Afshan was doula for my wife and I as we worked through the pregnancy and birth process in the fall…read moreof 2018 and I cannot speak highly enough of her. She is calming and kind, helpful and responsive, while also being effective as a guide when difficult decisions arise. After working with her during the birth of our daughter, I cannot imagine it being any different At first, I was a little wary of having a third person in the room during the birth, because I wanted to be the main source of support for my wife. But, at our first meeting, Afshan put those concerns to rest and continued to do so by truly serving as support for me and for my wife. She did what we needed to make sure the process was as smooth as possible, while making us both feel honored and vital. It was really great to have that kind of support so that if I needed a rest, I could do that and then come back as a better partner. In addition, having Afshan there with us was really helpful because of her excellent relationships with the staff at the hospital. The fact that she had worked with the nurses and doctors there was very helpful in relaying information, getting what we needed, and in working together as a team when it was time to push. Afshan is truly a wonderful doula. I would recommend her to anyone.

Afshan was absolutely amazing ! She was an amazing support prior to be going into labor and…read moreconsistently checked up to see how I was feeling and doing . As it got closer to the day she explained to me what was normal and advised me with what to ask the doctors in order to give birth naturally . When I went into labor she was with me the entire time and made giving birth naturally possible . She was patient , kind , and gentle . I wouldn't have been able to do it without her ! After our beautiful girl was born Afshan checked in on us to see how we are doing and continued to be an amazing support. We truly value her and would love to work with her for our future pregnancies . She goes above and beyond and we will forever be grateful .

I cannot emphasize what a crucial part of my pregnancy and daughter's birth Stephanie was for us…read more Stephanie provided the exact support we needed; from the moment we hired her to the days leading up to my labor to the birth of our daughter to the days after and everything in between. Any question, request, guidance needed - Stephanie was there. She made us feel no shame in asking the smallest questions. She was clear about when something was evidence-based vs her intuition/experience. She never pushed us to do anything and was always supportive of decisions we made. It was important to me and my husband to have a natural birth, which was my main motivation to hire a doula. Truly could not have delivered this baby without Stephanie (I mean, I would have, of course - but likely after much more pain and decisions I would later regret). She was with us on the phone (my husband, mostly) as soon as my water broke and she was with us in person by the time contractions got heavy to get us through the later stages of labor and the pushing/delivery process. Stephanie worked so in sync with the midwife and nurse on my delivery team - it took a village! In addition to Stephanie supporting me, she was also an amazing guide and support to my husband - equipping him with reading materials before delivery and coaching him on best ways to support me throughout labor and delivery. In the days after our baby was born, we talked to Stephanie every day. She visited us to make sure baby was latching properly, showed me some other tips and tricks for feeding, and has continued to provide us with guidance on feeding and pumping and all feeding things! When I become pregnant with baby #2, Stephanie will be among the first to know - could not imagine doing a totally natural birth again without her!

Hiring Stephanie as our doula was one of the best decisions we made while preparing for the birth…read moreof our first child. When my partner and I started looking into childbirth education, we quickly realized how much we didn't know and how overwhelming it could be to research everything on our own. From our very first meeting with Stephanie, it was clear how knowledgeable she is. She focuses heavily on evidence-based information, which was exactly how we wanted to approach decisions around birth. I became interested in attempting an unmedicated birth, although I was only about 60% confident I could actually do it. Stephanie never doubted me. From that point on, all of our preparation and meetings were geared toward helping me achieve that goal. She was always quick to respond to texts and emails and provided detailed, thoughtful information whenever we had questions. Stephanie also did an incredible job coaching my partner ahead of time so he knew how to support me during labor. In our prep meetings, she walked him through different techniques and ways he could help when things became intense. Because of that preparation, he was able to really play an active role during labor. Even during labor itself, Stephanie continued guiding him on how to support me in ways that were actually helpful in the moment. When things were very intense, she would gently coach him on what to do, whether that was how to help with breathing, positioning, or encouragement. If he wasn't sure whether something he was doing was helping, she gave him feedback and reassurance so he could keep supporting me confidently. That support for both of us made a huge difference. When my labor started, I was able to text Stephanie updates and questions and she was always quick to respond and help ease my worries. At one point she had another client in labor (which we knew was a possibility), but her backup doula came to my house and provided wonderful support until we went to the hospital. Stephanie met us there and immediately helped me focus on breathing and staying calm. The moment I'll always remember most was during the pushing phase. I was exhausted having been awake for nearly 36 hours, but Stephanie's coaching and encouragement made such a difference. Her reminders to breathe for the baby and "blow out the birthday candles for the baby," along with her steady counting and encouragement, helped me push through and ultimately deliver my baby the way I had hoped. One unexpected benefit of working with Stephanie is that she is also a lactation consultant. She helped us prepare for breastfeeding, explained how pumping works, and helped us troubleshoot breastfeeding our baby a few days after coming home. I didn't expect that level of support, but it ended up being incredibly helpful. Stephanie is incredibly knowledgeable and very honest. She gives you the information and may offer a recommendation, but she never pressures you if you decide differently. She's straightforward, fact-driven, and clearly very dedicated to her clients. Working with her truly showed me how valuable doulas can be. Stephanie was wonderful to work with, and I would not want to have another child without her by my side.

Sarah is amazing! She's a great communicator who brings a wealth of knowledge and a calming…read morepresence to labor and those stressful last few weeks of pregnancy. We were so grateful to have her by our side.

I used Sarah for education, labor and overnight help. I would recommend her to everyone. She is so…read moreeasy to talk to and you feel very comfortable around her. She was KEY in helping me through a long labor. Although I had great hospital care, I don't want to think what my labor would look like without her. She was also awesome at overnights when I transitioned back to work! She is so knowledgeable and experienced.

We had such a wonderful experience with this service. The HFA team was incredibly responsive and…read moreproactive in connecting us with those who may be on our night nurse team which allowed for me to chat with each one ahead of time. It was our first time working with a night nurse and the whole experience made us feel at ease and in very good hands. Our night nurse, Janette, was wonderful and made us feel so confident that our newborn was in good hands that we could get some sleep back! Definitely recommend!

I am so glad to have worked with postpartum doulas through Happy Family After. We had peace of mind…read moreworking through this agency, knowing the doulas were vetted. We worked with Janice and Sara who were wonderful! On the admin side, Devon, Sondra, and Sara were all so kind and easy to work with. I was able to use my Carrot benefits with ease.

the receptionist in the matronly center was very rude and unfriendly not helpful not go backread more

We had an exceptional birth experience for our second child at Our Birthing Center. The design,…read moredécor, and amazing staff create a tranquil, secure environment. At our first visit, I knew I wanted my child to be born in this peaceful place - it had none of the sterile, mechanical & "busy" feeling of the hospital where our first child was born. The orientation class held by Beth Ann was very informative, and created a sense of familiarity, especially when we ended up having Beth Ann as our nurse. I was well into active labor when we arrived at the birth center, but as soon as I walked into the birthing suite, I felt a complete sense of security & confidence. We immediately got into the shower for hydrotherapy while Beth Ann prepared the bathtub. The room & bathroom were impeccably clean, and somehow everything we needed was concealed but close at hand - from a birthing ball to towels to a puke bag from the dresser drawer! The best part of the experience for us was the intimacy - my spouse, doula, nurse, and midwife were right there, focusing only on caring for me. There was no in & out of nurses, or additional personnel in the room. I felt completely safe and protected, even through the intensity of the delivery. My daughter was born in the birthing tub and I was the one to pull her out of the water and into my arms. Once she was born, everything was so relaxed and we could truly enjoy those first few moments. Beth Ann & our birthing team took such wonderful care of me after the birth, ensuring that my husband knew exactly how to care for me & my daughter at home. We left the birth center about 4 hrs after the birth and it was so comforting to sleep in our own bed that night! My recovery was much quicker than with my first birth, and I contribute that in part to the unmedicated, gentle waterbirth I was able to achieve at Our Birthing Center. Knowing now the extraordinary level of care, encouragement, and medical expertise available at the birthing center, I wouldn't give birth any other way!

We absolutely loved our classes with Lisa! The class was informative, supportive, and incredibly…read moreempowering. The classes are extremely comprehensive without feeling overwhelming. We came into class feeling excited but very nervous about this next chapter and left feeling so much more confident and prepared for both birth and the newborn stage. We loved Lisa's thoughtful approach - blending evidence-based information with compassionate, personalized support in a way that felt holistic, reassuring, and never fear-based. 10/10 - Highly recommend to any expecting parents looking for a childbirth class that feels both realistic and deeply supportive! Thank you, Lisa!

We're expecting our first baby in February 2026 and initially felt pretty overwhelmed about where…read moreto start with birth planning. We were even hesitant to take a birth class at all--but we're so grateful we took Lisa Greaves' class. While we're planning a hospital birth, we hope to avoid a C-section if possible, and Lisa's class truly empowered us to feel comfortable and informed about all of our options. We learned about laboring at home longer, pain management strategies both with and without medication, and how to advocate for ourselves throughout the process. By the final session, we felt much more knowledgeable about pre- and postnatal care and genuinely prepared to welcome our baby. We also really appreciated the sense of community and the additional resources the class provides. Can't recommend it enough!

Working with Helen was the best decision I made for the birth of my child. The health system and…read moreyour OBGYN tell you so little to make you feel prepared for labor and delivery. Helen provided the education I needed to feel empowered for my labor, and because of her I was able to have a natural birth without an epidural. Her techniques helped me to see the natural strength of my body and mind as a woman. All of her tips are great- from natural medications, to how to approach the staff at the hospital and hospital system, to breathing techniques, and birthing positions. I would recommend Helen's classes to any woman and family looking to become more informed about their choices during the birth of their child. I would also recommend taking her classes with your partner - it was a great thing for my husband and I to participate in each session together, and in the end we felt we didn't need a doula (he served as "El Doulo" as we like to say ). Helen truly cares about the health and well being of her clients, and you can feel it, and that makes all the difference. Thank you Helen for everything you provided for our family!

Because of all the great reviews, we knew we were gonna have a good experience, but Helen exceeded…read moreour expectations. She didn't just treat us like clients, she made us feel like family. Since the second I went into labor, she was there for me until the end. Hand down, the best experience we had.

If I can give 10 stars!! Let's just say finding Shadisha as my doula could not have happened at a…read moremore perfect time. From start (first prenatal visit/birth planning) to finish (postpartum visit) she was nothing short of amazing!! We connected right away. My husband is nonChalant with all the fatherly "need to knows" when it comes to birthing haha; but Shah made it easy for him to understand and participate. He became more hands on and enjoyed her teaching methods. Very well experienced and Great with communication flexibility understanding reliability attentiveness and reassurance. Teaches and explains everything you need to know that will help you every step of the way of the pregnancy/delivery/postpartum/lactation stages. As a first time mom, The birthing experience with her was very empowering. At the start of surges (39 weeks 3 days) we used the techniques we learned and managed to stay home until The surges were close to 5-7 minutes apart. by the time I arrived at the hospital I was already 6cm!! Those labor surges were something else but with all of the non-pharm techniques she provided and coached us, with a huge those of encouragement, I was able to birth out a beautiful 8.2 pounder baby girl (Emmanuella ) naturally!!! She stayed until I was all good and baby was good. We reviewed everything including breastfeeding over the postpartum visit via zoom, which was very helpful physically, mentally and emotionally. For all expecting moms, If You desire a seasoned, enthusiastic, passionate doula, that you can connect with, choose Shadisha!! Seeing her as family , We are deeply grateful for how God used her to meet us in our times of need. Emmanuella is 9 weeks now and doing exceedingly great. Looking forward to her doula services again with baby #2

My son was birthed by ATOM and it was an amazing experience. My doula labored with me at home and…read moredrove me to the hospital where I labored for a short time upon arrival. I had a pleasant birth experience and outcome. Having a doula by my side allowed me to release all fear and anxiety about what was happening around me and gave me the opportunity to just focus on my delivery and meeting my baby boy. I will definitely have a doula again at my next birth.

After my last review, Jada, the founder of Birth Day Presence, reached out to me for an honest and…read moreopen conversation about what she could do to improve not only my experience but classes there in general. Being a yoga teacher with pre/post natal experience I went into their classes already very knowledgeable so they weren't as informative as I would have liked but I think they are probably life saving for people who don't care to/don't have the time to do their own learning and research. Birth day presence and boober provide not only child birth and newborn care classes, but match clients with (and train) doulas, lactation consultants etc Most importantly though, and I got this sense from the beginning but really felt it after talking to Jada, they genuinely care about providing quality information and services to new families. They also understand that the birthing industry (because it is an industry) is far from perfect and they want to empower families and help them navigate it. I feel very grateful to Jada and Birth Day Presence and although I originally walked away feeling there was more to be desired I now feel like I couldn't recommend them more to anyone seeking childbirth/childcare education or training. Oh, and all their classes are conveniently online now due to covid.

My husband and I purchased weekend intensive childbirth education classes and we attended when I…read morewas 27 weeks pregnant with our first child at Birth Day Presence. We came here with an open mind and hoping to learn the important basics of childbirth. Needless to say, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We didn't feel prepared and we were hoping this class would make us feel more comfortable of what's to come. The classes we chose were on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm. Jen Buice was our instructor and she was very informative and knew her stuff. We also got to mingle with other couples who were due at around the same time as us. We got to share our experiences with each other, which I think my husband and I wouldn't have gotten a chance to do otherwise if it wasn't for this class. We watched some childbirth videos, learned about different stages of labor, pain management, labor exercises with and without the ball, a little about lactation, etc. We also went around the room and did some activities so it could be more interactive and social. Bring some snacks because the classes might seem a little long at times! We did get a short lunch break. One slight complaint I have is that I got a little antsy and didn't feel that comfortable with their seating arrangements. I felt a little claustrophobic. Overall, I think we feel better and a little bit more prepared about being parents. I would recommend this class if you have a chance to take it. It's located in a beautiful part of Park Slope in a beautiful brownstone. Price is a little steep at $395 but I think it's worth it. You can't put a price on your future bundle of joy.

Annette will always be close to our hearts of the joyous and warm birth she assisted with our first…read moreson! I only wish we had had her for our daughter too we moved far away. Right from the start she helped to ease any anxieties we had (which were a lot). She was extremely nurturing from the very beginning through the end. She never tried to persuade me into anything. She always listened and gave me wonderful information. In fact, she still asks about our son to this day and we love catching up over lunches when we are back in the city. She helped my husband, through much sweat and sore muscles, massage my back through 5 hours of super intense, level ten contractions. She never left my side or took a break. I ended up having a c-section and she even made that so special! She was quiet, positive and reassuring at ever step. She snapped gorgeous photos and filmed beautiful video throughout (I didn't even know she was doing this). She was there through the entire labor surgery and recovery room (which was about 20 hours), and which was where she taught me, in under a minute, how to breastfeed. She immediately got the baby latched on perfectly, helped me to understand just how to position him, and I never had a problem breastfeeding, nor did our son! In her home visit after the birth, she gave us a beautifully written letter, detailing ever aspect of that day. Our doctor (who was also in credibly amazing) was so impressed with her that he asked for her contact information as well, because through her, he realized her the immense value of having a doula by our sides the whole time.

Annette is one of a kind, and I am so grateful that I had her by my side throughout my pregnancy…read morejourney, and birth of my son. To be very honest...I didn't even know what a doula is or if I needed one. But being a FTM, I had so many questions and worries about giving birth. I started to do research, and was recommended to check out Annette. And I am so glad I did! From the first conversation, I knew I was in the right hands. I am anxious and an over-thinker, but thankfully Annette's expertise and calming nature helped ease all of that. Most importantly, she helped me become informed in all of my options - so I was able to make the best choices for me and my baby throughout the whole experience - especially when dealing with doctors (which can be rather intimidating). Finally, she was also beyond helpful and reassuring to my support person, my mother...as the two of them together helped me welcome my son into this world. Annette takes on many roles while helping - a coach, a best friend, a cheerleader, an educator and many more. My family is forever thankful to her, and highly recommend having her in your corner to anyone on the beautiful, yet sometimes rather wild, pregnancy journey.