Emma is nothing short of incredible and working with her was one of the best decisions we made to prepare for birth and postpartum. She met with my husband and I several times in person ahead of the birth to help us think through our plans and honestly educate us on everything we could expect since we were first time parents. Genuinely found her much more helpful in learning what to expect than any of the birth prep classes or books I read. She gave us options without judgement and with lots of follow up research so we could make the right decision for us. When we unexpectedly had to pivot to an early induction, I was so thankful to have Emma to call. She calmed me down and really helped me plan for this big change so I went in ready and confident. During the birth, she was my all seeing guardian angel. She was very respectful of the doctors and nurses but would give me translations for why they might be pushing for certain measures and what all my options were. She spotted dips in my blood pressure and baby's monitor not working at 4am while I was asleep and made sure the nurses acted (I'm really thankful for that!). My husband who is the ultimate pragmatist is a big fan of Emma and we both give her so much credit for taking what could have been a scary and overwhelming experience and making it extremely positive. She was there for our postpartum too and helped troubleshoot some of those new parent worries. Emma is caring, kind, grounded, and an excellent listener and advocate. Cannot recommend her more highly! read more

Working with Emma throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum was a wonderful experience. Meeting with her several times in advance of the birth to talk and create a set of birth intentions helped me and my husband feel more confident and excited about the prospect of the birth and transition into the early days of parenthood. It's so easy to get caught up in the anxiety and fear that come with all the unknowns of pregnancy, but from the first time we met with Emma I felt more calm. She helped us prepare for what to expect emotionally and physically, how to best think through the decision making process at the hospital, and what we would need in the postpartum time. She makes it very clear that the right choice (and there are so many when you are pregnant- home birth, birth center, hospital birth, epidural, etc etc etc etc) is whatever feels right for YOU! She is incredibly kind and open minded, and does not bring any sense of judgment for whatever kind of birth you are wanting to have. On the day of my labor and delivery Emma was a calm presence throughout the day. The labor and delivery nurses were even commenting to us in the elevator on the way to the postpartum floor what an incredible doula we'd chosen (they commented that some doulas expect to only show up when you're about to push, and that couldn't have been farther from our experience!) And she took some wonderful photos for us :) I have already recommended Emma to my pregnant friends, and would highly suggest working with her if you are looking for a birth doula, it is an investment worth making! read more

BirthFlower - A happy new family - Doulas Near Me

My partner and I originally weren't sure whether we needed a birth doula, and now I can't imagine having gone through the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods without Emma's support. Not only was she deeply knowledgeable, sharing evidence-based resources and drawing from her personal experience when we encountered unexpected complications and needed to navigate difficult decisions, she also provided a ton of support during the early parenthood days (eg breastfeeding, mood changes, physical recovery). Emma also just immediately felt like a close friend and confidant throughout the entire process. We interviewed a few doulas, but none felt as immediately relatable and empathetic as Emma, which made it so easy to feel comfortable with her as a trusted partner throughout - she could speak to and empathize with the difficult emotions and our unique preferences. I credit her with our ability to achieve a largely (and surprisingly) positive birth outcome. Thanks so much, Emma! read more

Emma is an incredible doula and I feel SO lucky that I got to work with her. I'm a solo mom, and I interviewed many birth doulas- I was looking for someone that was knowledgable, experienced, and supportive of my choices. Emma definitely brought those qualities and more- she has a deep knowledge of all things birth-related, and was unwaveringly respectful of my preferences. She made the whole process so much more manageable, from pregnancy through birth and postpartum. Having her in the room when I gave birth was a life saver, emotionally and (quite honestly) medically- she actually caught things that the nurses missed. I've said to many people since that my birth experience would have been traumatic without Emma there. When (after several days of labor) I had to make a decision about whether to get a C-Section, she was the only person in the room (even though I worked with a midwife practice) that gave me the space to pause, listen to myself and my body, and make the right call for me and my baby. I can't recommend her highly enough. read more

Hiring Emma was the best investment we made in a smooth, healthy and empowering pregnancy and childbirth experience. We sought out a doula for our 2nd pregnancy after a very challenging and traumatic first birth experience. From the first consult call, we knew she would be the right fit. Throughout pregnancy she was a wealth of information and helped us navigate birth and medical choices prior to labor. Her presence during labor and delivery was invaluable and grounding, helping achieve a physically intuitive and healing birth. Emma was respectful, gentle, and empowering. We are so grateful for her presence in welcoming our daughter! read more

Emma was our rock before, during and after. She educated us prior to baby, helped us navigate a tricky situation and helped create a calm and loving space during labor. She also brought so much strength during her postpartum support. We absolutely loved her and will be back for baby #2 read more

Emma is a wonderful, warm, and empathetic doula. Our daughter came 2 months ahead of schedule and Emma was able to drop everything and come be with us during my unexpected labor at UCSF. Despite the scary turn of events, Emma brought a sense of peace and empowerment to our labor experience. She was so supportive after our daughter was born as well, consistently checking in to see how we were doing and lending me a preemie book which got me through many long days in the NICU. We loved our experience with Emma so much and would recommend her whole heartedly to any family seeking a doula. read more

We met Emma through a friend and I'm forever grateful to them for connecting us! A lot of birth preparation material exists online/is free but Emma's contribution to our experience transitioning to parenthood was truly invaluable. From the first conversation alone Emma was able to gently distill how we'd ideally like to experience preparing for and welcoming our first child. She offered ideas and suggestions that we didn't know were possibilities and we 'ended up' with a delivery that I fondly describe as a welcoming party for our baby girl! It might be that Emma is a mother herself but she is able to strike the perfect balance in some key qualities that I now consider critical to find in a doula or anyone supporting you in birth - she's warm and nurturing yet impressively strong (physically and emotionally!), she's easy going yet meticulously organized, she's honest and frank yet completely open to any and every concern or question we'd have, she's not pushy in any way yet would give us all the detail we wanted if we asked for it. I especially appreciated her breadth of experience and depth of knowledge (especially as it relates to different options for looking after yourself both pre and post birth). We simply loved spending time with her during our prenatal sessions and her postpartum visits were so appreciated, even if simply for her loving and calm demeanor (that clearly our baby picked up on too!). My husband and I have already decided we'll be inviting Emma to the welcoming party of any future baby we are lucky to have. We couldn't recommend her any more! read more

There aren't words to describe how fundamental Emma's support was to the birth of our daughter and the early postpartum period following. As first-timers, we did our best to be prepared, but you can never really be sure about what you're getting into-- that's where Emma came in. Out of the gate, her detailed and engaging pre-partum support, brimming with resources, was grounding, thoughtful, and really fun. When my labor started 10 days earlier than expected, she was crucial to helping us navigate a hospital setting that would have been overwhelming otherwise. I am so grateful for her help and good humor in achieving a birth that was long but, ultimately, without complications...I really don't know if we would have gotten there without her. And then, what I didn't even know I needed, was her incredible postpartum support. Through two follow-up sessions, she helped me process the birth experience and really understand/make peace with so many of the bits and pieces I had missed. She was a tremendous resource on breastfeeding as well, and having someone so knowledgable able to help you in your own space is priceless. Emma radiates wisdom, practicality, and warmth-- truly an exceptional doula and human being. Thank you, Emma!! read more

Emma is an absolutely wonderful doula and I 100% recommend her to anyone considering a birth doula. Kind, smart, funny, warm, and just such a fun and great person to have at your side during this big moment in life. She also helped me avoid having an induction! More on that below. First - I generally recommend having a birth doula to anyone preparing for childbirth - (regardless of whether they can be in person with you at hospital due to pandemic rules). This was my second birth - and my second time having a birth doula. My first was in NY so I had to find a new doula when I moved to SF. For both births, I was unsure whether I needed a doula. Reading stories and reviews of other women helped me decide I did want one. I now know for sure I would never go without one, and my husband who was so skeptical agrees completely! The type of support they can offer is just different than anyone else - the doctors and nurses are not focused on supporting you until the pushing portion of labor, which is the shortest part and actually not the hardest part emotionally/mentally- and a doula helps you emotionally and mentally and physically from the first contraction to a few weeks after birth when they continue to check in on you. Emma went above and beyond in every way - she was my support when COVID first changed our lives 2 months before my due date, and we all had to figure out how things might be different - I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have her to keep me sane during that time. I texted or called her several times outside our scheduled meetings and she was so helpful and open to talking any time. When I was a week past my due date the hospital scheduled an induction suddenly for the next day. Emma dropped everything to come over to my house and do a series of movements meant to help get labor started so I could avoid the induction, and did some pressure points. By the time she left, I was feeling little mini contractions and an hour or two later was in full regular labor. This isn't crazy - she used proven methods that are meant to help baby reposition and can help labor along if your body is ready but your baby's head just isn't quite sitting in the right way. There is zero doubt in my mind that without her help, I would have had a medical induction at 8am the next day instead which I really did not want. Because of COVID she couldn't be at the hospital with us - but even over FaceTime she helped me immensely when I was having those "I don't know if I can do this" moments. She also helped me decide when to go to the hospital - always a tricky decision! Please feel free to reach out to me as a reference if you're considering working with Emma. read more

Emma is outstanding and worth every penny. She is incredibly resourceful, reliable, and honest. My 34 hr long vaginal delivery would NOT have been possible if it weren't for her support. Despite the long labor, both my partner and I felt incredibly prepared due to our prenatal sessions and discussions with her beforehand. I am incredibly grateful to have worked with her! She will positively transform your birth experience!! read more

Emma was a supremely knowledgeable, helpful, calming, and confidence-inspiring doula to work with. Emma is a delightful person and is deeply focused on supporting pregnant mothers. She went above and beyond what we expected at every step of our birthing journey: her thoughtful pre-birth meetings, her steadfast support through our long and unexpected birthing process, and her robust support after birth. I was in labor (and false labor) for 4.5 days and Emma's wise advice and constant support made all the difference in helping us navigate our options, stay positive, and ultimately have a great birth despite challenges. We really can't imagine what we'd have done without her. Even after the birth her guidance and emotional support made a huge difference in our ability, confidence, and enjoyment as new parents. Emma is very focused on listening to the needs of a birthing person and then giving the best information and support necessary. We recommend her 1000% percent. read more

There is simply no better doula!! Highly recommended. Emma was my doula during the pregnancy and birth of my baby boy. Not only is she extremely punctual, professional, knowledgable, and organized, but she is also incredibly warm and caring. I always felt so comfortable during our meetings. She was available for and patient with my (many!) questions. Most importantly, during an extremely difficult and long labor, she never left my side, advocated for my birth plan, and cheered me on with the perfect amount of coaching when I needed it and silent comfort when it was appropriate. The entire process was infinitely better because of Emma, including the postpartum struggles. She is truly a blessing. If you're even considering hire her, just do it. My husband had never heard of a doula before, but admitted after the fact that it was the best money we'd ever spent. Thank you, Birth Flower. read more