Practice overview
Ali Buchanan (she/her) is a certified full spectrum doula, childbirth educator and mental health advocate where she is honored to work with parents and families to transition into their new roles before and after birth. She's also Operations Coordinator & Content Team Manager for the Evidenced-Based Birth community to provide current research and best practices in order to empower and educate families across the globe. Before answering her calling to birth work, Ali completed a BA in Psychology from Miami University and went on to obtain her MS degree from Eastern Illinois University in Higher Education, where she focused her thesis on Ethnic Lesbian Identity Development within the African American and Latinx communities. In 2015, Ali experienced her ideal first pregnancy and unmedicated birth but had a devastating postpartum experience leading her to become a postpartum doula helping other moms transition into their new roles. After moving to Portland and finding an amazing community, she continued her education during the pandemic to become a full spectrum doula! She has a passion for working with underrepresented communities, advocating for mental health/self-care, and empowering others to be their best selves in a non-judgmental supportive way!
Olivia
January 23, 2021 at 9:14 am | Client reviewAli was extremely helpful in caring for our 3 month old who was experiencing reflux and colic. She gave us suggestions for feeding, sleeping and movement that has helped our daughter get through this difficult stage. I would highly recommend Ali to anyone looking to receive in-home support or for any other birth or doula needs.
Shannon
January 26, 2021 at 12:28 am | Client reviewAli was an amazing doula to us. This was our first child plus it was during covid. She was always there to answer our questions. But always went a step further and gave us information we would have never known about. Our birth didn’t go as planned but because of our work with her my partner and I were able to navigate it and make a decision that was best for our little girl together.
Jamie
February 1, 2021 at 2:51 pm | Peer reviewAs a mom of three, a birth doula, and childbirth educator, here is what I know: You want Ali on your birth team.
Even if you read all of the books in preparation or had the most perfect birth experience – becoming a parent is a challenging rite of passage for all of us. It’s impossible to know what you will need most in your postpartum experience until you are holding baby in your arms and living the reality that you were only dreaming and guessing about before. Fun plot twist? Those needs can change multiple times a day in those first few weeks.
Ali’s compassion, wisdom, and leadership are exactly what every new parent needs in their life. Ali shows up with a wholehearted and authentic passion for supporting families in this stage of life – fueled by her own personal motherhood journey and her commitment to learn the art and science behind quality postpartum doula work.
I know that if you add Ali to your birth team, you will experience what I have: a friend that listens in a way that makes you feel fully seen and validated, a generous sharing of confidence and grit that will inspire you to persevere in the face of challenge, and if the moment calls for it a smile and laugh that will make you remember that you haven’t always been a sleep-deprived new parent trying to figure out how to make it through the day.
Ali is equal parts inspiration and encouragement and generously provides the exact kind of energy women need as they transition into motherhood.