Instructors: 11/10. Wonderful, knowledgeable, and open to questions. You guys rock!…read moreOn the other hand... this class was held at an empty medical office which wasn't the greatest setup for the PowerPoint presentation. We basically sat in the dark for about three hours - totally not the instructor's fault but it was depressing. Great content but the logistics could use some improvement for this price.

My husband and I took the Baby Bootcamp class in mid-December. The class was conducted via Zoom and…read morewas well-run, informative and interactive. While we would have loved to have taken it in-person in different circumstances, we appreciated having a safe and virtual option in these strange times. Shoutout to Lillian for the Childbirth portion of the class, who was phenomenal. I hope she's working when we go into labor! I did have a little trouble signing up for the class online, as the registration seemed to be down but I emailed them and Taylor, the Stork intern, got back to me right away and helped us get signed up! I would highly recommend the class to anyone looking to get a comprehensive and interesting childbirth/parenting class.

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.

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.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about DCBD. This was my/our first pregnancy, and we truly…read morefelt supported every step of the way by their team. Especially in those last 1-2 months, we leaned so heavily on the birth doulas and they responded to all of our questions and concerns immediately. We learned the most about how to care for our daughter and what was happening in my body from DCBD. I went into labor and the birth experience feeling ready and excited, and that's because of the experience, information, and kindness that were shared with us ahead of time. The birth - nearly 4 months later, and we are still talking about Camille! We are going to remember her forever - she was such a wonderful presence during my entire labor and after, and we don't know what we would have done without her. She made sure my husband and I knew what was happening, she advocated for us, she ensured I was comfortable (well, as comfortable as you can be in labor), and she really rooted for us the whole time. I felt safe because she was with us. And Ella - we were shocked that someone who didn't *have* to be there, stayed for the entire labor, participated, and stayed after when we were transferred to the postpartum room! She will be (or already is) a phenomenal birth doula. We felt so lucky to have Camille and Ella. Post birth - Lolonyo came to our house the very first night we were back from the hospital, and what a gift she is. She taught us how to soothe a baby, how to change a diaper (I'm sure they showed us in the hospital... but I could not remember haha). We had her for several nights during those first 2 months and we were so, so grateful to wake up the next morning refreshed, rested, and with the knowledge that our daughter had been held in loving arms all night long. She was never judgmental and was always supportive as we navigated breastfeeding, safe cosleeping, and everything else. We also had Joanna for several daytime visits. She always made sure to check in on my mental and physical health, which was so appreciated, and she was so helpful. We always felt like we were able to reset a bit after her visits, because she'd leave behind clean bottles and pump parts and a rested (and sometimes still sleeping) baby, and we would have had time to ourselves to shower and get a little more organized. She made our chaotic lives feel lighter, and we loved her for that. As a DCBD member you'll also have the opportunity to be part of a postpartum circle of other parents going through what you did. Shaleen and Elizabeth gave us space to talk through birth and everything that comes after, while feeling supported and safe. I'm still friends with some of the parents from my circle. In closing - DCBD is worth every single penny. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

Rebecca from DC Birth Doulas was absolutely incredible. From the moment we first connected, I…read moreimmediately felt comfortable with her and the entire team. She has such a warm, genuine presence that made it easy to ask questions and talk through everything honestly. She was always responsive and gave thoughtful, real answers that helped me feel informed and confident throughout the process. I was hoping for a VBAC, and with Rebecca's support we were able to have a successful one. She provided amazing support not only for me, but also for my husband. During labor she was calm, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable, helping us both feel grounded and supported every step of the way. Having Rebecca there made such a difference in our birth experience. I'm so grateful for her care and for the support of the entire DC Birth Doulas team. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a compassionate, knowledgeable, and truly supportive doula

Lisa-Marie's class is a wonderful introduction to childbirth, postpartum recovery, and newborn…read morecare. Her passion for teaching and expertise in childbirth are so clearly evident in watching her videos and joining for her Zoom live session. We appreciated the flexibility of the class set up and benefitted from the group discussion portion. I would highly recommend Lisa's class to anyone looking for an engaging and evidence-based childbirth education resource!

Lisa's class was so informative and helpful as we geared up for our first child. The ability to…read morewatch the training videos online was great for our busy schedule, but mixing it with the Zoom allowed us to have that personal touch and time to ask whatever questions we needed. And it's an extra bonus if you're delivering at GW Hospital, where you will likely see her! Couldn't recommend this more for new parents looking to demystify the birth process and get trusted advice.

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!

Doula Nathalie & Associates is an incredibly supportive team. Through the online meetings covering…read morepregnancy-related topics, the childbirth classes, and the rental of a TENS unit, we felt truly supported and confident that we were with the right team. Hannah Wright was our doula, and she was incredible from the very beginning. From our first meeting, I knew she was the right person to support me and my husband during our baby's birth. She was deeply attentive, always helping me understand what I wanted and guiding me with clarity, care, and respect. I learned so much from her, and she was always checking in, offering support, and helping us make informed decisions. I had an induction and spent three days in the hospital before our baby arrived, and Hannah was consistently present, checking on us, bringing food, and being there whenever we needed her. When it was time to give birth, she arrived immediately and never left my side. I am certain that without Hannah, I would not have had the birth experience I wanted. She ensured my wishes were respected and supported me through every up and down with confidence and compassion. Hannah will always be part of our family's story.

I had a wonderful experience with my daytime doula Iyonna and evening doula Stephenie. Both were…read morevery helpful and knowledgeable which is so important for expectant mothers who need extra help cause newborns require so much and new moms need the time off to relax or just do... anything else. It feels endless and overwhelming at times. And it was wonderful to have the extra pair of hands so that I could sleep at night and take care of errands, get out of the house, grab food, and visit my older daughter in daycare during the day.

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.

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!

Wife and I tried to use this service to hire a night nanny. They wouldn't give us a straight answer…read moreabout whether the providers they contract with are vaccinated. Eventually they did tell us that they don't and can't confirm that. The candidates we were connected to seemed great, but the interaction with the agency left a sour taste in our mouths. We felt like we'd be given the runaround whenever we had a hard question for them, which isn't a good way to start off. Leaving this review just so people know the agency believes they can't confirm vaccination status of its providers or require that providers be vaccinated. The founder said very few people get the flu shot anymore - big red flag! Edit: Since leaving this review, the company has contacted us implying that our negative review might come to the attention of our employers. I'm curious to see their response! What an experience. Buyer beware. Edit 2: Their reply here says they never said they'd contact our employers. Here is what they said, verbatim: that we would "receive a public response from us where it's discoverable by your employer and anyone else that may want to help your family in the future." We're smart enough to read the implication.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR PARENTS-TO-BE!!! I'm in my third trimester and was looking for an Infant CPR…read moreClass in the DMV area. I called and spoke to Carolyn (the owner) who was super personable and reassuring. In fact Momease was recommended by my OB at GWU/MFA -- Carolyn knew my doctor too. The online booking was seamless and communication (via email/text) was on point. My husband enjoyed the class and the instructor was excellent. The facility was clean and conveniently located. We were very pleased with our experience and would HIGHLY recommend Momease!

Thru recommendation, We signed up the whole weekend class with Carolyn on Friday and Saturday (…read morechildbirth) , Linda and Vanessa on Sunday ( CPR + Infant care) I'm so glad that I signed up the class. Carolyn has the best teaching styles. The class is fun, interactive and informative. I learned so much from the class than just google information online or books. Carolyn makes sure your partner and you retain the knowledge and she genuinely is trying to help. She is very thoughtful and professional, I totally recommend them to any expecting mom! We are definitely feeling more comfortable to childbirth than before

Hiring District Doulas was the absolute best decision we made related to my pregnancy and the birth…read moreof our son. I would recommend them to anyone - hire them now!!! I did a ton of research on DC area doulas and interviewed several before choosing this practice. I chose DD because I loved that they were small enough that you could get to know all three doulas that may potentially be at your birth. I also appreciated the 24/7 text line and the in person classes. They were actually one of the only practices I found that offered a class series. The text line was SO helpful to us whenever we had a question or a scare during pregnancy. I also loved that the classes were in person - we learned so much and felt really prepared for the birth. I recommend hiring them early enough that you can go to all four classes before you give birth. Carolyn did our prenatal visit and helped us put together our birth plan, talked us through how to deal with a baby in breech position, and helped us navigate through a couple nerve wracking times where we felt reduced movement. Most of all she helped us make the decision to switch providers midway through my pregnancy. I really believe that this helped enable me to have the overall birth experience that I wanted. She was so supportive throughout and we loved working with her. Jackie was our doula for the birth. She was amazing - I honestly don't know what we would have done without her. She joined us at our house and then followed us to the hospital when it was time to go in - she really helped us time going in to the hospital so that we would be admitted at the right time (not too early or too late). She was so calm and reassuring throughout, and an amazing advocate for me and for my husband as well - ensuring that he got to hold the baby and get his own skin to skin time after the birth. She took photos for us, and stayed with us well after the birth. I had a very smooth experience because of her guidance and advocacy. We are so, so grateful to have had her as our doula. On top of all of this - they really mean it when they say they are your doulas for life. At the postpartum visit, Jackie helped me a ton with breastfeeding and Carolyn shared some tips with me over the phone. We didn't get as much of a chance to work with Michelle, but it was clear from the classes how knowledgeable she was as well. All three of them truly care about women and babies, and it shows. This was money so well spent. If we have a second baby, we will be hiring them again.

There arent enough good things to say about District Doulas and Michele. My husband and I decided…read moreto get a Doula a few months prior to birth and had the opportunity to attend a few of District Doulas classes. Learning about birth from them and breast-feeding was incredibly helpful and made both seem less daunting. In the week leading up to birth, they were phenomenal with their communication, checking in and helping translate what we were hearing from the doctors. I went into labor a little bit differently than expected where my water broke before contractions really started. This led to needing a lot of Pitocin, something that I was pretty freaked out by. Michele was my Doula and the entire time she was so comforting via text and phone calls, and made me feel so positively about everything that was going on at the hospital. When things started to pick up, she arrived and was the perfect presence making us all calm and she got along so well with our nurses and Dr. She was right there with us the entire time, holding my leg as I pushed and giving me words of encouragement. Once our son made his entrance into the world, she took photos that I will treasure forever. She stayed after for a little to ensure that we were adjusting to breast-feeding and that everything was going OK, and she continued to check in over the coming days. I have to say that all of our hospital care team raved about her, and said that it was the best Doula experience that they have worked with. That meant a lot to me, knowing that they see a lot of other providers and knew just how awesome District Doulas was. Following birth we had our postpartum visit and she gave me the tough love I needed which was to slow down and not try to do so much. I was beyond exhausted and these words while hard to hear were exactly what I needed to do. She helped save my mental and physical health as a result of that visit. District Doulas has continued to be an incredible resource for us, sharing recommendations for everything from baby lotion to postpartum therapist. If we have another child, Michele and District Doulas will be my first call. They are the most incredible investment you can make to have the positive birth experience that you want. I cannot thank them enough!