Hey! Welcome to The Birth Chat!
This blog is an informational blog filled with information regarding pregnancy and parenting. Our mission is to empower families through education and support by using evidence-based information. Our goal is to become a resource for all communities. The Birth Chat relies on contributors from all over the world who want to share their experiences and knowledge to better inform and empower families. The blog posts included are based on evidence-based information and personal stories and are full of resources.
Below, you will meet our contributors. (If you are interested in becoming a contributor or even a guest blogger, please contact us!)
Ashley Barksdale, LMSW, CFLE, CADC-II
Founder
Ashley is a wife and mom to 3 biological children and 2 bonus children. As a Behavioral Health Therapist and Certified Family Life Educator, her goal is to provide a safe atmosphere that facilitates the development of individuals through critical thinking, active learning, and the integration of faith and knowledge while coming alongside them, challenging them, and encouraging them to find healing emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually by implementing a holistic, person-centered approach, treating each person as a unique individual worthy of acceptance, regardless of their circumstances, and by providing grace as they share their life journey.
As a former Birth and Postpartum Doula, she is passionate about family well-being, perinatal mental health, and psychiatric care. This has led her to become an Ed.D. candidate in Marriage and Family Counseling, Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Family Life Educator, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II, and a Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator. In addition, she has a strong interest in learning, so she is continuously exploring research and furthering her education.
Ashley’s clinical experience includes providing psychotherapy for a wide range of challenges and mental health diagnoses to individuals and families, from adolescents to middle-aged adults, as well as couples counseling and parenting education. Research interests include maternal mental health, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma.
Nneka Hall
Mom, Doula, Bereavement Specialist, ROSE Peer Counselor, Minister
Nneka Hall is a Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness advocate with a primary focus on infant and maternal mortality within the African American Community. She is the founder of the Quietly United in Loss Together Campaign, which is a Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness campaign designed to raise awareness of all types of loss from conception through a child’s first two years of life, teach healthy fertility through womb health education, provide support to families who suffer these losses and provide support for memory programs so they won’t close due to inability to afford supplies.
Nneka is the mother of 4: 2 Sunshines (Jelani and Symone), 1 angel (Annaya Marie, stillborn at 39 weeks gestational age on August 27, 2010), and 1 rainbow (Bradleigh).
Following the stillbirth of her daughter, Nneka sought out ways to aid others in having a positive birth outcome. She stumbled across the doula profession and needed to learn more. She is a full-spectrum doula, holding certifications as a birth, bereavement, and postpartum doula. She is a certified International Bereavement Specialist, a Certified Community Centered Herbalist, Womb Health Specialist, Crystal Healer, and a childbirth educator.
In June 2016, Nneka had the pleasure of being selected due to her work in the pregnancy and infant loss community to participate in the US of Women’s Summit as a Nominated Change Maker, which was hosted by former First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
Mom, Doula, International Bereavement Specialist, Uterine Health Coach, Nominated Changemaker, and soon will be adding the title of “Author.”