At Upstream Birth, We Believe
Natural birth knowledge is your birthright, Mama!
And we’re here to help you take hold of it! Learn more about our heart and approach to serving you below.
Why We’re Here
What do you notice about the birth stories you’ve heard?
Has it ever seemed like there are more “scary” birth stories than inspiring ones?
As we listen to mamas, we’ve heard many women share stories of feeling unseen, unheard, and deeply saddened by what they experienced during their birth in the hospital.
Many mamas have expressed how their natural birth vision, in particular, felt overlooked or disregarded, uncertain about their rights and choices.
But we also know mamas who, with preparation and support, have had empowering natural births despite the hospital setting.
Hearing these stories impacted us deeply
And our own journeys with birth and postpartum as a doula and a mama left us wanting to help women have wise & empowering birth experiences.
We believed there was more we could do to help bring back the respect, autonomy, and joy these moments deserve.
From these seeds grew Upstream Birth
A platform dedicated to creating resources that help empower mamas seeking natural, fulfilling birth experiences in the hospital.
Our mission is simple: to equip and empower women with the knowledge, confidence, and choice they deserve in birth. Every woman has the right to know not only what she wants but also how to make that vision a reality.
If that’s what you’re seeking, we invite you to join us on this journey. Let’s bring respect, power, and joy back into birth, together.
Get To Know Us
Meet Gabrielle
From Brittany’s Perspective
Every once in a while, you meet someone and instantly know they're meant to be a lifelong, life-changing part of your story. And over the past decade+, that's exactly what Gabrielle (Gaby) has been to me.
One of my absolute favorite things about her is her incredible ability to be full-heartedly committed to everything she takes on—which, honestly, is quite the list, lol—with birth work being no exception.
Gaby is a dedicated birth worker who supports women and families through her private doula practice, Your Doula Cares, offering one-on-one care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
She also brings her skills and compassion to more vulnerable settings—serving as a doula with the Alabama Prison Birth Project and teaching childbirth education at First Choice Women’s Center in her community.
In addition to her hands-on work, Gaby is a founding member of the Alabama Doula Alliance, an organization working to elevate the role of doulas and advocate for the needs of families across the state. (Did I mention she does a lot?)
So when she invited me to partner with her in the vision to bring Upstream Birth to life, I knew I was partnering with someone committed to the call. It's my great joy to serve women and families alongside her.
Meet Brittany
From Gabrielle’s Perspective
There are so many things I love and value about Brittany Johnson — whether it’s her fun and loving spirit that infuses everything she does as a wife and homeschooling mama.
Or the way she takes on new challenges, like that time her bestie called and said, “Want to partner with me to build Upstream Birth?!”
But one thing I deeply admire about Brittany, that I find distinct to her character, is her true gift for hospitality and wanting others to feel well cared for. She brings this spirit into Upstream Birth, wanting to see it be a space where moms can grow, learn, and feel genuinely valued in their pregnancy-to-postpartum journey.
Her touches on our platform are especially seen in our postpartum resources, as she has grown and learned from her own postpartum challenges and journey.
If there’s anyone I would trust to work with and do life with, it’s Brittany, and I look forward to you getting to know her, too!
Our Combined Doula & Mama Experience Includes
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Gabrielle has 10+ year research experience in biomedical and public health services that she brings to birth work, too.
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Brittany has 8+ year registered nurse experience, both in the hospital and community settings, that help her assess interactions with hospital staff.
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Gabrielle’s experience as a doula and Brittany’s experiences as a wife and mama bring unique combined insights to our 1:1 doula support and client care.
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Gabrielle & Brittany have combined in-depth training since 2019 with DONA International, Birthworker Academy, Indie Birth, Body Ready Method®, Childbirth International, and more!
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Gabrielle & Brittany both believe in the power of being informed for birth and postpartum experiences. As Active Evidence Based Birth® Professional Members, we stay up to date so you can stay up to date!
After 10+ Years Of Friendship
We are true life & business besties excited to serve you with these free resources
Create a naturally wise birth plan for any hospital
More than just a birth plan template, this free gift includes a natural hospital birth mini-course, too! So you’ll have clarity and guidance as you plan.
Empowering birth experiences begin with a clear and empowering why for your birth vision. Our Sevenfold Why™ method will help you find yours!
We love “positive” birth stories, but we think wise birth stories give even more value! Use our birth story library to find wisdom for your own birth journey!
These Are Our Convictions
We believe women deserve freedom over fear for their natural birth plans
Too often, the modern medical maternity system creates fear over empowerment.
But here’s the truth
We know the right education, support, and encouragement can empower mamas and their families to have births that truly reflect their values and beliefs, even in a hospital setting.
That’s why we offer access to:
Research-and-experience backed guidance
Curated resources for deeper learning
Helpful templates + tools for mamas and dads
Access to our team for questions, coaching, and more!
If you’re looking for helpful information that prioritizes teamwork as a family to embody your birth vision, we’d love to partner with you!
We Serve From These Values
faith in Christ ◽
supporting moms & dads ◽
loving care ◽
generosity ◽
agency ◽
wisdom ◽
empowerment ◽
integrity ◽
responsibility ◽
growth ◽
honor ◽
peace ◽
beauty ◽
diversity ◽
faith in Christ ◽ supporting moms & dads ◽ loving care ◽ generosity ◽ agency ◽ wisdom ◽ empowerment ◽ integrity ◽ responsibility ◽ growth ◽ honor ◽ peace ◽ beauty ◽ diversity ◽
Let’s Connect!
