We feel extremely fortunate that we got to have Keelia help us settle into being a family of four. She was a consistently warm and caring presence, not just for our new baby but for all four of us. And she has a special knack for just finding ways to be helpful even if we're frazzled and don't know what to ask. She's also very thoughtful about providing advice--in addition to answering whatever random questions we have, she gently offers advice without it ever feeling like she's forcing it on us or it feeling overly didactic. We could go on about how great she is, but the long and short of it is that she's amazing at what she does. read more

I am certain that my experience with Keelia made THE difference in achieving the birth of my daughter the ways that I wanted it- delaying at home for as long as possible, no pain meds and a positive, empowered experience. My biggest fears were my low pain tolerance and lack of control over knowing exactly how it would go. Shortly before our due date, Keelia came over to review our birth plan and a timeline of what to expect for pre-labor, active labor, travel to the birth center, transition, and delivery. She made sure we practiced comfort measures, breathing and how I wanted to be supported verbally. It wasn't until the last moments with Keelia where she looked me in the eye and said I was ready, that I actually felt prepared to go into labor and meet my daughter. 2 days later, my water broke in the middle of the night. For the next 44 hours of contractions, naps, two car rides up to the birth center, a traumatic cervical check on day one to then be sent back home, many walks around the neighborhood, yoga ball bouncing, 1 game of Monopoly, snacks, massages, and support - Keelia was at our beck and call. By the time we got to the birth center (again) on day 2 after 36 hours, I was only at 1cm and 50% effaced. Keelia helped me calm down from exhausition and frustration at this news, and we made a plan to get misoprostol to thin my cervix but hopefully proceed with no other interventions. Miraculously, Ava was born 7 hours later. Keelia coached me through contractions which came back to back for hours, waved lavendar oil in front of my face for nausea, massaged my back, covered the clock when she noticed it stressing me out, got me into the shower with Joe when I hit the wall of transition, and helped me breathe through pushing - 3 contractions! She reassured me every step of the way - calmly & knowing I could do it at all moments. In this amazing doula's hands, I felt loved, safe, and supported. Thank you, Keelia. read more

Doula Keelia - Thank you, Keelia! - Doulas Near Me

We interviewed a couple of doulas but the minute my wife and I met her, she felt an instant connection with her and knew that she was the right person for the job. We met with Keelia at our place for dinner and knew she was the right person for the job. She has a very soothing and calm personality and is a great listener (which is a rare quality). She made herself available for texts and calls before the pregnancy and we had to text and call her a few times anytime my wife was exhibiting symptoms she was concerned about. Keelia was responsive to our questions and did her best to answer them even though some of them were of a medical nature. During the labor process she was also fantastic. Very calm and composed under pressure and very responsive to my wife's needs. My wife, in no uncertain terms, declared that she wouldn't have been able to do it without Keelia. Keelia massaged her during every contraction and it seemed that was the only thing that would help with pain management. In fact because of the massaging my wife was able to make it to 9 cm without an epidural -- she was super fatigued which is why she ended up doing the epidural but I'm pretty sure if labor hadn't occurred during the wee hours of the morning Keelia's massage techniques would have helped her give birth without using any medication. Thanks Keelia, you were great. read more

Having Keelia at the birth of our son was the best decision we made! We chose to have a doula at our birth because of my desire to have an unmedicated birth and some anxiety about a hospital birth. Having Keelia be present for us before, during and after our birth such a gift. As soon as we spoke on the phone I knew she would be a good fit. She was warm, genuine, and reassuring. Having her in our home for our pre-birth meetings was comfortable and really helped put me at ease about having a "stranger" at our birth as well as our decision to birth at the hospital. Keelia asked thoughtful questions and offered her expertise. Given that this was second birth Keelia helped us process the first birth and we talked about how things might be similar or different. My labor was short and intense and Keelia helped guide both me and my husband every step of the way. She was a calm, experienced presence for my husband (when do we go to the hospital? Etc.) and a great comfort for me. In moments when I didn't think I could go on Keelia gave me the reassurance I needed to have the unmedicated birth that I wanted. There was one particular moment when I was feeling like I was out of options and the nursing staff was buzzing around. I was incredibly overwhelmed and didn't think I was going to be able to continue to be medication free. Keelia connected with me though the intense contractions, reassured me and helped me to keep going. Our little one was born soon after. She was wonderful! read more

Let me just start off by saying that i wouldn't have been able to do it without keelia by my side during my labor. At my first home birth, i didnt think I needed a doula because both my husband and i thought he could do it. After all, we trained for it at our birthing class, right? Turns out we were wrong - as much as i love my husband, we both felt like i needed a maternal person by my side this second time around who knew how to massage, encourage, and support me. Keelia really has the gift of nurturing and i felt like she was always genuine when encouraging me with her words when had moments of doubt or fear during labor, especially during the transition period. I honestly felt like my labor would have been longer as well if keelia wasn't there to suggest certain positions that would speed up the labor. She was basically my advocate and was the only person who was able to care about my physical needs and comfort (my wonderful midwife was busy making sure baby and I were well and healthy and husband was dealing with logistics). Before the labor we had two meetings and practiced positions as well as discussing what type of support I'd like her to be so when labor comes around, she'd know exactly how to help me and avoided things that would stress me out like talking over me (the last doula i interviewed had that tendency). Here are a couple of highlights from my labor on how keelia was able to make a huge difference : 1. She suggested laboring in the shower and that ended up being a good amount of my labor. She also warmed up my towel for me in the dryer! 2. Keelia was really able to encourage me when my water broke and the labor started hurting a lot more because it was transition period. 3. She was able to calm me and tell me I can do it when we realized we didn't have a hose for the birthing tub, and our bathtub will still work fine! I could have easily panicked because other people were and a water birth was really a crucial part of our birthing plan. 4. This is silly but i appreciated her feeding me my sushi while i was lying down getting stitched up and holding my newborn. 5.Also, almost forgot to mention those massages during each contraction really helped minimize the pain! Some people's massages hurt (ex:my husband :), or even a midwives). Not everyone has that gift but i remember reading that keelia has a certification in massage. Keelia also does placenta encapsulations if you are interested. Keelia in person is a real sweet person and you can tell she genuinely loves helping mothers in this way. I think it's because she has a big heart. i remember her saying that if she could take some contractions for me, she would and i believe she would :). She is also able to be diplomatic, works well with different personalities, and has an amazing ability to stay calm no matter the circumstances. I definitely recommend Keelia as your doula because she will have your best interest at heart. read more

Doula Keelia - Doulas Near Me

Where to even begin? My partner and I interviewed several doulas, each time liking who we had met, but never quite finding the person we really "clicked" with to help us in our journey to parenthood. That is, until Keelia walked into our home. Her aura, presence, demeanor, whatever you want to call it is immediately and palpably calming. In the same way a puppy makes you smile without even thinking about it, Keelia's proximity is instantly calming. She's like a walking cup of chamomile tea. The moment the door closed behind her after our initial meeting, my partner and I literally looked at each other, gave each other an affirmative single head nod and a "yup." We knew instantly she would be the person to support us through our experience with labor and childbirth. Keelia is so incredibly kind and knowledgeable. She provided fantastic resources leading up to our due date, and once the day arrived she was on it answering my questions and addressing concerns even during my labor. She attended our baby shower (!!!) and it was fantastic to have her there and to meet the rest of my birth team (including my sister and mom), so when the day arrived she already had built relationships with them. It made the L&D room chatter and conversation flow easily. Keelia has become a friend and an invaluable part of our life, and if you are fortunate enough to partner with her on your journey, I can promise you that you will be in the very best hands with Keelia. She was born for birth work and it is so wonderful to be supported by someone who is passionate about and truly loves what they do. We love you, Keelia! read more

To be quite honest, we weren't sure that we could afford a doula nor were we sure having a doula would help at all. In the end, Keelia was one of the best choices we made in our birth journey! After interviewing a few doulas, my husband and I both quickly knew she was our gal. Upon meeting her, we quickly felt her warmth and authenticity. After this first encounter with her, Keelia never pressured us to choose her and even sent us a ton of birth resources with no strings attached. We also especially loved that Keelia is a strong advocate for birth justice. As educators committed to diversity, equity and inclusion work, her values were very much aligned with ours. The night before the big day, Keelia coincidentally came over for our first prenatal visit to go over our birth plan. Early the next morning, my water broke and I called her frantically as our baby wasn't due for another five weeks! She calmly let me know to head towards the hospital when I felt ready that morning. Just hearing her voice put me at ease and I was able to get it together enough to pack a bag and make a pit stop at Whole Foods for snacks and other essentials. Since we wanted to try for an unmedicated birth, Keelia prepared us on how to gently and firmly advocate for our needs, as she knew the doctors would insist on inducing me. When we got to triage, the ob gyn (as expected) did aggressively push induction. With Keelia's support over phone and text, we were able to negotiate for more time to let my contractions start naturally. Once we got to the labor and delivery room, Keelia arrived shortly after, calm and steady as can be. Since we had not had our second prenatal meeting at the house, she gave my husband and me a crash course in what to expect and showed us massage techniques and positions to consider. Before leaving, she helped set up my room with candles and an oil diffuser (with oils she brought from her own collection)! Soon after she left though, my contractions kicked in and gradually became stronger over a few hours. We did what we could on our own and when it felt like I needed Keelia, my husband called her and she arrived quickly. The pain was crazy intense at this point, and I have this foggy memory of reaching out in front of me, feeling for Keelia's hand. She coached me through the toughest parts, giving me positive affirmations, massaging my back, and feeding me ice cubes. When it was time to push, she and my husband were on either side of me and I could not have felt more held and empowered. With her coaching, I was able to have the beautiful natural hospital birth that I had planned for. The next day, Keelia checked in with us by phone and offered to come see us. Our baby, being premature, had some complications so we decided to have her visit us at home when we returned. We still had to make several decisions around his hospital care and Keelia was with us every step of the way by phone. At this point, everything felt so scary and uncertain to us, and we couldn't have been more grateful to have her support beyond the birth. A few days later, in her gentle and loving way, Keelia came over and helped us pick up groceries, cook up a delicious post-partum stew, bathe our baby, and show us how to use our baby wrap. When my husband went back to work and I was an emotional, hormonal, sleep-deprived mess, she came over again, scooped our baby up and sent me off to bed while she cooked up another meal and took out our trash. It was exactly what I had needed. Two months later, our once teeny tiny baby is now a chunky little guy, thriving and healthy! And while we are fine right now, we know that Keelia is still just a text, phone-call, or email away should we have any postpartum questions! We are so grateful that we found Keelia and absolutely love that we will always think of her when we think of our son's birth. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Keelia! read more

After my initial interview call with Keelia, I felt an instant connection and knew she was the right fit for us. She has a very reassuring and calm presence, which I couldn't find in the other doulas we interviewed. During my pregnancy, Keelia was available via text/calls to address any questions that arose and responded right away with her advice and support. I knew I could reach out to her for anything at all. When my grandfather passed and I was concerned about my grief during the pregnancy, she helped my calm down with one quick phone call. During my labor process, she was truly amazing. I wasn't able to communicate much during my active labor contractions but it seemed as if Keelia knew exactly what I needed. In terms of pain management, I was able to reach 9cm in dilation with Keelia's massage techniques alone. In retrospect, I would have had a much more difficult labor experience without Keelia's constant words of encouragement and support throughout every step of my labor process. Keelia truly embodies everything you would want in a Doula and I highly recommend her! read more

Keelia took our care of newborn twins in their first six weeks home from the hospital. She was absolutely amazing at caring for them. Even if they had been fussing all day, they would calm down once she took over. Our boy--just 4 lbs at the time--was still struggling to eat, but she'd almost magically be able to coax to finish his meal. Keelia was also a treasure trove of knowledge, resources, and experience. We're first-time parents and had to learn the skills from the ground up. She showed us ingenious ways to carry and care for our babies. She offered practical advice when I was struggling with breastfeeding woes. We're figuring out our own "parenting philosophy" as we went along and often consulted her advice. She was always encouraging and practical and gave honest answers, but never pushed her own agenda. She always managed to be very supportive without being patronalizing or judgmental. In additional to being a wonderful caretaker, Keelia is basically Micky Mouse in Fantasia. Between doing dishes, cleaning bottles, endless rounds of laundry, she kept our place and running when we were too exhausted to keep up with the daily necessities. Her presence brought sanity to our household. When we were struggling between her visits, I'd tell myself--I just need to make it through today. Keelia will be here tomorrow! She would bring a kind and thoughtful presence to our home--which is particularly helpful when we were sleep-deprived. read more

Keelia is one of the most supportive people I've ever met. The world is lucky that she decided when she was a kid that she wanted to be a birth worker when she grew up. And I feel blessed to have had her as my doula for my very first birth, which I had at home.There are many things I could share of how specifically Keelia was a great doula, I'll just share three of my favorites. 1. During my labor, I had my eyes closed for 95% of it and yet I knew I was fully supported, Keelia was right behind me at every moment for every contraction ready to press my hips or my lower back, which alleviated so much of the pain! 2. After the birth I recall seeing Keelia typing into her phone, to which she shared that she was taking notes about the birth. I so appreciated getting to hear her recollection of the birth a couple of weeks later and receiving those notes! 3. Finally, I remember when breast-feeding was feeling so impossibly painful and I texted her, she responded with a long and beautiful paragraph of why I was doing so great and that my baby would appreciate me for all that I was already doing for them. Basically she's the best cheerleader you could hire in my opinion, And I'm forever grateful that she was on my birth team and a part of me and my baby's first few months of life together (and many years to come I hope). Thank you so much! read more

It just so happened that with Keelia, the timing always seems to be right. She has sent us so many resources when we most needed them. We met her for the first time on a Monday night before my wife, the gestational partner, was asked to come to the birthing center Tuesday night for induced birth. Keelia has a knack for deciding when some methods should be implemented, what to do next, and when my wife should start pushing. We feel lucky to have her as our doula for our first pregnancy. We are Deaf Queer Womxn of Color who use ASL so we looked for a POC doula who has had experience dealing with clients who use different languages. We wanted someone who knows how to handle language barriers and Keelia fits the bill. We are able to communicate through text, gestures, and interpreters. She imparts so much wisdom with regards to the birthing experience and her warmth puts us immediately at ease. During the birthing experience, her advocacy allows us to make decisions that are right for us. Obviously we were not able to hear what the doctors and nurses were discussing and she filled us in on that in addition to her advices and weighing in on options that were available to us. We felt safe knowing she was there with us and she has our and our baby's backs. I would definitely recommend Keelia especially if it is your first birth. She is one of the most invaluable friends you'll ever have in your birthing experience. read more

Keelia is amazing! We wish we had her help for all three of our boys. Having her come during the first days and weeks after our third boy was born gave us peace, encouragement, and support. She made a very busy and stressful time much more manageable. Her knowledge and skills are extensive, and she matches that with a calm, confident, and cheerful demeanor. She was ready to help with any task and took initiative when we didn't have something specific for her to do. I can't recommend Keelia highly enough! read more

We had an excellent experience with Keelia as our birth doula and I can definitely say that our birth experience would not have been what it was without her support. We had planned and hoped for a birth with minimal interventions and--after 46 hours of labor and 8 hours of full dialation and pushing--we delivered a hearty baby boy. Keelia's presence in the room and her counsel and good-nature kept us feeling empowered and focused. We were fortunate to have relatively accomodating hospital staff, but without Keelia, I am certain our birth experience would have quickly become a more typical experience and our birth plan departed from (especially given how lengthy my labor was and just how long we were in the hospital). Through the entire 2-day labor, Keelia was there for us -- she didn't sleep and she was present in all ways the entire time. Her mental and emotional presence + her physical stamina (lots of massage and counterpressure) throughout was impressive! It was very important for me, throughout labor and delivery, to remain active. I wanted to be on my feet, be able to move around, try different positions. I was adamant that I did not want to be on my back. At one point, during pushing the doctor did move me to my back in the bed, and with the help of my husband and Keelia, we were back up into pushing in squats after 2 pushes. My husband and I were informed and knew what we wanted, we are also fairly effective advocates for ourselves, but I am certain that we needed not just each other but Keelia to be part of this process in order to achieve what we did in the positive way we did. I cannot imagine the experience without her. Lastly, Keelia's awareness and dedication to the politics of birth, and how societal pressures and power inequities impact women's reproductive health permeates her work. She is deeply thoughtful about and passionate about her work from the micro to the macro and this is an unusual find! read more

Although I had two kids prior to Keelia helping me, breastfeeding and postpartum was difficult with both of them and I knew I wanted extra support after the third kid came. She more than exceeded my expectations. Even before I gave birth, she gave me tips on how to advocate for myself with lactation consultants in the hospital, asked what my past experience was with breastfeeding and why it was difficult, sent breastfeeding videos and shared tips, and asked what I wanted help with after delivery. The day I came home from the hospital, she came over and helped me latch my baby on better as well as figure out more comfortable positioning because I had residual pregnancy carpal tunnel, which made certain positions hard to maintain. She had practical and effective tips regarding engorgement as well as how to help my toddler be in the room with me but not in the way of nursing the baby. She was very responsive to all of my questions. Within a week or two, breastfeeding was pain free and had gone so much better than with my other two kids. I gained confidence I had no idea would be possible that early, which led to better mental health than with the two previous postpartum seasons. And to top it all off, she was so lovely to talk to, I really enjoyed our times together. I tell all of my friends that hiring a postpartum doula was life changing and if I could, it would be my go-to baby shower gift to pregnant friends. read more

Keelia was our postpartum doula for a few weeks and she was fantastic. Super kind, warm, and calming. She's also hilarious so it's an added bonus for tough days. She was very attentive to our daughter and I would gladly hire her again. Highly recommend! read more

Keelia was my postpartum doula, recommended to me by the wonderful Emma O'Brien (Lavandoula.com). As a queer woman of color, it's very important to me to support other marginalized women, especially in the field of reproductive justice. Despite living being a diverse city, the majority of doulas are straight and white, which probably isn't much of a problem for many women who seek doula services (though the whole field of reproductive justice was built by black women, but I digress). However, as someone who lives in a queer co-operative community, I had difficulties finding a doula who was familiar with the LGBTQ scene enough to feel comfortable in my home. I live with several gender non-conforming folks, and I wanted to ensure they felt safe with the addition of someone new to the household, even if only for a brief time. Keelia is so open and understanding; it is no surprise an experienced doula like Ms. O'Brien has selected her as an apprentice. As I understand it, Keelia is partnered with several quality doulas, with over 50 years of experience. I think her rates are very competitive, and you get someone very warm and reassuring. I developed moderate to severe PPD, and Keelia made herself available for me so I could attend an outpatient therapy program to get back on track. If you are someone struggling with PPD, don't be embarrassed to mention it when hiring her. You can even have her over while you're present just to have someone to "bottom-line" care that isn't you. My co-op is seven adults, and Keelia acquainted herself with everyone (and their pronouns) so she really felt like part of the family. The only regret I have is that I waited so late to hire her. I tried to do it by myself for weeks before I gave in and called. Make Keelia a part of your post-birth care community and you will rest much easier! read more

Keelia is THE BEST. From the moment she came in to our home I knew that she was the person that I wanted to support me on my pregnancy journey. She has such a calming presence and is very knowledgeable. I had a lot of anxiety around pregnancy and giving birth. Keelia was very adept at validating my feelings and easing my fears throughout my pregnancy. She was also great at helping my husband learn how best to support me. When the big day came, I ended up having to be induced and Keelia was there to help us every step of the way. She is truly a wonderful person and incredible doula. I can't imagine going through the experience without her. read more

From the moment I reached out to Keelia, I knew she'd be the right doula for us. She exudes warmth and care, which you can sense even on the phone. A midwife friend of ours told us to be sure to choose a doula around whom you could be completely naked (obviously) and with whom you could be comfortable in the bathroom etc. and I knew immediately that I could be that comfortable with Keelia because she is so gentle, earnest, and nonjudgmental. Overall, we chose Keelia because it was clear that she could provide us with support and critical information while encouraging us to make our own decisions. Her kindness, openness, and expertise made her an ideal doula for us. Pre-birth, she walked through the kinds of pain mitigation techniques available and pros and cons etc. She taught us strategies for dealing with early labor and gave us a good sense of what to expect. We felt much more prepared as a result. During early labor Keelia was absolutely vital. Despite practicing positions at home, we were so flustered during contractions that it was super helpful to have Keelia remind us of positions we had practiced and relieved my partner as well, as they could trade off. Before she arrived, she helped us navigate the medical options we were being presented with in the hospital via phone and text, such as when to start mispoprostol and petocin. Most importantly, she was an incredible advocate for us: she made sure we understood what our options were, made space for us to make decisions with or without her advice, and advocated for me when one of our nurses insisted on me lying in bed during contractions. During the last stage of labor she gave me and my partner confidence that we could get through it and helped me understand what was transpiring (I couldn't see and had had an epidural). She painstakingly documented our whole experience and sent me her notes afterwards, which I return to frequently because it is all a blur to me now. Lastly, she took beautiful photos right after our baby was delivered, which have also helped us cherish and remember the experience. Post birth Keelia has also been a blessing: she checks in regularly to see how we're doing and recommended an amazing lactation consultant. We are beyond grateful for Keelia and we highly recommend her. By the end of our experience she felt like part of our family and I am sure you'll feel the same! read more

Keelia supported us through the particularly challenging experience of becoming parents during a global pandemic, and we did a combo of virtual and in-person support. We connected with her over shared aspects of our upbringings, and her commitment to birth justice, and felt like she was part of the family from the beginning. Keelia has a warmth and client-centeredness that made us feel truly seen and held during the pregnancy and postpartum chapters. She is well versed in evidence based pregnancy/birthing practices and helped us navigate how we feel about different interventions. She played the invaluable role of chief communicator during our labor, updating our family and friends so we could stay focused on the birth process. She is a baby expert and having her on call for any baby questions was a game changer. People often commented that we seemed too calm and collected to be first time parents of a newborn, and that was mostly due to having Keelia by our side. She is an absolute gem and we are so grateful to have found her. read more

During my pregnancy, I felt like I was being judged by everyone around me because of the choices I was making (natural birth, hypnobirth, hydrotherapy, placenta encapsulation, etc.) Keelia was wonderful because she was open to my decisions and understood my needs and my birth plan. She was encouraging and super supportive. She gave me the confidence I needed. I knew then that I needed her to be with me. Keelia kept in contact with me here and there to make sure everything was going well with my pregnancy. She gave me tons of information and great advice. I attended the mama and me class that she suggested; my husband and I loved it. She also gave us an extensive list of things to bring to the hospital which was really helpful for us. On 11/15, 3 weeks before my due date, my water broke at 8:00pm. Frantic, the first person I called was Keelia; even before my midwife. She assured me that everything was going to be ok and that she was going to be there for me whenever I needed her. Taking her advice, I went home and stayed home as long as I could. I headed to the hospital the next morning at 7:00am where Keelia met up with us n the lobby. It was so comforting to see her face that morning. As each contraction came, Keelia held on to me and made sure she did whatever she could to support and comfort me. There were times when the pain was so bad, I remember looking into her eyes and telling her it hurts but she continuously gave me positive feedback which kept me going. By 10:00am, it was over and Jacoby Tran was born! It was a life changing experience that went even better then I imagined it would have gone. It was beautiful. Although painful, it was everything I hoped it would be and I am glad Keelia was there with me the whole time. She even took my phone and captured the memories. Memories of an experience I will never ever forget. read more

Keelia is amazing! Let me start by saying I wasn't sure I wanted a doula. I was very on the fence as I was almost full term and exhausted and didn't want a stranger in the delivery room. But we met, and I loved her that moment! Her energy is very calming and inviting. You can tell she has knowledge about her trade, but she's not over bearing. She made me feel very comfortable and encouraged. She gave me information to help me be the most comfortable and informed I could be. Keelia made sure I felt comfortable and asked me what helps me and what I think I may need during labor! I loved this as each person handles pain differently. It is my first child and I was induced at 40 weeks, she was very helpful in understanding that process. During my labor Keelia was there but not overpoweringly. She was calm and helpful. Honestly I can't praise her enough. She helped me so much with this and just made me feel important, listened to, cared for, and informed. She helped coach me through my 9lb 12 oz sons birth haha. She's an amazing doula!!! read more

Doula Keelia - Doulas Near Me

KEELIA IS A MUST! I first heard the word doula when my wife asked me if I wanted additional support for my birthing experience. I was apprehensive at first, but meeting and working with KEELIA before and after my birth experience made me realize that her support WAS A MUST! I interviewed a few doulas, but Keelia really stood out with her knowledge about the prenatal and postpartum process but more importantly her compassion, calm presence, and support. She gave me the confidence and loving guidance I needed especially during my long complicated three-day labor. She was committed to giving me the birth experience I wanted without judgment, and I was able to count on her during the tough times. Keelia is very professional doula yet amazingly kind, knowledgeable, gentle, present, and approachable doula and has no agenda but to be there for you through your process. I have already recommended her to my friends who are pregnant and will continue to recommend her in the future. Thank you Keelia! read more

Where to start when describing my experience with Keelia?! First, let me tell you I am a new mom of a baby boy. We took natural birthing classes to prepare for a medicine free birth, but felt we needed more support during the labor & delivery. We were connected with Keelia via our L&D teacher, Keelia responded to a community email that went out. The best way to describe my experience is through several memories that pop up when I think about delivery, memories I wouldn't have if it weren't for both my husband and Keelia. I was unexpectedly induced 2 weeks early and began contracting on a Saturday night at 2am. Water broke at about 7:45ish and Keelia was there by 9am. When contractions got really intense, she walked with me, held my hand and made me realize how strong and loving this once stranger was ready to be for us! This meant I could focus on finding the strength I needed to birth my first child. She coached my husband, quietly and strongly communicated with medical staff, reminded me of my wants and needs, and not only stayed calm, but stayed AWAKE for 30+ hours!!! I remember her feeding me popsicles, ice chips, dried edamame, coconut water before I even knew I needed nourishment. She fixed my pillows and bedding to ensure I was as comfortable as I could be, she made me feel safe and relaxed during a high anxiety moment. She laughed with me and cheered us on. I ended up needing an unplanned csection, but she was there when I came out and my mom told her, you are part of the family now. And it is true, she is my son's oldest friend! (Haha even though he's only 5 weeks!) She was there when the sun came up and my son was placed in my arms for the first time xoxo. She cried happy tears with us. She took lots pictures and made us feel so wonderful and special! She truly has a gift and I am recommending her to any future moms!! She also processed my placenta into pills, truffles, and recorded a video of it for us. Much love to Keelia! read more

Keelia was a wonderful help to me in my home when I was recovering from a tailbone injury postpartum. She was gracious in helping me with housework, and knowledgeable in handling my infant son. Keelia is a kind, calm, unobtrusive and sympathetic person who made me feel respected, supported, heard and cared for. I highly recommend her postpartum doula services. read more

Oh my goodness, Keelia is a godsend. My partner Lauren and I (Joe) were well prepared. We like to think we were as well prepared as any new parents in their first pregnancy could be. We read several books, were in a few facebook groups and we devoured all we could find online. When Lauren suggested hiring a doula I agreed, thinking that everything helps, but not expecting a big difference. After all, we studied. We knew we'd have both of our mothers to help Lauren deliver, as well as a midwife, a nurse, ME... When we met Keelia, though, I was moved. By her love of children, her concern for Lauren, and the ease, grace, and confidence with which she spoke about the process. She asked us all the right questions. Things I never thought to consider. I watched Lauren listen to her in a way that she couldn't hear me, or her mother. Lauren's water broke in the middle of the night. We knew what to expect and rather than rush off to the birth center, we laid back down. Keelia told us at our meeting that the process could take so long that we'd be grateful for any sleep we could get while we could still get it. We called to tell her later that morning and she rushed right over. She would've come at 2am had we asked sooner, I'm sure of it. Ava Jeanne was born 44 hours after Lauren's water broke. It was a long and difficult process that I can't imagine without Keelia there. Lauren had all she needed and Keelia even took care of me. At about the 40 hour mark Lauren kind of gave up. She said "C-section" out loud, which we knew was the last, last resort. Thanks to all that Keelia taught me, and her own interventions, we got Lauren through transition and Ava was born according to our original birth plan. No C-Section, no meds, not even stitches. God bless Keelia, she will forever have my recommendation. read more

Doula Keelia was present for my sons girlfriend Mia's delivery. I had never heard of a doula prior to 8/23/18. Keelia came in while Mia was being induced and having strong contractions in early labor. Keelia was so knowledgeable on different laboring positions and so present for Mia. She answered any questions that we had. Mia and Keelia had a unique connection and I saw that Mia trusted her and felt safe with her there. As Mia began Active labor Keelia taught Mia different strategies to work through the pain. Keelia also guarded Mia's space and made sure only positive energu entered her space. I strongly recommend Doula Keelia! We love her and want to stay in contact with her. read more

Keelia was my doula for the birth of my son Jack and I am so glad we found her. She has a warm, calming and steady energy about her that was so comforting during my labour which was long and rather difficult. She's so easy to talk to; I fondly remember chatting with her about video games and other random nonsense during the hours of waiting. She also gave really practical and helpful advice when I was diagnosed with preeclampsia during a routine doctor's appointment and we had to go to the hospital quickly. During the prenatal stage, Keelia gave us thoughtfully selected recommendations/resources and info that fit with what we needed and which fit with our philosophy/lifestyle. I think the most special and unique thing about Keelia is that she really listens to you and takes in what you care about and what you want from your birth. And if you don't know yet (as was the case with me), she gently helps you figure it out, but on your own terms. Last but not least, she has magical hands and gives the BEST massages, seriously. :) read more

Keelia is a joy to have over! As a new single mother, I was having a hard time feeding myself properly so Keelia would come over and make banana muffins with me (or without me!) and it was so wonderful every time. I would be perfectly prepared for the next week+, and with midnight nursing snacks. She is a huge help with dishes and clean up, and really any task that needs to be done--she is willing and kind! She is an all-around supportive person to have around. I never felt awkward, and always felt encouraged, seen, and understood--for both my messes and my victories! I HIGHLY recommend her as a support person read more

It was such a blessing to have Keelia as part of our birth team. As a fellow birth doula, I knew how important it was for me to find someone I trust and am completely comfortable with as my doula. Keelia and I "clicked" immediately. She has the kindest disposition and helped me build confidence and stay positive throughout the end of my pregnancy, birth and early postpartum. I truly think of her as a friend. Highlights of working with Keelia: * Keelia is kind, genuine and has a true passion for birth work. * She checked in with me periodically at the end of my pregnancy, always just when I needed a pick-me-up. * She helped me envision and prepare my birth plan and was completely supportive of my vision. * She arrived in time for my (extremely fast) precipitous labor! I was so happy to see her face. * She captured some truly amazing pictures of the birth and golden hour with my husband's phone. * She stayed with us for a few hours while we waited to transfer to the hospital. This time was filled with lots of love and laughter as we settled in establishing breastfeeding, eating snacks and taking notes of my birth story. I really cherish this time as it helped me register the incredible experience. We all seemed to remember different details, so discussing it with Keelia was a great way to capture the memory. * The postpartum visits were so helpful! My husband and I took the opportunity to take a nap together at 1 week postpartum and Keelia was so great watching Georgie and washed our dishes! She also helped me figure out my Moby wrap so I could babywear. My experience working with Keelia could not have been better! I am so happy to have had her as part of my birth team. You are in excellent hands with Keelia! read more

A long overdue review for a wonderful person and skilled doula! We recently had our second child in early November 2018 and Keelia was a tremendous support during all the twists and turns of the delivery process. We didn't have a doula for the birth of our first child and regretted it deeply! After interviewing 4 other doulas, when my husband and I met Keelia and interviewed her we knew right away that she was the person for our second delivery experience! She was warm and affectionate yet when we asked her specific questions regarding her doula practices she provided us with detailed answers. She is very easy to contact and her methods of electronic payments are accessible too! We met with her twice before delivery and both times we found her calming and very reassuring to help engage us and gear us up for a positive birthing! She practiced both mental and physical techniques so we could anticipate possible strategies for delivery day. She even packed up her aromatherapy set and brought it over to make sure she only offered scents that appealed to me! I had heard that sometimes a TENs unit can provide pain relief during early to mid labor stages, and asked Keelia if she had one to offer. While she didn't at the time, she acknowledged my request and within a few weeks she brought one to my home to practice with and get used to. This just assured us even more that we made the right choice by hiring her. Our experience with Keelia during the delivery time was nothing short of terrific! Despite sending myself and my baby messages of a natural and non medicated birth I ended up with an intervention full birth that ended in c-section delivery. Even with interventions and a c-section Keelia's support was much needed since I labored for a long time before c-section. I never expected to need her support during certain events that took place but she was right there and always available to say and do the right things that supported me physically and mentally. My husband also found great comfort in knowing that he could rely on her to convey next steps and actions for him while I was unavailable. We have recommended her services more than half a dozen times already and wish her all the success as she continues to help people through their delivery experiences! Good luck to all the parents to-be and if you choose Keelia as your doula consider yourself in very capable and caring hands! read more

Keelia is an amazing doula. Very attentive and responsive. While maintaining great professionalism, she was very nurturing and supportive. Our home visits were very detailed. She helped my husband and I feel informed and empowered. Any questions we had, she provided information or emailed us the information in a very timely fashion. During day of delivery, Keelia was an angel. I labored for 36 hours and Keelia came to our home to support us in early labor and never left our side until our son was in our arms. Keelia supported my husband by helping him remain connected to me, as well as checked in with me and providers as needed. At every step, Keelia asked providers questions she knew my husband and I would have about various interventions . Keelia helped me to remain calm and confident as my birth plan needed to go from all natural to needing pain relief. Needless to say, we would be honored to have Keelia be our doula for all our births. I recommend her highly. read more

My husband and I can not say enough wonderful things about Keelia!! She is everything we could have wanted in a doula and more. We got continued support thorughout the entire pregnancy. We found her very early on into the pregnancy and she helped with support and gathering information as we needed it. Once I got closer to the big day Keelia came over to our house and made sure we were all on the same page for the labor. We felt so calm and reassured knowing we would have Keelia with us during all of this. Once the day came Keelia was a text message away and helped us while at home till she knew it was time to go to the hospital. At the hospital Keelia made sure my husband and I got all our needs met. My husband was beyond grateful to have her there to help supprt us both. I can't imagine doing all of that without her there. The post partum visits were a huge help too, allowing me to talk and us to get some rest.  Keelia's personality and caring nature are what we love about her. She is so kind and makes your feel like you can do anything!  Highly recommend! read more

Keelia attended my labor in 2018. She was supportive, resourceful, and considerate of my concerns and desires. In the months before birth, Keelia took plenty of time to get to know my husband and me, discussed pain management techniques and resources, and educated herself about a rare issue that I expected would come up during my labor. In my last few weeks of pregnancy, she checked in regularly and made sure I was physically and emotionally in good shape. During labor, she provided the level and style of support I needed and helped me have a very positive birth experience even though I had to be induced and my contractions came so close together that I got almost no break between them. read more

I cannot say enough great things about Keelia. We used her after the birth of our second child and she was fabulous. Always super responsive, caring, down to earth and wonderful with both of my children. She helped me get through those early postpartum days both physically and emotionally. Some days she would take the kids while I napped and helped around the house, while other days she sat and we talked when I needed emotional support. I would highly recommend Keelia to anyone looking for a birth doula or for postpartum care. You won't regret hiring her. read more

My husband and I met with several doulas trying to find someone we felt really comfortable with. Keelia is exceptionally warm and caring, as well as being calm, knowledgeable, and very supportive. This was our second child and so we felt clear about what we wanted and basics of the process, but I had a homebirth in different medical system for my first baby and so felt uncertain about dealing with a hospital setting and a different system this time around. Keelia did a great job explaining what to expect and going through different options. She also explained some aspects of the birth process that, despite going through it once, no one had ever articulated to me before, and that I found helpful when it was actually happening. Labor and birth were quick, with a supportive staff at the hospital, but we felt very reassured having Keelia's steady presence and knowing she was there if anything took an unexpected turn. She was also ready at various moments with requests that supported the environment I wanted to be in (eg, turning down the lights) and with physical support through every contraction that helped take the edge off the pain. She stayed through some complications afterward and was quick to offer follow up support and resources in the week after the birth. Keelia is a wonderful doula who obviously loves her work. We feel very lucky to have connected with her! read more

We hired Keelia for the birth of my first child. I knew I wanted a doula because I was hoping for an unmedicated birth, but I also had some previous trauma from a late pregnancy loss and lack of extended family who would be able to help us (my spouse's mother passed away and my own mother has dementia so no moms in the delivery room with us). I really hoped to find someone who could be sensitive to those issues andfelt comfortable with Keelia straight away. I also knew I wanted someone in the delivery room with us who not only was experienced and had attended enough births to help us through the tough parts, but also somebody who could be warm and reassuring given the unique challenges our family faced. Keelia turned out to be a perfect fit for our family and I honestly feel like she was a crucial part of me being able to have the birth I'd hoped for (really, how many people get to say that?). When things got hard, she provided constant unwavering support. Keelia's calming presence, gentle reassurance, and help in communicating my needs with medical staff made such a difference in allowing me to stay focused. She also provided amazing support to my husband who, although he was wonderful and supportive himself, had never seen a birth before and was a little scared about being my only support through such a big challenge. One thing I didn't know before being in labor myself was how much time you spend alone in the delivery room with no nurse or doctor around (and I had a short labor!). Without a supportive doula, I can imagine us getting scared, panicked, or overwhelmed in those longer stretches. It was so wonderful instead to be able to turn to someone and say, "How are we doing? Is this all normal? Are we laboring ok?" In the end I was able to have the unmedicated birth I wanted I think primarily because I really wasn't afraid. Uncomfortable? Sure. Tired? Absolutely! But I was not scared. I felt safe, cared for, and confident. I would 100% recommend Keelia's care for anyone who is looking for the same kind of emotional support through labor! read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Keelia. We hired her for nighttime support shortly after the birth of our daughter, as we were terribly sleep deprived. We were anxious about finding someone whom we felt comfortable with, and as soon as we met Keelia, we felt completely at ease. She has a warm and calming presence, is thoughtful and extremely easy to talk to, answers our many questions and provides invaluable advice (both while she's here and over text), and most importantly, is wonderful with our daughter who seems to love her. She has helped us maintain our sanity during these first chaotic months - not just by allowing us to get the sleep we desperately need, but by also helping around the house with those things that never seem to get done with a new baby (doing laundry and washing bottles and dishes). My husband and I often joke that we feel like Keelia is part of our family - that's how much we love her. We feel so lucky to have found her and trust her implicitly with our daughter. read more