Kerry Reynolds is an amazing Doula. I'm writing this now as the mom of two young kids, so it might be a little bit scattered, but Kerry was the doula for both births, and I would use her again! For my first birth, I was pretty focused on trying to keep things as natural as possible, but we also wanted someone who would be good with both my husband and myself, and I wanted to be able to have the flexibility to change my mind without any judgment or issues. I do like and respect, doctors, so I also wanted to be able to lean on that sense if I decided to. Kerry was flexible through all of this, but I also never felt like she was being a pushover. She's realistic and pays really close attention to the client she has right in front of her. Kerry immediately put me at ease, telling me that she totally understood if I made certain decisions, and also made it clear that she saw where I was coming from with my initial hopes for my first birth. She explained all kinds of things to me that I didn't understand from any other birth preparation, and she has a really easy-going energy and sense of humor that made her nice company for both of us. My husband even liked her, and he was more skeptical about doulas than I was. Kerry was kind of like the no nonsense, older sister or aunt you really want to have with you when you're getting your baby here. She's straightforward when she needs to be, but she never bosses you around, and she's always right there as her advocate and support system no matter what's going on. In my first birth, I ended up having to get an emergency C-section, but Kerry showed right up as soon as everything was over, having coached my husband through all of the decisions leading up to that point via text, and she immediately got me doing skin to skin with my baby and coached us into what became a very successful breast-feeding year. She also helped us adjust to life with a newborn, helping us take care of our baby for about 11 weeks into his life. With my second, Kerry understood how strongly I felt about wanting to have a VBAC. That kind of birth takes a lot of extra advocacy and knowledge, but Kerry stuck with me throughout all of it. There were some concerns about my son's size, and I was always more concerned about his safety than my ability to have a VBAC, but Kerry was able to hold both of those things and help me stay true to what I wanted every step of the way. Any time I got information, I would talk to her about it, and she helped me figure out next steps and had the best discuss things with my care team. Also, when it came time for my induction, which she never pushed on me but I wanted to have, she spent the last hour or two before I started pushing with me and my husband. She had become like a close member of our family, and it was easy to have her around. She watched the shows we were watching, laughed about the things we were laughing about, and was generally just an easy presence. Also, when I had some pretty strong pain, she was able to work it out through various massage techniques because she knows what she's doing so well. When it came time to push, Kerry taught me exactly what to do, and she stuck with me even when there were moments where we weren't sure the baby would come out that way. Ultimately, I only pushed for 10 minutes, and Kerry was an enormous part of that. She even recorded some of it for me so that I could have it as a memory later. The next day, Kerry came and helped me and my baby get established with breast-feeding properly again, and she has stayed in touch through his first year. She did that with both of our kids, and she'll forever be a big part of our family's story. I cannot recommend Kerry enough to anyone. She is no nonsense, but she's also got a great sense of humor, she knows the client she's working with and tailors her approach to exactly that family. Not just the woman giving birth, but the entire family unit. I could not be more grateful that we found Kerry. Highly recommend her to anyone having any kind of birth. She has incredible knowledge, wisdom, and general sense, and she is exactly the person I would've chosen for this important experience. read more

Simply amazing. My wife engaged BBS and we (mostly she ofc) selected Sara P. Sara was amazing. She talked us through different approaches to birth, listened to my wife, and prioritized what she wanted out of the process. At the hospital and during the birth Sara was with us overnight and made sure my wife was well taken care of, that we both got sleep, and was a wonderful advocate and coached during the actual birth. I could not have been happier for my wife that she had such an amazing and caring doula to help see her (and us!) through the birth of our second child. I would recommend BBS and specifically Sara P. to anyone. read more

If you're even thinking about hiring a doula, stop debating and call Liz! She is the professional, compassionate, 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! read more

I attribute my very positive first birthing experience to Liz. She played a pivotal role not only in facilitating the calm I so desperately needed during the labor process but also in her guidance leading up to the birth. It was her support and her recommendations that prepared and equipped us to have such a positive birthing experience. When my husband and I sought to find a doula for our first childbirth, it was driven by our realization that we could not place complete trust in the OB practice we were with. We realized we needed the reassuring presence of someone else in the room that we could trust. Our first conversation with Liz can only be described as a breath of fresh air. It far exceeded our expectations, proving to be a pivotal moment. We shared our reservations about the care we were currently receiving, and after our call Liz promptly sent us her recommendations based on our preferences. We moved to the practice she suggested, and as we approached the final stages of pregnancy we realized we had a birth team we wholeheartedly trusted, a gift beyond measure all thanks to Liz. When we met Liz in person for our prenatal visit, it solidified our feelings of trust and excitement knowing she would be there with us through this wild experience. She is a warm, gentle, kind, attentive, passionate, and genuine person that shines brightly. She is a truly gifted person who speaks from the heart and has an innate ability to soothe anxieties. The morning I went into labor, the intensity of my contractions prompted us to arrive at the hospital a bit prematurely. I had planned for a natural birth, but the combination of the contractions and a migraine had me asking for an epidural immediately upon arriving at the hospital. The moment Liz got there, however, she brought with her the calm and the coaching I needed to labor naturally past 6 cm. She supported and coached me through every decision and I felt her genuine compassion at every stage. She knew when to engage in light conversation, when to joke and laugh, and when I needed her guidance through the pain. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had Liz as our doula. The gift she gave us is something I can never repay and the gratitude I feel for her is overwhelming. I wholeheartedly recommend Liz and anyone she deems worthy to be a member of the Balanced Birth Support team. read more

I had a better experience than I could've imagined with Blanca from Balanced Birth Support. From our 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! read more

I highly recommend working with Balanced Birth Support. I hired Liz as my doula for my first child. I liked my midwife, but I wanted more emotional support and guidance. Liz stepped into a role that transformed my pregnancy, labor, and birth experience. She helped my decision-making process in the wisest way--she didn't sway my decision one way or the other but asked important questions and acted as a sounding board. She connected with my support person in such a way that we became a cohesive birthing team that navigated the labor process with a good sense of humor, openness, and warm support. Liz protected my emotional process and was my cheerleader throughout the experience. She worked gracefully with the nurses and medical staff, creating a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. Liz was a key element to the amazing journey I experienced, giving me and my baby the top quality care. read more

We had an incredible experience with BBB! We hired Jessica who provided us with helpful information before, during, and after our in-home consult during week 36. She told us before we hired her that she would be out of town on preplanned travel during our week 38. Of course, we went into labor the last day she was traveling, but she and the BBB team had a lovely backup doula, Blanca, available to assist us. Jessica and Blanca coordinated everything well and Blanca stayed with us the whole time we were in the hospital, until we got to the postpartum unit. Both doulas also visited us about a week after we had the baby to ensure everything was going ok. We couldn't imagine having gone through this experience by ourselves! Very grateful for help from both Jessica and Blanca. read more

Really loved our experience with Blanca - she was attentive, proactive, and experienced. She really went above and beyond in caring for our family and we were so thankful to have her! read more

We had a wonderful experience with our doula from BBS. We worked with Amanda, who sent us lots of information beforehand, answered all our questions and sat down with us several times before delivery to help us plan out everything (as much as it can be done when giving birth, lol). The day of, she was amazing helping me try different positions, giving me encouragement and generally providing support. My husband loved having her there as well- she struck the right balance of supporting me while also supporting him to support me, and he never once felt like he was being sidelined in the process. Would definitely recommend their services for anyone looking to have a doula when having a baby! read more

I never used their services, but I tried to get information about doula services. An initial meeting was scheduled but there were no meeting details or phone number to join. I had to email the website to get someone to call me back 20 minutes later. We spent 30 minutes discussing the process and services. I was told I would get information about doulas and their bios. Nothing was sent over, so I had to follow up after a week. However I was simply told there were no Doulas available during my due date. I sent my due date before the initial consultation, so it felt like a complete waste of time. read more

I am so glad I was able to work closely with Liz on my labor and delivery. She is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, non-judgemental, and has a great sense of humor. She helped me achieve my goals of a healthy delivery but also assuaged concerns and anxieties before, during and after labor. I can't recommend her enough. She was a key support for my husband as well always checking in on his emotional needs as well as my own. She's also helped us secure post partum support that's making us better parents every day. read more

Liz was so amazing during my labor. Over the course of a few months during my pregnancy she took the time to get to know me and my goals. She's very knowledgeable and friendly and helped me reach my goal of an unmedicated birth. I appreciated all of the materials she provided me so I could feel more informed during my labor. She's intuitive and makes sure you are comfortable every step of the way. I couldn't have done it without her on my side! If you're looking for a doula, I highly recommend Liz!! read more

Overpriced and under-serviced. Message me and I'll tell you my experience. Be warned about all the stipulations in the contract.

This company, specifically Shaina, has been a very special part of two of our family's L&D adventures. Shaina was so attentive, understanding, empathetic, the perfect advocate and coach for both of my labor/delivery experiences which were VERY different (first medicated, second unmedicated). We cannot recommend her enough and speak so highly of her on every possible occasion. Thank you BBS for introducing Shaina to us! She's an angel. read more

If I could give Liz a million stars, I would. We had a pretty traumatic second birth experience, and I don't know what we would've done without her. She stayed with me after an emergency c-section while my husband went with our daughter to the NICU. He said he felt more comfortable leaving me to be with our daughter because he knew I was in good hands. Liz's warmth, kindness, and commitment to people because they're people, not just clients, makes her very special. I haven't worked with any of her other doulas (yet - we plan to use a postpartum doula once I am out of the hospital), but I can't imagine that Liz would work with anyone who wasn't equally wonderful. read more

Balanced Birth Support was incredible. We originally worked with Mary as our birth doula, who came over to discuss our birth plan and provided tons of great resources. We ended up working with Beth after she became our designated backup doula (which was a seamless experience/transition when Mary couldn't be there). Beth was absolutely incredible and had several tactics to help me get more comfortable while back laboring. My birth experience didn't go quite as we'd anticipated, but having Beth present made ALL the difference--she served as a source of knowledge and comfort for both my husband and I throughout the birth experience. I can't say better things about the support she provided us. She also came by our home to check-in within a few days of us coming home to discuss postpartum support options and to "debrief" on our birth experience. Her warm, compassionate nature has been so appreciated throughout this process and I would highly recommend working with BBS! read more

We had the good fortune to have Avele as our labor doula. I had always known that I wanted to try for an unmedicated birth but I knew that a strong support system was key. We connected with Avele on Liz's recommendation and I believe that having her as part of our birth team made it possible for me to have the birth I had always imagined despite it being an induction. She was incredibly supportive of my hospital birth and worked alongside the medical staff and my husband. We joke that we were a good fit for each other since I'm on the low side of the "crunchy granola" scale (nothing wrong if you're extra crunchy that's just not me!) She helped keep me calm and focused and encouraged me any time doubt would creep in. If you're seeking a low intervention birth, a doula is a MUST! For reference we delivered at INOVA Fairfax and my birth was an induction at 40 + 5. read more

Balanced Birth Support - Avele re-meeting our daughter at my postpartum visit. - Childbirth Education Near Me

We had an exceptional experience with Kerry as our doula! Throughout my third trimester and when we decided to move forward with BBS after several other meetings with other agencies, Kerry provided us with tools to help with our pregnancy and prepare for the birth of our first child. She always provided thoughtful responses to our questions and understood the different perspectives of both me and my husband. Her presence at our birth was quite welcome given her unparalleled experience in child birth. We also appreciated her follow up after the birth. Would highly recommend if you are looking for someone who is experienced, thoughtful, and an excellent communicator as your doula. read more

I was so thankful to have Kerry by my side for the birth of my second child! I had definitive goals for this birth, and Kerry was a calming presence and voice of encouragement that I needed to reach those goals. Every birth story has its unexpected twists and turns, and my husband and I were so blessed to have Kerry helping us navigate the curveballs. Thank you, BBS! read more

I had the BEST experience with Balanced Birth Support. The owner, Liz, was very responsive in answering my questions and pairing me up with a doula for the birth of my first child. I worked with Mary who was incredible. She was nice, professional, extremely knowledgeable in helping me navigate what I wanted my birth plan to be. And when of course things didn't go to plan, was amazing in advocating for me, asking great questions to the doctors, and supporting me through labor with different techniques. We also wanted a night doula to help us for the first few weeks and were paired with Nikkiea who is also wonderful. Providing us with the support in between feedings - being great with our baby in putting her to sleep and consoling her so we can get some much needed sleep. All around great experience with the people and the company! read more

Liz, & the team, are all a wonderful asset to your pregnancy and birth journey. As an already educated and trained birth worker myself, I sat in on Liz's classes for further education and was blown away by the incredible class she taught. I left feeling even more knowledgeable, prepared, & confident. Liz teaches her classes in such a personable, yet still ever professional manner. A variety of classes for individual needs. Not the stale classes I had experienced prior. She diligently selects the team members for Balanced Birth Support and I have confidence in each and every one of them that they could absolutely satisfy my desires throughout the journey and would personally choose them. Swift responses always! Customer service goes above and beyond here! read more

This is an amazing network of wise women! Liz was my doula and was instrumental in keeping me calm through my third trimester complications. She also connnected me with wonderful resources post partum, especially my lactation consultant Ashley. All my family is on the West Coast and these ladies became my best advisors and sounding boards as I navigated pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. read more

Liz was the most amazing support, guide and partner in the birth of our first son. From both my wife's and my perspective, Liz was an unshakeable and calming presence throughout the near 27 hours of labor. At the moments my wife (and I!) felt our most unsure, Liz provided the exact words, advice, suggestions that were needed. We've developed a bond that our family values so greatly and there's no one else we could imagine being present at the upcoming birth of our second son. Balanced Birth Support absolutely ROCKS!! read more

I had a wonderful experience and my dream birth with Dina at Balanced Birth Support. I always wanted a doula and I worked with GW Midwives. My goal was to have a natural birth. In the midst of Covid, we were able to do it all! I am a first time mom and I delivered our baby boy in about eight hours on his due date weighing in at 8 lbs. 8 oz. and 22 inches. Mom and baby were very healthy with very little recovery needed. We birthed at home the majority of the time and it was only the last two or three hours that we birthed at the hospital. I also found the price of the service reasonable compared to other doulas. Other services do not guarantee that you work with the same Doula which was important to me. Dina has seen all types of births including the ones that she has had and I appreciate the experience. She also was trained in Hypno baby which was important since that is the process I used. At no point was I told to push or pressured and I've never had a more empowering experience in my life than giving birth naturally. She also went above and beyond during these crazy times since she couldn't be at the hospital with us. Highly highly recommend! read more

Balanced Birth Support - Baby - Childbirth Education Near Me

I could not have a higher opinion of Balanced Birth Support and specifically our doula, Sara. From first contact Liz listened to our needs and recommended working with Sara, who not only supported me throughout my pregnancy but brought a kind, calming presence to my labor. If you've considered getting a doula, reach out to Balanced Birth Support- my husband and I were so happy with the experience. read more

Liz is without a doubt the best doula you could hire! She's kind, caring, has a great personality, and is so knowledgeable. We used her for the birth of my first daughter and will be using her again for our second. Liz was there every step of the way, texting my husband nonstop before we went to the hospital all the way through until recovery. One of the best parts was her follow up visit. At that point I had been pumping only and was emotionally not doing well. It was Liz that talked about the benefits of breastfeeding not only for our daughter but also for me emotionally and boy was she right! If you are debating a doula at all definitely talk with Liz and Balanced Birth. She is an amazing person and doula and her love for her job truly shines through. read more

I am a little late in posting my Heaven sent & positive experience with Doula Owner, Liz Oldham, of Balanced Birth Support & Doula, Mary Niezgoda. These two women were instrumental in helping me achieve a birth without unnecessary medical interventions. Liz & Mary are supportive to help pregnant women bring forth strong birth outcomes for mother & baby. They are knowledgeable, compassionate, take the time to get to know you, and work alongside medical staff during labor, birth, & for a time postpartum should you need. Ladies, unfortunately, the U.S.A. has one of the worst aggregated birth outcomes & maternal care in the whole developed world despite tons of money being poured into the medical & big pharma industry! Having a GREAT Doula(s) is worth the money to give your baby as healthy a start in life as possible. Balanced Birth Support is highly recommended! read more

I am very grateful to Liz for her recommendation of postpartum doula. Andrea was wonderful. She is such a caring, kind and attentive doula. It was a great idea to hire her to take care of my little daughter so that I had a couple of hours for rest and sleep. Andrea also helped me with breastfeeding and provided some useful information about baby development read more

As a first time mom hoping to have an unmedicated birth, I knew I needed a doula..and some serious childbirth classes. My husband and I signed up for the hypnobirthing class...and after the first class knew Liz was the doula for us. Her energy, her positive outlook, her knowledge of all things childbirth, and her sense of humor were exactly what we needed going into the wild world of birth. My labor didn't go as planned (do they ever?) but having Liz by our side throughout the many different paths my labor took made all the difference in the world. I couldn't more highly recommend Balanced Birth Support for all your pregnancy, labor, delivery, postpartum needs! read more

Liz is a fabulous doula and a warm soul. She comes without her own agenda, and with just an interest in making your delivery as comfortable and special as she can. My husband was a skeptic about having a doula and after meeting with Liz he felt totally comfortable. She was also our hypnobirthing instructor which was a great way to get to know her better in the months before the birth. She is wonderful in every way, couldn't recommend her more...! read more

I had such a wonderful experience with Balanced Birth Support. On the recommendation of one of the Nurse Practitioners from my OB/GYN office, I gave Liz a call and was comfortable with her immediately. I was initially looking for a birth doula, and Liz put me in contact with two wonderful doulas, both of whom I liked a lot and would have been happy to have support me during labor. Just as I was going through that process, some unexpected complications arose with my pregnancy that left me with very limited mobility and the need for a scheduled c-section. I called Liz again, and she quickly adjusted my plan so that instead of having a birth doula, I would have doula support for both baby prep and in my first couple of weeks postpartum while I worked on regaining my mobility and learning how to care for a newborn. Liz put together an incredible team for me, with Ashley and Ryann as my main overnight doulas and Brit and Ashley when I needed some help during the day, and Assonta overnight one day a week as well. It truly was a dream team. I felt so incredibly cared for and supported during what turned out to be a very difficult and emotional struggle with breastfeeding, exhaustion, and trying to get back on my feet. My daughter is 6 months old now, and I am still in touch with these 5 amazing women. I would recommend any one of them without reservation!!! read more