At the beginning of my pregnancy, I wasn't sure if I was going to hire a doula, but after having…read moreTeri I can't imagine having a birth without her! Throughout my pregnancy, her classes and resources equipped us with well-researched information and pro tips, which alleviated a lot of my fears and anxiety about L&D. During my labor and delivery, Teri guided me through stressful moments and helped tremendously with pain management. I ultimately delivered unmedicated, and thanks to Teri's suggestions, I delivered safely with manageable pain. She's extremely knowledgeable and soothing, she helped us stay calm throughout the entire experience. I can say with 100% confidence that if it wasn't for Teri, it would've had been a lot longer and a lot more pain. I'm immensely grateful for Teri's help in bringing my baby into this world and creating a magical birth experience for our family!

Teri is amazing and I can't say enough about how supportive she is. She was our rock while I was in…read morelabor and provided a wealth of knowledge before hand. She is easy going and just a badass! She helped us feel at ease with everything before and after baby.

Sara is the absolute best! Her calming presence helped us as new parents tremendously. We gained so…read moremuch confidence as she helped us navigate the first month with our baby girl. We also got precious sleep while she was with us which enabled us to take on the next day refreshed. The main reason why I was able to get good sleep as a new mom was because I trusted Sara with my baby. She is also hands down the reason why my breastfeeding journey has been so successful. She always answered our questions with grace and patience. We learned so much from her and she made us feel very comfortable. Having a postpartum doula was a great choice for us, but hiring Sara was what made the experience magical!

Sara was a breath of fresh air. I'm a first time mom and needed some extra help making sure our…read morelittle one was on the right track. We had Sara come for the night to get extra sleep. We got extra sleep as well as a ton of extra tips. Sara came to our house and we talked about our little ones formula we had been giving him. She could tell he needed to be on a more specialized formula and that if I wanted to could try to relactate. We did both! Our little one is doing so much better. Sara was so sweet and kind. She also didn't mind our pup running around the house. She gave us so many tips. Even ones that were better then what our pediatrician had recommended. I highly recommend hiring Sara, you'll get more then just a good night sleep but tons of info. She's super knowledgeable.

Teri Nava-Anderson was our doula for our July 31st 2009 birth. Our birth was a planned homebirth…read morethat resulted in a transfer to our hospital with our concurrent care obstetrician. When I first found out I was pregnant I knew my outmost goal was to have a labor without the use of narcotics, epidurals or any type of painkillers for the labor. I was very comfortable with the capability of my body and trusted that I could do this with the assistance of a supportive husband, midwife and doula. I found Teri through a wonderful internet site that supports newlyweds and moms-to-be. I inquired more information and was very interested in having a doula for our birth. We meet and immediately felt so comfortable and very secure with her. She understood our wishes and goals and made us feel great about our decisions. It was the best decision we ever made. Teri was very supportive through the ENTIRE labor. She never lessened her enthusiasm to help us. She was always energetic and coherent of what best relaxation techniques suited us, even when we were just plain exhausted. At one point I was in the tub soaking through some tougher contractions. She instructed my husband on how to help me and she stayed a few feet away for the entire time (at least 2 hours!) watching us and making sure if we needed her she was just an arms length away. During pushing I wanted Teri right next to me--on the other side of my husband. I felt that she gave me some great strength through the thickest of contractions. Honestly, I felt that her positive energy is what got me through my long labor. It was her strength and confidence that gave me confidence to do the best I could in my labor. In the end I had to be transferred to my hospital at 10 cm dilated because my baby's head was not coming out, but once in the hospital I delivered the stubborn baby with 2 good pushes. I did not have an epidural or any type of pain suppressants. I did not even think or request any type of pain suppressant the entire time and I feel I owe this all to Teri's great work. She kept me relaxed and confident in the capability of my body and not the pain of labor. I felt so comfortable with Teri. She was soothing, mothering, loving, caring....everything. Her tone of voice was always comforting and loving. My husband was very comfortable with her and we really trusted her. She is a wonderful Doula and we wish her the best in her wonderful service as one. She will definitely be on our call list when we have a second child. We could not have met our wishes and survived the long labor (~50 hours) with no epidural or painkillers. She truly is a wonderful doula and made our birth the most wonderful experience. We recommend her to anyone that is planning to have a natural, unmedicated and painkiller free birth! We love you Teri! The Paoluccio's

I am happy to write a review for Teri and Harmony Doulas…read more Originally I didn't think I would want a doula at all, but my husband kept insisting. I think he was worried about whether he would be able to handle being at the birth and also worried about my stress level and wanting me to have extra support. I was a bit resistant, because I didn't know much about doulas and I was afraid they were all a bunch of hippies that would be judgmental if I decided to get an epidural, because I wasn't sure if I would need anesthesia or not. (It's hard to know if you've never had a baby before.) We met with several different doulas and also considered hiring the person who taught our childbirth classes who also happened to be a doula. In the end, my husband and I both liked Teri and her team the best. It was clear that they were all very experienced and they were very open-minded, while still being research based in terms of their recommendations. The thing that really stood out as well was the fact that Teri discussed upfront how to get reimbursement from an FSA or insurance for their services. I didn't even know that was possible before I met them and, again, it made them seem more experienced. They had also been present at births with my OB/GYN and hospital, which was a plus. I think some women like hiring just one doula so they know for sure who is going to be at the birth, but we liked all the women in Harmony Doula, so I knew I would be happy with whoever was on duty at the time. And actually for me, having 3 doulas was a big plus. I felt better knowing that if one of the doulas was pooped, someone else who was fresh would come in and take over. The other reason I chose a group with 3 doulas was because I wanted to be sure someone would be there who I knew on the big day. No matter how good one doula is, something can always happen, a car accident, a family emergency, so I felt more comfortable knowing there were 3 doulas that would be available. Before the baby was born, they came to our place a few times. Usually two of them came together, but I think once it it was all three. They talked through our birth plan and helped us think of things we hadn't considered. They also showed us prenatal yoga and massage and showed my husband how he could help me do stretches and give me massages. They were also very available whenever I had questions, like on Thanksgiving when I started having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions and worried I was going into early labor. I was pretty terrified about giving birth and they really helped me with my stress and made me feel like I could do it. As I got close to my due date, my doctor told me that they normally induce labor at 41 weeks, which I didn't realize, because I thought 42 weeks was the standard. I really wanted to give the baby time to be "ready" and for labor to start naturally, so I reached out to Teri and she sent me a lot about labor induction and pros and cons of waiting until 42 weeks. On the big day (40 weeks and 6 days), I started having contractions around midnight. I wasn't sure if they were "real" or not, so I waited and called Teri around 2 am. She answered right away and calmly talked me through what was going on. Since my contractions were far apart, she encouraged me to try to sleep. Teri then came over to our place early in the morning and helped me do some exercises to get the baby into the correct position. Then, as fate would have it, I had an OB/GYN appointment scheduled for that day around noon, so we (me, my husband and Teri) all went to the doctor's office together. The doctor checked me and said I was 6 cm dilated and should go to the hospital right away. Another thing I realized after getting to the hospital is that the doctor doesn't show up until the very end and the nurses only come to check on you sporadically, so having Teri there was huge for me, because I knew she was going to be there the whole time. When I was ready to push, the doulas had a shift change and Jennifer arrived, but Teri was excited to see the baby be born, so I actually had two doulas there with me in the end. When it was time to push, they were excellent at helping me figure out different positions to try. When I was very close to getting the baby out, I got a very intense look on my face and my husband actually got a little scared and kept touching my face and telling me to relax and Teri was able to calmly suggest that he go sit in the corner for a minute to calm himself down, which was helpful for me and for him (he made it back before the baby came out). Basically, Teri and her team are awesome and I would highly recommend them to anyone. I was able to have the birth just how I wanted and, of course, the most important thing is that the baby is healthy. I am not sure I could have made it through labor without anesthesia if not for Teri and her team.

I took The Bradley Method classes with Susan Jesse and I loved it. Susan is so charismatic,…read moreanimated and hilarious that the classes were never boring. I learned a lot even though this was my 4th child. I was able to implement The Bradley Method and had a natural home/water birth. I would recommend every woman take her classes. Also, Susan also gives the best hugs EVER!! She's so awesome

I had the privlege of taking Susan's Bradley Method classes as well as having her be my doula for…read moremy hospital birth. The entire birthing experience and process was enriched by having the support and presence of this amazing woman. Duirng my ~26 hour labor, she never left my side and went above and beyond my expectations of what I thought a doula would be. I feel truly blessed to have met Susan and would highly reccomend her to anyone considering the Bradley method or in need of a doula. You will not be disappointed.

I took the 3-day birth preparation course with Amelia, and I couldn't be happier with the…read moreexperience! Her energy is truly unmatched. She explained every concept in simple, practical terms and made me feel so genuine cared for and we laughed a lot. While I expected the course to focus primarily on natural birth--and in many ways it did--it was completely free of judgment regarding medical interventions.

I reached out to Brilliant Births to find a birth doula. They offer a matching service and…read moreconnected me to 3 doulas who work independently (not employees of BB). We were really fortunate to find our birth doula (who we love!), but the other 2 candidates were not very impressive. The first doula missed our appointment with no follow-up communication. We were initially confused and thought she was the coordinator for BB, because she only communicated by text. The actual meeting was just by telephone so there was no face-to-face interaction, which felt strange. We could've easily FaceTimed or Zoomed. So communication and reliability were not great. The second doula abruptly canceled our half-hour appointment when we were 10 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment due to my husband wrapping up a Zoom meeting. During our appointment time, she was responding to my emails (in which I apologized for being late), but insisted she could no longer meet with us. I thought this was a really bad sign about what she would be like to work with - labor and delivery is rarely precisely timed and some flexibility is needed. In addition, her email said that she lives in Portola Valley, but we live Berkeley (also where Brilliant Births is located). This also struck me as strange, because it would take 1.5 hours for her to arrive to meet us at the hospital, which is not ideal.

Deanna was not my doula; but I wanted a consultation with her to possibly become my doula. Her CV…read moreappeared impressive, an educator and DONA certified, which is why I emailed via Yelp and her website to set a consultation up....never received a reply. Ended up going with someone who was prompt and responsive. Expected more from a veteran doula.

When my husband and I were preparing for our first baby to be born, I knew I wanted to hire a doula…read morebecause I wanted to give birth naturally with no epidural or any other pain medications. We did our research and chose three doula services that we were interested in. After having multiple phone and in person meetings with all three, I knew Deanna was the right one for me. Meeting Deanna for the first time is like meeting a friend you haven't seen in a long time. She definitely gives you a sense of comfort. She's also very knowledgable and answered all of my husband's and I's questions we had about my pregnancy and prepared us for what to expect during labor and delivery. When that day finally came (about 2.5 weeks earlier than expected) Deanna and my husband were on it. Both of them worked so hard to make me feel comfortable. Deanna definitely helped my husband be more hands on during my labor which took over 24 hours. As much as I wanted to give birth vaginally, I eventually had to get a c-section after pushing for 6 hours and trying all the possible birthing positions Deanna recommended. I was also prepared going in to the operating room as Deanna also educated us about what would happen if I was to get a c-section. Deanna was by my side the whole time up until I had the c-section. When the nurses where not available Deanna was moving the bed to get me to a comfortable position and also helping me get to the bathroom. So if you're looking for a knowledgable doula with lots of experience and is hands on, I would definitely recommend Deanna.

Sheila and Marji did a wonderful job. I asked for help to support me during my delivery, I was…read moreworried about being pushed into procedures and medications by the hospital. They stayed by my side the ENTIRE TIME I needed them. They helped me after 12 hours of labor decide the best corse for my delivery and I felt informed and not pushed. They helped me on my weak points by encouraging me and answering my questions when I needed it. I am so glad I wasn't alone with hospital staff and my loving husband. If your thinking about a doula and need your questions answered please call her. Both her and Marji are incredibly welcoming. You may be able to do it without help, but a strong hug and beautiful words of a supportive woman is honestly what EVERY woman delivering a baby should be entitled to and mandatory. Postpartum checkup allowed for some ahha moments that really helped us thrive. For some the price is a drop in the bucket, for some it's an investment. You genuinely will remember this moment a lifetime.

Wow what an awesome doula! I initially hired Sheila in hopes that she could help me along with my…read moreplan for a VBAC. Well... baby decided that she was going to stay breech so I was forced to schedule a repeat c-section. Throughout the whole pregnancy Sheila was so supportive, always checking in to see how I was doing. When we found out baby was breech she also was able to provide recommendations for a holistic approach to turn baby. Sheila was an amazing postpartum Doula. I have to admit my husband was a little apprehensive about the idea of a postpartum doula but, the morning she left he was asking when she could come back. If I could've afforded to have Sheila here every night for the first week I would have. Having Sheila was an essential piece of my recovery and she was an amazing resource for baby well. Although I am a veteran to breastfeeding I couldn't figure out why baby's latch was painful, Sheila was able to see something wasn't right and made a call to a lactation consultant. Baby was diagnosed with a tongue tie ( mind you I had seen 3 lactation consultants who had missed it ). Sheila genuinely cares about her moms and babies, and she loves what she does. Even weeks after having baby she still checks in periodically. I am so happy that I had the pleasure of working with her. Thank you for all your help Sheila!

I would not have had the birthing experience I did if it wasn't for Therese. We worked on my birh…read moreplan in advance and even when my midwife suggested a different plan (mid labor), I was able to rely on Therese to keep my plan. She is extremely caring and has an amazing about of patience. She helped my partner to know how he could support physically and emotionally during the process. She prepared me for the big day with what I needed and should have. I highly recommend Mama T Holistic. I give her all the credit for helping me to have the birth experience with exactly how I wanted.

My daughter was looking for a Doula and called a few people. But when Mama T called he'd back the…read morevibe was right. She taught my daughter and son-in-love some tricks to help with both the labor and delivery pain. All of which worked so well the baby was trying to coming out before the doctor and nurses were ready. She was an added help we didn't even know we needed. She was support for the parents before baby was born and during the labor. She was support emotionally and physically there when needed. She was even a support to me. She will also be there for post care. We love her so much that she has become like a family member. If i ever hear that someone needing a Doula I will Fortune send them her way. Beautiful spirit.

I can't say enough positive things about our experience with the Modesto Doula Group and the…read morewonderful doulas who prepared me for childbirth, supported my husband and me during labor and childbirth and in the weeks postpartum. After attending a childbirth preparation class at my hospital less than two months before my due date, I began to worry about how unprepared I was and became anxious when thinking about childbirth and the pain associated with it. After meeting with Teri and Susan, we immediately knew that having a doula with us was something we needed. My due date was approaching rapidly, but we were able to do a total of three childbirth education classes, one group class in Modesto and two in home classes. I felt more and more assured after each class. By the end of the third class my anxiety had been replaced by confidence. Teri came to our house the morning that I went into labor and assisted me through each contraction as I labored at home. Still by my side in the delivery room, she used acupressure and aromatherapy which helped tremendously even during the most intense contractions. Back at home with a brand new baby, the postpartum doula services with Jennifer and Susan were exceedingly helpful for us. I had also opted for placenta encapsulation and the postpartum care basket, both of which made my postpartum recovery and healing easier. Looking back, as we often do, we couldn't imagine our birth experience without the caring and experienced support of the doulas at Modesto Doula Group!

My personal experience was 3-star - fine/better than neutral, but for me there were a few cons that…read moretook away from the pros... Other people might receive the same exact service but rate it 4 or 5 stars. I felt that the postpartum doula, Susan, could have been more open and supportive of my personal parenting style and desires, but it seemed like she thought there was one good way of parenting an 8-week old baby - the rigid schedule your baby for your convenience as soon as possible way, which isn't my philosophy but I know tons of people do want that. I also thought she needed to take more care and consideration regarding her baby wearing advice because although babies bodies are very flexible, there are safety concerns especially regarding their hips, neck, and nose that she did not properly address when telling me not to over think placing my baby in my ring sling.

As a first-time mom, I met with Kim for a prenatal virtual consultation, which helped me feel much…read moremore prepared going into delivery, and she's since come to our home twice to support us through the challenges of breastfeeding. When our son struggled with staying awake at the breast and we found ourselves triple feeding, she was knowledgeable, encouraging, and never made us feel overwhelmed or judged. Every recommendation she made was thoughtful, evidence-based, and individualized for mom and baby. She identified areas of tension that could be affecting my son's feeding and referred us to both a pediatric chiropractor and a pediatric dentist to evaluate oral ties, helping us look beyond just the symptoms. Having someone come to our home during those exhausting newborn weeks has been invaluable. She takes the time to answer every question, explains the "why" behind her recommendations, and truly cares about helping both baby and parents succeed. If you're looking for a compassionate, knowledgeable lactation consultant who provides individualized support, we wholeheartedly recommend her.

I reached out to Kim after a friend recommended her for latching issues. I'd been struggling with a…read morelow milk supply and latching difficulties, and I am so glad I made that appointment. ​Kim is incredibly knowledgeable and filled in the gaps that my doctors and nurses missed. Thanks to her: ​No more pain: She properly measured me and found the correct flange size and shield (I was way off on my own!). ​Better output: I'm finally emptying completely and she recommended a much better pump. ​Whether you are actively struggling with breastfeeding or just want to make sure you're on the right track, go see Kim! She will give you information you didn't even know you needed!