Investing in Davinah's support as our postpartum doula was such an important decision for our…read morefamily. The first three months of motherhood were so much more difficult for me than I could have anticipated (even though I did as much preparing for the difficulty as I could have...the sleep deprivation and endless infant screaming still humbled us in a major way)! Having Davinah's presence to look forward to got me through. On multiple evenings when I reached what felt like the end of my capacity to mother, I would remind myself, "Only two more sleeps until Davinah comes.", that thought gave me the hope and energy to keep going. Her presence in our home gave us so much! Never before have I felt hosted in my own space. She was warm and attentive, and did everything from wiping down my kitchen counters to holding my fussy baby to giving me reassuring hugs while I wept on the couch. I felt like I could truly invite her into the mess of my home and emotional state. The postpartum months are uniquely vulnerable, and she was able to listen and respond to our families needs with so much thoughtfulness and depth. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- From my husband : as a new Dad, I didn't expect to need or want support from a postpartum doula but I can't imagine the transition into parenthood without Davinah. She works fluidly, flexibly, and tirelessly. I was so impressed by her ability to intuit our needs and remind us to take good care of ourselves. The mornings of sleeping in while Davinah fed or soothed the baby were magical. When we woke up breakfast was ready! It was such a blessing to have her support.

Davinah - she just breeds joy and empathy with a side of fierceness! I can hear her now saying…read more"that's real" and I learned so much from her about how to be a better listener. Davinah was a voice of reason during our prenatal stages. She helped us prepare for the unknown that was to come as new parents by giving us concrete tasks to plan for and questions to answer for ourselves. I think it really saved us during those first few weeks and months. I ended up having a scheduled c-section so we did not get to experience Davinah's full services in labor, birthing, but she was there with us all along the way as we navigated the hospital, OBs, etc. and showed up for us as a postpartum doula to help with the much needed basic care after friends and family had returned home and husband was back to work. If she does not know the answer to something, she's honest about it and directs you to a wealth of resources in the community. We wholeheartedly recommend Davinah for any expecting parents, whether it's your first time or not! You will feel heard, supported, advocated for, seen, and celebrated.

Loved how personalized they are with each and everyone of their clients. I really enjoyed my visits…read morewith the midwives every month, and always felt very cared for.

It's difficult to give a 1 star here, but I feel a sense of responsibility to do so…read more My wife and I have had a positive birth experience, and all is well so far (thankfully), that positive birth experience was not at True North, but at St. Joseph Medical Center, where our child was born via a Cesarean (C) Section. Our experience at True North started off fine. Got some great classes taught by Wilder (who is a great Doula). At 32 weeks, we had an ultrasound done at a separate facility, the baby was in breech position then. No cause for alarm, it was still early. Weeks 32-40 rolled by with about 5-6 appointments at True North, where we were comforted by 3 separate midwives that the baby was now head down and lowering into the pelvic floor. This was assumed through a manual/hand feeling method called the "Leopold's Maneuver". No ultrasound was done or offered. At Week 40, on our due date, already having some contractions (10-15 mins apart, steady for 2-3 days), we showed up to our appointment. The midwife (this time Melanie) felt the baby and confirmed head down with smiles and affirming language. She then offered us an ultrasound to confirm, and this is when she realized (we all did) that our child was actually still head up. We verbally confirmed with Melanie that no ultrasound was done from weeks 32-40, and that this was a complete miss on the midwives part. She apologized and said there will be a new protocol to do ultrasounds more often. We're rational people, and we identified early in the pregnancy that the romantic goal of a birth center birth was ideal, but we kept our emotions at bay, and did what was needed: we requested an immediate transfer to a hospital for a C-Section. A day or so after the operation, I emailed the owner, Ashley Jones (MW60832856) asking to confirm the events I've outlined above. We got a drawn out response that started with emotional manipulation (saying that she understands how this can make us emotional and must be so difficult to deal with ) and was followed by classic misdirection and a condescending explanation of the Leopold Maneuvers, how experienced and trusted her team was, how these things happen, what an "unstable lie" is, and so on. Well okay, I had to get specific, so I asked more blunt questions: "1. During our 40 week check up, Melanie used the said and trusted Leopold Maneuver and confirmed head down, then she took out the ultrasound and was proven wrong. Are you saying it is possible that the baby flipped within the couple of minutes that passed between the two methods of a position check? 2. For a confirmed breech baby at 32 weeks, are you saying that the protocol at True North is to forego ultrasounds and use manual methods to monitor baby's position?" To which she responded: Email 1: "I believe I have answered all of your questions in my original response. I understand that it can be difficult to think everything was ok coming into a prenatal appointment late in pregnancy and having the entire plan change in an instant. I know this can take time to process and I hope you are all feeling well supported by friends and family in this postpartum period." - Ashley Jones When I pressed again to just get succinct answers, I got this response: Email #2: "Please revert to my initial response. I believe I have given quite detailed responses into the events leading up to [child's name]'s birth. I wish you all the best." - Ashley Jones I've stopped there, dumbfounded at the lack of discipline and accountability. To keep things positive, St. Joseph's family birth center is phenomenal! Great staff, friendly, knowledgeable, responsible, and detail oriented. I know events in all our lives have a purpose, that's why it was so easy for us to make the shift in the last minute, but as to what is going on at True North? I have to shrug my shoulders and just put our experience out there.

I can't recommend Milla and Melinda enough! My husband was skeptical about hiring a doula, but…read moreafter the birth he was the first to say how grateful he was they were there for us and that the investment was so worth it. Their package is outstanding compared to others. Milla was with us for delivery and she was such a calming, supportive presence. She reminded me of my birth plan when I needed it, worked beautifully with the hospital staff, held me through contractions, cheered me on when I felt like giving up, and set boundaries with family when I asked. She just knew what I needed and I felt safe with her. Melinda was equally fantastic. I felt deeply seen by her. She helped me with my anxiety before labor and in postpartum, gave me practical tools (the ice exercise was a game changer), and walked through our house helping us set up baby stations + shared so many helpful tips. Some additional highlights: - Their website has the best list of questions to ask when interviewing doulas. - The prep class with Milla was both super helpful and honestly fun. I truly believe the exercises she taught me made a huge difference in my labor. - Melinda dropping everything to come help us on day 3 postpartum when we texted her in frenzy. Hiring them was hands-down the best decision we made. I'm so happy with how my labor went, and I honestly credit that to this amazing doula team. Overall, the biggest impact they made on me was that they believed in me, and that gave me so much strength. For a first-time mom with higher levels of anxiety, that kind of support was priceless. I honestly wish they could be my team of support forever in motherhood--that's how much I loved them and how much I trust them. And even now, I still bug them from time to time and they always quickly help me out with resources. I am so fortunate to have found them. I am sure you will feel the same way if they become your choice of doulas.

I've been supported through 3 pregnancies and deliveries (2 with midwives at a birth center, 1…read morec-section in hospital) by Melinda Ferguson, and cannot recommend her highly enough for her extensive experience from attending hundreds of births, empathy, responsiveness, and ability to connect me with others in the perinatal community for specific things like birth prep classes, lactation, sleep, etc. As a first-time parent, I especially found Melinda's guidance and presence helpful to calm my anxieties around the process of giving birth, as well as caring for a newborn. So the second time, I wanted to have the same support and was so glad to have her with us even though we'd been through this before once. And although I had expected the third time to be even easier, some complications came up and it was so helpful to be able to consult with Melinda and work through some difficult decisions. She also helped me with processing and accepting the surgical delivery that I had really hoped to avoid.

My husband and I took our child birthing class with Kendra before the birth of our first child and…read morecouldn't have been happier! She is not only extremely knowledgable, but is a very sweet woman who obviously loves what she does. All our questions were answered and we went into labor & delivery very prepared! Because of everything we learned in her class, we were able to have the birthing experience we had hoped for :) As a Le Leche League leader, she was also very helpful after our little one arrived and we were having a little trouble getting the hang of breast feeding. Kendra went above and beyond to help us out and gave me the peace of mind and reassurance I needed to provide the type of care we wanted for our baby. I would highly recommend Kendra!!

We interviewed a number of doulas but chose Ashley because although she did not have the most…read morereal-world experience of those we interviewed, she was the warmest and seemed most passionate about her job. Throughout my pregnancy, Ashley was quick to respond to my questions and requests, and I never once felt as though I was bothering her. She was quick to admit when she didn't know something and do the research needed to educate herself. She has a great sense of humor, a soothing demeanor, and escorted us through a very complicated birth process that saw us from birth center to hospital to emergency C-section. She remained alert, supportive, and calm from 1am until 10pm. When I chose my doula, I wanted not another "medical professional," but rather someone who felt like a friend who happened to be well-educated in labor and childbirth. Ashley was a perfect fit. I would recommend Ashley as a doula to anyone.

We had such a wonderful experience with Ashley. She was attuned to Mom's needs right from the…read morestart, listening closely to her concerns and asking the smartest questions to learn more about us. When she didn't have an answer to one of our questions she knew just where to find it. She was so warm, comfortable and respectful, we felt like she was part of our family. She told us we could call her any moment of the day or night, and she really meant it. When the time came for us to rush to the hospital, we called her at 2:00 am and she was awake and alert as if she had been waiting for our call, and she stayed that way through the entire birth process. Afterward she called and visited, and became a friend. Our daughter is now a cute and healthy 6 month old, and the whole family is adjusting well, which is the highest recommendation I can offer.

If I could give Elizabeth 10 stars, I would! I began seeing her when I was pregnant for prenatal…read moremassage and it was a great gift to myself. She helped me ease many aches and pains and made my pregnancy much more comfortable. I also went in to see her a couple weeks after giving birth, bringing my newborn with me. My baby was fussy and Elizabeth was wonderful helping to settle her while I relaxed during the massage. I was able to feed my baby and receive a healing massage at the same time - something I truly wish all new mothers could experience!! If you are pregnant or postpartum - booking a session is a wonderful gift to yourself. Thanks again Elizabeth for taking such care of me

Elizabeth is the absolute BEST!!!! Her knowledge and skill are unparalleled, and she has…read moretremendously helped the healing of my spine and related muscular structure. The aesthetic of the space is calming with rich, dark colors and meaningful art and decor. The office is always impeccably clean and it smells so good! She puts this minty stuff on your neck at the end-- it's the best!! Her manner is gracious, professional and always kind, 10 stars!!!

Hiring Mary as our Doula was one of the best decisions we made, and I truly believe she played a…read morehuge role in helping me achieve my successful VBAC. Her support started long before labor. She met with us several times to help us prepare mentally and physically, walked us through our birth plan, and made sure we understood what to expect. She also helped us prepare our home for postpartum in ways I never would have thought about; helping me set up nursing and changing stations around the house, sharing practical meal ideas, and even helping us put together a special "fun box" to help keep our toddler entertained during the transition. Those little details made such a big difference once we got home. During labor, she was incredible. She stayed with us for over 20 hours, offering constant encouragement, comfort techniques, and reassurance. She helped me stay focused when things got hard and reminded me I was capable when I needed it most. Her calm presence made such a difference for both me and my partner. She doesn't just show up for the birth, she truly invests in the whole family and the whole experience. Because of her, I felt prepared, supported, and empowered every step of the way. If you are hoping for a VBAC or just want someone truly dedicated to supporting you through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, I cannot recommend her enough. We are so grateful she was part of our birth story. We will definitely hire her for our next birth!

I'm so deeply grateful that I was able to have Mary there to guide me before, through, and after…read moregiving birth. She was sensitive to me, kind, stood up for me, and helped me know I could get through it. I do not hesitate to recommend her as a doula for any reason.

I gave birth at 40 weeks and 3 days. Two days before delivery, I called to inform you that I was…read moresick. Instead of providing a prescription covered by my insurance, I was only given a list of medications to buy. Because I was very sick, I had to go to Walgreens and spend over $100 on medications that I could have received for free with a prescription. Later, I tested positive for COVID-19 and informed your team. The only response I received was "I'm sorry you have COVID, stay in quarantine for 5 days." At no point was I informed that COVID could lead to early labor. The day before delivery, when I entered active labor, I called again. My information was sent to Providence Everett, but I received no encouragement or support from any of the midwives. Ultimately, I had to undergo an emergency C-section because my baby's heart rate was unstable, and my newborn was transferred to Seattle Children's Hospital due to meconium aspiration. I did not hear from Sprouts until four days after my baby's birth, and the call was simply to say, "I'm sorry you went through that, let us know when you want to schedule your postpartum appointment." When I scheduled and came to my appointment, I felt dismissed and disrespected. At the front desk, I was asked "where's the baby" in an ironic tone, followed by "oh, I forgot, she's at the NICU." In my visit with Deborah, my concerns about missed communication and risks associated with my prolonged pregnancy were rejected instead of acknowledged with empathy. Despite my disappointment, I continued with follow-up appointments for postpartum care and birth control because I had no other provider at that time. However, I have consistently felt unsupported. Most recently, when I asked for an all-purpose nipple ointment (as recommended by the lactation team and nurses at Seattle Children's Hospital), I received a dismissive and questioning response instead of the prescription I needed. At this point, I believe the care I received from Sprouts Birth Center has fallen short of the support, compassion, and professionalism that should have been provided. For these reasons, I respectfully do not recommend this birth center at all.

Loved Mayya and Deborah (plus assistants and midwive students) for my midwifery care! This is my…read morethird birth (all water births); second out of hospital birth. I will always recommend out of hospital/midwife care, especially Sprout Birthing Center. Prenatal care: On point all around. All the traditional tests were offered to me to ensure there weren't any apparent complications that would make my pregnancy or birth high-risk. Birth: At the center. Arrived a little after 9pm to help move the pregnancy along (11 days overdue!). After hours birth meant my immediate family was able roam the center without interfering with day-to-day operations. My son was born at 11:01pm. Mayya and Brittni didn't rush me and didn't argue me when I said it was time to push. They let me control the birth. Their roles were simply to make sure we were healthy. After having a hospital birth with my second son, I can't rave enough about how much its truly means to drive your own birth. I was free to leave around 2 or 2:30am. 5 hours at the center and in home in bed to rest and heal! Can't complain about that! Postpartum Care: Thorough. Never once did I feel I wasn't being listened to. Billing: No issues as of yet ‍. I'll update if needed.