The Birthstone Center for Appalachian Perinatal Resilience

03/27/2026

✨Asheville families✨
Lactation • Doula • Herbal Support

Doula services covered by Carolina Complete Health

📍 Asheville
Message us to book!

03/25/2026

We have another surprise... and this is a big one. 🤍

We are officially accepting WellCare/Carolina Complete Health (transitioning to Carolina Complete Health on April 1) for birth doula services!

This has been a long time coming. Access to doula care is one of the biggest gaps we see every single day with huge impacts to perinatal education, support, informed consent and breastfeeding success—especially for families navigating Medicaid.

And we know what happens when that gap is filled:

• Lower cesarean rates
• Fewer preterm births
• Better breastfeeding outcomes
• More supported, empowered birth experiences
• Lower rates of postpartum depression and anxiety

Continuous, relationship-based support changes outcomes—not just physically, but emotionally. Being seen, heard, and supported through pregnancy and birth has a real impact on maternal mental health. It reduces stress, builds confidence, and helps families feel less alone during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.

For Medicaid families, the impact is even deeper—fewer interventions, fewer complications, and better overall outcomes for both parent and baby, regardless of income.

This matters here. In our mountains. In our communities.

If you currently have WellCare (soon-to-be Carolina Complete Health) and you’re pregnant, you can now access doula support through your insurance.

No more "I can't afford a doula." No more wishing. No out-of-pocket barrier. Just support.

Reach out to us for more details on how to get everything set up—we’ll walk you through it. 🤍

03/25/2026

Thank you so much, , for hosting the Communal Baby Shower last week! We had a wonderful time meeting and greeting everyone who came out!

03/24/2026

Come be part of Mama-Morphosis this Thursday and Saturday from 11–1 — stop by anytime! 🌸

We’re gathering at our Sylva space (494 W Main St) to share in connection, support, and a little intentional time for yourself. 💗

As your little ones play, you’re invited to slow down, take a breath, and connect with other moms who understand. Our doulas and lactation professionals will be there to offer guidance, encouragement, and a welcoming space to simply be.

Who it’s for:
🦩 Expecting moms
🦩Breastfeeding moms
🦩 Moms at every stage

Free to attend, no strings attached. Just show up as you are and enjoy the community. 🌺

Proudly in partnership with Healthy Blue of North Carolina.

03/19/2026

Happy Birthday to our wonderful founder, Brandi Harrison, on behalf of The Birthstone team! Thank you for starting up The Birthstone Center and for caring for everyone you meet 💗✨

03/19/2026

Happy beloved birthday to our wonderful founder, Brandi Harrison, from the team here at Birthstone! Thank you for starting The Birthstone Center and for everything you do for everyone you meet! 💐💗

03/19/2026

Breastfeeding is a critical lifeline in the first thousand days of the life of a child. Support in every facet of community life is needed for breastfeeding to thrive. We save millions of lives and billions of dollars by simply learning how to support breastfeeding in our role-pertinent way.

What is your role in supporting breastfeeding?

A groundbreaking study provides the first global quantification of breastfeeding’s role in preventing chronic diseases.

The data is stunning 📈 and the study reinforces what we have long advocated: breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support are lifesaving, cost-effective, and essential.

Read the full results here: https://bit.ly/49fcYEc

03/17/2026

Join us THURSDAY from 11-1! 🌟 Drop in anytime and experience a transformative break from the daily grind. Join us at our Sylva location (494 W Main St) for nourishing connections, empowering conversations, and a chance to recharge.

While your little ones play, you'll find a safe space to unwind, learn, and grow alongside fellow moms. Our compassionate doulas and lactation experts will hold space for conversations while also offering guidance and support every step of the way. 🌈

All are welcome:
🍓expecting moms
🍓breastfeeding moms
🍓moms at any stage of their journey

This is a judgement-free zone, where you can simply be yourself and tap into your inner strength. Completely free, with no expectations - just a supportive community waiting to uplift you.

Proudly presented in partnership with Healthy Blue of North Carolina. 💕

03/17/2026

We’d like to speak on a topic that needs to be discussed right now.

We currently have donor human milk available for families in our community who may need support feeding their babies.

Human milk can be an important bridge when milk supply is still building, when medical supplementation is needed, or when families are navigating complex feeding challenges. Access to human milk and wet nursing has supported babies and families for generations. Humans wouldn’t be here without it.

We also want to be transparent about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: there are risks with milk sharing. Even with safety precautions, risk can never be completely eliminated, and we do not pretend otherwise.

What we do instead is practice community *informed* milk sharing rather than informal community milk sharing.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Every donor completes and signs a disclosure covering health history, medications, lifestyle factors, and milk handling practices.
• That disclosure is provided to the receiving family with each brick of milk so parents can review the information themselves.
• Recipient families sign a consent acknowledging the potential risks of community milk sharing.
• Families who wish to further reduce risk can choose to use home pasteurization methods before feeding the milk.

It is also important to say out loud that disclosures rely on honesty. Donors could misrepresent their medical history or other information. That is a real limitation of community-based systems, and families deserve to know that when making their decision.

Families deserve transparency. They deserve information. And they deserve the autonomy to decide what is right for their baby.

It’s also important to remember that all infant feeding carries some level of risk. Formula feeding carries risks. Pumping carries risks. Direct breastfeeding even carries risks. Parenting always involves weighing information and making the best decision you can with the knowledge you have.

We conduct needs assessments and provide way more than just a brick of milk. We seek the root cause of the need. Sometimes milk supply is low. Sometimes the lactating parent needs a food resource themselves. Sometimes they need help with resources for past due bills so they don’t have to consider selling milk.

BUT HERE IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID—One thing we will always be clear about: we NEVER buy or sell breast milk and we never EVER condone anyone else buying or selling breast milk.

Once money enters the equation, the risks increase significantly. Purchased milk has been found to be diluted, contaminated, improperly stored, or even mixed with non-human milk. When financial incentive is involved, exploitation can follow and safety can become secondary. Here is where the real risk lies.

We deeply respect the time, energy, and labor it takes to produce milk. The value of that work is immense. But mothers should never be pushed into a place of desperation where selling their milk becomes a necessity in order to survive. That’s our society’s fault. Change is needed!

Milk sharing and wet nursing were critical to the survival of the human race long before formula, pumps, or modern systems existed — and in most places, including Appalachia, it still is.

At its core, community milk sharing is about care, trust, and nourishment. When milk is given and received with love, the intention is simple: to help a baby be fed.

Risks? Yes.

But parents are capable adults who deserve honest information and the freedom to decide how they feed their child without financial exploitation on either end.

If your family needs donor milk right now, or if you are producing extra milk and would like to donate, reach out to us. We’re here to help families connect safely, thoughtfully, and with full transparency. But PLEASE don’t buy milk. Don’t sell it either. If you need help or resources, contact us. You aren’t alone, but buying and/or selling milk isn’t the way.🤍

03/16/2026

Spring is here and so is the second class in our Herbalism Series, Out with Winter, in with Spring: Herbal Support for a Seasonal Reset! It's not too late to register for the rest of the Family Herbalism Series and gain knowledge on how to navigate seasonal changes with herbal support with Candace Anthony.

We can't wait to see you this Saturday at 2:30, all are welcome 😁

03/10/2026

✨ JOIN US TONIGHT!

Are you exploring a career as a doula or already a birth professional?

Join us for a free live Q&A *TONIGHT* with our team of experienced doulas and perinatal healthworkers! 💬

We’ll answer all your questions about:
👣 Training
🗓️ Daily life
💰 Compensation
🌱 Opportunities with the Birthstone Doula Agency

Whether you’re just starting or ready to grow, we’re here to support you!

Reserve your spot today: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/63fVZhlQSH6xA72nKf7ptw

We can’t wait to connect!