I'd like to start by saying I am a nurse, and as a nurse sometimes knowing too much is a…read moredisadvantage. I knew that I needed someone competent, and medically knowledgeable to advocate for me in case I couldn't. Alyssa was that, and more. She spoke up when I couldn't because I was focused solely on evicting my child. She offered suggestions to help alleviate my pain and always asked before doing any maneuvers. She kept an eye on my husband for me (I was worried for his wellbeing having to watch me push out a watermelon :P ). I don't know that my birthing process would have gone as smoothly as it did without her. If I decide I want a second child, Alyssa will be right back in that delivery room with me.

I can't begin to put into words how valuable it was to have Alyssa help bring my son into the…read moreworld. She will forever be a part of our birth story and that is so special to us. Alyssa made us feel completely prepared with her birth education class. It was so reassuring to know all of the possible scenarios and have a plan in advance on what decisions we might make. Alyssa helped support me at home as my labor intensified quickly and then continued her support at the hospital through a 37 hour labor - she is super human! As most births are, my sons entrance into the world was not straight forward but what I will remember most is how supported and cared for we were. It was so helpful to talk about his birth with Alyssa after and be able to decompress with someone who was present. I cannot recommend Alyssa enough for support during any part of your pregnancy - she is truly a gift.

Choosing to have Bellwether Doulas as part of my birth care team was the best decision I made for…read morethe birth of our first baby. Birth can be daunting, especially when it's your first, but they provided my husband and I with all the education, community, support, empathy, care, and guidance I needed/wanted from the preparation stage all the way through the postpartum period. Having Hailey in the room with me while I gave birth totally put me at ease, gave me confidence, and helped me get through and have the birth I ultimately envisioned. As my husband would say, "it was a no brainer to hire them."

I really can't say enough about Bellwether Doulas. Rachelle and Haley are amazing and are so…read moresupportive throughout the prenatal, birth and postpartum periods. I interviewed Rachelle for the birth of my second child and she was so incredibly helpful and when it came to my birth, she was there every step of the way. I hired them for our third child and just like the second, her and Haley were there for my husband and I throughout it ALL. We had a couple of unexpected twists and turns and I truly don't think I would have been able to cope as well as I did without their support. If you're looking for a Doula, look no further - they're the best. OH and don't skip out on the photos add on. They're so talented - you won't even remember them taking the photos and they're SO beautiful. I still look at the photos from both births often. Highly recommend!

There are seriously not enough stars for how I feel about Lindsay & Liz! This is my second time…read morehiring them and I can't recommend them enough. Lindsay is seriously the best thing that's ever happened to this world. I don't know how I would have had either one of my babies if it weren't for her constant love, support, and encouragement before, during, and after labor. For my second time around, I decided I really wanted to make it my goal to try and make it without any pain medications or interventions. Lindsay supported my husband and I through the entire process. She spent time massaging my back, helping me get into different positions to keep labor progressing, feeding me words of affirmation, and just empowering us as a couple. Her love is like no other. Having her in the room with us was so seamless it was like she'd worked with the midwife and nurse thousands of times before. Even they couldn't believe how incredible she was and what an inspirational environment she helped create for us. We also worked with Liz both times while I was having trouble breastfeeding. She's the most knowledgeable and encouraging LC you'll ever get the privilege of working with. She will support you no matter which direction you end up going and is just so warm and loving, which is what every postpartum, tired mama needs! Hiring Lindsay & Liz will not only help you gain all the education, love, support, and empowerment you didn't even know you needed, but you'll also have two new best friends because that's just how amazing they are!

Martha sets a new bar for postpartum doulas. She is a consummate professional while also being…read morekind, loving, knowledgable, and empathetic. She is exactly who you want to have in your village when you're navigating the first hectic days, weeks, and months at home with a newborn. She is a wealth of information but doesn't give unsolicited advice. She is reliable and an excellent communicator. She goes out of her way to make sure you are comfortable, and you will quickly learn that your baby is in the best hands (besides your own) while Martha is providing overnight care. We were beyond lucky to work with Martha and would recommend her without hesitation.

I didn't think I had very much new to learn as a third-time mom. Boy, was I wrong! Martha taught me…read moreso much: everything from new breastfeeding positions, to the best strategies for "tummy time," to managing sibling relationships, to organizing my kids' stuff, to self-care strategies and encouragement. She's also perfectly happy to hold the baby while you shower or do errands. I was beyond impressed by the breadth and depth of her knowledge about babies and "mom life" in general. I couldn't have gotten through the postpartum period so successfully without her. Do yourself (or your daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughter, friend, etc.) a huge favor and hire Martha as your postpartum doula. You will be calmer, better-rested, and a more confident mom because of her!

My husband and I took some prenatal classes with Kaeli at Open Circle and it provided us a great…read morefoundation of information about what to expect for childbirth and the postpartum period. We opted for two private classes which were reasonably priced and tailored to our needs. As a teacher, Kaeli is warm and welcoming, knowledgeable, balanced, and evidence-based. After the birth of my child, she even helped get me in touch with some additional support. She is a wonderful resource and we are lucky to have her in our birthing community in RI.

I've had the pleasure of working with Kaeli and Motion Center Mom & Baby over the years. Most…read morerecently, my son(4) and daughter (2.5) attended the toddler yoga class in the spring. Kaeli's steady and warm presence puts children at ease and inspires a playful and curious attitude. My son, who was apprehensive at first grew to love the joyous and consistent rhythm of the class. With each class his participation and level of comfort increased. By the end of the session, he exclaimed that it was the favorite part of his busy and active day. My daughter adored Kaeli and how she infused music and story into the yoga class. She would often request songs from class at home and eagerly awaited her beloved yoga class with Kaeli. My first introduction to Motion Center was through the prenatal yoga class which at the time provided much physical and emotional relief during my pregnancy. My husband and I took the contemplative birthing class 5 years ago for the birth of our first child. The class empowered us and prepared me and my husband for the birthing experience as well as the postpartum stage. Kaeli was also our doula and helped us navigate the birthing experience. She was our steady and gentle guide on the birthing journey and for that we are forever grateful.

Hilary and her team were all top notch, and I would recommend them most highly to any newborn…read moreparent. We worked with Molly S for postpartum doula help. Molly was an invaluable support both emotionally and with practical help during a difficult time. It was like having a wiser, older sister help out and counsel a few times a week. She is kind, knowledgeable, and brings a lot of mom wisdom from parenting her own three kids. The back office structure and onboarding and contracting process were all fast and efficient. Highly recommend.

I truly do not have enough words to express my sincere gratitude and praise for Hilary and her…read moreteam. I sent Hilary a message at 2am after months of sleepless nights and she promptly replied the next day and set up a call for us to chat. She completely understood not only what I was going through and the help that my family and I needed but she has the kindest, most caring, loving and dedicated team who were willing to jump in at a moments notice to ensure that our baby boy got the love and care he needed so that the rest of us could get some much needed rest. If anyone is thinking about a night nurse or daytime doula, I would 1000% recommend Hilary and her team.

I have always dreamed of having a water birth. At first my partner was unsure about a home birth,…read morebut after consulting with the Birth Matters team, he got on board and we were able to birth our little on at home, in peace, without any complications. This was largely due to the care and the experience of our midwives at Birth Matters. We cannot thank you enough. You answered all of our questions, you were comprehensive, you were accommodating, and turned my family into home birth believers! I highly recommend the Birth Matters team and would do this all over again if and when we have our second child.

I contacted Sarafina and Jessica of Home Birth Matters Midwifery Care in February of 2011 upon…read morefinding out we were pregnant. The pregnancy didn't last long, sadly. Both midwives spoke with me on the phone daily while I was having complications and though I never met them, the offered so much support to Big Love and I through our loss. They offered encouraging words and made me feel normal in what I was experiencing. During the summer of 2011 we found out we were pregnant again. I once again reached out the the midwives and made an appointment for a home visit to discuss planning our home birth. They came to our home, hugged me, and lounged around on my couch just chatting about the care they had an answered all of our questions. Since that day, Big Love and I knew that they were the right choice. They just felt like old friends from the start. We opted to have home visits as opposed to office visits. Every visit they would come to our home, check my belly, answer questions and have a few laughs. It was a great way to get to know them and by the time my labor came, I had no issues with showing them any of my lady bits or bodily functions. Sarafina and Jessica were always encouraging. Our parents had concerns about having a baby at home so we invited them to one of our home visits. I think they must have asked a hundred questions. The midwives sat there with smiles on their faces, cool, calm and collected and answered every single one with confidence. Our parents have been home birth converts from that day on. Early May I went into labor. Awhile into labor Sarafina arrived followed by Jessica soon after. There was no intervention and little interruption during my labor. They would offer suggestions every now and again but mostly just followed my cues. They would check the baby's heartbeat with a fetal monitor from time to time and talk me through contractions. At the last of my labor I went into the birthing tub and everyone sat nearby, talking me through pushing. The midwives saw that our baby was being born with his hand and an arm near/around his face. They had great poker faces and didn't give anything away. They very calmly guided me through pushing and helped reposition my leg to give the baby a little extra room to pop out. Mickey was born exactly 13 hours after I went into labor at 4:40pm. I was oblivious to him actually being out and Jessica handed the baby under my arm and into my hands saying "Kati, look at your baby". I could hear the smile in her voice. ***Okay, you came for a review not a birth story right??? Well, you're getting both. Birth is important and these midwives kick major ass.*** Jessica and Big Love weighed Bebe Smash and she took many measurements. She tenderly turned the baby over, smiling the entire time and I knew that my child was in the best care with these two. Our family came and they quietly left saying they would be back for hugs and a visit the next day. During postnatal visits they came to check on me and the baby. I had difficultly with breastfeeding but Jessica sat right next to me and showed me different positions for Bebe Smash to be in while I tried to get the hang of it. She shared her own stories of early parent difficulty that made me feel much better. Sarafina sat on a little stool and rubbed my feet. They were just so loving. I called them and texted them a hundred times over the first 3 weeks with questions and pictures. They responded to every one. Often calling hours later to check up on my progress. With any new concern my husband would look at me and say "we'd better ask the midwives". A call or a text later and our fears would dissolve into the abyss. How lucky we were. During one visit they did a heel prick on Bebe Smash for some blood work. He didn't make a peep while Sarafina blotted drops of blood onto the paper and I commented on how he didn't even move. She told me - and this is how I feel about the care me and my family have received from both Sarafina and Jessica through this entire experience - "it's because we do it with loving intention". I can honestly say that my husband and I genuinely love these women. I can say with certainty that they love us in return. And they love our son, we've seen that through the excellent care they've provided over the past year. These women are more than midwives. They love so honestly and yet so professionally. I can't imagine any other way to go through the stages of having a baby. We often comment on what we're going to do once we're done having babies. I'm confident we will find a way to infiltrate their lives so we can know them for many years to come. We have a healthy, happy, thriving baby boy and I know it's because he has led a very gentle life - from his days as a little sesame seed, through birth, and until now when he's learning to roll over. They were instrumental in helping us achieve this for him. We are planning more births and without a doubt, these women will be a part of those as well.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Tara. Having her as our doula for the birth of our…read morethird child at Mount Auburn Hospital was one of the best decisions we made. I was hoping for a VBAC, and Tara's experience, knowledge, and calming presence gave us so much confidence every step of the way. Throughout my pregnancy, she was incredibly responsive, thoughtful, and generous with her support- always available to answer questions, explain options, and share tips (including hospital bag suggestions we never would have thought of, even after two previous births!). When early labor stretched on longer than expected, Tara was an absolute rock- providing steady emotional support and helping us navigate our options with clarity and reassurance. Once we were admitted, she arrived immediately and supported me so my wife could get some much-needed rest. As labor intensified, the coping techniques Tara guided me through were essential in helping me achieve the unmedicated birth I had hoped for. Tara's care didn't end after the birth. Her postpartum support was truly invaluable, with regular check-ins and thoughtful, thorough guidance that made such a difference during those early weeks. We are beyond grateful to have worked with Tara- she helped us have the birth experience we dreamed of, and we would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a compassionate, skilled, and truly exceptional doula.

There truly aren't enough words to describe how much Tara meant to me during my VBAC journey…read more After my first birth ended in a C-section and I was told by my OB that a VBAC wasn't recommended, I felt defeated and scared. I carried so much anxiety into my second pregnancy -- fear of another surgery, fear that my body couldn't do it, fear of going through labor again. From the very beginning, Tara gave me something I didn't even realize I had lost: belief in myself. She gave me hope when I needed it most. Throughout my pregnancy, Tara was steady, compassionate, and always there. She answered my questions promptly and never made me feel silly for worrying. When my anxiety spiraled, Tara grounded me. When I doubted my body, she reminded me of its strength. During my long labor, hospital staff changed multiple times, and that continuity of care from Tara was essential. She was the constant. She knew my history, my fears, and my goals, and she made sure I never felt lost in the shuffle. Tara showed up in every sense of the word. She had helpful suggestions for managing pain, changing positions, and staying focused. When things got hard, and I worried I might end up with another C-section, Tara looked me in the eyes and reminded me I could do this. When parts of my birth plan shifted, she was instrumental in helping me adjust without feeling like I had failed. Because of Tara's support, I achieved my VBAC. She was a huge part of that outcome. I truly believe my experience would not have been the same without her. I only wish I had found Tara before my first birth -- I genuinely feel things could have been different. I would 100% recommend Tara to anyone. She is not just knowledgeable -- she is grounding, empowering, and deeply committed to the women she supports. I will always be grateful for her. If I decide to have a third baby, I would absolutely want Tara by my side again.

Amazing. Feeling relaxed and renewed. Thank you, Melinda! I will be scheduling again!read more