Our family hired Carrie Scott for nighttime postpartum doula services for the first two weeks after…read moreour son was born and we had such a great experience! We trusted her right away and she put us at ease taking to our newborn immediately! She was reliable and took great care of our son. I was able to get some extra much needed sleep. I highly recommend her!

WHERE TO START... The investment is 1000% worth it. For us as new parents wanting to experience…read morepregnancy, labor & delivery and then postpartum season with zero knowledge but as enjoy the process as peace-filled and confident with objective info as possible... (everyone's aim right?!) ...Celina made this happen!! She was a resource for all questions, providing excellent advice that balanced beautifully with her expertise, medical recommendations, and general common sense, making sure to always leave the decision in our hands yet make us feel confident in doing so! She is a patient and calm presence, always temperate and positive! Her class in our home before delivery to educate on techniques, help us walk-through a birth plan, and know what words even meant and what doctors and nurses would ask for was incredibly helpful. On the actual birthday, she was there to equip us in general to make the best choices and move me around in positioning for a really positive birth, experience and healthy baby (including bringing lavender aromatherapy and cozy lights in the delivery room!!)! She taught my husband a support move for laboring that saved me getting to 6cm dilated while I had intense lower back contraction pain and we said we would pay the whole investment of having a doula for that 1 move alone :) After coming home, Celina did night care 2x nights a week literally coaching us and everything from breast-feeding tactics to bottle sterilizing to best holding positions for gassy baby, how to get her to sleep well ... Swaddling!! And so much more! Also, mom healing questions and practices (or "is this normal" texts) -- she is a vast source of information and support, I just could not imagine going through this without her! We felt equipped with what we needed for each step, but never overwhelmed. A doula such a special, and in my opinion 100% necessary part of the family to have for a positive experience from pregnancy to newborn care!! What a blessing we will always be grateful for!

I'll admit it. I was skeptical as to the role a doula would play in the birth of my daughter, but…read moreafter going through the entire process, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting a doula and hiring Lois and Alyssa. Here's why: 1) Even though I remained calm during the birth of my daughter, it's a high stress situation and it's easy to forget all the classes you attended and books you read. Lois was our doula and her calm demeanor, quick problem solving, and extensive knowledge is what got my wife, daughter, and myself through labor. 2) Lois was our advocate. Although GWU Hospital Midwives are amazing, they see so many babies born each day. Lois was our personal champion and helped us create a birth plan and she fought for us during labor. 3) Lois also provided our birth class at our home. It was way cheaper than other classes and personalized to you and your partner. She comes to you, which makes it easier as well especially if your partner is tired due to pregnancy. 4) Lois has a calming presence and that makes all the difference. She listens to you and empathizes with you. She gets to know you and your partner and then works with you to find labor coping mechanisms, etc. that fit you. Some people make experiences about them, but not Lois. She allows the experience to be about you and supports you throughout it. 5) Lois was available. She would answer any questions we had and even came to our house when my wife started to labor. She sat with her and massaged her and found coping mechanisms that actually works (Like holding a comb). She then came with us to the hospital and stayed until after birth and we were in a good place. 6) Lois has credibility. She worked at GWU Hospital Midwives and is a well respected doula. That opened many doors for us at the hospital because of her credibility and integrity. If you're thinking about getting a doula, call Lois. She'll meet with you over coffee and I promise you'll want to hire her on the spot. Her presence is the best and will make your delivery so much better!

My husband and I had the pleasure of working with DC Doulas (specifically Alyssa) to help us with…read morethe delivery of our baby girl. I can't say enough amazing things about these ladies, they are all truly amazing. Alyssa was everything I could have wanted in a doula and more. I decided to use the midwives at GW for my labor and delivery and I am so grateful that they insisted we hire a doula. I was hesitant about the idea of hiring a doula and I was skeptical of their exact role but I'm so so glad that we ended up using them. They were worth every penny (beyond worth it)! After my birth experience, I recall telling my husband that I would have paid double for their services - that's how invaluable Alyssa was to me. She was calm, she was patient, she was loving, and most importantly she was just there. I was in labor for 14 hours and Alyssa didn't leave my side for a second. At some point, my husband told her to take a break and grab something to eat, but she stayed by my side for 14 hours. She only left to use the restroom and to bring me water. Whenever I was in pain, she massaged me. She knew exactly where to add pressure to alleviate the pain and I would go from screaming to relaxed in seconds - she did this for 14 hours - and these weren't light massages, these were deep tissue/deep massages she had to give me every few minutes. She must have been exhausted but no one would ever be able to tell. Not only was I impressed by her, but my entire family was impressed by her including the staff at GW. Fast forward to postpartum care - I have had the pleasure of working with the entire team - Lois, Alyssa, and Hancie. I feel like there is nothing that can prepare you for the first few weeks of a baby's life but these ladies made it more manageable. They came to the house and did any and everything. I had difficulty breastfeeding and they helped me through that difficult period, they made sure I was eating when I was too busy doing everything else, they did laundry, they did dishes, they helped with the baby - they were once again, invaluable. I will forever be grateful to these ladies and I look forward to working with them again when our family grows.

We used Nicole Jolley and had an amazing birth experience with her. She is incredibly warm,…read morestrong, competent, knowledgeable, non-flaky, and funny in an irreverent sort of way (which my husband and I appreciate). She is certified as both a doula and a midwife -- this was important in several ways: 1. It was reassuring to know that she could deliver our child at home if things progressed rapidly. (My confidence in her abilities allowed me to labor from the comfort of my home. It wasn't until I was ready to push that I arrived at the hospital. Of course, she will adjust this based on your own individual birth plan). 2. Her midwife certification also allows her to perform many duties as someone who is only a doula cannot. For example, when she came over to my house, she measured my cervix and made recommendations on exercises to perform during labor based on which part of my uterus was thick. 3. The fact that she is also a midwife is also important for our insurance Fepblue -- which only processes claims for midwives and not doulas. Yes, we used the GW midwife practice -- and BCBS were only concerned about Nicole's certification and did not consider her redundant to the process). Other things that we loved about Nicole: She was recommended by the GW midwives (if you are delivering with them - it is nice that they are very familiar with and like each other). She lives on the Hill ~ so it was reassuring that she is close by. We also loved that were very comfortable with her alternate, Alex, who we didn't have to use but liked and trusted equally. (Make sure that you like both your doula and her/his alternate). She used warm cloth compresses (so no tearing or at least reduces the chances of it). She give really strong back rubs -- this was important for my friend who had terrible back pains during delivery. She has a strong, no-nonsense yet warm and caring presence. I felt completely comfortable in her capable hands. All my friends who have used her would also sing her praises. One friend had an incredibly long labor (over 24 hours) -- and Nicole stayed with her and her husband the entire time. We all have had different births (with varying levels of difficulties) -- but all were able to deliver naturally. I am confident that Nicole had a big part in this success. I would, without any reservation, recommend Nicole Jolley.

I have three children and delivered twice with Nicole. I am incredibly grateful for her and know…read morethat I had great deliveries both times because of her. My first delivery (without Nicole or any doula) was incredibly traumatizing, included an emergency c-section as the kid and I were dying, and resulted in major PTSD. When I got pregnant with #2, I wanted a different experience. I interviewed seven different doulas before deciding to hire Nicole. There were a few factors that stood out with her: 1) I liked that she is very matter-of-fact in how she explains labor and delivery. I like all the information, and am not someone who likes the more woo-y side of natural birth. 2) I liked that she is also a certified midwife, which meant that she could do things like cervical exams if necessary. 3) I liked her sassy sense of humor. If you know you're going to be in a (likely) stressful situation with someone like this for a solid chunk of time, you need to like that person as a person, not just as a professional! Over the course of that second pregnancy, I was extra appreciative of the fact that I could text Nicole with questions or concerns, and that she would get back to me in a timely fashion. I have a great OB (who was super on board with me having a doula, especially given the PTSD), and with Nicole there, I felt like I had an excellent support system. When I was in active labor, Nicole was helping another mom deliver and sent an alternate to be with me for a few hours. She came immediately afterwards. She moved me into different positions, in and out of baths and showers, and worked with my husband to encourage me when I was ready to give up. (This is a great point too - Nicole was as helpful to my husband as she was to me, obviously in different ways. He felt like the situation was significantly easier to manage and approach because of her support.) I labored at home until I felt like I needed to push, then she drove my husband and me to the hospital. (She was with me for about 14 hours at this point.) At the hospital, Nicole worked really well with my OB to keep the hot compresses and oil going to protect my perineum as I was pushing. When I wasn't understanding how to push, she would rephrase so that I better understood. I successfully delivered after 90 minutes of pushing, with no tears. And she took the best spontaneous pictures and videos right after my kid was born! It was 180 degrees from the trauma of my first birth. My third birth was its own experience. I was two weeks overdue and despite all of our best efforts, could not get labor to actively stick. I had to be induced at the hospital. Nicole and I talked through everything prior to my getting to the hospital, so I felt prepared for what was to come. She was at the hospital for parts of the labor (again, coming right after helping another woman deliver that morning), trying to help me dilate. After finishing the first round of pitocin, the OBs decided to break my water, and I was fully unprepared for the level of pain that my contractions would ramp up to after that and demanded an epidural. Nicole made sure this was what I actually wanted given my plan, etc., but when I made it clear it was, Nicole was 100% behind me. I loved that she would help translate what I meant when I was having a hard time being coherent to the medical staff. When it was time to push and my legs were obviously not functional, Nicole was incredibly helpful to get me to successfully get the kid out (again, no tears!). After the delivery, she applauded me for standing up for myself and allowing the plans to change. I am grateful to never have felt judged or wrong with Nicole; she was my ally and cheerleader. So two different labors and deliveries: one unmedicated and mostly at home, the other at a hospital with all kinds of interventions, but both with one external constant: Nicole. Labor is not easy, but if you can deliver safely and be able to feel immense joy once that kid is out and in your arms, that is a success. I owe that to Nicole. TL;DR: Nicole Jolly is a fabulous doula, and I cannot recommend her enough.

I was one of those moms-to-Be who adamantly wanted her Birth Plan to be honored: I especially did…read morenot want a c-section or drugs! Yet I learned from my wedding day that not everything would go as planned so I'd best learn to let go and live in the moment, accepting things outside of my control. Upon meeting Kerry in person, we knew she would be great! She rolled with all of our questions with patience, and she had a tattoo in Sanskrit meaning we connected on a spiritual level both being yoginis. Yet my husband and I could not have anticipated just how awesome Kerry is as a doula until labor got real at the hospital! I had a complex labor lasting nearly 48 hours. She arrived 20 hours before delivery and thus stayed awake the entire time. She was calm throughout and answered questions about the labor process that couldn't be answered in the labor papers she or the hospital had given us-even the "dirty/gross woman" stuff! When labor advanced, she helped my husband and I make informed decisions when the midwives and doctors came into my room to give me news (more than once) that I did not want to hear (hint: things that needed to be considered that were not in my Birth Plan). Because the labor was so long and I had not slept, I opted for the epidural after 36 hours of labor so I could sleep through contractions and have the energy to push. She never judged me for this and instead supported that decision which was not on my Birth Plan to get me through the labor to delivery. She also gave me the best massages in my lower back so I didn't feel the back labor contractions (they were very uncomfortable without her massages!) She did this often like a champ without complaint and little sleep. She was a coach too encouraging me throughout it all, reminding me of all the positive to keep my energy levels up and believe in myself. For all these reasons and more, without reservation, my husband and I recommend Kerry.

This is the place to go. My two cents here first and my wife's follow. We felt so confident with…read moreKerry and Cara from the moment we met them, and that feeling carried through the long labor and birth. are true godsends. My wife's labor was very long and Kerry handled her morale, the mood of the room, and the family situation with aplomb. She came to our house after the birth and showed us how to wrap and carry our new daughter and gave my wife indispensable advice on her recovery. Can't say enough good things about her.

I would rate my experience as "Ok". Some of these doulas are contractors and bounce around to…read moredifference agencies. My first Doula I had met me home from the hospital, we actually made sure we left the hospital home on time to meet her needs. She seemed low energy and did not appear to be thrilled to be working on a Saturday, she also made a comment that is missing shopping for her son right now for an event, it made me feel bad. She was supposed to come two days later and she canceled on me at 5:30 in the morning saying she had a birth that went longer. This as my lowest point post partem because I really needed help that day and I actually moved my first pediatrician appointment to accommodate her schedule. By contract, she is supposed to get a substitute. When you interview a doula, ask if they have any births that month and make it clear they need to get a substitute. A few days later I interviewed a substitute to make sure I had back up if she canceled again, I spent 30 minutes interviewing her while I had a 5 day old at home. When that substitute was supposed to come as a test run, she canceled two hours before. I expressed my grievances to the staff and they comped me an extra day, and I appreciated it but it put so much stress on me my first week home from the hospital with a new born. I had a few Night Doulas, I had two but one didn't clean the bottles and the last night she left a sharp can lid on the floor and I almost stepped on it the next morning. I asked her if she was familiar with the snoo swaddle and how the snoo worked. She quickly said yes, but realized she got confused the Happiest Baby swaddle thats for the non-snoo, she didn't know she had to clip it in or how to swaddle the baby with the snoo swaddle and I had to teach her. I did have a different doula that was helpful and arranged way in advance for a substitute when she had a birth coming up. Pros: I got help, they helped with the first bath, helped me rearrange the nursery and pack my diaper back with essential items. I was able to take a nap a few times, they helped clean the kitchen and they helped with laundry. Cons: Consistent cancellations, most of the doulas do not want to work past 3pm and you are trying to accommodate their schedule.

can't even say enough good things about Angie. She was the perfect fit for our family for…read morepostpartum support. An absolute breath of fresh air for me. Among everything else she did, she even brought books from home to share with my 2.5 year old! I COULD have done this without Angie, but not while maintaining this much of my sanity. She will be very sorely missed.

Would definitely recommend the services of Silver Spring Placenta. The preparation process was…read moreexplained clearly and Jenny was amazing. She was very communicative. Great job!

From the owner: Placenta encapsulation, placenta prints and keepsake paintingsread more

I would not recommend Family Ways to anyone who needs a doula. I had a contract with them for doula…read moresupport for the birth of my son, which included birth prep, the birth itself, and postpartum support. I had one meeting in person with my doula and a handful of texts and one call with her (almost all of which were initiated by me). I ended up having a precipitous birth and didn't make it to the hospital in time to deliver. I delivered in my bathtub at home just as the paramedics arrived and then was transported to the hospital via ambulance. I was in contact with the doula before this happened and she said she was on the way to the hospital to meet me there. I obviously could not call her as the birth was happening and I was transported to the hospital (I did not even have my phone on me) but my husband called the doula and let her know. When I finally got my phone back, I had a text from her from hours prior saying she was in the area and wanted to know if I still wanted her to come. I thought she had left so I texted back that the baby had arrived and that I wanted to touch base for some postpartum support. She never reached back out to me. So once I was home from the hospital, I emailed with Family Ways to ask about this. It seemed rather unfair to have paid $1,500 and to have not really received any support. I understand that they would not give me a refund, but I asked if they could at least offer some postpartum support, since I had nothing during a rather traumatic birth, and that was included in the contract. They refused any further service and argued that the contract had been fulfilled. I'll let others decide if that sits right wit them, but I was very disappointed by this. I felt abandoned and gaslight after a difficult pregnancy, traumatic delivery, and in the fog of postpartum. It was especially disappointing from a service that is supposedly based on being a support system from pregnant and postpartum people during a very vulnerable time. If you do decide to use Family Ways, I would be very clear before signing any contract what support they will give you, especially if your birth doesn't go as planned.

What can I say?? Rachel was so wonderful to work with for my birth. I had a birth plan in mind, and…read moreshe was supportive from the beginning. She is a wealth of information, and was able to educate me on many evidence based birthing practices. I had an unmedicated birth, and was so glad to have Rachel by my side during labor. Note that she will support you in any birth plan or however your labor ends up going. Thankful for Rachel and Family Ways!

Faith and the NOVA team are truly first rate…read more Expertise is on pace with any doc we spoke to. The guidance and peace of mind was priceless. We cannot recommend them enough. Easily the best money we've spent in regards to the birth process. Joslyn has been a huge help with the baby at night and treats him like her own. She has offered expertise and little hacks here and there that have made a huge difference for us in getting acclimated as new parents (hello pace feeding). we only wish there were more of her! We feel so blessed to have found NOVA and confidently recommend them to anyone, even though we would selfishly like it if we could keep them for ourselves. God Bless!

Wife and I tried to use this service to hire a night nanny. They wouldn't give us a straight answer…read moreabout whether the providers they contract with are vaccinated. Eventually they did tell us that they don't and can't confirm that. The candidates we were connected to seemed great, but the interaction with the agency left a sour taste in our mouths. We felt like we'd be given the runaround whenever we had a hard question for them, which isn't a good way to start off. Leaving this review just so people know the agency believes they can't confirm vaccination status of its providers or require that providers be vaccinated. The founder said very few people get the flu shot anymore - big red flag! Edit: Since leaving this review, the company has contacted us implying that our negative review might come to the attention of our employers. I'm curious to see their response! What an experience. Buyer beware. Edit 2: Their reply here says they never said they'd contact our employers. Here is what they said, verbatim: that we would "receive a public response from us where it's discoverable by your employer and anyone else that may want to help your family in the future." We're smart enough to read the implication.

I am so grateful that I found Cara as my birth doula. She was immediately someone who I felt open…read morewith and after talking through my birth plan, I knew she would guide me in the ways I needed during labor. Cara was a true sense of calm, bringing experience, intuition, and all the tools I needed to feel ready when labor started. With all thanks to Cara and our preparation together, I had the most positive, amazing, completely natural birth and I was confident I could do it!

We began our search for a doula with recommendations from a labor and delivery nurse who used to…read morework in DC. As I started checking websites and making calls, Cara immediately stood out from the rest and I knew that she was who we wanted to work with. After an initial video call, Cara came to our home to answer all (& we had a million!) of our questions about labor and delivery, she went over what we could expect from her and helped us put together a birth plan. We had been told to expect a larger baby and I really wanted to avoid a c-section and medication so we discussed with Cara my wishes and we spoke in length about how important the baby's positioning would be for safe delivery. Cara also showed me exercises on a fitness ball, gave me tips on how to increase my chances of spontaneous labor and brought a fabulous tea blend for me! Cara provided us with her 'labor line' number and I alerted her when I was transitioning from pre-labor/early labor into Stage 1 (she provides a very helpful chart!). I then progressed through the stages quicker than I realized (or anticipated) and didn't alert her again until the urge to push was involuntary and my contractions were very intense and very close together. We called her and she very calmly talked me through what was happening and said she'd meet us at the hospital. Within 30 minutes of our call, we were all at the hospital and 30 minutes after that our daughter was born. Cara was incredible at keeping us calm in a very chaotic situation. It was great to have her helping us communicate with the hospital staff because all of their questions (while necessary) were very overwhelming at that point in the labor process. She even does a home visit after the birth, she was able to ease our new parent fears and answer questions we had about caring for our newborn and breast feeding. We very highly recommend Cara for your birth journey!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about DCBD. This was my/our first pregnancy, and we truly…read morefelt supported every step of the way by their team. Especially in those last 1-2 months, we leaned so heavily on the birth doulas and they responded to all of our questions and concerns immediately. We learned the most about how to care for our daughter and what was happening in my body from DCBD. I went into labor and the birth experience feeling ready and excited, and that's because of the experience, information, and kindness that were shared with us ahead of time. The birth - nearly 4 months later, and we are still talking about Camille! We are going to remember her forever - she was such a wonderful presence during my entire labor and after, and we don't know what we would have done without her. She made sure my husband and I knew what was happening, she advocated for us, she ensured I was comfortable (well, as comfortable as you can be in labor), and she really rooted for us the whole time. I felt safe because she was with us. And Ella - we were shocked that someone who didn't *have* to be there, stayed for the entire labor, participated, and stayed after when we were transferred to the postpartum room! She will be (or already is) a phenomenal birth doula. We felt so lucky to have Camille and Ella. Post birth - Lolonyo came to our house the very first night we were back from the hospital, and what a gift she is. She taught us how to soothe a baby, how to change a diaper (I'm sure they showed us in the hospital... but I could not remember haha). We had her for several nights during those first 2 months and we were so, so grateful to wake up the next morning refreshed, rested, and with the knowledge that our daughter had been held in loving arms all night long. She was never judgmental and was always supportive as we navigated breastfeeding, safe cosleeping, and everything else. We also had Joanna for several daytime visits. She always made sure to check in on my mental and physical health, which was so appreciated, and she was so helpful. We always felt like we were able to reset a bit after her visits, because she'd leave behind clean bottles and pump parts and a rested (and sometimes still sleeping) baby, and we would have had time to ourselves to shower and get a little more organized. She made our chaotic lives feel lighter, and we loved her for that. As a DCBD member you'll also have the opportunity to be part of a postpartum circle of other parents going through what you did. Shaleen and Elizabeth gave us space to talk through birth and everything that comes after, while feeling supported and safe. I'm still friends with some of the parents from my circle. In closing - DCBD is worth every single penny. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

Rebecca from DC Birth Doulas was absolutely incredible. From the moment we first connected, I…read moreimmediately felt comfortable with her and the entire team. She has such a warm, genuine presence that made it easy to ask questions and talk through everything honestly. She was always responsive and gave thoughtful, real answers that helped me feel informed and confident throughout the process. I was hoping for a VBAC, and with Rebecca's support we were able to have a successful one. She provided amazing support not only for me, but also for my husband. During labor she was calm, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable, helping us both feel grounded and supported every step of the way. Having Rebecca there made such a difference in our birth experience. I'm so grateful for her care and for the support of the entire DC Birth Doulas team. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a compassionate, knowledgeable, and truly supportive doula