Initially, I was not sure if I wanted to hire a doula but I am certainly glad I did. I made an…read moreappointment in Katelyn's calendar to have an initial consultation over the phone to discuss what services she offers and how many prenatal and postpartum visits / hours are covered under insurance. She offered three prenatal sessions, one to get to know each other, one to go over the birth plan and one last visit before the due date for any last questions. I learned a lot from the birth plan session about what to expect at the hospital, various pain management options and important decisions to think about in advance of the delivery. I felt that interacting with Katelyn was effortless as she is very responsive to text messages if you have any questions along the way. My delivery was not what I expected. After heading to the hospital for triage at 39 weeks, I decided to move forward with an induction. Normally an induction takes anywhere between 12 to 36 hours, however, mine only took 7 hours. It was hard for me to convince the nurses at the hospital that I was in pain and things were progressing very quickly (unusual for a first time pregnancy). All in all, it went so fast that I ended up experiencing an unmedicated labor experience and didn't end up following my birth plan. Although Katelyn was not present prior to delivery, she did drive to the hospital as soon as she could and offered to support us as long as we'd like in the postpartum unit on both days after delivery. In terms of postpartum support, Katelyn was exceptional at caring for my newborn baby. She has a daughter of her own and is also a nanny to another family. I learned a lot about newborn care (giving a bath or using a baby wrap) from Katelyn; I felt she easily bonded with my daughter as her connection with infants felt very natural. If I end up having a second child, I would not hesitate to hire Katelyn again!

We hired Katelyn as our night doula.  Katelyn is very good at taking care of babies. She helped us…read morea lot in the first month postportum.  Our baby initially had some diaper rash and as new parent, we were worried about how to handle it. She quickly gave us really good advice of how to handle it. After that, our baby no longer had diaper rash! Another time our baby was not able to poop for two days and we were worried. She helped the baby with some movement and that night, the baby was able to poop!  Her experience of taking babies is exceptional!

TLDR: Liat is incredible. If there's one thing I would recommend to help you through your labor,…read moreit's having her by your side. She was the best decision we could have made. My husband and I went back and forth for months about whether we wanted to include a doula in our birth experience. After a lot of discussion, we decided to hire one for two reasons: first, we wanted someone who could help us advocate for ourselves in the hospital so we could stay as close to our birth plan as possible. Second, we wanted someone who could physically support me throughout labor. Liat is truly one of the most incredible human beings I've ever met. She became such an essential part of my birth experience that, looking back, I genuinely don't think I could have done it without her. To make a very long story short, I chose to be induced at 41 weeks after a lot of pressure and fear mongering from my doctors due to elevated amniotic fluid levels. I labored at the hospital until my contractions reached a certain intensity, and then Liat joined us. The moment she arrived, she jumped right in--rubbing my back, talking me through each contraction, and bringing such a calming presence into the room. For the next seven hours, she coached both my husband and me through contractions that were every 2-3 minutes apart. She constantly adjusted my laboring positions to help my baby descend and was incredibly attentive to the fetal monitor. Anytime my baby's heart rate dipped during a contraction, she immediately repositioned me to help him tolerate labor better. Those seven hours somehow flew by. I labored on the birth ball, in the bed, in the bathroom, and even did lunges at one point! Liat was always thinking one step ahead, using every tool and technique she had to help labor progress naturally. Eventually, I reached a point where I decided to get an epidural. I was exhausted, in pain, and my baby was having a harder time tolerating the contractions, with his heart rate decelerating during each one. After the epidural, my labor was paused to help baby, and I was able to rest for about an hour. When I woke up, the nurses wanted to talk about interventions (even the possibility of a C-section) because my labor "wasn't progressing"--despite the fact that they had just given me medication to stop my contractions. Liat immediately stepped in and advocated for us. She calmly explained that labor couldn't progress without contractions and suggested restarting the Pitocin, giving it time to work, and then reassessing before making any decisions. Sure enough, labor picked back up beautifully. A few hours later, I was fully dilated and effaced, but my baby's station was still a little high. Liat spent what felt like hours gently rocking my hips and helping my baby naturally move farther down into my pelvis until it was finally time to push. She stayed by my side every step of the way until our son was born later that afternoon. If you're on the fence about hiring a doula, I cannot recommend Liat enough. She advocated for me every step of the way, helped me navigate unexpected twists in my labor, and supported both me and my husband physically and emotionally throughout the entire experience. Her knowledge, calm confidence, and compassion made all the difference. A few weeks after our son was born, Liat came to visit us at home, and it honestly felt like having family over. Liat, we are endlessly grateful for everything you did to help bring our son safely into this world. We love you, and we can't wait to have you by our side again when it's time to welcome our next baby. Love, The Zimmerman Family

I had the most wonderfully redemptive unmedicated VBAC a few weeks ago, and it is difficult to…read moreoverstate how critical of a role Liat played in making that happen. My first birth had gone much differently than I had hoped (preterm labor that led to immediate C-section due to breech positioning). I had come to terms with that experience, but I was surprised to find in my second pregnancy that it would be difficult to escape those "labels" from my first pregnancy, making it harder to be given a fair shot at having a vaginal birth. Thankfully, I found Liat whose passion for VBACs is infectious and whose no-nonsense approach is grounding. In our conversations before the birth, my husband and I both appreciated the balance of her approach - she strongly believes in the benefits of physiologic birth, but she also recognizes there is a time and place for medical intervention. My primary hope for this birth was that I wouldn't undergo any interventions that I wasn't convinced I needed, and she was a trustworthy sounding board throughout the entire pregnancy and delivery to ensure that was the case. This time around, my baby decided to stay inside long past the due date, so I agreed with my provider that it would be a good idea to induce. This was pretty disappointing for me, but Liat was wonderful at helping me stay in a good headspace in those final days, checking in frequently via texts and calls. When it came time for delivery, she was every bit as exceptional as all her other reviews describe. When she arrived at the hospital, she took one look at me and knew exactly how to change my environment to help me relax. Sure enough, labor accelerated rapidly after she arrived. She massaged my back through every single contraction. She knew exactly what to say to keep my mind present and focused. When she was talking me through my contractions, they were noticeably more efficient. At one point, I almost wanted to give up and she knew exactly how to keep me going. And sooner than I could have dared hope, my baby arrived. I'm pretty sure I professed my love for Liat minutes after giving birth :) And just as she had been for the entire pregnancy and labor, she was a constant comfort and encouragement to us in the minutes, days, and weeks after the delivery as well. Liat takes absolutely no BS, but is also the warmest and most compassionate woman you've ever met. She's exactly who you want at your birth. I know I want her at my next one!

I had such a fantastic experience with Perizat as my doula for my second birth, I wish I had her at…read moremy first! If we have a third, I'll call on her again. Why? She is so in tune with and respectful of the birth process, you can tell she desires for the mother to have as positive and experience as possible. She was attentive to spoken and unspoken needs, was hands on when I needed it, and made me feel cared for during the entire process. Some ways in which she went above and beyond: At 36weeks she came over to practice pain relief methods and prep me with an arsenal of birth positions. When I went into labor she beat me to the hospital despite living farther away, brought snacks, helped me decide on some medical decisions IRL. She visited with me multiple times before and after the birth, brought my family a delicious homemade postpartum meal, and followed up multiple times after the birth to make sure I had everything I needed. What a gem of a human being. My first birth doula was extremely transactional..conversely, Perizat is warm hearted, generous, kind, and a rockstar in the delivery room. Thank you Perizat for supporting my positive birth experience!

I highly recommend Perizat as your birth doula. On a last minute last ditch effort, my husband and…read moreI sought to put out inquiries for a birth doula just days before our baby was born. Unexpectedly, Perizat was available to meet with me that same day. The following day, she kindly offered to take me out on a stroll around the neighborhood to help progress things into active labor. Amazingly, real labor did start up not even a couple hours later. At the hospital, she was observant about various many details such as providing massage, checking in with me about different laboring positions we had discussed about and helping me transition to each, supporting my husband and providing informed decision making with the healthcare team about my disposition and course of action. I am so grateful we met and her simple acts of support were so very thoughtful throughout the pregnancy and labor during the short time we've known each other. She is very in tune as a doula and has an authentic simple and kind disposition without all the bells and whistles. She even kindly took photographs of the labor and birth of our baby which we would have something to look back on in years to come! You will feel so greatly supported by having Perizat at your side, and I would recommend her to anyone seeking a doula. Do yourself a favor and reach out to Perizat and you will be in good hands with all the expertise from her own professional and personal experiences!

We had a wonderful experience using Kristan as our postpartum overnight doula. As first time…read moreparents, we were very grateful to Kristan for her support in the early postpartum period, particularly when we arrived home from the hospital in a very sleep-deprived state. Kristan naturally fit into our home and synced into our nightly rhythms. She has a kind and calm presence. She always arrived on time. She was a great listener, and provided guidance, support and advice on all topics related to newborn care and new parenthood. She was equally understanding of when we wanted to sleep, and she did everything she could to help us get as much quality sleep as we could. She was insightful about infant sleep and breastfeeding. She was great at soothing our baby back to sleep after feeds and diaper changes. She helped out with baby chores like laundry when the baby was sleeping. She was very conscientious about health, which was greatly appreciated with a newborn in the house. She wore a mask and was very transparent about any illnesses or symptoms she or family members experienced. She rescheduled when she felt ill, which we preferred. Overall, we would highly recommend Kristan as a postpartum doula and would happily welcome her back into our home again in the future.

As a first time mom, I could not say enough good things about Kristan! She helped me a couple days…read morea week for a few weeks, and it was incredibly helpful. Sometimes I just took a nap or a shower, but most of the time she was helping me understand how to look for a good latch, understanding wake windows, and tips on how to get her down for a nap. She was also so very helpful with cleaning/drying/putting away bottles and pump parts, as well as my daughter's laundry. She was so kind, and I never made me feel as though my questions were silly. I would recommend Kristan to anyone in search of a doula!

I found Lauren through the Evidence Based Birth website. I was so grateful to have a doula who was…read moreup to date on the research and would help support us in pushing against some unnecessary hospital conventions while still being generally pro-medicine. Lauren was very responsive and helpful throughout our pregnancy. We had great prenatal visits and texted and emailed about some concerns that arose. Lauren always replied promptly with great insight and calm. She was just the same way on the day I gave birth. I texted her early in the day that I was feeling contractions but I thought they might be Braxton Hicks. She suggested I focus on other things and time again in a few hours. Later that night it became clear I was going into labor. I waited a bit too long before asking Lauren to come - I had just started to feel the urge to push when she arrived. But I knew I was in safe hands. She drove me to the hospital while my husband grabbed our bag. Along the way she bent over so I could lean on her through the contractions. I gave birth to our beautiful baby girl 40 minutes after we arrived at the hospital. Lauren cooled my face with a cold towel and massaged me through the contractions. She also took lovely photos just after the birth. An hour later, I turned up my husband and said, "I could do that again." It was no doubt thanks in part to Lauren's emotional and physical support. She stayed another 2-3 hours after the birth as well to make sure we were all settled. Lauren has also been helping a new doula Emily train. Emily attended our birth as well and it was helpful to have her extra set of hands!

I sent an inquiry about availability and setting up a consultation for being my birth doula BUT…read moreShe's not accepting clients right now due to being a recent mom. I appreciated her prompt response to inform me.

Mairi was such a wonderful part of our birth and postpartum journey. From the very beginning, her…read moreprenatal sessions were helpful. She made sure we understood all our options, and patiently answered every question we had. She helped us prepare in practical ways, but also gave us the confidence we didn't know we needed. During the birth, Mairi brought a calm, steady energy that made all the difference. She's such a kind, thoughtful listener, and truly cares. We felt supported every step of the way. Having Mairi on our team was one of the best decisions we made. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

If you're looking for a doula who truly cares, shows up with authenticity every single day, and…read morehandles even the toughest conversations with grace and kindness, look no further. Working with Mairi was a genuinely wonderful experience. She supported us throughout our second and third trimesters, from the onset of labor through the day of delivery, and remained a steady source of support afterward as well. Mairi is a beautiful soul who gives her whole self to care for both mother and baby as if they were her own family. Her presence brought comfort, strength, and a deep sense of calm during such a transformative time. She helped us not only navigate the challenges but also embrace the profound beauty of birth. Thanks Mairi! We will remain forever grateful.

Writing as the dad: hiring Mari made all the difference. She helped me understand my role in the…read moreprocess - what to do, when to step in, when to step back - which turned out to be huge during some critical decision moments. I came out of it more connected to my wife and our daughter than I ever expected. Warm, knowledgeable, never pushes an agenda. Highly recommend.

Had a great experience with Hope and Isabel! Made our life a lot easier and brought so much care…read moreand love to our little boy and family! Would certainly recommend them to anyone needing doula support!

At the risk of sounding dramatic, Wendy and Kersti have changed my life. There's no other way I…read moreknow how to put it. I went into this pregnancy not knowing anything about pregnancy nor birth. I mean that - I'd never even held a baby before, and I'm in my thirties! I was nervous and knew I needed guidance. A close friend of mine referred them to me after she had her own positive experience delivering her first baby at the hospital (without an epidural). A delivery without an epidural sounded like a good idea, and if my friend can do it with their help, I felt SO COULD I! So I scheduled to meet them in person, and then Googled the definition of a doula because that's how foreign the birth world was to me. Fast forward to today, I am 3 months postpartum, and incredibly grateful to have had Wendy and Kersti there for me, as a first time mom home birth. They prepared me, a total pregnancy/birth newbie, to having a home birth! They are supportive with whatever birth plan you decide and will provide tons of resources and information to help you make an informed decision, on whatever you feel comfortable with. I appreciated that they are well balanced, and will present evidence based research, as well as speak from their own experiences, but never pushing their opinions upon you. After months of research, I made the decision to go forward with a home birth and it was the most magical experience of my life. It was relaxing, calm, stress-free, and I felt SO supported throughout my entire pregnancy journey, after birth, and ESPECIALLY during labor. Wendy was present during my labor. When she arrived it was like my guardian angel had arrived, and I was so happy to see her. She had lavender essential oils and her hands worked magic on me during the most intense contractions. The back massages helped me Soooo much and she did it for hours. She not only supported me, but also my husband, and she knew just what to say to keep me positive and relaxed, and knew how to direct my husband to help. She also took photos throughout the labor. It all happened so fast, so it was so fun to have photos to go back and relive the moments. I will cherish these photos forever. Thank you Wendy and Kersti for helping bring my baby boy to this world. I know without a doubt that I'd like them to be my doulas again for my future baby.

There are so many glowing reviews on here, but I feel like I have to add to the collection because…read moremy experience with Wendy and Kersti was truly life-changing. I am SO GRATEFUL for these two ladies that I just have to share my story!! We didn't hire a doula with our first child, who is now approaching his second birthday. My goal was to have an unmedicated birth and although I succeeded, the entire experience left me absolutely traumatized and panicked at the idea of having to ever go through that again. When we found out we were pregnant with our second child, I was so fearful about the birth I couldn't even speak about it without tearing up and feeling anxious all over. I had a hard time even getting excited about the pregnancy because it meant I had to give birth again, and I was terrified. This led my husband and I to being a search for a doula. My goal was once again to have an unmedicated birth, but I felt incapable of doing that without something being drastically different. Enter Wendy and Kersti. We met with this mother/daughter team over coffee and I quickly fell in love with them. Kersti had the recent experience of having given birth "without fear" herself and Wendy had this amazing mix of strength and confidence in her tone alongside a spirit of gentleness. We had met with a few other doulas in our search, but I constantly felt like they were all too soft-spoken/comforting/gentle and I needed someone a bit more direct alongside those qualities. Wendy was JUST that. :) We counted the cost as if it were a part of the hospital bill, because we knew to have the birth we wanted, it would require an investment. IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!! Over the course of the next few months, we developed a great relationship with Wendy and Kersti. They answered all of our questions with evidence-based research that consistently put my mind at ease. They also gave me a lot of natural methods to prepare both my mind and my body for birth. It took a few months, but through conversations with th, I started to feel more confident and prepared for birth. THEN THE BIG DAY CAME! :) I started having contractions one morning about 12-15 minutes apart and that went on all day. They were mild and I wasn't sure if it was labor or not (my first child was induced), so I stayed in constant text/phone communication with Wendy throughout the day. Finally, when they started getting closer at around 3:30pm, we headed to the hospital and met Wendy in the parking lot. I can't even express to you the relief that washed over me seeing her face. This amazing woman, who had been coaching me for months, met me with a smile and confidence in that parking lot as we walked into the hospital -- almost like we were ready for the big game. We checked in and she immediately started diffusing essential oils, helping me get comfortable, massaging my feet, turning on music and fielding questions from the nurses as I went through contraction after contraction. My contractions were intensifying quickly and Wendy was RIGHT there every second of the way, offering new positions, ideas, distractions and support to keep me going. She knew exactly when she needed to intercede to help me more and when she needed to take a back seat and support my husband Dan as he came alongside me. Within 2.5 hours, I went from 4.5 centimeters to holding my sweet baby boy in my arms. I can confidently say that my birth was beautiful -- something I felt like I would never be able to say and something I contribute HUGELY to this team of incredible women. I am positive the reason I progressed so quickly and smoothly was because I felt relaxed, supported, confident and READY to deliver my baby. After feeling nothing but panic, dread and fear with my first birth, this was life-changing for me. I felt IN CONTROL and SUPPORTED my entire labor and knew I was capable of delivering my baby boy--who ended up being 9 lbs and 3 oz! We also have incredible photos of some special moments during the birth, thanks to Wendy. Whew! So much to say, and I could say more!! All that to express to you that these women are worth gold. If you are hoping to have a positive birth experience and especially if you want to do it medication-free, I would say with confidence HIRE WENDY & KERSTI! We will definitely be using them again with future kiddos! :)