We began our search for a doula with recommendations from a labor and delivery nurse who used to work in DC. As I started checking websites and making calls, Cara immediately stood out from the rest and I knew that she was who we wanted to work with. After an initial video call, Cara came to our home to answer all (& we had a million!) of our questions about labor and delivery, she went over what we could expect from her and helped us put together a birth plan. We had been told to expect a larger baby and I really wanted to avoid a c-section and medication so we discussed with Cara my wishes and we spoke in length about how important the baby's positioning would be for safe delivery. Cara also showed me exercises on a fitness ball, gave me tips on how to increase my chances of spontaneous labor and brought a fabulous tea blend for me! Cara provided us with her 'labor line' number and I alerted her when I was transitioning from pre-labor/early labor into Stage 1 (she provides a very helpful chart!). I then progressed through the stages quicker than I realized (or anticipated) and didn't alert her again until the urge to push was involuntary and my contractions were very intense and very close together. We called her and she very calmly talked me through what was happening and said she'd meet us at the hospital. Within 30 minutes of our call, we were all at the hospital and 30 minutes after that our daughter was born. Cara was incredible at keeping us calm in a very chaotic situation. It was great to have her helping us communicate with the hospital staff because all of their questions (while necessary) were very overwhelming at that point in the labor process. She even does a home visit after the birth, she was able to ease our new parent fears and answer questions we had about caring for our newborn and breast feeding. We very highly recommend Cara for your birth journey! read more

I am so grateful that I found Cara as my birth doula. She was immediately someone who I felt open with and after talking through my birth plan, I knew she would guide me in the ways I needed during labor. Cara was a true sense of calm, bringing experience, intuition, and all the tools I needed to feel ready when labor started. With all thanks to Cara and our preparation together, I had the most positive, amazing, completely natural birth and I was confident I could do it! read more

First time mom here and after my husband and I found out I was pregnant, we started realizing how ignorant to all things laboring & delivery we were. Looking into natural birth vs medicated, we found we were both leaning towards natural. We then found out about doulas. We both had heard the term but did not really know what a doula was. As we live in an area where natural birth with midwives and doulas is not common place, we ended up traveling about an hour away to a birthing center and spoke with several midwives about doulas. Cara was the one they recommended, and they all sang her praises. We scheduled an initial consult and after talking with Cara, it wasn't much of a decision. We decided we were gonna need her. I believe my husband said, "I think I need her more because I have no idea how to help you!" ;) We scheduled another appointment where we talked about expectations, wants, likes and dislikes of L&D. Cara and her partner showed us several pain coping techniques that we utilized while I was in early labor. Both sessions, I felt very comfortable and relaxed. Which is not easy for me because I tend to be very shy and introverted. The plan was for me to labor as long as I could at home, and then head to the birthing center. My husband called Cara a few times during this period and she gave him direction and helped me to calm down and work through the laboring. We eventually headed up to the birthing center and Cara met us there relatively soon after we checked in. During my whole labor, she was always present but not in an intrusive way. Very calming for me and my husband. I was struggling to get past 7cm and she had me up and moving, trying different positions, using the birth ball. I had hit a wall of not progressing and the midwife wanted to either break my water or send me to L&D for an epidural. Cara advocated for me, along side my husband, that we wanted more time to let things progress on their own. She then had me kneeling on all fours and using a rebozo under my belly to rock it back and forth because we found out the baby's head was tilted to the side and not straight up and down. More time passed and the midwife said we had to either break my waters or go upstairs. By this time I was exhausted and had zero energy. After talking with my husband and Cara, I opted to go up to L&D and get an epidural. Once up there and settled we found what Cara was doing had worked, baby had straightened out and I was progressing to 8cm, my body had just taken too long to do so to remain down in the birthing center. I slept some and then woke up and felt ready to push. While my epidural was wearing off, and I had to stay in bed, Cara helped me change positions and helped me to focus on breathing and remaining calm. After 2+hrs of pushing, my lil man entered the world. While the epidural was not wanted or planned, my labor and delivery went relatively smooth and mostly how we wanted it to. Many thanks to Cara for working with us. She is very peaceful and friendly. Helps you stay relaxed and focused. Works with you on what you want and don't want and advocates your wishes. I would HIGHLY recommend using Cara as your doula. Should we get blessed with getting pregnant again in the future, I will definitely be using her as my doula!! read more

Like others have said, my husband and I cannot imagine labor without Cara's support. We highly recommend Cara as a doula and hope to work with her in our next pregnancy. Because Cara knows so much about childbirth and has attended so many labors at the hospital where we delivered, she was able to make objective, informed recommendations that were invaluable. Cara also knew us well by the time of the labor and so was able to advocate on our behalf. Cara helped us navigate a difficult, two-day labor with unplanned interventions, nevertheless resulting in a healthy, vaginal birth (due in large part to her involvement). In brief, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and induced at 37 weeks. What ensued after, including being confined to bed because I was given anti-seizure medication, affected my plans for a "natural birth." Throughout the ups and downs, Cara was incredibly supportive, particularly with helping us (while sleep deprived) to understand our options and to make difficult decisions. As an example, during the pushing phase, our little boy was stargazing and refusing to rotate. Cara spent hours moving me into various positions, ultimately encouraging our boy to rotate on his own, much to the surprise of the hospital staff. If it weren't for Cara, I am fairly certain the birth would have required forceps, if not an emergency c section. Also, we took birth preparation classes with Cara, who came to our home and worked around our schedule. She is kind, friendly and thoughtful. We genuinely enjoyed our time with her and feel so fortunate to have worked with her. read more

Awesome doula - responsive and well informed , including all the latest covid related policies at hospitals. A lovely person who was such a calming and reassuring influence throughout my pregnancy and postpartum. She coached me through the unexpected news that baby was breech and the c section. Do not hesitate to book !! read more

I can't imagine having gone through my pregnancy and the birth of my baby without Cara. She was wonderful to work with from day 1, listening to me and providing the exact support and information that I needed to make decisions and prepare myself for what was ahead. On the day my son was born, Cara was with us through a long and exhausting night--advising us, encouraging us, and helping us advocate for the birth that I wanted. She intuitively knew how to provide the best support for my husband and me, jumping in to massage my back, helping me move through contractions productively, looking out to make sure that I was getting the attention I needed from the hospital staff, and just staying present and encouraging throughout. She helped me turn a difficult labor into a beautiful birth experience. We also took Cara's birth preparation classes, which I would recommend very highly. We enjoyed the classes and the way she presented the information, and learned everything we needed to know to feel confident approaching the due date. It was also so nice to have the extra time with our doula. I would highly suggest working with Cara if you have the opportunity. She has an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom around birth and labor and knows how to support each client the way that they need to be supported. She is down to earth and warm, yet strong and confident enough to make you feel like you're being looked out for. We feel so lucky to have chosen to work with her. read more

I hired Cara to assist with the delivery of my second child last year. I went into labor on Thanksgiving evening, but Cara made it to the hospital and thank goodness! My midwife didn't make it to my delivery since she had another patient. My labor was unmedicated, very fast and very intense. Cara was able to communicate with me, advocate for me with medical staff and overall made me feel safe and supported. I was so grateful to have her with me and I highly recommend her! read more

Long story short: she didn't answer her phone or show up the night I went into labor. I hired Cara as my doula about two years ago. From friends who worked with her before me, she seemed incredibly nice and competent. My husband and I were really relying on her because we live abroad and were coming to DC for the birth- we were relying on her to bring things like heat packs, oils, etc. And obviously, to help support a non-medicated birth, which was especially important to me because of complications I had with my first child. Our doctor was in a traditional hospital but we were confident because we thought we had a doula to be by our side. However, the night I went into labor I called to let her know what was happening. About two hours later I called to ask her to come over. She didn't answer her phone. I called probably 75 times over the next 6 hours. She never answered and never showed up. I don't think she's usually irresponsible. But it did happen. So I wanted to let other women know because the experience was truly awful and heartbreaking and I wouldn't want another woman to go through it. There's more reliable doulas out there. read more

If you are searching for a Doula then you most likely already have a birth plan in mind. Cara of empowered Doulas will help you stick to that plan. After doing research on my own, I felt strongly that giving birth was something natural, and that when the time came my body would do what it needed without interventions. But I knew I would need the knowledge and support to prepare me for birth I wanted. I took private birth classes with Cara, where she provided my husband and I with the tools to prepare me both physically and mentally for my baby's arrival. We talked through our fears and how to combat them. Although I had a birth plan, we discussed in detail situations and alternatives that could happen during birth. Cara even provides guidance on all the little details, such as what you need for your hospital bag for both labor and delivery and postpartum. (Listen to her on packing a your water bottle/cup with a silicone straw!) Those last few weeks I felt like I was ready and prepared for what was coming. When I went into labor, Cara provided guidance on getting me through the early stages and when it was time to go to the hospital. My labor progressed quicker than most and Cara showed up with a bag full of 'tools' and helped get me into the right positions and keeping me calm and focused to get me through the most difficult part of labor. She also had my husband actively involved supporting and helping me combat pain while I was in labor. I can honestly say my birth would've gone a lot differently if it wasn't for Cara. You can't control everything when it comes to giving birth, but having a doula like Cara provides the extra support and knowledge to be able to make informed decisions and keeping my birth a positive experience. I highly recommend Cara of Empowered Doulas. read more

Cara Crowe was cool and all, but I didn't have a great experience. I feel like the money was not well spent. She didn't answer emails very promptly and I felt like I was kind of brushed off most of the time. we only met once before birth, so not that helpful. Also, she was AWOL when I went into labor (on my due date) because her phone wasn't working, and then once I DID reach her, she didn't make it to the hospital until SEVERAL HOURS LATER, and I had already caved at that point (about 8 cm dilated) and got an epidural. Once she showed up, she just sort of hung out and went and got breakfast etc etc. she also stated in her contract that she would take photos and videos of the birth. She didn't do any of that. As I was birthing, she grabbed my husbands phone and took a half-assed video, so I GUESS that's what she considered "taking photos and videos". Also, before the birth, I had discussed with her that the MOST important thing to me was that I wanted pictures of my husband cutting the cord, and she didn't get ANY OF THAT. She only recorded that one short video, that DID NOT INCLUDE the one part that I had told her that I wanted. And then she didn't really offer any help for me after the birth. She claims to be a lactation specialist, and I ended up with engorgement and mastitis right after. I pretty much begged her for help and she didn't really do anything except tell me not to use a pump and to try to hand express..... Soooooo I would say big thumbs down. Sorry Cara. I only wish I had fought to get some of my money back. read more

Had a successful unmedicated VBAC with Cara and the GWU midwives. The midwives know her and put her to work getting baby into a good position. It was reassuring for the midwife in triage to say, "Cara!" and give her a hug. She kept me moving through a cycle of positions and was hands-on with her rebozo, which I found very supportive. She helped my husband stay engaged and took care of him when placing my heplock made him dizzy. She asked us if it was OK before stepping out for a bite to eat. I'd hire Cara again if I were having another. read more

Cara was by my side for the birth of BOTH my daughters. Once in April of 2012 and again in September 2014, and I HIGHLY recommend her services. My husband and I connected with Cara in 2012 and she was such a great wealth of knowledge and her personality is warm and caring. She provided us with an in home birth class, which involved some beautiful art therapy. She really holds space for mothers, listens with an open heart and is by your side when you need her. I had two amazing births, unmedicated and naturally, and I know that Cara's presence and calming, caring energy are what helped me to find my own power to birth without fear. read more

Birth on 10/11/15......As a first time mother, I was nervous about the unknown and imagined pain of labor, but I really wanted to give birth as naturally as I could without an epidural or any pain medication. I had a couple of friends who had used a doula and they both had positive experiences. I knew I wanted an experienced doula, and Cara came recommended by another doula. During our initial meeting, she made sure she understood what I wanted, and she asked me questions and had me think about things regarding the birth that I had not yet thought of myself. When I went into labor, we were in touch several times during the day via phone. I ended up beating her to the hospital and, I have to be honest, I almost caved and asked for an epidural. My husband knew how important a natural birth was to me and he urged me to wait for Cara. I am so glad I did and I don't think I could have made it through the pain without her. She coached me and encouraged me through each contraction. She suggested different positions to help ease the labor pains and to help move the labor along. All of my contractions were in my back and she massaged pressure points in my back during the contractions, which not only felt wonderful, but also distracted me from the pain. My favorite thing about her though, was how she was my advocate with the doctor and nurses. With her experience she knows how the hospital works and what the available options are. Sometimes the nurses were doing things that were more convenient for them but not necessarily more convenient for me. Cara would step in and point out or request alternate treatment options. The hospital staff realized Cara knew what she was requesting and they granted each request. One example of this: Cara asked if I could get in the shower to help relieve the pain in my back. The doctor said no because due to the position my baby was in, they had trouble getting 20 consecutive minutes on the fetal monitor and they couldn't put the fetal monitor in the shower. Cara asked if they had another piece of equipment (which can get wet). Next thing I knew, I got to spend 45 minutes in a hot shower which was the most wonderful feeling of relief (I even dozed off a few times between contractions). When it was time to deliver my daughter, Cara encouraged me through every single push. She stayed for an hour or so after delivery, helped me breastfeed my daughter for the first time and made sure I was ok mentally and physically. She came to my home after I had been home for a few days for our postpartum visit and she ended up staying much longer than her contracted time. Cara was not only professional, but she was easy to get along with and did not push her views and personal wishes onto me. My doctor had warned me to look for the right doula because she had seen some doulas get upset and argue when some mothers changed their minds during labor. Cara answered questions I asked her but she remembered what MY decisions were and she respected them. If I have another child, I will absolutely hire her again. And the imagined pain of childbirth was much worse than the reality of the pain. And I think a lot of that was because Cara was there for me. Thank you, Cara! read more

Cara was completely incredible. I had an epidural with my first child and wanted to try and not have one with my second. I was only able to get through it all with Cara's help (and definitely would have had that epidural if not for her guidance). She was exceptional! She advocated for me with the nurses and my doctor at the hospital and requested nurses that experienced with natural childbirth. She helped me with excruciating back labor and knew so many different positions and techniques. My husband was also so grateful for her support and knowledge. She truly made this second birthing experience one of the most incredible days of my entire life. Thank you, Cara! read more

Helped me have a successful VBAC! My first child ended up being a c-section because he got stuck in a not-so-hot position. I wanted to do everything possible to have a VBAC for my second child. Cara was with me every step of the way. She helped me do the right exercises at the right time to avoid malpositioning, manage my pregnancy stress, and prepare emotionally for a VBAC. I could feel her confidence in my ability and in the strong possibility that I could do a VBAC. That confidence was such a huge help when I was having doubts. We were in touch frequently via text and phone during the early stages of labor and she gave me some exercises that enabled me to sleep during labor (I didn't think that was possible). When things ramped up quickly, she met me at the hospital. From sips of water, to birth positions, to helping me understand what the midwife was saying, to helping me initiate breastfeeding with my little one, she supported me. In the end, I delivered my second child naturally and it was amazing! I was on cloud nine for almost a month. My follow-up call with her was also helpful for processing the birth and getting some "real mom" advice for dealing with my toddler. During my pregnancy I had another doula tell me, "Oh, Cara is your doula? She's the best." I didn't need people to tell me that, though, because she exuded calmness and competence. I would highly recommend her to anyone planning a VBAC or anyone looking for a great doula. read more

Cara was our doula for two of our three children and we would love to have her help with any future babies:-) We chose Cara for our daughter's birth in 2012 because of her experience and her close proximity to our house. We had a very traumatic birth experience in 2010 where we had lost our little boy due to injuries during his birth. We knew we needed someone who could support us spiritually, emotionally, and help us overcome our fears so that we could focus on having a safe, peaceful birth for our daughter. Cara was always very responsive with any questions I had during my pregnancies. We also had the individual birth class she offered which helped us to find comfort with our baby, and she never tried to push an agenda. Our babies like to come during the night, Cara was always available at a moments notice and provided back-up support for any period of time before the due date when she was going to be unavailable. We spoke with Cara before both of our births and discussed our preferences. She met us at our house for our daughter's birth and at the birth center for our son's birth. She was helpful in trying to help us determine when we should leave our house to go to the birth center. She provided comfort for me during labor and suggested different positions at optimal times. Our daughter arrived only 45 minutes after our arrival at the birth center and our second son arrived less than three hours after our arrival at the center (we actually wanted to build in a little cushion since our daughter's birth was so quick!) Cara stayed for a while after both births and made sure we were hydrated, fed, and the babies were latching. Cara is also an excellent birth photographer. We will treasure our birth photos forever!! read more

Cara was absolutely amazing. She is very sweet, professional, and she REALLY knows her stuff. I had complete confidence that she could help us navigate any birth scenario thrown our way. We chose to have her come to our home for the three class package, and I am so glad we did. It gave us time to get to know her, and she was able to thoroughly educate us on the different hospital birth scenarios. I would highly recommend that package! While I was in labor at home, she came over and was very calm and reassuring. She encouraged me to take on positions that would progress the process--she made me work for it! And I really appreciated that. She made me feel confident in my body, and helped me spot the signs that meant it was time to head to the hospital. She was AMAZING at the hospital. She's such a good coach during pushing, and she helped me find the right way to push for ME--there are a lot of options, ladies! In the end I had a very beautiful, natural birth, and I am so glad she was a part of it!! I will definitely be hiring her if/when we have a second baby--it will be so great to have her as a part of our birth team again. read more

Cara was an awesome doula for us! We were able to have a VBAC and I was so thankful for her encouragement in that. She has so much wonderful knowledge and was very available to us. I am so thankful for the way she helped me get into different positions during labor that encouraged my son to get in a better position to descend. We are incredibly thankful to her and her help in our son's birth!! read more

I made the wise decision to hire Kerry and Cara's doula services for my third pregnancy. Although I did not have a doula for my previous two births, those experiences made me realize how important it is to have additional support before and during the birth. For my third pregnancy, I was planning to attempt my second VBAC and I also wanted to do whatever I could to make my post-partum recovery easier than the last two. The support that I received from Kerry and Cara was extremely helpful both leading up to the birth and during the delivery process. I had a relatively complication-free pregnancy until the end when I went past my due date and I received excellent coaching from Cara and Kerry through that time of uncertainty. As a result, I was able to avoid unnecessary calls to the doctor and potential trips to the hospital. Although Cara was not the doula on call when I did deliver, I am happy to report that I had the birth that I always wanted but never thought was in my reach. I credit having that extra support and guidance through the birth and delivery is a key reason why my recovery has been easier with the birth of my third child. Thank you! read more

We can't imagine what our daughter's birth would have been like without Cara's constant support and care. The childbirth classes with Cara were extremely helpful in preparing us for the birth. We felt very comfortable when asking Cara questions (and we asked a lot of questions!) about different birth interventions and asking her to share her experiences in different kinds of births. In addition, Cara was an integral part of the actual birth of our daughter. Her constant support and guidance gave us the confidence to follow our birth preferences. She allowed me (the dad) to take breaks without having to worry that no one was there to support my wife. My wife says that without Cara, she would not have had the stamina go through with the 15+ hour birthing process. My wife also claims that having Cara there "made the labor process almost fun" and definitely helped her relax and feel comfortable. The best part was that Cara made us feel that we had an advocate at the birth - whether it was asking the nurses for extra pillows or coaching us through contractions - Cara made my wife feel empowered and supported. After the birth of our daughter, Cara also came to visit us to check on us and our baby. We are truly touched by her concern for our family's wellbeing. We will miss seeing Cara on a regular basis - but plan on keeping in touch! She is a trove of knowledge and advice - we cannot recommend her enough! read more

Cara was with me for the birth of my second daughter. My first labor and delivery ended with a cesarean so I decided to hire a doula for my second with the hopes for a VBAC and could not be happier with the outcome and definitely feel that Cara played a big role in the success. She was such a calming and supportive influence and kept me focused on moving around and trying new positions. I checked into the hospital at 5:00 and my daughter came at 9:20, a much better experience than my first 35 hour labor that ended eith a cesarean. it was such a perfect delivery, it was everything I had hoped for and she even managed to snap some amazing pictures of the delivery :) she has such a calming and reassuring energy about her, just what you need in the room with you. she was very responsive throughout the pregnancy when I had questions or concerns and both her and Kerry were so encouraging and positive, especially in the final Weeks when I was getting anxious since I was over a week passed my due date. I can't recommend them enough! read more

Cara was my doula for my second birth which was also my first unmedicated birth experience. In the weeks prior to the birth, she and I spoke regularly about things to do for prep as well as things to help us get going once my due date had passed. In labor, her presence was reassuring and calming. Her experience and familiarity with rebozo techniques was also invaluable, as my baby had less than optimal positioning coming into labor and I was having painful back labor. After a few rounds of abdominal lifting with the wrap, my contractions became much stronger (i.e. more effective). Within 4 hours from that time, my baby was here! Cara also was good about checking on me/us after we got home to make sure everything was going well with nursing. All in all, my doula-assisted, unmedicated birth experience and post-partum recovery was far better than my first medicated hospital birth. Thank you, Cara! read more