Meet Ashley Weyers
Seattle Birth DOULA & Photographer
My Background
I am an academic turned birthworker. I spent years researching and teaching about the state of perinatal healthcare in the United States as a PhD student in sociology, but it wasn’t until I worked as a homebirth assistant for 18 months for a research project that I realized what was at the heart of my academic work: a passion to do better by birthing people and families.
I feel strongly that the institutional greed, racism, and lack of informed consent in our healthcare system today can be slowly undone by impactful research, but that doulas are an immediate solution to providing better care. That is why I made the decision to resign from my PhD program and jump wholeheartedly into doula work.
Early on in my doula journey, I was asked to take photos for a client. Truthfully, I had no idea how to work a professional camera, but some of those photos came out so beautifully that it sparked my initial interest in birth photography. Now capturing people’s birth stories is a natural extension of my doula support.
My Approach
As a doula, I take an evidence-based and trauma-informed approach to perinatal support. I believe that birthing people are the authority figures of their birth, and that with informational and emotional support they can enter confidently into their birth and postpartum experiences.
My favorite part of this work is supporting people exactly as they are: complex, perfectly imperfect, and deserving of someone to witness and embrace them for it all. I especially enjoy educating families on their care options, planning for a nourished postpartum, and supporting lactation and feeding.
I lead with honesty to build a trusting relationship. I am always upfront with my clients about whether I believe their choices could impact the outcome of their birth (mainly with provider and birth location decisions). I am also a fierce advocate for protecting the goals that my clients hold in highest value during their birth experience. I know what things they would want my expert guidance on, and what things are not as important to them.
As a birth photographer, I take a documentary approach. I do not regularly utilize flash. I want the images of my clients’ births to stay true to their story. Sometimes that means slightly grainy, moody photos with soft focus. And sometimes that means bright, punchy, and crisp images. Each story is unique and so are the photos I capture.
Since nature has a way of blurring the memory of birth, having photos of this major event helps to recall the significant moments and to process the experience.
I believe that birth photography is storytelling’s best art form. There is no story more raw and captivating than birth, and I aim to capture the connection, power, and awe that is present in my clients’ stories.
I gravitate toward capturing images that highlight relationships and support. I’m drawn to the way you look into your partner’s eyes after a strong contraction, the gentleness of your nurse placing a cold washcloth on your forehead, and the first ugly cry you have with your baby on your chest. Those are the elements of birth that I never forget, and now my clients can remember them forever too.
My Qualifications
Formal Education, Trainings, and Certification
Certified Birth Photographer, Birth Becomes You (2022)
Certified Birth Doula, Pacific Association for Labor Support/PALS (2021)
Birth Doula Training, Simkin Center/DONA International (2021)
Postpartum Doula Training, DONA International (2020)
Master of Arts, Sociology, University of Arizona (2018)
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Western Washington University (2015)
Continuing Education
Comforting Touch for Doulas, Yiska Obadia (2024)
me.we.us Support for Relational Transitions, Angharad Hollingworth (2023)
Fat Positive Provider, My Big Fat Pregnancy (2022)
When Survivors Give Birth, Simkin Center (2022)
Prevention, Identification, and Treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Perinatal Support Washington (2021)
Acupressure for Labor Prep, Labor and Postpartum, Acupuncture Northwest (2021)
Abortion Doula Training, Birthing Advocacy Doula Training (2021)
Crisis Response for Birthworkers, Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings (2021)
Spinning Babies® Workshop, Spinning Babies® (2021)
Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death (2021)
Behind the Name
The story of how I named my practice “Rove” reveals the intention I bring into my service. It came about rather organically. I tend to lean toward names tied to nature and had the thought of being a rock - sturdy and steady; and a wave - with continuity, power, and calm. As I kept coming back to these two words and what they represent in me as a support person, my brain eventually put the two words together and Rove hit me in a super visceral way. The definition of “rove” also fits beautifully with becoming and being a parent: “A journey, especially one with no specific destination; an act of wandering.” I am honored to walk alongside families on this grand adventure.
“Ashley is professional and evidence-based, while effortlessly managing to be warm and genuine. She’s an excellent communicator. She advocated for us in a way we never would have imagined being able to do given our unforeseen birth experience in the hospital. Afterward, she offered support to us in a way you might expect from a therapist. We feel a sincere appreciation towards her. Simply put, Ashley is amazing and we’re glad she was the doula involved in such an intimate part of our lives.”
-Natalie
A bit more about me…
Outside of doula work, I love spending time outdoors with my dog Brody and partner Ben, relaxing on the couch watching TV (my latest favorite is The White Lotus), reading memoirs, and trying out a new recipe or restaurant.
Here are some fun facts:
I will always choose comfort over style. I have the same pair of Lululemon pants in three different colors that I rotate through wearing to births. Will I be wearing my red grape, olive green, or black pair to your birth? Hire me and find out!
I am known for craving anything pickled, knowing all of the lyrics to late 90s/early 00s pop songs, and that one time I dressed up as the SunDrop girl for Halloween in college.
I dream of taking a year off to travel the world, but I don't think I would survive more than two weeks without my dog!
I am crazy enough to try anything at least once, including eating tamilok (woodworm), cliff jumping, and pooping in a hole that I dug while backpacking. I'll let you guess which of those things I've done more than once.
I believe our loved ones communicate with us after they have passed. My paternal grandfather always encouraged my passion for birthwork, and my first doula clients' baby was born on 8/8 at 8:08 pm (8 is my lucky number; my soccer jersey number on every team I played on). I like to think it was his way of telling me that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
I’d love to meet you and support your journey into parenthood.
