Being pregnant with a 1 year old toddler was a challenge. I didn't have the time to attend any…read morebirthing classes to prepare myself mentally and physically. When I expressed this concern to my ob/gyn doctor, she recommended a doula/midwife. She provided me with contact information for four doula's in the South Bay. I contacted all four via email and was pleased with Dana's immediate and informative response. Unlike the others, I didn't feel pressured to pick her. I appreciated her availability, her flexibility and her willingness to help. We initially communicated via email. She answered all my questions thoroughly and put my mind at ease. Then she met with my husband and I three times before the birth of our second child. She had already explained what the meetings were for so I had an idea on what to expect. During our meetings, my toddler interrupted numerous times. I was impressed with Dana's demeanor which was very calm, kind and patient. I also appreciated the fact that she checked in every once in awhile during my pregnancy just to see how I was doing. On to my birth plan. I felt strongly about natural birth. I had to be induced during my first pregnancy due to low amniotic fluid (misoprostal, Foley catheter, breaking of my water and finally pitocin) but I managed to give birth without any pain medications. Dana was open to my feedback as she wanted to make sure my personal needs were met. I felt comfortable talking to her and she didn't make me feel insecure in any way. When my labor first started I was having very mild contractions. I sent Dana a text message to give her a heads up (I was 2 days past my due date at that point). The next day the contractions were a little stronger and more consistent. Finally that night, we went to the hospital. I waited until the doctor checked me before I called Dana. They confirmed I was dilated 6cm and I called Dana at ~2:45am. She answered the phone nicely (I felt bad for waking her) and she was at the hospital within 20 minutes! Let me just say, she was awesome. Although we didn't use any of the toys in her bag (she has a lot of tricks), she helped me tremendously by using pressure techniques and her verbal coaching. She kindly made suggestions and she knew exactly how to "handle" my personality type. She is a real people person with an amazing talent to work with people. :) My baby boy was born at 7:52am and she left the delivery room within minutes to give us privacy and allow us to bond. Thank you Dana for all that you did for us!

Dana was the doula for our first born in Dec 2012. I was hoping for a natural birth mainly because…read moreI didnt like the effects of medication and wanted to try for what could be the safest possible for my daughter. At the same time, I was flexible given things always change. We had met with two other doulas prior to meeting her. They all have different styles and I would say that we were the most comfortable with Dana. She was down to earth, flexible, not judgmental yet armed with a wealth of knowledge. It helped to know she was on my side and not necessarily pushing any specific agenda rather than to support us. My husband was initially uneasy about having "someone else" at the birth but once she educated us about what her role would be, he felt immediately comfortable. She met with us for two pre-natal visits. She talked us through various things, helped me think through many things and they were mostly relaxing and informative. It was fun to have these hour plus long sessions with her preparing for our birth, which is very different from the 10 minute appointments you get with your OB. When labor began, I timed everything and was certain it was time to go to the hospital. I called Dana and informed her of my plans. She listened to my breathing and expressed that I was not in active labor yet. I was pretty stubborn, still wanted to go, but she told me there was a chance I would be too early and they would ask me to go home. She convinced me that she should come over and access things. She showed up 30 minutes later and one look at me and she knew I wasn't there yet. I guess timing isn't everything. She stayed with me through the evening as things progressed and the pain started to get more and more intense. She did some serious hip massage (and taught my husband!) that gave me amazing relief. Everything a contraction came, she worked her magic. That alone, was worth it. Once I felt like this was getting way serious, I wanted to head over to the hospital. She didn't think I would be beyond 5cm but I insisted I was and made our way over there. She was right, I was only at 5cm. I was devastated! We spent the next few hours laboring together. It was soooo intense but she was there to guide us and remind me of all the pain-relief tactics along the way. So so so key especially when you don't get a good nurse (I didn't). I don't know how I can ever express this but it really doesn't matter which OB you have and what nurse (luck of the draw), and which hospital you deliver it, but what matters most is you have your partner with you and a good doula behind you. We were successful in delivering our baby naturally, and we have Dana to thank for a big part of that. She's awesome. I will not hesitate to hire her again in the future. Please feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.

When I found out that our insurance was going to cover 70% of doula coverage, we knew we wanted to…read morefind our doula through Doula Love and that was how we met our amazing doula, Patty. I can write a whole essay about how grateful I am for Patty and maybe it's the hormones but reflecting to the day I gave birth to my son and the support I received from Patty makes me want to cry. On the day of my induction, Patty was with another client who was also going through an induction as well (this is a super rare case). Even though I know she was 100% present with her other client, she constantly checked in with me and reminded me I can reach out to her at any point during my induction process if I have questions or need support. She also set up a backup doula for "just in case" if I needed it. I was already laboring for 14 hours when Patty arrived, and she brought so much energy to the room and got me up and moving so I can dilate more. Patty was super supportive of my plans to do a natural birth but when I told her I was too tired and really wanted to sleep, she was fully supportive of my decision to get the epidural. I had Patty in the room with me during the epidural process and she guided me through the whole process and kept me calm. Once I got the epidural, I was able to rest but the whole time, Patty would help position my body differently so I can continue to open. She was by my side the rest of the night as I contract so my husband can also rest. As labor progress, we were told my son's heart rate was dropping when I contract and the word "c-section" was mentioned since I was only at 6cm dilated. I never mentally prepared for this so of course I started to spiral but Patty advocated for me and requested to our OBGYN team to give me more time to see if I can dilate more. Patty continues to position me differently but, in the end, c-section was the only way to ensure my son's safety. We only had a short time from the time I said "yes" to C-Section to going into the OR and the whole time, Patty was next to me, reassuring me, reminding me that no matter what the outcome will be that I get to meet my son very soon. My husband and I are extremely grateful for Patty. We strongly believe our birth story wouldn't have been so positive if it wasn't for Patty's presence, support, and guidance.

We are beyond grateful for Doula Love's matching service and for pairing us with our incredible…read moredoula, Nomarie. We were a little on the fence about hiring a doula since this was our second baby, but we really wanted that holistic, nurturing care that a hospital alone can't always provide -- and Nomarie was exactly what we'd hoped for. I'm not what you'd call a "country granola" type of mom -- I went into this birth fully planning on (and very much wanting!) all the pain relief and medical support. But there's still such an important place for a doula in that environment. Nomarie helped bring warmth, connection, and a truly holistic touch to what could have otherwise felt like a very clinical experience. From the very first meeting, she made us feel comfortable, supported, and truly heard. She took the time to understand our hopes for the birth and was such a calming, confident presence every step of the way. When labor began, Nomarie was our angel -- grounding us through every contraction, guiding my partner on how to support me, and helping us navigate all the twists and turns that came our way. Even when things got complicated after our baby was born, she never left our side. Her steady reassurance and calm energy made us feel safe and less scared during a really overwhelming moment. Looking back, I honestly can't imagine our birth experience without her. She helped us feel empowered and cared for in one of the most intense and beautiful moments of our lives. I would recommend Doula Love and Nomarie a thousand times over -- they gave us the support we didn't even know we needed.

Sarah is incredible! As a first time mom, I was really nervous about labor/delivery and wanted an…read moreexperienced doula to help me and my husband through the birth process. Sarah exceeded all expectations I had. First, she was a wonderful source of support as we approached the end of my pregnancy. She prepped my husband and I for the labor process, what having a newborn would look like, and answered all of our questions. She was non judgmental, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. She kept asking us questions to figure out what we did and did not want and then supported us through that. When I did go into labor, Sarah was my hero. She encouraged me the whole time, helped me get into a variety of positions to encourage the baby to move down, reminded me to breathe, and used multiple methods to ease my pain through the contractions. Further, she included my husband and helped him support me through the process as well. Even though it was obviously very painful, I had a really positive birth experience and I largely owe that to Sarah. I can't image what it would have been like laboring without her and I'm so so so thankful that we were able to work with her. If you're looking for a doula, Sarah is absolutely incredible! I could not be more grateful for the support and comfort she provided me.

Wildwood was on a list of recommended doulas from my OB and it was really important to me in…read moreselecting someone to work with that they had worked with our practice and in our delivery hospital before. We interviewed two doulas and I was honestly very torn because I really liked them both for different reasons. Heidi had such a calming presence even through zoom and I knew deep down that would be exactly what I needed. Little did I know at the time my seemingly low risk pregnancy would take some interesting turns. I don't know what I would have done without her constant reassurance. I ended up in the midst of a multiple day induction that picked up incredibly quickly when they broke my water. We had been in communication with Heidi throughout the weeks leading up to my induction and she got to the hospital very quickly when we let her know they had broken my water. Just as i suspected she was the calm in the storm, not just for myself but my husband as well. She took some photos for us of those initial moments together and made sure I got my lusted for post delivery meal before leaving us to get some rest. She stayed in close contact over the next few days while we dealt with a 72 hour hospital stay, a readmittance scare, and struggles with feedings. We had a lovely postpartum visit at our home when things calmed down and it warmed my heart so much to see her hold our son. She advocated for me during labor when I wasn't in the mindset to do so myself and made me feel so supported and safe. I've recommended Heidi and wildwood to everyone I know who has gotten pregnant since my delivery. They are truly such an amazing and supportive group.

We had the privilege to have three different Wildwood Birth doulas: Kim, Zoe, and Kelsey and took…read moreWildwood's birth education course. Kim was our birth doula she supported me in pregnancy, labor, and birth. The birth experience is a very personal thing and we felt incredibly comfortable with her throughout the entire process. I only ever felt supported by Kim and that she had my best interest at heart. My husband had concerns that having a doula would be distracting for him, however looking back he said that that couldn't have been less true he was thankful for Kim and the support he provided for him too. Zoe was our day time postpartum and we were so thankful to have her there in those essential first weeks. Zoe not only took excellent care of our baby, but she checked in on our physical and mental health. She really was making sure everyone was doing well. I felt comfortable asking her all sorts of questions and she showed us how to give our baby their first bath! Kelsey was our night time postpartum doula, it's a strange feeling leaving your baby with someone overnight and you going to sleep, but from the moment I met Kelsey I knew she would look out for my baby and do what's best for him. As a mom who had a journey with breastfeeding, pumping, formula Kelsey was always coming up with a plan for how I could do what I needed to and get the most sleep. My husband and I would always say "Kelsey night!" the day she was coming because we got to sleep and we knew our baby would be taken care of - which is a rare combo in the days of a newborn. As a whole Wildwood Birth Collective was a dream to work with. The birthing course was thorough and informative and communication for all the staff was excellent. I feel that when we joined Wildwood we got not only really great doula support but gained an awesome community. Thank you Wildwood, Kim, Zoe, and Kelsey!

You could not ask for a better doula than Nikki! She can get a baby to sleep when no one else can…read more She has a calm presence about her and you can tell she loves helping new moms. I would not hesitate one second to recommend her!

From the owner: My mission is to provide women-centered and individualized care for mother, father, partner, baby…read moreand family with the least amount of intervention, while still protecting the well-being of the mother and baby, I provide evidence based education and referrals. I provide emotional and physical support while allowing the family to bond with the new baby. When things get crazy, Create your own calm. That is why you hired a Certified Postpartum Doula. In House Newborn Care Class: I am offering an up to three hour class for those families that can not afford to have a Postpartum Doula come over on a regular basis. I have been to several amazing newborn and breastfeeding group classes. It can be hard to practice newborn techniques on a doll, with products that you are not sure if you will even use. Wouldn't it be nice to practice these things with your own baby? I can show you how to use the bottles you bought, and the carrier that your going to use. This is a crash course on newborn care.

My husband and I recently had a baby born at the Bridge Birth Center via a surrogate and we have to…read moresay the team of midwives at the Bridge were terrific. They are highly skilled and knowledgeable, caring and compassionate. Shout out to Lynette and her team of midwives. It was a pleasure working with everyone. The facility itself is very sanitary and tidy, calming and peaceful - just what you would want during labor and when you're cuddling with your newborn after delivery. We would highly recommend the Bridge Birth Center!

Lanette is an amazing birth coach and midwife. She is thorough, educated, and respectful. I…read moreappreciated being educated and then given space to make my own informed decision. I'm so thankful for her and others on my birth team. I can't imagine what this process would have been like with out her!

The smooth experience I had with the birth of my baby would have been different without having…read moreSaralyn on my birthing team. My sweet baby boy was born right in the middle of the pandemic when the number of support people that could be present in the birthing room was restricted to 1 person. Saralyn had to join us remotely but her presence was greatly felt, as the sound of her reassuring voice brought a lot of calm to the room. As first time parents, we had some anxiety about the labor process we deeply appreciate the time she took to answer ALL our questions and the coaching she so graciously provided every step of the way. Thanks to the gentle exercises she recommended, my baby was able to move to an optimal position for delivery by my due date. Saralyn is not only compassionate and attentive, she is also very knowledgable about medical procedures concerning pregnancy, labor, birth and breastfeeding. Even after delivery she was there to provide the much needed after birth support. I am most definitely bringing her on board if I go through this journey again. And will heartily recommend her to anyone in need of a doula, in person or remotely.

I highly recommend Saralyn to anybody seeking support before, during or after their delivery…read more I'm a bit embarrassed by it now but a few weeks before my delivery day I had thought my water had broke and although Saralyn was visiting family several hours drive from where I was she didn't hesitate to leave and head my direction in hopes of being present for the delivery. Although I was wrong and my water had not broke Saralyn was kind and understanding, ready to be of help at a minute's notice. When the day came that I had scheduled to be inducted she was there with me and my husband as we checked into the hospital. She was willing to stay on location but we persuaded her to go home and get rest as nothing was probably going to happen until tomorrow. However hours later when I realized I was in labor we called her and she quickly arrived at the hospital. I am so thankful for her presence as none of our family members were able to make it due to such a quick labor and delivery. She was a great support for my husband and I know it wouldn't have gone nearly as smoothly and wonderfully as it did had she not been there. She made great suggestions all along the way. She was a huge advocate when I wanted to understand what was going on and the doctors and the nurses were not being as clear as I needed them to be. Saralyn is someone that you can quickly feel comfortable with and at ease around. She gives you great resources to help make decisions and respects your choices. On top of everything she provided me with some amazing lactation cookies when we first arrived at the hospital. Little did I realize how much of a life savor they would be. They were healthy and tasty and just what I needed when a meal wasn't readily available. I can't say enough how much I respect and appreciate Saralyn. Thank you Saralyn, for all you did for me and my family!

I just want to say, Elaine, with Heartstrings Doula service, IS THE ONE YOU WANT BY YOUR SIDE! She…read moremade me feel like family, INSTANTLY! We discussed very intimate things prior to my birth, and she never once judged me, or made me feel uncomfortable. She always spoke with kindness, but also gave her opinion or guidance with honesty and integrity. When the time came for her to be with me at the hospital, she was there, eager to serve me and my needs in the OR room. She captured the most BEAUTIFUL photos of my cesarean birth, and somehow still managed to keep me so lovingly elevated, she didn't take away any moment from me, she actually GAVE me proof in photos and videos, of what the OR staff did with my son, while I was getting sewn up. She stayed with me for a few hours after, to make sure I was comfortable to be there alone, and brought the sweetest gifts to me. When it came time for her service in-home, she walked in like she had lived there for months, and got right to work in areas I had been slacking. Laundry, dishes, food prep, which - speaking of, she brought the tastiest quiche for me! Oh and coffee! She cared for my newborn as if he was her own, and she cared for me too, as if I were her own! Having had no family here to come to the hospital, she filled that void I had, and then some. She is now forever a part of our family, and I'll never forget the service she gave me and my family, when we needed her - and even when we didn't. She was always quick to reply to me, and honestly, I wish I could keep her forever! She is the doula you need, and the doula you'll regret not having!

From the owner: Giving birth is a transforming time in ones life. You deserve to be supported in your choices and…read morehave an experienced birth support person there to guide you through making the decisions that are right for you and your birth experience. We offer personalized birth and postpartum support and childbirth education. We get to know you and what ways we can best support you, emotionally, physically, and with just the right amount of information and education. We have experience with all kinds of births. As a THW registered Doula, we are able to offer services to folks covered by OHP insurance with no out of pocket expenses. Contact us today of a free consultation to learn how we can serve you best.