The midwives at M.A.M.A.S. are absolutely wonderful! They not only are qualified medical…read moreprofessionals, but amazing companions and confidants in the journey to welcoming a baby. Prenatal appointments are thorough and not rushed, and care is all encompassing beyond just the growing baby. Postnatal care is frequent and truly feels like care, rather than a checklist. Beyond their care alone, the midwives create a beautiful community not only during the prenatal period but long after. We love each of the midwives and feel so lucky to know them and been under their care. I'd recommend the M.A.M.A.S. care team to anyone looking for compassionate, evidence based care, whether for home birth or well women's care.

The MAMAS midwives offer thorough, empathetic prenatal care and postpartum support. Emily and…read moreLuisely supported me expertly through a fast, intense birth, and I am so grateful to them. MAMAS is an out-of-network practice for many, and I wish there were more guidance offered about how to navigate the insurance hurdles. Admin staff is only part-time and many of my emails went unanswered. I asked a lot of questions in person as well, and I didn't receive some key information about gap exceptions that would have made the process less stressful. As expected, I received only a small reimbursement from my insurer, and it took several months of emails and calls for MAMAS to realize they had received the check from my insurer and forward it to me.

Catherine is truly an amazing doula. From the moment we met during our interview, I instantly felt…read morea connection with her. Her beliefs, experience, and knowledge aligned perfectly with what I was looking for. Even though I was a little late in the game searching for a doula, I knew I wanted someone by my side to support both my husband and me--and Catherine did just that and so much more. She helped me create a thoughtful birth plan, regularly shared helpful information, and was always available whenever I needed her. She even came to our home to guide us through exercises to prepare for labor. When the big day came, she was incredible--staying by my side the entire time, coaching me, encouraging my husband, and providing the positivity I needed most. She also advocated for me and my birth plan after my little one was born, which meant so much. Even after delivery, Catherine continued to check in and support me, showing just how much she truly cares. I 110% recommend her to anyone looking for a doula, and I will absolutely be reaching out to her again for any future pregnancies.

Catherine is a kind and loving person. She has great communication skills and very quick to respond…read morewhen you book a consult. She is very knowledgeable about many different things to help you through your birth process.

I signed a contract with Nova Birth Services LLC in July of 2025. In order to secure the doula…read morebirth and postpartum overnight services, we paid a 50% deposit on both services totaling $3050. In November, I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and hospitalized. Due to my condition, I had to deliver my baby early via emergency c-section at just over 31 weeks. My baby is currently in the NICU. I wasn't able to have a prenatal in-home visit due to my hospitalization and was given very short notice of my emergency C-section due to my declining health. After my birth, I was put on magnesium, and my baby was sent to the NICU. My husband and I were both so terrified that the last thing I was thinking about was having my doula attend. I was afraid for me and my baby. I reached out to Shannon after my birth and asked if I could cancel the postpartum doula services because of the new financial strain of NICU costs/my hospitalization. She informed me that if I canceled the postpartum doula services, that both contracts would be void, and all services would be considered rendered. Remember, I did not receive a prenatal visit nor birth services due to my medical condition & hospitalization. The contract I signed stated that if the doula wasn't at your birth, you would be entitled to eight hours of postpartum services. Shannon explained that because I paid a 50% deposit on both services, none of the services were paid in full so I would receive nothing else moving forward. Although we had paid $3050 and the birth doula services were $2100, I would need to pay an additional $900 in order to receive the eight hours of postpartum services. She said I could "take it or leave it" and that she would not move money from one contract to another. I was shocked at her response. There was no solution offered where I could receive any services post-birth for the $3050 we had paid. More money had to be paid. This was literally the worst experience of my entire life, and I received no care or compassion at all from Shannon. She maintained that her responsibility was to her staff/business. During our phone call, I was talking about my hospitalization and she mentioned that all of her clients were hospitalized. I clarified that I wasn't hospitalized because I was giving birth. I was hospitalized due to severe preeclampsia and potential organ failure. Trying to work things out with her made a horrible situation even more stressful and terrible. She refuses to budge and maintains that we will not receive any postpartum services if we don't pay extra. My husband and I feel as though we have paid $3050 and have received nothing. We did not receive a prenatal appointment, doula birth services, or any postpartum care. Please see the last email I received from her.

First -- if you're on the fence about hiring a doula for your first baby, do it. And if you're…read morewondering who to choose, the answer is Shannon. As a first-time dad, I can honestly say Shannon was invaluable -- not just for my wife, but for me too. From the start, she made us feel comfortable, informed, and genuinely prepared for what was ahead. She has this calm, thoughtful, and considerate presence that immediately lowers the temperature in the room. Nothing ever felt rushed or overwhelming because she helped us understand what was happening and what our options were. During labor, Shannon was incredible. She didn't just support my wife -- she supported us as a team. She walked us through next steps, explained the choices being presented, and made sure we felt confident in our decisions. One thing that really stood out to me was how she helped me help my wife. She showed me exercises and techniques I could guide her through to ease labor and keep things progressing. That made me feel involved and useful instead of helpless, which meant a lot. After the birth, Shannon's support didn't stop. She came to our home for a postpartum visit and helped us process the entire experience. She walked us through what to expect physically and emotionally in the days and weeks ahead, what to watch out for, and answered all of our first-time parent questions without judgment. She even helped find us a pump -- such a thoughtful and practical gesture that shows how much she truly cares. Shannon doesn't just provide information -- she provides confidence. As new parents, that's everything. We felt supported, knowledgeable, and empowered every step of the way. We can't recommend her highly enough. If you're considering working with Shannon, you will not regret it.

My experience with Angela at Body and Soul Healing Arts was excellent and rose above my…read moreexpectations. We started out with a thorough history. Angela really gets to know her clients. She asked me some details about my own birth, and we talked about what was going on with my health both physically and emotionally. The treatment involved some great bodywork and massage, energetic work, essential oils, chakra work, and more. I felt incredibly calm after the treatment and have noted that my anxiety levels are significantly decreased since the treatment. Angela has not only studied to learn her trade but she also has a natural talent and ability for the work that she does. I would find her incredibly helpful to expectant moms. I have already referred my sister, who is due Feb 1st with her second child, to see Angela before she delivers. I highly recommend this gifted practitioner!

I left my appointment with Angela feeling much more relaxed as well as physically and mentally…read morebetter prepared for labor and my second baby. She has a wonderful energy! This session was better than a regular prenatal massage, especailly since she really took time to discuss a previous traumatic birth and help me to work through some of the issues around that experience. I definietly recommend seeing her.

If you're interested in a home birth + midwife around Takoma Park, look no further. Rachel is…read moreprofessional and empathetic, reassuring and earnest. If I could have all of my babies with Rachel, I would. This is my 5-star experience from start to finish: Pregnancy: I reached out to her when I had a subpar bedside manner experience at George Washington Hospital for my low-risk pregnancy. I couldn't imagine moving forward in maternity care with rotating OBs and random residents. I really wanted a home birth, but also wanted to find a midwife who would have an emergency transfer plan and not recklessly force a home birth. Cue Rachel! My husband and I both looked forward to cozy monthly appointments with her--she ensured that we were educated on important topics by guiding us through a few discussion points at every meeting. I never felt overwhelmed by information (or at a loss of what to ask). If she wasn't 100% certain about an answer to a question, she was honest about it and pointed me towards resources. Labor & Delivery: As I approached my due date, she was available by phone to discuss my uncertainty about whether or not my water broke. She arrived within an hour of us calling during active labor. She was with me during literally every contraction, tirelessly applying counter pressure, checking baby's heart rate, guiding my breath, and juggling a billion other things that I didn't know about. When I hemorrhaged during birth, she so acted quickly and calmly with Pitocin and a fundal massage that I didn't even realize the severity of the situation. There is nothing as delightful as being in my own bed eating my own food 10 minutes after giving birth, and Rachel facilitated it all so gracefully. Home births are messy (duh) and Rachel brought so much equipment, but she and the second midwife left our apartment cleaner than when they came. Postpartum & Misc Thoughts: I had so many follow-up appointments with Rachel where we were able to address everything from my baby's health to breastfeeding to my physical wellbeing and spiraling emotions. Paying a flat fee for ALL pregnancy through postpartum care is amazing--no hidden bills or up-charged items at the hospital (she administered multiple IVs during labor and didn't have to think twice about $$). There's an annual community gathering of her current and past clients, which is really special! The bond we built over the span of 9 months with Rachel is incredible and she will forever be an important person in our lives.

I had the most incredible experience with Rock Creek Midwifery and cannot recommend them highly…read moreenough. Rachel, my midwife, was gentle, caring, and deeply respectful of my needs, while also being completely professional and grounded in her expertise. Throughout my pregnancy, Rachel led me through so much more beyond standard care - like prenatal nutrition, emotional well-being, and many "what if? have we considered...?" topics. I never felt rushed during our appointments. When labor came, it lasted much longer than expected, but Rachel guided me through every moment, keeping me focused and positive. Working closely with my doula, she created a series of labor positions that helped my sunny-side-up baby make his way earthside. Her skills, patience, and steady presence were everything I needed. After the birth, Rachel continued to show up with the same care and professionalism through at-home postpartum visits, which supported my goal of self-imposed bed rest and allowed me to stay in a peaceful bubble of recovery. I felt truly cared for from start to finish. If you are considering a home birth, I wholeheartedly recommend Rachel and Rock Creek Midwifery.

I had a wonderful experience with my daytime doula Iyonna and evening doula Stephenie. Both were…read morevery helpful and knowledgeable which is so important for expectant mothers who need extra help cause newborns require so much and new moms need the time off to relax or just do... anything else. It feels endless and overwhelming at times. And it was wonderful to have the extra pair of hands so that I could sleep at night and take care of errands, get out of the house, grab food, and visit my older daughter in daycare during the day.

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.

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.

The womb room is amazing!! They offer so many classes for before baby or after. I took advantage of…read morethe free virtual prenatal yoga classes, pregnancy support group and baby and me yoga. Yoga is so fun to connect with my baby and also other moms. Plus Amanda is a great instructor! Some of their other classes are on the pricey side is the only thing but it's such a great resource for moms! Also their location can be a bit tricky to find but the main door is off Keswick Rd (and is stroller friendly). Walk in past the dress shop and bare to the right. There's a big parking lot in the back.

This review is is for the doula services and support groups (becoming a mom and breastfeeding)…read more I like that the becoming a mom group has a rotation of doulas who lead the group each week. That way you end up inadvertently meeting the different doulas. We went with Cara. She has a ton of experience and super chill vibe. Our hospital was not allowing extra visitors due to COVID so we signed up for a virtual doula service. She met with us a few times before the birth to review questions, birth plan, and provide support. She was also available via email for random questions that came up in between. The day of my labor I reached out to her as needed and she guided me through some of the decisions we had to make. Her support made it so that I could better advocate for myself and my baby during my labor. She was 100% supportive of all my decisions and in the end I ended up having a beautiful and quick birth. I am so happy we got a doula and recommend it to anyone no matter what type of brith you are planning on having. I found the groups to be more helpful towards the beginning of my pregnancy, especially as it was a time that COVID was just ramping up. The only issue is that the people in group vary from week to week. I think it would be nice to be able to connect with the same group from week to week so there is some continuity.

Sanu Postpartum Retreat has some positives, but unfortunately, the cons outweigh them for me…read more **Pros:** - The staff and doulas were very friendly and helpful, which was a highlight of my stay. - They offered a complimentary massage to make up for being short-staffed the first night, which I appreciated. - Baby essentials like diapers and wipes were provided, as well as postpartum necessities for mom, including pads, diapers, and a peri bottle. - They were accommodating with offers to watch the baby in-room for day naps. - The hotel itself was clean and well-maintained. - The infant classes were informative, albeit very short (around 10 minutes each). - The 24/7 open line of communication through WhatsApp with the staff and doulas was very convenient. It made it easy to get help or ask questions at any time. **Cons:** - The facility was occasionally short-staffed, meaning there were times they couldn't respond to baby care requests promptly. - The nursery camera had frequent outages and only provided a limited view of the baby's bassinet. If the baby was being changed or soothed elsewhere, they were out of sight, which was very concerning. After I complained, they made arrangements to hold my baby in a private room where she could be seen on camera at all times. While I appreciated this effort, it didn't seem to be the standard, and I had to request it again the next night. - The food quality was disappointing--overcooked dishes like mac and cheese, steak, and chicken were common. - Meal policies felt restrictive; moms were only allowed one entrée per meal (no appetizers or desserts), which differed from older welcome packets that mentioned more options. - There were also supply issues--one evening, I ordered shrimp, but they were unavailable, forcing me to choose another dish. - The menu lacked variety, staying the same throughout the stay. - The parent lounge snacks were underwhelming--just chips and granola bars. This was disappointing, especially since the hospital where I delivered offered a much better variety of snacks for free. Breastfeeding makes you very hungry, and with meals spread so far apart (7 a.m.-10 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m.), I had to order snacks from the grocery store during my stay. A more thoughtful selection of snacks would have been a great benefit. - Many appealing amenities came at an additional cost: massages, IV treatments, partner meals, parking, and more. These extras add up quickly. Overall, while the idea of a postpartum retreat is fantastic, the execution at $880/night felt far from luxurious. Too many corners are being cut, and the experience didn't feel as relaxing or premium as I had hoped. In hindsight, that money would have been better spend on a postpartum doula to come in home and help. Unfortunately, I will not be recommending this retreat to others.

Sanu is a wonderful concept and the execution delivers! My wife and I stayed here after the birth…read moreof our son so that mom could get some well deserved recovery time. From the moment you walk in you're greeted by friendly team members who walk you through every step of your stay. They're reachable all the time via a WhatsApp group, which we found convenient and helpful. The suites are comfortable and well equipped, just like staying at a luxury hotel, just with all the baby stuff you could need and more. We actually discovered some of our favorite products (baby cream and oil) from Sanu staff picks. The dinners were a great chance for mom and dad to take a breath together while the super professional caretakers watched our son. We felt at ease having them care for him, as we were given access to the Lollipop camera in case we wanted to take a look at how he was doing. The Sanu team really took great care of us and we'll look back on our stay as a fond memory during such an important time in our lives. Highly recommend considering a stay for your postpartum recovery, there's really nothing else like it.