We were fortunate enough to have Deborah at our oldest son's birth. We started to get to know Deborah before he was born leading to an easy relaxed relationship during what can be a stressful time. As a "type A" New Yorker having her calming demeanor in the room throughout the night of his birth was a gift to both my husband and I. Deborah kept faithful watch as the nurses came through every so often, and maybe a doctor every few hours. There was no judgments on my decision for pain reflief, only support throughout the whole process. It was nice to observe her knowledge and see the relationships Deborah had with the staff in the hospital as well; in fact my ObGyn had nothing but lovely things to say about Deborah. When we found out less than a year later that Iwas pregnant with identical twins Deborah was our first call after our parents. We immediately got her on board, despite knowing that I was now consideered a high risk pregnancy, in fact Deborah assured me my new high risk doctor was great (she was right). Due to pregnancy complications we had to have a c-section at 32 weeks, and our boys entered the NICU for a month. While Deborah was unable to be present at the birth she came to visit and meet the boys while they were still in the hospital. Due to the c-section Deborah issued us the refund that we all had agreed upon in her contract right from the start. I have now recommended Deborah to good friends who too have had her present at their births - with nothing but wonderful experiences. Deborah Badran is not only kind and compasionate but she truly is a wonderful doula. read more

Deborah Badran is a wonderful person and an amazing Doula. She made what could have been a very difficult birth such a beautiful experience. She was there for us throughout the pregnancy and also treated me with cranial sacral therapy during the pregnancy. This was a turning point for me as I was not feeling good at all, extremely tired with a complete lack of energy. After one session I started feeling better and better. I then ended up working until 3 days before my due date and felt great. She created a plan a, b and c for us which we wouldn't have been prepared for otherwise. We ended up laboring in a hotel just across the street from the hospital because we live quite far away. It made everything so much easier. I had a long 36 hour labor which was initially pretty exhausting. Deborah was with us the whole time and when we were running low energetically, she totally carried us through. She helped me relax through my contractions and was a constant source of support for both myself and my partner. I wasn't dilating at all and I really wanted to avoid a c-section. Obviously this is out of anyone's control at a certain point, but I still managed to have a vaginal birth due to the amazing people around me. Deborah was at the forefront of these people and guided us through the entire thing. Deborah was a huge part of why I felt extremely safe and now remember the birth of our beautiful baby girl to be a totally magical experience. Deborah takes her work extremely seriously and is truly one of a kind. We can't thank her enough and we highly recommend her to anyone looking for birth support. read more

Can't highly recommend Deborah enough. She was recommended by our OBs who mentioned that they don't always love working with doulas, but all five OBs at our practice knew and liked working Deborah (a huge endorsement). Deborah was always positive, patient and re-assuring. She took the time to answer all of our questions thoroughly and was always extremely responsive when we had a question throughout pregnancy and in the first few weeks home with a newborn (we are first time parents). And Deborah always brought up points and perspective that we didn't think of - she always covered all the basis and thought of the details. For example, when Deborah came to our apartment the night we got home from the hospital for a lactation consult, she asked us if we were prepared for our pediatrician visit the next day and what we planned to take with us (we never considered that we needed to pack and take a diaper bag); Deborah took the time to pack the bag with my husband and include everything we'd need for an outing to the pediatrician including all the paperwork we needed to take that we would have otherwise forgotten. Deborah was also great about giving us options and then letting us / not pressuring us into any one decision, but supporting the path that we chose (i.e., she didn't push an agenda). Deborah was also very re-assuring during labor and made sure everything went smoothly at the hospital so that I could focus on labor and my husband could totally focus on supporting me. Deborah got the nurses / doctors when we needed them, helped us understand our options and timing during labor, and was very calming for me throughout. She was very supportive and in no way detracted from my husband as my primary support (which both of us had reservations about when considering a doula in the first place). She was also EXTREMELY helpful in showing us how our daughter should breastfeed right after birth - which I'm not sure how i would have done without her as a first time mom who was completely exhausted from labor. We would absolutely recommend (and already have recommended!) Deborah to our friends/family who are pregnant. read more

Deborah did a great job providing CS therapy to my newborn to alleviate breastfeeding pain associated with a tight jaw. Would highly recommend. read more

Highly recommend- Deborah was our Doula twice! After interviewing several Doulas my husband and I found it very clear that we wanted Deborah by our side. Her knowledge, years of experience and number of births surpassed anyone I had found. After our first meeting my husband and I felt completely at ease. I have to say he was hesitant to the idea, but after meeting her he felt a nervous weight was lifted. She was so warm and calm, answered our huge list of questions and brought up many points that we had not considered. She was honest and informed us of all realistic scenarios, while staying positive. This is all before we even made a final decision. Although I wanted to say yes immediately we interviewed the others, which she encouraged and never made us feel bad about. We soon let her know and after signing a one page contract she gave us a plan of action. I was happy to sign understanding her policies and that she would not take any other women near my due date. All the Doulas had something similar. I would call her after my appointments, we would discuss next steps, any concerns I had or questions. Closer to the due date we discussed in person packing lists, preparing for the hospital as well as preparing our home. I never had the worry of when I would go to the hospital because Deborah discussed every scenario with me and could be reached at any hour. At 41 weeks and 1 day I was induced. I was frustrated and feeling discouraged as I was hoping to labor at home with Deborah, but she talked me right through. During labor we labored on the ball, tried different positions, and she kept me focused on my breathing. It was a great variety to find what worked best, you do not know until you are in the thick of it. She helped me with everything and shied away from nothing. With Deborah I felt confident and in control of my body. Anytime I thought I may give up she brought me back to what I needed to do. She involved my husband and gave him the breaks he needed, being attentive to any of his concerns. All the staff found Deborah to be wonderful and my OBGYN who was hesitant to the idea of having a doula is now one of her biggest fans. I was able to have my son without pitocin or an epidural all while being fully alert. Immediately after he was born she helped with skin to skin and helping with his first latch. The next day she checked in on us and even came to our house a couple days later when I felt I needed extra help with nursing. Finding out I was pregnant just 5 months later Deborah was my first call. I knew that if I wanted a chance at a similar outcome I needed her by my side. Looking back I can easily see how things could have gone in a very different direction. With my daughter she made no shortcuts, treating my second baby with the same care. No pregnancy/birth is ever the same and we discussed everything again beginning to end. My doctor was pleased to know she would once again be part of our birth team. I truly am so grateful for Deborah. When I look back on the two hardest days of my life, I can be proud. Both times I took ownership of my pregnancy and was surrounded by such great care. I did it without using any pain medication or having any unnecessary interventions. I knew a problem could arise but I took it one step at a time knowing that Deborah would help guide me through any situation. In labor it does not have to be all or nothing. Important to make educated decisions along the way and have the mind and body strength to not give up. Anyone I know considering a Doula I feel confident recommending them to Deborah. I wish everyone could have the birthing experience I had not once but twice. read more

Deborah has been an absolute godsend to me. I actually met her way back in 2005 or so for cranial sacral care, and she reversed YEARS of pain and damge and gave me back my body and health in so many ways. Through our sessions she shared her joy and passion for her work as a Doula. To be honest, I was young and single and had no idea what a doula was, but learned about the wonderful work they do through Deborah. Fast forward to when i eventually DID get pregnant - we knew we wanted Deborah along for the ride! I had Preeclampsia and must have communicated with Deborah twice a day for a month. She remained calm, supportive and so knowledgable through it all. When i let me OBGYN (Village Obstetrics) know that Deborah would also attend the birth they said "Oh we know Deborah, she's one of the best!" I had a long and painful labor and Debroah supported me (and my husband!) every step of the way. She is a professional, and has the knowledge and training, but also has an innate instinct about the human body that only true healers possess. Through our 24 hours or so during the delivery she managed to be exactly where I needed her when i needed her, and nowhere in sight when i needed to be alone. She knows people, knows childbirth, and knows the human body. She LOVES babies which is so special to see. Deborah made what was a scary and painful time for me so much less scary and painful, and also reminded us to see the magic in what we were doing. We went back and forth a little bit about the expense of a Doula. Almost immeditaley after our daughter was born my husband and I both said, "thank god for Deborah." read more

At first I didn't quiet understand how a doula would help during pregnancy, labor and after delivery but after talking to many friends and doing a lot of research my husband and I decided to work with doula because the extra professional support for both of us, delivered in a calm informed way would really go along way toward supporting the smoothest experience possible. With that being said, we didn't want just anyone to be our additional support. we wanted someone who was experienced in childbirth, nurturing, offered evidence based explanations, and didn't push any particular type of birth. We interviewed many doulas and were so happy to have been referred to Deborah, as her wealth of experience made us feel incredibly comfortable. Deborah was amazing as our doula for the birth of our baby girl. She has done nearly 2000 births and her experience comes through in her calm, warm, knowledgeable and unflappable approach. She really was there to support both me and my husband, not only me, which wasn't always the feeling we got when we met other doulas. Our OB recommended Deborah, and after interviewing many other doulas, we can now see why. She knows the ins and outs of the hospital and how the nurses and doctors in labor and delivery like to work. We could see that she really worked well with our nurses and doctors. She was never in their way, they clearly respected the role she played and she respected them. She was there to guide us through every step of the journey. Her service is very comprehensive: 1) She came to our apartment in Brooklyn for a couple of hours and ran through what would happen, understood our preferences, talked through everything with us and answered all of our questions until we felt prepared (as prepared as we could!) 2) She was in regular text and phone contact in the weeks leading up to the due date 3) Once we texted her to say contractions had started she was in constant touch with me and my husband guiding us through the early stages of labor. This was so helpful for both of us and I think went a long way in keeping my husband calm. 4) Once the contractions got more intense and regular we agreed we would head to the hospital - this was one of our big stresses living in Brooklyn and delivering on upper east side - knowing when to go... but Deborah talked us through it all and it felt like a natural decision. (Deborah offered to come to Brooklyn but we felt it better to go to the hospital) 5) Once we arrived at the hospital Deborah was there and waiting for us.It was a relief to see a friendly face. She immediately started coaching me through pain management and guiding my husband through the necessary logistics. She took helped with check in and took our bags when we went through triage.. 6) We ended up being sent "walking" and Deborah suggested going to a nearby hotel or finding a quite spot in the hospital, rather than going back to Brooklyn. We decided on a hotel near by, which worked really well for us. Deborah came with us to the hotel and got us set up well. She coached me through each contraction and offered just the right amount of physical support through labor. She helped me believe I could do it. 7) When the time came she was crucial in helping us know when to go back to the hospital! She was also very calm and reassuring when my water broke and I started vomiting in the cab! She guided me through everything. 8) She was a willing extra pair of hands the whole time - helping carry things, find food at 2am, telling my husband when to go register for the private room and lots lots more 9) She helped me through the final stage of delivery and even remembered to take photos of the 3 of us! 10) After our daughter was born she immediately began focusing on our first latch, in fact her suggestion of trying football hold made all the difference and I truly think we were successful in those first few days because of her early advice 11) After all of this, Deborah made sure to stay in regular contact with us by phone and text just to make sure we were settling well at home. Overall we had an incredibly positive experience working with Deborah. She believes in supporting you and your partner through the whole process. She honors your preferences, respects the care provided at the hospital by the doctors and nurses and they clearly respect her. She never made me feel guilty or bad for my choices, but helped me make them by considering the options based on knowing what I wanted. read more

Every time we think about the birth of our second baby, we are so grateful we had Deborah! My first baby was born via c-section due to labor not progressing. Recovering from c-section was not easy, so I really hoped to avoid it this time. I asked my OBGYN for recomendations and she gave me Deboarh's contact info. My husband and I met Deborah and signed the contract on the same day. Since I already had a c-section, we asked what would happen if I got c-section again: would we get our money back. And Deboarh explained that she would refund 50% in a situation when my OB tells me in advance that we should schedule a c-section. But if labor starts and then c-section happens, there would be no refund. It made sense to us. Having Deborah was a true blessing! It was small and big things. She gave really grateful packing list and few things from it I now always recommend to my friends. When my water started leaking, Deborah told me about being cautious and not just go by the common test "Does the water run down your leg" and if it doesn't it probably isn't quite water breaking. She explained that sometimes the liquid may not just run down but the sack may already be raptured and infection can get in if not addressed. I really appreciated that she was watching out for me and guiding me while I was home feeling nervous and anxious. But of course the biggest help was actual hospital labor. Deborah was with me from the moment I was induced (since after a leak no contractions followed) till the moment the baby was born. Almost 24 hours! During that time, I slept, my husband slept and Deborah was "on guard" in the chair next to me checking on me and checking with the nurses and my OB. She explained everything that went on around me, brought me water, held the straw to drink it, fixed my pillows and my hair. She was calm, positive, full of encouragement. I can't tell who loved having her there more: me or my husband :) And no c-section! read more

Deborah was an absolutely essential part of my labor and delivery experience. I started having contractions weeks before I was due and she called often to check in and see how I was doing. She was always reachable if I had questions or concerns and her support was invaluable. When I finally went into labor, it was a very long and drawn out process. Deborah spent over 24 hours with me, first at my apartment and then at the hospital. Having her knowledge and experience during that time was such a comfort. She kept me focused through the contractions before going to the hospital and once we were at the hospital she helped me rest, kept me company so my husband could get some sleep, and advocated for me every step of the way. My epidural ultimately failed and then I wound up needing a c section. Deborah's warm and positive presence meant so much to me when it seemed like so many other things were going wrong. She waited in the lobby during the surgery and even stayed while I was in recovery to see if I needed anything else. She then visited us in the hospital later to meet the baby and she helped me with breastfeeding. I had her come to my apartment a few days later for another breastfeeding session. Giving birth is as much mental as it is physical and having someone with Deborah's expertise was priceless for us. I don't think I could have done it without her. read more

Deborah was my doula for 2 of my deliveries. I would have used her a 3rd time as well if I had stayed in the city. She was unbelievable in both deliveries. My first son was a very difficult delivery and I truly believe I would have ended up with a cesarean delivery if she wasn't there. She helped guide me through different pushing positions for 3 loooooong hours and we finally found one that worked and I was able to get my son out. She had relationships with the nurses and staff at NYU where both my sons were delivered and she asked them questions and noticed things that I never would have thought about. My IV wasn't dripping properly in my second delivery and she brought it the attention of my nurse. Had she not noticed that I wouldn't have received my antibiotic in time for the delivery. She helped me do things that I never would have wanted my husband to be involved in. She also answered every ridiculous question I had during my pregnancy. She came over to our apartment after the delivery of my first son to help me with breast-feeding. I struggled with that for a long time, but stuck to it because of her help. She noticed how congested he was in the hospital after his delivery, due to the fact that he was in the birth canal for so long and she made sure he was suctioned over and over so he could breath more clearly and nurse. She was so calm and comforting and really helped me relax during the deliveries. I felt like I was in really good hands having her there and I would definitely recommend her to anyone that is looking for a doula. read more