I have known Debbie Benton way before she became our doula. In fact, I've known her my whole life. Since I was a little girl, she was always this light of all things holistic and healing. I used to come to her house and she would teach me about healing with essential oils, gardening, delicious recipes that weren't entrenched in sugar, and all things BIRTH. I always told her that one day, when I was going to have a baby that she was going to be my doula. And oh boy was she. First of all, she is certified in so many birthing preparation courses, it makes her the most well rounded educator. She is a certified hypnobabies educator and we took the 6 week course with her in preparation for our birthing time. We learned more with Debbie than I did with my OB. Debbie provided us an entire educational viewpoint with the added hyonobabies platform. It was incredible! I went into labor at home and labored until I was about 4.5 centimeters, using hypnobabies. When I got to the hospital, I was wearing my headphones staying in hypnosis and the nurses who triaged me complimented me on how calm how I was choosing to move through my birthing waves. It was an incredible experience. Also, having the education of what the hospital would try to coerce me into doing or saying, and knowing what my rights were or how to push back gently was very empowering. I had no anxiety about sticking up for myself, because I had practiced ahead of time, using Hypnobabies. We even went though a mock birthing and delivery simulation at home, within hypnobabies, and my husband was prepared on the different birthing positions he could support me in, different ways to help me stay in hypnosis, how to advocate for me with hospital staff while I was under hypnosis, physical pressure points to help and so much more. She's also trained in the Body Ready Method and she used this technique to support us in so many ways. When I was having lower back pain, she taught me the poses to do to help stretch and alleviate that pain. She taught us what poses we could do on my birthing ball. She taught us poses to do to help the baby engage deeper into the pelvis. Our whole experience was a complete holistic, well rounded education and preparation for birth and I could not be more thankful. I can't say enough how much more I got from Debbie than I did from my OB. Working with Debbie outside of the hospital system helped me to feel like a real person. At the hospital, while I had a positive experience, I definitely felt like a number. Speaking of hospital, it was our plan to labor at home and then go to the hospital when I was further dilated and we did that. It also just so happened that Debbie knew some of the hospital staff on the floor at the time, being that she had worked with them out in the birthing field. It only made my experience better. When Debbie arrived, she set up candles (fire proof) all around my room, tea lights, affirmations to encourage being calm and peaceful. It was so incredible and it contributed to the whole experience being that much more peaceful. When I was pushing, she helped me to breathe down into my pushed. Before I would make a decision with the nurses, I would look to Debbie for opinion first. My entire birthing experience was supported and Debbie was such a huge part of it. When I was laboring at home the week before I delivered, she stocked my fridge with soups for postpartum, a pregnancy drink to help with labor, sitz bath herbs for postpartum, lactation cookies. She did our placenta and turned them into capsules, she made us a tincture with the placenta too. I used her blend of pregnant tea throughout pregnancy. She is so knowledgeable and it exceeds birth. Her whole life is this beautifully holistic, homeopathic, healing example of a life lived with intention. Any birthing family is blessed to work with her. Thank You, Debbie! - Naikea Ward Ubaga read more

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I really want to thank Debbie for being so wonderful. She is such a professional in her field, and so knowledgeable. In the crazy tumultuous times of labor and welcoming a newborn into your life, the last thing you wanna do is an extra task. But Debbie was ON IT. she was so well informed, kind and a great communicator. She worked with us, navigated all the Hospital paperwork, had the placenta pills delivered so promptly. She basically did all the hard work, and now I can just sit back and enjoy my baby. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to all mamas to be. Debbie also has such a cool calming energy .... Def has those good vibes! Thanks for everything Debbie! read more

I reached out to Debbie for her placenta encapsulation services after discovering her on Yelp and so glad I did!! Debbie was extremely kind and gave me a call to answer any and all questions I had regarding the whole placenta encapsulation process and her different encapsulation methods before I made my decision which I truly appreciated! She also offered helpful info and tips regarding the process on the same phone call. The whole process was so easy, it was extremely easy to communicate with Debbie and schedule pick up/drop offs for the placenta and the capsules. She came to meet my husband at the hospital to pick up the placenta and also came to my home to drop off the capsules and provide some more helpful info about taking the capsules, as well as the tincture which was an added bonus that I can use throughout the years! I am currently on week 2 of my capsule regimen and very grateful that I found Debbie and went through with the encapsulation process, I feel as if I do have added energy from the capsules even being as sleep deprived as I am from our newborn! My husband also made a comment to me that he has witnessed other women in his family quickly develop a great amount of PPD symptoms after giving birth but he believes me taking the capsules has lessened those symptoms compared to what he has seen (there is technically no medical guarantee but this has been his observation with me). Not to mention, the cord keepsake is absolutely beautiful and I plan on putting it in a nice memory box for the baby. Thank you so much Debbie! We are truly grateful. -Sabrina & Anthony Abraham (and baby boy Cyrus) :) read more

We had a private class with Debbie Paeff-Benton at our home for the newborn care class. Debbie was on time, very organized with her presentation of information, which included slides, videos, and written hand outs. As first time parents, we only thought of asking about how to change a diaper and swaddling, but Debbie enlightened us to so much more! We learned from her what to expect within the first few hours of when the baby comes out, how the doctors and nurses will be doing their exams and how that may affect us as well (and also things we can say no to if we do not agree with what the doctors or nurses may want to do). Her teaching us how to hold the baby, change the diaper and clothing, and swaddle gave us knowledge and confidence that we needed for when we bring the baby home. She also taught us that each baby is unique and to be open to however the experiences unfold for us. She allowed us to ask any questions that came up for us. You can tell she is very passionate about babies and teaching. I highly recommend working with Debbie if you are a first time parent and need to learn about newborn care. read more

We booked a co-doula package with Nakomi Kirby and Debbie Benton. To say that their help was essential for our delivery would be an understatement. Due to our unique circumstances, we were two months away from our due date and felt very unprepared. Some of the challenges we faced included: - Inadequate birth classes from Kaiser. Due to COVID, we were given 3 online classes with 50 other parents. Though informative, it was impossible to retain all this information without a 1:1 relationship with the teacher or other parents. - My wife's work schedule was brutal during the last two trimesters of the pregnancy. This contributed to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion leading up to the due date. - We were preparing for a last minute move into a new apartment, which ultimately took place 2 days before our due date. The mental, emotional, and physical stress took us to our limit. Due to the toll our circumstances were taking on us, it occurred to us that we needed additional support. Because of the cost of preparing for a new baby, we were hesitant to hire help. It initially seemed so luxurious but as we got closer to the due date, it became obvious that it was a necessity. Our knowledge of and experience with doula's was extremely limited but we decided to try our best to find a doula one month before our baby's arrival. By coincidence we ended up getting the support of two! Due to the last minute nature of our booking, Nakomi worked together with a second doula, Debbie Smith, to support us. Nakomi focused on pre-natal education and post-natal follow up and Debbie was with us in the delivery room and visited us at home after the delivery. Their individual strengths were perfect for our needs and their teamwork was seamless. These were some of the highlights of our work with them: - On the due date, the hospital wanted to induce my wife. We were uncomfortable with being medically induced and Nakomi provided an induction massage instead. In addition to helping my wife's body relax, we believe it also gave her body the "nudge" it needed to get started. Within 4-5 hours, labor was underway! - When my wife was in active labor, our daughter got "stuck" in a position that resulted in near-constant back pain. Debbie guided my wife through various positions, kept her breathing on track, and provided steady and calm support, so my wife could focus. - As I focused on emotionally supporting my wife, I watched Debbie provide practical support and emotional stability to the room. Our doctors and nurses were uber competent but there's no question that the labor would have been more stressful without the experience and steady support that Debbie provided. - After 20+ hours of active labor, my wife was exhausted and our baby was "stuck". My wife decided to pivot from our birth plan and to accept the epidural and pitocin. Nakomi and Debbie are natural birth advocates (it's why we chose them) but they had also prepared us for a scenario when medical intervention was appropriate. We just so happened to be in that situation and we were so grateful that we were mentally prepared for this decision. - After the baby arrived, Nakomi and Debbie knew how to periodically check in while also giving us the space we needed to decompress and adjust to our new normal. Nakomi and Debbie helped us troubleshoot some feeding issues (though we ultimately ended up pumping/bottle feeding our daughter). Overall, we couldn't be more thankful that Nakomi and Debbie were our doulas in our great time of need. The only thing we would have changed would have been to contact them sooner and enjoy their guidance earlier in our pregnancy journey. Nakomi and Debbie: thank you from the bottom of our heart! read more

Debi was an invaluable mentor to me when I was becoming a doula myself. Her understanding of birth and babies are so thorough and her kindness and compassion as a person are second to none. I highly recommend her for ALL the different services she offers. Anyone who hires her will be in very capable hands and be guided by a very wise heart! read more

My partner and I had the pleasure of working with Debbie as our birth doula for our first baby. We cannot recommend Debbie enough, and I feel like she was an essential part of my positive birthing experience! Prior to birth, we enjoyed our meetings with Debbie to learn more about the labor and delivery process as well as the newborn period. She also gave us helpful, hands-on tips for laboring at home prior to going to the hospital. On delivery day, Debbie was there to guide us every step of the way from hospital admission to recovery. Her insightful knowledge and experience calmed my nerves, and her recommendations led to a smoother delivery of our baby. During the newborn period, I was lucky to work with Debbie as a postpartum doula for two months. Her gentle spirit and wisdom brought such warmth and peace to an otherwise stressful transition into parenthood. Debbie's warm meals, teas, and labor lemonade were also a special treat! read more

If I could, I would give Debi 10 stars:) Debi, or Debi the Doula as my family likes to call her, is exceptional. Not only was she incredibly helpful and supportive during labor and delivery, she was also amazing before and after. She came over multiple times for many hours so my husband and I (and our dog) could get to know her before this major event in our lives was about to happen. Debi also helped us postpartum for 2 weeks and that was one of the best decisions we ever made. She was there for us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She even made us chicken soup! She still comes by months later to see us. She is kind of like the baby whisperer. We Love her. You will too. read more

Hiring Debbie was by far the best decision I've made going into the journey of becoming a mother. She was worth her weight in Gold! She was so patient and knowledgeable. She took the time during pregnancy to find out exactly what I wanted my birth experience to be. She gave me advice on diet, exercise, pre-labor versus active labor, writing my birth plan and answering our many questions. She attended a prenatal appointment with my doctor since my husband could not attend and because it would give her the opportunity to meet my doctor in advance. She asked the doctor questions for me that my pregnancy brain could not recall. She was always available via text or phone call and checked in with me when I became closer to my due date. During labor, she came to my house to help me track timing of the contractions and help me labor at home prior to going to the hospital. She kept track of the color and time of my water breaking at home - something my husband & I wouldn't have thought of to keep track of. Once we got to the hospital, she made the room comfortable by adjusting the lighting, passing out my birth plan, adjusting the temperature & using essential oils in the room. She massaged and attended to my every contraction - which was so crucial and beyond helpful. I honestly do not know how I could have done a natural, non medicated birth without her help. She had lollipops, homeopathic medicine, coconut oil for my chapped lips and so much more that I would have never thought about. She helped during the pushing stage too. She was at one side helping me to know how to best push - which sounds weird, but as a first time mom, it's nothing I've ever had to do before. She gave me so much support, more than I could ever dream of having or knowing I needed. She gave my daughter a soothing Leboyer bath - to help relax her after the stress of birth. She helped me to latch her properly during breastfeeding. I also got my placenta encapsulated by Debbie. I do feel like it is really helpful for hormone regulation and helps provide additional nutrition during the key weeks post birth. Debbie's calm and sweet personality made her extremely invaluable during one of the most stressful times in a person's life. She has since visited us and brought us homemade apple & date butter. I can honestly say she is an extension of my family now. We love you Debbie! Dan, Violet & I are so thankful we found you!!! read more

Simply put, Debbie is amazing at what she does. She is incredibly knowledgeable in the field of labor and delivery and in turn, does an exceptional job at teaching pregnancy preparation classes. She is calm, through, and passionate about what she does. I know her on a professional level, and am always happy to see her at a birth. read more

Debbie has such a wonderful heart, and it really comes through in her passion to teach the families in her classes. My favorite thing about the way she teaches classes is that she really empowers women to make their own educated choices about their bodies with out any judgement. read more

Debi is an angel!! She is nurturing, calm, supportive, gentle, loving, knowledgeable, and has a positive energy about her. She is very passionate about her work and cares deeply for her clients. I had a very long, difficult delivery, and having her there made all the difference in the world for both me and my husband. I am most grateful that she was part of our team in the birth of my son. We needed her!!! read more

Debbie is beyond amazing! She has such a gentle, supportive, and nonjudgmental way of being there for you. She offers educational advise and an open mind to hear whatever concerns are and has tons of knowledge to answer any of your questions. I was in awe of how incredible she was during my labor and delivery. She was so in tune and knew exactly what I needed without me ever having to ask. Debbie has become a dear friend of ours and without a doubt I will have her at every birth of our future children! Love her! read more

Amazing woman. We met a few doulas but clicked with Debbie and decided to use her. She sounded very experienced and highly available for the woman both before and during labor. She was helpful and patient with all questions at our initial meetings. My birth didn't go as planned changed so I unfortunately wasn't able to experience her coaching through labor, but she was by my side after my baby was born and had an adorable package prepped with my placenta items. Will use her again. Highly recommended. read more

Debbie has years of experience in supporting women to have beautiful, healthy births. After having her own babies very easily at home, she brings confidence, wisdom and ease to the birthing room, woman and baby. She really is a gem! read more

Debi was my doula as well as my childbirth educator. She was amazing in both roles. The class was very informative, and small enough that it was more like a very educational conversation in a comfortable setting. My birth experience was long and complicated, but Debi was always there to offer advice, rub my back, support my husband, and whatever else I needed. Without her, I probably would have ended up with a c-section, but she helped me have the strength to stick through my original plan for a vaginal birth. She had both the knowledge and the gentle manner to communicate effectively with the staff and ensure that my wishes were met as much as possible. read more

My husband and I used Debbie as our childbirth educator for natural childbirth classes. She was fantastic! She did 2 private sessions with us where she came to our home. She arrived right on time and was very prepared. She is overly knowledgable and you can tell she really enjoys what she does. She even stayed past the agreed time just to make sure we felt comfortable and got the info we needed. She was able to customize our classes to suit our needs and the things we wanted to focus on. We were supplied with a binder full of information and she also sent us website links to other useful information. We are not using a doula for the birth but Debbie made me feel as though I could contact her anytime with questions or concerns I may have during the process. Thank you Debbie for your support! read more

Debbie is the person you want by your side during pregnancy. She is educated, loving, and really put's the pregnant mama's interests above all. During my pregnancy she was available to talk for as long as I needed, some times she just listened as I struggled to figure out what I needed. Other times she offered advice when I asked. I had doctors recommending next steps and I was scared. She came with me when I had to be monitored (even brought lavender oil to calm me), she was there with a hug and a warm smile when I got out. And as far as the birth went, she helped me through contractions, came with us to the hospital and continued to offer support. And post partum, she's been there - even brought me a veggie filled drink to help with recovery. I LOVE Debbie! Yes, she's nice, compassionate, and funny, but more importantly, she's educated and supports the mamas right to choose the birth that's right for her. You will be very blessed to have her by her side! read more