My husband & I took private in-home birth education classes with Melanie. The classes were…read morewonderful! She is really knowledgeable, patient, and thorough. All of our questions were answered and I never felt rushed. She was also great with follow up questions I sent her via email and was available to talk on the phone if I ever needed. We both felt really prepared and confident for the birth of our daughter, which was a natural home birth. We would definitely be interested in working with Melanie in the future for sibling birth prep classes, mother blessing planning, and/or doula services. She's really lovely to work with!

Melanie came to our home for childbirth preparation classes based on the book, Birthing From…read moreWithin. My husband and I had a lovely experience with her. She is calm, caring, and very centered in her instruction. We both appreciated the individualized attention that a private course provided. Although, no one can really completely prepare for birth, we went into our birth armed with some great tools and prepared for the unexpected as well. Our daughter was delivered at home, but mom had to be transferred to hospital. Thanks, Melanie!

We had an afternoon appointment for an in person chat. My husband and I took time out of work but…read moreMeg didn't show up 20 min past the appt time. No phone calls or messages. Not a really a great sign for birth Doula.

My first birth I had hoped for an unmedicated experience, but an induction led to things getting…read moreout of my control. The only thing I knew I wanted to do different the next time was hire a doula. My second pregnancy, we hired Megan. I had a lot of caveats, and she was willing to step up to the plate. Our free visits and phone conversations prior to the birth allowed her to understand the family dynamic, and offer reassurance that she would be there to help me advocate for myself during the birth, and that she understood all my desires. The second birth started unexpectedly, 6 days before her due date. My partner was working quite far away when my water broke, so I called Megan who came over right away to drive me to the hospital. I was nonchalantly eating a bowl of soup and not even packed for the hospital, but she was monitoring my contractions and calmly pushing me to head to the hospital and for my partner to meet us there. Once there, the contractions were so intense I couldn't talk. Every time the nurses came in to do something to me that I didn't want - but I couldn't communicate it through the intensity of the contractions... She calmly stated that she knew I didn't want that, and asked if that was accurate - to which I could nod my head to confirm. Without overstepping, she was able to be my voice when things were too intense to talk. After only 3.5 hours of labor my baby girl was born naturally as I had hoped. Megan stayed awhile to make sure we were well taken care of, and got settled into our recovery room. In the weeks afterwards she followed up with us, and even came over one day to wear my baby as I got a massage. She has become a dear friend through this experience, and I know that things wouldn't have been the same if she hadn't have been there to her my voice when I had no words. With such a short labor, we had not much time for pain relief measures, yoga balls, massage, or what have you. But the experience of having someone there to be my voice when I had none, to communicate my preferences when I couldn't, to be calm when my partner and I weren't... That is a piece of mind that money can't buy. I'm so happy we chose to have Megan on board.

My family and I worked with Sunshine Tomlin for the home birth of our second son. She was…read moreabsolutely fabulous and we are so thankful to have her in our lives. My first son's birth was also unmedicated but in a hospital setting and I experienced quite a bit of trauma from that experience (as well as the postnatal care I received through that provider). As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I had to work through a lot of fear and some anger as well. It meant so much to me to be able to share that with Sunshine and have her support and understanding. My younger son's birth was a completely different experience, and beyond my hopes and expectations. Another thing I loved about Sunshine's care is that she is very gentle in her exams, both with mamas and babies. One of my favorite parts of my appointments with Sunshine were when she would talk to my son and let him know what she was checking, both through my belly before he was born and when she lovingly cared for him after his birth. If any mamas have questions about working with Sunshine or the whole home birth process, I'm happy to support you in any way-please feel free to message me.

I am so grateful to Hope for the amazing care I received throughout my pregnancy, birth and…read morepostpartum! She is amazing - warm, knowledgable, caring and considerate. My partner appreciated that she was very balanced and non-judgmental in her approach to birth. I was so sad to say goodbye at our 6 week check up... wish she could be part of our lives forever! Thank you Hope!!!

I couldn't recommend Melissa more. She is knowledgeable and really makes you feel seen. She's…read morerealistic about the pressures and stress of breastfeeding and postpartum and really works with you to come up with an attainable plan. Her kind, warm and calm demeanor put you at ease. I had low supply with my first and struggled through triple feeding and ultimately wasn't able to boost my supply enough and felt like I wasn't getting a personalized plan working with lactation consultants through my insurance and would always leave feeling a little confused and like I wasn't making progress due to something I wasn't doing right. With my second baby, I found Melissa, who was recommended by a friend, and the difference was night and day. Rather than feeling like I wasn't doing enough, she made me validated and we worked together to come up with a realistic plan to try to meet my goals. She answered any and all questions I had and provided a lot of support. Again, I couldn't recommend her more.

Melissa is honestly the best and I wouldn't have survived my breastfeeding journey without her. My…read morefirst had a tongue/lip tie and I was having a really hard time nursing. I also had mastitis but my OB and urgent care had misdiagnosed me with the flu. My doula referred me to Melissa and she immediately helped me navigate the healthcare system and gave me tips on how to improve breastfeeding. It all worked and I was able to nurse for 19 months. I would have honestly given up if it wasn't for her. Five years later, I am having my second and knew to have her come by immediately for help. Highly recommend her!!

TL;DR: Last-minute cancellations, fell asleep on duty watching our newborn, refused hands-on baby…read morecare, offered useless virtual support, prepaid for 13 nights, and refused refund. We're disputing the charges with our credit card company. Do not recommend. We hired Czarina for evening doula services shortly after welcoming our newborn, hoping for support and rest. Unfortunately, the experience caused us significantly more stress than doing it alone. The most alarming issue was that she repeatedly fell asleep snoring loudly while on duty watching our newborn. This happened on multiple visits. We could see and hear her sleeping, which meant that instead of resting, we stayed awake monitoring her to ensure our baby was safe. When we addressed this directly, her response was shocking: she claimed she was doing it to "train us to be better parents" and get us used to sleeping while the baby sleeps. As exhausted first-time parents, this felt unreassuring and completely unsafe. We hired a night doula to reduce anxiety, not to monitor the caregiver. Beyond the safety issues, basic doula duties were neglected: * Refusal of Care: She was unwilling to help wash the baby and unable to provide clear, hands-on guidance for newborn care. * Household Help: She provided little to no assistance with basic household tasks. * Ineffective Virtual Support: She attempted to substitute some support with "virtual" sessions, which offered zero value to us as parents who needed physical, hands-on help with a newborn during overnight hours. Her reliability was poor, with multiple last-minute cancellations and rescheduling. Most importantly, we prepaid for 13 nights of service. When we terminated the arrangement due to the safety concerns and poor service, she refused to provide a refund for the unused nights. We were forced to escalate this to our credit card company to try and recoup our funds. Czarina was pleasant to speak with initially, but her actions put our peace of mind at risk and violated our trust. If you are looking for reliable, hands-on postpartum care that allows you to rest, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. Ask specific questions about staying awake during night shifts, hands-on newborn care (including bathing), refund policies, and what "virtual support" entails before hiring.

As others have reported we had a horrific experience with Czarina, and most unfortunately, we felt…read moretaken advantage of at a time when we were quite vulnerable right after we had our first child, and were struggling. If you don't take anything from this review, I ask you to please schedule a trial run as others have reported, Czarina will ask you to prepay for multiple days before having a chance to experience with her. Context: We hired Czarina as a night doula for 6 nights. Czarina showed up 5 minutes late (and also left 5 minutes early). When she arrived at our home, she made it pretty clear she was unhappy with our setup (we had our baby sleeping in our room, and our milk/fridge on our main level, requiring going up and down stairs for a bottle). She made it pretty obvious she was unhappy with the stairs which is like the one thing I needed her to do -- fetch stuff from downstairs. Second we had asked Czarina to wake my wife at very specific times to enable specific feedings. We were struggling with breast feeding, struggling to get feeding right at all and wanted to stick to a specific schedule (as recommended by our dr). Czarina failed to wake us up, claiming that she missed our alarm (turns out Czarina feel asleep as a night doula). Finally when my wife woke up and Czarina did bring the infant in, we had asked that she change her as our infant didn't like being wet during a feeding at all. Despite asking multiple times, the baby was brought in wet which prolonged each feeding. Overall Czarina was just not a fit for us, and despite having multiple attempts to receive a refund, Czarina has refused to provide any refunds. I beg you to read this review but also the others and reach out if you have questions. Being a new parent is incredibly stressful and I'd hate for you to have even more stress.

I highly recommend Casa Natal to anyone who is pregnant and trying to decide where to give birth…read more It is similar to a homebirth, but way better and is a nice in between of that and a hospital setting, as it is in an absolutely beautiful facility (the huge birth tubs you are actually allowed to birth in are amazing - something no hospitals offer to my knowledge locally!) and also is very close to a hospital should you need it. (Thankfully most people do not but it was nice for my peace of mind given that I did have some risk factors.) The entire team is very kind and caring and will provide very personal care throughout your pregnancy/postpartum period. They are very supportive of you making decisions about how you want your birth to go, and I could not recommend them enough!

Absolutely outstanding birthing center. From the moment I walked in, I felt supported, respected,…read moreand genuinely cared for. The entire team brings a perfect balance of expertise, compassion, and calm confidence that makes such a huge difference during pregnancy and birth. Every interaction--from prenatal visits to the day of delivery--was thoughtful, reassuring, and empowering. The staff listened, explained, and encouraged me every step of the way. The environment is peaceful, beautifully maintained, and intentionally designed to help you feel at ease. My birth experience could not have been more positive. I felt safe, in control, and fully supported by a team that truly honors the birthing process. If you're looking for a place where you will be treated as an individual, respected in your choices, and surrounded by skilled, caring professionals, Casa Natal is the one. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

At the risk of sounding dramatic, Wendy and Kersti have changed my life. There's no other way I…read moreknow how to put it. I went into this pregnancy not knowing anything about pregnancy nor birth. I mean that - I'd never even held a baby before, and I'm in my thirties! I was nervous and knew I needed guidance. A close friend of mine referred them to me after she had her own positive experience delivering her first baby at the hospital (without an epidural). A delivery without an epidural sounded like a good idea, and if my friend can do it with their help, I felt SO COULD I! So I scheduled to meet them in person, and then Googled the definition of a doula because that's how foreign the birth world was to me. Fast forward to today, I am 3 months postpartum, and incredibly grateful to have had Wendy and Kersti there for me, as a first time mom home birth. They prepared me, a total pregnancy/birth newbie, to having a home birth! They are supportive with whatever birth plan you decide and will provide tons of resources and information to help you make an informed decision, on whatever you feel comfortable with. I appreciated that they are well balanced, and will present evidence based research, as well as speak from their own experiences, but never pushing their opinions upon you. After months of research, I made the decision to go forward with a home birth and it was the most magical experience of my life. It was relaxing, calm, stress-free, and I felt SO supported throughout my entire pregnancy journey, after birth, and ESPECIALLY during labor. Wendy was present during my labor. When she arrived it was like my guardian angel had arrived, and I was so happy to see her. She had lavender essential oils and her hands worked magic on me during the most intense contractions. The back massages helped me Soooo much and she did it for hours. She not only supported me, but also my husband, and she knew just what to say to keep me positive and relaxed, and knew how to direct my husband to help. She also took photos throughout the labor. It all happened so fast, so it was so fun to have photos to go back and relive the moments. I will cherish these photos forever. Thank you Wendy and Kersti for helping bring my baby boy to this world. I know without a doubt that I'd like them to be my doulas again for my future baby.

There are so many glowing reviews on here, but I feel like I have to add to the collection because…read moremy experience with Wendy and Kersti was truly life-changing. I am SO GRATEFUL for these two ladies that I just have to share my story!! We didn't hire a doula with our first child, who is now approaching his second birthday. My goal was to have an unmedicated birth and although I succeeded, the entire experience left me absolutely traumatized and panicked at the idea of having to ever go through that again. When we found out we were pregnant with our second child, I was so fearful about the birth I couldn't even speak about it without tearing up and feeling anxious all over. I had a hard time even getting excited about the pregnancy because it meant I had to give birth again, and I was terrified. This led my husband and I to being a search for a doula. My goal was once again to have an unmedicated birth, but I felt incapable of doing that without something being drastically different. Enter Wendy and Kersti. We met with this mother/daughter team over coffee and I quickly fell in love with them. Kersti had the recent experience of having given birth "without fear" herself and Wendy had this amazing mix of strength and confidence in her tone alongside a spirit of gentleness. We had met with a few other doulas in our search, but I constantly felt like they were all too soft-spoken/comforting/gentle and I needed someone a bit more direct alongside those qualities. Wendy was JUST that. :) We counted the cost as if it were a part of the hospital bill, because we knew to have the birth we wanted, it would require an investment. IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!! Over the course of the next few months, we developed a great relationship with Wendy and Kersti. They answered all of our questions with evidence-based research that consistently put my mind at ease. They also gave me a lot of natural methods to prepare both my mind and my body for birth. It took a few months, but through conversations with th, I started to feel more confident and prepared for birth. THEN THE BIG DAY CAME! :) I started having contractions one morning about 12-15 minutes apart and that went on all day. They were mild and I wasn't sure if it was labor or not (my first child was induced), so I stayed in constant text/phone communication with Wendy throughout the day. Finally, when they started getting closer at around 3:30pm, we headed to the hospital and met Wendy in the parking lot. I can't even express to you the relief that washed over me seeing her face. This amazing woman, who had been coaching me for months, met me with a smile and confidence in that parking lot as we walked into the hospital -- almost like we were ready for the big game. We checked in and she immediately started diffusing essential oils, helping me get comfortable, massaging my feet, turning on music and fielding questions from the nurses as I went through contraction after contraction. My contractions were intensifying quickly and Wendy was RIGHT there every second of the way, offering new positions, ideas, distractions and support to keep me going. She knew exactly when she needed to intercede to help me more and when she needed to take a back seat and support my husband Dan as he came alongside me. Within 2.5 hours, I went from 4.5 centimeters to holding my sweet baby boy in my arms. I can confidently say that my birth was beautiful -- something I felt like I would never be able to say and something I contribute HUGELY to this team of incredible women. I am positive the reason I progressed so quickly and smoothly was because I felt relaxed, supported, confident and READY to deliver my baby. After feeling nothing but panic, dread and fear with my first birth, this was life-changing for me. I felt IN CONTROL and SUPPORTED my entire labor and knew I was capable of delivering my baby boy--who ended up being 9 lbs and 3 oz! We also have incredible photos of some special moments during the birth, thanks to Wendy. Whew! So much to say, and I could say more!! All that to express to you that these women are worth gold. If you are hoping to have a positive birth experience and especially if you want to do it medication-free, I would say with confidence HIRE WENDY & KERSTI! We will definitely be using them again with future kiddos! :)

Working with Melanie as my birth doula was one of the best decisions my husband and I made. She is…read morea true super mom -- she always arrived with positivity, a big smile, and a grounded confidence that immediately made me feel safe and understood. From the very beginning, she took me under her wings. I always felt attended to, heard, and genuinely protected. As immigrants who were completely unfamiliar with the U.S. medical system, my husband and I would have felt lost navigating pregnancy and birth on our own. But thanks to Melanie, we never did. She guided us step by step, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our choices. When I faced a very challenging situation with my medical team, Melanie was the person I leaned on for honest, thoughtful opinions and unwavering support. What makes Melanie truly special is how resourceful and connected she is. She didn't just support me herself -- she brought an entire community of top-tier professionals to my side: doulas, midwives, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a birth educator. Through her, I was able to piece together my own birth support team -- my own village. Even though my birth journey turned out to be very, very different from our original beautiful plan, I never felt alone. I will never forget the moment after my unexpected c-section when Melanie held my hands and told me, firmly and lovingly, that even though everything had been dramatic and difficult, I did my best... that I did a good job, and that next time could be better. Those words meant more to me than I can express. In a fragile moment, she gave me strength and dignity. If you are looking for someone who is not only exceptionally skilled, but who leads with heart, wisdom, and genuine care -- someone who will stand by you no matter how your birth unfolds -- Melanie is that person. She changed my experience, and I will always be grateful for her presence in my birth journey.

Melanie is the best!! I'm SO grateful I found her. She is so knowledgeable in all things birth and…read morehelped me feel so much better prepared. During birth, her calm, supportive confidence and positivity are a game changer and I felt so well guided. Melanie has such a depth of experience and knowledge, and is truly one-of-a-kind! I highly recommend working with her if you get the chance.