As a family therapist and a mother, Alison Herman, our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, knew all too well the challenges a new mom can face and how having a support system can make all the difference to a postpartum experience. As her kids grew, Alison left family therapy and became a certified doula for single moms, but the idea of combining her family therapy background with her doula experience was never far from her mind. When she sought business help from a good friend, The Nesting Place started to take shape. Today, Alison’s vision has come to fruition with a wellness, education, and support center in Ridgewood for pregnant and postpartum women to connect and grow their support system to ease their motherhood journey. We caught up with this Mahwah mom to find out why she added birth doula to her skill set, the service they offer that gives pregnant moms instant peace of mind, and the Atlantic County beach spot where she’s been going with her family for 27 years.
Alison Herman, founder and owner of the Nesting Place and our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, with a client’s newborn. Her role here is as a birth doula, after supporting a mom during birth at Englewood Hospital.
Please tell us a bit about your background. My husband, Mark, and I moved from Manhattan to Bergen County in 2001. It’s where we raised our son and daughter, who are now young adults. I have a Masters in Social Work and was a family therapist in the area for many years, but as my kids got older and didn’t need me as much, I also became a birth doula to help single moms and those who couldn’t afford a birth doula. Eventually, I decided to combine the two for a business and discussed it with a dear friend of mine, Barb Hayer. Together, we worked tirelessly around the clock to bring The Nesting Place to life. Barb’s background in Business and Education was the perfect counterpoint to my background. She’s our Managing Director and my right arm and we make a great team.
Why The Nesting Place? When I first moved here from New York City, I felt very isolated and alone, and throughout the years, I kept hearing the same thing from other new moms. I wanted to create this business so other moms wouldn’t feel that way. The complimentary expectant and new moms groups are an essential part of my business. So many friendships were born at The Nesting Place, which has always been a big part of what I set out to accomplish.
At the Grand Opening of the Nesting Place—Alison Herman (in purple), with the former Ridgewood mayor, Ramon Hache (on left), and Alison’s son, husband, and managing director, Barb Hayer.
How has your business changed over the years? We launched The Nesting Place in early 2019. Barb and I worked in the office, but a lot of our business is always out of the office because our doulas and lactation consultants usually go to hospitals and homes. During COVID, it was tricky because a lot of stuff got in our way, but we were able to make it work, and we got through it. Since launching, we’ve added many services, including acupuncture and Hello Baby UltraSound, an ultrasound we do in the office. We can do it as early as 6 weeks and any time throughout the pregnancy. We also have added support groups and more classes. I teach only evidence-based things so my moms can come to the group sessions, and they and their partners can learn.
What do you love most about where you live now? We live in Mahwah, a beautiful town that’s very woodsy with lots of nature and a warm and wonderful community for raising a family. I also love Ridgewood, where The Nesting Place is, for its charm, diversity, culture, and abundance of stores and restaurants—it’s a very special town.
What do you do in your downtime? What downtime? I’m on 24/7 but love what I do, so it’s definitely worth it. If I’m needed at 3 AM, then I’m needed at 3 AM. That being said, I love to be busy, and right now, I’m writing a book about becoming a mother without losing one’s sense of self—the title will probably be Mom-Sense. I prefer to stay busy, so for fun, I spend time with good friends, walk several miles a day, play Canasta and Mahjong, and have just started playing pickleball.
Alison Herman has always had a special place in her heart for dogs. Here, she cuddles up Teddy, one of her four rescues, aged 4 to 17. Her other dogs (not pictured) are Autumn, Toodles, and Sugar.
Is there a particular client that stands out for whatever reason? We have the most amazing clients, each on their own journey to motherhood and each with their own unique experience. Many of our moms are professional women who have dealt with infertility issues. Some of our moms have suffered loss and given birth to babies later on. Some are looking to learn or for kinship with others on a similar journey. One client came to me for counseling work after the loss of her child. She went on to have two other children, and hers is a story of horrible sadness and joyous life all at once. She’s very active in a group for moms who have lost children, and she honors that child all the time. This business is a labor of love. It’s my gift to myself, and it’s exhausting and amazing all at once.
The Nesting Place’s Hello Baby Ultrasound gives anxious moms-to-be peace of mind. Pictured here is a sweet “stuffy” with a recording of the baby’s in-utero heartbeat.
Please share some of your favorite Garden State spots and businesses. I love to collaborate with FIT4MOM Bergen, a local business for moms (and their children!) that offers fitness classes, playgroups, coffee chats, field trips, and so much more. My favorite place in the state is Margate—I’m happiest on the beach. We have a home there we’ve been going to for 27 years. Margate is very different from Bergen County, and it always feels like a proper and relaxing getaway.
What’s your best practical advice for a mompreneur just starting out? Listen to your inner voice and go with your gut. If you’re passionate about your dream and put hard work and your heart and soul into it, success will follow.
For more information on Alison Herman and The Nesting Place, please see her website, Facebook Group, and Instagram pages.
