Tri Jessup is FANTASTIC! I'm a postpartum doula, and called The Breastfeeding Center to arrange a…read morehome visit for my client. Tri was able to come within a few days and did a phenomenal job. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable, but she is warm and compassionate. Thank you Tri! We are so grateful for your help.

This review is primarily focused on the services provided by Tamika Harris, Lactation Consultant…read moreand Shelly Matthews, Lamaze Instructor. My family worked with Tamika on a nearly weekly basis for the first two months of my child's life. Tamika far exceeded my expectations and enabled me to achieve my breastfeeding/pumping goals. Prior to meeting with her, I knew very little about breastfeeding or pumping. She helped me to figure out how much to feed my baby and how often, how to pump, what flange size and nipple shield size I needed, how much weight my child should be gaining, how to heal my nipples, what questions I should be asking my pediatrician and ob/gyn, and the list goes on and on. She is literally a treasure trove of information and resources. She has been by far the biggest asset on my breastfeeding journey. She is compassionate, encouraging, and empathetic. I cannot sing her enough praises. In preparation for delivery, my husband and I took Shelly's Lamaze class. I found her course to be more beneficial than the services/information provided by my doula. Shelly helped us to understand childbirth from beginning to end. As a result, we knew what to expect and felt incredibly prepared. During my labor, my husband and I used many of the techniques taught in class. The Lamaze class was intense and full of relevant information, but Shelly makes it entertaining and memorable. I, especially, appreciated her technique of mentioning important concepts multiple times throughout the course. Furthermore, she is a great storyteller. I highly recommend taking the Lamaze course with Shelly. I have taken other courses with the Center, including Baby Care for the Breastfeeding Family, and Breastfeeding and Pumping. Unfortunately, I was highly disappointed in these courses and did not find them to be helpful. I would not recommend these courses at the Center. Instead, there are other places in the area that do a better job at covering these topics. Overall, I think the Breastfeeding Center has been an excellent resource during my childbirth and breastfeeding journey.

We took the childbirth education and cpr classes…read more I'd recommend them. One class was held at Nidhi's residence (separate from her home) and another was at an office location in Arlington. The instructors were great. Nidhi is very knowledgeable, friendly, and open. The class sizes were pretty small and you're encouraged to ask lots of questions. There were also snacks and water which are important to me since i was pregnant and didn't want to go 2+ hours not eating/drinking anything. My husband and I brought sandwiches to one class and we were able to eat them during the class (it was around dinner time/6pm) so atmosphere is casual which I appreciate. You get an online resource packet after the class that summarizes everything covered. Should probably look at that again as i am typing this before my gassy, ornery newborn wakes up.

As a first time aunt with no previous experience with infants, I was seeking resources to help me…read morelearn the basics. it was surprisingly difficult to find information that wasn't just about pregnancy and delivery, when I was really looking for things like feeding holding, changing and what to expect in the first few months. Nested's Newborn Care/ Infant CPR Bootcamp absolitely knocked it out of the park. I learned SO MUCH about the stages baby's are going through when they're first born, the routines you're establishing, the techniques you can use to care for them and more. Renie and Migma are so nice, and so clearly so committed to what they do, I felt extremely comfortable and confident under their instruction. The class imparts so much information in a 4-hour course, and the cherry on top is that after completing the in-person and online class imparts now Red Cross certified for both Adult and Infant CPR, and feel confident in both. Even Though I myself am not expecting, I was welcomed and encouraged in my desire to learn. Whether you're an expecting parent or a loved one seeking to prepare to be an involved member of a child's early life, i really can't recommend Nested and specifically the Newborn Care bootcamp highly enough! Absolutely worth the value!

I am a repeat client of Amy's and I cannot tell you enough of how valuable she is to have in your…read moreback pocket. As a second time mom, I didn't think I would need as much help this time around with Amy. I knew how to get a good latch, how to position my body and the baby, and felt confident that I only needed minimal visits, but baby #2 had other plans in mind. Baby #2 was born at 37wks and while that's considered full term, it's actually on the early side which causes a lot of complications with feeding. My baby had trouble latching and sucking because there wasn't enough time practicing these motor skills in the womb. This resulted in the baby not being able to transfer milk, even though my milk was coming in. Amy confirmed this with her before and after weighing from a 20mins feed. I was so upset and devastated, that we had to move quickly to formula feeding to get the weight up fast because baby #2 had severe jaundice and we were trying to keep from being admitted to the hospital for phototherapy. Unfortunately, we had to be readmitted and Amy coached me through protecting my milk supply, while formula feeding and getting baby's weight up. She also reassured me that this is just a blip in our breastfeeding journey and that we will get back on track when he's healthy and clear of jaundice. I ended up upgrading my package to the Luxe because of how important it was for me to get us back to the basics once baby #2 was in the clear health-wise. I not only was able to protect my milk supply while having to formula feeding for two weeks but I also needed support in making sure once I returned back to work how to maintain a sustainable stash without oversupply, as I did with my first. I am almost 3mo postpartum and baby #2 has a great latch, is thriving in all the drs appointments, and gaining weight beautifully. At my last in home visit Amy walked through our schedule to have a successful stash, pumping schedule, and ready for baby to start daycare and me to return to work. I almost cried when she as leaving because I've appreciated everything that she has done for me and my babies. Words cannot express how much she has meant to me. I am so thankful for her wisdom, support, expertise and care she brings with her to every visit. If you are considering a lactation consultant, get on her books!! She's your go-to-guru.

I had a baby less than two weeks ago, and I can already say that the most important decision I've…read moremade postpartum is hiring Amy. I found her through a friend who had an amazing experience, and I reached out in a panic on a Sunday when my milk came in and I had no idea what to do. Her insanely fast response time was much needed; I found out the next day that our son had lost more than 10% of his birth weight and to say that I was freaking out is an understatement. Amy came that afternoon and I immediately felt like I was in great hands. She taught me how to breastfeed comfortably, got me set up with my pump, did a weight measurement to see how much he was getting with each feed, and also helped get a plan in place to get my son back to his birth weight. After the appointment she has been incredible over text/Voxer and answers questions so quickly. Feeding a baby is so stressful but with Amy's knowledge and confident demeanor, she demystifies it. I immediately signed up for the luxe package and truly wish I did this before I delivered so I would have had a plan in place and didn't have to play catch up. Still I'm so glad that I reached out to Amy and probably would have stopped breastfeeding if I hadn't. She is truly the best and I'm so grateful to have her guidance for one of the most important pieces of my life!

If you're even thinking about hiring a doula, stop debating and call Liz! She is the professional,…read morecompassionate, and knowledgeable presence you didn't know you needed but absolutely do. My husband and I couldn't have asked for a better person to have by our side during our second labor and delivery experience. I was late to the game, deciding to hire Liz toward the end of my second trimester, and she jumped in like we'd been friends for years. She listened to every detail of my first delivery (tears and all) and helped me process my fears about being induced again. Liz didn't just hear me--she held space for my feelings, validated my worries, and helped me shift my mindset in the most empowering way. On the big day, she arrived at the hospital right when my contractions were ramping up. Her calm guidance and confidence in me made the experience transformative. I wanted an unmedicated birth, and thanks to Liz's support, encouragement, and expert coaching through contractions and pushing, that's exactly what I achieved. This delivery was night and day compared to my first--it was redemptive, empowering, and everything I'd hoped for. Even my husband, a man of few words, quickly admitted after our son was born that having Liz there was a game-changer. He felt supported and reassured knowing we had someone on our team who could explain the medical lingo and navigate the process with us. Liz is truly a gem. Her calming demeanor, wealth of knowledge, and radiant smile will carry you through labor and beyond. Whether you're a first-time parent or not, she'll leave you feeling capable, cared for, and encouraged. Do yourself a favor: hire Liz. You'll thank yourself later!

I had a better experience than I could've imagined with Blanca from Balanced Birth Support. From…read moreour very first zoom she was incredibly easy to talk to and made me feel so much peace leading up to birth. Our two in person sessions before the birth were informative, and it was clear that she really wanted to understand my hopes for the experience. Ultimately, I ended up having to be induced and because that process can be long I was initially just texting with Blanca at the beginning. Even over text, she was encouraging and helped me understand what the doctor was suggesting and what next steps would look like. When she arrived I was past the point of being able to have a conversation but she immediately stepped in providing physical and emotional support and helping me get into a more comfortable/sustainable position. Everyone in the room immediately felt more calm when she showed up! When it came to pushing, I had some nurses that seemed very inexperienced, but Blanca's tangible step by step guidance throughout pushing helped everything still feel calm and under control. In addition to all of that, she took photos after the birth and was able to provide support to my partner when needed, so neither of us can imagine the experience without her. Her in person visit a few days after the birth was so meaningful because she feels like family now! I felt extremely comfortable with her throughout everything and her follow up texts have been so encouraging. It is very clear that she cares deeply about her clients as people. Additionally, I appreciated the various education emails sent by Balanced Birth Support throughout my pregnancy. Overall I would highly highly highly recommend BBS and especially Blanca!

Doula Nathalie & Associates is an incredibly supportive team. Through the online meetings covering…read morepregnancy-related topics, the childbirth classes, and the rental of a TENS unit, we felt truly supported and confident that we were with the right team. Hannah Wright was our doula, and she was incredible from the very beginning. From our first meeting, I knew she was the right person to support me and my husband during our baby's birth. She was deeply attentive, always helping me understand what I wanted and guiding me with clarity, care, and respect. I learned so much from her, and she was always checking in, offering support, and helping us make informed decisions. I had an induction and spent three days in the hospital before our baby arrived, and Hannah was consistently present, checking on us, bringing food, and being there whenever we needed her. When it was time to give birth, she arrived immediately and never left my side. I am certain that without Hannah, I would not have had the birth experience I wanted. She ensured my wishes were respected and supported me through every up and down with confidence and compassion. Hannah will always be part of our family's story.

We had a great experience! Very early in my pregnancy, I reached out to Nathalie for a doula and…read moregot a response right away. She was very informative and provided my husband and I with answers to all our questions. We were initially connected with a couple different doulas that would be available during my due date and had interviews with them -- we ended up hiring Hannah Wright. From the get-go, Hannah was amazing. She was exactly what we needed. She provided great advice throughout my pregnancy and she especially gave my husband a lot of confidence in being my support person by having her there during the actual labor and birth. She provided excellent support and kept me grounded during the entire process and immediately stepped in and started providing all the tips and tricks in her wheelhouse to help me cope during my fast and intense epidural-free birth. I would certainly recommend her to anyone else. As for the more administrative end of things, we also have no complaints. Communication was excellent, the contract process with was very clear and straightforward, and we found the doula rates very reasonable.

Had a wonderful experience with Becca/Rebekah. She provided us with an introduction to parenthood…read moreincluding diapering, sleep habits, and answered our million questions. We felt incredibly supported.

Having a baby is one of the most rewarding yet terrifying things you can experience in life. If…read moreyou're a parent you already know how the hospital just sends you on your way after a few days in recovery with no instruction manual or help desk number. Luckily my wife did some research and convinced me to hire doulas. We had the pleasure of working with Betsy and her team of doulas who consistently perform magic to soothe and care for our baby. Simultaneously, they teach us parenting techniques, act as our therapist, and most importantly allow us to catch up on sleep. They truly provide care to the whole family. It's also a lot better than having in laws come "help". I definitely recommend Metropolitan Doulas. It has 100% helped me enjoy being a new dad with their help to reduce the fear and anxiety of being a new parent.

After my baby was in the NICU for two weeks and unable to feed, I had trouble with nursing him. I…read morehad an oversupply and sore nipples from pumping, combined with a baby with a lot or reflux. I rented a pump through them that they made available at Children's National and when I went to return it, I noticed they had in-person appointments. I had seen several other lactation consultants virtually, but none of them were actually able to help me. Everyone said everything looked gine and to use a nipple shield. I was getting ready to give up on nursing and just pump (but that was double the work, so I wanted to find a solution. My appointment with Susan solved all my problems. We did not feel rushed at all and had plenty of time to troubleshoot. The office is very warm and welcoming. They also can come to your home, but I preferred to get out of the house. She took a good look at the latch and helped show me how to pull down his chin slightly to help with his latch. She showed me the best way to feed to help with his reflux and even gave me a little bit of a compounded ointment for my nipples to help with the pain I was having. This was the turning point for us. After that session things got much better. We still had to work on what Susan showed us, but after a few weeks, we finally could enjoy feedings. Baby is now 6 months and nursing has become second nature at this point. I am very thankful to Susan and Metropolitan breastfeeding for providing exceptional service and not only supporting breastfeeding, but supporting NICU moms by providing hospital-grade pumps at the actual hospitals. I am now returning to work and made an appointment so that I can figure out how to continue to provide my baby with breastmilk as I handle a very busy work/travel schedule. I saw many negative reviews regarding cost and sale of items, so I figured I would mention my experience. My experience was great. I did not have a copay but I did have to pay a copay for baby. It will depend on your insurance though, but I didn't have any surprises. For supplies, I was surprised to see the negative reviews. I didn't have any pressure to buy anything from them, nor did I realize they sold anything except for nursing pillows. During my session we used the pillows to feed and I really liked them, so I did buy one, but at no point did I feel like they even wanted me to purchase anything.

Do not go here unless you want to pay out of pocket TWICE. I've been to two other lactation…read moreconsultant groups and finally found one I love and this has been a non issue. Metropolitan Breastfeeding charges you TWICE- one charge for the mom and one for baby and because their costs are so high you're left with a bill after insurance pays their costs. What ridiculous business that claims to support new women treats the mother and new baby as two separate charges when they're there for one appointment? Don't waste your time coming here... very shady and not discussed or mentioned upfront.

Joya was a Godsend! Being pregnant during the pandemic was incredibly taxing and I wanted to set…read moremyself up for success in the 4th trimester when we brought our daughter home. We knew because of COVID we wouldn't have the hands on support from loved ones that new parents need and there are truly no words to describe how much Joya's support meant to me. We initially booked a mix of day and night sessions the first 6 weeks and ended up extending until I went back to work at 12 weeks because I wasn't ready to let her go! The overnight sessions meant this exhausted mama could sleep, something that was so foreign those first few weeks. And while for a brief moment it seemed like a true luxury, it was actually an investment in my health and healing from labor and delivery which ended in an emergency c-section. Joya helped me get the most ideal latch and hold the c-section (maneuvering baby around incision was tough), maintain a robust supply and also build a decent stash in the freezer. When my supply dipped she helped me get it right back up. Because we didn't have access to in person childcare classes, I had quit a bit of anxiety about bringing baby home that I didn't expect since I had so much hands on experience with my Godchildren. Joya eased my first bath anxiety because I was worried I'd either make the water too hot and hurt her or too cold and make her uncomfortable, she showed us how to help baby receive gas, as gas was the culprit in our hardest nights, and even organized her room in a way that made middle of the night diaper (and sometimes clothing) changes easier. Most helpful of all her support was establishing good sleep habits and routines with our daughter that i'm sure will be life long if we keep up with her suggestions. At 3mos, she's slept through the night 4 times, so I think we're on the cusp of consistent restful nights ourselves! This was critical for me because sleep plays a huge factor in their development, behavior and overall wellness. Our baby is HARD to put down - sometimes we rock her for nearly 30 minutes - but has gotten easier over time the more we stick with tips from Joya. I felt like I had a shoulder to lean on in Joya, I felt seen and heard and no question seemed too small to ask. We only know what we know as first time parents and she gently and honestly offered her best guidance. I miss her already!!! I plan to bombard her with regular updates and cute pics of our daughter :)

As many parents can relate, kids go through different sleep patterns in their short life. Around…read more2, my daughter was very dependent on me to fall asleep. I reached out to Joya based on a recommendation and she gave me some good advice and a plan which helped so much. A year later at 3, my daughter once again had sleep "issues". I once again reached out to Joya for help, I was so tired and desperate. She explained how toddler sleep training works and laid out another plan for me to follow. Within 3 days, we were all finally sleeping again! Joya is a baby whisperer! She is easy to work with, personable and has a wealth of knowledge. Thanks to Joya, we've all been sleeping well for the past few months!

We are incredibly grateful to have had Katie as our doula. She is professional, deeply experienced,…read morecompassionate, and exceptionally skilled at working with medical providers while always advocating for her clients. As someone of advanced maternal age with a pregnancy complicated by hypertension, I felt supported and informed every step of the way. Katie was a steady, reassuring presence throughout pregnancy, induction, and birth. She helped us navigate complex medical decisions with clarity and confidence, and her calm advocacy made a meaningful difference in our experience. We felt heard, respected, and empowered throughout the entire process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Katie is exceptional at her job, and an amazing human being. My wife and I were both very anxious…read moreeven before we were expecting for the first time. My wife needed someone who could instill calmness, provide information, and accommodate her preferences for labor. I needed someone who could help me be the involved partner i wanted to be through the childbirth process and after. That is why once we found out we were expecting we were looking for a doula to help us sort through the tons of information on preparing for childbirth, childbirth itself and the medical, personal, and other choices associated with it. Katie is an expert's expert, but is able to talk through different topics in a way that helped put us at ease. She's friendly and funny, which helps when she is walking through medical decisions, how to talk to doctors, how to talk to family, considerations and questions we have as first-time parents. She also makes herself available by phone and text when we have questions at random hours with baby. On top of all that, after our baby girl was born, she was able to follow up with us and help teach us a few tricks here and there as well as answer questions we had as things came up.

I was really happy to find someone that I could trust to help me make good child care decisions,…read moreeven when I didn't think I had many options since I am so picky. She noticec of some things I didn't even know about and she was really fast with responding, which I like since I'm in meetings most of the day. I'm so grateful I got a few things crossed of my list just in time for the new year.

The professional and courteous service was above and beyond what I've received from other agencies…read more I've since recommended Ms. Jessie Marie to family, friends & colleagues.