Gentle Seed Doulas - Professional Birth & Postpartum Services

06/04/2025

05/11/2025

To all mothers doing their very best every single day, we see you and support you fully. Happy Mother’s Day!! 🌱

05/09/2025

Welcome Ashley!
Ashley is a dedicated registered nurse, mother of four, and proud dog mom to a sweet Australian Shepherd. Originally from Goshen, Ohio, Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Denver College of Nursing and is currently pursuing her master’s degree to further her impact in maternal health.
Working as a postpartum nurse, Ashley’s passion for supporting mothers stems from her own journey through pregnancy and postpartum. She is deeply committed to providing compassionate care and helping new moms feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Outside of her professional life, Ashley cherishes time outdoors with her children. Whether it’s a day at the beach, exploring local parks, or soaking up the sun, she embraces every moment spent with her family in nature.

05/09/2025

Welcome Cheryl!

Cheryl Bartone, MS, LMT, CLD

Cheryl brings a unique element to the birth world with her passion for education and her love of natural solutions. Cheryl is a CAPPA certified labor doula and a Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor. She is also a medical massage therapist and she holds a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; currently working at Clinique en Beauté and at The Lindner Research Center at The Christ Hospital.

Since beginning her labor doula journey with CAPPA in 2017, Cheryl has attended many births in the hospital, birthing center, and home birth settings. She puts her knowledge of mother-baby positioning to use in the birth setting and works with the entire birth team to improve outcomes and satisfaction. Cheryl underwent Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor training in 2021 and has worked with many couples to have a more joyful and peaceful birth experience. In teaching, she draws from the experiences of the births she has attended as well as her own personal experience with Hypnobabies for her two births (in 2008 and 2010).

When she’s not supporting a mother in birth, teaching, in a massage session, or continuing her education, you can find Cheryl alongside her chef husband helping him with a catering event. You may even find her playing video games with her teenagers, walking her dogs, or digging in the garden.

04/21/2025

We’re so excited to be offering Hypnobabies classes this summer! It’s our absolute favorite method for hypno-anesthesia and a positive birthing experience. Email us for more class info.

Learn “eyes open childbirth hypnosis” with Hypnobabies! This complete childbirth education program uses medical-grade hypnosis techniques, imagery, and visualization to re-train the mind and body for a more comfortable and very positive birth experience. Aim to create a state of deep relaxation for yourself thereby reducing fear and tension during your birth. The program emphasizes the powerful mind-body connection and promotes an empowering mindset towards childbirth, helping you to feel confident and in control.

04/21/2025

Welcome Eva! She was our birth client for both children and now is training as a doula with us! We’re so excited to work together :)

Eva Borho is completing her Birth and Postpartum Doula certifications through the Madriella Doula Network.

Eva has her B.A. and M.A. in Communication from the University of Cincinnati. She has an A.S. in Medical Massage Therapy through a partnership of Cincinnati State and SHI. Eva is also a Reiki Master and VortexHealing practitioner.

Eva’s interest in birth support was sparked after being present at the birth of a family member. Her interest grew with her pregnancies and empowering births. Both of her births were supported by the team at Gentle Seed Doulas! Eva is looking forward to supporting new and growing families.

Her mission is to help support joyful birth for both parent(s) and baby(ies)! She wants to hold a safe place for each birthing person and their partner(s). Eva looks forward to helping families have a positive birth experience in a way that suits them best.

Eva is originally from Cincinnati but grew up in Goshen, Kentucky before returning to Cincinnati. She also enjoyed a semester of college in Southern California and a wonderful trip to several countries in Europe!

In Eva’s free time she loves spending time with her sons in nature or playing video games with them. She also appreciates yoga, reading, meditation, walking in nature, going to the movies with her husband, visiting beaches, and VortexHealing classes! She also loves all things Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, and Star Trek!

04/02/2025

We would love to welcome Alyssa Montesano to the team as a student doula working towards her certification. She’s available for due dates in June, July and August of 2025.
Alyssa currently works as a Kindergarten teacher’s aide at Immaculate Conception Academy in Norwood, Ohio. Her goals include becoming a midwife and is excited to help mothers bring their children into the world! She’s very excited to start her journey into birth-work with Gentle Seed Doulas. Alyssa is one of twelve children and in her free time, she likes to paint landscapes, as well as crochet, read novels, and singing in the church choir.

04/02/2025

Welcome BACK to the team Elise, as a postpartum doula! We’re so happy to have you and our clients are so lucky to work with you once again :)

Elise is a postpartum doula with Gentle Seed and has been working with moms and babies since 2022. She is currently working toward her Master’s in Nursing from UC and spent the last 15 months working in the postpartum unit at The Christ Hospital. She is certified in infant CPR and trained in lactation through CAPPA and The Christ Hospital. She lives in Milford with her husband, two little boys and three pets.

11/19/2024

Suzanna Needham is a certified postpartum doula with years of practical experience including raising her own three daughters, now grown, and enjoying the art of homemaking.

Living the entire process around birthing her own children, especially the “fourth trimester,” ignited her passion for supporting other mothers, beginning with her own sister and sisters-in-law.

Suzanna is honored to support parents and children in this tender transition time by providing practical and compassionate postpartum doula care. She is committed to meeting each family where they are, finding the best ways to respond to their needs so they have a positive & supportive experience.

Suzanna has worked at a small private school with preschool aged children and enjoyed homeschooling her own children.

When not caring for postpartum families, she enjoys the fiber arts, working with natural dyes, in particular Indigo, taking long walks, weekly trips to the farmer’s market, and sharing delicious, healthy food with her family.
We're so happy to welcome Suzanna to the Gentle Seed Team!

11/13/2024

Our new Blog is all about newborn strategies around sleep for babies 0-3 months. Some products we love are:

1. Swaddles: Halo or SwaddleMe.

2. White noise machines: Marpac or Hatch.

3. Baby monitors: Owlet or Levana. What else would you experienced parents recommend for newborn sleep?

11/13/2024

10/30/2024

Look at the difference in width and opening of the lower pelvis making room for baby to come down and through. We use this all of the time in classes for an excellent visual and of course, during birth when the baby is high or it’s time for pushing. Have you ever used the closed knees method? Thank you for the excellent photo!