Hi! I’m Alyssa Barrett! I am a childbirth doula, RN, and mother of two little cuties! I have a 3.5-year-old daughter named Autumn, whom I gave birth to in a hospital and a 1-year-old son named Damon, whom I birthed at home! I grew up in Wyoming and Southern Utah and married my High School Sweetheart, Brady, after serving an LDS mission in Belgium and The Netherlands. I graduated from the BYU nursing program and immediately worked in various capacities as a nurse including pediatric home-health and in a plasma center. I started working as a doula when my daughter turned 1, and haven’t looked back. My passions include fertility and prenatal nutrition, true physiological birth, women supporting women, and health and longevity. I love making food from scratch and playing outside with my kids in the sunshine. Feeding others good nourishing food is my love language! I’m grateful to be living a life I am proud of and making my dreams come true.

Can you tell us a bit about your job? What do you do as a birth doula?

My role as a traditional birth doula is to walk alongside women on their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey as a witness and a guide. I help advocate for their rights and support them in any choices they make concerning the birth of their baby and perinatal care. I teach my clients how to care for their bodies with proper nutrition, supplementation (when needed) and mind and body work. I often start working with them before conception and continue into their postpartum period. My expertise lies in fertility and prenatal nutrition and overall preparation for an intervention-free birth.

During the birth, I support my clients physically (through counterpressure and other comfort measures) and emotionally, as another woman with a deep understanding of physiological birth. I help them cope with each contraction and become whoever THEY need me to be in their birth space. I always say “my opinion is not in the room, unless it is specifically asked for.” I keep them hydrated, fed, and comfortable as they navigate this new experience and welcome their baby!

 

How did you decide you wanted to work in this field?

I went to school to become an RN in hopes of one day becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. After experiencing my own birth and the births of others in the hospital system, I knew that wasn’t where my heart lied. I desired to be a more traditional support and advocate for women. The role of a doula seemed fitting and after my training, I jumped in head first and started this business. I got my first clients relatively quickly and it has taken off from there! Women’s health and birth is an absolute PASSION of mine. 

 

What are some common misconceptions about the role of a birth doula?

 A lot of people think I only help at home or birth center births, which is not the case! I take a lot of hospital birth clients.

Another misconception is that I take the place of a midwife! Although I have (accidentally) delivered a baby, that is not my role! We don’t do anything considered clinical but rather work alongside midwives! We each have different responsibilities and are companions in the work, making each other’s job easier.

 

What are some key benefits of having a birth doula present during labor/delivery?

Studies have shown for many years that having a doula present lowers the chance of a cesarean, shortens labor times, decreases the likelihood of birth trauma or a negative experience, decreases need for pain medication, lowers healthcare costs and decreases anxiety and depression in pregnant women. My clients and I also become very close and I care for them as an individual! I have the most beautiful relationship with each one.

Doulas were traditionally called “gossips” and were simply women who were willing to support others during their birth process, increasing the likelihood of a more peaceful and empowering birth. They have ALWAYS had a place in the birth space-just under different names!

 

How do you support the mental health of the moms you work with?

I start from the foundation-with nutrition. If you don’t have the building blocks for a healthy mind, you will not achieve the true mental clarity and peace that you deserve. Once we work on nutrition, we dive deep into other things they can work on before they give birth. This can include past traumas, fears concerning birth or motherhood and relationships they are struggling with. I ensure they feel nothing but safety, love and absolute freedom to be themselves in my care.

 

What are the best parts of working as a birth doula?

The relationships with my clients mean everything to me. We tie a string that connects us as women into a beautiful bow, uniting us for the rest of our lives. Watching a woman that I have come to care deeply for - in all her power, birthing her baby, after preparing and researching for months - is incredibly empowering. It makes every late-night call very worth it.

 

What are your favorite products at Copper Pearl?

The multi-use covers are EVERYTHING. I use it for the carseat, as a nursing cover, as a light blanket, and to cover the nasty shopping cart seats! I absolutely love them. The stretchy swaddles are another favorite! They are just the right weight and size to take with you on-the-go! Such an incredible company that actually considers what a mom needs in real life.