Heather is an incredible birth doula and photographer. My husband and I interviewed many doulas in the NJ/NY area prior to the birth of our first baby and not only was Heather experienced and confident in her ability to provide support, but she was also relatable, reassuring, and kind. We knew immediately that she was the right match for us. Leading up to the birth, Heather was extremely communicative and spent time both in person and over the phone providing us with helpful resources and guidance not only about the birthing process, but also comfort measures and postpartum expectations. Her ability to provide both physical and emotional support was unmatched. Heather's support allowed me to release a lot of the anxiety I had and helped my husband and I solidify what we hoped to get out of the experience by working through our birth preferences. In addition to providing support and reassurance, Heather took candid, beautiful photographs that we will treasure for years to come. They are so moving and capture every emotion of the day so perfectly. Heather was not only great at preparing me for birth, but she was also great at preparing my husband for his role leading up to, during, and after the birth. He was so involved but it was amazing to have another advocate to ensure the best experience possible. Heather seamlessly created a team mentality where I felt that my well-being was front and center. I honestly felt so calm and at ease, which is the exact opposite of what I imagined I'd feel several months ago. She was incredibly level-headed throughout the labor and delivery process and supported every decision I made about my care after providing guidance on how each decision would affect my birth. I felt like I was in control and was informed and empowered. Our baby was welcomed into a world full of love, compassion, confidence, and support. I couldn't ask for a better experience. I would highly recommend Heather and her doula services to other expecting families in a heartbeat. Having her by our side was one of the best decisions we made! read more

I had my first baby in May and knew I wanted a doula because the idea of birthing was so scary to me. I'm not a crunchy hippy dippy type but I knew I didn't want any drugs (no pitocin, no epidural) but I didn't know much else. Enter, Heather, who I found from googling and decided upon solely from these Yelp reviews. I cannot recommend her enough. She educated me on things I didn't know I didn't know. We created a plan and I had exactly the birth I wanted. She advocated for me at the hospital at a time when everything is new and scary and I was too overwhelmed with being in labor to know how to advocate for myself. Contractions are earth shattering and not fun but Heather gave me the strength and conviction to carry out my birth plan, to have my baby without an epidural. I had a safe birth the way I wanted. At the end, my doctor and the nurses were so impressed they all asked Heather for her business card! Also, CHOOSE TO DO THE PHOTOS! It's so crazy and fulfilling to be able to look back at that day. You won't regret having them, but you might regret not having them. read more

Having Heather as our doula turned what could have been a really scary, out-of-control-feeling birth experience into something calm, confident and sometimes even fun. I'd been hoping (and preparing) for a natural childbirth in a birthing center, but when my water broke early and I didn't realize it we had to quickly switch gears to an induced birth with lots of medical interventions in Labor and Delivery. Heather is the one who told me that, yes, those little gushes I felt for two days during what I'd assumed were Braxton-Hicks contractions (they weren't) meant my water had likely broken, that I needed to call my OB, and that I would likely be going straight to the hospital and not leaving without a baby. She helped calm me down and prepare me for something very different than what I'd been expecting. At the hospital she helped me approximate a birthing center birth to the greatest extent possible even though I was hooked up to every monitor and IV drip in the books and couldn't travel further than two feet from the bed. She dimmed the lights, busted out a fun color-changing LED lamp, and massaged and compressed me through contractions while also coaching my husband. Between the lights, music, and the fact that I was up and moving around for most of my early labor, the nurses kept joking about our "birth rave." I had a lot of tough questions to answer during my labor (did I want a foley balloon? should I get an epidural?) and Heather calmly talked me through the pros and cons of each and what I could expect. It was overwhelming, but would have been so much more so without her there. Even though I ended up using pretty much every medical intervention in the books, I still felt like my birth was an empowered experience. Plus, it resulted in an incredible baby! Today Heather came by for a postpartum visit. I was (again) overwhelmed by having a tiny needy creature who doesn't understand that nighttime is for sleeping...she showed me sleep tricks, taught me how to wrap him to my chest so he calms right down and goes to sleep during the day, and generally spent three hours answering all my questions and reassuring me that everything is going to be okay. Hiring Heather as our doula was one of the easiest and best decisions we made during my pregnancy, and I'm so glad I did. Her services were invaluable and she was so warm and compassionate through the whole thing. Plus, I saw just a couple of the photos from our birth and they look amazing! Can't wait for her to send the whole set. read more

Heather was an amazing doula from start to finish. We interviewed MANY doulas and we chose Heather because she was professional, clearly knew her stuff, kind and warm, and real. We could easily imagine her calming, insightful presence at the birth. I really wanted a natural birth and yet knew I had to deliver at a hospital, due to some early complications. Heather put our mind at ease that she knew several methods and techniques to help me labor as long as possible at home, only going to the hospital to deliver. I know these things are often not in our control, but I have to say, that is EXACTLY what came to pass. Before I get there, however, I must say that Heather was ALWAYS available -- she helped us with our registry, she answered lots of questions through the pregnancy, when she came for her visits, she stayed for HOURS until all our questions were answered. She never rushed and never seemed annoyed. At the birth itself, Heather was a ROCK STAR. She prevented me from potentially having painful back labor through positioning. She listened pushed me to walk and to exercise to help me dilate, and she was by my side, telling me the most encouraging possible things when I thought I couldn't go on. She let me squeeze her hand so hard im surprised I didn't break them. She supported my husband equally. We both loved her tremendously and are eternally grateful to her for helping me have the birth I so badly wanted. I could say 1000 more things, but suffice it to say, Heather is the BOMB. She is really really skilled and you will be in great hands. read more

Heather is simply wonderful, not only as a birth doula, but as a person. Our planned homebirth could not be realized and Heather, who had been supportive, thoughtful, responsible, and helpful in the weeks leading up to our due date, took it all to another level once we had to transfer to a hospital. It would not have gone as smoothly as it did without her. And that backpack of hers is a magic bag full of anything you might think you would need or not even realize you would need during labor. My partner would express how she was feeling or exhibit a behavior and Heather just knew the right thing to do, get, or advocate for with hospital staff. After the baby was born, it wasn't as if she just high tailed it home. She stayed and spent time with us to make sure we were settling in and in the few days we spent in the hospital after delivery, she was checking in on us to make sure all was going well and to see if there was anything she could do. But Heather showed the depth of her commitment to her profession and passion for new parents when we needed her most. A week after the birth, my partner had to be rushed to the hospital, leaving me alone with our newborn baby for five days and having to shuttle back and forth to the hospital One text message to Heather telling her what was up and she was "game on," doing all she could to help me find people who could help me care for the baby while I was at the hospital. I could not imagine anyone, outside of close family or friends, doing more. And her concern was not just as a professional birth doula, but genuinely compassionate as a person who had come to know us. If anyone every asked me to give my thoughts on a birth doula, I would write Heather's name and phone number on a piece of paper and hand it to them and tell them that is the one and only call they need to make. read more

I can't possibly recommend Heather highly enough. She brings tremendous skill, sensitivity, professionalism and love to her work. Heather worked with us as both doula and photographer for the birth of our third son at home in Brooklyn. She perfectly balanced her dual role, supporting me with attentiveness, humor and compassion through my labor while also seamlessly finding moments to document. Her camerawork was so unobtrusive that I was never even aware of when she was behind the lens. Heather's photographs of our son's birth move me to tears every time I look at them. She captured all of the emotion--the challenges and the euphoria--with specificity and grace. We feel very lucky not only to have had her warm, bright presence at our son's birth but also to able to remember the experience so vividly through her gorgeous photographs. Thank you, Heather! read more

I just gave birth with Heather as our doula and birth photographer. She was absolutely incredible. I was able to have an unmedicated hospital birth with her help and firmly believe this would not have been possible without her knowledge and support. She knew exactly when was the right time to get to the hospital (including timing a need for antibiotics before delivery) and her instincts throughout my labor were spot on. When I stopped progressing during labor she assured me that labor is not linear and suggested a variety of positions that helped get the baby in the right position - so much so that she predicted I would progress quickly after a change in position (so accurately that the midwife had to rush to get ready for pushing - the midwife didn't think it would happen as quickly as it did)! When I doubted myself she kept on encouraging me throughout telling me I could do it and constantly found ways to help me cope - we joke now that she gave me a 5+ hour butt massage (yes, she did)! In addition to her confidence and expertise, she was an incredible partner with the whole birth team and my husband. She empowered my husband to be a true support partner throughout the labor - they were able to work seamlessly giving me support throughout and in no way did he feel that she "replaced" him. In fact - I needed both of them throughout the labor. She also worked excellently with the midwives and nurses - conversing with them quietly when they needed to discuss my progress so I would not get distracted and my wishes to NOT know how far along I was were respected. Lastly, she was very cautious with Covid - getting tested weekly and wearing a mask throughout labor (I've never actually seen her full face!). Heather is worth every penny! I haven't seen the birth photos yet but I'm sure they will be wonderful. As a side note - she is also great with pets. I have a very jumpy / traumatized dog and she was so good in getting to know him so he felt comfortable (by the time she came for the postpartum visit he was all over her!). read more

Choosing to hire a doula was a last-minute decision, and one I am so glad we made - because we found Heather! Any apprehension I had about having enough time to establish a comfortable relationship before birth went right out the window, as Heather's warm demeanor made it feel like she had always been a part of my support team. She provided helpful resources and information, and immediately scheduled a (distanced and masked) in-person visit to guide me and my husband through early labor positions and comfort techniques. Heather was the first person I texted when I suspected contractions had begun, and she remained on-call throughout the day, helping myself and my husband stay as relaxed as could be. She came over once she knew she would be needed, and helped me labor at home by suggesting and assisting with different positions, encouraging my husband and I to stay fed and hydrated, creating a peaceful atmosphere with dim lights and candles, helping me manage my nausea with essential oils, and offering encouraging words and reminders that helped to ground me through contractions. Her attitude and expertise were pivotal in extending our labor at home, thus requiring less time at the hospital and ultimately helping me to achieve my goal of a natural birth. She continued to provide invaluable support while at the hospital, and helped us settle in post-delivery. While Heather's photography services were not included in our package, she generously offered to take photos with our camera - I am so grateful that she captured these powerful memories. Heather has made it clear that she is available for continued support, even beyond her postpartum visit. I am beyond thankful to her for her role in creating such a positive birth experience for myself and my husband - While hiring her was a late decision, it was one of the best ones I made during my pregnancy. read more

Having Heather as my doula was incredibly valuable! My labor went much faster than my doctor had anticipated, and Heather came over early on, and helped us know when to go to the hospital (many hours before my doctor had suggested!) If Heather hadn't been with us, i'm not sure I would have made it to the hospital in time! She helped me manage my contractions, while keeping me hydrated. Heather also helped calm my husband. Because she was there with me, he could get our bags together and walk our dog, and do the other things that had to be done, all while knowing I was being taken care of. Once she helped us get to the hospital, she was my constant advocator and cheerleader. She helped me express my wishes to the nurses and hospital staff when I was in labor and not able to express myself easily. (We had gone over all of my birth preferences in our meetings before hand, thankfully!) And I hadn't even noticed that she was taking photos all along. I was pleasantly surprised when she brought our photo package over. She caught some of the most amazing moments without intruding! We never would have had those memories captured without her being there. It was so reassuring to have another woman with me during this stressful process. And I can't tell you how valuable it was to have someone around during my first pregnancy to tell me what was 'normal'! It really made all the difference. I can not recommend her highly enough!! read more

Heather is more than a doula, she is a birth angel! My husband and I credit my successful 20 hour unmedicated labor and delivery in June 2018 to Heather's calming presence, endless pain management techniques, extensive experience and unflappable personality. She is the only person with whom I could imagine sharing this most intimate and transformative experience. Heather has a gift for imparting her decades of birth worker knowledge while helping a first time mother like me embrace my natural birthing instincts. She does not take the place of your husband or partner. Instead, she ensures that your support person is active and involved in a productive way that helps labor progress and eases discomfort. She is nonjudgmental and welcoming of all birth experiences. My husband and I chose to have a hospital birth, but with Heather's help, we were able to primarily labor in the comfort of our own home and arrive at the hospital when I was 9cm dilated. She is the Mary Poppins of doulas with a birth bag that included anything we'd ever need. From inflatable birthing balls that helped me cope with contractions, to essential oils that masked hospital smells with lavender aroma, to the perfect length straws so I'd never have to spend an extra ounce of energy to stretch my neck to hydrate, there is nothing that Heather hasn't thought through. She has a gift for communicating with doctors, nurses and hospital workers in a way that elicits mutual respect. When I needed to advocate for myself, she helped me communicate my wishes in a way that ensured they would be heard and respected. Somehow, as she was tending to me and my husband, applying counter pressure during contractions, carrying our luggage and helping us navigate hospital bureaucracy, Heather managed to photograph the most unforgettable moments of our birth. I cannot recommend her highly enough. No matter what kind of birth you are planning, hiring Heather will ensure that you have an empowered and memorable experience, complete with photos so you can relive every special moment! read more

I can say without a doubt that I could not have gotten through my birth without Heather. She is a font of information about natural birth, breastfeeding, and a plethora of baby-related things I needed advice about, plus she is just an overall nice person. My wish for a natural labor got derailed by being induced for health reasons. I tried for 12 hours to get the natural birth I wanted before deciding an epidural was the right choice for me, but Heather was nothing short of phenomenal about supporting whatever choices I made. She coached me through it all, helping me with breathing, labor positions, acupressure, soothing music, and just being supportive. My husband was so relieved to have support as well, as natural labor can be intense for your partner- trust me, we forgot everything we learned in birth class. She encouraged me the whole way through some very intense moments. She also knows how to navigate the hospital itself, finding me a wireless fetal monitor so I was free to move around and change positions during labor. Basically, just a huge comfort to have someone who knows what is going on when you are going to through such a crazy experience. She came by the day we came home from the hospital to make sure we were doing alright and help me with breastfeeding and any last minute concerns. We definitely needed someone we could trust in that moment, as we were pretty fragile after an intense delivery and hospital stay. If you are looking for a doula, I highly recommend her! Thanks, Heather! read more

If you are looking for a doula who can do it all--- help guide you through your pregnancy; navigate the maze of baby registries; support you to try to have labor and delivery you hope for; help you in that critical postnatal period as you are struggling with breastfeeding and baby gadgetry; and take some incredible photographs along the way --- Heather White should be your doula. She is warm, perceptive, and has an incredible wealth of earned wisdom that she is eager to share. Having her guide us through the incredible experience of childbirth was a true gift. read more

I gave birth to my child two years ago and I still look back and think of Heather from time to time and the great job she did as a doula. I was in labor for 12 hours and she massaged me throughout. I needed someone strong as my pain was immense and Heather was phenomenal. My husband insisted on photos against my wishes and my only regret is that we didn't do video as well. It's great to have a doula and photographer in one. If you need someone strong and who has stamina, Heather is for you. I still reach out to her from time to time for advice and she's always helpful and caring. read more

We absolutely loved having Heather as our doula and birth photographer for both of our children's births (08/2013 and 01/2017)! Her advice and support made my husband and I both feel much more confident for my first birth and allowed me to labor naturally until an emergency c-section. Her support afterwards and her photos resulted in me feeling very empowered emotionally even though my birth had not gone as I had originally hoped. Her constant support from sleeping habits to pumping advice was critical long beyond the birth and she provided some of our most favorite photos throughout my son's first years of life. Heather made it possible for me to have the VBAC of my dreams, and I truly believe that without her I would have had a repeat c-section. She helped me assemble a team that was unilaterally supportive of a VBAC, something which gave me and my husband so much comfort and confidence going into our birthing experience. When it came time for my labor, Heather's calming and experienced confidence and support was critical to my daughter's birth. My husband and I both feel that I got the birth of my dreams and it was only possible with Heather as a part of our team. We will treasure our birth photos forever! Heather has an incredibly artistic eye and is capable of documenting all the small details and large events at the same time. No matter how old our children become we know Heather will always be 'our doula' and friend. read more

Heather was my doula for the early September birth of my son. My husband and I are first-time parents and so I insisted on hiring a doula and he went along with it. I felt that it was important to have the birth experience I wanted - mainly that I would have a vaginal birth and avoid a c-section - and to up the chances hiring a doula was a good idea. In the end, I was so glad I did but even more so my husband ended up feeling like we couldn't have gone through this experience without Heather. He turned from skeptic to a true believer. Heather came highly recommended by a friend and when we met her in the prenatal visits we felt instantly comfortable so it was a pretty easy decision. She was warm, funny, confident and credible in her knowledge offering great advice about how to prepare my body for a natural birth and to manage some the discomforts of pregnancy. in the end, I went with the epidural and pitocin but that was because of the way my labor was progressing and in conferring with Heather she made me feel at peace with the decision for pain medication. I had a horrible epidural experience (it took over an hour and two doctors to administer), terribly painful contractions (I know they all are but mine were exhausting because my early labor lasted so long) and a husband who was unsure of how exactly to help in offering labor support. Through this Heather was by my side as a calm presence who knew just what to do to help me manage my pain and anxiety. She was my rock, as cliche as it sounds. We also give Heather full credit for helping me avoid a c-section as I was not dilating as quickly as the doctor had hope. Heather ran me through a series of positions to help me further dilate and by the end of the doctor designated deadline I was fully dilated and ready to push. Even the doctors and nurses were like, huh, I guess that worked. In any case, I wanted to be specific and give a few examples among the many ways Heather was so invaluable to our family. Of course she was a huge help in terms of giving advice pre and post natal - on breastfeeding, on how to tie a Moby, etc. But the most important thing was helping me get the birth experience I wanted knowing full well that there is only so much you can control. And at the end of the day it was also just a delight to get to know Heather. She was easy to talk to and so much fun and hearing stories about her kids and parenting in Brooklyn. read more

Heather was our doula/photographer for our son's birth, and we couldn't imagine doing it without her. She's extremely knowledgeable and easy to talk to, at our first meeting she gave us so many helpful hints and tips that helped us get ready for our homebirth. When the labor pains started and we weren't sure if it was really happening, we were so reassured when she showed up, and when it turned unexpectedly into painful back labor, she was a cool presence who gave me stretching exercises and positions that thankfully helped turn him the right way. She was a great support for my husband during the whole labor, and after the birth it was very helpful to talk to her about breastfeeding We were both so glad that we had her photograph the birth, her pictures were so amazing and captured the moment beautifully, it's been great to go back and look at them, and to have these special pictures to share with our family, and someday our son. We can't recommend her enough, she was great. read more

Heather was so instrumental during my labor and delivery. Her quiet guidance, gentle and compassionate presence and encouragement throughout my labor process kept me focused and as relaxed as possible. Heather's work extends throughout the pre and postnatal timeframe, as she is always prompt to help answer questions which was incredibly valuable for this first time mom with lots of questions. Aside from being so helpful during labor, Heather also shot gorgeous photos that documented the birth of our little boy. She is a brilliant photographer, capturing profound moments throughout the labor process. Her photos bring tears to my eyes each time I look at them. There is no passage like giving birth and I feel so fortunate that Heather was with me to assist in this awesome and beyond challenging journey. She gave me strength when needed while preserving the experience on film so I can relive this awesome, once in a lifetime miracle whenever I want. I can't recommend Heather enough! read more

Heather White is a most essential ingredient to a successful birth experience. She is supportive, thorough, enthusiastic, of boundless energy and wants the very best for you. She is understanding, empathetic and is able to anticipate one's needs. She was by my side, with extra cliff bars, organic teas and crackers from the moment I beckoned for her help. I ended up laboring in the hospital because my water broke early and Heather helped make that last minute change of plans into the perfect option. Heather's home visits were replete with welcome tips and advice, as well as hands on practice. Heather was a kindred spirit in terms of going the natural route with birth, with diapers, with healthy food, and with clothes and toys for the baby. I can recommend her full throttle, no hesitation! read more

I can't recommend enough having a doula at your birth, and specifically having Heather. Our main reason for hiring a doula was to achieve a natural childbirth, but in the end, she far exceeded our expectations for all aspects of support (before, during, and after birth). By the end of a long, difficult birth, she felt like family. Her prenatal meetings were so helpful - to reassure us and provide advice on relieving pregnancy discomfort, baby products to add to our registry, and books/classes as resources. She was so responsive when we texted her with questions at anytime, including advice on switching our healthcare provider. During labor she was super responsive; providing support when I wasn't sure if I should wake up my husband, coming over in the middle of the night, and being ready with snacks, juice, candles, and other supplies that we either forgot or hadn't yet pulled out of our own bags. My husband was fantastic support but with painful back labor it took both of them being hands on (both physically and emotionally) to get me through 20 hours of laboring naturally. In the end, I had to have an emergency c-section after 30 hours of labor. Heather was there through it all and stayed through until I was in recovery and successfully breastfeeding. She was invaluable emotional support for us both on grappling with the reality of ending with surgery (my 1st ever and so far from our birthing plan). We sent our midwife & nurses out of the room to have a heart to heart with just her. She even made sure all our bags got moved from room to room when the doctors started rushing us around frantically. I can't imagine the experience without her. For our post natal visit, she provided great breastfeeding advice, tips for stores and events for new parents in Brooklyn, and helped us recoup emotionally from the labor experience. I can't recommend Heather enough! What a great human being and she goes beyond the call of duty! read more

We had a wonderful experience working with Heather as our doula. We were expecting our first child and knew we wanted to have a seasoned professional guide us through the process, especially given that I found a hospital birth rather nerve-wracking. As soon as we met Heather, we knew it was a good fit. She spent a lot of time with us during all of our meetings, making sure all of our questions were answered and that we were doing what we could to be prepared. She's very open-minded and is willing to accommodate everyone's preferences. Although our labor/delivery process didn't go as planned (which was out of our control), Heather provided ongoing support the entire time and definitely played a key role during labor/delivery which led to a very positive outcome...our healthy baby girl! Heather also frequently checked in with us after the birth and continued to provide a lot of useful advice. I highly recommend Heather to anyone looking for a top-notch doula. read more