Melissa, I wanted to…read moretake a brief moment and share how wonderful it has been to get to know you and meet you. I will say that I do not believe that Jamie (my wife), or myself would have made it through the birthing process without your class, your coaching and your advice. The experience that we had with Doulananda was one that cannot be fully expressed in words and is worth more than any bank account could hold. In a simple phrase, what Doulananda services provide is: The Piece of Mind for Husband and Wife so that our child could enter Peacefully into this world!! I will be the first to admit that when my wife brought the idea of taking hypnobirthing classes to my attention, I pushed it off and thought it would be a waste of time. My profession has me in the Operating Room and Surgical Suites on a daily basis, with multiple touch points and close relations with OB/ GYN Surgeons. Having close connections and interactions with surgeons, specifically, OB's, I never thought anything different than having our children in hospitals. I figured, since I worked at all of them, I knew enough people and my way around, that it would be a great experience. Reality was it was a completely different story... My Wife and I attended Melissa Johnson's Hypnobirthing class, and this was a huge game changer when it came time to deliver our child. This class brought peace of mind to the birthing process, as well as ensured that we had prepared a plan for our child's birth. Even though we took the class once, we plan on taking it again before the births of our next children. This was an exceptional class with calming and relaxation methods that truly work. I am an extremely busy person, and for Melissa to be able to bring my mind at ease was a huge success and for that I am extremely grateful! Looking back, after our daughter's birth, there are some things we plan to do different for the next child. We are truly blessed with our daughter and we feel that she came into this world as was intended for our paths at that time. However, now knowing what the hospital experience is like, we plan to ensure we have Melissa lined up for our Doula, and are going to try to deliver at a birthing center. These are our plans for now and will post a review after the happenings. In conclusion, if you are thinking about taking a Hypnobirthing Class, I highly encourage it!! I was extremely skeptical at first, but am now so thankful that I took the class with Melissa Johnson. Secondly, from my experience in the hospital situation, we will definitely be hiring a Doula for the next birth. Even with knowing the hospital staff and knowing the ins-and-outs of a hospital, the birth of a child is very special, and having a doula present will allow me the opportunity to just be with my wife, and the doula will be able to handle all of the other challenging questions and happenings. Melissa, thank you for your services and all that you do to educate on how to create a peaceful, memorable and joyous birthing experience! Thank you, John L., BSME

When I began having children ten years ago, all I wanted was a normal, natural birth. But my first…read morepregnancy was a twin pregnancy, and for medical reasons my twin girls had to be delivered via scheduled c-section. My next three births each came slightly closer to my original wish -- three VBACs -- but each was filled with unintended interventions I never wanted. Even with five beautiful babies I'd always left the hospital disappointed in my birth experiences somehow. When I found out I was pregnant with my sixth child, I decided to be more proactive this time. I was determined to achieve a drug-free birth. I'd heard of Hypnobirthing in passing from an acquaintance and told my husband I was thinking of learning how to use it for the birth of our new baby. I was afraid he would be reluctant; he is a pediatrician and I was afraid he'd think it was too "out there." But he completely encouraged me, telling me there was a lot of medical research that supports the use of hypnosis to reduce the perception of pain. We scheduled private classes with Melissa and both of us loved every one. We already knew a lot about birth, but Melissa's classes really reinforced what I already knew in my heart: I could give birth more comfortably, I could trust my body, and I was more than just a bystander in this process. She also opened our eyes to different ways of doing things in a hospital birth and I left her classes feeling so empowered to have more control over my birthing environment. I loved practicing the Hypnobirthing techniques -- the relaxation practice was like a little gift I could give myself after my other children had gone to bed at night. This labor proved challenging emotionally for me because I had a long prodromal labor that stopped and started over and over for several days. Even though I lived two hours away, Melissa was such a huge support to me over the phone, reassuring me that I was still normal, that all of this was bringing my baby closer to me. Mentally she was a huge boost to me over those days. After having surges every 10 minutes since 5am, around midnight my husband said I'd had some closer together and suggested we go to the hospital. I went but remember thinking it was silly because I wasn't that uncomfortable. Using the techniques we'd learned from Melissa made everything so easy and manageable. When we got to the hospital at 1am, the surges were 5 minutes apart. By 1:30am they were 2 minutes apart. I was still feeling very comfortable. The obstetrician and nurses read my birth plan and were completely supportive. The OB told me it was my show and to let him know when I needed him. Using new labor positions I'd learned from Melissa, coupled with the hypnosis techniques, made everything very manageable for me. In fact I kept waiting for it to get more painful and it never did. I remember thinking that normally I was asking for an epidural right now, and this time I didn't need it at all. We talked and laughed between surges. It was so much more relaxed than my other births. Just after 3:30 told the nurse I was feeling pushy. She checked me and said I still had a ways to go, at 7cm and 80% effaced. She left the room, my waters released, and my husband had to call her right back in -- my baby was born less than 5 minutes after that check, at 3:40am. Melissa's Hypnobirthing class and the techniques we learned in it allowed me to finally have the birth I'd always wanted. It was an extremely quiet and peaceful labor. My husband was more involved during the labor than he ever had been, because Melissa had given him so many specific ways he could help me. Instead of waiting for me to tell him how to help, he knew what to do. It was wonderful. My nurse said I did "amazing" and she could not believe how calm I was. I think back on that day fondly. What an amazing gift Melissa gave to us -- such support, such peace, such empowerment! Her teaching and the Hypnobirthing techniques literally changed our whole perception of birth. We can never thank her enough!

My husband and I both highly recommend Terri. She supported us through the birth of our first…read morechild, and we truly can't imagine going through the experience without her. What started as plans for an unmedicated birth ultimately became an induction followed by an unplanned C-section. Terri was with us every step of the way, helping us stay calm, informed, and grounded throughout the entire process. She was an incredible support not only to me, but also to my husband, and helped us advocate for ourselves and get creative with our medical team around laboring positions and pain management strategies. Even after taking birthing classes and feeling well prepared, we were still extremely grateful to have Terri by our side during labor and delivery. Outside the L&D room one of the best parts of working with her was having someone help us talk through what we hoped for in our birth experience, process what actually happened afterward, and provide us with a written birth story. If we're lucky enough to be expecting again in the future, Terri will absolutely be one of our first calls.

Terri was incredible and my birth experience was wonderful directly because of her involvement. She…read moreis warm, kind, caring, thoughtful, sweet, and funny and having her with me every step of my journey was incredible. She helped me craft my birth plan with zero judgement and then walked with me through a very long, difficult, and decision-heavy labor. Any time a nurse, doctor, or midwife offered suggestions, I cleared the room except for myself, my husband, and Terri and she gave me the information and support I needed to make the best decision for myself and our baby. I truly cannot recommend Terri enough and I want her to be at every single one of my births.

Merrie was one of the best decisions we made during our birth journey. As we prepared for a VBAC,…read moreshe helped calm both my husband's and my fears with a level of knowledge, reassurance, and confidence that was truly invaluable. She never pushed an agenda - instead, she empowered us with information, supported our wishes, and helped us feel prepared every step of the way. During labor and delivery, she was an incredible advocate while also working seamlessly alongside the medical team. Her ability to strike that balance - supporting us wholeheartedly while fostering a collaborative environment with our doctors and nurses - made us feel genuinely cared for. Beyond her expertise, Merrie is simply an amazing human being. Compassionate, calming, intuitive, and deeply invested in her clients, she made one of the most important days of our lives so much better than we ever could have imagined. I truly cannot recommend her enough. If we're lucky enough to have another baby, Merrie will be my very first phone call to make sure she's available for the birth.

I truly cannot say enough amazing things about Lauren. Going into birth as a first-time mom, I was…read moreabsolutely terrified. From the very beginning, Lauren made me feel safe, supported, and completely cared for. She has such a calming presence, and she gave me the confidence I didn't even know I had. Lauren was with us every step of the way--starting months before I delivered--helping us prepare for labor and delivery with thoughtful education, helpful advice, and so much reassurance. When it came time for labor, she advocated for me in ways I will forever be grateful for. Her expertise not only helped move my labor along more efficiently, but she also helped me manage the discomfort in ways that made such a difference. Both my husband and I felt so thankful she was by our side. Having our first baby felt a lot less overwhelming because Lauren was there guiding and supporting us through it all. She even came to visit after our son was born, which meant so much to us. I genuinely cannot imagine having another baby without her. If you're considering hiring Lauren--do it. I cannot recommend her more highly. She is an incredible doula and an even more incredible person.

Bolder Birth and Baby Doula Services is the right choice to make at such an important time in your…read morelife. Jill is a kind souls who has such a welcoming energy you are instantly at ease with her! I contacted her very late in my pregnancy and we couldn't meet more than twice before my birth but she felt like family comforting me in my time of need. My birth was the most ideal moment, I got so much more than the photographer I set out to find. Words can't explain how amazing Jill was! She had everything so well prepared and thought out. I could write a novel about her details! Such a wonderful addition to such an intimate experience. I highly recommend her service!

From the owner: Congratulations parents! The journey to your child's birth is one that you will never forget. The…read moresupport of another woman during birth is an ancient tradition, it's importance often forgotten with the emergence of technology. Present day doula's however, are trained in the delicate balance between the technology of today and the secrets of our wise woman ancestors. Every woman deserves this support and to have access to the tools that will make birth a more positive experience. Hiring a doula results in shorter labors with fewer complications. Families tend to have shorter hospital stays, less complications, and breastfeed more easily. A doula can support the whole family and is beneficial for any kind of birth plan from cesarean to home birth. There is a wide range of birth services in the Longmont and Boulder area; it's so important to find the right person for you. Call or email for a face to face interview to discuss your birth preferences.

With all the great reviews I had high hopes for the birth center. My first impression was great and…read moreI loved the atmosphere. Unfortunately I would give zero stars if I could. I went in for an ultrasound around 7 weeks and I was told I had a miscarriage and was misdiagnosed with a blighted ovum by Angela. She prescribed me an abortion pill to clear my uterus of the "non-viable" tissue. She encouraged me to take it the next day without having had any blood work done or follow up bloodwork and ultrasounds which I have learned is standard before prescribing the pill and making an official diagnosis. Luckily I did not take the pill and for the first time in my life got a second opinion at bch the next week. They found my baby clear as day with a healthy heartbeat. For an entire week I was in mourning as was my fiance. We told everyone we had a miscarriage and it was hard to go back and tell them we had not. During the ultrasound Angela was very unprofessional as were the rest of the staff involved. It was transvaginal and the exam room led into the waiting room.. people kept coming into the room without knocking and asking to use the ultrasound machine while the midwife was in the middle of diagnosing us with a miscarriage. It felt very rushed and our midwife even took a personal phone call in the middle of all of this. I am now 4 months into a perfectly healthy pregnancy and I wonder how many people have been misdiagnosed here and did not get a second opinion. Their negligence very nearly killed my daughter.

I had my second child here and it was wonderful! Much better than the hospital experience I had…read morewith my first. Almost 4 years ago now and we're coming back for the birth of our 3rd. My husband, daughter and I all had a great experience here with our 2nd child's birth and can't imagine going anywhere else now that we've got another on the way. My husband tells all the soon to be dads he knows about how wonderful it was for him as well feeling included and not a bystander in the birth of his child. They are competent, compassionate and I never feel like I'm being rushed out or pushed to finish our appointments before all my questions are answered. Definitely recommend this wonderful place to everyone.

Service: Labor and Birth Doula Context: Father, 2nd Child,…read more1st at-home birth Despite our preparations, our first birth taught us that we can always know, prepare, and expect more. We met Julie in our doula interviews early in our preparations, and with our first home-birth, we knew we needed someone with the knowledge to build our trust, the confidence to direct when needed, and the serenity to alleviate our anxieties. Julie brought every one of those to the table, and more! During our first birth, I couldn't help but feel like a third-wheel, understanding key parts of the birth, but serving mostly as an observer, with the occasional comforting words. In preparation for our 2nd, Julie offered both live Q&As, and preparatory, informative, and engaging classes, which helped prepare not only my wife, but myself in both what to expect and how to engage with each part of the birth. Rather than only observing, or waiting for direction, I became an active participant, predicting and understanding my wife's needs, while also being able to adapt as needed. As labor's frequently do, ours started late in the night, and with a quick call, Julie assessed the situation and determined to come over to help, even in the early stages. As a doula, she helped guide us into active labor, recognizing when we hit hurdles, and confidently and calmly discussed alternative positions and practices. Serving not only as doula, she frequently provided updates that would help our midwife determine how far along we were, and stayed by Laura's side through delivery! In the interest of time, I'll end with an appreciation of Julie's ability to frequently bridge the gap when all the participants became a little too single-minded; Julie would swoop in, suggesting breaks, and even cooking up some delicious meals! Even afterwards, Julie visited and brought a smorgasbord of home-cooked foods, taking the weight off of running a household, and letting my wife, my children, and myself, take time to simply be with each other. Thank you so much, Julie, for not only being what my wife needed, but helping me to be the same! P.S. For the Mother's perspective, Laura's review should post soon!

I'm so happy awakening mother is now on yelp! I met Julie at her Aquarian circle. I was pleased to…read moreget to know her and learned that she was a doula, I was researching to find one since I was recently pregnant. The more I got to know her, the more I felt she was perfect for me during this birth journey of mine! She is kind, patient, smart, nurturing, thoughtful, and so much more! She has deepened my knowledge of kundalini yoga, meditating and chanting. I feel so fortunate to have found Julie, she is truly an angel. I recommend her to everyone who is pregnant or wants to get pregnant. I am so happy that she has added hypnobabies to her doula services, I find it to be quite helpful. I want to scream from the mountain top to spread the word of what a gift Julie is, but in the same breath I want to keep her all to myself, she's that wonderful! If you're looking for any of the aforementioned services, look no more, Julie is the one!

Amy is a caring soul who knows how to nourish ones body and soul…read more Though her massage, my body felt rejuvenated and relaxed throughout my pregnancy. I've enjoyed massages in her home and mine. Both are great- when I get the massage at my home, I can immediately melt into my bed afterwards. When I get the massage at her home, I can fully relax without the stress and chaos of my house filtering in. I highly recommend Amy's services.

We're so happy to have found Amy as our Doula…read more She provided a calming presence and was extremely helpful as an advocate for us during our birth experience. She got along well with the nurses and doctor, which we heard may not always happen... and she had a nice bag of tricks that came in handy during labor. Her background in message and life coaching were perfect tools that helped us tremendously! We feel so lucky to have had such a great first birth experience. Amy definitely helped make it happen that way for us!!