https://doulamatch.net/profile/28289/alison-akan-cd-dona

Alison Akan Doula Services, Malmö (2025)

04/02/2025

A glimpse into supporting my first doula client in Sweden! This incredible couple found me via the amazing and we clicked right away. They were expecting their first baby and do not know the Swedish language so they wanted to invest in a doula. I was so happy they chose me, they welcomed me into their family and we got to know each other well before the birth.
When labor started I supported them in their home for a few hours before we headed to the hospital (where I used to work! Full circle moment).
Here she spent time in the bath and things started getting more intense.
An epidural was placed. Here we do ”walking” epidurals so you’re not confined to the bed. Can still get up, change positions and walk around, they even remembered a position from a class they took where instead of sitting backwards on a toilet - you sit on your partners lap, the partner can then take turns lifting his knees to create more space in the pelvis. I called this the walking toilet position.
Not too long after that, baby girl Sienna was ready to meet her parents.
My client brought so much determination and strength to the pushing phase, her partner always beside her encouraging her, and before we all knew it, sienna was here!!
Can’t describe how happy I am for them, how grateful I am to have been by their side through it all, and finding new international friends here in Sweden. Thank you for trusting me as your doula 💕

29/08/2024

Hey from Sweden!! *not birth related*

It’s been a huge adjustment moving back here, but things are starting to feel a little bit better. I’m working as a medical assistant again at my previous job, supporting new parents right after birth with everything from complications from birth, cesarean recovery, breastfeeding, pumping and more.. it’s often I get the same patient several days in a row which is so rewarding and I love being able to provide continuity of care when it’s possible. I’ve been able to connect with so many international and English speaking patients as well which has been amazing.

Being back in Sweden and doing more medical tasks is refreshing, even though I miss birth - supporting postpartum is such an honor as well. These tender and vulnerable moments right after becoming a parent are so precious and I’m grateful I can make a small impact with one patient even if it is just during one shift. I feel so incredibly lucky. And the break from on-call life has been welcomed😅. I’m looking forward to this next year, and sharing what is to come with all of you…

I hope you’ll tag along 🫶🏽❤️

12/05/2024

My last client park day in Portland, OR! It warmed my heart to see so many of my amazing clients yesterday. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers - you have taught me more lessons while doing this birth work than anything else combined.
I have walked this path with 125 families in 3 years and I have grown and developed with each and every one of them.
I’m leaving birth doula work temporarily, to start a new chapter that involves much of the same thing, but just in a different way.
I cannot express the endless gratitude, honor and privilege I feel being welcomed into your sacred birth space. Thank you all for your trust, your guidance and for choosing me to be your birth doula. You’ve all given me the greatest gift that life can give, and I’m so lucky to get to continue being a part of a loving relationship with so many of you. ❤️

03/03/2024

Redemption births may be my new favorite thing.

This incredible couple hired me to be their doula again for their second baby, the biggest privilege of my life to stand by their side again!
Their first baby girl was an induction because of hyperemesis gravidarum, and while I was attending another birth - they called me to say things had started to get intense very quickly. I was able to make it to them right when it was time to push. But her first birth was one of the fastest first time births I had ever experienced.
This time she had the same condition and pregnancy was hard, but she wanted to do the birth differently and try for a water birth and hopefully that I would be able to be there for the entire experience. Labor started spontaneously. Contractions were manageable but consistent at 7:15pm, we met at the hospital at 9pm and baby boy Hayden was born in the water at 10:30pm. She brought so much power, so much strength, had the amazing support from her partner, and reached down and caught her baby boy with her own hands. It was unbelievable to watch, I don’t cry often but - I am so happy she got this experience, that everything worked out so perfectly, there was never a rush, and she was in control the entire time. So incredibly proud and so happy for their family of 4! They will always have a special part of my heart, not only the kindest humans I’ve ever had the pleasure to know, but they have also given me a friendship that will last for life.

So much love, your doula Alison.💘

03/03/2024

The one where she wasn’t sure she could do an unmedicated out of hospital birth, but then chose to trust the physiological process. 🙌

When this couple found me they were indecisive of where to give birth, they ultimately chose my fave team for their pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.
From the moment I met them they welcomed me into their arms and their life with so much trust and it quickly became a loving friendship. We had a true connection that just became stronger through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I witnessed so much growth, strength, curiosity, openness and love in this couple during our time together.
When baby Marcus decided it was time to meet his parents at 41+6, we labored at home and then headed to the birth center. Her surges were never lasting less than 2 min long and still came every 2 minutes, she worked SO hard from the beginning and David did not leave her side. He offered so much comfort and oxytocin to her, a powerful role that nobody else can replace. They were a team, every single moment.
Morgan had such long and powerful surges the entire time, we were kind of mind blown when some surges were lasting 2 1/2 sometimes 3 min long. But she kept moving, helping Marcus out the one way we know how, changing positions all the time.
After many hours and strong pushing stage, this sweet boy arrived into his parents loving arms. I am so profoundly proud of this family, so grateful to know them, they’ve touched my life in a big way and I feel so privileged that I get to do this work that I love, and get so many wonderful friends as a bonus. Thank you for trusting me through it all, you have a special place in my heart always.

Your doula Alison.🩷

21/02/2024

From laboring at home, to laboring at the birth center, to transferring to a hospital.

This baby girl had us all on our toes for a whole month with start/stop labor contractions. The normal length of pregnancy is 42 weeks, and baby Rosie sure was cozy until the very last minute. Her mama Emma worked so hard to meet her, from the time she hired me she knew what kind of birth she desired and did SO much work to make it happen, immersed herself completely in all the materials and I was just in awe of her, she also taught me so much.
After birthing for an entire day, SHE called it, the decision to transfer to a hospital. She did so in a controlled and supportive environment, her partner never left her side, and the midwives did an incredible job at supporting my clients through it all.
A hospital transfer is not a failed attempt, it’s an amazing use of resources when we need to utilize them to keep our birthing experience positive.
After we all had gotten a little bit of rest, Rosie was ready and her mama brought so much power to this moment.
Getting to know this family, has brought me so much joy, so much love, and I’m just so honored they chose me to stand by their side during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Emma, you’re a rare light in this world and I thank all my lucky stars that we found each other in this big crazy world. So proud of her and all that she accomplished. Happy to call you family!

Much love, your doula Alison 🤍

11/01/2024

Another beautiful birth with the amazing team.

When I got word from the amazing .meredithpt that she was referring me a client, I was shocked to find it was no other than whom I had been following practically since moving to Portland.

Her first birth was a speedy hospital birth, so she wasn’t sure she wanted a doula this time around. Lucky me that she changed her mind! We were able to arrive to Alma in a very calm and cool state, before things practically just took off after her waters broke. .meredithpt and I had been dreaming of attending a birth together - and it finally happened thanks to Courtney.

During this beautiful birth we were doing stairs, ball movements, tub, counter pressure and it all ended on the bed and her husband catching their beautiful son!

For anyone who doesn’t know, offers incredible services to new parents in Portland and I cannot recommend her enough!! I am so grateful you trusted me to be your doula, I learned so much from you and I am so excited to continue working in this field with you!

So happy this birth turned out to be exactly what you hoped for, and so happy for your beautiful family of 4! 🩵

30/12/2023

Was called to support this amazing family around midnight.
After about 1 1/2 hours of intensity, her contractions were coming consistently, but not in the regular text book pattern.. and she was still feeling ok to stay home (hospital was on divert).
Ultimately we needed more information for where we were at before being confident enough it was time to go in. This family wanted an unmedicated birthing experience, so the goal was to stay home as long as possible.

There are questions a doula or support person who sees birth a lot, can ask a birthing person - to find out more, and this client trusted birth so much that I knew she would be comfortable with what I was asking. Thanks to her trust in me and the information, we now knew that is was time to head in.

As we are walking into the hospital she stops and says her baby is coming. We start walking faster. She was still very with it and talking and walking, even the hospital staff brought us to a triage room first because she didn’t look like she was about to have a baby.
Right then and there in that room her body starts pushing. We are moved into a birth room and baby girl was born in her amniotic sack minutes later!!
The whole experience was epic, beautiful, wild and full of so much happiness. Her birth reminded me once again why I love birth SO much. Having them look back at their birthing experience as positive and empowering is the best thing ever to witness.
Thank you for trusting me as your doula, so incredibly happy for you both and your sweet baby girl!!💕

30/12/2023

Homebirth. It is a commitment of complete surrender, welcoming the sensations, seeing them as your power and not pain. In your own home, with a trusted team of professionals may be where you feel the safest to give birth. There is no right or wrong place to give birth, and it’s important to trust the birthing person that they know what they need to feel the safest. Birth is all about making informed decisions and having the most safe and positive experience.
In birth we know that the leading hormone to have a baby is oxytocin - we need to feel loved and safe to have a baby.
In this homebirth, her oxytocin and endorphins were flooding the entire space, and for a moment, time stood still and we all watched in awe at the greatest wonder there is on our earth.

When asked me to be her doula for her third home birth, I was ecstatic. She is one of the go-to professionals for so many new families in Portland and being in her presence is a true gift. I’ve learned so much from her and being able to be there for her through the birth of her beautiful daughter Rosemary was an honor. Her incredible birth taught me so much, her determination, her fearlessness, supporting her through the challenges her birth asked of her. I am so proud to have been there, go to her page for her full birth story!

Also so happy to have finally gotten to work with and . You were all so wonderful and I’m so grateful Kyra caught these shots of me in action! I love my job. I love my clients. I love this community. Thank you all for changing the birth world, one birth at a time, I’m grateful to be on this road with all of you.

10/10/2023

Waters broke at 2am, got into active labor at 2pm the next day and had her baby boy in her arms at 7:16pm!

When birth took an unexpected turn for this family, I couldn’t feel anything but grateful that I got to be by their side when welcoming baby number two. This family found me when they were literally a world away during their first pregnancy, and I received the greatest honor being hired again for their second pregnancy.
This experience could not have been more different than their first, but it was just as powerful, just as beautiful and yes, a lot of hard work involved.
Every single baby knows exactly how and when they need to be born. When we continue to trust this sacred process, even when things don’t go as planned, transformation unlike any other happens.

So much love to these clients, friends, family, you are quite literally allll the things and I am so fortunate to know you, and that I got to witness your strength once again.

Always your doula 🩵

15/09/2023

“Where is the squat bar? I need it for pushing.”

I have now been a full time birth doula for over 2 years and have received the biggest honor in having a handful of clients hire me on for their second baby.

This incredible family. She wanted to recreate her first experience, and as we all know, that may not be possible, but we got pretty dang close!!

- starting to push when baby is at +2 station, she was in this position for about 5 minutes before Jackson was born
- we started the journey in a triage room for a bit too long for our liking but we made the best of it, contractions became stronger after about 30 minutes there
- got into our room, SO stoked she got to use nitrous oxide this time around, she loved it and we had a really good time. Brooke is one of those people that just wants birth to be a party. Which it was, had our EDM music on once again and were in full on rave mode 😂
- Daddy skin to skin time is SO important the first couple of hours after birth
- Jackson 🥹 a real trooper the whole birth
- brothers meeting for the first time😭❤️

THANK YOU, for trusting me as your doula for both of your births, for birthing like the badass that you are, for being an inspiration to me and so many others. I’m very proud to call you all family.

Always your doula, so much love❤️

16/08/2023

From early labor at home, to active labor and birth at the birth center.

This couple was such an amazing team. The way my client trusted this process, the way she leaned into each sensation, it takes a lot of strength and trust to get there, but from the start she had no doubt in her body’s ability to birth her baby boy.

As labor intensified and we headed to the birth center, she went more and more into laborland, leaving the logic and old self behind with each sensation, she impressed us all.
We never know what birth will ask of us, but we do know that we need to completely surrender and let our body and baby lead the way by constantly changing positions - “motion is lotion” as us educators like to say.
We then see the astonishing things our body is truly capable of.
This primal, beautiful, transformative experience requires love, support, comfort to release one’s self, and a lot of rest.
Thank you for trusting me as your birth doula, and for giving me the gift of yet another impactful birth experience. Your strength taught me so much and I’m so honored to have been your doula.

Looking forward to continuing to follow your journey as parents, one lucky little boy that gets the two of you as parents!

So much love, your doula Alison.🩵

Alison Akan Doula Services

04/02/2025

29/08/2024

12/05/2024

03/03/2024

03/03/2024

21/02/2024

11/01/2024

30/12/2023

30/12/2023

10/10/2023

15/09/2023

16/08/2023

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