I could not recommend Birth You Desire / Ursula / Jenn more. Jenn has been simply the best doula we could have asked for. During birth, she was able to tell when my husband needed some extra help, asked the hospital staff for what he needed on his behalf when he was not mentally able to, and gave us guidance based off of my preferences and state of mind that led to an incredibly successful birth. Her postpartum care has honestly been the highlight of her services. I did not realize how much help we would need overnight and the help and resources that Jenn provides have been invaluable. Jenn claims she is not magic - but she is. You are in the best hands with Birth You Desire. read more

I'm located in San Diego and was in need of renting a reliable labor TENS unit. After many unsuccessful reliable searches online, Birth Your Desires came up and seemed legit and straightforward and it was. She sent me the TENS unit very quickly and included packaging and a return label for easy return after birth. read more

Jenn Carlson is an amazing person and doula who went above and beyond for us during our birth and postpartum journey. Our baby was born during one of the worst snowstorms in years and she made sure she was prepared and there to support us (even if it meant getting snowed in at the hospital). Without her care and experience we would've had a very different birth that likely would've ended in an emergency c-section. I had a lot of anxiety about giving birth but Jenn helped put me at ease and explained things very well. She is warm and has an evidence based approach to her work. She also looked out for my partner which I really appreciated, ensuring he ate and rested. Afterwards we also used Jenn's overnight doula services to care for our infant and she was just as fantastic with him. Not only did we get a good night's rest when she was here (priceless), we also felt so supported with learning about newborn care and dealing with all of the emotional aspects of becoming parents. Our journey would've been different without her and we will forever be grateful that we had her support. read more

Birth You Desire is incredible! My husband and I were looking for overnight Doulas in a pinch and the team was great to work with to give us the help we needed fast! We had Jen and Amy as our overnight doulas, and they were absolutely wonderful. On each of their first nights, they checked in on how I was doing, making sure I felt supported as a first-time mom. They prioritized my own mental well-being just as much as our baby's physical well-being. They really listened to any concerns I had and just made us feel at ease. They even went the extra mile with chores, like happily washing bottles and doing baby laundry. Amy, being a lactation specialist, was a pro at giving me breastfeeding tips. Jen was extremely helpful with that as well. Both had a very soothing and calm presence that made nighttime routines peaceful. They were easy guests to have in our home. But truly, both of them gave our daughter their undivided attention each night, and what they have is really a gift. We're so grateful for their support. read more

We interviewed several doula practices and ultimately chose Birth You Desire because of their evidence-based approach and clear boundaries. Those boundaries actually reduced our stress. We knew exactly what to expect, when support would be in person, and how communication would work throughout the process. The consistency helped us feel secure and supported during a medically complex birth. We loved our experience with our doula from Birth You Desire and look forward to the opportunity to use their services in the future! read more

The doula support through Birth You Desire is professional, compassionate, and reliable. Every prenatal meeting is scheduled in advance; resources clearly explained, and nothing felt confusing or generic. What stood out most was knowing there's backup coverage if needed. Even though not needed, that peace of mind mattered greatly during labor and the early postpartum period. read more

Hello, I was happy I found Vee through Google search lol. I had the pleasure of working alongside Vee during my 12 hour shift. I was the labor & delivery nurse with her client she supported throughout the laboring process. I really appreciate how attentive she was to her client and how knowledgeable she is about the birthing process. I hope to get a chance to work with her again in the future. read more

Exceptional doula care that made all the difference Years later, our birth experience with Ursula from Birth You Desire still fills us with gratitude. As repeat clients (we worked with Ursula for both of our kids' births), we knew we were in excellent hands, and Ursula exceeded our already high expectations. We took BYD's refresher course (having completed their full program for our first child), which perfectly prepared us for what became a surprise early arrival at 36.5 weeks. From the first contraction through delivery, Ursula provided unwavering support via phone, text, and in-person presence. What sets Ursula apart is her unique combination of extensive experience and intuitive understanding of what each family needs. Her calm, reassuring presence gave us complete confidence throughout labor. The practical suggestions she offered--like the TENS unit that my wife credits with enabling her natural birth--demonstrated her thoughtful preparation and expertise. We felt like Ursula's only clients, receiving her complete attention and personalized care every step of the way. Her guidance helped us navigate each stage of labor with confidence and peace of mind. Without reservation, we give Birth You Desire and Ursula our highest recommendation. If you're seeking exceptional doula services, look no further. read more

Ursula was an incredible helping our family get back up and running after the birth of our second kiddo. The baby was born without a functional immune system and mom was recovering from a C-section while also having just come off cancer treatment during the third trimester. Ursula came to the rescue as we all tried to get back on our feet, get the baby healthy and get mom and dad back to work while making way to support our toddler with the transition. Ursula was available when Mom needed to leave the baby and head to doctor and other recovery appointments. This enabled the baby who's immune system was fragile to get stronger by the day at home and keep her on schedule. We can't say enough about the support Ursula provided, we felt so fortunate to find her during such a stressful time when trying to get the baby healthy and with all that mom was going through. If you're looking for a flexible and supportive partner in trying to get through the 4th trimester, no matter the challenges and circumstances, check out Birth You Desire! read more

Giny from Birth You Desire was flexible, supportive, and super knowledgeable. She's a problem solver extraordinaire. Every time she came over for postpartum doula support I would give her a problem "the baby woke up 10 times last night" "the baby is super gassy and fussy" "the baby won't nap during the day anymore" and she would give me a suggestion, I'd do it, and immediately see a huge difference. Our baby was also always so calm and happy around her. So grateful for her! read more

I cannot recommend BYD enough. We took birth classes with Ursula and worked with our doula Amy via BYD, and we feel like it was worth every single penny! The classes were so thorough and really prepared us for the realities of child birth. The content and attitude was real, straight forward, and never sugar coated - but incredibly supportive and kind at the same time. They are so respectful of everyone's individual choices and journey, while also being real and preparing you. It was also so helpful for my partner as he navigated what it meant to support during pregnancy and labor as well. We had a big change in our pregnancy right at the end, and our journey changed course quickly. Ursula and Amy were incredibly supportive and helped me through a very scary and rough period that I never expected. Amy answered texts, calls, and hopped on zoom all the way until our delivery - and has continued to be a presence guiding us in the weeks after delivery. She provided the calming and supportive energy I needed, while also being real with me about my situation. I'm beyond grateful for their support throughout my entire pregnancy, and will absolutely use BYD in the future. BYD is an investment in your physical and mental health during one of the most powerful and life-altering stages you'll go through. We cannot imagine the last several months without them. read more

We had such a great experience with Amy Lentner from Birth You Desire! She was a helpful resource for me and my wife throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We can't imagine having gone through it all without her. It was great to have her expertise, and be able to lean on the network of Birth You Desire for their wider recommendations and resources as well! read more

I was looking forward to utilizing a labor and delivery doula for my first. I had had many friends have quite traumatic first birth experiences and I was hoping that working with a doula would help us navigate the process and ease my anxieties going in. Unfortunately, this did not turn out to be the case with Birth Your Desire. We regularly had to chase down our doula for follow-up on resources and scheduling pre-labor calls. When we did receive resources, they were either confusing to understand and use or felt like something we could've just found on our own. After our delivery, our doula came to us for an initial postpartum appointment but then disappeared for a month before reaching back out to schedule the second one. She told us the reason for her disappearance was that she had experienced deaths in her family and was therefore taking time off. However, neither she nor anyone else with the company ever reached out to us to let us the situation. Despite the fact that they claim to have a robust back-up system, no one reached out to us offer to go over that final set of content instead. We essentially had to suffer on our own during the most grueling early weeks and reach out to other experts to fill the gap. Something of note for others considering Birth Your Desire is that our doula stated only after we had signed a contract with her that she would not come to our home or meet us at the hospital until I was at least 6 inches dilated. There was no mention of this policy when we were interviewing doulas from Birth Your Desire or in any of the contract language. I think because I pointed this out to their CEO they've now added boilerplate language to their documents for clients as a CYA but it's too little too late for us. It especially made no sense given that I ended up doing a scheduled induction for medical reasons. As a result, we spent almost the entire three days we were navigating a stressful, exhausting induction at the hospital on our own and having to play a literal game of telephone with our doula and our provider team. It created far more work and stress for us than if our doula had been with us in person. All in all, our experience with this doula practice soured our perception of the field overall and left us feeling like we had wasted time and money that could have instead been spent on postpartum care, etc. We did not feel that the CEO's response was adequate in addressing our concerns as it essentially amounted to "your contract terms were met" and "we'll keep that in mind for next time." read more

What is a doula? A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to new and expectant parents before, during, and after birth. As a certified nurse midwife, I work with one of the pristine doula services, Birth You Desire, LLC, and highly recommend them for your doula services. Their compassion and support for their clients are second to no other. If you are fortunate enough to work with the doulas from Birth You Desire before, during, and after yourbirth, they will not disappoint! read more

My husband and I are grateful to have found Ursula and Lynn and the Birth your desire team. We took the virtual 6-week childbirth class with Ursula and appreciated all the material that was covered from preparing for labor and delivery to what to expect during L&D and postpartum, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a virtual classroom with other expectant parents. Ursula brings in plenty of special guests, and has a whole library of materials for parents to be to dig into. We worked with Lynn as our birth doula for the birth of our first child and could not be more pleased. We felt supported and prepared (as well as one can be for the unexpected!) and Lynn was the right balance of calm and take charge that I needed once we got to the hospital. She was a thoughtful partner to my husband throughout and worked wonderfully with the hospital team to make us feel heard and at ease. Very happy with our experience and would highly recommend BYD! read more

I have known Ursula Sabia Sukinik for 20 years. I have met a few of her clients over the years and they all gave positively glowing reviews. When my child and their spouse got pregnant, I reached out on occasion for advice on local Doula services, pregnancy questions and other related things. Recently some problems developed with my grandchild-to-be and Ursula came through with advice and contacts to help the nervous parents work through things. She has always been generous with her knowledge and emotional support, and I cannot recommend her and Birth You Desire highly enough! read more

My wife and I worked with Lynn, who was absolutely fantastic. From our first visit, she made us feel comfortable, was prepared for everything we brought to the table, and helped us prepare a plan and feel as confident as possible. My wife's birth didnt go as expected, and Lynn was solid as a rock and helped us advocate for our needs even when we were being pressured to make a decision we werent ready to make. In the end, it worked out AND we felt proud of how we handled the situation. In our follow up, she helped my wife process some of her emotions and uncertainties regarding that day, and helped her find peace with how everything turned out. She is warm, caring, competent, and a fierce defender of your rights as parents. Highly recommend! read more

Birth You Desire - Doulas Near Me

I used Amy from Birth You Desire and could not recommend her enough. We started our journey together early on in my first pregnancy. She helped me find classes and resources and was herself invaluable as someone to bounce ideas and plans off of. She attended all of my very long and difficult labor and was a steady and reasonable presence when we needed to make hard decisions. She was encouraging, thoughtful, and knowledgeable without being pushy about her own viewpoints. We also used her during postpartum time. She helped immensely with breastfeeding troubleshooting and basic baby care. Later on, she was the first and only person I trusted to watch after our son while we enjoyed some time away. She was well worth the cost and I'm so glad we found her. read more

​​My first child was born recently, and my wife and I are so happy we had a doula to help us in this most important period in our life. Lynn was highly recommended to us by a friend who just had her first baby, and ​she was our doula during the the birth, although we also got to work with Ursula before and after as well. It was such a positive experience and I can't recommend it enough. ​Speaking as the husband/father, I am so happy we had a doula. My wife giving birth was such an important moment in our lives, and I wanted to make it as safe and supportive ​experience as possible for my her and baby-to-be. Like most men, I had no experience with pregnancy, labor, delivery, or post-partum care. I tried to be diligent by reading and taking courses, but I knew nothing I did would come close to the wisdom Ursula and Lynn bring from having supported hundreds and hundreds of women through childbirth. Their knowledge extends from how to prepare during pregnancy to the post-partum phase, and I found it all incredibly valuable. And critical to me is that the doula is there entirely for the mother. Nurses, doctors, and midwives are all wonderful, but they have other patients and other obligations than just my wife. And providing emotional support is not necessarily part of their jobs. That's why having a doula was special and important - they were there to support my wife 100%. They also helped me better assist my wife with ideas about what I could be doing or saying (or not saying), ways to prepare ahead of the birth, and so on. Also, I knew there is an issue of mothers' mental and physical health being neglected after the baby is born because all the attentions shift to the baby, and I wanted to make sure my wife's health was a priority post-partum as well. Having a doula helped here greatly as well because of the post-partum visit - having a knowledgeable doula come the week following birth and say "let's check how you the mother are doing, head-to-toe, and make sure you are getting the care and having the information that you need to recover." Our baby came very quickly in the middle of the night, and Lynn was there at the drop of the hat to be there for us, doing things both big and small to help that we will never forget. She worked seamlessly with the midwives and nurse, who I think really appreciated having her there as well. (Early in the process we asked our midwives practices about doulas and they unequivocally said "We love doulas - we wish everyone could have one!") I have written 531 reviews on Yelp so far, but I can easily say this is the most important one to me, and I really mean it when I say Lynn, Ursula, and Birth You Desire are phenomenal! read more

Ursula was absolutely amazing as a birth doula. Leading up to the birth, we checked in after doctors appointments as things kept changing (baby's position, date of induction, etc.) Ursula helped me understand what was happening and what my options truly were. Once I shared with her the issues I had during a previous birth, she worked so hard with my provider to ensure and reassure me that this labor and birth would be different. Once we were at the hospital for the induction, Ursula provided the emotional and physical support to help me have a successful VBAC. She knew what positions to place me in to optimize baby's positioning and how to frame it for me to give me the confidence I needed to power thru labor. She also encouraged me to ask questions and I felt really empowered and informed throughout. She helped me use the TENS unit which combined with a short labor helped me avoid an epidural. She also helped me husband support me during labor, sharing ways with him he could actively support me. I am so appreciative of all that Ursula did to support me in having such a restorative birth experience. Before, during and after labor she was an encouraging and realistic presence helping me deal with the ups and downs . I highly recommend her and Birth you Desire for the doula work. The classes and resources she provides are so helpful too! We took a childbirth class with her for both births that was incredibly informative. read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND Ursula at Birth You Desire!!! I have too many good things to say, so let me start with if you are looking for support and knowledge throughout your pregnancy and delivery, look no further! Ursula was so supportive, responsive, caring and SO knowledgable about all things pregnancy, birth, and post partum related. Support is one thing, but the knowledge she has is unmatched. There are so many unknowns with pregnancy and birth that having her as part of my team was inmeasurable. If you are on the fence, trust me- DO IT. 10/10. THANK YOU, URSULA!! read more

Dad here. First time dad. Hopefully this review gives perspective to the soon-to-be birth partners out there who are trying to figure out what the heck a doula does. I had this question, too, as I wasn't sure what role they played and was not sold on the cost associated with it. However, I will say that it has been worth every penny. We worked with Ursula, who is the owner of BYD, and who has TONS of experience and has seen pretty much everything there is to see when it comes to birth. Before the birth, Ursula made herself available to guide us through the unique decisions and changes that we had to make (changing providers, medical requirements, etc). *note that Ursula was remote during this time but is usually in-person (or remote if needed during COVID times). You can take all the classes in the world, but somehow a lot of that info seems to slip away when the ish hits the fan. Our plan was to have the birth in a birth center but we ended up with a surprise home birth. Ursula was our primary point of contact as she was the steady anchor throughout all of the various people we had to be in touch with (midwives, birth assistants, etc). She immediately cleared out her day and stayed on FaceTime with us throughout the whole process. She coached us through the fright and pain of contractions, all the breathing techniques, helped coordinate getting the birth team to our house, got up close and personal with Mom's backside to consistently evaluate her status, coached me through what materials to prep for a potential Dad-delivery (!! Didn't happen fortunately). I like to describe Ursula's general demeanor as "warm and demanding". She is no nonsense and will tell you what you need to know without sugarcoating it. But she does so in a way that immediately earns your trust and makes you feel comfortable. One thing I appreciate about Ursula is her attention to the birthing partner. Ultimately, the birth process is centered around Mom, naturally. But the partner plays a big role (more so depending on the type of birth). And Ursula was there every step of the way to guide us and me, specifically, to best support Mom. Ursula was there for us post-brith as well to help connect us to different resources based on some concerns and questions we had. All in all, Ursula was fantastic. Her price is much higher than others at BYD, but we would recommend her to anyone. read more

I had a very long and complicated labor. But thanks to Jenn Carlson from Birth You Desire everything went very smoothly and positive. I had to make a lot of decisions during labor and Jenn helped me navigate the solutions while I was the most vulnerable. Thanks to Jenn Carlson I have a positive labor experience even though my labor was nothing I had planned for. I'm happy with every decision I made and credits totally go to Jenn. read more

Ursula helped us prepare for and give birth to our first baby virtually during COVID-19. We were not only frightened about childbirth, but the circumstances we were having our little one under. It brought much comfort to my husband and I knowing that we had such an experienced and compassionate doula on our team. Before this experience, I had no idea that you could have a doula virtually! Despite the fact that we are located in LA and Ursula in Maryland, we didn't even notice the distance between us and felt very supported throughout the pregnancy and labor process. During pregnancy, Ursula identified ways to be more comfortable during my third trimester. We stayed in touch, checking in on a weekly basis on how I was doing physically, mentally, emotionally. We also discussed beforehand what type of birth experience we wanted and ways and resources to get us ready for it. She was always so thorough in answering all of our questions. Come Labor Day, Ursula was there every step of the way. She was on the phone with us when I started my labor (8pm our time, 11pm her time) all night until the next morning coaching us through the contractions. She helped us meet our goal of staying home as long as possible before heading to the hospital. Once at the hospital, Ursula was there (virtually) to support various decisions I would be making during labor and ultimately helped coach me through the end when our little one arrived. We feel so fortunate to have had such a positive birth experience. We are so grateful for Ursula and the amazing support she provided. read more

We had our son two weeks ago and could not have had a better experience had it not been for BYD. Our doula, Lynn, was absolutely phenomenal and helped to ensure our birth experience was positive and in line with what we were hoping. We had several moments during the labor and delivery process where we needed to change course from our birth plan, and Lynn provided decision support in an incredible way that helped us seamlessly adapt to the changes happening. She was critical to a safe, happy, and calm birth. Thank you so much Lynn and BYD! We couldn't have asked for a better experience because of you! read more

Ursula and Birth You Desire are amazing. This is the second baby for which we used her Doula services. God help us if we have another child, but if we do, there is no question that we will use her again. There seems to always be a new challenge that arises, and given that everyone (Drs., nurses, and everyone) have competing needs, goals and requirements- having someone that is on your side, looking out for your interests with 100s and 100s of delivery experiences... is just priceless. Guys, do not hesitate to use a doula and BYD- you will be so glad you did. read more

My wife and I were expecting our first child and wanted a crash course in preparing for labor. Ursula came recommended and she was exactly what we were looking for. She was flexible and professional in setting up virtual classes that fit our schedule. She was engaging and charming and presented the information in an easy-to-understand manner. We felt supported and cared for, knowing Ursula was a call or text away. She really went above and beyond and I would highly recommend her expert services to anyone looking. read more

I have been meaning to write this review for quite awhile, but have been distracted by motherhood in addition to not quite being able to find the words to properly describe how invaluable Ursula was. We had our baby in June of 2021.  Ursula was extremely supportive throughout the pregnancy - answering emails and texts promptly, guiding us as we prepared for childbirth and labor with COVID lingering like a cloud over the whole exciting and joyous time. She was always quick to answer questions or offer suggestions of other resources. I was uncertain how the whole thing would work - meeting virtually a handful of times and not knowing if we would be able to have her in the room during labor and delivery. Ursula took time to really get to know us, specifically my husband, as they would be working side by side as my support team. She calmed our nerves, helped us craft our birth preferences, and assured us that she would be there every step of the way, whether virtually or in person. Thankfully, she was able to attend the birth. I had a long and arduous labor. Things did not go entirely according to plan and some of my birth preferences had to be reevaluated. Ursula was by my side, helping us make the right decisions for me and my baby. There were moments where I felt defeated, frustrated and discouraged. She was able to find a way to talk to me, to communicate in a way where I could hear her (cutting through my negative mindset) in order to get me back in the right frame of mind. That in itself was priceless! Because of her experience, she was able to offer a wide array of tools and tricks to help me through my labor. Even in my low moments, there was never a point where I felt I couldn't get through it, and that was because I knew Ursula was part of my support team. In the end, everything turned out great. We are blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Ursula took some great pictures during and after delivery. She also took very detailed notes of everything that happened during my labor and shared that document with us afterwards.  In the event that we choose to have another baby, the information she recorded would be invaluable (it's amazing to read through because I don't remember most of the details!). She checked in with us as soon as we got home from the hospital as we navigated the challenges of breastfeeding and sleeping. The fourth trimester is a crucial time and she made sure we had the tools and resources to navigate that process with confidence. I cannot recommend working with a doula, and specifically Ursula, highly enough. It is money well spent and you will not regret it. I can't imagine what our experience would have been like had we not had a doula.  If my husband and I decide to have more children, we would absolutely use Ursula again. We continue to have a friendship with her, and enjoy keeping her updated on how our son is doing because she was so instrumental in his delivery. read more

We knew that we wanted the support of a doula for the birth of our first baby and had a vague idea of how it worked. We were absolutely blown away by the expertise, professionalism and support given by Ursula at BYD. Not only does she bring years of experience to the table but she gets to know you, listens and provides the steadfast care a new nervous parent needs for the birth journey. I was so surprised to learn that she knows the ins and outs of all area hospitals and has wonderful relationships with the doctors and staff. Truly grateful for her support! read more

Highlight: Ursula is so incredibly talented that she was able to provide me the support described below VITUALLY via FaceTime and I can confidently attest that I feel just as supported as when she was there in person for my first birth. Ursula is my birth rock. She helped me bring all three of my children into this world and the last two births she was a virtual doula over FaceTime. She keeps me grounded and present. She keeps me safe. She comforts me and pushes me. She builds up me strength and confidence so I can create any birthing experience I desire, truly living up to her name: Birth You Desire. Ursula - You are amazing and found your true calling. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for our family. We love you. read more

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I have used BYD for all 4 of my births and it is the best decision I have ever made. Birth was much more challenging than I had expected and it was necessary to have the emotional and physical support of my doula, Ursula. Her experience with positioning, coaching, and pain relief made all of my birth experiences feel safer, better, and gave me more hands on attention than my hospital nurses could provide. Birth is a battlefield and you are have nothing to lose and everything to gain by hiring Ursula. read more

Ursula and team are true birth ninjas!! We both took Ursula's class, and used her as our Doula, and would highly recommend both. The class was super informative and we left feeling as prepared as we could. That said, it was the actual birth where Ursula really shined. We had a few complications, and Ursula expertly guided my wife through the ups and downs, including some incredible on-the-fly adjustments that ultimately led to a healthy, natural delivery. Speaking on behalf of my wife (who is sleeping:), we are both super grateful for Ursula and all she did to help us have a happy and healthy son Fitz. In my opition, there arecertain things in life worth spending on a true professional who you can trust when times get tough, and Ursula is exactly that. We would recommend her / BYD 1000x over! read more

Before, during, and after labor Lynn was an incredible guide. During our pre-labor meeting she patiently answered our many, many questions (as first-time parents) and recommended a superb book which my husband read to prepare (The Birth Partner). She was available to check-in with throughout the weeks before I gave birth, sending supportive text messages about my progress. On the day I went into labor, Lynn met us at the hospital ready to guide us through active labor. She seemed to know what I needed before I did, recommending position changes, breathing exercises, music/calming routines, and tons of encouragement. I felt fully supported and that her expertise made my labor easier. After delivery, my husband and I agreed that hiring Lynn was one of the best decisions we made throughout our pregnancy/birth journey. read more

I was on the fence about hiring a birth doula but I'm so glad I did! When my birth plan had to change on a dime due to high blood pressure, my BYD doula was available to talk me through the changes, listen to my concerns, and just generally support me in this change. She was also so helpful during the delivery as she worked with my partner and the hospital nurse to encourage me and ultimately achieve the birth I desired. read more

We had a truly wonderful experience with Ursula, Lynn and the entire Birth You Desire team. My pregnancy had multiple complications with gestational diabetes, a breech baby, and blood clot. Additionally, I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility type. I was fully supported during the entire pregnancy, delivery and after. Honestly, I am not sure how I would have survived it all without Ursula and her team. Ursula was always available to answer questions and support me as things came up. It was also AMAZING to have a doula that fully understood my EDS and its implications on my pregnancy and delivery. Due to a breech baby, I also had an ECV. Lynn and Ursula were both so incredibly helpful in explaining and supporting me through the process. In the end, I had to have a c-section. I was so thankful that Ursula was able to support me and advocate for me in-person both pre and post operation. I am endlessly grateful to the Birth You Desire team for all the support during this challenging pregnancy. read more

I talked to a few of the Doula's from Birth You Desire and enjoyed my conversation with all of them. Ultimately decided to go with Lynn because of her nurturing yet firm approach. I felt safe in her hands and appreciated her ability to help me navigate the preparation for labor and delivery, the actual delivery day and post-partum. I had planned for a natural birth and Lynn was there alongside my husband holding my hand throughout (both literally and figuratively). My baby's heart rate dropped during labor and Lynn helped my husband and I navigate this change of plan. She was so supportive and uplifting and checked in on us after delivery as well. I couldn't have picked a better doula and would recommend Lynn and the entire Birth You Desire team to anyone! read more

We couldn't be happier with the support Ursula provided. I'll admit I started off skeptical of whether we needed a doula at all but wanted to make sure my partner felt fully supported going through the birth process with our second child. While I don't know if every doula would have been right for us, Ursula was amazing, providing the right information and support to my wife, me, and the care team. What was most notable was the way Ursula elevated the whole care team - she clearly had earned the trust of every care professional in the room and made everyone's life easier. I would highly recommend Ursula to anyone - especially if you are at all skeptical of whether a doula is 'worth it'. read more

I rented a TENS unit from Birth You Desire and it worked out GREAT! I waited a little longer than I probably should have to rent, but Ursula made the unit available for me to pick up right away, so I did end up having it in time for labor. My labor was VERY fast (just 1 hour of active labor) and the TENS unit was really helpful for me -- it dulled the intensity of my contractions as they came on very very fast and hard and gave me something I was able to control. I'd definitely recommend a TENS unit and renting from Birth You Desire worked out great for me. read more

We heard about BYD from two of our friends, who each were supported by Ursula for the births of two babies. All of the doulas in the practice we spoke with are awesome. We ended up choosing to work with Ursula. She was fantastic - responsive, adaptive, anticipated what we would need, and coached us both virtually so well that it was as if she was in the room. We also took BYD's childbirth class, which was very informative and well structured, and we have stayed in touch with the other couples from the class, who all gave positive reviews of the BYD doulas they worked with. Nothing but gratitude for this great practice! read more

We cannot express how much we recommend and value Ursula/Birth You Desire. We've now used BYD three times and each time she has been an invaluable resource for us. My first two pregnancies resulted in wonderful hospital deliveries with no complications, and Ursula was an amazing coach and encourager through each one. For my most recent and third pregnancy, I was initially told I had a heart condition that put me in a high risk category so I was planning on again giving birth at a hospital. But later in my 3rd trimester I found out my diagnosis changed and I was no longer considered high risk. I've always wanted a home birth so I talked with Ursula about my desire to change. Ursula was able to connect me to a midwife who was available to add me as a client in my third trimester. I went into labor the morning before my due date so Ursula and my midwife came to my house, thinking my delivery was imminent. But my labor stalled and I told my birthing team to go home, thinking it was false labor. Ursula then checked in on me in the afternoon and realized I was in active labor. She quickly came to my house and supported me by reminding me of my capabilities and suggesting different laboring positions. Less than 45 minutes after Ursula's arrival, I was pushing but my midwife had not arrived yet, as she was stuck in DC traffic. Ursula remained calm and reminded me that she has delivered many other babies. After three pushes, Ursula delivered my baby since the midwife hadn't arrived yet. She was incredible in remaining calm and providing direction to keep my baby and me safe throughout my quick labor process. Because of her vast expertise and professionalism, I was able to have the amazing water birth I always wanted but didn't think was possible. I felt so empowered throughout the whole experience and really owe a debt of gratitude to Ursula and BYD. With a sincere and thankful heart, I give them my highest recommendation. read more