About me
Hey there, I'm Alyson Clarke (she/they).
MPH, CPST
I am a Black, queer birthworker based in New York City, offering grounded, joyful support for folks making and growing families. My approach centers rest, ease, celebration, and joy — because birth can be intense, yes, but it can also be full of laughter, play, and deep calm.
My story
How I found my way to this work.
I heard my call to birthwork as early as age five. My mom loves to tell the story of me sitting wide-eyed in front of the TV, completely captivated by shows like A Baby Story and Birth Day. I didn't flinch — I leaned in. By age twelve, I learned the word "obstetrician" and thought, that's it, that's how I get into the room where it happens. I wouldn't discover the wide world of birthwork beyond medicine for another twenty years, but that moment stuck with me. It sparked a lifelong fascination with how humans are made, supported, and born.
To me, pregnancy and birth have always felt like the grand power of creation in real time — quiet and ordinary, yet impossibly magical. I held onto the reverence of that magic even as I began digging into the systemic issues surrounding health outcomes for people of color and medical racism. My curiosity and conviction led me to pursue a Master's in Public Health. There, I learned that hospitals aren't the only birth spaces — and that you don't have to wear a white coat to make a powerful impact.
What I've always wanted, more than anything, is to support people in one of life's most expansive moments. Not as an authority figure, but as a steady, chill, joy-forward presence. I'm here to help folks feel held, heard, and wholly themselves — because this work deserves more than just medical care. It deserves laughter, softness, ease, and celebration too.
My values
What guides my care.
Certifications and memberships
Training, credentials, and community.
Completed certification programs
- Child Passenger Safety Technician – Safe Kids Worldwide
- Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED – American Red Cross, Staying Alive CPR LLC
- TENS for Doulas – Robin Elise Weiss
In-progress certification programs
- Postpartum Doula – Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings
- Full-Spectrum Doula – Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings
- Childbirth Educator – Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings
- Fertility Doula – The Midwifery Institute
My style
Low-pressure, high-care.
I'm a laid-back, attentive presence. I'm here to go with your flow, meet your energy, and help you absorb the information and resources you need in ways that actually feel good. Whether we're talking birth plans, feeding choices, or just figuring out how to stay chill in the chaos, I'm all about support that's low-pressure but high-care.
I'm not a wish granter, or miracle worker — but I am the person who will help you stay grounded, celebrate every tiny win and magic moment, and make space for the kind of care that feels true to you. Joy is a form of resilience and healing, and I believe you deserve to feel it all the way through.
A little bit of me
Outside of doula work, I'm also…
Ready to talk it through?
Reach out and let's figure out what kind of support fits your journey.
Get in touch