Meet Birth Savvy

Our Story

Anna and Ashley met working the night shift on a busy labor and delivery floor. They quickly bonded over similar nursing styles and spent many sleepless nights helping each other, laughing at each other, and venting their frustrations. They noticed that patients often arrived at Labor and Delivery not knowing what to expect, or having expectations very different from the options available. This left their patients at risk of feeling overwhelmed or scared during labor and birth. When they transitioned to outpatient care, Ashley and Anna quickly realized why. Visits with your OB provider are fast, and there is A LOT to cover, especially if you are experiencing a high-risk condition. In addition, planned visits with your OB provider drop off drastically postpartum, when you may need them most. There is simply not enough time for full-spectrum pregnancy education, birth and postpartum planning at OB visits. Prenatal classes available in the community to fill this gap are an amazing option for many people. Based on their set-up, however, group classes cannot address the nuances of a high-risk pregnancy which may require more surveillance or intervention. Anna and Ashley created Birth Savvy to offer an option for individualized pregnancy education, birth planning, and postpartum support. It is our hope that working with us will help you feel prepared, empowered, and capable of navigating both the planned and unexpected from pregnancy through postpartum.

Meet Anna

Anna grew up listening to stories of childbirth around the dinner table from her namesake and inspiration: her grandmother. Since graduating nursing school, Anna knew OB care was her passion and for 13 years and counting she has worked in various areas of obstetric care including: labor and delivery, postpartum, antepartum, abortion care, and Maternal Fetal Medicine. In addition to hospital based-care, Anna received her Masters in Public Health and worked for two years as a public health nurse supporting a non-profit family planning program that offered free and low-cost sexual health and contraceptive services. Anna is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner, and American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid instructor. She is additionally certified in maternal newborn nursing (RNC-MNN) and perinatal mental health (PMH-C). Anna is a calm communicator who uses empathy and encouragement to develop a strong rapport with her clients. She is passionate about reproductive autonomy and supporting women to make empowered decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Anna was inspired to create Birth Savvy because the greatest joy of her nursing career was helping patients realize an empowered birth experience regardless of their sometimes complex situations. In her free time Anna loves cooking, re-learning to play the piano, traveling, and working on her never ending home improvement projects.

Meet Ashley

Ashley comes from a family full of registered nurses and midwives. This gave her great insight, understanding, and pride in the nursing profession. She began her career in pediatric primary care and adult community health nursing, and achieved her goal of becoming a Labor and Delivery nurse in 2015. To enhance her knowledge and insight into the high-risk perinatal population, Ashley assumed a position in Maternal Fetal Medicine in 2021. As she worked in many different aspects of OB nursing, Ashley also navigated the healthcare system personally through her own pregnancy and birth. These experiences culminated in an Aha! moment for Ashley that solidified her passion. She believes knowledge is power and that high quality perinatal education is crucial to preserving autonomy and promoting a dauntless pregnancy, birth, and recovery. She uses humor and encouragement to build rapport with her clients. She aims to foster a connection between mind and body, fuel inner strength, and support the discernment needed to navigate pregnancy and birth without fear. She provides holistic, culturally competent, and compassionate care for all birthing bodies. Ashley is trained in perinatal mental health and is a Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner and American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid instructor. In her free time Ashley loves to travel, watch action movies, eat great food, listen to music, and Mom!

Areas of Expertise

Birth Savvy will collaborate with you to provide an individualized education plan that best supports your goals. Topics could include any of the following and any others you request!