Our Story
Hi, my name is
Emilie Rodriguez (she/her)
I am a Black traditional birth and postpartum doula and founder of Ashe Birthing Services and The Bridge Directory based out of the Bronx, New York. I was raised in Baltimore, MD and Bordeaux, France, but have been a Bronxite my whole adult life.
My interests first started in medicine where I worked as a veterinary technician for years before becoming interested in the influences of culture on birthing bodies. I received my BA in Medical Anthropology from the City College of New York, with a focus on reproductive health in the United States. I always knew I wanted to work with women and children, but did not know in what capacity. It wasn't until I experienced labor and childbirth myself when giving birth to my son at home, that I realized how transformative and empowering birth could be - and knew how to walk in that calling.
After spending several years supporting hundreds of families in NYC, I knew we needed a resource to help families of color connect to providers who understood their languages and culture, and believed and trusted them. At The Bridge, we have created a solution to maternal mortality, tending to the unmet needs of the healthcare system by providing access to providers of color who serve the perinatal period, while also accounting for the quality of care being offered.
At Ashe, I am focused on mentoring the doulas here and creating a community of support, sustainability, and love. I am able to lead because I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors, like my great grandmother Edna Redding, who was a baby catcher in the South, as well as in community with my current elders at Ndugu and Nzinga and in the birth world at The Bridge Directory.
My current additional commitments include:
Member of the Bronx Maternal Health Board by Madame Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson
Member of the NBEC (National Birth Equity Collaborative)’s Birth Equity Stakeholder Advisory Board
Trainings & Mentorships
DONA Birth Doula Training - Facilitated by Rina Crane
"Mothering the Mother" Ancient, Holistic Postpartum Doula Training - Passed down by Mama Ma'at
Lactation for Doulas - Facilitated by Tanya Wills
Doula Corps within the NYC Doula Collective - Mentored by Jordan Christopher
Cerradas de Caderas Ceremony Training - Passed down by Karen Lopez & Jessi Bonilla
Manhattan Birth Mentor Program - Mentored by Tanya Wills, Sarah Anne Lovell, and Myla Flores
"Welcoming the Winds of Change" Healing Energy Workshop & Training- Passed down by Tania Romero
Home Birth Midwifery Assistant Training - Facilitated by Shana Norberg from JJB Midwifery
Comforting Touch for Doulas: Birth & Postpartum - Faciliated by Yiska Obadia
Mentor at Manhattan Birth - a 12 Month Mentorship Program for Doulas
“A Cerrar Las Caderas” Ceremony 9-Month Online Training - Passed down by Panquetzani aka Indigemama
Sobadas workshops and trainings - Passed down from Mayte, a Mexican Traditional Sobadora
Neonatal Resuscitation Certification (NRP) - Facilitated by Karen Strange
“Grandma’s Hands” Ethno-Herbalism Course on Southern Birthing / Midwifery Traditions of African Americans - Passed down by Divine Bailey-Nicholas via Divine Birth Wisdom
Testimonials:
“I am so glad that Emilie was my doula during my pregnancy and delivery experience. I knew I wanted a natural birth experience and someone who would champion for my wishes. Emilie did that and much, much more. In the months before delivery, Emilie met with me for pre-natal care, informing me about hospital interventions, medications, and decisions I’d have to make for my child.
When contractions began, Emilie coached me through the contractions and then met us at the hospital. (She was getting ready to meet us at home but my labor was very fast). At the hospital, she helped me settle into a comforting routine. With every contraction, she held my body, coached my breathing and I felt completely in control of my labor and delivery. There was no screaming, or kicking as I imagined there’d be. The nurses even commented that this was the most controlled delivery they’d ever seen — thanks to Emilie! She kept me hydrated, massaged me, and coached my husband about what he could do. She worked incredibly well with the nurses and doctors.
I was so nervous about giving birth but I was fully empowered and in control over my body. I absolutely loved my labor and delivery experience.
After giving birth, Emilie visited me twice, bringing sitz baths and talking me through all the issues I was facing during that first month. It’s been several months and she still checks in on me. You won’t regret going with Emilie!
”
“There is no nice way to say this, so I will be blunt: Labor is war. The intensity of the experience does have upsides (like making you closer to your partner, finding out just how much you are capable of/connecting to your inner warrior), but it is undeniable that it is hugely taxing on your body, extremely painful, psychologically taxing, and exhausting. I don’t say this to scare new moms out there, but just to be honest about the experience of bringing a child into the world.
When you’re in a place where you are in pain, and perhaps also scared, worried, and weighing input from medical professionals, it is absolutely imperative to have someone who is there entirely focused on you and helping you through each moment. Working with Emilie of Ashe Birthing Services was a total game-changer for me and my boyfriend as we brought our beautiful, beloved son, Ronin, into the world. She not only helped ease my pain physically while I was contracting and laboring, she also was a huge support system for both of us emotionally. She was also incredibly helpful in coaching my boyfriend through the process so that he could participate in the labor and help me through it. Emilie took such good care of us as we transitioned into parenthood, taught me how to breastfeed, gave me loving advice, and was always available on text or for a phone call.
When I first heard about doulas some years ago, I honestly thought it sounded a bit like a luxury and I never thought I’d want one for myself when I had a child. I am so, so glad I gave up on that initial judgment because, despite the pain and intensity of the experience, Emilie was able to bring a sense of calm and love into the delivery room that gave me the strength I needed to bring my baby into the world with minimal medical intervention. I am forever grateful to her and Ashe Birthing Service and would absolutely recommend them to anyone and work with her again.”
“I had the good fortune of having Emilie as my doula for the birth of my second child. When we first met, I was immediately drawn to her warm, grounding, gentle nature - and I loved that she infused a spiritual approach to her doula work! As the big day drew near, Emilie was an amazing support and helped me advocate for my birth wishes, in particular when I was facing some unexpected issues with my maternity practice. She kept reminding me that my birth team works for me - so she helped me stay empowered throughout the whole process of preparing for baby. She took the time to really understand my and my husband’s wishes for this birth, and by the end of it we felt like we gained a wonderfully insightful friend!
When the big day arrived is really when Emilie really showed us her magic. My labor went much faster than expected, so we faced the reality that we wouldn’t make it to our hospital in time. Being the intuitive person that she is, she calmly presented us our options and in the end, she helped us avoid an uncomfortable labor in an ambulance or in a hospital we didn’t want. Instead, we had a magical - unplanned - home birth with a wonderful home birth midwife (Tanya Wills) who we all knew well. We were nervous in choosing this route at the last minute, but Emilie’s calm, loving nature and wise guidance made us confident that we were making the right choice for us.
The birth itself was a beautiful experience, and while we waited for the midwife to arrive, Emilie lovingly helped me to direct my energy exactly where it needed to go - and as a result I had an essentially perfect birth! While I didn’t plan a home birth, it’s an experience I secretly always dreamed of but never thought I could have (since I was a VBAC). So I credit Emilie with helping me to manifest this beautiful birth experience - one that I feel incredibly lucky to have had!
Postpartum, Emilie continued to be a wealth of support and advice. She also gifted me the most amazing self care products!!
Looking back at this experience, it truly feels like Emilie was my guardian angel and I feel so blessed to have had her at my side during this special time as I became a mom of two. I can’t recommend her highly enough!!”