Our family hired Carrie Scott for nighttime postpartum doula services for the first two weeks after…read moreour son was born and we had such a great experience! We trusted her right away and she put us at ease taking to our newborn immediately! She was reliable and took great care of our son. I was able to get some extra much needed sleep. I highly recommend her!

WHERE TO START... The investment is 1000% worth it. For us as new parents wanting to experience…read morepregnancy, labor & delivery and then postpartum season with zero knowledge but as enjoy the process as peace-filled and confident with objective info as possible... (everyone's aim right?!) ...Celina made this happen!! She was a resource for all questions, providing excellent advice that balanced beautifully with her expertise, medical recommendations, and general common sense, making sure to always leave the decision in our hands yet make us feel confident in doing so! She is a patient and calm presence, always temperate and positive! Her class in our home before delivery to educate on techniques, help us walk-through a birth plan, and know what words even meant and what doctors and nurses would ask for was incredibly helpful. On the actual birthday, she was there to equip us in general to make the best choices and move me around in positioning for a really positive birth, experience and healthy baby (including bringing lavender aromatherapy and cozy lights in the delivery room!!)! She taught my husband a support move for laboring that saved me getting to 6cm dilated while I had intense lower back contraction pain and we said we would pay the whole investment of having a doula for that 1 move alone :) After coming home, Celina did night care 2x nights a week literally coaching us and everything from breast-feeding tactics to bottle sterilizing to best holding positions for gassy baby, how to get her to sleep well ... Swaddling!! And so much more! Also, mom healing questions and practices (or "is this normal" texts) -- she is a vast source of information and support, I just could not imagine going through this without her! We felt equipped with what we needed for each step, but never overwhelmed. A doula such a special, and in my opinion 100% necessary part of the family to have for a positive experience from pregnancy to newborn care!! What a blessing we will always be grateful for!

Joy is such an amazing doula. I was unable to pay for her services, but she helped me find a…read moremidwife during my high risk pregnancy and introduced me to hypnobirthing. Without her help, I wouldn't have been able to have a wonderful water birth with one of the best midwives I've had the pleasure to meet. Thank you Joy!

Joy took my family photographs and she did an amazing job. Our pictures came out perfect. She is…read morevery comfortable to be around as well. Beyond satisfied, I highly recommend her services.

You can't go wrong hiring Tina to be your doula! She provides care before, during and after birth…read more Whether you are a first time mom or adding another player to your family baseball team, Tina will customize care especially for you, at your level. She makes herself available day or night and when you have a question or concern she won't quit until it's solved! She is a powerful, yet calming presence during the birth process. She is very intuitive and passionate about what she does! If you are looking for a birth coach to support you in every way possible, Tina is your girl!

As a military family you often find yourself away from family or needing that extra support. This…read morewas my 4th child and I felt prepared for what was to come, however, I felt I was missing that support that I craved from another woman. I didn't have family near going through my pregnancy and labor and after meeting Tina, I knew that I had support system and fighter in my corner. From the prenatal visits and lessons in my home to the labor and delivery, Tina made me feel so supported physically and mentally. I know she put her comfort on the back burner to endure my marathon labor that ended with my first girl after three wonderful boys! Having Tina as part of my pregnancy and labor was priceless. Thank you, Tina!

I would rate my experience as "Ok". Some of these doulas are contractors and bounce around to…read moredifference agencies. My first Doula I had met me home from the hospital, we actually made sure we left the hospital home on time to meet her needs. She seemed low energy and did not appear to be thrilled to be working on a Saturday, she also made a comment that is missing shopping for her son right now for an event, it made me feel bad. She was supposed to come two days later and she canceled on me at 5:30 in the morning saying she had a birth that went longer. This as my lowest point post partem because I really needed help that day and I actually moved my first pediatrician appointment to accommodate her schedule. By contract, she is supposed to get a substitute. When you interview a doula, ask if they have any births that month and make it clear they need to get a substitute. A few days later I interviewed a substitute to make sure I had back up if she canceled again, I spent 30 minutes interviewing her while I had a 5 day old at home. When that substitute was supposed to come as a test run, she canceled two hours before. I expressed my grievances to the staff and they comped me an extra day, and I appreciated it but it put so much stress on me my first week home from the hospital with a new born. I had a few Night Doulas, I had two but one didn't clean the bottles and the last night she left a sharp can lid on the floor and I almost stepped on it the next morning. I asked her if she was familiar with the snoo swaddle and how the snoo worked. She quickly said yes, but realized she got confused the Happiest Baby swaddle thats for the non-snoo, she didn't know she had to clip it in or how to swaddle the baby with the snoo swaddle and I had to teach her. I did have a different doula that was helpful and arranged way in advance for a substitute when she had a birth coming up. Pros: I got help, they helped with the first bath, helped me rearrange the nursery and pack my diaper back with essential items. I was able to take a nap a few times, they helped clean the kitchen and they helped with laundry. Cons: Consistent cancellations, most of the doulas do not want to work past 3pm and you are trying to accommodate their schedule.

can't even say enough good things about Angie. She was the perfect fit for our family for…read morepostpartum support. An absolute breath of fresh air for me. Among everything else she did, she even brought books from home to share with my 2.5 year old! I COULD have done this without Angie, but not while maintaining this much of my sanity. She will be very sorely missed.

We came across these ladies at a Holistic Health Fair where I learned what a Doula was and what…read morethey do. Fast forward about a year later, we were expecting our first child! The ladies gave us such a good lesson that we didn't hesitate to call them and get a contract in place for Labor and Delivery and Post Partum support. Best decision ever! From the time they take you on as a client, they were very responsive and support in a truly non-judgy way. Unlike pushy family members and in-laws, they offered all the advice and options you want and they coach you into deciding for yourself what is best for you and your baby. They coached me as well as my husband on the various options (and there are LOTS!) and while they were in the delivery room, they reminded me of what I wanted and prevented the hospital from pushing me around. If you are on the fence about getting a Doula, I highly recommend meeting with them and finding out what they do. They anticipated needs that I needed before I even knew I needed them, and were there to provide them to when WHEN I needed it. They do so much more than you would expect.

Would have loved to use them... until I saw "chest feeding" on their homepage. A provider that is…read moreconfused about biology - about what gender breastfeeds, is a provider I want no where near me or my baby. I am looking for women who see the dignity in WOMEN, and live in reality.

I'll admit it. I was skeptical as to the role a doula would play in the birth of my daughter, but…read moreafter going through the entire process, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting a doula and hiring Lois and Alyssa. Here's why: 1) Even though I remained calm during the birth of my daughter, it's a high stress situation and it's easy to forget all the classes you attended and books you read. Lois was our doula and her calm demeanor, quick problem solving, and extensive knowledge is what got my wife, daughter, and myself through labor. 2) Lois was our advocate. Although GWU Hospital Midwives are amazing, they see so many babies born each day. Lois was our personal champion and helped us create a birth plan and she fought for us during labor. 3) Lois also provided our birth class at our home. It was way cheaper than other classes and personalized to you and your partner. She comes to you, which makes it easier as well especially if your partner is tired due to pregnancy. 4) Lois has a calming presence and that makes all the difference. She listens to you and empathizes with you. She gets to know you and your partner and then works with you to find labor coping mechanisms, etc. that fit you. Some people make experiences about them, but not Lois. She allows the experience to be about you and supports you throughout it. 5) Lois was available. She would answer any questions we had and even came to our house when my wife started to labor. She sat with her and massaged her and found coping mechanisms that actually works (Like holding a comb). She then came with us to the hospital and stayed until after birth and we were in a good place. 6) Lois has credibility. She worked at GWU Hospital Midwives and is a well respected doula. That opened many doors for us at the hospital because of her credibility and integrity. If you're thinking about getting a doula, call Lois. She'll meet with you over coffee and I promise you'll want to hire her on the spot. Her presence is the best and will make your delivery so much better!

My husband and I had the pleasure of working with DC Doulas (specifically Alyssa) to help us with…read morethe delivery of our baby girl. I can't say enough amazing things about these ladies, they are all truly amazing. Alyssa was everything I could have wanted in a doula and more. I decided to use the midwives at GW for my labor and delivery and I am so grateful that they insisted we hire a doula. I was hesitant about the idea of hiring a doula and I was skeptical of their exact role but I'm so so glad that we ended up using them. They were worth every penny (beyond worth it)! After my birth experience, I recall telling my husband that I would have paid double for their services - that's how invaluable Alyssa was to me. She was calm, she was patient, she was loving, and most importantly she was just there. I was in labor for 14 hours and Alyssa didn't leave my side for a second. At some point, my husband told her to take a break and grab something to eat, but she stayed by my side for 14 hours. She only left to use the restroom and to bring me water. Whenever I was in pain, she massaged me. She knew exactly where to add pressure to alleviate the pain and I would go from screaming to relaxed in seconds - she did this for 14 hours - and these weren't light massages, these were deep tissue/deep massages she had to give me every few minutes. She must have been exhausted but no one would ever be able to tell. Not only was I impressed by her, but my entire family was impressed by her including the staff at GW. Fast forward to postpartum care - I have had the pleasure of working with the entire team - Lois, Alyssa, and Hancie. I feel like there is nothing that can prepare you for the first few weeks of a baby's life but these ladies made it more manageable. They came to the house and did any and everything. I had difficulty breastfeeding and they helped me through that difficult period, they made sure I was eating when I was too busy doing everything else, they did laundry, they did dishes, they helped with the baby - they were once again, invaluable. I will forever be grateful to these ladies and I look forward to working with them again when our family grows.

Wonderful experience…read more The whole team at Embrace is professional, kind and do their absolute best to make you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in the door. Corina, the owner, greatly exceeded all our expectations with her wealth of knowledge and compassionate heart for our entire peri/postnatal care. She would always spend as much time as needed with my husband and I and never once made us feel rushed. Being physicians, we appreciated how she answered our questions with researched-based data and could always reference a study that backed the way she practiced midwifery. We would wholeheartedly recommend Embrace for the birth of your little one.

Beware Of This Establishment…read more They Have A Tendency To Steal Money Along With Finding Ways To Refuse Service Especially If You're Of A Certain Demographic (Something I Noticed Before My First Appointment) . My Experience With This Place Was Already Unsettling Once It Was Changing Ownership But I Really Wanted To Give It A Chance Because I Didn't Want Another Hospital Setting. Absolute Disappointment And Scammish.

We loved working with DC Metro Maternity!…read more Our postpartum doula Mareesha was amazing! She brought mom some herbal postpartum supplies, helped us set up our breast pump, and taught us how to use baby items like our confusing all-cloth carrier. The overnight visits were an awesome way for us to get more sleep and reconnect. Being able to sleep snuggled up together without baby nearby to break that up every couple of hours was really nice! Waking up to a sleeping baby, tidy home, meals made, and breakfast ready to eat was pure magic. Postpartum doula hours are registry MUST-HAVE for all new parents. You don't need stuff, you need SUPPORT so sign up and get a postpartum doula lined up ASAP!

DC metro maternity was absolutely essential to our family's postpartum experience. As a first time…read moremom the expertise and nurturing the doulas provided was incredible. We are an active-duty military family and had just moved to the area right before our son was born, as such we didn't have a village here. DC metro maternity became our village. I had numerous postpartum complications and I felt all of the doulas I worked with genuinely cared about my well being and recovery. Candace is truly and exceptional doula she helped grow my confidence as a mom and by the end of our time with her I felt transformed. I have already recommended DC metro maternity to friends, and I would recommend them to you reader, they are worth it 1000 times over.

I was one of those moms-to-Be who adamantly wanted her Birth Plan to be honored: I especially did…read morenot want a c-section or drugs! Yet I learned from my wedding day that not everything would go as planned so I'd best learn to let go and live in the moment, accepting things outside of my control. Upon meeting Kerry in person, we knew she would be great! She rolled with all of our questions with patience, and she had a tattoo in Sanskrit meaning we connected on a spiritual level both being yoginis. Yet my husband and I could not have anticipated just how awesome Kerry is as a doula until labor got real at the hospital! I had a complex labor lasting nearly 48 hours. She arrived 20 hours before delivery and thus stayed awake the entire time. She was calm throughout and answered questions about the labor process that couldn't be answered in the labor papers she or the hospital had given us-even the "dirty/gross woman" stuff! When labor advanced, she helped my husband and I make informed decisions when the midwives and doctors came into my room to give me news (more than once) that I did not want to hear (hint: things that needed to be considered that were not in my Birth Plan). Because the labor was so long and I had not slept, I opted for the epidural after 36 hours of labor so I could sleep through contractions and have the energy to push. She never judged me for this and instead supported that decision which was not on my Birth Plan to get me through the labor to delivery. She also gave me the best massages in my lower back so I didn't feel the back labor contractions (they were very uncomfortable without her massages!) She did this often like a champ without complaint and little sleep. She was a coach too encouraging me throughout it all, reminding me of all the positive to keep my energy levels up and believe in myself. For all these reasons and more, without reservation, my husband and I recommend Kerry.

This is the place to go. My two cents here first and my wife's follow. We felt so confident with…read moreKerry and Cara from the moment we met them, and that feeling carried through the long labor and birth. are true godsends. My wife's labor was very long and Kerry handled her morale, the mood of the room, and the family situation with aplomb. She came to our house after the birth and showed us how to wrap and carry our new daughter and gave my wife indispensable advice on her recovery. Can't say enough good things about her.