We are so grateful for our doulas and and the entire EmDo team. The prenatal community classes were wonderful, but it was the relationship we built with our two doulas (Vanessa and Isabel) that eased my anxiety throughout pregnancy, labor & delivery. They always responded to my questions moments after texting them and provided tireless support during my 36ish hours of labor & delivery. It's difficult for me to express how truly amazing the experience of working with these incredibly knowledgeable, warm, passionate, and caring women was, but I will say that if you are considering a doula for your pregnancy team, they will be fantastic partners! read more

This review is specifically related to our doula Kallyn Boerner. We found Kallyn on our own and not through Emerald Doulas, but I would like to share that she was amazing support. She nurtured and guided and listened as needed, going above and beyond to check in both before and after our little one's arrival. Our labor story would not be as happy had it not been for her calming and lovely presence read more

Our pregnancy journey, like everyone's, was unique. I'll briefly summarize: We weren't certain if we wanted to have children, so we decided to let fate decide during a 6-month window. There was a positive pregnancy test a month and a half later. I was terrified. My husband is an amazing man; knowing the fear that gripped me, he reached out to Lauren, who we were luckily able to have on our journey along with Melanie. I can't describe the relief that flooded me during our first conversation when Melanie gently told me I was allowed to be terrified. I have never had two people in my corner that were more encouraging, uplifting, reassuring, and educational than Lauren and Melanie. The calm that Lauren helped to establish in our birth room, along with the quiet words of advice, encouragement, and self-love she preached--throughout the time she spent with us--I will never be able to repay. She helped to gently lead us through the crazy turns our birth story took and helped us to see the big picture instead of panicking over the adrenaline-filled moments. We will forever be grateful for Melanie's and Lauren's parts in our story, and we will definitely use Emerald Doulas if we decide to try for a sibling. read more

Every single 5 star review of Emerald Doulas is spot on. I started with Emerald Doulas because I wanted more support as a first time mom, I left with a family. When you get Doulas, they're your Doulas for life. I hired Emdo when I was about 4 months pregnant and I am SO glad I did it early to take advantage of all of the community prenatal ( free classes) every month to build my confidence and sense of community. My Doula team, Lauren and Abigail were incredible resources for me when I had any questions throughout my pregnancy. They helped me with my birth plan, my baby Registry and talked through my anxieties. My Doula, Lauren, was my advocate, comforter, brain, documenter, etc. during my long birth. You will not be disappointed if you choose Emerald Doulas. They are amazing! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Emerald Doulas. Not only did they support our family to have the birth we envisioned but we thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from their childbirth education classes and community pre-natal events. Even through COVID and with all things being virtual, the classes and meet ups were fun, informative, and personalized to the clients. Furthermore, they are an inclusive group and welcoming to all birthing people. The truly foster a sense of community among their doulas and clients. We highly recommended working with them for your support during birth and beyond. read more

We had an extremely positive experience with Emerald Doulas! We sought out a doula because as first time parents without family in the area, we were very interested in having an experienced person with us through labor and delivery to support us and advocate for us if necessary. Vanessa did exactly that--she was supportive, extremely knowledgeable, and helped keep us informed, even as circumstances required tossing out most of our birth plan. In addition to the support she provided in the hospital, we really appreciated her checking in post-delivery, and also found a lot of value in EmDo's monthly community prenatal classes offered via Zoom. While the cost of doula services initially seemed high to us, we ultimately felt we more than got our money's worth. We will definitely plan on working with Vanessa and Emerald Doulas again if we have another baby! read more

Having emerald doulas as a part of our birth experience was absolutely priceless. From the very beginning of the process, talking with Melanie about how it all worked, and then meeting our doulas, Whit and Isabel was such a gift. Whit and Isabel went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and heard during the pregnancy and also asked us specific things to think about that we would not have known to do before have. They provided us information and were available and interested after each doctor appointment. Our plan was to deliver at UNC with the midwives. We ended up needing to be induced after going to the last possible day before it was necessary- Isabel called and talked me through what to expect and what to do which was really anxiety reducing. She met us at the hospital once things got moving and was an absolute angel the whole time. It was a long labor, and she kept watch all night and helped us sleep, had me trying different positions to help baby move down and also, flip him as he was sunny side up. She knew when to get the nurses and when to send my partner to go eat, or take a break it was really amazing having her. After many hours and no progress the midwives suggested a C-section, and that it was my decision to wait a bit or go ahead, due to length of labor, baby being sunny side up, and the lack of progress, it wasn't the safest to keep pumping pitocin- having Isabel there to help me/us decide and feel good about it was PRICELESS. She explained what to expect, she has OR training, has been in multiple C-section births before. She completely helped me come to the decision on my own, being supportive as well as explaining and comforting for what at the time was a scary situation. She stayed with my partner and helped him prepare mentally and get dressed in the OR outfit, and in turn that allowed me to be calm and focus on staying calm while the prepped me. Then she stayed with us the whole procedure, helped with what was needed had nice oils for me to smell and coached my partner as well as me during this process. She stayed with us, after, helped baby do skin to skin with dad while I was not quite able to get, and helped put baby on me as soon as possible - helping him latch even though I was not able to yet. She kept us calm, Provided love, respect and grace and her relaxed and knowledgeable demeanor was an absolute game changer for what could have been an incredibly scary experience- I have so much to owe to her, and Whit, and Melanie and emerald doulas - I wish I could pay them one million dollars for the service. It's a true gift and my baby was able to enter the world to a much calmer and happier mama and dad because of Isabel's guidance. She and whit also followed up after the birth periodically to make sure we were doing ok, offer ideas to make the precious few first weeks a bit easier and we are in touch to this day. I cannot say thanks or give enough to ever repay Isabel for this experience. Thank you thank you. read more

Emerald Doulas worked with us every step of the way through my wife's pregnancy, from fielding texts and calls when we were nervous at 20 weeks, to helping us wrap our heads around an induction. They're familiar with all the OB/GYN providers in the Raleigh-Durham area, and helped steer us towards ones that fit us best. With their help and coaching, my wife made it through a 40-hour labor process without an epidural, which we certainly wouldn't have done without them. They were fantastic afterwards, checking up on my wife to make sure she was recovering well. They also provide a number of birthing/postpartum classes which we found very valuable. read more

Emerald Doulas is fantastic. We used them for the second time for the birth of our third child. Again, Melanie Patrick was a fantastic birth doula, advocating for us in the hospital and helping us process what was a speedy birth! This time we also have received substantial support from postpartum doulas, and they have all been fantastic. Sarah has been such a lifesaver as an overnight doula. Sybil and Logan have both been fantastic with our two older kids and with helping around the house. Logan even carried our Christmas tree out to the curb while I napped! I'd highly recommend them to anyone who needs some extra help after the birth of a baby, which really is everyone! read more

I am a very anxious patient with a long history of "white coat syndrome" and like many first time moms, I was extremely fearful of the labor and delivery process. While I was satisfied enough with the prenatal obstetrical care I was receiving during my pregnancy, I felt that I was missing the support and continuity of care from medical personnel that a first time mom like myself needs. I found Emerald Doulas through a quick internet search during the 20th week of my pregnancy. After sending a quick message through the Emerald Doulas website, I received a personal phone call the following day from Melanie, one of the owners. Later that week, my husband and I visited their office and met with Michelle and Melanie our assigned Doulas. Many of our pregnancy concerns and questions were addressed patiently and thoroughly during this consultation and we knew immediately that we had made the right decision. Michelle was on call for the birth of my daughter. Due to pregnancy induced hypertension, I had a scheduled induction on the 39th week of pregnancy. My labor was long with more medical interventions than anticipated. Although my delivery did not go as initially planned, Michelle helped my husband and I feel as calm and empowered as possible throughout the process and both Melanie and Michelle were available for support on the days leading up to my induction. My relationship with Emerald Doulas did not end after my delivery, which by far is my favorite thing about this company. I am now a a member of a supportive community that is vital for the steep learning curve and at times isolation that is new motherhood. Since my daughters birth, my husband and I have utilized many of their wonderful services including visits from a postpartum doula, a lactation consultant, and a newborn photographer. I have also attended new mom support groups. All of these services are easy to schedule online. I highly recommend Emerald Doulas to anyone. It was such a valuable investment for our family! read more

Choosing Emerald Doulas was one of the best decisions we made. My doctor and friends recommended that I consider having a doula at my birth, so after many interviews, we chose Emerald Doulas. My conversations with Melanie made me feel confident that Emerald Doulas would be a good fit for us. She and Kallyn were our doulas, and provided support throughout the pregnancy. The monthly classes for clients were really helpful, and a good way to meet other expecting couples. The teachers, especially Ashley and Victoria, were funny as well as knowledgeable, so we took a lot of classes and found them to be fun as well as useful. I liked working with doulas that provided so much support and education during the pregnancy, and not just services during the actual birth. For the delivery, Kallyn was my birth doula, and I was so glad she was there. She made me and my husband feel a lot more calm during the birth, and her encouragement and coaching really helped me, especially since it was my first birth and it was a natural birth. She was very helpful during my recovery as well, helping me to get comfortable, and ensuring that I had something to eat and was able to nurse my baby without any problems. It was nice that we got an in-home follow-up appointment from our doulas. I am so grateful for the support they provided during such an important time for our family. I recommend them to everyone I know who is pregnant. read more

Melanie and Michelle from Emerald Doulas were an amazing part of our family's birth experience in 2017. Michelle was there for at least 20 hours of active labor, providing emotional support to me and my husband, guiding me through exercises to turn the baby, and being such a calm presence in the delivery room. Hours after Melanie arrived to relieve Michelle, my little one was born by emergency C-section. I do not have words to express how grateful my husband and I were to have Melanie there with us, supporting us with her zen and her experience. We wish everyone could have access to women like Melanie and Michelle when they give birth - and we have told all of our friends and loved ones about the incredible love and support the Emerald Doulas team provided for us during an intense period in our lives. I highly recommend this exceptional team. Many thanks! read more

My doulas helped with everything from prenatal sleeping positions to postpartum breastfeeding -- not to mention the labor and birth itself! In the wee hours of the morning of our baby's birth, my doula Ness helped me by rubbing my back just so, refreshing my cold compresses, offering water/juice, and discerning when it was time to head to the birth center. My husband timed the contractions, but this took his hands away from providing counterpressure, and I needed all hands on deck! So Ness was vital to keeping me comfortable. In the last stretch, Ness encouraged me to send my breath down as I worked to push the baby out. The pushing stage was gradual -- 1:15 total -- but just when I felt like giving up, Ness's voice promised a preview of the triumph that lay ahead, as she urged me on. There is no way to describe what it was like to have my warm, wet, wiggly baby girl immediately placed on my chest after she emerged. Meanwhile, Ness was taking pictures, and I have looked at those pics a thousand times since! Ness was the one who got to go to my parents, waiting in the other room, and give them the surprise news: "It's a girl!" Between Ness and our other on-call doula Vanessa, we feel Emerald Doulas was worth every penny. I always thought I could handle labor just me and my husband. Wrong! I'm so thankful to have wised up to the invaluable support a doula provides -- especially one from Emerald. read more

I am having a hard time putting in words how incredibly grateful we are for EmDo - Melanie and Kyra were our doula support team, they were absolutely phenomenal every step of the way. They provided so much valuable advice from the very beginning - It's obvious how passionate they are about providing genuine support and care for their clients. They were so patient with us as we explored our questions in preparing for our little one. We were unsure what to expect due to the COVID restrictions at the hospital and how that would impact our ability to use their services, however Melanie and Kyra provided great virtual support and prepared us before going into the hospital. They also provided virtual support for us while we were in the hospital. We never felt alone or unsupported at any time. They exceeded our expectations and we were able to accomplish our goal of a successful VBAC. I am so thankful for them and their invaluable guidance. read more

Highly recommend! We had a fantastic experience working with our Emerald Doulas. They were so responsive to our needs and we felt very supported throughout pregnancy and during our birth. We greatly benefited from their resources and their classes, and they made them engaging even in a virtual format. It's hard to imagine going through the pregnancy and birthing process without them! read more

I can't say enough good things about Emerald Doulas. Melanie and Michelle were both there for me when my baby decided to come 5 weeks early. I was so in shock and nervous that I wouldn't get the birth i'd planned for. They were there by by side, Melanie helped me get settled and advocate for what I wanted with the doctors, and Michelle took over when my labor extended into day two. Michelle helped me stay calm and try different techniques to help baby come naturally so I didn't have to have any medical interventions. I can't imagine I'd have had such a positive experience if it wasn't for them! My husband and I are so thankful for Emerald Doulas! read more

After experiencing a traumatic birth with our son my midwife recommended hiring a doula when I was pregnant with our daughter. My midwife specifically recommended Emerald Doulas. I called Emerald Doulas that afternoon. I spoke with Melanie and well, we just clicked. Melanie and Sara were the doula team we were going to work with! My husband and I had an initial consultation meeting with them and I just knew they were going to be the support I needed for this pregnancy and delivery. Although I was very excited about our growing family I realized I was still having a lot of anxiety and fear lingering from the birth of our son. I wanted to do everything within in my control to have the birth experience I imagined this time. Working with Emerald Doulas was the best decision we made. From there Melanie and Sara became an incredible source of support and knowledge. They are both such calming and nurturing women and they provided the reassurance I needed and helped educate me and were able to help my husband to be an active partner. I started to feel better about this pregnancy and wasn't as scared of the upcoming labor and delivery. My husband and I took the Childbirth Education class offered by Emerald. This was the BEST class and I wished I had the opportunity to have taken that class before we had our son the first time we were expecting. It should be required that ALL expecting mothers take this class!!! I realized how uneducated I was about the birthing process and can only imagine how beneficial it would be for all expecting women. Melanie and Sara were always available to myself and my husband for support, questions, you name it. Once we approached 36 weeks Melanie and Sara came to our house and we discussed our birth plan and my husband and I were feeling really confident. They had truly helped me and provided me with the confidence to advocate for myself. Needless to say, they continued to be readily available at all times. Melanie was there for the labor and delivery. She's just amazing. The calming influence she had on me was just indescribable. My husband was able to be an active participant and Melanie was able to provide advice and guidance throughout while working towards our birth plan. I did have the birth I wanted. Words cannot explain how happy I was about the entire birth experience and I know it's because we worked with Emerald Doulas. My husband and I have already said that should we choose to continue to expand our family we will be working with them again. I plan on recommending them to anyone and everyone that I can. The level of professionalism, the community meetings, classes, resources, support groups, lactation consultants, postpartum doulas, etc. that are available to the expecting parents through Emerald Doulas are one of a kind. It's the total package!! read more

Heard about them a few weeks after having my second baby. The beginning was really hard for me, not just because my daughter just turned three but also because I had many difficulties breastfeeding and adjusting. Also, there were many things I didn't know correctly from my first baby. As soon after my mom left to help us with the transition, a friend of mine recommended them, and I cannot be more grateful for that. Every person that came home was really great, specially Suzanne, very knowledgable and helpful, really easing the transition and relieving both, emotional and physical pressure of having a new baby and dealing with many household responsibilities. They were also great in teaching me tricks to make my life easier (including how to make a cooking plan that worked for my family), as well as care for my precious toddler. It was a great investment and I will highly recommend them! read more

My partner and I are so happy we had Melanie and Abigail as our Emerald Doulas team! During COVID, a time when it's hard to feel connected to people, they consistently reached out to us in the months before and after I gave birth (October 2021) with tips for baby positioning, nutrition, and exercises, and responded to our first-time parent questions with helpful resources. They were very good at empowering us to make our own best decisions while providing evidence-based resources. They were also familiar with the hospital where I was giving birth (Duke Regional) and the typical protocols there. They were a great team throughout and we felt well supported. Abigail was with us during the birthing process. She remained calm and supportive throughout my labor and consistently framed all the changes that were happening as signs of the birth progressing. She recommended switching positions to relieve discomfort and instructed my partner about how and when to push on me in order to relieve pain during contractions, and with these supports I was able to achieve my goal of giving an unmedicated vaginal birth. She also took photos for us immediately after the delivery, which we would not otherwise have (and we're so glad we have them!). I came away feeling very positive about the experience and would 100% ask for them again. read more

Frustrated that they will not refund your money if you are unable to make a class you've signed up for. Signed up for a 200$ plus class and gave several weeks notice that we were now not able to attend due to change in husbands work schedule. No other classes were available before our delivery to use the credit towards. Was told in a cold voicemail that they do not give refunds. With this amount of money and the adequate amount of time notice given its poor practice to not provide a refund. Will not recommend this place to anyone. read more

My husband and I hired Emerald Doulas because I had post partum depression following the birth of my first child. We didn't work with anyone during our first birth and I thought the additional support would have been welcome and beneficial for my physical and mental health. I knew I had made a good choice even during the initial phone call with Melanie. She was patient and compassionate - she actively listened to my concerns and thoroughly answered all my questions. I had a high risk pregnancy due to gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension, so I was matched with Melanie and Ashley to be my doula team. They have been/are always available to me for questions and concerns. I had a pretty fantastic birth experience and Melanie was a big part of it. I was in the hospital being induced for about 24 hours. I didn't call Melanie in at that time and she consistently checked in with me throughout that time, clarifying questions I had, and suggesting things that might make me more relaxed and calm. For example, I was complaining how I was feeling hungry and weak and she suggested that I request broth. It was such a simple fix and it made a world of difference. I felt so much better after I drank it and I would have had no idea to ask for that otherwise. When I did ask that Melanie come in, she came right away. I felt confident with her by my side - much more in control and measured. I highly recommend Emerald Doulas. Beside their excellent doulas, they have so many great programs - support groups, sibling classes, yoga, etc. In comparison to my first birth, having Melanie and Emerald Doulas with me definitely made this experience much better. I am thankful for their involvement in my family's life. read more

Emerald Doulas went above and beyond with their services. The meetings and classes the offer are very helpful, and the birth doula support was such a huge help when our babies were born. I am so grateful for them, and cannot express what an amazing resource they are. I don't know what we would have done on our babies birth days without Melanie! Our TENS unit that we rented from them was also a huge game changer that EVERYONE should have as an option for labor. read more

I was very impressed from the first meeting! My first visit was for a lactation consult during my second pregnancy because I had low milk supply my first pregnancy. The lactation consultant, Victoria, was very knowledgeable and really listened to my needs. She also gave me space and time to grieve my first pregnancy frustrations with low milk supply and being an exclusive pumper the first time around. She spent at least 90 minutes with me and was very thorough and gave me a written breast feeding plan to meet my goals before my second baby was born. At this wonderful meeting I also learned more about doulas and everything that Emerald Doulas offered. All the staff in the office was welcoming, warm, and knowledgeable. I really wanted to go for a VBAC and they shared with me the VBAC rates at certain hospitals. My lactation consult ended up opening doors for me to find a high rate VBAC hospital as well as learn more about doulas. I later decided have a doula at my birth and I did not need to do more research, Emerald Doulas was the right choice for me. I had an initial 1 hr meeting to meet the doulas and ask questions before I agreed to have a doula at my birth. After I decided, they came to my house for an in home consult to review my birth plan. Again I always had the time and space to feel listened to, and address my needs, and my goals during my birth, and my vision of how a doula would help me. During my birth it was so comforting to have another person than my husband be my advocate, help me achieve my birth plan, help my husband and I when labor was tough and see our options clearly. Emerald Doulas was also supportive and knowledgeable of hypnobabies that I decided to use for pain management. I can't say enough good things about what this group is doing. It made my second birth a happy memory and it was everything I wanted! read more

Short review: EVERYONE DESERVES A DOULA! Long review: My husband and I became acquainted with Emerald Doulas at the childbirth education class led by Ashley, which not only equipped us with important information we needed to know about childbirth, but also allowed us to reflect on our emotions during that very exciting time of my pregnancy. Until taking the childbirth class at 5-6 months pregnant, neither my husband nor I considered hiring a doula. The warm and empowering energy we experienced at the childbirth class made me realize I wanted a doula to be there with me during labor, even though I wasn't sure what doula support would look like or what kind of support I needed. Turns out I really needed it! The midwives overseeing my prenatal care at Durham Women's Clinic couldn't have been more reassuring and enthusiastic about our decision to hire Emerald Doulas. They assured us we would be in great hands and have all the support we needed during labor, and they were so right! Melanie and Kallyn were our doulas, and they will have a special place in my heart for the rest of my life. They offered support before, during, and the weeks after my daughter's birth. They have this amazing way of knowing exactly when to check in or offer the perfect bit of advice and support when I need it. Kallyn was there for the actual birth of my daughter, and my husband and I cannot imagine doing it without her. Kallyn's warm and loving presence, wisdom, and support endured through my very long labor and was welcomed by me, my husband, as well as the nurses and midwives on staff. Even during labor, I kept thinking how grateful I was to have her by my side and could not imagine the alternative. If I ever have more children, we will most definitely be hiring and Emerald Doula again. We couldn't imagine it any other way. read more

I worked with Victoria for lactation services and I can honestly say, after seeing 5 other lactation consultants in the Triangle area multiple times each, Victoria is THE BEST, hands down. She is not only skilled at working with babies in trying to get a better latch and more comfortable nursing, but has amazing communication skills and helped me work through my emotional issues related to nursing difficulties. She's hilarious, down to earth, and offers helpful, common sense solutions to nursing problems. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her help. I would recommend her to anyone having difficulty with nursing, and the fact that she is available for home visits is even better. read more

One of the best decisions we made was to hire Emerald Doulas! Being a first time mom, I was nervous about pregnancy/labor. We knew that we would be delivering our baby in a hospital with our OBs, but given that our OB practice rotated doctors (therefore, we wouldn't be sure of which doctor would be on call that day), I wanted to make sure there was someone with me that I trusted and was advocating for me and my birth plan. Having Melanie and Michelle as an additional perspective than my doctors during the pregnancy was invaluable to ask random questions via email, text and phone. They were knowledgeable, supportive and I always felt comfortable asking anything. Having the doula during the labor process turned out to be even more valuable than I anticipated. My labor was unexpectedly intense - from first contractions to delivery was only 5 hours and there were some complications. We almost delivered at home! Having Melanie there to tell me everything was going to be ok, walk me through what was happening during the chaos, and advocating for me in the hospital was worth every penny! The delivery was really scary but I can look back on it in a positive light and I owe that to Melanie's experience, support and encouragement throughout those crazy hours. We were so happy with the birth doula that we signed up for postpartum doulas as well. Through daytime and overnight visits, we had their doulas cook, clean, do laundry, support me during breastfeeding challenges and answer all of my questions about how to care for my new baby. It was invaluable to have extra sets of hands and also gave me the confidence as a first time mom. An additional benefit has been the courses and gatherings that Emerald offers for clients. We feel like we have joined a supportive community through Emerald and that has been amazing! If you are thinking about hiring a doula, you should hire Emerald! read more

I cannot say enough good things about our Emerald Doulas team, Melanie and Kallyn, as well as the Emdo community. Upon asking my husband how helpful he thought he would be during labor from 1-10, he said maybe 6 or 7. After that, I decided a doula would be the best thing to give us both the support we needed. I didn't have very strong opinions about how I wanted the birth to go, just that I wanted to avoid a c-section if at all possible. In the back of my mind, I was also interested in not having an epidural. I knew if there was any chance of that happening I would need lots of support. We had a chance to get to know Melanie and Kallyn well before the due date and get any questions answered and express our concerns and desires for the labor and delivery. Our baby was breached and it was a great comfort to have Melanie with us when we went into the hospital for an ECV to attempt to turn the baby. It was a success and they were also very supportive as we waited and waited for labor to come. When it came time for the induced labor (2 weeks post due-date!), Melanie helped through all the contractions. She had so many tools and tips to make me as comfortable as possible, especially during the transition stage of labor. She helped both my husband and I know what to expect and answered our questions throughout the labor. Melanie, along with our midwife, and the nurse were so encouraging when I was pushing. After lots of pushing, it was determined that baby needed some help coming out and we were given the options to have a vacuum-assisted delivery or c-section. Melanie helped to make sure we had all of our questions answered and concerns addressed about the various options. When I delivered the baby, we were in a room with lots of nurses, doctors, interns, etc. It was so helpful to have a familiar face in the room. Melanie also captured some amazing photos from right after the delivery that I will always cherish. I tell everyone about our doula experience and recommend they check out Emerald Doulas. Next time, my husband says we can have two doulas and he will be in the waiting room :-) read more

Short version: Victoria at EmDo is an outstanding lactation consultant Long version: I am an experienced mom with years of breastfeeding under my belt. My third baby, however, has all kinds of tricks up his tiny sleeves and breastfeeding him has been a major challenge. On day 8 of his life, I was a weepy, emotional mess with a baby that absolutely would not latch on and eat. We were desperate to get some lactation help. After speaking to several people who could see me the following morning (anyone who has been in this situation knows that is way too long to wait), we were so happy to stumble across EmDo and find Victoria with same-day availability. Victoria took plenty of time to work with us and really examine the issues we were having. She was patient and completely lacking in judgement. We ended up leaving her office with a plan A, plan B, and plan C for how we were going to get this little guy fed and the reassurance that we would be able to find a path to success one way or another. Victoria also helped us to focus on very short-term goals. This continues to be so helpful because we daily regroup and focus on how we can succeed today. Previously, we were looking too much at the big picture and feeling like we had to make all-or-nothing decisions about the entire breastfeeding process. We are still finding that breastfeeding this little guy is a daily effort that requires constant regrouping and much perseverance. We are equipped to succeed now though. Additionally, EmDo offers many group classes and support groups. They truly seem to have a holistic view on the family and all of it's needs. Their office space is clean, comfortable, and inviting. I would feel confident recommending their lactation services to anyone. read more

I am honestly struggling to find the words to express the gratitude, love, and respect I have for the team at Emerald Doulas. My partner and I needed advocacy and support as we navigated pregnancy, birth, and now postpartum . . . it arrived in waves as soon as we found EmDo. Our amazing birth doulas, Melanie and Kallyn, were our lifeline through the entire pregnancy and I do not think I would have handled delivery as easily without them by our side; our lactation consultant (um. expert), Victoria, has ensured we are comfortable feeding our baby; and the support, love and knowledge we get from Suzanne, Ashley, and the rest of the team is priceless. The resources available for the EmDo community are invaluable and the friends we have met in the community are some of the kindest people. I felt more prepared for the birthing process thanks to these amazing ladies and now, as new parents, we feel equipped to tackle the challenges ahead because of their continued support. As our family moves towards new milestones, I know I have resources, allies, and friends and it is solely because of the experts at Emerald Doulas. read more

Our experience with Emerald Doulas has been, and continues to be, better than we ever imagined. I'll provide a few details of the actual birth doula experience below, but in general we found the team easy to work with due to their great communication and warm, welcoming vibes. We utilized the birth doula package, lactation consulting and a few of the birthing classes that they offer. However, one of my favorite features of this service has been the community meetings that are offered both pre- and post-natally at no charge for new parents who used their services. We signed up expecting to receive support during birth, but ended up feeling incredibly supported by both the doulas and other parents in the "EmDo" community both before and after our son arrived. Our birth doulas were Melanie and Sara (they assign 2 to ensure that one of them is always on call and available for you). We met with them twice before our birth (once for the initial consult and again for a formal planning meeting) and would also see them at various Emerald Doula classes and events that we attended leading up to our birth. In a crazy turn of events, I ended up going into labor on the same day as 4 other clients - something that had never happened at Emerald Doulas before. Melanie and Sara kept constant communication with us and even though plans changed slightly from what we had expected, we felt reassured and supported. My actual labor and delivery looked quite different than what I had planned due to some medical complications (water broke early before I had gone into labor so I had to have many interventions that I hadn't wanted), but Melanie kept us calm and focused and helped to make it all as pleasant as an unmedicated delivery could possibly be. I also have to give a big shout out to Victoria, the lactation consultant. We had a one-on-one meeting with her before our son's birth, which I would highly recommend. I felt really comfortable with all aspects of breast feeding by the time our son was born and feeding went very smoothlly from the start. She was also quickly available for questions via email or phone when little issues came up. Overall, this was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend their services to all mothers regardless of the type of birth that you have in mind. Doulas are scientifically proven to improve a mother's perception of her birth experience and reduce the rate of epidural, cesarean and other potential interventions in labor. read more

When I tell people about my daughter's birth story, Ashley and Kallyn from Emerald Doulas are both in it! I honestly don't feel like I can tell the story without them. Ashley was on call the night I went into labor and even my doctor commented after the labor about how great she was during the delivery. Ashley and Kallyn were both such an amazing part of Charlotte's birth story and I truly don't think I would feel the same way about her birth without them! They made me believe in myself and trust myself. I'm so grateful our paths crossed and I am forever grateful for the gift of their presence during Charlotte's birth. A brief summary of our experience together: My first baby was breech so I had to have a csection. This pregnancy I really wanted a VBAC and thought having a doula to be on my support team through it would help with my success. I didn't really know much about doulas but thought it couldn't hurt! A friend recommmended Emerald Doulas and I met with Ashley and Kallyn. From the first time we met they were exactly what I hoped for. They are nurturing, kind, understanding, and I could just feel that they had my best interest at heart. They made my final stages of pregnancy so helpful with their knowledge, support and encouragement. And I wouldn't have had the amazing labor experience I did without them. I had false labor pains one night and went to the hospital thinking they were the real thing. Kallyn met me there and was so patient, and told me to trust my intuition. She was so supportive and I felt so thankful to have her during that time. I told them at our initial meeting that I hoped for a vbac and would ideally like to have it without an epidural but also realized that I was open to the epidural because I have a low pain tolerance. When I did go into labor, the baby came quick! Ashley was on-call that night and she coached me through the contractions and the pushing. She helped me cope with the pain and believe in myself. I look back on this part of labor and remember feeling empowered and not scared...I attribute this to Emerald Doulas. I got to have a VBAC without an epidural and I contribute this success and my extremely positive memory of this experience to Ashley and Kallyn. They are so amazing and I am forever grateful for the gift they gave me of a successful labor and beautiful, healthy baby girl! read more

Michelle and Melanie at Emerald Doulas were the only reasons we made it through our first birth experience the way we wanted. They helped guide as during pregnancy, and having Michelle at the birth was exactly what my husband and I both needed - a calm, confident, and reassuring presence with encouraging words and a gentle touch. She prepared our hospital room making it feel warm, had recommendations for pain management, and was constantly ready with new suggestions for how to change it up when labor needed to get moving. Everything was new (and scary!) to us, so we were so grateful to Michelle for being there. For the second birth, it was less scary because there was less "unknown." But we still wanted Michelle's guidance, love, and support. She came through again! This time, things went even more smoothly, and it was great to have Michelle bring up suggestions and learnings from our first time around - we got active labor moving much more quickly and the birthing process was much smoother and shorter (and therefore an even better experience than the first time). Perhaps the best part of working with Michelle and Emerald Doulas is the feeling of love and reassurance, but also safety. My husband especially appreciated having the Doulas there to sort of act as an intermediary between us and the medical staff. We always felt in control of our birth plan. We will definitely use Emerald Doulas for our next child! read more

My spouse and I hit up the breast feeding and infant care class. It was actually fun! The ladies were so informative and made for a super comfortable environment where any and all questions could be asked/answered. Loved it! Highly recommended. read more

I remember learning about doulas in nursing school & thinking they sounded a bit "hocus pocus." I couldn't fathom why I'd need/want to pay someone other than my husband or best friend to be my labor support person. However, as my own pregnancy progressed & I started to realize how difficult labor might be, particularly with my goal of avoiding pain meds or an epidural, the thought of a doula suddenly sounded brilliant. I remembered seeing a card for Emerald Doulas in the waiting room of my midwifery office, so I started Googling them. Within minutes I knew I'd found the perfect group for me. I was 34 weeks when I contacted the group & was thrilled to find they still had openings. At 35 weeks my husband & I met with two of the doulas (Melanie & Chelsea) & reviewed our goals for our childbirth experience. Immediately I knew we were in the perfect hands. At 37 weeks they came to our house to further review our goals for birth. I can't say enough wonderful things about my husband & how he handled my L&D experience, especially toward the end when I was getting pretty hysterical & difficult to console. He was absolutely perfect & my love for him has grown exponentially because of how wonderful he was during this experience. However, I truly believe part of why he handled everything so well was having the doula there to provide support for him as well. If he needed to step out for a drink/snack/bathroom break, he didn't have to feel guilty that he was leaving me alone. Nor did I have to worry about him becoming overwhelmed because I knew he had a support person too. I'm so incredibly glad I took the advice of a friend & hired a doula. Both my husband & I swear I wouldn't have survived a natural, unmedicated birth, an induction no less, without her (Chelsea turned out to be the doula on call that day). Remember, no matter how much your mom/sister/best friend loves you they are not (normally) versed in coaching a woman through childbirth, so having an objective labor support expert is often a better choice because they are more likely to remain coherent & logical when you're not so coherent & logical. Also remember labor can be a long process so having a backup person to help your partner is worth its weight in gold. I also can't say enough good things about Victoria, the lactation consultant with this group. I don't think I'd be successfully breastfeeding today if it weren't for her help. If you're in the Triangle area of NC, do yourself a favor & hire Emerald Doulas now! Helpful? read more

When my wife first said she wanted a doula, I was skeptical. It seemed like an unncecessary expense in a time of necessary expenses. It also sounded vaguely new-age and I thought it would somehow involve crystals and chanting. None of this was, of course, true. There were no chants or crystals, just counseing and aid during this long labor. Their presence was not only necessary, but it made a difficult birth bearable. My wife spent nearly 50 hours in labor. Our birth plan fell apart when our son's delivery stalled and he was eventually born via an emergency c-section. Throughout this entire experience someone from Emerald Doulas was there. They provided relaxation techniques, moral support, physical support, and emotional comfort during this difficult time. They talked my wife through her fears and talked me through mine. They spelled me during the labor, giving me a chance to get a cup of coffee or take a quick nap. The nurses and midwives came and went, but the doulas were there the entire time. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

We loved our experience with Emerald Doula! After a difficult time getting (and staying) pregnant my husband and I wanted to make the birth experience with our first child as easy, educated, and supported as possible, so we decided to use a doula during our son's birth. We were recommended Emerald Doula. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect going into our first meet and greet and, even up to the birth, I wasn't sure we really needed a doula and was somewhat skeptical. However, they exceeded every single expectation and provided more support, kindness, and love than I thought possible. My husband and I believe that it was quite possibly the best money we've ever spent. You cannot plan any part of a birth and they were there every step of the way. We were in labor for 48 hours and they did not leave our side. They provided warmth, comfort, and guidance throughout the process, engaging us to ask questions, ask for help, and speaking up (non-medically) for us when appropriate or we felt uncomfortable doing it ourselves. I am so glad they were part of our birth story. Sara and Ade will forever be in our hearts. read more

I decided to hire a doula for my second pregnancy, hoping to have a much better birth experiences than the first as well as a VBAC. Emerald Doulas was recommended by my midwives and I could not have received a better recommendation. From the beginning, my doulas were 100% committed to my physical and emotional well-being. I contacted them after each doctor's appointment to debrief about how the pregnancy was progressing and to discuss my birth plan. They were always quickly responsive and provided invaluable information and resources, especially as my baby stayed breech a little longer than I'd hoped (she eventually flipped on her own). Fortunately, the delivery went very smoothly and I was able to have a successful, unmedicated VBAC. During the delivery, I really just focused on my doulas' voices, instruction, and encouragement. It was incredibly intense but they provided me with exactly what I needed every step of the way until my daughter arrived. I highly recommend having a doula present during delivery and I unequivocally recommend Emerald Doulas. Everyone I have interacted with from the practice has been incredibly kind, warm, and supportive and they offer numerous services and opportunities to support new or expanding families in both group and individual settings. If I decided to have a third child, I would without a doubt, hire them again. read more

I cannot more highly praise everyone at Emerald Doulas. I never intended on birthing with a doula when we found out I was pregnant with our first child. I had many firends who birthed with doulas, but it just didn't seem to be "for me." Then, tragedy struck and I was in a position where it looked like I might be birthing without my sweet husband. Enter Emerald Doulas. They were the most wonderful, warm, welcoming women I have EVER met. I have tradiditionally been a person that takes awhile to warm up to someone, especially when it comes to sharing personal details of my life. However, I instantly fell in love with all of them. It really truly was like they were all old friends with whom I could share my most intimate questions and worries. I also used their post-partum overnight services when I first came home from the hosptial and for several weeks afterwards. that was the biggest help of all. They answered my questions and worries, and loved on my sweet boy as if he were their own family. I missed them terribly when it was time to transition on my own. Please, please if you are at all thinking of using a birth or post-partum doula contact these fine women. You will be so happy you did! read more