As we don't have family in the Tampa Bay area, for our first pregnancy/childbirth experience, we wanted to hire a birth doula. After seeing so many great reviews and recommendations for Buddha Bellies, we booked the birth and postpartum doula services and honestly couldn't be happier. You get a pair of birth doulas to ensure one is available for when you give birth. Both were knowledgeable, friendly, and super supportive throughout my pregnancy. After an initial zoom call to get to know each other, we had a group text chat to check in and answer any questions I might have. They also suggested things to bring to the hospital, like an essential oil diffuser that really helped me and the nurses loved. My on-call doula on the day my son was born was Susan, and she was a lifesaver!! She arrived at the hospital promptly (despite living an hour away) and helped keep my husband and I calm. My husband had to leave for an hour to bring our dog to his boarding location, and so I was so grateful I had Susan with me during that time. I tried to give birth without an epidural, and her magical massages literally saved me and brought me to 6cm dilated. At that time, I decided I definitely did want/need an epidural, and she was very supportive of my wishes. She honestly felt like she became family that day and was so dedicated to my comfort. I can't imagine having done this without her. We're now onto the postpartum doula phase, and while we just started with our overnight care, we are SO glad that we made the decision to have a postpartum doula (kind of like a night nurse in this scenario). So far, it has been absolutely wonderful--the doula is very caring and loving to my baby boy and gives me a few extra hours of sleep each night, which is invaluable. As newbie parents, she offers advice and reassurance that things (like infant gas!) are normal. We are able to sleep soundly knowing that our son is safe with her in the other room! The Buddha Bellies support staff have also been excellent. It was very easy to be matched with and interview doulas--we hired ours on the very first try, as they were all of amazing quality, friendly, and with great experience/reviews. We cannot recommend them more! read more

My partner and I attended the Buddha Belly pregnancy classes for four weeks. The classes were taught by Justine and Mellisa. Both teachers were knowledgeable and provided us with essential information about pregnancy, both during and after. They taught us in detail about the steps that should be taken during and after pregnancy, which would be beneficial for both the mother and the child. We also hired doulas from Buddha Belly to assist us during the pregnancy, and they were fantastic. I highly recommend that anyone who is pregnant and their partner take the Buddha Belly pregnancy classes to ensure a smooth pregnancy and to gain the necessary knowledge concerning pregnancy. read more

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My experience with placenta encapsulation was truly amazing. After giving birth, I had low milk production (since I have implants), but this process helped me so much. I felt a big difference in my mood, especially during those days when postpartum depression could have shown up. I also noticed improvements in my skin, my hair, and my overall energy. I 100% recommend it, especially doing it with Buddha Belly Doulas -- their support and professionalism made the whole process so special and full of care. read more

Buddha Belly was extremely responsive and attentive to me before and during my postpartum experience. I reached out to have my placenta encapsulated. They were clear in their process and stuck to the contract. They are a wealth of knowledge. It was seamless and if any other needs arise during my postpartum, I will certainly reach out to them again. Highly recommend their services! read more

We hired a birth doula since this was our first baby and we wanted an extra support person to be on our side. This company was highly recommended in a couple Facebook mom groups so we set up an initial call with Christie, the owner and then with the two doulas: Alessandra and Frances. From the start, we had a really good feeling about the doulas and their expertise so we signed up. It was $1900 for the total cost and I'd say it was so worth it. You get the texting support of two doulas and one of them will attend the actual birth. Both Frances and Alessandra helped answer many questions I had via the group text and when they came to our apartment to go over my birth plan, they showed me stretching exercises to do at home to help prepare my body for the birth. Alessandra attended my birth and she was so supportive. She advocated for me and helped me move into different positions during the dilation part and the actually pushing. She never once judged any of my decisions such as wanting to get an epidural. She was right there to advocate for me every step of the way. I don't think I would've had a good birthing experience if it wasn't for her. I had total trust in her. I would highly recommend this place to anyone wanting to hire a doula! read more

We signed up for the single day Labor and Delivery class and found it so useful! The doula who was the instructor was very knowledgeable and the content was very organized. I felt very empowered when it came to decision making and creating my birth plan. I actually ended up giving birth two days later! I was glad the information was so fresh in my mind! I feel that I was able to have an unmedicated and intervention free birth due to the information I learned in this class. I would recommend this class to anyone who is looking to have all birthing options available when it comes time for labor. read more

Second baby with Buddha Belly and I wouldn't go any other way. Unfortunately my first doula, Bailey, no longer works there, so I was back to the drawing board with interviewing new doula teams. I eventually ended up with the team of Nicole and Allison, who were absolutely fantastic. My main criteria was I wanted doulas who believed in science and would give evidence-based suggestions. Both of them fit the bill to a T. The one great thing about having a team is that even when one is working, the other can be super responsive to questions and vice versa when the other is busy. I loved having unlimited access to my team with questions. I'm not the type that Googles, because there is so much random information out there, so I rather just ask my doulas. Seriously, my questions ranged from should I eat dates to what is the harm of not doing delayed cord clamping. With each question they would send me articles to read, which is exactly what I asked them to do. I ended up accidentally giving birth in my closet, so Nicole didn't make it out for the actual birth. However, she did arrive at the hospital when the ambulance did and helped me through my post partum birth plan. I was a bit out of it since I did unexpectedly give birth in a place that wasn't a hospital, so I was not remembering the details of my birth plan at that moment. It helped having Nicole there for me to ask questions. No knock against nurses, but they're often running around doing things so they don't stop to take the time to explain what it is they're doing. I liked having Nicole there so I could ask what are they sticking in me now? The other major benefit of having a doula is after you're released from the hospital you can still ask them questions. My eyelids swelled up the Saturday after I was released. Nicole and Allison assured me it was normal and gave me tips to help. If it wasn't for them, I'd probably assume I was dying. Giving birth is a hard experience, because so many things can go differently than expected. None of my doctors really cared to review my birth plan and just told me to bring it to the hospital. It helped knowing that my doula would know exactly what I wanted and help me achieve that. I cannot recommend Buddha Belly more highly. read more

Highly suggest this company during pregnancy/ postpartum. Working in the medical field I was very anxious about the labor process. Frances was our doula that assisted me during my birth. Her guidance and support during the whole labor process was worth its weight in gold. My husband and I also utilized postpartum doulas Michaela and Jillian. Michaela was also a certified IBCLC that helped me with breastfeeding. All around professionals that support you through any situation you might be wanting extra guidance. read more

There are no words to express my gratitude to Frances, Alessandra, and Buddha Bellies. My entire pregnancy and L&D experience would have been drastically different without the support and guidance of Frances and Alessandra. I thought of them as my fairy godmothers for 9 months- holding my hand every step of the way from the moment we met through early postpartum. They were always a text, call, or video chat away when I had hundreds of questions related to pregnancy as a first time mom. They provided guidance that offered peace of mind and comfort when pregnancy became tricky. During labor, Frances truly played an irreplaceable role in bringing our daughter into this world. She did not leave my bedside the entire time; not even for a bathroom break. I still get teary eyed with gratitude as I reflect on her role in the birth of our daughter almost a month ago now. Between her support and advocacy when there were some twists and turns, I truly couldn't have done it without her. She believed in me and poured strength into me in the most incredible ways. The kindness, expertise, passion and professionalism of Frances and Alessandra is second to none. They were born to be doulas. I cannot wait to tell my daughter about their huge role in her birth story when she is older, and I can not recommend them enough. They will forever be a part of our hearts and our family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Frances, Alessandra and Buddha Bellies! read more

Buddha Belly was truly amazing! Their entire team was very responsive, professional, and knowledgeable. Heather our Doula cared for our son like we would. She also taught us so much. And Amy accommodated our scheduling needs perfectly, staying flexible and always responsive. We would hire them again without hesitation and are so glad we did! read more

100/10 would recommend Buddha Belly's Doula services!! They made my pregnancy/birthing experience so much better. I had a lot of questions that I felt weren't getting answered at my OBGYN appointments and once I signed up with them I felt so much more confident in my pregnancy. I had the pleasure of working with Alessandra and Frances during my pregnancy and they are a wealth of knowledge. Both were super helpful and they checked in on me frequently during my pregnancy. The resources and techniques the were able to provide me throughout pregnancy were extremely helpful. As far as my birthing experience goes, Alessandra was a god send to help me get through it. From communicating with me during early labor and through all 36 hours of it, I really couldn't have done it without her. I had some very specific desires on my birth plan and she really was great in helping me and my husband advocate for myself and our baby during the whole process. Her knowledge, experience, and comforting presence during labor was truly priceless and I am forever grateful that I chose Buddha Belly for their doula services. Alessandra and Frances, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Do yourself a favor and just hire them! read more

We had Allison and Aubrey as our doula team. They were both very supportive and responsive throughout the pregnancy to my husband and I. On "game day" we had Allison at the hospital with us. Honestly, I couldn't have hand selected a better group of people in the room! I know that was some good luck that we had a good midwife and nurse on staff that day, but having Allison there working seamlessly with them was such a relief. I felt 100% confident that she knew all of my birth wishes. When things got intense and it was harder to make decisions or consent to different things I felt I could look to Allison knowing she had my best interest at heart. I will definitely use Allison and Aubrey again! read more

We worked with Cara and Alessandra and had the best experience! It was completely overwhelming being first time parents, and they were always available to answer any questions we had and give great guidance. Cara came to our delivery - we ended up having an unplanned emergency C-section after the baby was showing signs of distress. Delivering at a hospital with a high c-section rate, I had been concerned that I'd be pushed to a c-section unnecessarily. It was very scary in the moment and I was so grateful she was there to reassure us that she agreed with the doctor that it was necessary to go that route. She was also so wonderful in following up with us in the days after birth and during our postpartum visit. We're so grateful for Cara and Alessandra and all the support they provided! read more

This service is a blessing. Chelsey and Molly were so helpful during our postpartum journey. They both offered helpful insight and genuinely loved my baby. I felt safe, comfortable and supported in my postpartum journey with their help. In addition, Molly's organization of the nursery is unmatched! Highly recommend. read more

Our first birth experience was great and had an angel of a doula by our side. However for our second child, the support level was not the same. The doula didn't check in often with us and there was a lack of attention, which is in stark contrast to our first experience. read more

The breastfeeding class was great! I received the book before the class to preview, which allowed me to come up with questions before the course. The instructor not only covered everything in the book, she also addressed all of our questions. I liked that it was personalized towards the information we wanted to receive and throughly informative with a knowledgeable instructor who made the most of our time. read more

Oh where to begin! I really can't even begin to express how wonderful it has been working with Amy and Marisa of Buddha Belly's. When I first found out I was pregnant with twins, I was as terrified as I was excited. Already having a toddler at home, I knew I would need help transitioning into the new norm. I didn't really know where to begin my search for help but luckily I stumbled across Buddha Belly's on Yelp and after reading the stellar reviews, decided to reach out and see if they would be a good fit for postpartum care rather than finding a nanny. Boy am I glad I did! From the initial communication with Amy, I knew I was in good hands. She was warm and comforting- she understood my fears of the unknown and my concerns of making sure everyone in the family was getting the attention that they needed and we devised a plan for my family. Once the twins arrived, we hit the ground running. We had 2 weeks of 24 hour care with Amy and Marisa so my husband and I could get much needed sleep. But what was probably the most beneficial of the experience was having someone who was taking care of me as well. It's so easy to forget to take care of yourself when your newborn arrives so it really was amazing to have someone on top of me making sure I rested, was drinking water, having time to decompress and shower, etc. I can't begin to explain how important that was to my mental well being. And I loved how Marisa and Amy both just fit in immediately into our family dynamic. They became (and still are!) part of my family. And my toddler was benefiting from their care too- he became more independent and wanted to play with them too. After the two weeks, We moved to weekday help so that family dinners and reasonable bedtimes would continue. We have worked mainly with Marisa. It's been such a huge blessing and help. Marisa has such an amazing calmness about her that as soon as she walks into a room, the energy changes and things just don't seem as stressful. People are constantly telling me how great I seem for just having twins and having 3 under 3 and I tell them my secret is having Buddha Belly's help! They have helped me feel confident with making the best decisions for my family and have just been there to support me when I need someone to throw ideas off of and talk things through. I don't know where I would be without Marisa and Amy, but thankfully that's just something I don't have to worry about! read more

Hiring a doula was one of the best decisions I made for my birth experience. Frances and Ashley were incredibly knowledgeable and always there to answer my questions. Ashley was with me during labor and delivery and was amazing at creating a peaceful environment and helping me move my body to get my baby girl in the best position for birth. 10/10 recommended BB and their team of wonderful doulas! read more

As a first time mom I am thankful I used buddha belly doulas. They came recommended from a neighbor. We were paired with Beth who came with years of experience and provided advise and helpful tips. It was comforting that she had been thoroughly vetted by the company. Most of all Beth supported MY decisions and how I wanted to parent. She was never judgmental and helped me reach my goals and milestones with my newborn. The owners were quick to respond and worked to be flexible with my changing schedule. I was able to catch up on sleep while knowing my little one was in great hands. I will definitely contact them with my second child! read more

I would absolutely recommend this service for expectant families. We hired them for labor Doula services, and they exceeded my expectations at every turn. The customer service- from first contact, welcome packet, follow up emails, to contract - was completely professional and responsive. I loved that we were assigned a pair of Doula's from day 1. Throughout my pregnancy, they kept in touch and answered any questions I had. They were so encouraging, patient, and understanding of what I was going through in the weeks leading up to labor and of course during labor itself. One of the things I appreciated most was that I never felt any pressure to have any type of birth other than the one I wanted. They were behind me 100% with whatever my birth plan entailed. read more

This was our first pregnancy and we could not be happier about our decision to enlist help from the Buddha Belly Doulas! Allison and Aubrey were absolutely amazing throughout the entire process - from the initial consultation through the postpartum check-in. They helped me outline what exactly I wanted my birth experience to look and feel like, all the various options I had (many of which I did not know existed), and supported me to ensure I achieved the goals I had aligned on. They truly are experts in their field and always made themselves available to answer any/all questions and provide resources. The support and care they provided leading up to the birth, and having Allison in the room with us, allowed my husband and I to feel prepared and confident during the birth. We really could not have asked for more from our amazing Doula team and recommend them to any/all expecting mommas! read more

I am so glad I decided to hire the doulas from Buddha Belly! My birth didn't go as planned (as they so rarely do), but Michaela was absolutely amazing to have by my side through it all! I cannot recommend her or Nichole enough! I already told one of my colleagues who is pregnant about how wonderful they are, and she is going to have the same team! read more

Buddha Belly is amazing! The post partum doulas provide so much support for not just our baby but our whole family. We are so lucky to have them as part of our village! read more

I was originally looking to hire a birth photographer and doula, but Buddha Belly made my decision easy because they have doulas who are also birth photographers! During my pregnancy, I was supported by a pair of doula/photographers (Jillian and Bailey). I texted them with questions and concerns regularly. They were super responsive, sharing advice and articles as well as the occasional pep-talk. Their knowledge and caring energy always came through.  Jillian was on-call when I went into labor. After a few hours, I asked her to meet up with me. I had a lot of low back pain (I had a natural birth at a birth center). Jillian rubbed my back for HOURS. She also coached my hubby on helping me through labor. During all this, she had a wonderfully calming, positive energy that really helped me keep my head straight. She also reminded me to eat which was so important.  After my baby was born, she even went to Wawa (at like 3am!!) to get me a sandwich (BEST SANDWICH EVER)!  I barely noticed her taking photos while I was in labor, but she took so many amazing shots! I am thrilled with how the photos turned out and am so happy I decided to use Buddha Belly for my doula/photography needs. I would recommend Jillian and Bailey to anyone who is looking for a doula/birth photographer, and will absolutely hire them again when I have another baby!  Check out Jillian's beautiful photography - search Secondhand Exposure read more

I had the pleasure of working with a doula team from Buddha Belly for my 2nd child. We recently relocated to Tampa and it was so nice to have consistent support throughout the pregnancy, especially a team that was so familiar with the area, hospitals, doctors, etc. Cara and Alessandra were amazing and I'm so grateful to have worked with them! The birth of my second child went so well and I know the doulas played a large part in that. Highly recommend! read more

My pediatrician recommended Buddha Belly Doulas because I was looking for support from a lactation consultant who would put my needs first. They were quick to respond and I was able to meet in person with a LC immediately. The tips and guidance I received helped me through a really challenging time. They made me feel at ease and gave me the confidence boost that I needed. I'm so thankful to have found a LC that really understood my goals, listened and gave me actionable steps to help me in my breastfeeding journey. read more

We are new parents and very much appreciate the classes we are taking. The classes provide alot of knowledge that they make easy digestible to understand. We absolutely are more confident after them. read more

Hiring Buddha Belly's postpartum doula was the best decision I made with this baby!! She created the most relaxed environment at my home in the weeks following delivery, taking the stress out of breastfeeding as well as allowing me time to both relax and tend to my home & active toddler. Highly recommend their services and wonderful doulas! read more

Our doula from Buddha Belly, Samantha Suffich, was absolutely wonderful for the birth of our first child. She assisted us not only at the birthing center, but also was with us for the many hours at the hospital. Not only did she help my wife work through the pains of the contractions, but she also helped with all sorts of little things, to ensure my wife was well taken care of. Though I didn't get a whole lot of rest during labor, the little bit I did get was because I knew Sam was there to keep an eye on my wife and would let me know if anything major was happening. I'd recommend her to others, without hesitation. read more

I found this place online while searching for encapsulation services. I read all the reviews and decided to go along with the process, and I was NOT disappointed! I had Tina, and she was absolutely amazing! She answered any and all questions my husband or myself had in detail, was very knowledgeable about the whole process. Further, was kind enough to assist with other questions and concerns I had not limited to the encapsulation process, breastfeeding being a point of topic at the time. She was also kind enough to reach out about a week later to check in, give advice, and answer any questions I had. This is my first yelp review and it was well worth sharing being a first time mom! read more

Wonderful experience with Buddha Belly - we used Amy and Bailey as our doulas for the birth of our son. They were very professional and truly made such a difference in the experience we had at the hospital. I wanted to deliver him naturally and I believe that without them by my side that would not have been possible. They were a calming force and a great sounding board. I highly recommend them for anyone considering using a doula! read more

Amy and her team of Doulas are extremely knowledgeable, caring and supportive. The best part of hiring then was the continuation prior to birth and post delivery into our own home. Those first few nights and weeks it was so comforting to know that we had a network of people available to us to help us out and not make us feel inadequate. If you are even thinking about getting a Doula, stop thinking about it and sign up with Buddha Belly now. They were truly amazing with their approach, support and love. read more

We had the pleasure of working with Buddha Belly for the delivery of our twin boys and it was a wonderful experience. Starting with our first interaction with the owners, Amy & Christie, through the delivery and after with our Doulas, Heather & Jillian. They were a great resource of information in helping to prepare for the labor and throughout the delivery process. We would highly recommend this team to anyone considering a doula! read more

I would highly recommend Buddha Belly birth services! We use them for both our birth Doula and for postpartum support. Amy is fantastic to deal with and I loved working with Jen and Marisa! read more

Absolutely amazing!!! If I could give them more stars, I would! The staff is incredibly helpful and super knowledgeable. I used them for placenta encapsulation as well as lactation consultant. Everyone was genuinely kind and checked in with my family daily. We love Buddah Belly! If I would have known about them during my pregnancy, I would have gone to them from day 1! Highly recommend for anyone, especially first time mommies and daddies read more

Children are the bridge to heaven and Buddha Belly is the structure that elevates it! The team was available for late night calls, hours of educational support, great prices, and ensured my wishes of a beautiful safe birth experience played out. I was able to deliver my son naturally without substances in a Hospital because Buddha Belly gave me the confidence and education to do so. They taught me tips and tricks for breastfeeding and feeding cues before he was born so he latched right on and is one healthy little boy! They also included my husband so-much-so that he knew what to expect in the delivery room (how to ask for the special equipment for pushing or a certain room that our doula from her years of experience, knew to request) and with this confidence, he is flourishing as a supportive husband and we both, as new parents. I'm so grateful for Amy and her team, thank you! read more

If there was a best of the bay for this category - this team would come out on top! I worked with them for my birth and post partum care, and Buddha Belly has it figured out. I love the idea of a pair of birth doulas - Jillian and Heather made sure to keep in touch, answer every question and provide relevant articles and website links to help me prepare for a birth experience that was the natural, calm pain med free experience I wanted. Although I came across this company during week 27 (late in my book!) they got my back. By week 36- I had met with the team twice and interacted with them several times. We went over my birth plan - and cross checked it with the hospitals list (a doula is so worth it if you are planning a natural birth at a hospital) The day of, Heather showed up maybe 10 mins after I arrived at the hospital. Patient, encouraging and supportive - she lent her brains to me to answer all the hospital staff questions, as I focused on giving birth to my babylove. Thank goodness for her:) she spent hours during that time, and was a great help to my husband and I. I am sure Jillian would've done the same - this team is incredibly trustworthy, endearing and knowledgeable. Their communication is on point! When I got home - I got some post care help. Although I didn't end up needing much night care - Marissa was great. If I ever need night time help- I wouldn't hesitate to call her. I ended up wanting Day time help - Amy, Rebecca and Chrissy were very supportive. Most of my days were with Amy - who happens to be the owner of the company. Amy takes initiative and gets your back at a time when you're sleep deprived, and trying to figure the new mom thing out. She helps pull it back together - allowing you to get your bearings straight, some decent naps, and lots of assistance with meal Prep/baby's laundry etc. also to be noted, this team didn't drop the ball with communication at all. One less thing to think about. Thank goodness for this company! Would not hesitate to recommend! read more

The doulas at Buddha Belly were an absolute joy to work with. We wished that we had found them sooner before my third trimester. But once we found them, we ended up using every one of their services, from prenatal and postpartum doula support (day, evening and overnight shifts), to belly casting, to a newborn parenting class given in the comfort of our own home (to accommodate our crazy work schedules), to placenta encapsulation/tincture (which was a lifesaver to help balance out postpartum hormones)! When we first met Amy and Jennifer at our home, I was very nervous about hiring someone to be not only in our delivery room but also in our house postpartum. Buddha Belly came highly recommended by my midwife and he assured me that they would fit my first time mom nervous jitter crunchy granola style! Not only did they perfectly fit my style, they enhanced the experience for our family on every level! They made me realize that no matter what my personality or ever changing pregnancy mood, they were there to support our family and my version of how I wanted to birth our child. When we met them I showed them my very detailed birthing plan and they helped me narrow down the essentials to notify the hospital staff. Since they were familiar with the hospital I used they could explain the birth process and help me allay any fears about the delivery. They answered every question and when the time came to deliver our little one, Amy was there every step of the way helping me breathe through every contraction. Amy also helped my husband understand how to support me as well during delivery, which was invaluable. When the time came to make some very serious decisions, Amy somehow simultaneously gave us the space to make that decision without leaving us feel unsupported in the next steps we took to make sure I could stay as true to my birth plan as possible. Sharing the moment our child came into the world with our doula Amy is a memory that we will never forget; and she even managed to snap several pictures of our first moments with our child that I am very grateful for. Many new parents talk about how their households are chaotic after having a child. We didn't experience that at all. Our house was serene and clean! Our postpartum doulas Lori, Amy (owner) and Rebecca came daily and helped watch the baby so we could shower and sleep. They even did our laundry, cleaned the floors, washed dishes, cleaned and sanitized our baby bottles and straightened the house up. We wouldn't have been able to survive with a lack of sleep and all of the endless chores that come with a new baby. Doulas aren't only for prenatal care, which very few people realize (myself included). The doulas blended in seamlessly with our household after our child was born. I would highly recommend Buddha Belly's postpartum services and I can't wait to hire Buddha Belly for our next child. read more

The entire Buddha Belly team is amazing and our experience could not have been more positive. From the intake process to the post partum doula services, my partner and I were in terrific hands. The support we received from Jillian during the labor and birth was absolutely essential to keeping our experience positive. When our birth plan changed and I needed a surgical birth, Jillian held my hand in the operating room and helped us to stay calm. We are so grateful for her support. The owners of Buddha Belly, Amy and Christie, were both our post partum doulas and imparted the exact kind of support and wisdom our family needed as first time parents. I will 100% work with Buddha Belly for our next birth. read more

I can't say enough about how Christie impacted my birth as my doula. She was a calming presence for my husband. He knew that as long as Christie was calm everything was going to be okay. My favorite memory was when Christie reminded my to follow my instincts and to own my birth. This made a profound impact on my birth experience and outcome, as well as my ongoing experience as a parent. She even offered extensive follow up help when I needed additional lactation support. Everyone NEEDS a doula! read more