Candace Roper
Hello! My journey into doula work and childbirth education began almost 20 years ago when I discovered a copy of Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin. I instantly became a self-certified birth junkie! Ever since then I have been devouring information about pregnancy and childbirth.
I believe your birth is a unique and wonderful journey, in which you deserve to be informed, respected and supported. My hope for your birth is that you are transformed as a woman and feel competent and capable in your new role as a mother.
I have had the privilege of attending births for over 12 years, all while giving birth to four of my own children, with doulas by my side for each of them. My own four very different birth experiences have really left a lifelong imprint on me as a woman, as a mother, and as a childbirth educator and doula. I have given birth once at home and three times at the hospital, including twice by cesarean. I am happy to support your birthing goals, whatever they may be.
I have a background in health sciences, psychology and education, which have helped me so much in my work with women and families.
I am passionate about breastfeeding and mothering. I am currently working on my path to becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
I have breastfed my four children, through many difficulties and struggles, and have remained a committed nursing mother and mentor to others.
- DONA trained birth doula
- Certified Hypnobabies Instructor and Hypnodoula
- Certified Postpartum Doula
- Board member of Utah Doula Association
- BA in Education
- CPR Certified
- Rebozo Certified
- Advanced training in working with survivors of abuse
- Training in nutrition and herbology for midwives
Ashlie Hashimoto
Hi! I’m Ashlie Hashimoto and I first learned about doulas eight years ago I was pregnant with my first child. Just like every mother, I began to search out options for my birth. This led to me to learning about doulas, a word in which I hadn’t even heard before this point. As soon as I heard about doulas, I knew I needed one on my team, so I hired an amazing woman to help my partner and I on this wild ride of pregnancy and into parenthood. Fast forward almost three years and we were again with our doula and midwife birthing another son.
In both of my births the power and confidence my doula gave to me is something that changed how I took on birth and how I stepped forward into my new role as a mother. She knew just what I needed and how to enable my partner to be what I needed.
Years later I was finished nursing my last baby and ready to roll up my sleeves and learn everything I possibly could about birth, doula work, and how to support new families. Within weeks of talking about becoming a doula I was already being asked to attend births and a few short months later I took my DONA training. From there it’s just fallen into place. I’ve attended births in all different settings and situations–in hospital, out of hospital, epidural, unmedicated, Cesarean, multiples, and more.
My philosophy is that it’s your birth and you need to birth how and where you feel safe.
I have had a hospital birth and an out of hospital birth and both were amazing and wonderful. I believe that birth is birth and no matter what it looks like you can feel empowered! My goal is that you feel educated, prepared and, most of all, supported.
Nothing is more sacred than a woman birthing. Being a doula is my passion. I love being able to support women and their families during such a special transition in their lives. It brings me great joy to give a woman my faith and confidence in her body. Congratulations on your pregnancy and best wishes on your birth!
- Trained by DONA International (the oldest and largest doula association in the world)
- Very familiar with Hypnobirthing, Hypnobabies, Birthing from Within, and the Bradley Method
- Rebozo Certified
- Advanced training in working with survivors of abuse
- Bereavement training from The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death
- Board member of the Utah Doula Association
- Certified in placenta encapsulation
- Worked as a birth assistant at The Birth Center
