Offering both individual & partner teams, Open Heart’s collaborative of certified doulas & educators are dedicated to helping you navigate the pregnancy & birth journey by creating a nurturing environment that honors your unique needs.

Open Heart Doula Partner Team

Alissa Claxton

Alissa founded Open Heart Doula & began her career in 2009. Her passion for supporting women in labor ignited after the birth of her first daughter. She worked over 4 years (and had all her babies) at Lisa Ross Birth & Women’s Center. She is DONA trained and keeps up her certification with Blissful Birth.

As a Midwestern girl, she fell in love with a southern boy, her husband Ben. They have four children, who they are raising up to know, love & follow Jesus.

Alissa strives to fill the gaps in the birthing space by tending to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the birthing couple as they bring a new baby into their family. She loves to see how that takes shape and truly enjoys birth days (literally).

  • BIRTH DOULA, BLISSFUL BIRTH

  • CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR

  • BEREAVEMENT DOULA

  • BREASTFEEDING SPECIALIST, (In Progress)

READING, TRAVELING, ENJOYING LOTS OF COFFEE & WATCHING HER KIDS PLAY SPORTS LIKE THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS.

Rachel Towers Brooks

Raised by a maternal-fetal medicine doctor in Southern California, Rachel grew up in the birthing world. She earned her photographic degree in Industrial Science and began her doula journey in 2017. She continued on into becoming a midwifery assistant.

Married to her Knoxville native husband and mom to three children, Rachel stays busy with homeschooling, house renovations and growing their urban homestead.

Rachel believes faith deserves space in the labor room and every mother should experience birth where she feels seen, heard, supported & strong.

She desires to initiate the healing journey, through guided-prayer, helping mamas process & navigate birth stories and experiences.

  • BIRTH DOULA, ICEA

  • CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR, ICEA

  • BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER

  • FACILITATOR, EMOTIONAL -SPIRITUAL RECONNECTION

BOOKS, HOUSEPLANTS, TRAVELING, FRESH LAID EGGS, HOT WATER & QUESTIONS.

To your Beautiful Birth!

What’s a Partner Team?

A partnership between two doulas that join up to provide the best comprehensive care, allowing for enhanced communication, coordination and ensuring your preferences & concerns are quickly addressed. The advantage of having two skilled professionals on your team, that intimately know your birth plan, provides an extra layer of reassurance & peace of mind that you will be comfortable with either doula attending your birth.

Individual Doulas

  • Lauren McLaughlin

    BIRTH DOULA

    Lauren birthed her two boys, Judah & Jethro, at home and fell in love with all things pregnancy and birth.

    Originally from Northern California and married to her husband Clark, she’s the girl who enjoys great conversation and believes in prioritizing people over things, always.

    Lauren trained as a doula through Blissful Birth. Her heart is to serve you and your family to her fullest capacity, being quick to listen and a safe place to laugh or cry.

    LOVES: Cooking to jazz music, worshipping and singing with her guitar, & endless playdates with her kids.

  • Crystal Sheilds

    CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR BIRTH DOULA

    Crystal graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville nursing school in 2003 and practiced pediatric nursing at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for 9 years.

    Wife to one amazing husband, and mom to five fun-loving children, she stays busy “momming” when she’s not teaching or attending births.

    Crystal advocates for natural, drug-free deliveries in teaching her Bradley Method childbirth class and works as doula predominately supporting her students. She loves being part of the labor and birth process.

    LOVES: Singing, being outside, cross-fit & traveling.

  • Gabrielle Cisneros

    BIRTH DOULA BILINGUAL SPANISH

    Gabrielle’s love for birth began in high school after shadowing a doula & witnessing natural birth. This passion grew during nursing school and working in New Mexico in labor, delivery & postpartum.

    She met her husband David on a mission trip in Africa, and together they have two children.

    Gabrielle believes nothing is more beautiful than birth, and is passionate in helping moms prepare for the changes of pregnancy and postpartum. She trained as a doula through Blissful Birth.

    LOVES: Baking, leading worship, ministering to the Hispanic community & spending time with family.