Having Rachel as our doula was not only fundamental to the well-being of our pregnancy but also an incredible gift we will always cherish. From the start, Rachel's demeanor aligned perfectly with ours. She was very knowledgeable, informative, and easy to talk to. As the carrying parent, I had many questions that Rachel was able to explain in detail thanks to her years of experience in the field and her ability to navigate the different settings in which a person can labor, including the birth center of our choice. Knowing she would be there to help us make important decisions and advocate on our behalf was priceless. From our first meeting, still over Zoom, I greatly appreciated her approach and how caring she was without being overbearing. When I was searching for someone to support us, it was important to me that the person had experience, understood my needs and concerns, and wasn't solely focused on taking pictures. Rachel checked all of those marks. Although she wasn't focused on photography only, her passion for the entire journey of life--from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond--can be seen through her amazing pictures as well. Her ability to capture special moments is truly incredible and artistic. Lastly, knowing that she is a professional who values and advocates for the rights of all people is the cherry on top. When I share our experience with friends, they all say: "I wish I had a doula like yours." We definitely recommend her for anyone hopping on this wild journey called parenthood. read more

After becoming pregnant I knew I wanted to hire a birth doula, as a death doula myself I understand the importance of having someone guide you through a transformative experience that I knew would hold many emotions. Once we met Rachel it was immediately clear we were a match, it felt like she had been in our lives forever. Rachel's extensive knowledge and thorough guidance ensured that we were well-informed about our choices at each phase of the birthing process, which brought us immense comfort and confidence. We had planned for an out-of-hospital birth but at the end of the pregnancy had to urgently schedule a C-section and Rachel was by our side the entire time, helping us navigate every decision with clarity and care. She prepared us for exactly what we could expect, slowed us down when fear was starting to take over, advocated for me in the hospital (immediate skin-to-skin with baby, supporting my husband as the nurses cared for baby, latching as quickly as possible, etc.), and ensured that either she or my husband held my hand the entire time. Beyond just her knowledge, she provided a safe space where we could express our fears openly and encouraged acknowledging all the emotions that come with becoming new parents. She did a beautiful job honoring my grief, grief in becoming a mom and the change of identity, grief in having to change our birth plan late in the pregnancy, and grief that I wouldn't have my mom with me. Rachel's soft energy and loving presence was a true anchor for us during this transformative time and when I think about the birthing experience I know it was a positive one because of Rachel. We will forever cherish the photos she took, as they capture so much of the emotion and love. read more

From Jenny I found Rachel though Instagram and her pagan witchy vibe caught my attention right away! I was looking for a post partum doula to support my spiritual transition into motherhood, not just someone to cook and clean. I knew that how I was supported post partum would affect the rest of my experience of motherhood. I am so grateful I chose Rachel to support me during materesence. From yoni steaming and long chats to warming aryuvedic meals, Rachel held my hand, spirit and body through my transition from maiden to mother. Having been reborn through the birthing process, I feel so at ease with my new identity, in bliss with my now two month old baby, and I don't think that would be the case without Rachel's support. Forget the baby registry, every new mother should make a postpartum doula fund. From Jenny's Husband I knew the transition into having our first child would be a challenge, and the extra support in the household from Rachel really allowed me to focus on bonding with my wife and new baby. Our apartment would be reset and fresh meals in fridge when she left and helped us feel like everything was going to be okay. She provided so many tips and tricks to help with the baby's new hurdles and showed me new ways to support my wife when she was gone. Our marriage feels stronger than ever and I love my daughter more than words can tell! Rachel's support made all the difference, and I found the whole experience to be so fulfilling rather than overwhelming thanks to her guidance and support. As a new father I would strongly recommend a post partum doula and Rachel is the best of the best! read more

Hiring Rachel as our postpartum doula was an integral part of my recovery and healing process. Not only did she make sure we were well fed(she is a great cook!), our house was picked up and laundry done, she also is a great listener. Postpartum hormones are tricky and talking to her felt like I was talking to a trusted friend. She is warm, accepting and gives great advice! She was excellent at finding her way around the house with very little need for guidance. The days she was at our home were the most restful in those first weeks! She also invited my 6 year old to cook with her and had a tea party, per my kiddos request! We also hired her as our birth photographer for my homebirth. She did a magical job capturing all the special moments; while looking at the images, I can really feel the raw emotion behind them. Truly pictures to cherish forever! She blended in seamlessly with my birth team. Would recommend her to anyone looking to hire a holistic, warm and supportive doula and a lovely birth photographer! read more

We highly recommend Rachel. We really enjoyed working with her throughout our journey, and even continued the partnership for a few extra months. Our family looked forward to her visits since they meant there would be Rachel's delicious cooking and helpful tips for two terrified new parents. We learned a lot from her everytime she visited, and enjoyed the time together. We were considered to be a high risk pregnancy and have no families in town, Those stresses didn't seem to matter because we felt secure, safe and confident throughout our entire journey thanks to Rachel. She is very thoughtful and a great listener. Breastfeeding was one of our priorities and it was quite challenging for us for at the beginning. Rachel navigated us calmly and flawlessly through different techniques and provided additional instructional resources. We greatly enjoyed her cooking (her menu is seasonal and amazing!) She always made multiple servings, which saved our lives those early crazy days when we had no time to cook. read more

Before Rachel became our doula I knew her casually through working in Restaurants. She was always someone I would gravitate toward, I felt safe sharing with her from the get go. I didn't know much about the work a doula does when becoming pregnant and can say now that I had a false sense of confidence around the birthing process. It was my partner who suggested we look into getting a doula and I knew if we were going to have someone share this intimate space with us I wanted that person to be Rachel. She was amazing from her first meeting with us, bringing up things for my partner and I to discuss that neither of us had even thought to consider. We are both very private people but all of that melted away in Rachel's presence. She is a listener first, I always value that in another human being but found it especially important during this process. When I look back on our time in the hospital and think about all the pre baby hours I think of Rachel. How she held my hair while I was sick from the medication used to induce me. How she looked at me when I felt scared and instantly made me feel like it was going to be ok. How she validated all the decisions I needed to make. How she somehow knew what positions to labor in when every position felt awful. How she stayed awake with me while my partner could rest and gain some of his strenth back. How she held my hand while I was being sewn up so my partner could be with our baby. I don't want to think what the experience would have looked like without her by our side. I will forever be grateful for all of the ways I felt held by Rachel during this time. She is a real gift and I trust her completely. read more

Connecting with Rachel has been a profound gift for my family! I cannot imagine anyone else stewarding our journey to parenthood. The energy she brings into spaces is grounded, warm, inclusive, curious, creative, expansive, joyful and tender. I cannot speak more highly of them as a doula, an artist, a human and a friend. As part of a same sex couple, my wife and I's journey to parenthood was complex. Not only was Rachel supporting us as a unit in pregnancy and preparing for birth, she was also serving as an infertility doula as we were simultaneously processing my inability to cary our child and bring them into the world. My wife never had a desire to be pregnant or connection to the act of bringing life into the world. Rachel was able to simultaneously hold space and ritual for my grief and curate a non judgmental space for my wife to grapple with being the birthing parent. Rachel created a cocoon of safety for us to honor and be present in a complex range of emotions. We looked forward to every visit and left every session feeling affirmed, heard, seen, and empowered in our choices. When the time came for our child to enter the world Rachel was our anchor. As a clinical social worker, it was such a gift to be able to step back and have someone else serve as an advocate for both of us so I could be present with my wife in our experience. As a gender non conforming person Rachel was an amazing ally for us with medical staff. While dealing with staffing shortages in our hospital, my wife had to labor for quite a few hours in the triage room which was not ideal for someone who wanted to be as medicated as possible during her birth experience. Watching Rachel be able to bring calm and focus while helping her channel her strength and energy was a beautiful thing to behold. It was evident how safe and held my wife felt in that process and for that I am forever grateful. Throughout labor and delivery Rachel was able to curate an intimate and loving environment. She was able to use her extensive knowledge to ensure my wife was comfortable, bringing in tools to ease the process and assisting her in getting into different positions. She collaborated incredibly well with the staff in the hospital and ensured our birth plan was centered and supported us in making modifications by talking through the options with care and compassion. Our birth experience was deeply intimate, beautiful and filled with so much love. I would be remiss not to mention Rachel's artistry. Birth is the ultimate act of creation and her identity as an artist supports her adaptability, curiosity and capacity to hold multiple things at once. We had the privilege of Rachel photographing our birth and what they were able to capture was transformative. We barely noticed the camera during the birthing process and it did not interfere at all with the support and presence she brought into the space. Birth is such a whirlwind. Having these photos has allowed us to revisit the day and experience it in a new way. She captured the love, admiration and joy of the day. We will cherish it forever. read more

My experience with Rachel was transformational. During the pandemic I was pregnant and my family, my maternal support system, and the comfort of my culture was halfway across the country. My partner and I were experiencing our first pregnancy alone, and we weren't sure how to prepare for the new life. Rachel was gentle in educating me; making room for my emotions and walking me through my fears. Not only did she take time to educate me, but she genuinely wanted to know who I was and what my life experiences were. And as a survivor of sexual assault that means the world. She advocated for my safety and the moments I was preparing for birth and during birthing Rachel made sure no one touched me without consent and without telling me why they were putting hands on me. She held me as I contracted. And all the loneliness I had been feeling, wishing my mom, my abuela, my tias were there disappeared. This tender divine feminine was holding me, encouraging me, helping me envision my daughter in my womb, and helping my partner do the same. After my daughter had been born her love and tender care continued. Helping me to breastfeed, making sure we had meals and she even did light cleaning to help the house feel more comfortable and manageable. And I cannot forget being able to leave my newborn for my first shower. No one really mentions how hard it is to step away from the baby the first few months. Especially in my case, I was terrified. But Rachel is someone I completely trust, adore, and love. Thank you Rachel for making room the newest version of me and protecting me as I shed my previous self. You are truly a force that carries divinity, wisdom, and nourishing love. I am forever grateful for our time together. read more

The journey to parenthood - pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period - is filled with decisions, and the most important for me was the choice of who would be present for my journey. Choosing Rachel to be my birth doula was the most positively impactful decision I made for myself and my family. Initially, I was drawn to Rachel's vast store of knowledge. As a first time parent-to-be, I wanted to work with someone who had the skill and experience I could rely on, and Rachel has these in abundance. From questions about what to expect at the hospital during birth, to concerns about feeding my newborn baby, I was always reassured by her ability to answer my questions and talk through my experiences. During the birth itself, she always knew what I needed - water, a pillow, clarification on a medical question - without my having to ask. She was at once always present and never intrusive. During our postpartum visits, I felt no hesitation in entrusting her with my newborn baby while I took a shower or had a meal. My baby loved napping with her too! What ended up being just as valuable as Rachel's factual knowledge was the comfort of her presence. In a time that can be uncertain, stressful, and painful, Rachel provided calm comfort and reassurance. She is kind, intuitive, and deeply intelligent on many levels, with a naturally soothing manner that immediately made me feel comfortable and at ease. She didn't make me feel like I had to rely on her way of doing things, but instead made me feel confident that I could rely on her support for the choices I made for myself. In addition to being an incredible doula, Rachel is also an exceptional artist. Her photographs are not only documentation of a (for me) once in a lifetime experience, but true pieces of art that capture the feeling of each moment and the complex emotions surrounding birth. When my baby was 5 months old, I booked a postpartum photoshoot with her as well. I treasure the memories I have of my birth journey and these early days of my child's life, and having these moments captured through such powerful images is truly something special. read more

Where to begin with our experience with Rachel?? First things first, it needs to be known that she was absolutely the BEST investment we made for the birth of our first baby!! She has the best energy that is so calming and was just really the best person to have by our side for our whole multi-day labor experience.In the best parts of labor it felt like having a really good friend with us, and in the harder parts she was somebody we could trust to turn to for advice on what to do next. When our birth plans changed during labor and we became a hopsital transfer Rachel went with us and stayed with us until our baby was born via C-section. It was such a comfort to have somebody familiar with hospital births by our side who we could talk things through with and whom we knew had our best interest at heart. Having her with us really made what would have been such a nerve wracking experience feel calm. I truly beleive that had we not hired Rachel that I would have gone through this birth experience with so many more negative feelings. At the end of it all, after it felt like nothing went to plan, I still had an overall positive experience. I know that SO much of that can be attributed to having felt really really well suported during the whole process and Rachel was an incredibly important part of making that happen. I honestly could write so much more (but the text limit is getting in my way), we just really really love Rachel!! It felt like having a good friend we've known forever there by our side the whole time, both of us felt so comfortable, welcomed to really just be vulnerable, and very much gently held throughout the whole experience. She has such a sweet and gentle way of being able to honor what's happening in the moment and then being there to welcome you on the other side when it's all said and done. We are so thankful for her being part of our journey. read more

Rachel is the best! As the birthing person/first time parent, I was really hesitant in working with a doula because every other consultation I had felt like really superficial support. Then we met Rachel and we knew from the first meeting that we wanted her in our birth story. She truly understands and celebrates all the mixed emotions and experiences that come in the pregnancy journey. If we become pregnant again, there is no one else we'd want to be there. We broke down summaries of our time with Rachel because she was just that incredible. Pre-natal support: At 35 weeks pregnant, Rachel helped us transition from a conventional hospital birth to the home birth we always wanted. She not only helped with the practical logistics (i.e. recommended our midwives) but also supported us work through some of our worries/concerns in choosing a home birth. Bonus! she brings gifts of delicious treats at each prenatal visit :) Birthing support: During the birth, Rachel was able to step in ways that my partner just couldn't based on her extensive birthing knowledge and intuitive nature. She workshopped strategies with us and our midwife when the labor became prolonged (36+hours) and got me through the hardest part of holding in my contractions through a gentle breathing practice. She cared for my partner in the process, letting him get some rest and answering his questions so he could be really present for the pushing part of labor. Post-partum support:  Our post-partum visits were so special - a combination of emotional and practical care. There's something really magical about being able to process your birth story with someone who experienced it with you.  Add to that the practical care of feeding us, gardening, holding baby while I showered, taking care of our blind pup, making yoni baths for me and more! read more

I found Rachel through Instagram. I was looking through doulas Instagram profiles to get a sense of who they were. Many had education slides, baby announcements, ect ( the norm). When I came upon Rachel's "the moody doula" I was stunned by the feeling of honesty, movement, art, sense of nourishment, and open to challenges that I saw through the images and captions she shared. I was not even pregnant yet, but I was planning on starting the conception process with my soon to be husband-so I was engaging an intentional process and I wanted my doula to have that same intentionality. I found that in Rachel. From the beginning, my husband and I connected with her because she treated us as individuals and seemed to understand what we wanted. She created a space of openness and trust. My husband felt held by her during the process as well which was another important factor in loving Rachel. We ended up meeting with her for a year because we started pre conception. During labor, it felt seamless to have her there because we had built a secure relationship. I am protective of my space and my energy-Rachel was someone who I could welcome in to my home and my vulnerable moments. I didn't have to worry if she could hold her own and knew she would be an advocate for everything we had discussed in detail. Rachel is a dynamic, thoughtful, purposeful, and beautiful soul. read more

My partner and I interviewed several doulas in preparation for welcoming our first baby in December 2022. Prior to meeting, it was clear that Rachel was organized, communicative, flexible, and thorough. From our very first meeting, we felt connected and supported like we had known her for years. She demonstrated extensive knowledge - everything from birthing positions, dietary recommendations, breastfeeding support, to navigating the medical system, to postpartum care and more. We were also very impressed with her emotional intelligence. As a sexual abuse survivor, I required special advocacy. Rachel was skilled in not only helping me feel empowered and peaceful, but also helped communicate my unique needs to the hospital staff. In the prenatal period, Rachel came to our house, taught us birthing preparation exercises and positions, and spent significant time helping us craft the birth plan that we shared with the hospital staff. During the labor and delivery phase, Rachel met us at the hospital for our initial false alarm. :) She was familiar with the hospital, so helped guide us where to go, which was more helpful than we could have realized. When we were admitted, she was supportive and knowledgeable in helping us make labor decisions and was firm in helping us uphold our birth preferences. At the same time, she integrated well with the hospital team and maintained a spirit of collaboration through the whole process. During delivery, she was able to join us in the operating room for the unplanned c-section. Her gentleness and thoughtfulness helped calm any worries we may have had. She even took photos of our baby's first moments for us when we had not thought to do so, for which we are so grateful! Rachel provided invaluable postpartum support - housework, food prep, emotional support, breastfeeding support, and most importantly encouragement. We highly recommend working with Rachel, especially as first time parents. Her emotional intelligence made her stand out from other doulas we met. She was able to read my cues without having known me for very long and could help meet my needs. She provided excellent support to my partner, as well, making sure his needs were met while he supported me. We were also very grateful for her collaboration and ability to communicate with the hospital staff. It made us feel empowered and well-supported, especially through unexpected twists in our labor journey. We are very grateful for Rachel! read more

Rachel was absolutely indepensable to our birth. I was in labor for 40 hours--a length that is practically unheard of--and Rachel was there for every step of the way. She is both assertive and incredibly gentle; she does not shy away from helping with difficult decisions and there was not a single moment of our birth where it felt like she was not present. She took turns napping with my partner so that one of them was always with me. She was just exactly the support person we needed for a birth that did not go at all like we had hoped/planned. Her pregnancy support and postpartum support was also incredible; processing our thoughts and feelings with her was incredibly validating and healing. I could not recommend her more highly and definitely plan to hire her for our future births. read more

I found Rachel through a friend and was immediately drawn to her approach that involved a complex understanding of the way past experiences, hormones, social factors all interact with the intense experience of pregnancy, birth and parenthood. She was easy to talk to from the get go and was warm and deeply thoughtful. I appreciated her focus on and thoughtfulness about informed consent and felt like that immediately built some trust -- she takes this kind of thing seriously.As someone that had a more negative experience in my first birth, my partner and I had a lot of processing to do in order to feel ready for the next birth experience. Rachel did such a good job of listening thoughtfully so that we could come to understand our experience better, understand each other better, and gain some insight into what was so hard about our prior experience. She asked all the important questions and helped us arrive at some actionables that made us feel much more prepared for the next experience. Being able to balance preparedness and confidence with dealing with the deeply uncertain was incredible guidance. I felt able to make these hard decisions about how to approach this event requiring so much flexibility and adaptation, rather than feeling like I was being tossed about in an ocean of uncertainty.Our birth experience was so much more positive this time around with Rachel's partnership, guidance, and advocacy. My partner was able to understand what was going on much better, knew what questions to ask, and how to better support me. I felt like I could just get in the labor zone instead of needing to figure out what to do next. She helped guide us in determining what questions we needed to ask. She spoke up at crucial moments. I felt listened to and empowered. And her postpartum support was so helpful as well! It helps that she makes incredible meals and snacks. I'm so so grateful for Rachel and can't recommend her highly enough. read more