Madrone - Monitrice package We chose Madrone as our midwife because from the first time we met, they had a calming, safe presence that made us feel completely at ease with our upcoming birth. We chose the monitrice package because I wanted the reassurance a midwife could provide me with, and it was the absolute best decision. Having a Doula and midwife was the best of both worlds, we felt supported emotionally and had the hands on care from a midwife. This helped us realize our goals of laboring at home as long as possible, and having an unmedicated, natural birth at the hospital. I had my partner, mother and Madrone in the birth room, and Madrone balanced everyone out perfectly. They helped ensure each person had a place and space in my birth, all while taking photos to document it which I will treasure for the rest of time. Madrone was not only there for us during our birth, but before and after in such an impactful way. They helped us prepare before mentally and physically, helping us put together our birth plan and leading us through meditative breathing exercises. Madrone was also there after our birth, with several in person sessions as well as available for support along the way as we got settled in at home. It was so reassuring to have someone so knowledgable to ask questions as things came up - breastfeeding, diaper rash, eye boogers - Madrone had helpful information and answers to everything we asked them. Why we loved working with Madrone: - They are knowledgable and incredibly good at being a Doula and Midwife - They have a warmth and calming presence that always made us feel at ease and safe - They have a very balanced and practical approach to preparing, birth, and the postpartum. - They are respected by every birth worker I came in to contact with. Everyone loves Madrone! - They are humorous and full of so much bright energy, and that helped me through some of the most painful moments during birth. - They allowed me to confidently labor at home as long as possible, monitoring baby's heart rate while my contractions intensified - they cut out my stitches at three weeks when they were no longer serving me. Saving me an unnecessary visit to the doctor. Questions I asked Madrone that they were able to support and guide me through: - What are the pros/cons of the hep b shot? - I think my water just broke... does this look like amniotic fluid (photo of captured fluid in a jar sent... lol)? - How do we communicate to our family that we need them to get the Tdap and flue shots if they want to be around the baby? - Why does our baby have goop on his eyes? - I think my milk supply is too strong for baby to drink, what should I do? - I think my stitches fell out, what should I do? - Is the level of prolapse normal at 3 weeks? - How much should I be resting? read more

STOP. THIS IS IT. You can stop researching and interviewing doulas now because Mireille is THE BEST! We started looking for a doula at 6 weeks pregnant so we definitely had the time and energy to look for a doula and we are SO HAPPY we found Mireille. After she came to our home to chat with us, we knew she was the one! We found Mireille through our birthing class at Harmony. she had worked with our midwives, Lin and Maria (shoutout to BAM!) before and was familiar with El Camino Los Gatos so we knew she was perfect! Mireille helped us with our birth plan, eased any fears, and supported us to have a natural childbirth! We couldn't have done it without her. She was there from when we first called her all the way until baby was born, never leaving us :) The best part was she really supported my partner in being part of the birthing process. Will definitely come back to Mireille for our next birth :) read more

Blessed Birth Doula Care - Shoutout to Paige, Santa Cruz Birth Photographer for capturing our birth and showing how awesome Mireille is!! - Doulas Near Me

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Mireille really is as fantastic as these other reviews claim my midwife Sunshine recommended her and I am so grateful that she was part of the prenatal, birth and postnatal experience my son and I had. Throughout our birthing journey, Mireille was very supportive via text and phone and took notes during our prenatal visits to make sure she understood what were were hoping to experience in the birth and what parts of my previous son's birth were traumatic and difficult for me and, ultimately, my family. During the birth at my home, she knew exactly where to push or pull to help me manage the pain and was also able to help my husband be there for me physically and mentally. In between contractions we were actually laughing and making jokes! After having excruciating back labor in a hospital setting with my first son, this was like a dream come true. Through the most difficult moments she encouraged me with mantras I had printed out and hung up in the birthing room and she made sure I had enough fluids to stay hydrated. It was a fast and intense birth but everything went very smoothly and my 9 pound 8 ounce baby boy entered the world in the early morning hours. I felt like Mireille and the whole birthing team were very in tune with my body and my baby's progress and although it was still very painful and vulnerable, I didn't feel any of the panic and trauma I had felt the last time around as a survivor of sexual assault. During the postpartum period, I was very anxious about experiencing PPD as I did with my first son. But because of being able to count on my birthing team and Mireille, I have managed to weather the highs and lows and hormonal shifts. I felt like I didn't have to hide my feelings and fears from Mireille at any time, which was so meaningful and important to me. I highly recommend Mireille for any expecting mama, but especially those who have been through mental health challenges. She is someone you can trust and count on in every way. read more

This review is *long* overdue, but I hope it's better late than never! My partner and I chose Mireille as our doula for our second child's birth. Our first child had a hospital birth, where I'd had no doula and had felt disempowered (and actually insulted!) by one nurse and doctor. While we were interviewing Mireille, she actually convinced us to go with a birthing center and midwife for our second child, and I cannot tell you how much of a night-and-day experience it was. We opted for a full support package that included several couples coaching sessions with Mireille through the pregnancy, and we were so grateful we did so. With all the stress and emotions that come with taking care of one young child while preparing for a second, Mireille helped us process our feelings and stay connected to each other, and she taught us to carve out time to invest in our relationship as the foundation for our family. We actually learned how to strengthen our relationship with her support. She also connected us with some amazing contacts in her network to support our birth in other ways (e.g. our birth photographer). When it was time for the birth itself, she helped me stay in the zone, and I noticed a huge difference between my perceived pain in my contractions before she arrived, versus when she was with me. She had me breathing deeply and relaxing, she used acupressure and oils, and the intensity of my sensations went way down. Whereas with my first child's birth, alone and unsupported, I had ended up giving in to a medicated birth in the 11th hour, with my second child I had a beautiful water birth, that my first child was actually able to be there to witness. That literally would not have happened if it weren't for Mireille. She is a special one, that's for sure. read more

Let me first start by saying that if you are searching for a doula, you're already on the right track to a much smoother and enriching birthing experience. Whether you are birthing at home or in the hospital, a doula is invaluable both for the mother and the supporting family/friends in preparing for the big day, transitioning through your child's birth, and processing all of it postpartum. Taking the time to choose the doula that works best with you and your partner's needs is important and Mireille was absolutely a great fit for us! Leading up to birth day she helped coach my partner and I through our own relationship needs and prepare us for the big day. We called her once contractions started getting closer (not knowing if it was quite time as the intensity, duration and frequency were not tracking regularly) and she was over right away to help guide my partner through different positions and coach me through helpful touch and words to manage the intensity of labor. She communicated with our midwife and worked amazingly in conjunction with her as we had a smooth transition (ultimately in the tub) and welcomed our baby girl into the world. She has since been an amazing resource to us postpartum and helped us process the birthing process afterwards. She helped bring us so much joy into our world and I light up every time I see Mireille out in the community! read more

This review was written by my wife: As a first-time mom who wanted a natural child birth, I do NOT know how women give birth without a doula! We are so happy and grateful Mireille is part of our birth story for our first child. After interviewing three doulas that were referred to us by our OB, we knew Mireille was the best fit for us. Aside from Mireille's extensive knowledge and experience in all things child birth, labor/delivery, partner support, and postpartum care, we really liked the fact that she had an established relationship with our OB and was very supportive of a hospital delivery. On the BIG DAY, Mireille and my husband made a great team but let me say this ladies - there's nothing like the intuition and wisdom of another woman to know exactly what you need during some of the rawest, hardest moments of your life. Mireille knew when to coach and push and when to let me rest, she helped me through several labor positions throughout the day, she provided aromatherapy - which was really helpful because I was nauseous and puking all day, she massaged, comforted, and encouraged me through three hours of pushing. Mireille was our rock through this amazing journey to becoming a family of three. I want to have ALL my children with her support and I'd highly recommend her to any woman or family that desires a positive birth experience. read more

Mireille made our birthing experience so amazing and supported. She's knowledgeable, caring and a solid birth guide - my husband and I cannot imagine having done it without her. She was really intentional about helping him and I create a strong bond as a couple during the birth, while being 150% with me, at every step. I would absolutely hire her again. She made the experience not only less stressful, but empowering. I had always been nervous about pregnancy and childbirth, but with Mireille's support, when the big day arrived I felt totally ready, prepared and confident to go through it. Because she's been at so many births, she always knew what was going on and what to expect, and her energy was calming and supportive. Even when I was in the most difficult phase of birth and really struggling to stay grounded, I had zero fear with Mireille by our side. Just looking at her stay calm and listening to her voice (and her reassuring words) was a tranquilizing element during birth. She is super intuitive and knew what I/we needed before I could even articulate it! She kept a good sense of humor at all times and was able to gently advise us as things progressed. Yes, birth is intense. But I'm sure Mireille was a factor in me having a birth that was fast, smooth and without any complications. And one that we look back on as a truly magical experience. I would recommend Mireille without any hesitation to the people I love and care about. She's a gem of a doula. read more

Initially, I chose Mireille as my doula because she reminds me of a close friend. That speaks to her warm, supportive nature! Mireille was our doula for a homebirth, and though I felt extremely well cared for by our midwife, I don't know how I would have done it without Mireille. And I mean that; without her coaching beforehand and during labor, her calm and reassuring presence, and her touch, I think it's likely we would have headed to the hospital before the midwife even made it to us! Some things that stand out to me about Mireille are as follows: -She's a talker in general, but also a listener. This changes during labor, when she's very calm and quiet. I love all of this! Totally my style. -She tells you things matter-of-factly to help you understand the labor process and make it through each moment to the next. Very helpful. -She is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. If, for some reason, my midwife had not been there in time, I would have felt completely safe with Mireille catching the baby. She knows her stuff. -She's a great delegator and helps the partner immensely in that way. We wouldn't have had our tub filled and ready in time for the birth without her guidance, and I probably wouldn't have consumed anything. But we did, and I did, and it was all great thanks to her! She also found my phone and took tons of pics during my birth without my even asking or having the awareness to ask for it, and I'm so glad she did. -All the extra stuff. She encapsulated our placenta, taught my yoga classes, answered my newborn freakout questions, advised on postpartum pain relief, offered communication coaching for our partnership, and introduced us to her own children when we've run into her (numerous times) out and about. We can't get enough Mireille! We jokingly call her our homebirth MVP. We hope you'll love her support as much as we did! read more

This review is 4 months over-due because of the craziness that is the life of first-time parents. However, if we ever decide to have a second baby Mireille is on our speed dial! She was so supportive during the birth process and even during the time leading up to the big event. Always available to hear our concerns and responsive to worrisome first-timers it helped tremendously to ease our anxiety about child birth. We ended up having a birth process that did not go according to plan (everything is fine) due to unforeseen circumstances but Mireille was right there with us adapting to the quick changes and still making sure that we stayed as calm as the moments would allow. She stayed with us right up till deliver via CS and patiently waited outside in the waiting room as mommy was recovering. Mireille really not only eased our worries with her experience and calming influence, she also advocated for us with the hospital staff. I referred to her presence from hospital to home as a beacon during stormy seas. I also recommend adding Mireille's placenta encapsulation to your doula plan. It may not work for all but it seemed to alleviate some of my wife's PPD symptoms. We now have a happy 4 month old and Mireille was a great part of the "adventurous" experience that brought him into this world with us. Thank you! read more

Mireille is truly Doula Extraordinaire! Her extensive experience and knowledge really make her special. I am a local home birth midwife - I know what I'm talking about. Her guidance and support, patience and ability to adapt quickly to a new situation is second to none. She is well-known in hospitals in Santa Cruz and 'over the hill' and advocates diplomatically and effectively with staff. Local home birth midwives also know Mireille well and respect her bottomless bag of tricks for laboring moms, helping them stay with their planned home birth even in tough labors. You can not go wrong with Mireille as your doula, regardless of what kind of labor and birth you have or where you give birth! I recommend her highly! read more

I have been to many births with Mireille and can attest as a midwife that she is a fantastic doula. She has the ability to be truly present and intuitive during a labor. read more

We are first time parents and were on the fence about hiring a doula for our hospital birth with a midwife practice. We met with a few doulas and knew immediately that we wanted to work with Mireille after our initial consultation. She is warm, knowledgeable, and has a very calm presence. The fact that she is training to be a midwife was also a huge plus because she brought all of that knowledge and experience. I ended up needing to be induced, and she walked us through the options while we were in the hospital before active labor started, which helped us advocate for ourselves. After 8 hours of Pitocin, my water broke and labor progressed very quickly. Mireille's support through the intense transition phase was incredible and I was able to have the pain medication-free birth was I was hoping for. Mireille was amazing and we would absolutely hire her again (as a doula or midwife!), and you should too! read more

We met Mireille at the very beginning of my 3rd pregnancy, she came to our house and was so generous of her time. She helped us find the right provider for us and was amazing support through out the pregnancy. She is warm, knowledgeable and generous. During labor, she carried many roles and was essential to the success of our home birth. She accompanied siblings during the birth of their brother, supported my husband and also did her doula role with me. I have only positive things to say about Mireille, she is exceptional. read more

Madrone is amazing. Very caring, knowledgeable, patient, comforting and always there for me whenever I needed advice or had questions. Her help was also invaluable to me during my early post partum weeks. I'm so happy she was part of the journey. read more

This review is a few months overdue, but has been on my mind since my baby's birth 3 months ago! Mireille came highly recommended by a colleague of mine at work. I called and setup an intro meeting with Mireille, and within a few days she (and her back-up doula) were in my home. My husband and I enjoyed speaking with her and decided right away to hire her on as our birth doula. And it's a good thing we didn't waste any time because the baby arrived only a couple days later, a month earlier than expected! So although we didn't have time to conduct the two prenatal meetings Mireille usually has with her clients, and therefore didn't get a chance to really go through my birth plan in depth, she met me at the hospital within a short few hours of my water breaking, and we discussed the birth plan right then and there. Mireille also came fully stocked with all the right things I would never had thought to bring on my own (TENS unit, heat pad, candles, essential oils, etc.), all of which I used during labor and found to be incredibly helpful and calming/soothing through contractions. She was right alongside my husband and me the entire process: coaching me thru breathing techniques, suggesting different positions, massaging pressure points, etc. With her help and encouragement, I was able to birth naturally as I had hoped to do. The labor and delivery went incredibly smoothly. This was our first child so it was a bit daunting going into the hospital earlier than expected (in fact, we were supposed to attend a Childbirth Prep Class that evening!). Both my husband and I agree that Mireille was instrumental in ensuring this was a smooth process and we felt very supported and confident with her there! She stayed with us the whole time, from early labor thru delivery up to when the baby breastfed. A couple weeks after the birth, Mireille came by for an in-home visit to check how we were doing. We exchanged birth notes, which was great because although I took my own notes during the day, there were details that she captured that I was glad to be reminded of. It was really great to talk through the experience with her. We are so, so thankful to Mireille for being such a special part of our daughter's birth. If anyone is looking to hire a doula, I'd highly recommend Mireille!!! read more

Mireille Cervelli is truly gifted at understanding women and the birthing experience. Her background supporting 150+ births was clear at every touchpoint of working together - from really anticipating a lot of our fears prenatally, being completely calm and present during the birth, to really going above and beyond helping us adjust post-partum. We were so lucky to find her as we had a particularly difficult and tricky situation - because my son would be born with a heart condition that would require surgery shortly after birth, it meant I would likely be induced at a hospital far from home. Unlike many we spoke with, Mireille offered an instant sense of warmth and care about our situation. She was incredibly balanced about her point-of-view on induction as well some of the medical interventions that might be necessary to save mine or my son's life - she offered a way to approach our birth intentions that would hope for the best (spontaneous birth), while helping us feel assured in case we would not have that choice. Because she has literally been in every type of birth situation, she helped us prepare for all the different scenarios of what could happen. We live in San Francisco, much farther than Mireille usually works, but she made a special effort to be in touch with us - both in in-person visits, as well as texting me often to make sure I felt supported. In fact, she seemed to preternaturally check in on me when I felt anxious about our situation, talking and guiding me through mantras that I could work on to calm myself before the birth. As it turned out, I was unexpectedly induced for other reasons (preeclampsia!!)...when we found out, we immediately called her and her insightful and calm wisdom helped us stop panicking and instead find acceptance of our situation. She came to the hospital once I was in active labor - and not a second too soon as my husband quickly found himself out of depth with the intensity of my contractions. I entirely credit Mireille's tranquil demeanor and incredible experience for getting us through the birthing process - she immediately had me change positions frequently so that I never felt "stuck" during the hours I was laboring. She pro-actively made my husband rest so that he would be ready to support me in more crucial times of the labor process. Once, when the nurse was nervous about me going into the shower with the monitors, Mireille handled it like a pro, never once being combative yet still persuasively advocating for us so that we could go ahead without a problem. The next few hours were intense, but with Mireille's guidance, I managed to endure the entire labor process without any pain medications, and thus gave my son the best chance for a quick birth that would least endanger his heart (pushing took only 20 minutes!). Mireille really took charge - like when she asked for the OB to come back and check my dilation, or when the entire staff seemed to be scrambling to prep the room (they were sure I wouldn't be fully dilated yet!) and for a second we thought she was going to have to catch the baby! Right after the birth, what would have likely been an extremely emotional time because my son had to be whisked away to the NICU, with my husband following closely behind - turned out to be one of my fondest memories, where Mireille and the staff bonded over placentas and she gave me a placenta reading. My family still had an extremely difficult road after the birth, and Mireille continued to be such a supportive presence in our lives - constantly checking in on me and my recovery and helping us emotionally cope with the hospital stay as simply "one more contraction" in our labor process. We are forever grateful for Mireille's presence during the most intense and difficult time of our life. read more

Mireille is absolutely amazing and made our birth experience the best possible. She is so knowledgeable and hands on. Mireille guided us through every step of the labor and helped us getting the natural birth we were wishing for. My husband and I both felt that we could let go of any worries and the stress when to go to the hospital etc. She helped me with massage and suggesting different positions and encouraged my husband to be hands on as well and just to be there for me the entire time. We also had 2 prenatal and 2 postnatal visits with Mireille which were super helpful. She was always available when I had questions or concerns. I would recommend Mireille to anybody that is looking for a doula and lives in the area. read more

I cannot say enough positive praise about Mireille. My second birth was very different than the former and I could not have done it without her. As soon as my water broke, I called her and she promptly met me at the hospital while having to go over the hill at night). From there she took charge in the best possible sense of the phrase. My labor was fast and intense and I cannot stress this enough -- Mireille is the reason I was able to stick to my birth plan. There were times when I felt I just couldn't do it, but with her gentle encouragement I achieved my goal. And she comes prepared. She brought a whole suitcase of "goodies" to help me in labor. Although I only used a few items anything I needed was at her disposal. She has a calming presence but at the same time she will be your BEST advocate. She provides genuine affirmation and really takes care of you during one of the most vulnerable times of your life. In my case, after my baby was delivered my nurses were the ones standing around as Mireille made sure baby and I were okay and healthy. I could not be more grateful to such a pure and emphatic soul. She has my highest recommendation and eternal gratitude. read more

Mireille is awesome! We had such a wonderful experience working with her. She was actually our back up doula, as our contracted one was at another birth and couldn't be with us. I was nervous about this at first, as we had never met, but as soon as she arrived I knew I was in good hands. Mireille is warm, sensitive and supportive. I had a very long labor and it went completely opposite of just about everything I had hoped for. I truly believe the only way I was able to keep it together and get through it emotionally is because of Mireille. I would definitely want her to be my doula again and highly recommend her. Thank you Mireille!! read more

My review is 6 months overdue and I can't believe I haven't written this yet. We are first time parents and Mireille was our doula for the birth of our baby boy. My Hypnobabies instructor had recommended Mireille as a doula who was familiar with Hypnobabies and have worked with parents wishing to use this method. We had interviewed a few doulas and attended a "Meet the Doulas" event. After our first consultation with Mireille, my husband and I looked at each other and knew she was the one for us! She was so easygoing and we connected with her immediately. Birth is such a personal experience and one where we can feel so vulnerable so finding someone you can connect with and trust is so important. From our first meeting and throughout my pregnancy, Mireille was always so responsive and supportive when I had questions or just needed some reassurance. She was always available through texts, emails, or calls. She was even willing to arrange for me to have the backup doula of my choice. As my pregnancy progressed, I was getting more anxious but after each of my prenatal visits with Mireille, I felt that much more confident in my ability to have a natural birth. In addition to her experience and having attended hundreds of births, Mireille also has midwifery training so I trusted her that much more because I knew she was very knowledgeable in the entire birth process. This proved to be invaluable when we were creating our birth plan because she was able to answer all of our questions and provide us with details about different procedures and the pros/cons of each. On our birthing day, Mireille was simply amazing and I couldn't have done it without her. In my early labor, she suggested I take a nap to save my energy. That was something I wouldn't have thought of without her and it proved to be such a good idea when I needed that energy for labor later on. She was so knowledgeable in her techniques to progress my labor and to ease my discomforts. With her help, I went into active labor pretty quickly and was in the hospital shortly after she arrived at my house. At the hospital, her physical and verbal support were both invaluable. As I said before, I truly could not have given birth naturally to my healthy baby boy without her. In addition to her calming presence and her cheerleading, her knowledge was so helpful. She was great in helping us advocate for what we wanted during our birth while always having our best interest in mind. I never felt like she was judgmental or pushy and always respected our wishes. With her midwifery training, she was also super helpful during labor when the doctors and nurses would ask us questions because we had her there to consult with. My husband is actually the one that continues to tell our friends how invaluable her services were. Her presence not only helped me during my birth but my husband felt so supported and reassured by her too. She was so great at helping my husband support me by providing him advice on how he could physically relieve my discomforts during labor. She would also provide him with reminders and the confidence to advocate for the birth we wanted to the hospital providers because she knew it would be that much more convincing if it came from him. She was even an excellent resource postpartum and helped me with my recovery, physically and emotionally, as well as provide me with support on breastfeeding. She's a great life coach and yoga instructor as well and I love her ability to be honest with me when she knows I need a reminder to let things go sometimes or take a break and not try to do it all (I blame my type A personality). We continue to stay in touch with her and without a doubt, I would have Mireille as my doula again if or when we decide to have more children! read more

I been heard of the risk of long term back pain associate with the use of epidural and read about how doula can be helpful to have a natural birth, therefore, I know I would like to have a doula if I am going to give birth. I started interviewing doulas at my 2nd month of pregnancy, this was a good move because the experienced doulas availability are gone fast. Out of the 3 doulas we interviewed, we chose Mireille because she is the best fit to us (ex: she offers package deal and that includes placenta encapsulation). We did not expect to learn so much from Mireille other than having her to attend my birth. In the 2 prenatal visits, she went over birth plan and some laboring technique with us. Mireille reviewed hospital procedure/intervention from admitting to the time baby is born. We learned about the pro/con of refuse saline lock at admission, different ways of fetus monitoring, delay cord clamping and new born procedure. Mireille is also very resourceful about the products for pre/post pregnancy according to my needs (ex: OTC liquid iron, postpartum herbal pad for wound healing, etc). My water was broke 2 days before the due day. Water was clear and the baby moved as usual, did not admit to the hospital given don't want to receive induction med. Mireille was informed about our decision. She recommended me to drink plenty of water to replenish amniotic fluid and check temperature every 4 hours. Mireille would come to us immediately if active labor starts. I need to admit to the hospital within 24 hours given the risk of infection. Mireille arrived the next day, at that time I was in early labor. She tried to help me induce labor the natural way included pressure points, breast stimulation, belly massage, forward leaning inversion and rebozo sifting. Around late afternoon contraction had not increased thinking I need to receive induction med. Guess what? Active labor started after I shower and shampoo before going to the hospital. We were all thrilled that active labor started within 24 hours so I did not have to receive induction med. It got stronger and stronger, to the point I asked Mireille if it can stop so I could have a break. She gave me a realistic answer, "No, you want the pain to be stronger so your baby can come". Of course, Mireille is not pain relieve medicine, but she coached me to make the pain more tolerable, help me to embrace the pain with different techniques, massage, essential oil, breathing, ask me to make different sounds and associate the pain with positive though "it is ok, your cervix is opening up to welcome your baby". With her help, I did not even consider of using pain med at the most painful contraction, neither did I screamed so I can conserve my energy for the final push. At the pushing stage, she directed me when to breath in the energy and counting down to make my push last as long and robust as possible. From time to time she reminded the medical team of what we wanted, so we can carry out our birth plan as much as possible. Plan is a plan, it got to make changes depending on the situation. There was a time my temperature raise up to 100.5, instead of thinking I am having an infection, Mireille asked the mid-wife/nurse to assess if I am dehydrated based on my dry lip, therefore, saline was administered and my temperature went back down. By the time I was ready to push per mid-wife assessment, baby was not moving quickly and my contraction was far apart. Mid-wife recommended Pitocin (an induction med), instead of sticking with the original plan of all natural birth, Mireille think Pitocin is a good idea given I was too exhausted to drag on the labor process any longer, low dose Pitocin facilitate the process. Mireille demonstrated she is a very grounded doula. My husband and I been taking classes about the labor process and I read book about child birth, however, classes and book can not provide us the best advices as situation changes. I believe my birth experience would not be any better and we are very thankful to have Mireille helped us to make the best decision possible; as a result, minimal medial intervention was needed. She deserves our highest recommendation. No need to question if Mireille is effective or not, years of continuing business as self-employ is the best answer! Btw, she is a student training mid-wife and I think she won't be a doula anymore after she is certified to be a mid-wife, now it is really a sweet spot to have her as a doula. read more

Where to even begin... Mireille was/is God sent. She is incredibly gifted at building meaningful relationships quickly as you can't help but feel instantly comfortable around her. We ended up doing a package that included her amazing doula services along with a life coaching session, the mother blessing ceremony, and placenta encapsulation. We incorporated the blessing ceremony into a co-ed baby shower and I could not have imagined how beautiful and meaningful it was. My husband mentioned after our coaching session with Mireille that he learned more from her in that hour than our entire 8 week birthing course. She is a champion advocate for you and your birth plan and I can't imagine what my experience would have been like without her. If we had another child in the future we would hire her again in a second! read more

Each pregnant mom has a different list of requirements for a Doula, and has different sets of priorities, that is why each woman has her own perfect Doula, and chemistry is always an important factor. In Mireille's case, I do not think there is a mom that would not fall in love with her immediately as she is the "Mary Poppins" of the Doulas. Mireille is a combination of smart, assertiveness, dedication, sense of humor, and compassion that any woman going through labor wants on her side. I have met so many new moms that had a wonderful experience with Mireille. she is the best recommendation you can make to a pregnant friend and the best gift you can get for your own birth read more

It was challenging for my husband and I to find a doula because it's hard to know in a such a short meeting if you want that individual to be at your birth. However, when we met Mireille there was an instant connection, there was something calming and sincere about her, in addition, she had so much experience, which was so important to us. One thing I always dreamed about was having a natural birth with no epidural, I knew that I had to hire a doula to ensure that I did everything I could to make this happen. Mireille was amazing she was with me on the phone all day in early contractions and, she met us at the hospital at 10pm and was there till we had the baby at 5am. She was a great instructor and knew what to do every step of the way. She encouraged me to change positions, she used good pain management techniques like massage and the shower, she gave good directions to my husband and made sure he was the main support in the birth, she also took the time to make sure I was hydrated and knew when it was time for me to start pushing. Her calm and reassuring demeanor and loving attitude definitely gave me more strength to push through and have the natural birth I had always dreamed. I would recommend her without any hesitation, and it doesn't matter what kind of birth you want whether it is natural or epidural, she will follow your birth plan and be a source of wisdom, strength and support. read more

Mireille was a great doula! As first time parents we were rather clueless as to what to do during the birthing process. She was supportive of our birth plan and helped us execute it. She also made us think about things we hadn't thought about, such as vaccines, etc... Her visits made us fully prepared for the birth. During the labor process she was very supportive. She helped my husband be involved as much as possible. She also dealt with the nurses and the doctors and ensured the decisions made were aligned with my birth plan. All in all the birth went very smooth. I was 8 cm dialated when I got to the hospital and my healthy baby boy was born within 1.5 hours of arriving. Mireille was instrumental in providing us with the guidance to have a natural, drug free birth. read more

Mireille is absolutely amazing! I couldn't have asked for more in a Doula. Mireille made the birth of our baby daughter a beautiful experience. I had to be induced and my labor lasted 36 hours with several inductions and almost no breaks between contractions. If it weren't for Mireille, this may have been a traumatic experience, but Mireille helped me get into a calm, meditative state of peacefulness and surrender and I managed to birth naturally and gently, without pain-medication, as I hoped. Mireille was also tremendously helpful during my pregnancy as well as post partum. Her wide knowledge combined with her compassionate and pleasant demeanor made her a wonderful resource for me and my husband in everything we needed. I am definitely planning to work with her again in future births and I am grateful to have met her. She is a beautiful person and a gifted Doula. Mireille would be a wonderful asset to anyone who would have her at their birth. read more

Mireille was referred to me by my prenatal yoga instructor and I am so grateful for her referral! When my husband and I decided to have a Doula we didn't know where to begin. After talking to many new moms I realized that the Doula each person chooses really is specific to them. After asking around I got a few referrals and interviewed three Doula's. Mireille was our third interview and we knew right away that she was who we wanted- and she was amazing! With her confident and comforting demeanor, she was there with us every step of the way. My water broke but I didn't go into labor for three days. Mireille and our Midwife stayed in constant contact with my husband and I (and each other) reassuring us and helping us stay relaxed and excited while we waiting for our son. When I finally went into labor, Mireille was by our side the entire time, though allowing for my husband to be my main supporter. She supported both of us (as well as my mom and sister!), which was absolutely amazing. I cannot thank her enough and will definitely be calling her again with the next one! :) read more

Mireille is fantastic; my husband and I truly appreciated her guidance and support during my pregnancy and labor/delivery. Neither my husband nor I have a lot of babies in our families, so Mireille's input when developing our birth plan was extremely helpful. Even though we had a ton of questions, Mireille was always patient with us and provided valuable insights (while not imposing any judgments). I had a very fast labor which happened to be in the middle of the night, but Mireille was immediately available by phone and made it to the hospital before I delivered. I believe she helped me avoid a C-section through her gentle coaching. After our baby was born, she came for 2 postpartum visits (this is included in one of her packages). These visits were immensely helpful: she cooked for us (seriously, she is a good cook) and helped us with some of the basics of caring for a newborn, such as his first bath. Overall, Mireille is nurturing, knowledgeable, and reliable. I am so happy and grateful that we found her! read more

I'm way overdue in writing this review, but as my baby girl has just turned one I'm looking over the past year, and Mireille is one of the big blessings that I've counted! Mireille is an incredibly strong, inspiring, knowledgeable, intuitive, and professional woman and doula who came through for us in every way. She is a very active mama, but she was always there when we needed her, and she made us feel comfortable and cared for throughout the process. She also knew when to stay back and let us have our space when we wanted that. She was at ease coordinating with everyone in the hospital at Sutter and everyone there was at ease with her as well. I am happy that we had such a beautiful soul to guide us and our precious baby through into this world. We are so thankful for her and can't recommend her highly enough! read more

Mireille was my doula for the birth of my first child in 2008. She was absolutely amazing. I recommend her wholeheartedly. She was steady and supportive leading up to the birth, and without her I think the experience would have been much different. In addition to being a loving, supportive presence during the labor, she also was able to give me sound, informed advice about my choices during labor and was able to help me communicate with the hospital staff with whom I didn't always see eye-to-eye. She is incredibly knowledgeable and I can't recommend her highly enough. read more

Thanks to Mireille for making my birth experience a beautiful one. Right from helping me come up with my birth plan, to advice regarding different relaxation techniques, she made it possible for me to have the faith and courage to have a normal delivery as I always wanted. Her presence from the time the contractions began all the way until the delivery of the baby was reassuring. She helped me make sound decisions even during the peak of my contractions. Her presence was also very helpful and reassuring to my husband. I highly recommend Mireille, she is excellent! read more

With Mireille's help we had the most amazing birthing experience we could have asked for. She was with us throughout, helping me relax and stay focused, watching out for my husband and making sure he was well fed and hydrated. We can't imagine having done this without her. Made for an anxiety free labor! read more

I spent time with Mireille in her prenatal and postpartum yoga classes, and we were pregnant at the same time. She was a wonderful source of support during those pre/post natal times. I recommend that every pregnant woman connect with another woman who has a deep knowledge and understanding of the experience and physiology of pregnancy, and Mireille definitely filled that role for me! read more

Mireille was my doula for both my children's births. I was so blessed to have had her with me during this incredibly powerful time. In my first birth, the midwife didn't come until the last half hour, so it was Mireille who supported me and my partner through the majority of my labor. The role she played in both the births was invaluable in that her loving calm and stable presence offered me the support to relax into the natural rhythms of birthing in a deep and profound way. I wholeheartedly recommend her! read more

Mireille's calm, reassuring and peaceful presence made all the difference during both of our home birth experiences. She seemed to intuitively know what I needed. Her expertise was invaluable before, during and after our births. If we still lived in the area she would be the first person we asked to doula for us again for future births. We just love her! read more

Mireille was my epidural :). Seriously. Her calm, caring companionship made all of the difference during the birth of my first son. She came equipped with motivational mantras, breathing techniques, essential oils, ideas for birthing positions, and a calm demeanor that can only be attained after you've been present for as many births as she has. My husband and I are so grateful for Mireille and look forward to having her with us for the birth of our future children. read more

Mireille is such an amazing woman to have as a companion and support during labor and birth. She is very knowledgable and trusts wholeheartedly in the process of birthing and each woman's ability to birth. Throughout the end of my pregnancy she was always there to answer my calls when I was nervous or had questions and helped me to prepare internally for the big day. During my labor and delivery she was my rock. She breathed with me and made me feel safe in her arms. She helped me through difficult decisions and always maintained her loving and confident composure. Mireille and I hit it off from the very beginning and I truly felt she was my sister and my friend. I can say with no hesitation that I love this woman. I have so much love for her for being with me in such a caring and present way during the most monumental time of my life. I could not have asked for a better doula. I will definitely call upon her again when it is time for our next baby! read more