About Denise

Hi, I am Denise Mills, and I want to share a little more about who I am and how I came to the world of doula support.

I am an RN and Certified Birth Doula, and offer both birth and postpartum doula support. I also work as a nurse assistant to midwives in homebirth practice in the Asheville and WNC area.  Drawing from my own personal and professional experiences, I am a doula who is very comfortable bridging the gap between medical and holistic care approaches. I am well prepared to support families giving birth in any setting, from home to birth center to hospital. 

I spent the first half of my working life as a park ranger, camp director and environmental educator. Then I became a nurse and worked for many years in end-of-life care and as a hospice nurse and also as a psychiatric nurse. Upon retirement, I came at last to my long-held passion of birth work, as the best “retirement career” ever possible! I waited a long time to make birth work a priority in my life, and the wait was definitely worthwhile. 

With over 12 years of experience as a doula, I am pleased to support first-time and repeat birthing families during vaginal and Cesarean births, VBAC, surrogate, and multiple births. I also have much experience supporting families through high-risk births and pregnancy loss. My background as a psychiatric nurse has enriched my understanding of the emotional complexities that families may face. I offer comprehensive support that addresses both physical and mental well-being.

I have given birth to two children of my own. One of those births was a hospital birth which ended in a cesarean delivery. The second was an unmedicated birth at home. They were both amazing and transformative experiences that definitely inform my support as a birth doula.

I realize that I am being invited to share one of the most intimate experiences of your life together as a couple. I do not take that invitation lightly, but consider it an honor and a privilege.  I hold a deep trust in a woman’s ability to bring new life into the world, and in a couples’ ability to become a growing family. It is my goal to help you find and deepen that trust within yourselves.

I believe that in the world of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, just as in the world of nature, education and knowledge leads to greater understanding. And understanding leads to more trust, acceptance and appreciation of the process.

In addition to providing support on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational levels, an equal and essential aspect of my support involves being a part of your safety net should it become necessary for you to step off the cliff of control and into the free-fall of the unknown and unplanned.  My goal for you both is to feel safe and strong and supported, no matter what becomes necessary during your pregnancy and birth. Ultimately, every birth can be a loving and transformative experience, even if it is not the one you envisioned originally. But having solid support and guidance as you step beyond your plan is essential. I will be strong with you and for you, I will laugh with you, I will cry with you, I will pray with you, and I will do it all with a smile on my face and a smile in my heart.

Please reach out if you’d like more information, and let’s connect with a phone call or meet in person at your convenience!