Working with Kathy McLean was the best decision we could have made for the birth of our first child. She's an invaluable resource and provided wisdom, comfort, care, understanding, positivity, and enthusiasm as she guided us through pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and helping us answer postpartum questions. She was key in making a difficult labor and delivery (sunny-side up baby) actually joyful and peaceful. She was an MVP team player -- so much so, that our OB will keep Kathy's info at her office to continue referring to folks! A doula that can be bffs with a doctor is high praise :) We will always highly recommend Kathy to anyone we know! Thank you Kathy! read more

My wife and I had such a great experience with Rebecca! This review is long overdue as our baby is now a toddler. It was our first pregnancy so we didn't know what to expect. Rebeca helped my wife be at ease during the process and was a great resource of information. The moms groups that were run by The Birth Doulas was a nice setting for my wife, as she was able to make new friends and connect with others in a similar lifestage. If we were to enlist the support of a doula again, Rebecca would be our first call. read more

My experience with Birth First was through Brooke Noli, who was our birth doula during our fourth pregnancy. I hired Brooke in my third trimester, mid-move from Seattle to Portland at the recommendation of my Seattle doula. Doulas are intuitive and thoughtful about recommendations, so I trusted her judgement and I was right to do so - Brooke was a perfect fit for our family. She supported me through my third trimester emotions, navigating providers in a new city, and my specific needs as a mother who had gone through a neonatal loss. The birth itself was fast but so peaceful - Brooke and her professional but warm relationship with my midwives set the tone for a beautiful birth, which I do not take for granted. Despite having done this four times before, Brooke handheld me and my husband for the first few hours then left us at the perfect time. I so loved seeing her for a follow up postpartum visit several weeks later and we still check in with each other from time to time. She is a very special part of our last pregnancy and delivery. Brooke is so rooted in Portland that she was able to provide what she called "wrap around care" - she did the labor of calling my postpartum doulas to let them know I had delivered and helped me with several other things during pregnancy and postpartum. She really earned my trust and so I can say without qualification that Brooke's involvement with Birth First means it is a world class agency. Watching Birth First grow, I've seen their commitment to a birthing person's choices and family centered care. I couldn't recommend them with more enthusiasm. read more

Birth First Doulas - Doulas Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I don't know why it took me so long to write this but I suspect it has something to do with being preoccupied with a super cute tiny human that now rules my existence. I want to say thank you so much to BFD. This was my first birth, my first experience using a Doula myself, and it saved me so much anxiety and made me feel like I wasn't left to fend for myself. We had Liz H. and she was GREAT. She was everything she said she would be. She was transparent, she was supportive, she was funny and made the stress of DAYS in the hospital 1000% times better. My partner and I will be having her join our adventure of the next baby next year! read more

Atika is an amazing doula and I can't imagine having given birth without her. She helped me work through some anxiety I had about attempting a VBAC and provided great resources for my husband and I to prepare for our second birth. Atika really listened to what I needed and provided that kind of support. She was always available via text or call for any questions I had or for guidance during a couple labor false alarms. The day of our daughter's birth was a chaotic day at the hospital, with multiple changes in our care team during a relatively short labor and delivery. Atika was our rock throughout the experience and kept me focussed and calm. She handled distractions, made sure I had what I needed, and coached me through delivery. Atika is a very warm and friendly person, who instantly feels like you've known her forever. I'm so grateful that she was able to join us for our birth and can't recommend her enough. read more

Highly recommend hiring a doula to accompany the birth person during the labor and delivery process. I wanted an unmediated birth and was nervous from the beginning of the pregnancy with all of the uncertainties. I found Birth First Doulas and spoke to Rebecca (co-founder), she asked me questions to understand my needs and recommended 3 sets of doulas for me to interview with to find my best match. I ended up choosing Alison Akan and I must say she's amazing in every possible way! She has a delightful and upbeat personality that I really enjoy. She ensured I had all the resources I need by sending me information that's helpful for my labor. We also had 2 in-person meetings before my due date, she went through all the things I need to know and tools I can use to make a natural unmedicated birth easier. Alison surely did prepared me well before my birth. I ended up having a premature birth that came so quick. Alison came to the hospital right away and walked me through every single contractions. I honestly would not know what to do and how to do it without her. She provided so much motivation and encouragement that made me really believed in myself and my body to be able to push through. I am extremely thankful for Alison's help and cannot recommend enough having a doula is the best investment in a natural birth. read more

I feel eternally grateful to Trina for her kindness, knowledge and friendship. I wish every birthing person could have a doula! Trina helped me feel empowered and safe. She has so much experience and knowledge. She answered all my questions even when it meant she had to do research. She listened to my needs (evidence based decision making) and my partner's needs (emotional support) and was there in every way when I gave birth. After giving birth she continued to be in contact and we consider her a friend. You are in good hands with Trina. Also, loved the classes that came with the doula package. read more

Working with Alison for my first birth was a no-brainer. Alison and I immediately hit it off during our first call. She was communicative and compassionate, and I always felt like she was there for me - for silly questions or big milestones. It's difficult to put into words just how much Alison meant to my husband and I during the birth of our daughter - I couldn't have imagined it without her. Additionally, she couldn't have been more supportive during my postpartum period. I needed her way more than I thought. I can't thank Alison and BirthFirst Doulas enough for making my first pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum such a positive experience! read more

Bri & Alicia were fantastic! They were really supportive all along. We zoomed in advanced and helped me prepare and understand what to except. So much more helpful than other sources and it was like my own personal google :) During birth, Alicia was amazing. It made my birth experience so much better. Helping me navigate the hospital was so important. It also was so helpful to my partner so he could be more supportive. read more

My husband and I hired Birth First Doulas to guide us through our first birth experience, and we are so incredibly grateful for all of their loving guidance and care throughout the process. We truly feel like we couldn't have done it without them! When we initially hired them, we knew we wanted a knowledgeable team to help us outline our birth preferences while I was pregnant, as well as inform any decisions that needed to be made during labor. Brooke and Rebecca were an integral part of our team every step of the way, leading up to, throughout, and after the birth of our son. What we didn't anticipate was a complicated labor that spanned several days, and we felt so fortunate to have had Brooke and Rebecca by our side providing resources and care throughout it all, including home visits, several phone calls and texts, and multiple trips to the hospital. If you are looking for a compassionate, professional, responsive, and informed team that is highly respected among the medical community too, Birth First Doulas is for you! read more

We hired Atika Hagen with Birth First Doulas for the birth of our first baby last month. She was an invaluable asset from pregnancy through post partum. But where Atika really shines is during labor. I know that she had a major impact on the positive outcome of our natural birth experience. She knew what to say and how to help make me feel comfortable and how to coach my husband in participating as well. Her wealth of knowledge and experience brought peace of mind to our family during what could have otherwise been an uncertain or potentially stressful time. We love Atika and highly recommend her to anyone seeking additional support during labor. read more

Birth First Doulas - Doulas Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We have so much love and appreciation for our doula Alison Akan -- she has been and continues to be a huge support to our family and we are beyond grateful to have found her and honestly can't imagine this journey without her!! Alison is an INCREDIBLE human and brings such a joyful and positive energy to everything and everyone around her, which is much needed during the different ups and downs of pregnancy/labor and beyond. Throughout pregnancy she provided so many wonderful resources to ensure we were making informed decisions and felt prepared for not just the labor, but how to thrive once the baby was here. I had an unmedicated out of hospital birth and she was by my side supporting me the entire time - I truly believe I was successful in sticking to my birth plan because of her (though as I learned nothing will go as planned so important to be flexible!), she 110% supported my decisions without judgement, which really allowed me to trust my intuition and not second guess myself. I could go on and on about Alison, but when you meet her you'll know right away how amazing she is :). So grateful she chose this profession and to BFD for helping us find her!! read more

We had a great experience with Alison! She was super helpful and kind through the entires process - She is so kind and brought a lot of experience. Couldn't have asked for a better doula! read more

Trina was a superhero during our daughters birth. She went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and confident in every situation. With it being our first birth, Trina guided us through with her experience and wisdom and helped us feel connected every minute. When fate changed our birth plan, Trina adapted without missing a beat. Her support continued postpartum through breast feeding challenges and caesarean recovery. She has a wealth of knowledge of local birth workers and online resources that proved invaluable to us. We loved our experience with Birth First Doulas and can't recommend Trina enough! read more

From the moment I contacted Birth First Doulas Rebecca made me feel immediately at ease and stood out from others. She took the time to really get to know me set me up with interviews immediately which lead me to Crystal. I cannot say enough good things about Crystal. She was there for me every step of the way through my pregnancy and was such a great friend. I felt confident and well informed in all the decisions I made both prior and during my birth. She anticipated questions and decisions that would need to be made before they popped up at the hospital, which was so important to me because I hate to feel put on the spot or rushed to make a decision. Crystal joining my birth team was one of the best decisions I made and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I highly recommend Crystal, Rebecca and Birth First Doulas. read more

We had a fantastic time working with Birth First Doulas. Rebecca did a wonderful job explaining the services that they offered and answering any questions that I had. We ended up teaming up with Camilla and Atika and felt so wonderfully supported by them during my pregnancy, labor and birth and postpartum. Working with them gave me the confidence to give birth at a birth center which is something that I was initially afraid of given that they didn't have pain meds at the birth center. I wouldn't give birth without a doula on my team now that I know how special it is to have their support. We hope to have Atika and Camilla as our doulas in the future! read more

My husband and I are so thankful to have had Telia as our doula for our son's birth in June! Telia met with us prior to the birth to make sure she knew our preferences and she was a great resource in the weeks leading up to labor especially when I went past my due date to 42 weeks and needed an induction. Telia provided support through text throughout my entire labor and joined us in active labor at the hospital. She jumped right in when she arrived and knew exactly how to help me cope with the pain. Telia was such an amazing support to both my husband and I during the entire process. We both felt so supported and really appreciated her calm presence. Telia continued to check on us for a few weeks after our son was born and came to our house to help us with some of our postpartum and newborn questions. We cannot imagine our son's birth without having Telia as our doula! read more

Kathy was amazing! Her effusive energy was simultaneously invigorating and calming. She was an integral part of our birth preparation and experience. I cannot imagine going through all that was birth without her. Aside from her general awesomeness, she brought a wealth of knowledge around birth, emotions, and coping techniques. read more

Choosing a doula for my first birth was, hands down, one of the best decisions I've ever made. Working with Birth First Doula's was a wonderful experience. We really lucked out with Kim Kovac, she was the perfect doula for us. She was knowledgeable, gentle, mindful, resourceful, trauma-informed and calm. Having her in the delivery room was invaluable to, not only me, but also my husband. I ended up having a challenging labor and delivery and she helped us feel more calm and confident during the process. She was attentive and present throughout. She continued to be involved, available and supportive postpartum as well. We will be forever grateful for her presence during that life changing moment in our lives. read more

How does anyone survive childbirth without a Doula? That's what I keep asking myself every time I think about how amazing Crystal Broer from BFD was at supporting me through labor, delivery, and postpartum. Part coach, part therapist, part advocate, part cheerleader, she was an incredible birth partner who was always in my corner. She combined the perfect amount of evidence based practice with empathy, confidence, and kindness. As I write this, my baby is one month old and still every day I think about how grateful I am that I had Crystal by my side. read more

Rebecca with the Birth First team was awesome. Had a very engaging pre both online session to go over not only useful positions and ways I as the husband can assist my wife in home birth, but also how we should communicate during the process. Thanks to this I was coaching on new positions to try during contractions and it REALLY helped. Not only that but the placenta encapsulation process was quick and efficient. Would highly recommend working with them for your home or birth center delivery. read more

My husband and I were fortunate enough to hire Atika and Camilla through Birth First Doulas, and as my husband said, "they are the best investment we've ever made." Atika and Camilla helped us to feel informed and prepared for our labor, delivery and postpartum. We began working with Atika and Camilla at the beginning of my third trimester (via zoom and outdoor masked meetings). During these sessions, we discussed what my husband and I hoped the rest of my pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum would look like. They offered a variety of ideas and strategies, ranging from evidence-based practices to more spiritual guidance. This was tailored to meet our needs, and I know they have a plethora of resources, experiences and more to pull from to meet the needs of whoever they are working with. During my labor, Atika came over and eased any sort of anxiety that me and my husband were feeling. She helped remind me of a number of positions we had discussed to ease discomfort, as well as introduce some different ideas to target my specific pain. I felt infinitely more confident as a result of her presence which allowed me to spend most of my labor at home. I believe that spending my labor at home, in my natural environment, correlated with the fact that my labor was on the shorter side. When I finally went to the hospital, she helped me to advocate for my birth preferences and continued to help me find comfortable positions. Beyond that, she cheered me on and kept the mood positive. After the delivery of my sweet little guy, she stayed until my husband and I were comfortable. The following day, and coming week, Atika and Camilla checked in on us to see how we were adjusting. When I have had any concerns, both during pregnancy and now postpartum, they are just a phone call or text away. I feel so fortunate to have found them, and any mom-to-be would be lucky to work with them. read more

I have been meaning to write this review for so long now! I cannot express how much having Kathy as our doula was such an amazing and fun experience. Kathy is the most caring, beautiful person and her energy and humor created such a calming atmosphere. She literally had just come from another birth, off of 4hrs of sleep, and BROUGHT IT. She was so present despite the fact she was probably exhausted. She has a wealth of knowledge and so open to share her past experiences. Her personality is what really made us connect with her on our interviews and I am so happy we chose her. I honestly feel we gained a friend after having her as a part of such a big event in our life. I still reach out to her if I have questions, or just to ask about other aspects of life. You will not regret having her by your side during this milestone in your life! read more

Rebecca and Brooke are amazing educators, guides, and, above all else, people. Beyond just coaching us about what to expect, they taught us the tools to act as advocates for ourselves throughout labor and delivery. We would recommend them without hesitation to anyone. Other things that really stood out: - They have *so much* experience! One of the things that worried us most was that it seemed like so many weird things could happen during delivery. Knowing that they had seen everything totally reassured us. - They focused a lot on making sure that I (the birth partner) also took care of myself and had a voice in the room. - They knew the hospital, nurses, and doctors we were working with. We loved that they were familiar with the standard of practice at our hospital and that they used this knowledge to help prepare us for the specific experience we were going to have. read more

We are so grateful that Brooke and Rebecca helped us through our birth journey. The pre-natal visits with them helped us feel informed and confident, they were always available for any questions or worries we had, and I felt so much better with Brooke there at the hospital with us. If we had another, I would definitely want them by our side again. read more

Rebecca & Brooke were great, what else is there to say! They were both incredibly insightful during our prenatal visits, helping answers all of our questions and guide us through our birth plan Rebecca ended being our doula day-of. Julia had a very long and complicated labor - needless to say, we were really happy to have the support during such an emotionally and physically exhausting process. Rebecca was fantastic! When the time comes for #2 and if we feel like we need the doula support again, we will definitely be using Birth First Doulas. read more

Rebecca and Brooke are amazing at what they do. We hired Birth First Doula's for our first child and it made a huge difference in our experience. Prior to labor, all of the consultation and advice we received was invaluable. On 'labor day' Rebecca was on call and helped talk through early labor signs over the phone before we got in the car and headed to the hospital. Once in the hospital labor room, Rebecca was able to coach with positions, breathing, and relaxation throughout the entire birthing process. Without her we would have never tried some of the positions that really helped progress labor. She was level-headed and a great leader in a situation that was very foreign to both my wife and I. I cannot recommend Birth First Doula's highly enough! read more

We had a fabulous experience with Liz for my second son. She was communicative without being overbearing in the months leading up to the birth, checking in regularly as my pregnancy progressed and we dealt with some complications. She was super easy to talk to and so responsive to my particular concerns and wishes. When delivery day came, she was there when we needed her, helped me weigh options offered by the midwife, and provided a calm, nurturing and funny vibe to the day. Everything went smoothly and we were so glad to have Liz there! The whole experience of selecting a doula and contracting, etc also went super smoothly! Definitely recommend! read more

For our first child we felt very lucky to have someone like Crystal guide us through this exciting (and occasionally terrifying) experience. From the initial consults through labor and post-partum she was a consistent resource and friend to us. Crystal struck a really nice balance between evidence based and emotional support, and knew when we needed which type of support. She provided us kind and non-judgemental advice ranging from technical logistics to navigating family dynamics. Something we both appreciated was that she helped my husband support me during the labor, so he could be present and supportive throughout. I'm so glad Crystal was part of our birth team! read more

I am so grateful that we had Alison Akan's support. She is simply amazing. From the first meeting to the weeks after my daughter's birth, Alison was a huge support. When my labor started two weeks before my due date we called Alison and she came to our home and supported me while my partner wrapped up the last minute preparations. While I labored at home, she was timing contractions and coordinating with the midwives. When we got to the birth center she supported me both physically and emotionally. Through each contraction she was there. Wether it was providing counter pressure, breath work, suggesting movements, encouragements, providing my partner with support, or fanning me off, Alison was there. She even took some photos and videos of my labor and baby's birth that I will cherish forever. If you are considering hiring a doula, I highly recommend Alison. She was an incredible support and helped make my daughters birth the most peaceful and beautiful event possible. read more

We loved working with Kili. She was the perfect guide for us while we navigated pregnancy with our first child. She was available to answer any and all of our questions and made us feel confident in our decisions. She also went above and beyond and gave me exercises for pregnancy and postpartum and regularly checked in on me. read more

My husband and I had heard many great things about hiring a Doula and we decided to go with Birth First Doulas. From the get go, Rebecca was amazing to work with and I felt very listened to and cared for. She helped match us with Crystal who was a great fit for us. We were excited to meet Crystal and she really helped us throughout our journey. Crystal is kind, warm, funny and really easy going. What none of us expected to happen was a global pandemic. Unfortunately, this limited any in-person support she had planned to give. Nonetheless, she consistently went out of her way to be available and a fantastic resource. She was very available over text and I felt I could ask her any question. My biggest concern with a doula was having a certain type of birth experience pushed on me, but that was not the case at all. Crystal was very affirming with our choices and if we weren't sure about something, she provided ample resources. She pointed us to some amazing accounts and experts to follow online and they have saved us! Crystal wasn't able to be with us during the birth of our son, but she still was able to provide support via video and help my husband throughout the process. She also helped us make informed decisions at every step in the process. I was induced and she helped us understand what would happen at every step. After 30 hours of labor, my beautiful son was in my arms and it was all worth it. I would have loved to have her in person but that just wasn't in the cards. When I wasn't able to breastfeed for a few reasons, Crystal helped me through my decision to move to formula while helping me feel comfortable with my decision and work through the guild I had. I highly recommend Crystal and Birth First Doulas. Thank you so much! read more

We are so thankful that we found Birth First Doulas! We knew that we wanted to work with a doula, and they made it very easy for us. Rebecca asked us a few questions about what we were looking for in a doula, and then set up some interviews with doulas in our price range. Both of the doulas we interviewed were amazing, which made it really hard to decide. We ended up working with Trina and we are so glad that we did. We both felt so calm going into labor because we knew we were prepared and had her support. I had a lot of complications during labor, but Trina guided us the whole way, and I look back on my birth story with fond memories. She even took photos for us to remember the best day of our life! read more

I highly recommend Birth First Doulas! Co-Founder, Rebecca Durlin Smith, took the time to have a phone interview with me to listen to my story and needs before suggesting a few amazing doulas she thought would be a good fit. This step showed me Birth First goes above and beyond for their clients right from the start. I was impressed with everyone she suggested, but in the end, we choose to work with Crystal Broer. Crystal is truly an exceptional doula! It was important to me to find someone who knows their stuff, but who can also keep it real, and that is exactly what I found in Crystal! Not only is she is knowledgable, supportive, and organized, but she's equally warm, funny, and personable. Both my husband and I felt completely comfortable with her immediately. She supported us in our prenatal journey, throughout labor, and beyond. I felt informed and in control every step of the way with her by my side, and I know she helped my husband become a more empowered birth partner. We cannot say thank you enough to Crystal for being such a great support through our pregnancy journey! read more

I am so grateful for Birth First Doulas. We connected with Rebecca for the birth of our first child in 2018 and immediately called her again when we were expecting our second. She was a confident, strong, and loving presence for us before, during, and after both births. She got to know us and our goals and helped us reach them along the way, advocating and guiding us every step of the way. She's truly become part of our family! read more

I cannot begin to say enough good things about Birth First Doulas. My experience from the first phone call with Rebecca was all the way to postpartum support with my Doula, Atika, was more than I could have ever imagined it could be. The support, the kindness, the thoughtfulness put into the approach of pairing you with the right Doula all manifested into such an incredible experience. Rebecca takes the time to understand who you are and what your needs are and thoughtfully connects you with the most incredible care providers you could imagine. We had a wonderful experience with Atika and we would highly recommend her as a Doula to any one of our friends. She has many years of experience under her belt and is able to guide you through many scenarios come showtime. It's incredible to have an advocate by your side especially if this is your first. Additionally we were incredibly lucky to meet Crystal through Birth First Doulas as well and would also highly recommend her as Doula. We are extremely grateful for both Atika and Crystal for their kindness, compassion, and friendship throughout our journey. read more

Atika and Camilla are absolutely incredible! They were thoughtful and knowledgeable, with a good sense of humor, throughout all of our time together. We loved our house visits, where they instantly connected with our daughter and made us all feel at home in their presence. They balanced listening to our needs with adding their own advice and perspective. They are such a great pair! As soon as Atika entered the room during my labor, I instantly felt calm and that I knew everything was going to be okay. She was a grounding support for me and my husband-- I was so happy she was there! When it was time for them to trade shifts, Camilla was respectful of our decision to be alone, and waited in the wings. When she did come in, it was so wonderful to see her beaming warm smile. We love them and are forever grateful they were part of the birth journey of our second child! read more

Hiring Kathy was one of the best decisions my husband and I made while preparing to bring our daughter into this world ! Initially my husband and I were unsure what to expect hiring a doula, but after meeting Kathy we knew immediately we had to have her as a part of our birthing experience. From the moment we met her, Kathy made us feel welcomed, loved, and empowered. She always went above and beyond from answering our questions, informing us of options we didn't even know were available to us, and completely supporting our decisions when it came to discussing what our birth hopes were. I also appreciated how much she encouraged and supported my husbands involvement. My labor progressed much faster than anticipated and many of the plans we discussed were no longer an option, but with Kathy by my side I knew everything was going to be ok. She was an amazing support to both my husband and I as well as a wonderful advocate. I felt I was able to focus on my labor and delivery while she was the voice of reason in the room. She knew exactly what I needed. Kathy was so supportive and encouraging postpartum as well. She's a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful resource. She has become a part of our family and we look forward to having her attend future births. read more

I did an extensive search to find the perfect doula team for my journey, and I couldn't be more impressed or pleased with what I've found through Birth First Doulas! My Doulas, Alicia and Bri, have gone above and beyond to support me throughout my pregnancy thus far (5 weeks left to go until the big debut.) They are attentive, incredibly accommodating, as supportive as close family members, and there for every up and down I've experienced, and there have been more than a few unexpected surprises along the way that made things more of a struggle than I had ever anticipated. What impresses me the most about Birth First Doulas is that the whole team, not just my Doulas, have been there for me every step of the way and then some. Rebecca and Brooke, the owners, are just as invested as Alicia and Bri have been, and not just with me. They have been at classes to meet clients, they check in with me regularly to see how everything is going, and from what I've seen, they treat their entire team like one big happy family. I can't recommend this company enough, and I strongly believe that Doulas should be recognized annually in the form of a National holiday! read more

I am so grateful that we found Brooke & Rebecca. With our first child, we lived in a different city and had a fantastic experience with our doula and when we moved to Portland, we were not sure if we'd be able to find someone as wonderful. My midwife gave me a list of local doulas and doula agencies, and after doing a bunch of my own research I reached out to Brooke for an initial meeting. From the moment I met her, I knew it was going to be a great fit and I can't recommend Brooke highly enough. She is warm and quietly strong, extremely experienced and so humble. She really took time to get to know us and was always listening to us and taking cues from our words and body language. When it came time for labor and delivery, she knew exactly what to say and do to support me and my husband at every stage. Rebecca was also fantastic! She encapsulated my placenta and brought it to my house and sat with me to discuss all my questions and concerns. We are so grateful for such a positive experience with these two women. read more