We cannot say enough wonderful things about DCBD. This was my/our first pregnancy, and we truly…read morefelt supported every step of the way by their team. Especially in those last 1-2 months, we leaned so heavily on the birth doulas and they responded to all of our questions and concerns immediately. We learned the most about how to care for our daughter and what was happening in my body from DCBD. I went into labor and the birth experience feeling ready and excited, and that's because of the experience, information, and kindness that were shared with us ahead of time. The birth - nearly 4 months later, and we are still talking about Camille! We are going to remember her forever - she was such a wonderful presence during my entire labor and after, and we don't know what we would have done without her. She made sure my husband and I knew what was happening, she advocated for us, she ensured I was comfortable (well, as comfortable as you can be in labor), and she really rooted for us the whole time. I felt safe because she was with us. And Ella - we were shocked that someone who didn't *have* to be there, stayed for the entire labor, participated, and stayed after when we were transferred to the postpartum room! She will be (or already is) a phenomenal birth doula. We felt so lucky to have Camille and Ella. Post birth - Lolonyo came to our house the very first night we were back from the hospital, and what a gift she is. She taught us how to soothe a baby, how to change a diaper (I'm sure they showed us in the hospital... but I could not remember haha). We had her for several nights during those first 2 months and we were so, so grateful to wake up the next morning refreshed, rested, and with the knowledge that our daughter had been held in loving arms all night long. She was never judgmental and was always supportive as we navigated breastfeeding, safe cosleeping, and everything else. We also had Joanna for several daytime visits. She always made sure to check in on my mental and physical health, which was so appreciated, and she was so helpful. We always felt like we were able to reset a bit after her visits, because she'd leave behind clean bottles and pump parts and a rested (and sometimes still sleeping) baby, and we would have had time to ourselves to shower and get a little more organized. She made our chaotic lives feel lighter, and we loved her for that. As a DCBD member you'll also have the opportunity to be part of a postpartum circle of other parents going through what you did. Shaleen and Elizabeth gave us space to talk through birth and everything that comes after, while feeling supported and safe. I'm still friends with some of the parents from my circle. In closing - DCBD is worth every single penny. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

Rebecca from DC Birth Doulas was absolutely incredible. From the moment we first connected, I…read moreimmediately felt comfortable with her and the entire team. She has such a warm, genuine presence that made it easy to ask questions and talk through everything honestly. She was always responsive and gave thoughtful, real answers that helped me feel informed and confident throughout the process. I was hoping for a VBAC, and with Rebecca's support we were able to have a successful one. She provided amazing support not only for me, but also for my husband. During labor she was calm, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable, helping us both feel grounded and supported every step of the way. Having Rebecca there made such a difference in our birth experience. I'm so grateful for her care and for the support of the entire DC Birth Doulas team. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a compassionate, knowledgeable, and truly supportive doula

We are incredibly grateful to have had Katie as our doula. She is professional, deeply experienced,…read morecompassionate, and exceptionally skilled at working with medical providers while always advocating for her clients. As someone of advanced maternal age with a pregnancy complicated by hypertension, I felt supported and informed every step of the way. Katie was a steady, reassuring presence throughout pregnancy, induction, and birth. She helped us navigate complex medical decisions with clarity and confidence, and her calm advocacy made a meaningful difference in our experience. We felt heard, respected, and empowered throughout the entire process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Katie is exceptional at her job, and an amazing human being. My wife and I were both very anxious…read moreeven before we were expecting for the first time. My wife needed someone who could instill calmness, provide information, and accommodate her preferences for labor. I needed someone who could help me be the involved partner i wanted to be through the childbirth process and after. That is why once we found out we were expecting we were looking for a doula to help us sort through the tons of information on preparing for childbirth, childbirth itself and the medical, personal, and other choices associated with it. Katie is an expert's expert, but is able to talk through different topics in a way that helped put us at ease. She's friendly and funny, which helps when she is walking through medical decisions, how to talk to doctors, how to talk to family, considerations and questions we have as first-time parents. She also makes herself available by phone and text when we have questions at random hours with baby. On top of all that, after our baby girl was born, she was able to follow up with us and help teach us a few tricks here and there as well as answer questions we had as things came up.

Kim takes a very gentle, respectful, and breastfeeding friendly approach to helping the whole…read morefamily get better sleep while nurturing attachment and connection.

Kim is amazing! My son is sleeping through the night through responsive parenting approaches. She's…read morean incredible resource. I can't recommend her enough.

We took the childbirth education and cpr classes…read more I'd recommend them. One class was held at Nidhi's residence (separate from her home) and another was at an office location in Arlington. The instructors were great. Nidhi is very knowledgeable, friendly, and open. The class sizes were pretty small and you're encouraged to ask lots of questions. There were also snacks and water which are important to me since i was pregnant and didn't want to go 2+ hours not eating/drinking anything. My husband and I brought sandwiches to one class and we were able to eat them during the class (it was around dinner time/6pm) so atmosphere is casual which I appreciate. You get an online resource packet after the class that summarizes everything covered. Should probably look at that again as i am typing this before my gassy, ornery newborn wakes up.

As a first time aunt with no previous experience with infants, I was seeking resources to help me…read morelearn the basics. it was surprisingly difficult to find information that wasn't just about pregnancy and delivery, when I was really looking for things like feeding holding, changing and what to expect in the first few months. Nested's Newborn Care/ Infant CPR Bootcamp absolitely knocked it out of the park. I learned SO MUCH about the stages baby's are going through when they're first born, the routines you're establishing, the techniques you can use to care for them and more. Renie and Migma are so nice, and so clearly so committed to what they do, I felt extremely comfortable and confident under their instruction. The class imparts so much information in a 4-hour course, and the cherry on top is that after completing the in-person and online class imparts now Red Cross certified for both Adult and Infant CPR, and feel confident in both. Even Though I myself am not expecting, I was welcomed and encouraged in my desire to learn. Whether you're an expecting parent or a loved one seeking to prepare to be an involved member of a child's early life, i really can't recommend Nested and specifically the Newborn Care bootcamp highly enough! Absolutely worth the value!

I signed a contract with Nova Birth Services LLC in July of 2025. In order to secure the doula…read morebirth and postpartum overnight services, we paid a 50% deposit on both services totaling $3050. In November, I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia and hospitalized. Due to my condition, I had to deliver my baby early via emergency c-section at just over 31 weeks. My baby is currently in the NICU. I wasn't able to have a prenatal in-home visit due to my hospitalization and was given very short notice of my emergency C-section due to my declining health. After my birth, I was put on magnesium, and my baby was sent to the NICU. My husband and I were both so terrified that the last thing I was thinking about was having my doula attend. I was afraid for me and my baby. I reached out to Shannon after my birth and asked if I could cancel the postpartum doula services because of the new financial strain of NICU costs/my hospitalization. She informed me that if I canceled the postpartum doula services, that both contracts would be void, and all services would be considered rendered. Remember, I did not receive a prenatal visit nor birth services due to my medical condition & hospitalization. The contract I signed stated that if the doula wasn't at your birth, you would be entitled to eight hours of postpartum services. Shannon explained that because I paid a 50% deposit on both services, none of the services were paid in full so I would receive nothing else moving forward. Although we had paid $3050 and the birth doula services were $2100, I would need to pay an additional $900 in order to receive the eight hours of postpartum services. She said I could "take it or leave it" and that she would not move money from one contract to another. I was shocked at her response. There was no solution offered where I could receive any services post-birth for the $3050 we had paid. More money had to be paid. This was literally the worst experience of my entire life, and I received no care or compassion at all from Shannon. She maintained that her responsibility was to her staff/business. During our phone call, I was talking about my hospitalization and she mentioned that all of her clients were hospitalized. I clarified that I wasn't hospitalized because I was giving birth. I was hospitalized due to severe preeclampsia and potential organ failure. Trying to work things out with her made a horrible situation even more stressful and terrible. She refuses to budge and maintains that we will not receive any postpartum services if we don't pay extra. My husband and I feel as though we have paid $3050 and have received nothing. We did not receive a prenatal appointment, doula birth services, or any postpartum care. Please see the last email I received from her.

First -- if you're on the fence about hiring a doula for your first baby, do it. And if you're…read morewondering who to choose, the answer is Shannon. As a first-time dad, I can honestly say Shannon was invaluable -- not just for my wife, but for me too. From the start, she made us feel comfortable, informed, and genuinely prepared for what was ahead. She has this calm, thoughtful, and considerate presence that immediately lowers the temperature in the room. Nothing ever felt rushed or overwhelming because she helped us understand what was happening and what our options were. During labor, Shannon was incredible. She didn't just support my wife -- she supported us as a team. She walked us through next steps, explained the choices being presented, and made sure we felt confident in our decisions. One thing that really stood out to me was how she helped me help my wife. She showed me exercises and techniques I could guide her through to ease labor and keep things progressing. That made me feel involved and useful instead of helpless, which meant a lot. After the birth, Shannon's support didn't stop. She came to our home for a postpartum visit and helped us process the entire experience. She walked us through what to expect physically and emotionally in the days and weeks ahead, what to watch out for, and answered all of our first-time parent questions without judgment. She even helped find us a pump -- such a thoughtful and practical gesture that shows how much she truly cares. Shannon doesn't just provide information -- she provides confidence. As new parents, that's everything. We felt supported, knowledgeable, and empowered every step of the way. We can't recommend her highly enough. If you're considering working with Shannon, you will not regret it.

We had a great experience! Very early in my pregnancy, I reached out to Nathalie for a doula and…read moregot a response right away. She was very informative and provided my husband and I with answers to all our questions. We were initially connected with a couple different doulas that would be available during my due date and had interviews with them -- we ended up hiring Hannah Wright. From the get-go, Hannah was amazing. She was exactly what we needed. She provided great advice throughout my pregnancy and she especially gave my husband a lot of confidence in being my support person by having her there during the actual labor and birth. She provided excellent support and kept me grounded during the entire process and immediately stepped in and started providing all the tips and tricks in her wheelhouse to help me cope during my fast and intense epidural-free birth. I would certainly recommend her to anyone else. As for the more administrative end of things, we also have no complaints. Communication was excellent, the contract process with was very clear and straightforward, and we found the doula rates very reasonable.

Working with Doula Sarah was absolutely magical! This was my second baby but my first time working…read morewith a Doula. I highly recommend it to anyone giving birth whether it's your first or third baby. She was there for me at every moment, her guidance and care led me to have the best birth I could have hoped for. I felt so prepared compared to my first birth and I loved being able to have someone additional to advocate for me throughout. I originally reached out and Doula Nathalie was super quick to respond and connect me to a few Doulas to interview. Everyone was wonderful and ultimately I felt most connected to Doula Sarah. The entire process was super easy and seamless.

If you're even thinking about hiring a doula, stop debating and call Liz! She is the professional,…read morecompassionate, and knowledgeable presence you didn't know you needed but absolutely do. My husband and I couldn't have asked for a better person to have by our side during our second labor and delivery experience. I was late to the game, deciding to hire Liz toward the end of my second trimester, and she jumped in like we'd been friends for years. She listened to every detail of my first delivery (tears and all) and helped me process my fears about being induced again. Liz didn't just hear me--she held space for my feelings, validated my worries, and helped me shift my mindset in the most empowering way. On the big day, she arrived at the hospital right when my contractions were ramping up. Her calm guidance and confidence in me made the experience transformative. I wanted an unmedicated birth, and thanks to Liz's support, encouragement, and expert coaching through contractions and pushing, that's exactly what I achieved. This delivery was night and day compared to my first--it was redemptive, empowering, and everything I'd hoped for. Even my husband, a man of few words, quickly admitted after our son was born that having Liz there was a game-changer. He felt supported and reassured knowing we had someone on our team who could explain the medical lingo and navigate the process with us. Liz is truly a gem. Her calming demeanor, wealth of knowledge, and radiant smile will carry you through labor and beyond. Whether you're a first-time parent or not, she'll leave you feeling capable, cared for, and encouraged. Do yourself a favor: hire Liz. You'll thank yourself later!

I had a better experience than I could've imagined with Blanca from Balanced Birth Support. From…read moreour very first zoom she was incredibly easy to talk to and made me feel so much peace leading up to birth. Our two in person sessions before the birth were informative, and it was clear that she really wanted to understand my hopes for the experience. Ultimately, I ended up having to be induced and because that process can be long I was initially just texting with Blanca at the beginning. Even over text, she was encouraging and helped me understand what the doctor was suggesting and what next steps would look like. When she arrived I was past the point of being able to have a conversation but she immediately stepped in providing physical and emotional support and helping me get into a more comfortable/sustainable position. Everyone in the room immediately felt more calm when she showed up! When it came to pushing, I had some nurses that seemed very inexperienced, but Blanca's tangible step by step guidance throughout pushing helped everything still feel calm and under control. In addition to all of that, she took photos after the birth and was able to provide support to my partner when needed, so neither of us can imagine the experience without her. Her in person visit a few days after the birth was so meaningful because she feels like family now! I felt extremely comfortable with her throughout everything and her follow up texts have been so encouraging. It is very clear that she cares deeply about her clients as people. Additionally, I appreciated the various education emails sent by Balanced Birth Support throughout my pregnancy. Overall I would highly highly highly recommend BBS and especially Blanca!

Catherine is truly an amazing doula. From the moment we met during our interview, I instantly felt…read morea connection with her. Her beliefs, experience, and knowledge aligned perfectly with what I was looking for. Even though I was a little late in the game searching for a doula, I knew I wanted someone by my side to support both my husband and me--and Catherine did just that and so much more. She helped me create a thoughtful birth plan, regularly shared helpful information, and was always available whenever I needed her. She even came to our home to guide us through exercises to prepare for labor. When the big day came, she was incredible--staying by my side the entire time, coaching me, encouraging my husband, and providing the positivity I needed most. She also advocated for me and my birth plan after my little one was born, which meant so much. Even after delivery, Catherine continued to check in and support me, showing just how much she truly cares. I 110% recommend her to anyone looking for a doula, and I will absolutely be reaching out to her again for any future pregnancies.

Catherine is a kind and loving person. She has great communication skills and very quick to respond…read morewhen you book a consult. She is very knowledgeable about many different things to help you through your birth process.

I could not recommend Birth You Desire / Ursula / Jenn more. Jenn has been simply the best doula we…read morecould have asked for. During birth, she was able to tell when my husband needed some extra help, asked the hospital staff for what he needed on his behalf when he was not mentally able to, and gave us guidance based off of my preferences and state of mind that led to an incredibly successful birth. Her postpartum care has honestly been the highlight of her services. I did not realize how much help we would need overnight and the help and resources that Jenn provides have been invaluable. Jenn claims she is not magic - but she is. You are in the best hands with Birth You Desire.

Jenn Carlson is an amazing person and doula who went above and beyond for us during our birth and…read morepostpartum journey. Our baby was born during one of the worst snowstorms in years and she made sure she was prepared and there to support us (even if it meant getting snowed in at the hospital). Without her care and experience we would've had a very different birth that likely would've ended in an emergency c-section. I had a lot of anxiety about giving birth but Jenn helped put me at ease and explained things very well. She is warm and has an evidence based approach to her work. She also looked out for my partner which I really appreciated, ensuring he ate and rested. Afterwards we also used Jenn's overnight doula services to care for our infant and she was just as fantastic with him. Not only did we get a good night's rest when she was here (priceless), we also felt so supported with learning about newborn care and dealing with all of the emotional aspects of becoming parents. Our journey would've been different without her and we will forever be grateful that we had her support.

How do I give 6 stars? 7 stars? 100? Dan and JewelryClassDC deserve them, and more…read more I worked with Dan to make my engagement ring and it was an unforgettable experience. It can feel like a real leap of faith to do something so personal and important in such an unconventional way, and to put your trust in a stranger and in your own ability to learn something you have never even considered before--but I am so glad I took it. I have an experience I will remember for the rest of my life, my fiancée (she said yes of course!) has a beautiful, truly one-of-a-kind heirloom she adores and values beyond measure, and we have a story we will tell over and over again. She is already getting questions about where I found her ring, and her friends are already gushing about how amazed they are I made it. Honestly, I am amazed too. I wasn't sure I could make a ring that looked better than a beginner's craft project!--but that was before I met Dan. I had a personal design idea that not only do they not sell in stores, they don't even really sell jade cut how I needed. As far as I can tell, no one had done this before. Well, now someone has, it turned out incredible, and it's all because Dan made it possible. He went above and so far beyond. As a craftsman he is not just skilled, but meticulous, and determined to make sure every product he works on meets his high standard of excellence. As a teacher he is patient, knowledgeable, and eager to share and show what he knows--which is a lot.  And to top it all off, he is a real man of his word--exactly the kind of person you want to put your trust in when dealing with precious metals, stones, and memories. In short, they don't 'em like Dan anymore--that goes for his character, and his jewelry. If you need jewelry made, if you need jewelry worked on, if you need a guiding hand to make something yourself--do yourself a favor and see Dan and his team at JewelryClassDC.

I wanted to get a broken clasp fixed on an old silver bracelet. So I reached out to Daniel to find…read moreout if he did that kind of work. He wrote back, "probably" and told me to bring it by that weekend and he'd have a look. I told him I would come Saturday and he wrote that he might have to go the DMV at some point, but that he should be around. I came by Saturday and he was not there, so I left the piece with a young woman who admired the bracelet and tagged it to give it to him and took my phone number and email. When I had heard nothing by Wednesday, I called and Daniel somewhat impatiently said that "I haven't even looked at it," but that he would. I waited another three days and called a week from when I had originally dropped it off, only to have Daniel say that he "hadn't even looked at it" and I told him I would just come over to take it back. I came and he dumped the bracelet in my hand, again saying, "I haven't looked at it." When I reminded him that he had said Wednesday that he would look at it, he barked "What do you want from me!!!!!"