Working with Julia has been a God-sent gift. After having my first home birth 2.5 years ago, I planned to do it again, although I was not expecting all the challenges that life would present right before the birth. In an extremely unfortunate event, my brother and sister-in-law, who were supposed to have their first baby right around my due date, suddenly lost their child during birth. I was in absolute shock and deep grief, and I was contemplating whether a home birth was the safest option for me. I found Julia, and she held my hand through every moment of fear and self-doubt throughout my prenatal care. She showed me what heartfelt understanding can look like while still not losing sight of what she knew I was capable of. I knew in my bones that a home birth was what I desired, but having this happen so close to me shook my confidence and sparked so much fear in me. During my birth, Julia held my hand every step of the way. She was proactive in her approach, giving me positions to hold that resulted in direct progression of labor, all while being very attuned to me and the baby throughout the process. I went from having a 38-hour labor with my first child to a 14-hour labor with my second, with only 4 hours of active labor. I honestly can't recommend her enough!!! Julia carries a deep understanding and love of midwifery care and her expertise are showcased in her level of care and knowledge. I had the most beautiful birth and felt so supported thanks to her guidance and heartfelt diligent care. read more

Julia was our midwife for both of our children - our daughter's birth at SCV Birth Center and our son's home birth and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. She is so calm, kind, and supportive, and she made both my husband and me feel completely comfortable and cared for every step of the way. Julia's gentle presence and expertise brought such peace and confidence to both of our births. We would choose her again and again - she's truly a blessing to the families she supports! We miss her dearly! read more

Julia Underwood Midwifery - Placenta Encapsulations Near Me

I honestly don't even know where to begin because words don't feel big enough to capture what Julia did for me and my family. After having two previous hospital births that were traumatic and going through 4 miscarriages, I came into this pregnancy at 40 years old with a lot of emotions. I knew I wanted something different this time--and I found it at the SCV Birth Center with Julia. From the start, Julia made me feel heard, seen, and supported in a way I hadn't experienced before. She listened to my story without judgment, made space for my fears, and helped me build back the trust I had lost in my body. Her calm, grounded presence throughout my pregnancy was everything I needed. When it came time to give birth, I can honestly say this experience was nothing short of redemptive. It was empowering, peaceful, and healing in ways I didn't think were possible. Julia was right there with me--encouraging me, believing in me, and holding space in the most beautiful, respectful way. My entire family, including my two older children watched as I delivered my third baby surrounded by love, safety, and strength. It was my redemption birth, and I'll never forget it. If you're looking for a midwife who truly cares, who takes the time to know you, and who shows up with heart and wisdom every step of the way--Julia is the one. I couldn't be more grateful for her! read more

Julia is thoughtful, attentive, and knowledgeable. She actually listens to you and walks alongside you during pregnancy, delivery, and recovery. We love working with her and are so grateful to have had that opportunity twice! read more

Julia is an ANGEL! We are so grateful we got to work with her for our first home birth for our second baby. She was recommended to us by our friend's midwife, so I immediately knew we'd be in incredible hands. She was so patient with my toddler "helping" her at every home visit and got the whole family unified in making this an incredibly safe, relaxing, and fun experience. If you're unsure about doing a home birth, I highly recommend Julia because she walked us through absolutely everything we needed to know. She coached me through delivery, didn't make it a big deal, and reassured me that my body knows exactly what to do. We will definitely be hiring her again for next baby! read more

Julia is absolutely amazing! I was so happy and relieved to have a black provider. I felt seen AND heard. She listened to my needs, concerns, and desires. She was supportive and informative. And after going into preterm labor and having to birth in a hospital, Julia showed up and supported me through the whole thing. I truly believe that because of her, my delivery was the best I have ever experienced and I pushed my son out in only two pushes. Julia is truly a gift from God. I couldn't have asked for a better midwife. read more

I am beyond thankful for Julia! I had her as my midwife for both my births and she was supportive, informative, and communicative. She made me feel seen and understood throughout my time in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I felt in control of my experience and comfortable in her care. I cannot express enough how grateful I am that she was by my side! read more

I went to Julia for prenatal care through six weeks postpartum. Each prenatal appointment was long enough to cover all of the concerns of first time parents while giving me the information I needed to keep myself and my baby as healthy as possible. For example, she always had a recommendation when something wasn't working for me, like a better iron supplement. Julia's skills really shined when it came to the birth and postpartum period. She answered each of my midnight calls in early labor with helpful advice. She was my greatest support during birth and helped me avoid a c-section. Postpartum, she was tremendously helpful when breastfeeding presented challenges. She made sure we were both ready to be fully discharged at 6 weeks postpartum. We also attended her birth education classes, which were genuinely helpful. Could not recommend Julia enough! read more

Julia provided the most amazing prenatal, birthing, and postpartum care for me as a first time mom. She has the perfect blend of personal care and professional knowledge, which built my confidence throughout the entire process. The prenatal appointments specifically were so pleasant, unlike any other medical care I've ever received; I always felt like I got as much personal attention as I needed without being rushed. Julia always gave me time to digest the information she provided and ask questions at my own pace so I was able to make incredibly informed decisions for what was best for me and my baby. We were not only prepared for our planned natural, out of hospital birthing experience, but when our baby decided to go two weeks late, we felt incredibly supported by Julia as we transitioned to the backup plan of a hospital induction. She helped over the phone as we navigated minor complications during triage and labor, then physically supported me during the final stages of labor and delivery. Trust me and my beautiful, healthy baby girl, and choose Julia as your midwife! read more

I must first say that not only is Julia an incredibly skilled midwife, she is also an absolutely amazing and kind human being. She blessed our family immensely with her expertise and care. My husband always finds an opportunity to tell people about our experience with her. We know if we plan to have another baby, she will be the one we call. Through my pregnancy, Julia was very attentive to my concerns, my health and the health of my son. This was my first experience with a midwife, I had my first son in a hospital, and the difference in care is night and day. Julia helped me build confidence in my body and its natural ability to give birth. She's someone you can absolutely trust to guide you through the sacred process of bringing your little one earth-side. I felt very safe and comfortable with her. When it came to important medical decisions we had to make, Julia gave unbiased advice and also offered plenty of resources to look at in order for us to be fully informed in our medical choices while respecting us in whatever decisions/refusals we made. Thank you so much Julia! We are so grateful you were part of our journey in welcoming our second son into the world! read more

Julia was amazing. My birthing experience didn't go as planned (breech babe) but she was there every step of the way. Months after my birth Julia was still available for questions and emotional support. You don't need to look any further! read more

Having a doula - and specifically, Julia - was without a doubt the best decision we made during my pregnancy and childbirth. I had a very impersonal and frustrating experience with my insurance-based pregnancy care. I almost never saw the same doctor twice, and several appointments were cancelled last minute. The labor and delivery was also a revolving door of various medical personnel who were all strangers to us. There was absolutely no follow-up care, even after having to have a C-section. Thankfully, Julia was our one constant. She is incredibly knowledgeable, present, warm and supportive through every stage of the process. As completely clueless first time parents, she helped us feel prepared by providing information and resources on different birthing options and pain management techniques. She also helped us understand and develop a birth plan that suited our personal preferences. During labor, she was an incredibly calming presence. She provided emotional support and encouragement. When we ran into complications, she was there as our advocate to help up make the most informed and best decision for our circumstances. After the birth, Julia continued to provide support and guidance as we adjusted to life with a newborn. She checked in on us regularly and provided helpful resources and tips. Overall, we are so grateful for Julia and would absolutely recommend her (and have) to anyone considering a doula. read more

Julia was a student midwife at the birth of our son in June 2023 at Gracefull birthing center in LA, and I am so thankful for her support and care throughout labor and immediately after birth. By the time we got to the birthing center with our doula, I was 6cm dilated and baby was born less than 2hrs later, so everything moved FAST, and Julia was an amazing coach especially through pushing. She was a calm, decisive presence that allowed me to focus on my body and bringing my baby into the world! My son had some trouble breathing at first and she was calm and collected, directing me on how to stimulate him and then eventually suctioning him and giving him a few "rescue breaths" with the ambu-bag. I am surprised in retrospect at how unafraid I felt during those couple of minutes; Julia and the whole staff around me were calm and reassuring. Once we were all settled in bed, Julia helped me get started with breastfeeding. We had some breathing issues in the few hours after birth as well that warranted a transfer to Children's Hospital, and Julia was attentive to monitor baby the whole time while I was stitched up and while we were getting ready to head over to the hospital. Overall I feel like she was a huge factor in my birth being the beautiful experience it was, in spite of the hurdles we faced. She also encapsulated my placenta and dropped it off at my house, and she sat with us for a while to debrief the birth and just chat, which was such a comfort in early postpartum. HIGHLY recommend Julia if you're giving birth in the LA area!! read more

My husband and I truly believe that Julia prevented me from having to get a c section with her expertise and couldn't be happier that we had her in our corner during labor and delivery. The hospital incorrectly said that my water broke after running a test that came back positive. Many doctors and nurses later, nobody thought it was strange that I had zero indication that my water broke. Since this was my first birth, I didn't question what they were telling me. The dr said that my cut off for a c section would be around 18 hours after I was induced since my water broke. When Julia arrived, she mentioned it was strange that I didn't have any indication that my water broke and that I had no leakage at all during the time I was at the hospital. She suggested that I ask the dr to check that my water had actually ruptured before the c section. When he did, he discovered that my water hadn't broken at all! Other than that, Julia was super great throughout the entire labor and delivery. She knew what I wanted for my birth plan and did her best to motivate me to stick to it. However, she was very flexible and encouraging when things didn't go according to plan. If I ever have a second child, Julia would for sure be our doula and I would recommend her to anyone who is considering having a doula. She really made a huge difference for us! read more

Julia is so incredibly sweet. Due to a preexisting condition, we were not able to proceed with the services I needed, but she pointed me in the right direction, provided advice, and consultation. I am so thankful I choose to reach out to her and I am so disappointed that I could not use her for my services. I am confident to say that I would have proceeded with her if I could have and I feel that I would've been in good hands. read more

Julia was absolutely wonderful. My wife and I are so grateful for all of her help and guidance. Not only did she prepare us with exercises for when labor started but also helped provide lots of information and references to post partum doula after the birth. Some words to describe Julia, especially by my wife are: professional, reassuring, trustworthy, comforting, and prompt with help and answers. She had words of reassurance and wisdom for a lot of my wife's questions and fears. And the trust in her really helped my wife and I through post birth. Would highly recommend her if you are looking for a birth doula. read more

Julia was my doula for both of my births. She was there for my first birth at a birthing center in 2016 and when I was pregnant again in 2018, there was no version of this world where I would do it again without her. The second time, I elected for a hospital birth and Julia's support proved just as critical as the first time. To put some perspective on this review, I will tell you that I do not feel like I'm a good laborer nor ever will be no matter how many babies I have. I'm a little lazy, very impatient, I don't rationalize pain, I'm not brave and I have a tendency to believe things are about to get worse. But, despite all of these personality tics, I still wanted to attempt a natural delivery without an epidural for both of my babies. Being realistic, I always told Julia I wouldn't suffer and I would take an epidural after the good ol' college try. Miraculously, even with that mental allowance for myself going in, I was able to deliver both of my girls naturally with no interventions and no epidural. I know that without Julia's labor support I wouldn't have had two natural childbirths and I am amazed she achieved this without ever pressuring me to deliver naturally. Through everything (the pain, the panic, the exhaustion, me just being me), she listened to me, and held me and encouraged me...and somehow, that was enough. I truly believe the presence of a doula as trained, knowledgeable, experienced and reactive as Julia is, was the magic that got me two natural childbirths. There is a part of me that believes Julia did all the hard work to get my baby girls delivered: she monitored my contractions, massaged my back, repositioned me to help and ease my labor, she coached my breathing, coached my pushing, nurtured my spouse into his role as labor support and she even helped me with my first baby's latch. And while she was doing all of this, I just whined, cried, panicked and waited for her to get me out of my own head and back into the game (which she always did...with firm love and compassion). I'm not the easiest person to relate to or work with, but she always knew how to communicate with me. Each time I felt like I lost control, she found a way to help me find the strength to pull through (albeit, sometimes dragging me kicking and screaming). But teasing aside, Julia's role and presence in my birthing process is inseparable from the events themselves and I view both with equal love, intensity and gratitude. There is no memory I have where she is not there. The exact details and faces of midwives, nurses and doctors have all faded, but I remember Julia as vividly as I remember holding my girls for the first time. I remember her words, I remember finding her eyes every time I needed her and I remember how strong her support of me was that I still tactilely feel it to this day. Her presence turned my labor and delivery eventually into memories only of support and joy and I will forever owe her more than I can ever repay. read more

We hired Julia for the birth of our first child in August 2016. I had planned on a natural birth, and Julia helped us prepare for that, among other things. We delivered at Kasier Sunset, which was a wonderful experience already, and Julia enhanced that experience 100%. She helped me find my rhythm in labor, and provided massage and different comfort measures. Like I would pace around the room during a contraction, and Julia would follow behind me squeezing my hips like a champ. My mom and husband were also there to support, but it was in a different way. Your family is there for emotional/loving support, Julia was there as an expert and professional, though she was so loving and compassionate that she felt like family. We were unsure if we wanted to hire a doula (and by we I mean mostly my husband) due to the cost; however, we are 100% glad that we did and will do it again. She really helped take the pressure off my husband during labor, yet he still was an active participant in the process. Women have been helping women give birth for centuries, a doula just make good sense to me. Even though I ended up getting an epidural (I began to regress in my progress), Julia was still immensely helpful and there every step of the way. She even got the baby to flip from sunny side up just before pushing! Additionally, Julia was an excellent resource before and after the birth as well. She has provided excellent resources during pregnancy and the newborn period. I certainly could have reached out to my Doctor as well, but Julia was very accessible all the time with a quick call or text. My baby is 5 months now and I still reach out to her for help. Julia thank-you for being a wonderful support and encourager before, during and after our birth--you are amazing!!! read more

We loved having Julia as our doula. It turned out that I needed to have a scheduled c-section because of a breech baby, and wasn't sure if I needed a doula, but Julia was there every step of the way, and giving valuable guidance. She went over thoroughly all the benefits of the placenta, and also provided compassionate advice about our birth plan - all the while, respecting our wishes. She also knew all the ins and outs of the local hospitals, so she knew exactly what I'd expect during my delivery at Huntington. On the day of, she was there to support me and my husband and her calming presence was just what we both needed. It was my first surgery ever so I was quite frightened, but she calmed me down by telling me what I would expect, and she made sure I would bond with the baby right away. She had him at my nipple right away, too, to ensure that my colostrum would kick in. These are just some of the many valuable tips that I would never have thought of if I was doing it on my own or just having my husband there. She stayed with us all the way to recovery, to make sure the baby had a good latch, and that I was well rested. I had my mom there in the recovery area, and Julia bonded with her quickly. My husband and I are so grateful for Julia, and we wouldn't think twice about hiring her again. She has a wealth of knowledge, having done this for so long and having two children herself, and she brings so much compassion and wisdom to the job. She's also a wonderful human being. I hope we'll keep in touch!!! Thanks for making a huge difference in our lives!!! read more

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Julia was our doula for our first baby a few months ago. She was the absolute best doula we could have asked for! Every time we met with her, she alleviated every one of our fears and gave my husband and I the confidence that we would be able to handle the birth and a newborn just fine. She has a very calm, loving presence, and during my birthing process I felt safe knowing that she was there. I was able to have the natural, unmedicated birth that I wanted in large part because of the preparation we had done together and the strength I felt knowing she was there with me, encouraging, guiding, and believing I could do it. She was full of wisdom and knowledge about everything I wanted to know about pregnancy, birth and postpartum issues, and knew just what to say at those crucial moments. I had a rough recovery due to a big baby and Julia checked in on me regularly and gave me advice and answers when I needed them in the first few postpartum weeks. The tips she gave me made everything flow much easier and helped me recover faster in a very confusing, chaotic time. When my husband and I talk about the whole experience of creating a baby, we inevitably say "We were so lucky to have Julia!" I cannot recommend her highly enough. read more

I've been meaning to write this review for a while, but always got overwhelmed when thinking about writing it because I had so many great things to say! Julia assisted us with the birth of our son, and we could not have been happier with her. She was warm, knowledgable, professional, and was so present during a very challenging birth. She did an excellent job of making me feel cared for every step of the way, while also offering encouragement and guidance when needed. If we ever have another child, we would not hesitate to work with her again! read more

My husband and I decided to hire a doula for the birth of our second baby. The labor and delivery with our first child we did alone, and it was very challenging, physically and psychologically. We are so happy that we found Julia for our second one: she was incredibly engaged throughout the whole process, she respected us and our preferences going through it, and most importantly she helped me handle both the physical pain of labor but also the scary feeling that happens in each contraction as you enter "transition", the feeling that something is terribly wrong, or else why would it be so painful? I had an epidural with my first L&D, but the second one went so fast, and I felt so much more in control thanks to Julia's help, I got through it without an epidural (I don't think they would've given me one even if I'd asked, because the labor was so quick). But I loved that in our prenatal visits, Julia expressed her view that epidurals are just one of many "tools" that you can use in labor, and they are fine! I expected a doula to have a more militant anti-epidural stance, and I loved her openness. Just knowing it was okay to get one helped calm me down. Before we hired a doula, my husband was a little nervous that she would, in effect, replace him in the delivery room, and he didn't want that - he wanted to still be my number 1 support. He was also so happy with Julia's professionalism and support, and felt that she did not displace him at all but just supported both of us, because in his words, getting a mother through labor is "a two person job." Finally, we decided to have Julia do a placenta encapsulation for us after doing some research into its many benefits. Taking my couple pills each day I do believe has helped stabilize my mood and give me energy. Thank you Julia, for everything! read more

This review has been a long time coming--my daughter is almost 2! But I wanted to share why I hired Julia to be our doula. I am a doula myself and had been for many years. I knew Julia professionally and personally, and had a feeling she would be the kind of doula my husband would feel comfortable with as well. I wanted him to decide, since I knew all our possible doulas personally, and he felt strongly that Julia was the right choice. I am so grateful because she was exactly what I needed during my long back labor. She was the only person on the birth team who could relieve my discomfort and she knew right where to massage my aching sacrum. She was also there for my husband when he needed support too. We simply love Julia and are so glad we chose her. read more

Julia is an angel on earth. During our home birth of our daughter she was my best friend, coach, partner and momma and the greatest support I could ever imagine. From our first meeting I felt so comfortable with her. She took the time to get to know me and helped me visualize my best birth story and she really brought that vision to reality. She took the best care of me and when needed- she even took care of my son when I needed my husband during pushing. She stayed in touch in the weeks after-truly caring about how I was doing. I am so lucky to have found her- she even drove to us all the way in the valley for all our meeting and for labor and delivery! And she made me the yummiest scrambled eggs after delivery making sure my belly was full and I had some good protein- thank you so much Julia- you are the real blessing and the real deal!! read more

Written by my wife but completely my strong feelings: At first I was hesitant about asking a doula to be there for the birth of my first child. Do I really need a doula? Will it feel weird to have her in the room with my husband and I? Will she be okay with my decisions? Even the word doula made me feel a bit self conscious. Once I met Julia, I had no doubt that she was the perfect person to be our doula. She made us feel immediately at ease. From the first pre-natal meeting, Julia expressed sincere concern and regularly checked in throughout the latter part of my pregnancy. She is easy going, mellow, soothing, knowledgeable, and resourceful. If she doesn't have an answer for you, she will find it. When my water broke, at an inconvenient hour, Julia picked up her phone at the first ring. I was supported and felt confident with her at my side. At the hospital, she was more than a doula, she helped us navigate the hospital system and even helped us negotiate a complicated family situation. If you are hesitant about the idea of a doula because it sounds like there is going to be an overbearing hippie telling you how to push, Julia is the not that. In short, Julia is a natural. I cannot recommend her highly enough. read more

Like most husbands, most think Doulas are an unnecessary expense with all the other costs adding up for your new bundle. My husband was not any different. He just knew I would feel more comfortable having support in the delivery room because we were having our first baby, I was trying to have him naturally with no drugs and he by nature doesn't like blood so I wanted to make sure he had some support and back up as well in case. My husband and I did tons of research, signed up on every class we could so we could prepare. Julia went thru our birth plan, made sure we understood all our options and continued to enlighten us based on her experiences. Everything we did helped us for the process but nothing is like being in the moment that everything changes. You're in pain, your husband wants to stop it, RN's and Dr's are checking in on you and it's intense to say the least. Because of the research and meetings with Julia before the birth she helped immensely in honoring our wishes at delivery. My husband was an awesome coach and he said he couldn't have done it alone. Julia was his not only my rock in pushing thru the last hurdle and pain, but she was his as well. She kept him hydrated, snacked up, and educated throughout the process. Mommy's to be: You will not go wrong having a woman's loving support to you and your partner present in that room. Daddy's to be: You will have a back up, a coach, helper and interpreter to the medical world that will help in the one moment you want to be there for your wife and son/daughter. It sounds funny saying I had the best birth thanks to my husband and our Doula Julia. My vision of a drug free natural birth came true. Both of them helped me thru it all. Would I have her in there with me again? ABSOLUTELY!! You only get one moment to have that experience and it's nice recapping with Julia after a few weeks. My husband would never question or hesitate to the amazing experience our Doula gave us. read more

Hiring Julia was the best decision my husband and I could've ever made for the day of our son's birth. Julia was not only a coach throughout labor and delivery, she was also an educator throughout my pregnancy, post partum, and continues to be a great source of wisdom and support even now that my baby is 6 months old. She was also a strong advocate for my med-free, vaginal delivery. We had originally planned a birth center birth but had to be transferred to a hospital. Julia made sure I had the unmedicated vaginal delivery I wanted, despite my midwife's directions of giving me more pitocin and adding pain medication. I don't think my husband and I would've had the strength and the focus to go through 26 hours of labor without her help. Today, we think of the day of our son's birth as the most magical day of our lives, and we owe it all to this amazing woman. We will hire her without a doubt for baby number two! read more

Julia Underwood Midwifery - Julia and our healthy, beautiful 6 month old baby boy! - Placenta Encapsulations Near Me

Words cannot describe how awesome Julia was during my pregnancy, labor, and delivery. During my pregnancy, she was always available to answer questions. She made us both feel very supported. I had a grueling 47 hour labor and Julia was there for all of it. Even though my birth plan quickly went out the window, I felt that during every part of the process, I made informed decisions. I didn't feel pressured into anything and that each decision about interventions was made by us, not by the doctors. Although my birth was not the one that I had hoped for or expected, it was still beautiful and we all worked hard to make sure that it happened on our terms. I believe this was possible because of Julia. Also, in the birth world, there were times that my wife and I felt uncomfortable. Surprisingly, even in LA, being a two mom family, there were times we felt excluded and uncomfortable in pregnancy spaces. Even in our birthing class at Bini, Julia made sure that we were always included and in tune with the unique issues facing LGBT parents. If you are thinking about hiring a doula, Julia is the best! If I have another baby, I would 100% want her there with us again. read more

Where do we begin. Ms. Julia is truly a blessing and she allowed us to carry out our intended birth plan. We could not have imagined our labor and birth of our son without her. She is truly gifted at what she does. Julia was there to help explain what was going on, she helped us advocate for different positions and options during active labor and transition. She gave us extra strength and support, without taking over. She helped to remind me what kind of labor I wanted (natural and unmedicated with minimal medical interventions) and that I was capable of achieving it. When I was scared she and my partner were there together working as a team to support me. She was by our side the whole time and was attuned to us and our needs. We are so blessed and lucky that our son's first moments on this earth were positive because of her hard work. All of the positive adjectives in the world would not do her any justice and there are not nearly enough positive words to express how wonderful this woman truly is. Also, we met Julia about 1.5weeks prior to the birth of our son... now that should speak volumes of her character. read more

Julia saved me on the day I gave birth. A month before my due date, I decided I wanted a doula with me on the big day. Luckily, I found Julia. When it came to actually delivering, it turned out I had to deliver without pain relief, which was my greatest fear. Julia was by my side, helping me cope with the pain. I would have gone out of my mind if she wasn't there. If that wasn't enough, she even made a house call after I was home again to help with breast feeding. My husband and I say all the time that hiring her was the best decision we made during my pregnancy. read more

Where do I start?! Julia is fantastic. My husband and I hired her at the last minute to help us with the birth of our daughter at Huntington Memorial. She is friendly, down to earth, reassuring, and encouraging. She provided just the right amount of guidance to both my husband and I before, during, and after our daughter's birth. I whole heartedly believe that her presence allowed us to have a more positive labor and delivery experience and a healthier birth all around. I don't know what we would have done without her, and we will absolutely have her with us again in the future! read more

My son was born last September and the angel we had by our side was our doula Julia. Several months into my pregnancy I started feeling fear and anxiety about childbirth and labor. We found Julia and knew during our doula interview with her that she was the perfect match for our family. Julia has a warm and loving personality and a calming and soothing presence. Her in-depth knowledge about pregnancy, childbirth and labor as well as her preference for more natural alternatives, helped to ease my fears. She was not only my doula but was a constant friend that I could call, text or email anytime, with questions or just when I needed emotional support. She would often suggest natural remedies or natural alternatives to ease or eliminate pregnancy discomforts or side effects. She helped meto feel empowered and always had my interest and my baby's health in mind. She explained everything so clearly and in layman's terms and was my advocate during childbirth. Her sense of humor dissipated any tension I was feeling towards my health care providers or my family. In a nutshell, when you hire Julia as your doula, this is what you can expect from her services: -A very open, honest and down to earth doula -She will help you understand the changes your body is going through and she also offers a childbirth class if you are interested. -She will call, text or email you to check up on you and answer any questions. -She makes you aware of your resources and will email you links providing you with supplementary information. -She is very humble, and if there is a question she cannot answer, she will use her resources and network to find out and get back to you. -She will not replace your partner/spouse during labor, but will encourage their involvement and teach them massage techniques or anything else they can do to help you during these intense hours. -She is very thoughtful and will make you feel like you are the most important person to her. -She is optimistic and very encouraging and points out your family strengths. -Her calm and easy going personality helps to melt away any anxiety, fear or worry. -She is a woman of faith and her love for God is very refreshing and encouraging. -She provides post-partum help including how to heal post c-section, breastfeeding tips, baby care and bonding, and how to handle the stresses of being new parents. Julia has become one of our dear friends and I will say without hesitation, that because of Julia, my pregnancy and labor were positive experiences, even when I experienced unexpected labor complications and required an emergency c-section, Julia was there at the hospital with us for a couple of days as my emotional support. I would recommend Julia to anyone that is seeking one of the best doulas out there. read more

Julia was our doula again for our second baby, and of course she was absolutely perfect again. Things progressed a lot faster this time around, which made things a bit more hectic and Julia kept right up with us. If it wasn't for her we might not have made it to the hospital on time, or had any pictures of the actual birth. She also included placenta incapsulation this time. She made the pills and delivered them within a couple days of the birth. They came in a beautiful jar and have been very helpful with postpartum hormones. Julia is incredibly professional, makes you feel very comfortable, and thinks about all the things your husband/wife forget in the crazy moment of having your baby. read more

Throughout my very normal pregnancy and slightly complicated delivery, Julia was my rock! When i had a question or concern, she answered it in minutes. When I faced choices with my doctor, Julia was there to explain what each meant and what her experience was with the options. But it was when I was in labor that I understood why doulas are so important to giving birth today, especially if you are giving birth in a hospital. Julia was by my and my partner's side through the whole process, supporting both of us and giving me the faith to deliver our baby. She was in tune with us throughout--she knew when to let us make our decisions and when to step in and take over when we felt lost in the medical model and needed the support. I 100% credit our successful delivery to having her by our side at every crucial moment!! And, I feel like I also gained a friend. Aside from being an incredible resource on all things pregnancy- and birth-related (and an AMAZING masseuse!!!), Julia is warm, caring, and so easy to get along with. I can not recommend her services enough!! read more

My husband and I are very grateful for Julia's support during the pregnancy and birth of our baby. We had interviewed another doula prior to meeting Julia, and we were not happy or comfortable with that person. This person clearly had contempt for the ways of the "evil doctors," even to the point of telling blatant lies about certain hospital practices (I am an RN, so I knew certain things were just not true). I was looking for someone who would work with the hospital system in a more fluid way. Julia is very warm and listens to what the woman/family wants, as opposed to coming in with her own ideas about how all births should be. My husband was actually hesitant in hiring a doula, because he was scared that she would take his place during the birth. But his fears disappeared when he met Julia, and understood that she was there to support BOTH of us in having the birthing experience we desired. Julia met with us a few times before the actual birth, giving us helpful information and advice along the way. She made sure to call me after I had appointments with my OB to see if I had any concerns, or just to see my progress and how everything was going. I really appreciated her level of dedication. I felt very comfortable calling or emailing her at any time, and I always received a prompt response. As soon as we gave her the call that I was in regular contractions, she was available right away. During contractions she helped me with breathing, and reminded my husband of things that he could do to help me. I loved how involved she kept my husband, and he really appreciated it, too. As soon as our son was born, she made sure I had skin to skin contact with him, as I had requested in my birth plan. She stayed until things began to settle, and she helped with the baby's first latch. We could not have asked for a better doula. read more

Julia has been a key support system through the births of both my children. She is comforting, diligent, knowledgeble, and attentive. I was pretty nervous my first delivery and Julia was very encouraging and taught me some really helpful techniques to keep me calm. When my second child was born with complications, I remember Julia's reassuring words and prayers. She stuck by me and visited daily until my daughter's release from the hospital 4 weeks after her birth. Julia goes above and beyond for her mother's and is truly instrumental in the birthing process. I couldn't imagine having shared these memories with anyone else! read more