If I could leave a 0-star review I would. I applied to be a birth doula with this service. I…read morereceived repeated requests to fill out the same video interviews. I should have stopped the process then but alas I persisted in hope this would work out. Then I I have to go through repeated rescheduled onboarding interviews with Jada because she kept having "schedule conflicts" and no respect for my time. When we met it was awkward and the discussion mostly focused on other doulas who don't want to meet with their client until they are way into active labor and then Boober worries about refunds. I do not operate in a way that would entail these risks happening. I spent a lot of time on the application and intake process for boober yet I continued to get leads for potential clients way outside of my geographic area of service. I got clients that were not serious about hiring a doula or I was one of many doulas who would meet with clients. I responded to some potential leads and sometimes wasn't followed up with, other times was matched with clients along with several other doulas or I was sent redundant messages about client requirements which I had already met. As a newer doula (with about a year of experience) I felt I couldn't compete with being matched with clients who were also introduced to several other doulas. I invested a lot of time and effort into my Boober application and profile and saw NO returns for it. I would get no responses, clients would hire other doulas or no doulas or no one from boober would follow up with me for the leads I was actually interested in. At some point I can no longer tolerate such disrespect for my time. While I believe in providing strong customer service our time as birth workers and service providers also needs to be respected and it's just not at Boober. I'm sorry I every signed up for the service. Also there are different commission structures based on race which I'm pretty sure is illegal. I'm all for birth equity but I'm not looking to be disrespected over and over again.

I am a black man in an interracial marriage. Yesterday, my wife and I went to the Prospect Heights…read moreTribeca Pediatrics in Brooklyn, NY, for the Infant CPR and safety. As the only black man and the only interracial couple in the class, I believe Geoff Gohacki gave me disparate treatment. My wife could not do the CPR on the floor because her belly made her uncomfortable to do so. The instructor told her to do CPR on the chair. I decided to be next to her because she is my wife, and I did not want her to be alone and feel inadequate. The instructor told me to get on the floor because my wife is pregnant, and I am not pregnant. That was very insensitive, rude, and uncalled for. I don't care if you were joking. You cannot make that kind of statement. My wife and I are adults and are not in high school or the military. I always tell people that my wife and I are pregnant. We are pregnant because we are doing this together. Lastly, if my wife and I are paying for the class, we don't have to look at how other people are doing it so that we can do the CPR. We could have stayed home and watched everything on YouTube. I was doing the infant CPR. I was not doing the chest compressions up to the instructor's standards. Instead of redirecting me, the instructor told me to look at the other people in the class. So you don't have a mouth to speak or are impatient to give me feedback on what I am doing wrong. My wife and I are not here to look at other people. After we left the class and walked toward our apartment, my wife started to cry about the unfortunate treatment this instructor put me through. It was distress we didn't deserve. Therefore, I would not recommend this instructor to a black man in an interracial couple.

Betty was incredible. She helped me with my breastfeeding journey in quite literally one hour,…read morebrought an arsenal of tools and advice, and did it with such care and compassion during a super vulnerable time for me. She responded quickly and came the next day, which I also really appreciated. Betty saved me - I can't recommend her enough!

Betty is so wonderful!! My son was born at 37 weeks and weighted less than 5lbs. We had trouble…read morewith him gaining weight and latching. Once i reached out to Betty she was able to see me a few days after at home! since then my boy has packed on half a pound !!! Anytime I've reached out with a question or concern, she was quick to respond and made two home visits! My older kiddos loved her. Amazing energy and so gentle with her guidance and advice. Highly recommend

After my last review, Jada, the founder of Birth Day Presence, reached out to me for an honest and…read moreopen conversation about what she could do to improve not only my experience but classes there in general. Being a yoga teacher with pre/post natal experience I went into their classes already very knowledgeable so they weren't as informative as I would have liked but I think they are probably life saving for people who don't care to/don't have the time to do their own learning and research. Birth day presence and boober provide not only child birth and newborn care classes, but match clients with (and train) doulas, lactation consultants etc Most importantly though, and I got this sense from the beginning but really felt it after talking to Jada, they genuinely care about providing quality information and services to new families. They also understand that the birthing industry (because it is an industry) is far from perfect and they want to empower families and help them navigate it. I feel very grateful to Jada and Birth Day Presence and although I originally walked away feeling there was more to be desired I now feel like I couldn't recommend them more to anyone seeking childbirth/childcare education or training. Oh, and all their classes are conveniently online now due to covid.

My husband and I purchased weekend intensive childbirth education classes and we attended when I…read morewas 27 weeks pregnant with our first child at Birth Day Presence. We came here with an open mind and hoping to learn the important basics of childbirth. Needless to say, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We didn't feel prepared and we were hoping this class would make us feel more comfortable of what's to come. The classes we chose were on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm. Jen Buice was our instructor and she was very informative and knew her stuff. We also got to mingle with other couples who were due at around the same time as us. We got to share our experiences with each other, which I think my husband and I wouldn't have gotten a chance to do otherwise if it wasn't for this class. We watched some childbirth videos, learned about different stages of labor, pain management, labor exercises with and without the ball, a little about lactation, etc. We also went around the room and did some activities so it could be more interactive and social. Bring some snacks because the classes might seem a little long at times! We did get a short lunch break. One slight complaint I have is that I got a little antsy and didn't feel that comfortable with their seating arrangements. I felt a little claustrophobic. Overall, I think we feel better and a little bit more prepared about being parents. I would recommend this class if you have a chance to take it. It's located in a beautiful part of Park Slope in a beautiful brownstone. Price is a little steep at $395 but I think it's worth it. You can't put a price on your future bundle of joy.

Heather is an incredible birth doula and photographer. My husband and I interviewed many doulas in…read morethe NJ/NY area prior to the birth of our first baby and not only was Heather experienced and confident in her ability to provide support, but she was also relatable, reassuring, and kind. We knew immediately that she was the right match for us. Leading up to the birth, Heather was extremely communicative and spent time both in person and over the phone providing us with helpful resources and guidance not only about the birthing process, but also comfort measures and postpartum expectations. Her ability to provide both physical and emotional support was unmatched. Heather's support allowed me to release a lot of the anxiety I had and helped my husband and I solidify what we hoped to get out of the experience by working through our birth preferences. In addition to providing support and reassurance, Heather took candid, beautiful photographs that we will treasure for years to come. They are so moving and capture every emotion of the day so perfectly. Heather was not only great at preparing me for birth, but she was also great at preparing my husband for his role leading up to, during, and after the birth. He was so involved but it was amazing to have another advocate to ensure the best experience possible. Heather seamlessly created a team mentality where I felt that my well-being was front and center. I honestly felt so calm and at ease, which is the exact opposite of what I imagined I'd feel several months ago. She was incredibly level-headed throughout the labor and delivery process and supported every decision I made about my care after providing guidance on how each decision would affect my birth. I felt like I was in control and was informed and empowered. Our baby was welcomed into a world full of love, compassion, confidence, and support. I couldn't ask for a better experience. I would highly recommend Heather and her doula services to other expecting families in a heartbeat. Having her by our side was one of the best decisions we made!

I had my first baby in May and knew I wanted a doula because the idea of birthing was so scary to…read moreme. I'm not a crunchy hippy dippy type but I knew I didn't want any drugs (no pitocin, no epidural) but I didn't know much else. Enter, Heather, who I found from googling and decided upon solely from these Yelp reviews. I cannot recommend her enough. She educated me on things I didn't know I didn't know. We created a plan and I had exactly the birth I wanted. She advocated for me at the hospital at a time when everything is new and scary and I was too overwhelmed with being in labor to know how to advocate for myself. Contractions are earth shattering and not fun but Heather gave me the strength and conviction to carry out my birth plan, to have my baby without an epidural. I had a safe birth the way I wanted. At the end, my doctor and the nurses were so impressed they all asked Heather for her business card! Also, CHOOSE TO DO THE PHOTOS! It's so crazy and fulfilling to be able to look back at that day. You won't regret having them, but you might regret not having them.

I thank my lucky stars that I found Andrea. I knew from the start that I wanted to breastfeed,…read moregiven the benefits, but was mystified by the whole process as I was not breastfed and unfortunately could not rely on my mother as a resource in this specific area. Andrea was recommended by my doula when I was struggling and ready to give up breastfeeding and move to formula at the 6 week mark. But with Andrea's ongoing support and encouragement, we went from feeding our son a combination of formula and breastmilk to just breastmilk -- and my gosh -- he has grown beautifully! To say that I'm proud of myself for not giving up is an understatement. To nurse and witness my son grow into a thriving, happy and endlessly curious 9-month old has been one of the greatest achievements of my life. I have so much more confidence as a mother and a person in this world. I also feel an indescribable bond to my son, and I cannot thank Andrea enough for her monumental role in helping me transform into the strong and confident mama I only dreamed I could be.

I went to Andrea after the birth of my first baby because breastfeeding was so painful. I was…read morecrying every time I had to feed my daughter and my nipples were becoming very bruised and damaged. In one session Andrea helped me fix the problem, using baby led latching. She is incredibly knowledgeable- far more than any of the LCs at the hospital or than most I've dealt with since. I breastfed my oldest until about 18 mos without any trouble. She was incredibly thorough, taught me how to most effectively use the breast pump, care for engorged breasts, and explained the physiology behind latching, including why baby led latching was a better way than The manhandling of a baby's head that is been taught at the hospital. Watching my one week old find her own way to my breast - and the fuller breast every time - was amazing. When my second daughter was born, I lived in another state and gave the LCs from the birth center a try, but found the same limited scope of knowledge and manhandling of baby's mouth and head was all they had to offer. I contacted Andrea, skeptical of help via zoom but was just was pleasantly surprised and grateful for her comprehensive approach, depth of knowledge and ability to address the issues I had starting to breastfeed again with my second child. She does an impressive job of providing information and guidance remotely, I did not at all feel that I'd lost anything in the telehealth vs in person appointment I'd had with my first child. I truly cannot recommend her enough.

I cannot emphasize what a crucial part of my pregnancy and daughter's birth Stephanie was for us…read more Stephanie provided the exact support we needed; from the moment we hired her to the days leading up to my labor to the birth of our daughter to the days after and everything in between. Any question, request, guidance needed - Stephanie was there. She made us feel no shame in asking the smallest questions. She was clear about when something was evidence-based vs her intuition/experience. She never pushed us to do anything and was always supportive of decisions we made. It was important to me and my husband to have a natural birth, which was my main motivation to hire a doula. Truly could not have delivered this baby without Stephanie (I mean, I would have, of course - but likely after much more pain and decisions I would later regret). She was with us on the phone (my husband, mostly) as soon as my water broke and she was with us in person by the time contractions got heavy to get us through the later stages of labor and the pushing/delivery process. Stephanie worked so in sync with the midwife and nurse on my delivery team - it took a village! In addition to Stephanie supporting me, she was also an amazing guide and support to my husband - equipping him with reading materials before delivery and coaching him on best ways to support me throughout labor and delivery. In the days after our baby was born, we talked to Stephanie every day. She visited us to make sure baby was latching properly, showed me some other tips and tricks for feeding, and has continued to provide us with guidance on feeding and pumping and all feeding things! When I become pregnant with baby #2, Stephanie will be among the first to know - could not imagine doing a totally natural birth again without her!

Hiring Stephanie as our doula was one of the best decisions we made while preparing for the birth…read moreof our first child. When my partner and I started looking into childbirth education, we quickly realized how much we didn't know and how overwhelming it could be to research everything on our own. From our very first meeting with Stephanie, it was clear how knowledgeable she is. She focuses heavily on evidence-based information, which was exactly how we wanted to approach decisions around birth. I became interested in attempting an unmedicated birth, although I was only about 60% confident I could actually do it. Stephanie never doubted me. From that point on, all of our preparation and meetings were geared toward helping me achieve that goal. She was always quick to respond to texts and emails and provided detailed, thoughtful information whenever we had questions. Stephanie also did an incredible job coaching my partner ahead of time so he knew how to support me during labor. In our prep meetings, she walked him through different techniques and ways he could help when things became intense. Because of that preparation, he was able to really play an active role during labor. Even during labor itself, Stephanie continued guiding him on how to support me in ways that were actually helpful in the moment. When things were very intense, she would gently coach him on what to do, whether that was how to help with breathing, positioning, or encouragement. If he wasn't sure whether something he was doing was helping, she gave him feedback and reassurance so he could keep supporting me confidently. That support for both of us made a huge difference. When my labor started, I was able to text Stephanie updates and questions and she was always quick to respond and help ease my worries. At one point she had another client in labor (which we knew was a possibility), but her backup doula came to my house and provided wonderful support until we went to the hospital. Stephanie met us there and immediately helped me focus on breathing and staying calm. The moment I'll always remember most was during the pushing phase. I was exhausted having been awake for nearly 36 hours, but Stephanie's coaching and encouragement made such a difference. Her reminders to breathe for the baby and "blow out the birthday candles for the baby," along with her steady counting and encouragement, helped me push through and ultimately deliver my baby the way I had hoped. One unexpected benefit of working with Stephanie is that she is also a lactation consultant. She helped us prepare for breastfeeding, explained how pumping works, and helped us troubleshoot breastfeeding our baby a few days after coming home. I didn't expect that level of support, but it ended up being incredibly helpful. Stephanie is incredibly knowledgeable and very honest. She gives you the information and may offer a recommendation, but she never pressures you if you decide differently. She's straightforward, fact-driven, and clearly very dedicated to her clients. Working with her truly showed me how valuable doulas can be. Stephanie was wonderful to work with, and I would not want to have another child without her by my side.

I'm sure this isn't true (since women have been giving birth for a number of years), but I do not…read morethink I could have made it through my daughter's birth without Jamie (or my husband and best friend). The birth did not go according to plan due to complications that developed in early labor and I was in an inordinate amount of pain for a long time without dilation progress. Jamie's comfort techniques helped soothe this pain over the course of many hours. She stood by us through the entire labor. Jamie was also very helpful by asking smart questions to the doctors and hospital staff--questions my husband and I were too exhausted/in pain to remember to ask. The day we got back home from the hospital, we were confusion about breastfeeding and Jamie over to assist and reassure us. This visit was separate from our post-natal meeting that occurred a few days after that. I cannot recommend Jamie more highly to guide any woman through her birth.

My daughter was posterior as she came out, so my labor was particularly long - 43 hours, of which…read moreJamie was there for 19 - and difficult. Jamie was the calming and stable presence that I needed as things became incredibly intense, especially since I had opted to forgo medication. The positions she suggested to ease pain, encourage regularity in my contractions, and to help me rest were invaluable, and I am pretty sure she massaged my lower back for at least 10 hours over the course of labor. I really do not think I could have gone through all that pain and uncertainty, especially as a first-time mom, without Jamie. Every step of the way as I was ready to freak out because I thought something was wrong, Jamie was supportive and assured me that what I was going through was completely normal, which helped me calm my mind and steel myself for the next level of intensity. At the same time, she was never intrusive or judgmental, and she had a great sense of when to switch off and just be in the background in order to conserve her own energy for the long haul. My husband also loved her - Jamie helped him feel like their roles in the birth were complementary and he never felt useless. I highly recommend Jamie and her services!

I cannot say enough amazing things about the Brooklyn Birthing Center. From start to finish, the…read moreexperience felt safe, loving, and truly family-centered. Every one working in the birthing center from the front desk to the birthing teams are truly so loving and swemet. My team consisted of Banks RN, Nicole the midwife, and Monica the doula were all incredibly kind, sweet, patient, and supportive. A true power team any laboring woman would be lucky to have on their side! Especially if you're a tough cookie like me I was a nervous wreck but they handled me with nothing but love, patience, attention and grace! They talked me through everything, made me feel heard, and kept the energy light and calm. We laughed, played cards, and even danced while waiting for active labor. At no point did I feel rushed, pressured, or pushed into anything. There was zero intervention, zero bullying, zero attitudes, and absolutely no aggravation--just respect for my body and my process. I ended up having my baby in the water, and they were so attentive, responsible, and caring the entire time. They were informative every step of the way and treated me with so much love--it truly felt like being surrounded by my own family. I felt supported, protected, and empowered throughout my birth. I never leave reviews but with this experience I feel it was absolutely necessary because I don't know how else to really make my appreciation known! If you're looking for a place that honors natural birth, patience, and genuine care, this is it. I'm forever grateful for this experience and will forever recommend this power team! Thank you Nicole, Monica and Banks!

I waited a long time to write a review because I thought this place had closed, but it looks like…read moreit has since reopened. That my family came here to try to have our baby was one of the biggest regrets of my life. The indecisiveness and incompetence of the team here nearly killed my wife and daughter in 2020; when we finally transferred to Maimonides after 10+ hrs of active labor and with the baby stuck and in severe distress, we had to do a complicated STAT C-section under general anaesthesia immediately upon arrival. I still remember the absolute disgust on the receiving OB/GYN's face when we told them how long the staff at Brooklyn Birthing Center had let my wife labor for. Thanks to the quick actions of the doctors at Maimonides, wife and daughter are alive and well, but we have since learned that the physical trauma connected to this episode has made it almost or entirely impossible for us to have another child. I'll always wonder if maintaining the transfer rate statistic that this birthing center bragged about in our orientation is part of what made them hesitate for so long to admit that our birth was not going to succeed at their facility, even as the situation deteriorated. The one thing I will credit them with is that after initially trying to charge us a facility fee for our experience, the person I spoke to on the phone relented and waived the charge after I told them what happened. I cannot tell you how much I wish we had simply delivered at a hospital, and if you are reading this review, I am urging you to consider your other options, so that your family does not have to go through what mine has experienced.

Olga Kun is the best lactation consultant I worked with! I just had my second child. I worked with…read more4 other LCs at the hospital I gave birth. Olga's method is unique, reduces stress, and is highly effective. She helped me learn how to clear painful blocked milk ducts, how to avoid mastitis(which I had with my first and was terrified to get it again), how to get my daughter to latch, how to develop a reserve, and how to treat milk (refrigeration, warming, freezing). Her advice was life changing and she remains available for advice after our session. I text her often and she responds quickly. She has a flat rate and she didn't limit our session to an amount of hours. She spent half the day with me until she tackled all my issues. I highly recommend her services!

God bless this woman! She is 100% knowledgeable person in breastfeeding matter. Had a very painful…read moreburning breast and called her at late night. Not only she told me what to do to make me feel better but came over early morning and showed all the helpful techniques, answered my 6.000 questions and put me and my baby back to healthy and enjoyable breastfeeding. Would totally recommend to everyone. Thank you for what you do Olga!