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.

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.

If you're even thinking about hiring a doula, stop debating and call Liz! She is the professional,…read morecompassionate, and knowledgeable presence you didn't know you needed but absolutely do. My husband and I couldn't have asked for a better person to have by our side during our second labor and delivery experience. I was late to the game, deciding to hire Liz toward the end of my second trimester, and she jumped in like we'd been friends for years. She listened to every detail of my first delivery (tears and all) and helped me process my fears about being induced again. Liz didn't just hear me--she held space for my feelings, validated my worries, and helped me shift my mindset in the most empowering way. On the big day, she arrived at the hospital right when my contractions were ramping up. Her calm guidance and confidence in me made the experience transformative. I wanted an unmedicated birth, and thanks to Liz's support, encouragement, and expert coaching through contractions and pushing, that's exactly what I achieved. This delivery was night and day compared to my first--it was redemptive, empowering, and everything I'd hoped for. Even my husband, a man of few words, quickly admitted after our son was born that having Liz there was a game-changer. He felt supported and reassured knowing we had someone on our team who could explain the medical lingo and navigate the process with us. Liz is truly a gem. Her calming demeanor, wealth of knowledge, and radiant smile will carry you through labor and beyond. Whether you're a first-time parent or not, she'll leave you feeling capable, cared for, and encouraged. Do yourself a favor: hire Liz. You'll thank yourself later!

I had a better experience than I could've imagined with Blanca from Balanced Birth Support. From…read moreour very first zoom she was incredibly easy to talk to and made me feel so much peace leading up to birth. Our two in person sessions before the birth were informative, and it was clear that she really wanted to understand my hopes for the experience. Ultimately, I ended up having to be induced and because that process can be long I was initially just texting with Blanca at the beginning. Even over text, she was encouraging and helped me understand what the doctor was suggesting and what next steps would look like. When she arrived I was past the point of being able to have a conversation but she immediately stepped in providing physical and emotional support and helping me get into a more comfortable/sustainable position. Everyone in the room immediately felt more calm when she showed up! When it came to pushing, I had some nurses that seemed very inexperienced, but Blanca's tangible step by step guidance throughout pushing helped everything still feel calm and under control. In addition to all of that, she took photos after the birth and was able to provide support to my partner when needed, so neither of us can imagine the experience without her. Her in person visit a few days after the birth was so meaningful because she feels like family now! I felt extremely comfortable with her throughout everything and her follow up texts have been so encouraging. It is very clear that she cares deeply about her clients as people. Additionally, I appreciated the various education emails sent by Balanced Birth Support throughout my pregnancy. Overall I would highly highly highly recommend BBS and especially Blanca!

I grew up watching a lot of Saturday morning NBC television so I am a big fan of the concept: "The…read moreMore You Know," which is why I decided to sign up the boy and I for Mama Chakra's one day, intensive boot camp class: "Having a Baby: From Soup to Nuts." The Pros of the Class: + Stephanie, the instructor clearly knows her stuff. Not only is she a two-time mama she is also a certified doula, childbirth educator, and prenatal and postnatal yoga instructor. She also happens to host tons of classes and mother focused workshops at my local yoga studio Journeyoga. + The class is held in her home which makes the environment relaxed for everyone. She is super relatable and easy going. + She is Birthworks certified which means that her philosophy is to just give all types of information so a mother can make the best decision for herself regarding childbirth. + Classes are small, we only had one other couple in our group! + She offers classes on weekends which worked great for our schedule. + Lots of cookies. I think I ate my weight in Milano cookies :) I'm due in two weeks so I took the class rather late in the gate but I actually found it pretty beneficial since all of the information will (hopefully) stay fresh in my mind. We focused on everything from the stages of labor, what to expect when you go to the hospital, pain management techniques, breastfeeding, birth plans and postpartum plans. For those short on time and/or money, a lot of this information can be found in books (which I have been devouring over the past few weeks) but it was absolutely helpful to have someone to answer my questions in an open environment. Also being able to have my partner there also seemed to open conversation as well. I also like how she spent a good time focusing on what to do AFTER the baby comes since this information is often skimmed over in books. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for that extra support.

From the owner: MamaChakra specializes in helping you feel in-tune with your body in preparation for labor and…read morechildbirth, by offering a variety of birthing classes, and workshops to meet your unique needs. Prenatal Yoga - I teach a "Baby Bootcamp" style class that gives you a great workout, and I teach more traditional prenatal yoga that will still build your strength for birth. No gentle, stretchy prenatal yoga here! Childbirth Education I am certified through BirthWorks and I teach my own independent curriculum. All classes provide you with un-biased resources to help you make the best decisions for your family's journey through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. In my birth classes, there is a special emphasis on breastfeeding and the first week home with baby. Many birth classes gloss over this incredibly important time, leaving you with so many questions, or having to take yet another class. My curriculum aims to put you at ease for what to expect after you have baby. My style as a birth educator is down-to-earth, no filter necessary, and lots of laughter preferred! Postnatal Yoga - I teach safe ways to find your abdominals again and regain strength, whether it's been a couple of months, or a year since you've had baby. I currently teach in two locations, and offer private sessions for moms that are hesitant to return to activity. Baby & Me Yoga - Coming in July 2015! A great way to begin to strengthen your body again AND be playful with your pre-crawling baby.

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.

I am a repeat client of Amy's and I cannot tell you enough of how valuable she is to have in your…read moreback pocket. As a second time mom, I didn't think I would need as much help this time around with Amy. I knew how to get a good latch, how to position my body and the baby, and felt confident that I only needed minimal visits, but baby #2 had other plans in mind. Baby #2 was born at 37wks and while that's considered full term, it's actually on the early side which causes a lot of complications with feeding. My baby had trouble latching and sucking because there wasn't enough time practicing these motor skills in the womb. This resulted in the baby not being able to transfer milk, even though my milk was coming in. Amy confirmed this with her before and after weighing from a 20mins feed. I was so upset and devastated, that we had to move quickly to formula feeding to get the weight up fast because baby #2 had severe jaundice and we were trying to keep from being admitted to the hospital for phototherapy. Unfortunately, we had to be readmitted and Amy coached me through protecting my milk supply, while formula feeding and getting baby's weight up. She also reassured me that this is just a blip in our breastfeeding journey and that we will get back on track when he's healthy and clear of jaundice. I ended up upgrading my package to the Luxe because of how important it was for me to get us back to the basics once baby #2 was in the clear health-wise. I not only was able to protect my milk supply while having to formula feeding for two weeks but I also needed support in making sure once I returned back to work how to maintain a sustainable stash without oversupply, as I did with my first. I am almost 3mo postpartum and baby #2 has a great latch, is thriving in all the drs appointments, and gaining weight beautifully. At my last in home visit Amy walked through our schedule to have a successful stash, pumping schedule, and ready for baby to start daycare and me to return to work. I almost cried when she as leaving because I've appreciated everything that she has done for me and my babies. Words cannot express how much she has meant to me. I am so thankful for her wisdom, support, expertise and care she brings with her to every visit. If you are considering a lactation consultant, get on her books!! She's your go-to-guru.

I had a baby less than two weeks ago, and I can already say that the most important decision I've…read moremade postpartum is hiring Amy. I found her through a friend who had an amazing experience, and I reached out in a panic on a Sunday when my milk came in and I had no idea what to do. Her insanely fast response time was much needed; I found out the next day that our son had lost more than 10% of his birth weight and to say that I was freaking out is an understatement. Amy came that afternoon and I immediately felt like I was in great hands. She taught me how to breastfeed comfortably, got me set up with my pump, did a weight measurement to see how much he was getting with each feed, and also helped get a plan in place to get my son back to his birth weight. After the appointment she has been incredible over text/Voxer and answers questions so quickly. Feeding a baby is so stressful but with Amy's knowledge and confident demeanor, she demystifies it. I immediately signed up for the luxe package and truly wish I did this before I delivered so I would have had a plan in place and didn't have to play catch up. Still I'm so glad that I reached out to Amy and probably would have stopped breastfeeding if I hadn't. She is truly the best and I'm so grateful to have her guidance for one of the most important pieces of my life!

Faith and the NOVA team are truly first rate…read more Expertise is on pace with any doc we spoke to. The guidance and peace of mind was priceless. We cannot recommend them enough. Easily the best money we've spent in regards to the birth process. Joslyn has been a huge help with the baby at night and treats him like her own. She has offered expertise and little hacks here and there that have made a huge difference for us in getting acclimated as new parents (hello pace feeding). we only wish there were more of her! We feel so blessed to have found NOVA and confidently recommend them to anyone, even though we would selfishly like it if we could keep them for ourselves. God Bless!

How do you even begin to write a review for someone who has truly changed your life? I can't…read morerecommend Lauren and NOVA Birth Partners enough and feel incredibly grateful that she chose to take me on as a client. After having a C-section with my first birth, I knew I wanted a doula for my second pregnancy. My first birth had felt like something that just happened to me, and this time, I wanted a different experience. When I went past my due date, Lauren gave me the reassurance and confidence I desperately needed. When I felt hopeless, she gave me hope. Her recommendations and introduction to Faith were invaluable in helping me go into labor. She held space for me to make my own decisions. She had the confidence and experience I needed as I prepared for a VBAC. During labor, she helped me move through different positions to encourage my baby's descent. She provided hands-on support and, when I needed it, tough love. I couldn't have asked for a better person to be there in the moments after the most empowering experience of my life. I am beyond grateful for Lauren. Without her support, I know I would have ended up with a repeat C-section. She helped me take back my birth, and for that, I will always be thankful.

I could not recommend Birth You Desire / Ursula / Jenn more. Jenn has been simply the best doula we…read morecould have asked for. During birth, she was able to tell when my husband needed some extra help, asked the hospital staff for what he needed on his behalf when he was not mentally able to, and gave us guidance based off of my preferences and state of mind that led to an incredibly successful birth. Her postpartum care has honestly been the highlight of her services. I did not realize how much help we would need overnight and the help and resources that Jenn provides have been invaluable. Jenn claims she is not magic - but she is. You are in the best hands with Birth You Desire.

Jenn Carlson is an amazing person and doula who went above and beyond for us during our birth and…read morepostpartum journey. Our baby was born during one of the worst snowstorms in years and she made sure she was prepared and there to support us (even if it meant getting snowed in at the hospital). Without her care and experience we would've had a very different birth that likely would've ended in an emergency c-section. I had a lot of anxiety about giving birth but Jenn helped put me at ease and explained things very well. She is warm and has an evidence based approach to her work. She also looked out for my partner which I really appreciated, ensuring he ate and rested. Afterwards we also used Jenn's overnight doula services to care for our infant and she was just as fantastic with him. Not only did we get a good night's rest when she was here (priceless), we also felt so supported with learning about newborn care and dealing with all of the emotional aspects of becoming parents. Our journey would've been different without her and we will forever be grateful that we had her support.

Janna provides great doula services. We hired her as a postpartum doula for after the birth of our…read moredaughter. She came to our home ahead of time to meet my husband and me. We knew then that she's be a great resource and she was! She had great advice and provided needed help around the house. I highly recommend her and would hire her again!

*Disclosure: I am a fair Yelp grader. 3 stars to me means the company/product met my expectations…read more It is rare for me to give 5 stars. 5 stars is given if absolute excellence was shown (product AND customer service) AND continued to receive amazing service. 4 stars is given to a business for those that showed they went out of their way to provide better than adequate (expected) service. 3 stars is they did what the goal was with little to no fuss or foul. 2 stars there were some issues but not a horrible experience. 1 star is rarely given as I do not want to discredit a business for 1 initial instance. I would only give 1 star if I continually receive bad service and have lots of frustration that is not met with sincerity or resolution. I HIGHLY recommend Brittany as a doula! I had hired another doula for my second son's birth and Brittany was my doula's backup person to allow for breaks/etc. At my birth, it was the first time I had met Brittany. At first, I was uneasy because you want your doula there and although I was okay to have my doula switch with her backup - I was at my most vulnerable state. But the thing is, when you meet Brittany - she is the most caring, supportive, loving, kind, and respectful person. I know why my doula chose her to be her backup and I am thankful she was there at my birth. She's just as amazing as my doula. I instantly felt a connection, felt loved and supported and I couldn't imagine my birth with her or my other doula. I was so thankful to have both doulas present during my births. She made it extra special for being there by my side, even though we just met at the hospital. I LOVE Brittany and all of the support she gave me and my doula. Having her by your side is the best decision you can make for you and your baby. She's incredibly intelligent, knowledgable in all things maternal care and she is the absolute sweetest. you will not be disappointed in choosing her. From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful my doula introduced me to Brittany because she's part of my and my son's story and I will forever be thankful and remember her for being by my side.

Words cannot describe how truly grateful my husband and I were to have Brittany assist us in the…read moredelivery of our baby girl. This was my first child and Brittany supported all of us before, during labor and months after our delivery. To begin with she took the time to truly get to know my husband and I (and even our shy dog). She never made us feel rushed during our appointments and was constantly available to answer questions and concerns. During labor (30 hours) Brittany made the experience truly enjoyable. She gave my husband the guidance and confidence to assist me through labor as a team. Brittany also helped dramatically with pain relief through massage and relaxation techniques. She helped us to make informed decisions throughout what could have seemed like a somewhat complicated labor. Because of Brittany my husband and I worked through labor together and felt very happy with our decisions. Brittany also took some incredible photos during labor that I will cherish forever. After birth she has continued to be a pillar of support for our new family. She continues to check in on me and makes sure that I have everything that I need to be a happy, healthy mama. Moving forward she will be at all of our births, I cannot imagine delivering a baby without her.

We took the childbirth education and cpr classes…read more I'd recommend them. One class was held at Nidhi's residence (separate from her home) and another was at an office location in Arlington. The instructors were great. Nidhi is very knowledgeable, friendly, and open. The class sizes were pretty small and you're encouraged to ask lots of questions. There were also snacks and water which are important to me since i was pregnant and didn't want to go 2+ hours not eating/drinking anything. My husband and I brought sandwiches to one class and we were able to eat them during the class (it was around dinner time/6pm) so atmosphere is casual which I appreciate. You get an online resource packet after the class that summarizes everything covered. Should probably look at that again as i am typing this before my gassy, ornery newborn wakes up.

As a first time aunt with no previous experience with infants, I was seeking resources to help me…read morelearn the basics. it was surprisingly difficult to find information that wasn't just about pregnancy and delivery, when I was really looking for things like feeding holding, changing and what to expect in the first few months. Nested's Newborn Care/ Infant CPR Bootcamp absolitely knocked it out of the park. I learned SO MUCH about the stages baby's are going through when they're first born, the routines you're establishing, the techniques you can use to care for them and more. Renie and Migma are so nice, and so clearly so committed to what they do, I felt extremely comfortable and confident under their instruction. The class imparts so much information in a 4-hour course, and the cherry on top is that after completing the in-person and online class imparts now Red Cross certified for both Adult and Infant CPR, and feel confident in both. Even Though I myself am not expecting, I was welcomed and encouraged in my desire to learn. Whether you're an expecting parent or a loved one seeking to prepare to be an involved member of a child's early life, i really can't recommend Nested and specifically the Newborn Care bootcamp highly enough! Absolutely worth the value!