Birth Doula at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
Planning to give birth at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids?
I'm Alysha, a DONA-certified birth doula serving families throughout West Michigan. Butterworth is the hospital where I support families most often, with experience attending dozens of births there.
I've supported families through unmedicated and medicated births, inductions, VBACs, planned and unplanned Cesareans, high-risk and preterm births, twin births, and births involving NICU care.
I've been in the L&D environment on floors 2 and 3, have supported clients in the operating room, and am comfortable helping families navigate the practical realities of labor in a hospital setting (like where to get the good food!).
Most importantly, I know that your birth belongs to you.
My job isn't to decide what kind of birth you should have. My job is to help you understand your options, prepare for different possibilities, stay grounded when things change, and feel supported throughout the process.
Experienced at Butterworth
Because I attend births at Butterworth regularly, the environment is familiar to me. I'm comfortable navigating the L&D floors and know where to find many of the basic supplies we may need during labor, from extra sheets and towels to emesis bags. I've also spent time in the OR supporting clients through Cesarean births.
I've found the staff I've worked alongside at Butterworth to be supportive of doulas and the role we play on a family's birth team.
That familiarity doesn't mean I assume every birth will look the same. Quite the opposite. I've seen how quickly a birth can change -- and I've learned how important it is to remain calm, flexible, and focused on the person giving birth.
Supporting all kinds of births
There isn't one kind of birth that requires a doula. I've supported families at Butterworth through:
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Unmedicated births
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Medicated births and epidurals
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Inductions
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VBACs
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Planned Cesareans
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Unplanned Cesareans
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Twin births
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High-risk pregnancies
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Preterm births
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Long labors and inductions
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Births involving significant medical concerns
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Families whose babies needed NICU care
I've also supported families through difficult moments such as serious postpartum complications, including postpartum hemorrhage.
Birth doesn't always follow the plan. Your support shouldn't depend on it doing so. If you'd like to learn more about what working with me as your birth doula looks like, you can explore my birth doula services.
Want an unmedicated birth?
One of the things I hear frequently from families considering Butterworth is: "I really want to give birth without medication, but I don't know if I can do it."
You don't have to know exactly how you'll feel once you're in labor. During our prenatal work together, we'll prepare for the experience rather than simply hoping everything goes according to plan. We'll talk about comfort measures, movement, positioning, breathing, your support team, your preferences, and what different situations might look like.
I'll also help your partner understand how they can participate.
And if you decide during labor that you want an epidural? That's okay, too. My job isn't to protect your original birth plan at all costs. It's to help you make informed decisions and feel supported as your needs change.
When your birth plan changes
A lot of my clients worry about Cesareans. Sometimes it's the possibility of a C-section they've been thinking about throughout pregnancy. Sometimes the conversation doesn't happen until labor.
I've supported both planned and unplanned Cesarean births at Butterworth, and I understand that hearing "we need to do a C-section" can feel frightening, disappointing, or overwhelming. I won't tell you that you shouldn't be scared. Instead, I'll remind you that you can be scared and still be brave.
If the healthiest choice for you and your baby means changing course, that doesn't erase everything you've done to prepare for your birth. I'll continue supporting you through the change.
Your partner is part of the team
I don't want to replace your partner. I want your partner to feel confident being your partner.
That's why I spend time educating and preparing partners before birth. I want them to understand what's happening, know ways they can support you, and feel like an active part of the experience.
One thing I emphasize is that your partner needs care, too. Partners often get so focused on supporting the person in labor that they forget to eat, drink, sit down, or take a breath. Sometimes my job is reminding them that taking care of themselves isn't selfish.
It's part of taking care of you.
Supporting first-time parents
First births can come with a lot of uncertainty. You may have read every book, taken a class, written an incredibly detailed birth plan -- and still have no idea what labor will actually feel like. That's normal!
For many first-time parents I support at Butterworth, one of the most valuable things I can offer is simply a calm, reassuring presence. I can help you understand what's happening, remind you of what you've learned, help you work through decisions, and give you and your partner a steady person to lean on.
Supporting experienced parents
Subsequent births can look completely different.
Sometimes experienced parents don't need someone explaining every step. They just want someone familiar and reassuring in the room.
Someone to talk to.
Someone who knows them.
Someone who can offer a hand, a reminder, or a little encouragement when they need it.
And, occasionally, someone to make sure they actually eat something.
Twin birth support at Butterworth
I've supported two twin births at Butterworth.
Having two babies means there are more people involved in your care, and that can understandably feel like a lot.
My message to families expecting twins is simple:
There are more people because there are two babies -- and those people are there to care for you all.
You don't have to navigate it alone. Your partner is there. Your medical team is there. And I'm there to provide continuous emotional and practical support throughout the experience. Your babies are already deeply loved.
When your baby needs the NICU
I've also supported families whose babies needed NICU care.
One situation I've experienced was supporting a client during a Cesarean while their partner went with their baby to the NICU. I stayed with my client.
That kind of situation can be incredibly emotional. When your baby needs specialized care, you may suddenly find yourself separated from them or processing information you weren't expecting. I can provide a familiar, steady presence while you experience those moments. That may mean sitting with you quietly, helping you talk through what happened, supporting you emotionally, or simply staying with you while your partner is with your baby.
And that support doesn't necessarily end when the birth is over. There can be a lot to process afterward.
Your voice matters
One of the most important parts of my role as your doula is helping you understand that you have a voice in your care. I encourage my clients to ask questions, understand their options, and speak up when something doesn't feel right.
I often remind clients:
I also encourage families to distinguish between hospital policy, clinical recommendations, and their own informed choices. Hospital policies and medical recommendations are important, but understanding what each one actually means can help you participate more confidently in decisions about your care.
My goal isn't to tell you what decisions to make.
It's to help you have the information and confidence to make them yourself.
A doula who knows Butterworth
If you're looking for a birth doula at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, experience matters.
I've supported dozens of families at Butterworth across a wide range of circumstances -- from straightforward unmedicated births to inductions, VBACs, Cesareans, twin births, high-risk and preterm births, and situations involving NICU care.
I know the L&D environment. I'm comfortable in the OR. I've supported families through unexpected changes. But most importantly, I know that every family walking through those doors is different.
Your birth doesn't need to look like anyone else's. You deserve support that meets you where you are.
Looking for information about another West Michigan hospital? Explore my hospital birth doula pages.