Kiersten Markham is a gem. As a man going through all of this, I had my world rocked in the most amazing way. My wife and I took her Conscious Conception for Couples course and honestly at a very deep level we know we are ready to bring a life into this world. From her visualizations to navigating our birth stories with our parents or the homework that kept us in tune and accountable, we not only learned more about ourselves but we were able to heal so many aspects of our lives. Through talking to our parents, it was eye-opening to hear how uninvolved men/dads were with the entire process of conception, pregnancy and birth back then and how this has absolutely affected us today as a society. Or how women were told that our patriarchal healthcare system knows more about their bodies than they do themselves... to have my mom talk about my birth was a massive step on its own but for us to reconcile much of our relationship, well, that speaks for itself. Conception, pregnancy and birth as fundamentally what has been responsible for life on earth for eons of time........ this procreative process does not need more unconscious men trying to control it whether it's husbands or our healthcare system, it needs us to be MORE conscious and yet be a part of creating and holding space for the wonder and awe that it is. Kiersten has changed our lives of not only for ourselves as individuals but as a couple who will now populate our planet with much more conscious beings. We are so blessed and excited :) This might be a weird thing for most guys to consider doing BUT trust the process. Trust Kiersten, her wisdom and her expertise... she has been doing brilliant work with this community for years and she's not just excellent, she has made an indelible imprint on our family for generations...... read more

Kiersten's Conscious Conception course is a must for any couple planning on starting a family. This course really dug into our own birth experiences, our parents and even grandparents births and childhoods. Through visualizations, meditations and connecting with our partner with the weekly assignments it not only brought me closer to my partner but it made me feel more connected to our spirit baby. Kiersten is an excellent resource for all things birth all the while being the absolute sweetest person on the planet. She deeply cares for everyone's situations and stories and offers heartfelt guidance and wisdom in creating the conception and birth of your dreams. I feel so grateful to have taken such a spiritual and intimate course. I highly highly recommend it. read more

Before the birth of our first child, the hubs and I read up on all kinds of things. I knew I wanted to hire a doula; hubs wasn't so sure, but after reading "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin, he, too, was sold on the idea. We found Your One Birth after google searching San Diego doulas. We did hypnobirthing and I liked that Kiersten had experience with that, so we scheduled an interview. As soon as we met up and started talking, I knew I wanted Kiersten to be our doula. She is friendly, knowledgeable, funny, and warm, but yet so professional and good at what she does. Even my weird cats liked her and you know what they say about animals and the way they just know... We loved every time we got to meet up with Kiersten before the birth. She really helped us focus our birth plan and be as prepared as we could be. The night I went into labor, she was invaluable. Even though I was texting at 3 am, she responded right away with answers to my questions ("is this normal?" "yes, totally normal :) We eventually called Kiersten to come after I'd been laboring for about 6 hours at home. Once she got there, she helped the hubs try different things to help me continue coping with my labor. A few hours after that, I knew it was time to go, so she met us at the hospital - I was already 8 cm! I am so grateful for Kiersten and her role in the birth of our daughter. Kiersten was always right there, doing something totally awesome and/or necessary. I'd be laying there going through a contraction and feel some reassuring acupressure on my hands... oh! There's Kiersten. Trying to breathe a certain way, and there's Kiersten helping me. I felt like I didn't even have to ask - she just sort of knew what to do and what I needed. She's very intuitive and is a great listener. We just could not recommend her enough. read more

My midwife came up with the idea of having a doula that can also provide child care for my toddler so that my husband can trade off. I loved the idea and was so happy to find Kiersten. While I was explaining my expectations of a doula, I knew Kiersten was all over it by the look of assurance on her face and the wonderful ideas she also provided. I felt so secure knowing that I would have a knowledgeable and sensitive in my home to assist us in brining in our second child while keeping our toddler engaged and helping us put him to bed when the time came. When I knew I was in active stage labor, I simply texted Kiersten that I would like her to come over. She arrived promptly, checked in with me, and fell right into the tasks that my husband was doing at the time so he can be with me. Kiersten was wonderful with our toddler and provided lots of reassurance to myself and my husband that everything was going great. After the birth of our second child, Kiersten walked our son into our room and was sensitive to his wishes. She took a few photos when we asked, then helped our toddler to bed. After he was asleep she came back over to us to help in post partum adjustments, prepared food for us, cleaned up, and held my hand through suturing. It was definitive blessing having Kiersten with us. I miss her dearly! read more

First off ... I see a lot of moms posting reviews in here. So, here's the other side of things: I'm the dad. Dad wasn't into the whole Dooluh thing. Dad thought "If i cant pronounce it, and nobody I know knew what the hell it was either, then it wasn't going to be for me & I didn't want to pay for it." Then, this happened (Here is my story, quickly). *First, THE MEETUP* The idea of using a doula was suggested by my wife. I resisted. Then I quickly folded like a lawn chair and agreed to the meet up (you dont mess with a pregnant momma). Pretty sure I arrived home that night a little late for our meet up, prob by design. Expecting a hippy garbed, sash wrapped, patchouli dipped type, I was pleasantly surprised when i was welcomed instead by Kiersten. She was a very professional, very soft spoken, kind soul with a light voice which instantly put me at ease. She arrived with her partner in crime, Sarah who was also just as sweet, kind and soft spoken. Both personable, intelligent, well spoken with a quickly accessible sense of humor = The presented VERY well and crushed the interview. They were hired. Fast forward to *THE BIG DAY* As the dad I had prepared myself as best as possible mentally, physically, emotionally. I was ready, I had this. That's when reality hit me like a freight train. Guys, you can't imagine how difficult it is to see you wife go through that process until it happens. NOTHING can prepare you. I went from the Rock of Gibraltar to a piece of work within hours. Had it not been for Kiersten & Sarah being there for me, for my wife, coaching us through the long process, helping in any way the situation called for, I could not have imagined getting through it. And, its an important point to say that its not just about having help. Like, our family was there. And they were great help! But, what Kiersten & Sarah offered was a very specialized kind of help. The type that just knows what to say, what to do, when to leave you be and when to go all hands on deck - as well as - help direct the right people into your space when its hard for the parents to focus on that stuff. From educating us on what to expect, to being there for us in order to see the whole thing through, a doula became so much more than what I thought I was signing up for. They really become part of the family and an indelible asset to our birthing experience. *IN SUMMARY* Guys, if you are like me, and you're reading this right now, then you probably have a healthy amount of resistance to the idea and you're looking for something more to base an educated decision around. Because I remember thinking, .."the last thing I want to do is spend more money at a time when money is already flying out all over the place like crazy!" But of all the things when i look back that I was slightly concerned about overpaying for, investing in Kiersten & Sarah was the best decision I made! They are true pros, and in my humble opinion, they were non-negotiable to have in our corner and on our team for our 1st birthing experience. read more

Kiersten is a fellow birth and postpartum doula that I have had the pleasure of partnering with for many years. She is professional,knowledgeable and dependable. Although she can be soft spoken at times, she knows when to speak up and provide insightful and helpful input. She is a great listener and has a calming presence. I have referred many mothers-to-be and new mothers to her and they have all been so happy. I always refer out to her with confidence. If you are looking for an experienced birth and/or postpartum doula, please look into Kiersten's services. You deserve it! read more

Kiersten was such a godsend! She was our postpartum doula, and for two weeks, took fantastic care of me, my husband, and our brand new baby. She kept me well fed and rested, and made sure we had everything we needed. She was tireless. She was compassionate, understanding, and tough on me when I was trying to do too much. I ate so well when she was with us, I still miss her cooking. I would definitely have her as my postpartum doula again if I ever have another little one. read more

Kiersten has been wonderful! We haven't had the baby yet (any day now), but we instantly liked her better than the other doulas we interviewed. She is so easy to be around! She has come to our house three times, we met her at the Natural Baby Fair, and I went out to lunch with her the other day. She has been very helpful and shared many tips with us that have helped us to feel calm and prepared. Also, I recommend the Birth Education Center she is affiliated with. Everyone there is great! Thank you for everything, Kiersten!! read more

When I met Kiersten I was not aware how essential it would be to have her present when labor started. She was an angel from heaven, who took care of everyone. My labor was really long! We went through over 30 hours of labor plus a few more hours after being transferred to the hospital. She was always by my side! I had back labor and she kept putting pressure on my back, feeding me, making sure I was hydrated, pouring water over me when I was laboring in the tub, taking pictures... She was restless... She was one thousand doulas in one! She was nice, caring, loving, and I cannot imagine going through all I went through, without her. By the end, she even brought a sandwich to my husband and took very nice pictures of our first moments with the baby. She visited me after I got back home and had the patience and care to listen to me and help me with the turbulence of emotions and thoughts I was feeling. I don't have enough words to describe how important it was to have her there, or how to thank her enough for making the most beautiful and intense moment of my life so special! Kiersten, you are the best! read more

Kiersten and her doula partner became my doulas when it was clear my husband would still be deployed during my child's birth. This was only a few weeks before my due date, but she quickly got up to speed on what I wanted for my birth plan and helped me make some decisions about it too. She provided informative guidance before, during and after the birth. She helped me get through almost 30 hours of all natural labor (no drugs!), was a knowledgeable advocate, and very supportive during the birth. She provided guidance on positioning and calming techniques, pros and cons of possible interventions, as well as physical and emotional support. I had a healthy baby boy and the whole thing was actually an enjoyable experience! I would definitely recommend Kiersten to anyone looking for a doula/birth advocate! read more

My husband and I had Kiersten as our doula for the birth of our son. She was very helpful before, during, and after the birth. Before birth, she helped us finalize our birth plan and really helped me to work through some stressful family issues that were making it hard for me to focus on the upcoming birth. I had quite a long labor that was little scary at times, and Kiersten was by my side through all of it making sure I had enough to eat and drink, that I was as comfortable as possible, and sometimes just holding my hand. By the end of it, I felt like she was a third parent. I definitely couldn't have done it without her. She was right there when my husband or I needed her, but would also step back and let my husband be my primary support person when I only wanted him. After the birth, she has checked in with me and my husband several times, and has given us several tips for dealing with newborn. I would recommend Kiersten to anyone looking for a doula. read more

My husband and i decided to have a doula because we wanted to have the best shot at a natural birth. Personally, i wanted to have a doula since my mom wouldn't able to attend the birth and i needed a woman's presence and sense of calm. Also to make my husband more comfortable with my decision to go completely natural. We wanted someone who would make him feel comfortable making me feel calm, massaging me the way i want and made me feel at easy during birth. We found kiersten just by using google. We took one look at her profile and knew she was the doula for us. She came to our house a few times and really made us feel comfortable and was so knowledgeable about what the body goes through and what to expect. I dont know if i can properly desciribe the feeling of calm that came over me when i met her. She has such a beautiful presence that made both my husband and i feel comfortable. We have a 2 year old as well and she was always so sweet with her. The reasons i wanted a doula was to have a natural birth, as short as possible, minimal pain free calm during it. I can now say with 100% certainty i got all of those things. She taught me to trust my body and relax. I suffer panic attacks at certain times in my life and i was terrified i would have one during labor and i didnt, and i still havent. Knowing that about me, kiersten introduced me to hypno-birthing. At first It seemed like this strange concept of hypnotizing yourself to be calm and pain free during labor. I was so scared leading up to the days that it wouldn't work and that i was preparing myself for this expectation that would be nowhere near what i expect. But i was wrong- I had such a beautiful natural birth. 6 hours long and hardly painful- until i started to push. But that didnt last but 10 mins. Kiersten did a fabulous job of showing my husband how to keep me calm and comfortable during the whole thing. My baby is now 3 months only and is the most calm, happy wonderful baby. And i owe it all to kiersten. She allowed me to birth my baby stress free and with virtually no pain. i would have at least 2 more kids if kiersten could be my doula each time! read more

Kiersten of Y1B is an excellent support for births both near and far. I was overseas when I found out I was carrying my baby and she helped guide me to quality materials & resources. She was always available for questions via Skype or email. With her support, I developed a birth plan (which we stuck to), asked my care provider tough questions (helping me feel confident in her care) and learned how to intelligently and emotionally prepare for the gift of a new baby! So if you are looking for a doula but are miles away or lacking the $ try Kierstens "Anytime Doula" Package! read more

Kiersten was absolutely an amazing doula all around. I felt so confident after our pre-birth meetings that I went into my birth relaxed, knowing I had amazing help there with me. I had a water birth and was never without drinking water, a cool cloth on my back and constant support. All my boyfriend had to do was focus on me and all I had to do was focus on my breathing and birth...all the rest of was taken care of and I never had to worry about a thing. She had things ready for me before I knew I even needed them! Kiersten is such a great doula and truly loves what she does. Even after my birth the support was huge...coming over for follow ups, checking to make sure I was ok, bringing me a fresh squeezed juice with just the right ingredients to aid in my recovery, offering to watch Grace if I ever needed to just take a shower! Kiersten was so sincere in wanting to help in anyway necessary. She is so knowledgeable in what she does and that was a huge comfort for me especially going into my first birthing experience. You will not be disappointed with Kiersten and will go into your birth able to focus on just you and your baby, Kiersten will take care of the rest :) read more

My husband and I met with several doulas. We liked Kiersten instantly -- she has such a calming and warm personality. We decided to have her be our doula for the birth of our daughter and I can honestly say it was the best decision we ever made. It was a challenging and very long labor and delivery and she was there, supporting us and providing us with so much useful information, every step of the way. After laboring at home for 24+ hours and not progressing, she explained a position that I could try to kick start things. We were on the way to the hospital literally 30 minutes after I tried this position. She was so incredible at the hospital as well. I'm convinced that my delivery would have gone much differently had she not been there supporting and encouraging me. She is also so incredibly knowledgeable about absolutely everything regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and babies. My husband calls her the human Google. I was a total stress case about having my first baby and Kiersten made the journey so much less stressful and more enjoyable for both my husband and me. She checked in with me often even after I had our little girl and she continues to offer her support and share her knowledge. She will be part of our lives forever and I'm so happy that she shared that magical moment with us. If you are even thinking about having a doula, call Kiersten -- you will not regret it for one second. read more

My husband and I had Kiersten as our doula and she did an amazing job! She helped us through the whole experience, from prenatal to postnatal care, and she was extremely reliable. Kiersten coached me on my breathing while birthing (what I personally needed the most help with), she also helped me with positioning, relaxation, and feeding me water constantly (I was so thirsty!). At one point I didn't know what was wrong with me, due to weird pain and progression in labor, and Kiersten put me at ease with her knowledge of what was going on and what I needed to do (Sooo helpful!). Kiersten helped me with anything I needed and was on the task before my husband could even blink. My husband is wonderful and helpful, but he just didn't know what to do and didn't know how to help me, and that's why we were so thankful we got a doula! I had a natural birth and Kiersten was supportive every step of the way. I believe our birthing experience would have been stressful, and uncomfortable without Kiersten. She's very easy to communicate with, very responsible, extremely dependable. Above all, Kiersten is a loving, considerate person with a peaceful disposition. She cares a great deal about you and your one birth :) read more