Sejal is amazing. She is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to feeding tips and practices. She…read moregives the best of advice and has a network of people that she works with who are all amazing! (Chiropractor, craniosacral, ent etc). She gives her heart and soul to her clients. She supported me through bad, painful latches, underfed infant, tongue tied kid and tongue tie after care help. She is a busy woman so get in her calendar when you can. Working with sejal is the blessing you'd never have thought of

Sejal is a miracle worker and my husband, son and I couldn't be more grateful that we found her on…read moreYelp. I called her the day after we came home from the hospital - breastfeeding was so painful I would cry whenever I nursed my son. When I read her reviews and looked through her site, I thought she was too good to be true. She is as good as that, and more. She comes to your home, she is thorough, kind, professional and insanely knowledgeable about babies, mothers and the human body. Her bedside manner is AMAZING and most impressive of all, she is a baby whisperer. After her visit, we had a much better understanding of breastfeeding, and she also supplied us with an arsenal of resources, customized just for us: baby exercises to strengthen his neck (so he can be an ambi-turner and more effectively nurse both sides), cheeks and tongue; nutrition guidance for me; a pain mgmt/treatment plan for the issues from nursing incorrectly; and details about how to specifically improve where we needed to. She responded to our follow up questions and helped us refine our techniques. Please, please don't hesitate to call her if you're having any doubts or troubles with breastfeeding.

We had such a wonderful experience working with Katrina and Bridgetown baby. Their insurance…read morechecking benefits and automatic, matching with lactation consultant were extremely helpful. We were lucky enough to work with Katrina who from the very first meeting, was incredibly kind, patient, and supportive. She created a comfortable, judgment-free space where I felt heard and understood. What I appreciated most was her collaborative approach. She really took the time to listen to our concerns, answer questions thoroughly, and work together to find solutions that felt right for our family. Her guidance was practical, encouraging, and tailored to our specific situation. I'm truly grateful for her expertise and compassion, and I would highly recommend her to any family looking for knowledgeable and caring lactation support.

I recently had my second baby and unlike my first I wanted to have a lactation consultant home…read morevisit as soon as baby arrived. I have PCOS and had a low supply and tongue tie with my first and wanted to get baby checked out right away so we could do what we needed to help milk production. Rosemary was amazing and came right away and helped me navigate all the things related to breastfeeding and feeding my baby. I felt heard and very well cared for in those beginning days when you are so vulnerable. We had a follow up today and she reassured me that I'm doing everything and heading in the right direction. She was really there to listen to what I had to say and my concerns and gave the advice that I needed to feel confident and keep moving forward. So thankful for Rosemary and Bridgetown baby for the much needed support.

When I found out that our insurance was going to cover 70% of doula coverage, we knew we wanted to…read morefind our doula through Doula Love and that was how we met our amazing doula, Patty. I can write a whole essay about how grateful I am for Patty and maybe it's the hormones but reflecting to the day I gave birth to my son and the support I received from Patty makes me want to cry. On the day of my induction, Patty was with another client who was also going through an induction as well (this is a super rare case). Even though I know she was 100% present with her other client, she constantly checked in with me and reminded me I can reach out to her at any point during my induction process if I have questions or need support. She also set up a backup doula for "just in case" if I needed it. I was already laboring for 14 hours when Patty arrived, and she brought so much energy to the room and got me up and moving so I can dilate more. Patty was super supportive of my plans to do a natural birth but when I told her I was too tired and really wanted to sleep, she was fully supportive of my decision to get the epidural. I had Patty in the room with me during the epidural process and she guided me through the whole process and kept me calm. Once I got the epidural, I was able to rest but the whole time, Patty would help position my body differently so I can continue to open. She was by my side the rest of the night as I contract so my husband can also rest. As labor progress, we were told my son's heart rate was dropping when I contract and the word "c-section" was mentioned since I was only at 6cm dilated. I never mentally prepared for this so of course I started to spiral but Patty advocated for me and requested to our OBGYN team to give me more time to see if I can dilate more. Patty continues to position me differently but, in the end, c-section was the only way to ensure my son's safety. We only had a short time from the time I said "yes" to C-Section to going into the OR and the whole time, Patty was next to me, reassuring me, reminding me that no matter what the outcome will be that I get to meet my son very soon. My husband and I are extremely grateful for Patty. We strongly believe our birth story wouldn't have been so positive if it wasn't for Patty's presence, support, and guidance.

We are beyond grateful for Doula Love's matching service and for pairing us with our incredible…read moredoula, Nomarie. We were a little on the fence about hiring a doula since this was our second baby, but we really wanted that holistic, nurturing care that a hospital alone can't always provide -- and Nomarie was exactly what we'd hoped for. I'm not what you'd call a "country granola" type of mom -- I went into this birth fully planning on (and very much wanting!) all the pain relief and medical support. But there's still such an important place for a doula in that environment. Nomarie helped bring warmth, connection, and a truly holistic touch to what could have otherwise felt like a very clinical experience. From the very first meeting, she made us feel comfortable, supported, and truly heard. She took the time to understand our hopes for the birth and was such a calming, confident presence every step of the way. When labor began, Nomarie was our angel -- grounding us through every contraction, guiding my partner on how to support me, and helping us navigate all the twists and turns that came our way. Even when things got complicated after our baby was born, she never left our side. Her steady reassurance and calm energy made us feel safe and less scared during a really overwhelming moment. Looking back, I honestly can't imagine our birth experience without her. She helped us feel empowered and cared for in one of the most intense and beautiful moments of our lives. I would recommend Doula Love and Nomarie a thousand times over -- they gave us the support we didn't even know we needed.

Ashley hosted our private birth education course. Even though we had completed a birth course with…read moreour first baby, Ashley created a customized course to support us in the kind of birth we wanted the second time around. Her teaching style was warm and friendly, she made me feel so comfortable and empowered. Would highly recommend her.

I was fortunate to have Ashley as our Hypnobirthing instructor at the Birth Education Center and…read moreour birth doula for my first child (pre-COVID). My husband and I were on the fence about having a doula, but my friend who took the classes and had Ashley as a doula recommended I at least meet Ashley in person. During our hour-long chat at the coffee shop, I realized that the birth of my child would be one of the most important days of my life, and what we see on our TV and movies is FAR from how the birth experience really is. Ashley was so knowledgeable about all the hospitals/doctors/protocols, anatomy, just anything birth-related. This was helpful in having the awareness and expectation so that I could make my own decisions. I had to get induced at 38 weeks due to high blood pressure and other conditions and was basically freaking out. Ashley helped me through it and assured me that this was the right time and the right call for my situation. Her calm demeanor kept me calm. She was very hands-on and helped me throughout my labor (utilizing spinning babies technique and massage/hip squeezes), and my husband still talks about how helpful it was to have her there so that he could take a break and eat lunch! Ashley was an advocate for me during birth and I am so grateful, like when the nurse just decided to buttoned my gown up in the chest because that's more "modest" and Ashley, knowing the importance and benefits of skin-to-skin and my wishes, unbuttoned it when the nurse wasn't looking! Small things like this add up and actually mean a lot. I ended up having a beautiful and positive birth at the hospital (opted for epidural) and I have Ashley to thank for it. Ashley is one of my favorite people, and I cannot recommend her enough. She is a fairy godmother! As for the hypnobirthing...my first reaction was "I'm not a hippie," but after that meeting with Ashley, I realized it is a total misnomer, and Hypnobirthing is just relaxation methods AND birth education to help you feel confidant on the big day. I recommend taking these classes over the classes taught at hospitals which tend to be more clinical.

We are first time parents. We had booked a different doula with Brave Birth and on the day I went…read moreinto labor our doula was sick with COVID. I was grateful our contract meant that we would be provided a backup doula. I felt we lucked out because Kelly had facilitated our childbirth class so we had spent a weekend together. Kelly was not a total stranger. Kelly was in contact with my husband throughout my early labor at home and offered to come as soon as we wanted support for laboring at home. We felt so supported by Kelly's checkins and support even from afar. She encouraged Chris with specific tactics to keep labor progressing when I had a slow down before her arriving. At about hour 12 of labor my husband was exhausted from helping me through the waves. When she arrived her energy was calm and informed. Kelly's approach is consent based and empowering. I could sense her understanding of labor and her guidance was calm and direct which is what I needed. She immediately offered comfort measures such as massage and counter pressure. Both were amazing and gave Chris a much needed break. The pain of labor was intense and Kelly's energy, knowledge, and touch supported me in staying in my body. We've never done this before, Chris was anxious and wasn't sure when to make the call to go to the hospital. Kelly helped Chris feel at ease. Chris felt relieved to have someone to trade off with in the physical support of my labor. I didn't have to worry about anything except getting through each contraction. No easy feat. Unbeknownst to me Kelly and Chris would collaborate on next steps. Kelly's discretion in pulling Chris aside for next steps helped me focus on labor. Each stage of labor Kelly would come to me make eye contact and describe the next phase of labor. I usually heard it as "ok this next part is going to be harder (than the last phase) here is what is happening and how to proceed." It wasn't what I wanted to hear but it was what I needed to hear. I appreciated the clear and direct communication about what was next. It was exactly what I needed.Anytime I got stuck during active labor, Kelly would give me tips for getting through. How to breathe, how to let go, how to welcome contractions with curiosity and then let it go. Kelly was the anchor Chris needed in supporting me through labor, making sure his physical needs were met so he could continue being there for me. Kelly was my lighthouse in the stormy sea of labor. I would look up to find her or Chris and then gather the strength to sail the next wave.I got through labor and delivered our amazing little baby. Kelly advocated for me, took charge when needed, and stayed with me throughout. I was able to go into my deepest self to gather strength and power for labor. I could let go of control of everything around me because I knew Chris and Kelly were taking care of it all. In the days after our baby's birth Chris and I continually recounted that Kelly's support was vital and invaluable to our birthing experience. We would not and we're pretty could not have done it without Kelly. We are so grateful. I felt held and empowered. Kelly is an expert doula, highly intuitive, and doesn't miss any detail. Doula work is hard to define, but it fills in the gap of care for birthing people. What does it mean to really hold and care for someone as they bring new life into the world? It is powerful work and Kelly gets it.I feel like we won the lottery having Kelly as our backup doula through Brave Birth and would recommend Kelly to any pregnant person whether or not it is your first pregnancy. She is an incredible doula.

I worked with Crystal Broer for postpartum doula services. Being a first time mom with not much…read morefamily in the area, securing her in advance of my baby's arrival gave me great peace of mind to know she'd be there to help ease the transition. Crystal was fantastic. From a planning and availability standpoint, she was exceptionally professional, respectful, and on the ball. She was amazing with my baby, and most importantly gave me confidence to trust my intuition. She was calm, knew how to get things done and help around the house, but not be overly intrusive. Highly recommend.

Being pregnant with a 1 year old toddler was a challenge. I didn't have the time to attend any…read morebirthing classes to prepare myself mentally and physically. When I expressed this concern to my ob/gyn doctor, she recommended a doula/midwife. She provided me with contact information for four doula's in the South Bay. I contacted all four via email and was pleased with Dana's immediate and informative response. Unlike the others, I didn't feel pressured to pick her. I appreciated her availability, her flexibility and her willingness to help. We initially communicated via email. She answered all my questions thoroughly and put my mind at ease. Then she met with my husband and I three times before the birth of our second child. She had already explained what the meetings were for so I had an idea on what to expect. During our meetings, my toddler interrupted numerous times. I was impressed with Dana's demeanor which was very calm, kind and patient. I also appreciated the fact that she checked in every once in awhile during my pregnancy just to see how I was doing. On to my birth plan. I felt strongly about natural birth. I had to be induced during my first pregnancy due to low amniotic fluid (misoprostal, Foley catheter, breaking of my water and finally pitocin) but I managed to give birth without any pain medications. Dana was open to my feedback as she wanted to make sure my personal needs were met. I felt comfortable talking to her and she didn't make me feel insecure in any way. When my labor first started I was having very mild contractions. I sent Dana a text message to give her a heads up (I was 2 days past my due date at that point). The next day the contractions were a little stronger and more consistent. Finally that night, we went to the hospital. I waited until the doctor checked me before I called Dana. They confirmed I was dilated 6cm and I called Dana at ~2:45am. She answered the phone nicely (I felt bad for waking her) and she was at the hospital within 20 minutes! Let me just say, she was awesome. Although we didn't use any of the toys in her bag (she has a lot of tricks), she helped me tremendously by using pressure techniques and her verbal coaching. She kindly made suggestions and she knew exactly how to "handle" my personality type. She is a real people person with an amazing talent to work with people. :) My baby boy was born at 7:52am and she left the delivery room within minutes to give us privacy and allow us to bond. Thank you Dana for all that you did for us!

Dana was the doula for our first born in Dec 2012. I was hoping for a natural birth mainly because…read moreI didnt like the effects of medication and wanted to try for what could be the safest possible for my daughter. At the same time, I was flexible given things always change. We had met with two other doulas prior to meeting her. They all have different styles and I would say that we were the most comfortable with Dana. She was down to earth, flexible, not judgmental yet armed with a wealth of knowledge. It helped to know she was on my side and not necessarily pushing any specific agenda rather than to support us. My husband was initially uneasy about having "someone else" at the birth but once she educated us about what her role would be, he felt immediately comfortable. She met with us for two pre-natal visits. She talked us through various things, helped me think through many things and they were mostly relaxing and informative. It was fun to have these hour plus long sessions with her preparing for our birth, which is very different from the 10 minute appointments you get with your OB. When labor began, I timed everything and was certain it was time to go to the hospital. I called Dana and informed her of my plans. She listened to my breathing and expressed that I was not in active labor yet. I was pretty stubborn, still wanted to go, but she told me there was a chance I would be too early and they would ask me to go home. She convinced me that she should come over and access things. She showed up 30 minutes later and one look at me and she knew I wasn't there yet. I guess timing isn't everything. She stayed with me through the evening as things progressed and the pain started to get more and more intense. She did some serious hip massage (and taught my husband!) that gave me amazing relief. Everything a contraction came, she worked her magic. That alone, was worth it. Once I felt like this was getting way serious, I wanted to head over to the hospital. She didn't think I would be beyond 5cm but I insisted I was and made our way over there. She was right, I was only at 5cm. I was devastated! We spent the next few hours laboring together. It was soooo intense but she was there to guide us and remind me of all the pain-relief tactics along the way. So so so key especially when you don't get a good nurse (I didn't). I don't know how I can ever express this but it really doesn't matter which OB you have and what nurse (luck of the draw), and which hospital you deliver it, but what matters most is you have your partner with you and a good doula behind you. We were successful in delivering our baby naturally, and we have Dana to thank for a big part of that. She's awesome. I will not hesitate to hire her again in the future. Please feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.

Sherilee was super sweet! The classes were informative, fun, and really connected with our minds…read moreand bodies for both partners and birthing peoples. I loved it! I highly recommended to any mama and partner to take these classes, they are well worth it! Also, her tea blend for the raspberry leaf tea is so yummy! Especially if you aren't an avid tea drinker. The class has an interactive book that makes it easy to remember everything and some good pages that you can post up on your fridge or walls. The classes are built in a great order- As someone who plans to birth at a birth center my anxieties were lowered ALOT after these classes. And if you are planning a hospital birth or home birth, the classes work for all of them! You and your partner will appreciate these classes a lot!

Sherilee went above and beyond to build our confidence. We went into the class blind not wanting to…read morefeel overwhelmed with online info. Everyone in our class ended up being first time parents. It was a breath of fresh air to all be in it together. Sherilee was patient and supportive throughout our boot camp of classes. Extreamly imformative, built our confidence and knowledge for our new adventure. Could not recommend taking her class or interviewing doulas through birth nest services! Even after our class she's been a great resource of reassurance.

We are beyond satisfied, grateful, and fortunate to have had Heather by our side during our first…read morechild's birth. She played a key role in us having an uncomplicated pregnancy and labor that allowed both a healthy mom and child. Heather provided plenty of information backed by research, technical material, tools, experience, emotional support, and physical support to me and my husband during my pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and baby care. She guided us along the way with a comprehensive and organized curriculum, plus additional resources that we could follow up on ourselves if we wanted additional support or to further research a topic. She made us aware of the possible options during the decision-making process and allowed us to make our own decisions. Heather is a warm, kind, organized, and professional doula that definitely made us more prepared for this new chapter in our lives. We would highly recommend her if you want to feel more supported, empowered, informed, and calm for a smoother newborn experience.

Heather is a gem who I found here on Yelp. She was the first doula I interviewed when I was about 5…read moremonths pregnant and once I met with her I immediately knew I didn't need to interview anyone else. Heather is very knowledgable, genuine, and kind. She helped my husband and I ease our worries about what to expect during the whole journey and most of all helped us feel empowered and informed to make the best decisions that were right for us. She has solid resources that really helped us learn so much more about the process of pregnancy and preparing for labor. I also really appreciated her guidance on what to expect when communicating with doctors and how to navigate certain topics in order to make better decisions. I ended up going all the way to 42 weeks and Heather was amazing at helping me take it moment by moment, evaluating as we went along to still make the best decisions that felt right to us. When labor finally got going, she was wonderful at helping me feel more grounded and confident as well as being a valuable teammate with my husband. When I had moments of feeling like I wasn't sure if I could keep going, she knew exactly what I needed to help me find strength again. I was able to deliver my baby naturally the way I had wished for and can't thank her enough for her support. I also can't thank her enough for helping me to avoid an episiotomy from the delivering doctor, she's a rockstar of a doula! I highly recommend Heather, she is definitely the person you want advocating for you and on your team through pregnancy, labor and delivery.

I highly recommend Primed for Birth for birthing classes. We scheduled a private class, and could…read morenot have been happier with the ease of scheduling and the information we received. Also, Karli was very fun to chat with and learn from, and I definitely feel ready to experience the miracle of childbirth. She was great at engaging my partner and I, and really made the class fit our needs.

From the owner: Primed for birth offers childbirth prep and VBAC prep classes in Portland and Beavertonread more

Working with Kim was a wonderful experience. We initially met in person, and adapted to virtual…read moresupport with the stay in place order due to Covid-19. She led us through comfort measures via FaceTime prior to the delivery. Kim offered to FaceTime during the labor/delivery and was flexible when we chose to have my husband stay in touch via text instead (as Doulas were not allowed in the delivery room at that time). She helped us after the birth as well, checking in for updates, answering questions, and (so thankful for this) helping us pickup our second car from the hospital, as my husband and I drove separately. Kim is knowledgeable, kind, flexible, and good humored. I highly recommend her services!

From the owner: Every family deserves to have open minded support during this life-changing journey of welcoming a…read morenew baby into their family. As a Doula, I will provide emotional, physical, and educational support throughout this journey. I will help you make this a safe, memorable, and empowering experience. I will help nurture and strengthen your family as you transition into life with your new little one. Services I provide: Birth Doula Postpartum Doula Lactation Support Bereavement Support Babywearing