I can't recommend Milla and Melinda enough! My husband was skeptical about hiring a doula, but after the birth he was the first to say how grateful he was they were there for us and that the investment was so worth it. Their package is outstanding compared to others. Milla was with us for delivery and she was such a calming, supportive presence. She reminded me of my birth plan when I needed it, worked beautifully with the hospital staff, held me through contractions, cheered me on when I felt like giving up, and set boundaries with family when I asked. She just knew what I needed and I felt safe with her. Melinda was equally fantastic. I felt deeply seen by her. She helped me with my anxiety before labor and in postpartum, gave me practical tools (the ice exercise was a game changer), and walked through our house helping us set up baby stations + shared so many helpful tips. Some additional highlights: - Their website has the best list of questions to ask when interviewing doulas. - The prep class with Milla was both super helpful and honestly fun. I truly believe the exercises she taught me made a huge difference in my labor. - Melinda dropping everything to come help us on day 3 postpartum when we texted her in frenzy. Hiring them was hands-down the best decision we made. I'm so happy with how my labor went, and I honestly credit that to this amazing doula team. Overall, the biggest impact they made on me was that they believed in me, and that gave me so much strength. For a first-time mom with higher levels of anxiety, that kind of support was priceless. I honestly wish they could be my team of support forever in motherhood--that's how much I loved them and how much I trust them. And even now, I still bug them from time to time and they always quickly help me out with resources. I am so fortunate to have found them. I am sure you will feel the same way if they become your choice of doulas. read more

I've been supported through 3 pregnancies and deliveries (2 with midwives at a birth center, 1 c-section in hospital) by Melinda Ferguson, and cannot recommend her highly enough for her extensive experience from attending hundreds of births, empathy, responsiveness, and ability to connect me with others in the perinatal community for specific things like birth prep classes, lactation, sleep, etc. As a first-time parent, I especially found Melinda's guidance and presence helpful to calm my anxieties around the process of giving birth, as well as caring for a newborn. So the second time, I wanted to have the same support and was so glad to have her with us even though we'd been through this before once. And although I had expected the third time to be even easier, some complications came up and it was so helpful to be able to consult with Melinda and work through some difficult decisions. She also helped me with processing and accepting the surgical delivery that I had really hoped to avoid. read more

I had a successful VBAC thanks to Melinda and Milla of "Calm & Confident Doula Care!" Initially, I was ambivalent about a VBAC. To feel comfortable taking the leap, I wanted a doula who would be more than a cheerleader: someone who could provide physiological knowledge and support to keep my labor going smoothly, and preferably someone who had lots of successful experience with VBACs.Milla and Melinda were exactly who I was looking for. I loved the workshop on physical prep for birth that Melinda taught (and created, I believe) as part of their package, their nonjudgmental approach to my preferences (yes epidural), and the fact that they made sure we met them both, so either one could attend our birth. I had to go into the hospital very early in labor. Milla attended our birth, and helped us navigate when the hospital offered us various interventions. Her TENS unit made my back labor bearable. My baby was at risk of coming out "sunny side up" because she was ROA, and Milla suggested positions that would create space in my pelvis (with the epidural in!) and successfully turned my baby around to LOA for a smooth delivery. I was able to deliver my 8 lb baby after only 48 minutes of pushing! Melinda did our postpartum visit at that low point in early breastfeeding where my milk hadn't really come in yet and the baby was a worrying combination of thirsty and sleepy. We were so grateful to have an experienced eye on our baby for reassurance and to give us some much-needed pointers -- because of course, our second baby is completely different from our first. Two more things, in case you weren't sold already: first, we found it very easy to build a rapport with both Milla and Melinda, and loved spending time with them; and second, I have mild cerebral palsy, which they easily took in stride, and were happy to adapt techniques as necessary.Don't wait -- get on their calendars!! read more

We almost went without a doula for this, our first child. But half way through my pregnancy we decided to look for help, and looked into doulas. We found Calm and Confident Doula Care, and from the very first time we spoke with Milla and Melinda, I was thrilled! I absolutely loved that they were a power team, with Milla and Melinda both bringing their experiences and backgrounds to the prenatal sessions. Melinda's "Get that Baby Out" course was so instructive and I was eager to position and prepare my body in advance to give myself the best chance at a "smooth" vaginal birth. Milla was informative and open minded when we built out our birth plan. I had wanted to stay as unmedicated as possible during labor, with the flexibility to pivot to an epidural if needed. I never once felt judged for any of my preferences or desires while working with Melinda and Milla. I also appreciated that, when it came time for delivery, if one was not available, there was always the other to step in! I had heard horror stories of friends/family of having a solo doula who wasn't available or couldn't make it on time for their deliveries, and I was pleased that that would less likely be the case working with Milla and Melinda. When the time came, Milla was our doula when I went into labor. She kept in constant communication with us while I was laboring at home, came over to our house try positions and stretches to help encourage my contractions along. We ended up going to the hospital when contractions were close enough, but I was barely dilated, so we got sent home. Milla stayed with us and THANK GOODNESS she was there! Because my water broke in bed and Milla was instantly by my side helping me change and prepare to leave while my husband could help clean up some of the mess that was made lol I can never say enough good things about how Milla cared for me, and my husband, during our long delivery! She was calm and patient with me while we tried allll the different positions that Melinda had prepared us in advance. We pushed, moved, stretched, bathed, and she was the perfect doula for the job. She worked so very hard to help me have our baby girl. She stayed by our side for 37 hours of unmedicated labor. She made sure my husband was instructed yet confident in his ability to support me physically and emotionally. And made sure he was fed and cared for himself! If I needed a hand or someone to lean on, she would be there. I also may or may not have lost bodily function very near her at the hardest of times (sorry about that!). When things dragged on and our baby wouldn't come out with pushes, we had to change our approach more than a few times and Milla helped me be clear what the doctors and nurses were communicating, especially while I was exhausted and brain muddled. She advocated my wishes and decisions to the doctors, so when I was the most out of it, I knew and was confident I was being cared for the way I wanted to be cared for. Ultimately, my body wasn't delivering vaginally, as much as all of my care team was convinced it would. But we finally had to rush to a c-section when it had become too much and heart rates were dropping. Milla stayed with us during my surgery, and I had her holding my hand when my husband went with our baby girl, and I wouldn't have wanted anyone else by my side in those moments when I was so tired, vulnerable, scared, and yet overwhelmed with love and happiness for our little girl. I truly do not think I could've done what I did in a long unmedicated labor without Milla's presence, and Melinda's pre-labor education. Despite it being hard, painful, frustrating, and scary at times, I also felt very strong, powerful, and confident in my body. Even though it didn't go the way we had hoped, I know that this doula care power team helped me be well-informed, physically prepared, and mentally empowered as I possibly could have been. We did everything in the book and more, and regardless I now have my beautiful baby girl. And I loved that in postpartum sessions, we could recap everything that had happened in labor, review some at-home care help, have a printed recap of my birth story, and Milla took precious photos of my labor (non-cringey!) that I will cherish forever. Doula care may not be for everyone. Milla and Melinda may not be for everyone. But I generally prefer more preparation and information in advance. I like to know pros and cons. And I strive to surround myself with knowledgeable and experienced professionals when I know I need the support. And Calm and Confident Doulas, Melinda and Milla, were the perfect choice for my family. If/when we have more children in the future, I know I will be eager to have Milla and Melinda as my doula support once again!! If looking for doula care, I encourage you to check them out! I cannot imagine there being a more caring, compassionate, empathetic duo. These women know what they're doing, they work so very hard, and they are worth it! read more

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We can't recommend The Calm and Confident Doula Care--especially Milla and Melinda--enough. From the very beginning, they were our advocates, offering steady support, compassion, and reassurance through every step of the journey. When things didn't go as planned, Milla and Melinda stepped in with calm, confident guidance that helped us make the right decisions for our family. They were always there when we needed them--literally answering the phone at 2:30 a.m.--ready to provide comfort and clarity in the moments that mattered most. We are so incredibly grateful that they were by our side to help bring our daughter, Charlie, into this world. Their presence made all the difference, and we will never forget the care and strength they shared with us. If you're looking for unwavering support and genuine heart, The Calm and Confident Doula Care is everything you could hope for--and more. -Geoff and Kendra read more

Melinda and Milla were amazing doulas! My husband called them the birth angels because they were so helpful, especially during labor. It was daunting at first, trying to find someone who we would be comfortable with, since birth is such an intimate thing. At least schedule a meeting with them because they immediately made us feel comfortable! I loved that they had a couple prenatal visits, one to go over a birth plan, and another to help prep for having a baby at home. They gave us plenty of resources to look through. The "Get that baby out" class was also helpful for exercises to do before the baby comes and for while in labor. Melinda helped us at our birth, and I honestly can't imagine how it would have gone without her! She was SO helpful and patient and calm. She was with us for nearly 24hrs and unfortunately I went into labor around 10pm, so none of us had any sleep going into it. After we texted and let her know we were ready for her to be there, she arrived very quickly. She helped me get into different positions, counter pressure, also helped guide my husband on how to help me. She stayed with me so my husband could take a little nap. I think she only napped for like 10min. I eventually got an epidural so she then physically helped me get into different positions. She also advocated for me with the hospital staff. They would come in and want to do things, and she would kindly ask for us to have some time to talk things over so we wouldn't have the pressure of the doctors in the room to make the decision they wanted us to make. Melinda and Milla also come to your house twice after the birth and those visits were also super helpful!! There's a lot to figure out with a newborn. They are also always available by phone or text. We didn't reach out to them much before the birth, but after the birth, I had some questions about a nipple sore and feeding Baby and it was so helpful to talk to Melinda on the phone. She was more than willing to patiently listen and troubleshoot with me. Highly recommend these two to be your doulas!! You won't regret it! read more

Melinda was our doula for both our daughters.  We did one birth at Sprout Birth Center and the other at home.  Melinda was absolutely essential before, during and after both!  She is extremely knowledgeable and somehow is both assertive and gentle. The perfect combo and just what I needed during labor. During labor, she had amazing ideas for pain relief/management, position changes to help progress labor, and was just the encouraging voice I needed when I got anxious or wasn't sure how things were going. We really liked how she educated and involved my husband and made him an active part of it all.  Her "Get That Baby Out" session that she does a few weeks before due date is awesome and so helpful for both partners. After birth, she continued to be supportive with suggestions and resources on breastfeeding and mental/physical health during infant days for both me and my husband.  We cannot recommend her enough and were so excited to have her again when we had our second kid.  She's the best! read more

We would recommend Calm and Confident Doula Care to anyone who is even slightly considering it. They are amazing and they will support you in whatever birth experience you prefer and hope to have. They were an essential part of our birthing experience and we can't envision going through this process again without their guidance, expertise, kindness, and unwavering support. We found Milla and Melinda online, so the interview was really our first connection point in getting to know them. The interview process was very personal and informative. Milla and Melinda discussed their experience as doulas and how they work with clients. We really appreciated that they came to us with questions about what we're looking for and our hopes and dreams for birth, so that we could determine if it was a good fit. They both are incredibly well experienced in this field and made us feel comfortable right from the start. It was apparent from the interview that they were the right choice for our family and that decision was validated throughout the our journey working with them One of the things we were attracted to with this doula program in particular is the meetings leading up the birth. The sessions leading up to birth allowed us to feel prepared and confident going into birth. Having the opportunity to try out and learn various positions, talk through and build out our birth preferences, and have a hands-on discussion about newborn care and prepping for life with a new baby were all so valuable. They go above and beyond to make you feel supported and like you're on the same team. They were very responsive to texts and calls in the days and weeks leading up to our due date, helping to answer questions and provide their perspective after doctor appointments and when evaluating interventions and potential induction options (we didn't end up needed an induction but were prepared for it once our baby didn't come until after the due date). No communication was too minor, no time of day was too inconvenient. Milla and Melinda were there for us when we needed them. Finally, Milla and Milenda's two meetings with us after the birth were very supportive and practical. They provided guidance on challenges we were facing with breastfeeding and sleep. They really went above and beyond throughout our event birthing journey We were hoping to have as unmediated of a birth as possible and Milla and Melinda played such a huge role in us being able to achieve that. Melinda attended our birth and provided guidance in positions to progress labor, was a helpful liaison between the medical staff and me and my husband (providing perspective and suggesting follow up questions to discus with the medical team), and was a calming presence that made us feel more confident and secure throughout the entire labor. Melinda was a tremendous teammate and advocate for us. We couldn't envision going through this experience without her We are so grateful for Calm and Confident Doula Care! read more

Melinda was recommended to us by friends for our second child. We were looking for a doula who was calm, confident, and caring. Melinda was all three and more. From our initial consultation to postpartum support, Melinda exceeded all expectations. My pregnancy was filled with anxiety after an early imaging appointment (everything ended up fine!), but Melinda provided me with the consistent support and reassurance I desperately needed. She listened patiently to my concerns, gave me a safe place to cry, and helped cope with my stress and anxiety. During labor, we had some uncertainty with possible risk to the baby. Melinda helped me and my husband navigate the paths presented to us by the medical team and advocated on our behalf. Her expertise in various comfort measures, such as massage and breathing techniques, was incredibly helpful. She created a supportive environment, allowing me to feel comfortable and confident in my body during delivery. Her calm demeanor was incredibly reassuring during our entire time with her, and I felt truly cared for throughout my entire prepartum, labor, and delivery experiences. My husband and I are grateful for her support and would highly recommend her to any expecting parent seeking a compassionate and knowledgeable doula. read more

Melinda was the perfect match for me, my husband and our growing family. She attended both of my births and provided support both before and after each birth. The education she provided and support was everything we needed and more. My first delivery was extra long and required a transfer. Melinda was there for us the whole time, making sure my voice was heard and helping us make the tough decisions when we needed extra support. During my second delivery her calm, reassuring voice is what held me together and reminded me to stay present for my child and the only voice I heard during the chaos. Her experience in the field is everything, having attended so many births she understands the systems and how to navigate everything. Melinda is simply the best at what she does. I would recommend her to anyone looking for the most amazing Doula and extra support. read more

I had a really great experience with Calm and Confident for both my birth doula and for overnight Doula care after my baby was born. Amber and Rebekah were my birth doula team and my husband and I liked them right off the bat (which is critical. Your doula is going to be up close and personal during one of the biggest moments in your life. You should enjoy their company!) Together they did a really thorough meeting before birth where they not only discussed my birth plan but helped me be more comfortable in my pregnancy and even tips on the transition for my toddler. When the time came, it was very early in the morning and Amber responded to my text right away, gave me good advice (get to the hospital) and was so quick, she even beat me there! I ended up having an emergency Csection and I'm so glad Amber was there to not only support me in my labor but to be with my husband and my baby while I was in surgery recovery. She also captured photos on my phone that are treasured memories. The first week after the baby was born she came back to my house to debrief on the birth and had even written her memory of the experience up for me to keep in her baby book. That debrief part is really critical and I'm so glad I was able to download with her. I had Rebekah, Melinda and Leialoha as my overnight doulas - but mostly Leialoha. She was fantastic! My husband and I were legit so sad when it was her last night. If you can find room in your budget for an overnight doula DO IT! A full nights sleep (or close to it) is so worth it. Leialoha came into our home with ease, we felt like we'd known her forever and was incredible soothing for us and our new baby. I loved our talks at night while I was feeding the baby too. Really a wonderful person, especially wonderful vibe for a a post partum mom. The reason I went with Calm and Confident is because they work together with Melindas leadership which ensures you are completely covered. I had a poor experience with my first birth doula and one of the biggest issues was that she over extended herself. This time I had tons of coverage and was confident I would be taken care of - and I was!! read more

We received the greatest support from Calm & Confident Doula Care, specifically from Rebekah Gilley! I'm beyond grateful for finding Rebekah and appreciate her support more than I ever would have imagined. I'm especially thankful that we were able to have a natural and unmedicated birth, as we hoped and planned for, and know that this was partially possible due to Rebekah's support and wisdom. Melinda, the owner, connected us with Rebekah based on our responses to a short survey on what we were looking for in a doula. And she gave us the perfect match! Rebekah quickly reached out and we met up at a coffee shop near our house. She answer all of our questions and we got to know one another quickly. She's very open, friendly, assertive, and happy (my favorite)!  Rebekah is very responsive and has a ton of resources that she shared based on our questions and interests. We never felt that she was trying to alter our thinking or push us in a different direction. She simply listened to our plans, questions, and concerns and provided great support. One of the best things Rebekah did immediately is open our eyes to the possibilities of using a midwife and going to Northwest Hospital. We actually hired Rebekah at about 35 weeks and ended up switching doctors and hospitals based on the information and perspective that she provided us and then our own research. And we are SO thankful that we did! Our experience with the midwives and NW Hospital were amazing and just what we hoped for! She provided wonderful support in our two pre-birth sessions as we were learning/creating our birth preferences/setting up our house for a newborn, was just what we needed during labor and birth, and continued to be supportive in our two sessions after our little guy was born. She still checks in every now and then to see how we are doing! I highly recommend using Calm & Confident and specifically working with Rebekah Gilley! read more

Melinda is cruel, rude, unkind, and a bad doula. She is poison for the spirit and never has a kind or caring word to say to her clients. She is completely the antithesis to a nurturing person. We actually asked for a refund, and got it, she's THAT bad. Avoid!!!! Amber is lovely. Choose her instead. read more

Calm and Confident Doula Care provided us with an amazing gift of a Doula named Angie Doulas. They made it easy to meet a Doula, conveniently she was able to come to my office. If you're considering a Doula, I absolutely recommend Calm and Confident Doula care, as well as Angie in particular! When my husband and I first met Angie, her calming presence and the way she explained things made this a natural connection for us. She was able to answer our questions, suggest things we should consider, and took the approach of supplying us with information rather than making decisions for us. Really awesome :-) When we met after that, we dove into ideas for what our birth plan would be. She helped provide insight into questions we had, even sending us updated information (researching questions we had) after we met. Speaking of which, she was incredibly accessible over phone. We kept a group text going where she'd send us answers to questions, as well as just checking in on us as our baby's due date approached. The doula's work with a backup doula, so even during a brief period when Angie wasn't going to be available, she made sure that we had coverage. It was a smooth handoff to our backup doula over text, and then a smooth return when Angie was back. During my labor, we worked according to our plan, including some time my husband and I wanted to spend at home (on our own at first). When we were all together in the labor room, Angie powered me through every up and down of the labor process. The difference in my ability to navigate the contractions before and after Angie's presence were night-and-day. She knew how to help me embrace and power through each contraction. She knew how to help reposition the baby as I dilated further and reached "pushing" phase. She helped my husband rotate in and out of supporting me, as well as watching for his well-being. She kept track of the process as well, which was an extra sweet touch for us to read after the birth. I started with a goal of having "as natural as possible" of a labor. Angie was there for me every step of the way to make this goal a reality. Truly impressive work, and we're forever thankful to her! :-) read more

When I met with Melinda, I immediately felt comfortable and heard when speaking with her. She asked me great questions that helped me understand what it was I was hoping to have in a doula and what I envisioned for my birth. Whenever I needed to get a hold of Melinda, she was very easy to contact and promptly returned my phone call or email. I enjoyed working with Melinda because she is intuitive, experienced, calm and confident in aiding the birth journey and process. She was very open and thought of every option and Spinning Babies technique to help me move my baby down the birth canal. Melinda worked with me for 40 hours while I labored at home to help me try to have the natural, unmedicated vaginal birth that I wanted for my baby and myself. While I was not able to deliver at home or the birth center that I had planned, Melinda helped me find resolution and be okay with changing my birth plan which helped me stay calm during the transfer process to a new environment and new care providers at the hospital. Overall I appreciated how resourceful, kind, dedicated and giving Melinda was in my experience with her. I was very lucky to work with her during my birth. I absolutely recommend Melinda for doula care. She followed up with me after birth to make sure the baby and I were thriving and offered breastfeeding support and helped me with advice on processing my birth and ways to heal postpartum. Melinda is a wonderful resource to the community for families, mothers and babies. read more

I truly cannot imagine the birth of my baby boy without Manon. I was in labor for 21 hours and Manon provided steady, calm support the whole time. She worked seamlessly with my husband and the two of them were able to help ease my contractions. When my labor was stalled and doctors suggested different interventions, Manon provided some additional options for me and the medical team to consider. I liked Manon's approach to moving my labor forward and the doctor agreed with it, so we changed courses based on her steady guidance. My labor took some scary turns and I was so relieved that I could turn to Manon every time we faced a juncture. She was non-judgmental with my choices (eg to get an epidural after hitting my wall 19 hours into contractions) and was a source of information. Ultimately I needed an unplanned c-section and i remember looking up at Manon in the operating room and having her give me a steady, calming look that provided me strength as surgery began. After returning home from the hospital, Manon helped normalize and contextualize the information (some of it quite alarming) we were getting from doctors and others. Her perspective and trust in me as a new mom was a welcomed antidote to he overwhelming information and instructions that kept coming our way. I couldn't recommend Manon any higher. read more

I used a doula for the birth of my first child, and as a first-time mom, it was worth the investment. When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I knew I wanted to have a doula again. This time I asked around and did some Facebook research and came across Calm and Confident Doula. I spoke with the owner and head doula, Melinda, and she asked me a few questions to see which doula would be a good fit for me. I ended up hiring Manon, who at the time was a freshman-level doula. Since then, she's moved up to a sophomore-level doula. When I met Manon for an interview, I felt like she was a good fit for me. She has a very calm demeanor, which was important for someone as anxious as I am. I felt confident that she would fit my needs well. Throughout my pregnancy, Manon definitely delivered as promised. She quickly responded to my e-mails and texts and was helpful in providing resources and advice. She never overstepped her boundaries or made me feel like I should make decisions based on her advice. Instead, she provided me with the knowledge to make informed decisions. When I went into labor, Manon was at my house within the blink of an eye. She really encouraged me and made labor *almost* painless. Manon also furiously took notes during my labor and took plenty of pictures after I delivered my baby. She didn't seem in a rush to leave after I had delivered. She stayed for quite a while after and was sure to ask me if I needed anything. If anyone is looking for a doula, I would highly recommend giving Melinda a call. Again, I was EXTREMELY happy with the services my doula provided. If I do have another child, I would hire Manon again without a second thought. read more

Having Melinda as our birth doula was one of the best decisions we made in our journey into parenthood. Because of her, the birth of our daughter was as smooth and peaceful as it could have possibly been. Melinda really does know all the tips and tricks to cope with painful contractions (including back labor), and what to do to get labor progressing. Her calming presence really made a big difference for us! Her visits before and after birth were equally valuable - as first time parents, she helped us know what we needed to do to be prepared for when the baby came, and assisted with the difficult transition into parenthood after our little one finally here. I would recommend Melinda to anyone looking for an encouraging and empowering experience in both birth and early parenthood. read more

My husband and I have received an invaluable amount of postpartum support from Lisa, Amanda, Amber, and Melinda during both daytime and overnight visits. Being able to get extra rest and get things done I wouldn't be able to do otherwise has made the postpartum period so much easier. I highly recommend Melinda and team! read more

1 year ago today, I was eagerly waiting for my labor to begin. I contacted Melinda one month before my son was born. I had 3 doulasto interview, but I knew I wanted to hire Melinda when I met her. She was professional, calm and friendly. Most importantly, it just felt right. I know this sounds vague, but I believe its the first thing you consider who to hire as your doula - compatibility. One needs to feel safe during labor, and trusts the birthing team. Your instinct will tell you who is right for you, just like how falling in love on the first sight works. Highing a doula was one of my best decisions for my pregnancy and birth. As our families were all very far away, I needed someone to support me and my husband during labor, someone with knowledge, and not emotionally attached like family does (my mom totally freaked out when we phoned her during my labor. That was not what I wanted. Giving birth is scary enough for new moms!) Melinda is just like her business name says: calm and confident! The whold birth was a blur right after baby came out, but I can still remember her caring and encouraging smile every time I looked at her crystal clear. It calmed me down a notch instantly. Melinda is not a big person, but I was surprised how strong she was! For a long period time during my labor, I was standing and inclining on her with my whole pregnancy body weight! Even my husband couldn't stand it. I seeked for her support more than my husband's during that whole time. Not only she supported me, she supported my husband. She made sure that my husband have food and rest as needed. My husband said after my birth that we totally need her for our next baby, and I agree! Melinda provided me with excellent postpartum service too. Every time I called, she replied right away. My emotions would be too much to handle without her help during that 1st month! All in all, I highly recommand her! You will not be disappointed! read more

My husband and I highly recommend Calm and Confident Doula Care, Rebekah was by our side till the very end. I had a long labor and unexpected hospital stay. I was so thankful for her support and consultation and experience as we ventured into the unknown. We did spinning babies, so many different positions. Rebekah was consistently right there with us grounding us, crying and laughing with us. Rebekah took great notes of what happened and I was really impressed with how lovely she got along with all the hospital staff. All in all the birth of our baby was enhanced by the fact that we had Rebekah at our birth to help guide us. read more

Melinda is an amazing doula! Both she and Amber provided excellent prenatal education and support but Melinda was my birth doula. She was with me every step of the way during my birth, supported me when things didn't go to plan, and helped me and my husband advocate for ourselves to get the best care possible in the hospital. We also worked with Melinda and Amber for 2 months post partum and it was the best decision we could have made as first time parents. Melinda taught us how to care for our baby, helped us strategize around issues that arose with sleep and feeding and everything in between, she guided me on a difficult breast feeding journey and supported me when we ultimately chose to formula feed. Also she helped us emotionally navigate some difficult family situations that arose. We also worked with Amber a bit in that post partum time and she was equally helpful! I can say very confidently that we would not have made it through those early months without Melinda and Amber's help. read more

Melinda is an incredibly skilled Doula and coach. Her presence was needed to help guide us through our natural homebirth. She was my advocate, my friend, my nurturer, and everything I needed her to be for me in the moment of having a human being brought into this world. Not only that, with her level of expertise, she knew exactly when it was important for us to call the midwives to our home. My labor progressed incredibly fast and she made everything feel easy and beautiful every step of the way. Melinda is such a beautiful, and deeply caring person. I'm so grateful to have had her part of both of my children's births. I would give her my highest and most heartfelt recommendation. Thank you Melinda. Your gift and light are so memorable in every way. Much love! read more

We loved Lisa. She was kind and gentle with our newborn. Would recommend her to all new mamas

Melinda is an amazing doula. She was my doula for the birth of my first child, and I loved her care, experience, guidance, and calm, confident presence so much that I contacted her to be sure she would be available for the birth of my second baby almost immediately after my positive pregnancy test, even when I was having complications with the pregnancy that could have resulted in a miscarriage. I knew that if I was going to give birth again, I wanted Melinda to be there again. Through both labor and deliveries, Melinda was incredibly responsive to all of my needs, kind, and caring and supportive in exactly the way I needed her to be. She helped me with recommendations for different positions throughout my labor, including making specific suggestions based on how things were uniquely progressing with each baby's position and my pain. She worked seamlessly with me in my first pregnancy and delivery with midwives and my second with an OB and she adapted to my needs in two very different labors and births. I trusted her and appreciated her care so much that we had her come help us as a postpartum overnight doula with our newborn daughter. I highly recommend Melinda! read more

Melinda is a wonderful doula whom I can recommend without reservation. I had a horribly medicalized, disempowering birth experience with my first child (in NYC) and was dreading a repeat with baby #2. I called Melinda when I was 37 weeks pregnant and couldn't ignore the impending birth any longer. Despite the lateness of the hour, she spent a lot of time before the birth carefully helping us to work out exactly what we hoped for (realistically) this time around, and giving us the tools and the confidence we needed to achieve it. Because of this I had the courage to discuss a real birth plan with my OB (who turned out to be very supportive, but I would never have known that if I hadn't been brave enough to raise the subject) - an experience that has actually carried over into an increased sense of confidence in my daily life in general. Melinda was particularly caring and helpful when I went two weeks overdue and was tearing my hair out - she called often to check on my mental health and came to walk with me to help to take my mind off it all. She was also an incredible resource at the birth itself. Thanks to all our preparation, my husband was very excited to be involved, and Melinda was a great support to him without being in any way intrusive. The nursing staff at UW were quite obviously pleased to have her there, too. Thanks in large part to her involvement, everything went pretty much exactly as we'd hoped - despite being induced, i gave birth without drugs and walked out of the hospital 3 hours later. In short: Melinda is a lovely person, and wonderful at what she does. read more

My husband and I would recommend Melinda from Calm and Confident Doula Care for post-partum doula care. We selected Melinda because of her expertise in post-partum care and her ability to help us with breastfeeding, swaddling, calming techniques, carriers, breast pumps and everything else a new parent may have questions about. Throughout our time with Melinda she was able to provide helpful techniques and advice. I was impressed by her teaching ability, and focus on not just doing what was needed but helping us learn techniques to care for our new baby when she was away. She also provided a wealth of information to help us connect to new parent resources and groups. read more

Melinda has been an absolute life saver for our little family. I really don't know how we would have survived the newborn days without her. My post partum period has been really lovely and I attribute a lot of that peace and confidence to Melinda's support. Melinda joined us 10 days after the birth of our first child. We had absolutely no idea how to care for this little one and were sleep deprived and just a mess. She provided newborn care instruction, breast feeding help, light housekeeping, overnights and even let me borrow books and baby carriers to try out. And excellent new mama support. She gave me not only the tools to care for my baby, but the emotional support I needed. If i have another baby Melinda will be one of the first phone calls we make! read more

We are so happy that we chose Melinda to be our birth doula. Melinda is the epitome of professional. We interviewed a number of Doulas, however Melinda's professionalism caused her to stand out from the rest. Unlike a few of the other Doulas we interviewed, she did not put a time limit on our interview. Melinda lit up when she spoke about her work, which she is so clearly passionate about. She thoroughly answered all of our questions and had questions of her own to ask. Even before we hired her, she took notes on her ipad as a way to keep track of our hopes and needs. She continued to document everything on her Ipad throughout our time together. Melinda touched base periodically over the course of my pregnancy and seemed to genuinely care. Though she was a few hours away with her family for the days leading up to my labor she was incredibly responsive and made us feel that she was eager to hear from us. I do not know if I could have lasted as long I did with an extended three-day prodromal labor if it weren't for Melinda's calm soothing guidance and support. Over the course of these days Melinda regularly offered to come over and help me through my contractions, when we finally took her up on her offer she got me through what was probably the most physically challenging night of my life. I give her a great deal of the credit for getting me through, so when I finally checked into the hospital I was 4cm dilated. This could have very well been what allowed me the vaginal birth that I had hoped for. Melinda was also a great support to my husband. We both always felt that she had our backs. (For me, both literally and figuratively.) Melinda is no nonsense and serious about what she does. If you decide to hire her as your doula you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Without passing judgment, she will help you to make important informed decisions. She has found the perfect balance of being an advocate and support to her clients without overstepping in a hospital environment. Lastly, we were grateful for the two pre-natal and two post-partum visits, where again Melinda gave us plenty of her time and expertise without ever making us feel rushed. . Melinda's rolling scale fee system is incredibly fair as you never know how challenging or long your labor will be. We highly recommend Melinda if you are searching for a Birth doula. read more

Melinda has been my doula with the birth of my first child in 2008 and my second child in 2010. The first time around we were the new and nervous expecting parents. Melinda not only helped us prepare for the birth and the postpartum but also helped us identify and address our concerns (its not as simple "10 finger and 10 toes and we are good"). She called me through out my pregnancy and after to check up on me and talk about anything that an expecting mom is dealing with but is outside of what my OBGYN would talk about, meaning more then stages of labor and medical concerns. I had a 25 hour back labor which started at 2 in the morning. Melinda was there from the time we called her to come at 4 am till a few hours after our baby was born, plus the postpartum visits. It was a relief to have her update our family in the waiting room in a calm and reassuring voice of what was happening through out the labor. Melinda took turns with my husband to breathe with me through the 17 hours of contractions, was a huge source of support when I faced my fear of the big, scary epidural needle, and held my hand when the damned thing was being inserted, and reinserted (but I won't go into that, it was great having her there though). During the rest of the labor, once the drugs kicked in, she remained with me, helped me push for 3 hours and helped my husband and I mentally prepare for the C Section. Melinda was our patient and calm support person. Our whole family in the waiting room appreciated her help during my labor. We could not imagine doing this without her and knew then that we were going to hire her again. During my second, much harder labor, Melinda was again our doula for the whole time as well as the pre and the postpartum visits. As soon as we knew that we were expecting again we called her up so that we could reserve her in advance, way in advance. I highly recommend Melinda due to her knowledge, calmness, non judgmental approach and understanding what a woman goes through during labor. I am so glad that we found her. read more

Melinda and Amber were excellent! Both provided great support during pregnancy, it was wonderful to be able to talk things through with them when I needed. They were also a very knowledgeable team and I loved how they worked together. I especially liked the preparing for postpartum session with Melinda, the suggestions were very helpful! Melinda was present during my birth and was a great source of calm and security during painful back labor. We tried many different techniques and she worked very well with my midwives throughout my labor and after delivery. She was also a great help to me in the first couple hours after baby was born, assisting me to get to the bathroom when needed, etc. The two postpartum visits were great as well, and it was very reassuring to know I had someone I could text at any time with a question or just to express the many feelings that accompany the postpartum weeks! I highly recommend this doula team! read more

My Doula was Angie Doulas. From the first time we met I knew Angie and I would be a great fit. She had a peaceful presence, demonstrated a depth of knowledge of the birthing journey and was very clear about supporting the wants and needs of the family. I especially appreciated that Angie spoke of mother hood and labor and delivery of having multiple ways of being done 'right', which was a perspective that was in alignment with our family and  appreciated when our journey took some unexpected twists and turns. I experienced complication towards the last weeks of and it was challenging for me.  Angie was always only a text  or phone call away to offer support, knowledge and  encouraging words. She responded in a timely manner and checked in on us on her own.  When it came time to for  labor Angie was faithful to our plan, worked in concert with the team at NW Hospital, and was the perfect coach for us during labor. I was able to stay in close alignment with my desired birth  plan because of Angie's coaching and support.  Angie helped me cope and bring baby down in a relatively short amount of time with a variety of positions, tools and encouragment and imagery.  I will never forget how  Angie's eyes and words helped me dig into a power and confidence within me that allowed me to surrender to and ride the contractions, an absolutely necessary mental and spiritual shift to continue coping naturally. During our post partum final visit, Angie, again proved to be exactly what I needed as she lent ear and words that allowed me to process my labor and celebrate my journey.  I highly recommend Angie Doulas as a doula She is a beautiful human being with a passion for labor and delivery, fantastic Doula skills  and experiences and an inclusive attitude and perspective that is bound to be effective  for a variety of labor and delivery wishes and journeys. read more

My wife and I could not be happier with our decision to have Melinda as our doula. The prenatal care she gave us helped us emotionally prepare ourselves for the birth and early days of parenthood. At the birth itself, she was amazing. Because of her constant presence, words and actions, I was able to focus exclusively on helping my wife through every contraction, and after the birth on being with both my wife and newborn son. She worked seamlessly with the midwives, and made sure I was taken care of both physically ("Sean, make sure you eat something!") and emotionally ("Take a deep breath, dad"). The post-partum experience has been, if anything, even more essential. We know that we can call her whenever we need, whether it is for breastfeeding help (and oh boy has THAT been a huge help) to a kind word of encouragement to two sleep-deprived new parents. I can't tell you how invaluable it is to hear her say "yes, it's tough being a new parent, but you two are doing a great job and it WILL get better". In short, if you're looking for a doula to provide you equal parts practical and emotional support, I have nothing but the highest recommendation for Melinda. Sean, Mikayla, and little Atticus read more

We hired Shaina during my pregnancy and were SO pleased with her care. She was accessible, understanding, and helpful the entire time- before, during, and after birth. She was professional and made me feel really comfortable sharing such an intimate part of our lives. She was able to answer so many questions seeing as this was our first pregnancy and child. We birthed at a hospital with midwifery care. Shaina and the midwives worked really well together and listened to what I wanted and needed during the birth. They provided information, support, and so much love as my son was coming into the world. We don't live close to family, so we don't have a lot of help. Shaina was there by our side with whatever we needed until we were able to get our feet underneath us. She was delicate and discreet during the birth and through all my post partum care. If you are looking for a doula- I would recommend Shaina to all of my friends and family. Thank you again Shaina and Melinda!!! My husband and I had the best experience with you! read more

If Yelp would let me, I'd give 4.5 stars. Melinda Ferguson was a valued member of my birthing team and I would hire her again if we were to have another baby. I have used her services twice since 2009. Initially, I hired Melinda because she lived close to us and she best fit our birthing philosophy. Her fees were reasonable for the market. Between the births of our children, her fees increased significantly. She offered a discounted rate as repeat clients but in the end we were satisfied enough to pay her more. My hubby and I are science-minded professionals who wanted a natural birth and more intimate birthing experience but we were not as emotionally attached to childbirth as some others. We wanted straight talk about the ins and outs, not a lot of talk about feelings and emotional states. Melinda came across as able to handle the needs of clients embracing a variety of birthing philosophies and emotional needs. In 2009, we had never heard of a doula until our childbirth prep class. After fully understanding that during labor our midwives (as well as doctors) were really in charge of the baby, we knew we needed someone to be in charge of us...the sleep-deprived, nervous newbies. My foreign-born husband was not initially interested being at the birth, as partners/spouses back home were prohibited from labor rooms until a few years ago. I didn't give him the choice to skip out! Melinda supported him pre- and post-birth well and respected cultural differences. When I found out that I was pregnant again, I said I'd call our midwife and he immediately said, "Don't forget to call the doula." (P.S. Now he tells his friends, "You should be there for the birth, man. Don't be cheap, hire a doula!") Melinda's follow-up visits were very helpful. Her commitment to her continued education was evident between our two births. Breastfeeding, for example, did not come easy with either baby. Common resources/referrals could not help me solve the problems. Melinda provided us contacts, including Seattle Breastfeeding Medicine. The only disappointing thing I could think of was Melinda was unable to attend our first birth. She was up front before hiring about a previous travel commitment nearly 2 weeks before my due date. Baby surprised us and decided to come the day Melinda left! She called the back-up doula and made all the arrangements from the airport as she was about to fly out. Though it didn't feel the same, her chosen back-up doula was highly experienced and met most of our original expectations. read more

I thought Malinda was very informative, and friendly. She was so helpful to me and my daughter evn after the baby was born.

I highly recommend Melinda as a post-partum Doula. When my husband and I welcomed our first child, I was seeking an extra hand, someone to provide advice, support and a peace of mind. Once we settled in with our son at home, Melinda was there right away and offered us a smooth transition to parenthood. Having a postpartum doula was especially important to me as I lost my mother years ago. Given this, I always knew the time when I had a child would be especially difficult without her. Thankfully, Melinda gave me confidence as a mother and I am so grateful to her and her calming nature and experience with newborns that made our first few weeks and months with our son smooth. read more

Melinda was the perfect choice for our family when giving birth to our first and second children. We couldn't have asked to have a doula be a better part of our team for both times. She was very thorough with us from the start, asking lots of questions, explaining the process she uses with clients, and setting up our meetings. She took in as many details as possible about what we envisioned for the births of our children so that we would be happy and have a great experience. She was very strong at helping my husband help me through the process, speaking with the nurse when needed and setting us up to deal with the task at hand. Before and after labor, she has checked in with us on numerous occasions and leaves her "door open" for any communication needed as becoming a parent has many challenges no matter how many times you do it! She is an awesome doula! read more

Melinda was our doula for our son's birth in 2009, and our daughter's in 2012. Both times she was amazing! During my son's birth she helped my husband out, reminding him to take care of himself (reminding him to eat or get a drink) so that he was able to better support me. At one point, he was a bit overwhelmed and had to step away for a few minutes, and her presence helped get me through those contractions. She also gave suggestions for labor positions when my labor stalled to get it going again. When we found out I was pregnant again with our little girl, we decided we wanted to her there again. When my daughter was breech, she helped me find information on getting her to turn without having to have the version (ouch!). This time, my husband wasn't able to be present for the birth because of work and so Melinda was the only support person I had there. She made sure I stayed hydrated and helped a ton communicating my needs to the midwives (like asking about when I could get into the tub as I wanted to have a water birth). She also called my husband so that he would be able to talk to me and hear her first cry once I started pushing (as well as reassure him I was ok, as I freaked out a bit about a needle after she was born). With both of my kids, she took pictures for us immediately after the births and stayed with us for a couple of hours after. Postpartum was great as well. I had some trouble with breastfeeding after my son was born and we were able to call her to get help figuring the issue out. She also taught me how to use the wrap carrier we have to make hands-free breastfeeding with my daughter possible so that I could read with my son while she nursed. She also has offered help and encouragement as we've had a bit of a rough month with colds since my daughter was born. She was fantastic support with both of my kids, and we would definitely hire her again if we have another. :) read more

Melinda calls herself the Calm & Confident Doula, and I cannot think of a more apt description. We first hired Melinda for the birth of our daughter four years ago. She recently attended our second birth. (Melinda was scheduled to be out of town during my due date. She agreed to be our doula, and helped us find a back-up doula that also suited us. Luckily, baby #2 came early, so Melinda was able to be there!) We were so happy with the service she provided to us. We originally sought a doula for two reasons. First, my husband has a tendency to faint with medical stuff. Second, we felt like there was a lot of pressure on him to know what to do (as far as remembering breathing techniques, positions, coping strategies) during labor. Having a doula to help guide both of us through the birthing process was the right decision for us, and Melinda was the perfect match. She is so kind and caring, and I always felt like we were her sole focus. She came to our house in the middle of the night without hesitation to assist in the early labor, and she served as a very strong advocate for our needs in the hospital. Specifically, during labor with our first baby, she convinced our midwife to allow me to continue laboring in the tub, and helped me advocate to not have my water broken when not medically necessary. Melinda worked well with our midwives (Swedish Ballard group) and the nurses. During labor, she instilled a lot of confidence in me, that things were progressing as they should, and that I was doing the right things. Melinda offered me a lot of suggestions, but I never felt like I had to take them. She redirected me well when labor was getting intense. Melinda is clearly very knowledgable, and refers to other births in a helpful way. She was such a soothing presence during labor. She also made sure we ate soon after each birth, which was hugely important (especially when the kitchen was about to close). She truly brings calm and confidence to a birth. read more