The womb room is amazing!! They offer so many classes for before baby or after. I took advantage of…read morethe free virtual prenatal yoga classes, pregnancy support group and baby and me yoga. Yoga is so fun to connect with my baby and also other moms. Plus Amanda is a great instructor! Some of their other classes are on the pricey side is the only thing but it's such a great resource for moms! Also their location can be a bit tricky to find but the main door is off Keswick Rd (and is stroller friendly). Walk in past the dress shop and bare to the right. There's a big parking lot in the back.

This review is is for the doula services and support groups (becoming a mom and breastfeeding)…read more I like that the becoming a mom group has a rotation of doulas who lead the group each week. That way you end up inadvertently meeting the different doulas. We went with Cara. She has a ton of experience and super chill vibe. Our hospital was not allowing extra visitors due to COVID so we signed up for a virtual doula service. She met with us a few times before the birth to review questions, birth plan, and provide support. She was also available via email for random questions that came up in between. The day of my labor I reached out to her as needed and she guided me through some of the decisions we had to make. Her support made it so that I could better advocate for myself and my baby during my labor. She was 100% supportive of all my decisions and in the end I ended up having a beautiful and quick birth. I am so happy we got a doula and recommend it to anyone no matter what type of brith you are planning on having. I found the groups to be more helpful towards the beginning of my pregnancy, especially as it was a time that COVID was just ramping up. The only issue is that the people in group vary from week to week. I think it would be nice to be able to connect with the same group from week to week so there is some continuity.

Here is a message that I wrote to a pregnant mom who asked me about my experience with a doula. I…read morethink it sums up my feelings about Virginia! She is wonderful and her services are priceless. "I was very nervous that I wouldn't feel supported and empowered throughout my pregnancy/labor, so I searched for a doula very early in my pregnancy. I was lucky to really click with the first doula I interviewed. She ended up being such a crucial part of my entire experience! Matt and I were talking earlier about how I wasn't sure what to write to you because I have a difficult time even expressing how amazing and important she is to me. He wanted me to mention to you how much our doula helped him as well. Doulas are definitely more than just a birth coach for the mom! He felt really supported by her as well. I decided that an unmedicated birth was the right choice for me and she did help me accomplish that goal. However, I know she would have been fully supportive either way. I think a good doula should be focused on helping you feel in control of your labor and birth experience, regardless of their personal labor preferences. Our doula really helped us prepare for Madelyn's birth, but was extremely helpful during the labor as well. Matt said that he loved having her their to reassure him if he got nervous. She also helped rub my back when his hands were tired. For me, I loved having a woman there to tell me she understood when I kept saying how hard it was. Our doula was with us at our house and stayed right by my side for the entire labor and recovery. She didn't even leave until after I had showered and settled in the bed to sleep. When our family was focused on snuggling Madelyn, she was helping me with my first trip to the bathroom. I never even thought about that and it's not very fun, so I was grateful for her! Basically, my labor experience was wonderful and life-changing thanks to our doula and Matt. I hope that helped in some way!"

From the owner: Understanding what is happening with your body during pregnancy, labor and birth takes away the…read morefear and gives you power! Taking my Lamaze Healthy Birthing Class gives you that Knowledge. Hiring me as your doula go hand in hand with the classes and provides you and your partner the support you need during labor and birth for you to birth your baby your way - medicated, unmedicated, cesarean, vaginal - as your doula I support you and help you advocate for yourself and your desires.

Lisa-Marie's class is a wonderful introduction to childbirth, postpartum recovery, and newborn…read morecare. Her passion for teaching and expertise in childbirth are so clearly evident in watching her videos and joining for her Zoom live session. We appreciated the flexibility of the class set up and benefitted from the group discussion portion. I would highly recommend Lisa's class to anyone looking for an engaging and evidence-based childbirth education resource!

Lisa's class was so informative and helpful as we geared up for our first child. The ability to…read morewatch the training videos online was great for our busy schedule, but mixing it with the Zoom allowed us to have that personal touch and time to ask whatever questions we needed. And it's an extra bonus if you're delivering at GW Hospital, where you will likely see her! Couldn't recommend this more for new parents looking to demystify the birth process and get trusted advice.

Elissa is wonderful! I felt prepared for my birth and she provided me with excellent care both…read moreduring and after labor. She also helped me with issues that came up several months after delivery, such as working with my daughter to learn to bottle feed. She's extremely supportive and made me feel empowered. I highly recommend her!

I was pregnant in my forties and never held a newborn baby. I was terrified of the birthing…read moreprocess and knew I needed support. I interviewed three doulas and immediately knew Elissa was the one. She told me to think things over and get back to her on my decision for a doula, however my mind was really made up on the spot. First of all, she has a calming aura about her that makes you feel calm. She is so sincere and you feel like she is speaking and trying to help you from her heart, no judgment. After talking to her for a short while, I realized this was not just business for her, it is a calling. She listens keenly to you and customizes the process to your need. She was with me every step of the way up to birth and postpartum today. During the birthing process she made all the difference. She was so calming and explained things every step of the way. Postpartum she was always there immediately after and still is today, 6 months later. I can always call her or see her to discuss anything. She even helped us put our baby gear together because we had no clue. When she thought I was staying in the house too much and was afraid to venture out with the baby, she came by to try to get me out and acclimated to my new life. She would always call and to this day I feel so supported by her. Now she is family to my husband and I. Hiring Elissa as your doula is one of the best decision you would have made during your pregnancy and I guarantee you will gain a sincere friend.

My husband and I took the Baby Bootcamp class in mid-December. The class was conducted via Zoom and…read morewas well-run, informative and interactive. While we would have loved to have taken it in-person in different circumstances, we appreciated having a safe and virtual option in these strange times. Shoutout to Lillian for the Childbirth portion of the class, who was phenomenal. I hope she's working when we go into labor! I did have a little trouble signing up for the class online, as the registration seemed to be down but I emailed them and Taylor, the Stork intern, got back to me right away and helped us get signed up! I would highly recommend the class to anyone looking to get a comprehensive and interesting childbirth/parenting class.

Instructors: 11/10. Wonderful, knowledgeable, and open to questions. You guys rock!…read moreOn the other hand... this class was held at an empty medical office which wasn't the greatest setup for the PowerPoint presentation. We basically sat in the dark for about three hours - totally not the instructor's fault but it was depressing. Great content but the logistics could use some improvement for this price.

I signed a contract with Nova Birth Services LLC in July of 2025. In order to secure the doula…read morebirth and postpartum overnight services, we paid a 50% deposit on both services totaling $3050. In November, I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and hospitalized. Due to my condition, I had to deliver my baby early via emergency c-section at just over 31 weeks. My baby is currently in the NICU. I wasn't able to have a prenatal in-home visit due to my hospitalization and was given very short notice of my emergency C-section due to my declining health. After my birth, I was put on magnesium, and my baby was sent to the NICU. My husband and I were both so terrified that the last thing I was thinking about was having my doula attend. I was afraid for me and my baby. I reached out to Shannon after my birth and asked if I could cancel the postpartum doula services because of the new financial strain of NICU costs/my hospitalization. She informed me that if I canceled the postpartum doula services, that both contracts would be void, and all services would be considered rendered. Remember, I did not receive a prenatal visit nor birth services due to my medical condition & hospitalization. The contract I signed stated that if the doula wasn't at your birth, you would be entitled to eight hours of postpartum services. Shannon explained that because I paid a 50% deposit on both services, none of the services were paid in full so I would receive nothing else moving forward. Although we had paid $3050 and the birth doula services were $2100, I would need to pay an additional $900 in order to receive the eight hours of postpartum services. She said I could "take it or leave it" and that she would not move money from one contract to another. I was shocked at her response. There was no solution offered where I could receive any services post-birth for the $3050 we had paid. More money had to be paid. This was literally the worst experience of my entire life, and I received no care or compassion at all from Shannon. She maintained that her responsibility was to her staff/business. During our phone call, I was talking about my hospitalization and she mentioned that all of her clients were hospitalized. I clarified that I wasn't hospitalized because I was giving birth. I was hospitalized due to severe preeclampsia and potential organ failure. Trying to work things out with her made a horrible situation even more stressful and terrible. She refuses to budge and maintains that we will not receive any postpartum services if we don't pay extra. My husband and I feel as though we have paid $3050 and have received nothing. We did not receive a prenatal appointment, doula birth services, or any postpartum care. Please see the last email I received from her.

First -- if you're on the fence about hiring a doula for your first baby, do it. And if you're…read morewondering who to choose, the answer is Shannon. As a first-time dad, I can honestly say Shannon was invaluable -- not just for my wife, but for me too. From the start, she made us feel comfortable, informed, and genuinely prepared for what was ahead. She has this calm, thoughtful, and considerate presence that immediately lowers the temperature in the room. Nothing ever felt rushed or overwhelming because she helped us understand what was happening and what our options were. During labor, Shannon was incredible. She didn't just support my wife -- she supported us as a team. She walked us through next steps, explained the choices being presented, and made sure we felt confident in our decisions. One thing that really stood out to me was how she helped me help my wife. She showed me exercises and techniques I could guide her through to ease labor and keep things progressing. That made me feel involved and useful instead of helpless, which meant a lot. After the birth, Shannon's support didn't stop. She came to our home for a postpartum visit and helped us process the entire experience. She walked us through what to expect physically and emotionally in the days and weeks ahead, what to watch out for, and answered all of our first-time parent questions without judgment. She even helped find us a pump -- such a thoughtful and practical gesture that shows how much she truly cares. Shannon doesn't just provide information -- she provides confidence. As new parents, that's everything. We felt supported, knowledgeable, and empowered every step of the way. We can't recommend her highly enough. If you're considering working with Shannon, you will not regret it.

I could not recommend Birth You Desire / Ursula / Jenn more. Jenn has been simply the best doula we…read morecould have asked for. During birth, she was able to tell when my husband needed some extra help, asked the hospital staff for what he needed on his behalf when he was not mentally able to, and gave us guidance based off of my preferences and state of mind that led to an incredibly successful birth. Her postpartum care has honestly been the highlight of her services. I did not realize how much help we would need overnight and the help and resources that Jenn provides have been invaluable. Jenn claims she is not magic - but she is. You are in the best hands with Birth You Desire.

I'm located in San Diego and was in need of renting a reliable labor TENS unit. After many…read moreunsuccessful reliable searches online, Birth Your Desires came up and seemed legit and straightforward and it was. She sent me the TENS unit very quickly and included packaging and a return label for easy return after birth.

I don't think I can say enough great things about this class. I went into class knowing that I…read morewanted a natural birth, but also terrified of all the natural birth stories I heard. Lauren gave me the confidence and reassurance that I could have a natural birth and it could be a positive experience. After taking the class, I knew birth was doable and I credit her and my doula for a wonderful birth experience! This class taught me all the things that I didn't know that I didn't know about birth. Lauren's wealth of knowledge and passion about birth gave us the confidence and reassurance that we could do it and we did! Lauren's does a great job of creating an environment where you feel comfortable opening up and confident to share. Even after birth, she was very supportive and willing to answer any questions we had which was much appreciated as a first time mom. I have already recommended this class to everyone I know who is pregnant and will continue to recommend the class!

My partner and I really enjoyed the birthing Bootcamp class offered by Lauren. She was a wonderful…read morehelp and very informative. Much of what we learned really helped us through our natural birth and delivery. We were already very pro natural birth but the additional information about avoiding hospital interference was helpful. This class is designed more like a lecture than "lab" in that there's lots of discussion, Q&A, and talk about experiences, book chapters etc. Towards the end of the program the classes got more interactive and we got to try different birthing and labor positions etc I'd recommend this class to anyone who would like more information on different birth scenarios and how couples can work together through labor and delivery.

Five stars is just not enough for NYM's birth services! If you are about to give birth, have…read morealready given birth or even thinking about it - Kaila is your GO-TO GAL. She is extremely qualified, kind, inclusive and informative - while also making her content fun and engaging. She also gave me some incredibly helpful tips for babywearing that I really wish I had after my first baby! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

From the owner: Elevate Your Birth Experience with Not Your Mama's Birth Services! Are you ready to embark on a…read morejourney to a truly empowering and personalized birth experience? Look no further! Kaila is here to revolutionize the way you approach childbirth. With evidence based Childbirth Education classes, Birth Plan and Gift Registry consulting, Babywearing education, and more, you will gain knowledge and confidence to tackle labor, delivery, and postpartum in a way that suits you and your baby!

We own a 27 ft Catalina near DC on the Potomac River. We recently started to race her in local…read moreweekly races and we wanted to upgrade our skills. As a Co-owner, I first took the performance sailing classes. We then asked the school if we can hire an instructor for a day to give us personal instruction on both our boat and how to fly our spinnaker. The school sent to us Sean, an instructor with tons of experience with spinnakers of all types. Sean provided us a detailed assessment of our equipment and the role of each member of crew-- the pit person, the trimmers and the foredeck person. At the end of the day of flying the chute, we all felt more confident and are ready to race spin fleet.

Just completed the US Sailing Basic Cruising course on the Chesapeake with coach, Mike Hull. We…read morehad strong winds all three days which made for exciting sailing, mooring, anchoring, and docking. Mike did a great job with pacing the material, adding real-life stories, and letting us do most of the sailing. High recommend JWorld for learning to sail or honing your skills.