My husband and I feel so fortunate to have had Carolynn as our Doula for the birth of our first…read morechild. Carolynn provided vital support for us prior to, during, and after the birth of our son. When we first met Carolynn we knew that we wanted her to be our Doula. Both myself and my husband immediately felt comfortable with her and after talking with her for a while we knew that she was very knowledgeable and passionate about pregnancy and child birth. Carolynn was always available by text, e-mail, and phone to answer any questions we had and researched and provided us with any information we needed. We learned a lot during our home visits with Carolynn. During our second home visit we went over different stretches and positioning which was very helpful. When I went into labor, it came on quickly. Carolynn was quick to meet us at our home and helped me stay calm. When we went to the hospital, Carolynn set up a calm environment with dim lighting, LED candles and music. She was an amazing coach to me and an excellent teammate to my husband. My labor was long and Carolynn collaborated well with all of the nurses and midwives that we had. She stayed with us for a few hours after our son was born making sure we were all ok even though we had been at the hospital for about 36 hours with not much sleep. My son had a slight fever after he was born and we had to stay at the hospital for a few days. Carolynn checked in on us often. When we got home I was not feeling well and ended up in the emergency room with a kidney infection while my husband brought our son to his first pediatrician appointment. Carolynn had called to check in on me that morning and stopped by and stayed with me while I was waiting for my father to bring me to the hospital so I was not alone. She even did the dishes while I showered. Carolynn came over for a postpartum visit once I was feeling better and stayed for a long time trying to help our son latch on to breastfeed. While we were not successful during the visit, Carolynn gave me the contact information for a lactation consultant that helped us. If you are considering hiring a doula, I wholeheartedly recommend Carolynn, she is truly amazing!

My husband and I hired Tara and Susanna as doulas ahead of our first child's birth in 2017, and…read morespecifically worked with Tara. We had a phenomenal experience, which resulted in working with them again for the birth of our second child in March 2021. In both cases, Tara and Susanna were tremendously helpful resources leading up to the delivery date. We always appreciated their candor and insights about what to expect and importantly, what our choices were (which was especially good to know during our first pregnancy). Tara and Susanna were always very responsive and detailed in their communication with us, and importantly, right ahead of the birth. For both births, I had a relatively quick active labor and Tara was there exactly when we needed her. She did an excellent job of ensuring my husband was involved in the labor process and provided us very helpful guidance on managing pain/new positions/breathing techniques. During my first birth, she proved to be a trusted advocate for me in a stressful situation (that almost resulted in an episiotomy), and although my second birth was relatively "uneventful", the quick nature of it made it very intense so we were grateful to have Tara's guidance and calm presence to help us through the birth. We feel very fortunate to have worked with Tara for both births, as her presence was extremely helpful in both cases!

My husband and I hired Susanna and Tara first as doulas, and later as midwives, to support us…read morethrough the pregnancy and birth of our first child. I simply cannot overstate how integral their care, compassion, expertise, and knowledge have been to the entire process of having our son. From the first prenatal visits with Susanna and Tara, they were open, non-judgmental, caring, and insightful. They worked with us to create a birth plan, sent us helpful information to assist us in making informed, evidence-based decisions for our son's care, and were always available for follow-up questions and discussions. Not only are Susanna and Tara both unmatched in their professionalism, but they are also kind, funny, brilliant, and the type of people who just make you feel comfortable and safe. When Covid began to surge as our due date approached, we reached out to them to consider a home birth and ended up contracting them to be our midwives instead of only contracting for doula care. It was the best decision we ever made during our birth and pregnancy process and I wish we had done it from the beginning. As midwives, Susanna and Tara provided the same level of care and insight as before, with an added level of expert care that we were impressed by time and time again. At the actual birth of our son, Susanna and Tara guided and comforted me through 10 hours of labor at home. I quite simply could not have done it without them. When I eventually needed to transfer to Mount Auburn for an epidural and what turned out to be a more complicated birth than anticipated, they accompanied me as far as they could to the doors of the labor ward (they were not allowed inside due to Covid), keeping me as calm as possible and helping me through every contraction with compassion and kindness all the way from our home to the hospital. Our son was born healthy and happy, and we came home to face the ups and downs of life as new parents with the knowledge that we were fully supported by Susanna and Tara. Their help became instrumental once again as I struggled with postpartum anxiety and breastfeeding issues--coming to my house at the drop of a dime when I was desperate for help, and only a phone call away to talk us through our challenges as they arose over the first few weeks. I cannot more highly recommend Susanna and Tara as doulas and midwives. In many ways, I feel like they saved me during my most vulnerable time and made me feel stronger and more empowered when I could have so easily felt defeated instead. Hire them. It will be the best decision you make for your entire pregnancy and birth!

I delivered with the Midwives at Mt. Auburn Hospital just over a week ago and can't say enough…read morepositive things about labor and delivery as well as the recovery period. I had read rave reviews about Mt. Auburn (including multiple people claiming to have had a "wonderful" labor there), all the while wondering how wonderful labor really could be. I now understand completely. From the moment that we called the hospital after contractions started to the arrival and long delivery process, each nurse and midwife that took care of me provided the utmost care, professionalism, and explanation of what was happening next and why. Amidst the inevitable anxiety of a first labor, I felt fully cared for and at ease. I can't thank the nurses enough for their tremendous care during both the labor and delivery process, as well as postpartum care for myself and baby. Postpartum, the nurses and a wonderful lactation consultant provided guidance on everything from what to expect during the first few days of our newborns' life to feeding techniques to giving the baby a first bath. Recovery was peaceful and allowed us time to bond as a family of three. By the time we left the hospital, we felt prepared enough to care for our newborn and with the opportunity to call with any questions that we might have. Thank you, Mt. Auburn!

I'm very disappointed by my recent experience with the Midwives at Mt. Auburn Hospital. My prenatal…read morecare was pretty standard, nothing exceptional. I had a low-risk pregnancy and everything went according to plan. The midwife I saw continually pushed for induction through castor oil, membrane sweeps, and evening primrose oil - these are not proven to be effective and are not positively backed by scientific research. I cannot believe that they don't follow evidence-based research when making medical recommendations. I went into labor spontaneously and progressed well. However, during my entire active labor, the midwife was in the room for no more than 5 minutes total. She basically did a quick pelvic exam and then left me on my own. I had no one in the room with me other than my husband. There was no nurse and no midwife - I felt so unsupported. After about 6 hours of labor, the midwife came back in and suggested a peanut ball and a warm bath, but she disappeared without setting me up with either. I guess my husband was supposed to figure this out? She returned a few hours later and I requested nitrous oxide - She said I needed a form for this (which was already in my file) and disappeared again. I never received anything to manage my pain and never saw the midwife again. I would have hoped that the midwife would have suggested labor positions to ease pain, pressed on my back/hips, showed my husband some ways to help (we took Bradley classes, but some extra direction in that moment would have been appreciated), provided encouragement, shown care, and simply been present. I feel like I was ignored and neglected. No one even brought me water. It wasn't until an OBGYN arrived that I felt like I was validated and heard - she got an anesthesiologist and I received an epidural. The OBGYN delivered my baby via c-section after failure to progress. My after-care at Mt. Auburn was pretty good. I felt all the nurses were caring and competent. I had to self-advocate to get time with the lactation consultants, but they were helpful. Takeaways: If you want support of any kind during labor, you'll need to hire your own doula. If you plan to breastfeed, arrange for your own postpartum doula or seek support from a non-hospital affiliated IBCLC. I am exclusively breastfeeding in spite of the care I received and not because of it. Just find a good OBGYN and forget about all the midwife nonsense - they're basically useless.

Ellie is an absolute gem. My husband and I first worked with her as a sleep consultant during a…read morebrutal 18 month sleep regression for our daughter. Both empathetic and whip-smart, Ellie helped identify specific actions we could take to get sleep back on track. It was so reassuring to make a plan with her and to have real time follow up so that we could course correct and adjust as needed. When we encountered some challenges with the 2 to 1 nap transition, Ellie was the only person we wanted help from and once again she was exactly the resource we needed. We also felt SO supported by Ellie as a birth and postpartum doula for our second child. Using zoom, email, text, and phone, Ellie was like an expert big sister in the weeks leading up to the birth, as well as in the beginnings of labor, and most especially in the early postpartum period. The birth escalated so quickly that there wasn't time for zoom support, but honestly the postpartum support alone was invaluable (and thank goodness for Ellie's nudge via phone for us to hightail it to the hospital-- our son was almost born in the car). Her expertise in sleep and lactation along with being a thoughtful and experienced mom of three... I truly can't speak highly enough. We will forever be grateful to Ellie for helping us grow into happier, stronger parents, and she will forever be our go-to for all questions parenting / birth / sleep!

Working with Ellie was a wonderful experience. I am so grateful that she was our doula for my…read morefirst birth as there are so many questions and unknowns. Ellie helped us navigate all of this and made me feel incredibly supported.

I don't understand why they take new patients at all. I was…read morehappy with my first appointment last year. But then it was just not professional. I scheduled my current appointment for March 31, 2025 in August 2024!!! I wanted this visit to be my doctor, not with a nurse. They were pushing me toward the nurse all the time. They called today, cancelled the appointment for March 31, 2025, and told me that dr. Martin has no availability in 2025. What? Really? Next, they scheduled me with the nurse, at a different location. At one point I just told the person who called me: "Yes, whatever. Obviously, it doesn't matter what I would want."

Got rescheduled twice, they swapped doctor's on me(after explaining I needed a specialist, and not…read moregeneral care). When I figured third times a charm - they said it would be another six months before I can get seen. I'll go somewhere else.

Beyond Birthing was recommended to us for childbirth education classes by our doulas, and we're so…read morelucky that they were! We are currently pregnant with our first child, after a long, struggle-filled road of trying. We signed up for the core curriculum, all 4 prenatal classes Beyond Birthing offers. At first my husband thought it was a bit much to take on (and to be honest I did too!) but each class left us feeling more excited for the next (something that should be celebrated as we both hated school)! However, as much as we didn't like institutional learning, we will be first time parents, and we wanted to be prepared as possible, so we dove into the deep end and instead of feeling like we were being lectured for hours on end, Erin and her team made the classes incredibly interactive and tailored to those in attendance. The class groups are small but just big enough to have multiple interactions throughout. As Erin and her support network are doulas all over the greater Boston area, they are well versed in all of the local hospitals policies and protocols and can help prepare you to ask questions at your appointments and advocate for the birth experience you are looking for! Between the hands on resources she brings to class, the lists and Amazon store front she's created for you to take what might work for you and leave the rest, and the unlimited access to her class materials are truly second to none. It is all meticulously organized and well thought out that it takes a lot of the stress and anxiety away of knowing what products to use and which ones to skip. However, of all the things, tips and tricks, we learned, the most important, by far, was that there is always help and support for parents and families at every step of the way and Erin and her network are so ready and willing to jump in with you. The community of resources that Erin has put together over the greater Boston area has already helped us to have a more positive experience in pregnancy and comfort measures, as somewhat older, first time parents. She is connected with people that even service our area within the city of Boston so we can have local help in the early postpartum days until we can eventually head back up to Beverly for the postpartum support groups. All in all, it is a 45 minute commute for us to get to Beverly from our home and I can confidently say at no point did we ever doubt it was worth it. We spent 3 different weekends taking the core curriculum classes and couldn't have had a better experience. In a world that is increasingly online, more about making things a quick checklist and less about actual educational tools, and taking the personal experience out of things, Erin and her team are such a refreshing change. You can feel how much they care about you, your partner, your baby, and your overall family experience, even before birth! We can't wait to continue to visit and see what the postpartum support groups are like after our baby's arrival this fall.

Let me start this off by saying I don't usually write reviews. I'm way too busy for that lol. But I…read morecouldn't not tell people about this place! It has truly impacted my life! Me and my husband are pregnant for the first time. I knew I needed support and I needed to prepare my body for birth. I felt overwhelmed with all the information online and I wanted an in-person experience where I could ask questions. I wanted in-person education, support, and community. WHICH IS SO RARE now a days. I found Beyond Birthing after google search, & they offer all of that and so much more!!!! I couldn't believe this place exists! The atmosphere here is so warm, friendly, non-judgmental and feels safe. It's like a one stop shop when your pregnant and they help you with EVERY ASPECT of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum! I called the number on google and to my luck I got the owner Erin! She was so incredibly helpful! You could sense her genuine care over the phone. In the very short conversation we had, she already gave me advice that was incredibly helpful and exactly what I needed! I signed up for their core curriculum classes (Which I HIGHLY recommend). The first class I took was "Fundamentals of Preparing for Labor and Birth" Heather was the teacher and WOW! That class was sssooooooo packed with helpful and practical information! Heather's calming and friendly personality was exactly what I needed while learning this information because it was a lot and kind of overwhelming at first. We left that class and my husband was astounded, he said, "HOW COME NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD US THIS STUFF!??!?!?!". I laughed and I replied "Because we just took a 8hr class! No one has the time to sit us down and explain all this to us!". The information was extremely valuable! Heather was so detailed and thorough and I really appreciated the slides and visuals. She also took plenty of time for questions and made sure everyone understood what she was explaining. We both feel so much more prepared for birth and are extremely grateful for the information! I especially appreciated how they fully explained all your options when you deliver at a hospital and all the benefits and risk to each option. No one, not even the doctors, take the time to explain all that stuff and I don't know how people go in and make decisions during labor without knowing all that information! It was all evidence based information and it helped us make decisions ahead of time that we felt like was right for us. The second class we took was "Spinning Babies Baby Positioning & Comfort Measures Combo Class". Erin was the teacher! Erin is a joy to be around! She is so FUN and extremely funny and entertaining! Time just flies when she teaches! She is also incredibly smart and she explains things in a way that MAKES SENSE and you can understand it. She also gives you plenty of hands on practice so its not just information, but you walk away with real skills and experience. My husband was especially grateful for this class because it gave him a LOT of practical tools to help me while I'm in labor. This class was probably my favorite just because there was SO MANY practical tools and things we could do that I know will make a huge difference in labor and delivery. (I still have two more classes to go! I'll do a second review after I take them. Just couldn't wait to write these ones!) I also joined the parent support group. It felt comforting to be in a room of people who were going through the same thing. My first time they had a pelvic floor therapist, a chiropractor, and Erin who is also a Doula. It was so helpful to learn about the things I could do to help with the back pain I was experiencing, and after listening to their advice the back pain was almost completely gone within 24hrs! I'm looking forward to these biweekly classes and can't wait to learn more. I can't recommend this place enough!!! If you're pregnant or postpartum, you absolutely will benefit from checking this place out!

Great and kind team of doctors, nurses, and staff. Careful with the parking lot though...that hill…read moreis no joke!

I have gone to Burlington OBGYN for years (since Kathy Leonard days) and they have always been…read moreamazing! This year I ran into quite a mess with my insurance and Alysia at the front desk was BEYOND helpful- she went next level to not only help me figure out my issue but made sure she helped me resolve it- you don't often come across someone who wants to go above & beyond to help-- can't recommend them enough!

After the vaginal birth of my first daughter in Brazil, I developed panic disorder. What should…read morehave been one of the happiest moments of my life became the beginning of a very difficult emotional journey. From that experience, childbirth became something that brought fear, anxiety, and deep emotional distress. During my second pregnancy, even though I had an amazing medical team and delivered by C-section, I was extremely worried. My second daughter was born with some genetic anomalies, which at that time caused me intense anxiety, fear, and despair. Thank God, today those anomalies do not affect her life in any way -- truly a miracle from God -- but in that moment, it was emotionally overwhelming. This current pregnancy came as a surprise, and it was filled with challenges, discomfort, and many difficult days. However, I was blessed to be followed so closely by the wonderful AFA team at Emerson Hospital in Concord. They always respected my emotional condition and supported me with compassion, patience, and understanding. When the day of my C-section arrived, I was met with a team that completely changed my story. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Letner, the nurses, the nursing technicians, the anesthesiologist, and every member of the hospital staff. From the cleaning staff, to the people who brought my meals, to everyone who cared for Bella and for me -- I will be forever thankful. You rewrote my maternity story. Today, I can honestly say that I experienced a birth that I can remember without emotional pain. I felt safe. I felt cared for. I felt respected. I am grateful to God for each of you -- for every medication given, every blood pressure check done with such care, every kind word, every gentle action. Thank you for your love, your dedication, and your humanity. May God bless each one of you and your families abundantly. With all my gratitude, Karen Aciole de Oliveira Silva

Staffing makes all the difference in this baby friendly hospital. I was treated with respect and…read morekindness at every turn of my birthing experience. Nursing staff respected my birth plan and made every effort to adhere to our wishes. Once the baby arrives and move to our suite each nurse who entered were full of excellent advise, instruction, and compassion. Baby and husband roomed in during our stay. Room service was quick to arrive and delicious. My favorite part of the stay was when nutrition came by with a cart of delicious sweets and fruit. Emerson didn't treat my labor and delivery like a medical disease or emergency. I would highly recommend using this center to any expectant mother.