and knowledge for families she serves. She has experience with multiples, tongue-ties, circumcisions, sleep training, prenatal and infant loss training, sibling support, and surrogate support. When Tara is not doing birth work, you can find her exploring the town, hiking, cooking, doing yoga or watching a movie.