Nancy is simply the BEST doula. I got her name through my OB, because clients of hers hire Nancy independently so often. When my husband and I met her, we knew we didn't need to interview anyone else. Her professionalism, years of expertise, and warm demeanor won us over. Being pregnant with my first, I wasn't sure if I wanted a medicated birth or to go natural. Nancy was able to answer all my questions and steer me towards resources that would help me make that decision. She was informative and neutral. It saved me so much time researching through conflicting information on the internet. Most importantly, once we made a plan (no epidural)- Nancy was a huge help on the big day to encourage us to stick to our goals. Although I had an extremely fast labor and didn't need extended pain relieving techniques, Nancy is ready for mamas having a natural birth that do need it. She knows how to apply counter pressure massage for back labor pain, and she has essential oils as well. You never know exactly how a labor is going to turn out, no matter how much you prepare for it. However, it definitely reduced my anxiety to know I had someone in my corner who was calm and had attended so many births before. On the day of my baby's birthday, Nancy was able to tell over the phone, by how I sounded, that we should head into the hospital. That advice turned out to be invaluable because if I had waited any longer, I might have given birth in the car. After the birth, Nancy was super sweet and followed up on how we were doing. She even made a house call to give me advice on how to hold the baby. Months later, she checked in via text message to see how we were getting along. She's just an incredibly genuine and lovely person. If you are looking for a Doula, you can't go wrong with Nancy. read more

I cannot recommend Nancy enough! From the very beginning, she brought such a calming and supportive presence to my pregnancy journey. She was incredibly knowledgeable, answered all our questions with patience, and made me feel confident, supported and prepared. During labor, she kept me grounded by encouraging me, helping with comfort techniques, and making sure my wishes were respected. Her calm voice and gentle guidance kept me focused when things felt overwhelming. Even after birth, she checked in and offered resources that made those first few weeks so much easier. I truly felt cared for every step of the way. She felt like family. If you are looking for someone who is compassionate, professional, and deeply dedicated to her clients, Nancy is the perfect choice. As new parents, we look back at the experience & She made such a difference for me and my husband. We are blessed and grateful to have her guide us through this beautiful journey read more

My wife and I were extremely fortunate to have Nancy as our birth doula for our first born. She is wise, knowledgeable, passionate, responsive and will be a strong advocate for you every step along the way. From early labor to birth, she really went above and beyond, tirelessly guiding my wife and I through three long days. She also checked in with us postpartum and offered helpful tips on breastfeeding and sleep. We were so grateful to have benefited from her years of experience, and felt like we were in very good hands navigating doctors and nurses in the hospital. She's also a wholesome human being in general and possesses the kind of energy you want to have around during birth. read more

Nancy is an excellent doula who is extremely knowledgeable about all things pregnancy, birth and postpartum. As a first time mom I had no idea what to expect during the birth process and I was very nervous. Nancy helped us prepare for birth and guided us through the labor experience. It was so helpful having such a kind, non-judgmental doula on call anytime I needed advice or support. She's extremely responsive and felt like a second mom looking out for me the whole time. She had lots of useful resources and books that she leant me to help me prepare. I was committed to doing the Hypno babies program and she knew exactly how to support me in that throughout my birthing time. During birth Nancy and my partner took turns giving me hip compressions for hours to help alleviate the pains from contractions. When it came time to make game time medical decisions during birth she was a knowledgeable expert to consult with. She has been through so many births and understands the process and how things can play out. Thanks to Nancy's guidance I was able to have a natural unmedicated birth and she helped start me on a successful breastfeeding journey. Nancy was instrumental in helping us have a calm and healthy birth. Both my partner and I would give her a 10/10! read more

We are so fortunate to have had Nancy as our birth doula as she helped us through the most difficult moments of labor and was incredibly supportive of my wife and our physical and emotional needs. As an expectant dad who was stressed out at the hospital while my wife was in labor, she reminded me to eat, drink, and sleep. This may sound like obvious advice but in a stressful time, we need someone to remind us to take care of ourselves. Nancy was truly excited for us during the delivery and took all the amazing photos. We can't recommend her enough and look forward to her postpartum visit!! read more

I can't say enough good things about Nancy, so much so that it almost feels overwhelming to put this into words. I could mention all of the ways Nancy was helpful (acting as an interpreter and "guard dog" with our medical team to make sure my wishes were followed, comforting, coaching, advising us pre and postpartum), but, for me, the most impactful thing was Nancy's spirit. I didn't really realize this until after the birth, but Nancy's energy was exactly what I needed when going through the hardest and most powerful experience of my life. I don't remember this, probably because I was in a super altered state, but my husband said that I was describing Nancy as an angel (my husband loved Nancy too) :). Ultimately, Nancy became more than our doula--we think of her as Aunt Nancy to our little bean. Thank you, Nancy! read more

STOP! SLAM THE BRAKES on your doula search. You've found her! She is The Best. Seriously. Amazing. Incredible. Nancy was EVERYTHING for our twins delivery, and the days leading up to it. She was a raved recommendation from a friend of mine & I'm SO GLAD we booked her. WORTH EVERY PENNY. As a first time dad, she helped with info & what to do as we approached our day. She has multiple clients but does not over book. We were lucky to get in. A couple consultations & we felt ready as we could be. Our twins came 5 weeks Early & Nancy beat me to the hospital. She was there in a flash! Always responsive, caring & extremely well informed. Her experience is invaluable. While we were in labor she prepped us so well, we felt confident. A phenomenal coach!! She worked with the nurses & knew what to say, and when to say it. Thank you Nancy!! read more

I could not recommend Nancy more highly. She cared for us holistically - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally. She has a serene, calming presence that dispelled any anxieties we had about labor and delivery. As first time parents, we especially appreciated her vast experience and calm nature. Nancy made sure that I had all the resources I needed during pregnancy to achieve my birth goals. During labor, she empowered me with the ability and freedom to do what my body was telling me while providing information and suggestions to help labor progress. After delivery, she helped my baby and me breastfeed for the first time. She also documented the labor and delivery with a timeline and photos that I will cherish forever. Postpartum, Nancy checked in daily and was available on the phone and for home visits to discuss recovery, breastfeeding, baby's health, anything we needed. Everyone thinks they have the best doula. If you hire Nancy, you actually will. read more

Nancy was a phenomenal doula. I honestly don't know how I would have been able to have my first baby without her. Our birth plan went slightly off course, with a 24 hour induction and artificial breaking of membranes, but Nancy's calm coaching got us back on track and to the finish line with no epidural or pain meds. After the birth of our baby, Nancy frequently checked in and was an amazing help establishing breastfeeding. She is patient, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. You'll be lucky to have her. read more

We needed a Doula that we could also trust to take care of our 3 year old during our home birth. It was an unusual ask in that Nancy would have to be available for me but also my toddler depending what time I went into labor. As soon as we met Nancy we knew we could trust her and that she was the right person for us. She is kind, thoughtful and really caring - she took excellent care of my son during my labor and was very supportive to me too. We were so happy to have her as part of our special day and recommend her highly. read more

Nancy was a pillar of support in helping me deliver our firstborn little one - one month early! We interviewed multiple doulas before going with Nancy. It was a close call between her and one other candidate, but in the end Nancy's extensive history of experiences was the deciding factor. Never once did we doubt her competence. Her confidence was exactly what both a first-time mother and father needed in the weeks leading up to delivery. She's seen so much and has an unparalleled amount of wisdom. Something I really appreciated from Nancy was her mindfulness in keeping us aware of her business agreement. Long story short, my labor was long! It was late evening when we were approaching twenty-four hours of Nancy on site at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Both my husband and I were fully focused (read: delirious) on laboring as comfortably as possible, when Nancy herself brought up her twenty-four hour clause and fee change. She communicated our options clearly to us, and we agreed that she should head home to energize until we knew I was really in active labor. When time came, Nancy rallied on her way back and continued to coach us through the delivery of my baby girl! Even when we sent her home, my husband applied all the counter-pressure techniques she taught us, and her guidance was felt from afar. Even though the role of a doula is not to be the direct advocate to a medical team, Nancy made sure I had the words to express what I wanted and prepared me for multiple scenarios in case they presented themselves. Like some sort of Wonder Doula, after our delivery Nancy zoomed off to the labor of a repeat client of hers. That the following laboring client hired Nancy for her nextborn should be a testimony in itself. She's got the right energy, and clearly knows how to store it, too! Nancy is genuine through and through, even down to her fair pricing. (In my research, I found that east side doulas with optimized Yelp pages tend to charge west side rates.) There's a doula out there for everyone, but Nancy's vibe perfectly gelled with ours, and it's simply a bonus that she's an upstanding businesswoman, too. I'm still in happy first-time mom mode with my little one, but if we decide to bring another tiny human into the world, we will absolutely think of Nancy! read more

Nancy's help got me through my most painful birth yet! Nancy is calm, cool, and supportive. She met us at the hospital several times and both times I was impressed by how quickly she got there. This was my third birth, so I knew what to expect, but Nancy still surpassed my expectations. She anticipated my needs and knew just what to say or do, massaging my back through contractions, helping with positioning after baby was born, and chatting with my partner (when I was unable to do so due to birthing!). Nancy always responded to my texts and calls right away, so I felt like she truly held my hand through the whole pregnancy and birth, as well as after. I highly recommend Nancy! read more

This review is way overdue (my daughter is almost 3), but Nancy is just absolutely amazing. She is the reason I was able to have an unmedicated birth at Kaiser. Her calm demeanour, experience, and ability to adjust to what I needed (e.g., counter pressure) were invaluable. I will never forget her telling me to "trust my body" and that being exactly what I needed to have a smooth delivery. Thank you!! read more

We interviewed six doulas before meeting Nancy. She came highly recommend by our birth class instructor and we are so glad to have found her. We sought a doula that possessed experience, strength, and wisdom, with a laid back attitude and not overly hippie-dippie. Nancy helped us realize our birth plan and addressed every fear and concern we had. We delivered at Cedars after 28 hours of labor and she was with us every contraction. During our home labor, Nancy was in close communication with us until we met her at the hospital late at night where she stayed with us until we delivered the next afternoon. She was both nurturing and encouraging as we forged ahead with our natural birth plan. When it came time to make tough decisions, she helped talk us through them and we have no regrets. Her sense of humor and massage skills are an added bonus. I highly recommend Nancy to anyone seeking emotional and physical support in their birth... and post-birth. After our son arrived, I texted her all hours of the day and night with questions about breastfeeding and baby care. She was always quick to respond and helped me tremendously. I couldn't imagine becoming a mom without her. read more

I was already 40 weeks pregnant with my first baby when I made a last minute decision to hire a doula. Nancy was the perfect choice and provided the exact support I needed. She did everything possible to help me stick to my birth plan, which was to have unmedicated natural birth in a hospital setting. I followed her every advice while laboring at home for a while before going to the hospital. Once I was admitted to the hospital she made my communication with the med personal a lot easier. Also, she never left my side, massaging me, applying a cold wet cloth, essential oil, etc. I highly recommend her!! read more

Nancy is amazing! My husband and I were lucky enough to have her as our doula for the birth of our daughter two months ago. She has been an incredible resource to us from pregnancy through birth and postpartum. Her warmth, positivity, and experience made a huge difference to us as we navigated this time, particularly as first time parents. During pregnancy, she helped us prepare for the birth that we wanted and was always available to talk through questions or be a non-judgmental sounding board. Throughout an exhausting labor and delivery, Nancy was a constant source of encouragement and support. She's someone who pays close attention and was always attuned and responsive to how I was feeling at any given point. She engaged easily with the care team at the hospital and helped us think through and feel comfortable with decisions as labor evolved. Even after our baby arrived, Nancy continued to check in on us and encouraged us to call or text at any time. Her genuine care and dedication to her clients is evident in everything she does. We really couldn't have asked for more! read more

Nancy is incredible. Without her we would not have had the birth we were hoping for. She helped us stay calm and gently guide us. This was our first birth and she made it an incredible experience. Through our pre- and postpartum visits she helped turn this birth into an experience full of meaning and growth. She took the time in our pre-labor visits to learn more about us, understand and respect our preferences, share her knowledge, and establish a relationship of trust and caring. Her contact postpartum to check on us was an extra layer of caring and helped us feel more confident in caring for our baby and ourselves. Working with a doula is a very personal decision, but we could not recommend Nancy highly enough and we are forever grateful that she was a part of the birth of our first child. read more

I didn't think I would want or need a doula, but after meeting with Nancy I knew I needed her. Nancy was the doula for my birth in October 2017. She is so warm, friendly and knowledgeable about child birth. She was available for phone calls or texts from a nervous pregnant lady whenever I needed some reassurance or input on the process. I went almost two weeks past my due date and my OB wanted to induce but Nancy kept reassuring me that the baby would come when it was ready and sure enough I went into labor on my own at 2:30am and stayed at home for a few hours. My husband texted with her letting her know what stage I was at and she responded right away. When we arrived at the hospital she was there by the time I was getting set up in the room. I was worried having a doula would replace the support from my husband but I was very wrong. She gave me options on positions to try when I was too in it to think of what to do myself. During every contraction she put counter pressure on my lower back which was the relief I needed to make it through. All the while my husband was holding my hand and providing the emotional support I needed. She understood what I wanted out of my birth and helped me stay true to it by supporting me and not pushing me into anything I didn't want. After the birth she helped with breastfeeding and understanding what was to come in that world. I was able to text her throughout the following weeks questions and she always got back quickly. Nancy was a true advocate for what I wanted and I think my birth would have been very different without her. I will definitely be using her again for my next pregnancy!! read more

We are long overdue to write this review of our wonderful doula, Nancy Connelly. On December 20th 2017 Nancy helped deliver our daughter into the world. She was the first doula we met with and hiring her remains one of the best birthing decisions we made. Nancy is kind, funny, present and experienced. She truly knows her way around a hospital staff and procedures, and it gave me confidence to see the friendly relationship she had with several of the nursers, our midwife and doctor. In addition to a postpartum visit, Nancy made herself available for two pre-labor appointments, where she never rushed, or made us feel silly about our many, MANY questions. We liked her immediately for this, but it was during my 38 hr labor that she truly shined... When my water broke at home she was 100% responsive and available throughout the night. Later, at the hospital, when my mind was melting, she was there advocating on our behalf. Nancy was literally there the entire time. Aside from my personal experience, she also made my husband feel comfortable and confident and provided a balance and calmness to the room. I just cannot say enough about Nancy or the exceptional service she provided to us. She is certainly deserving of the trust we put in her. We cannot help but feel she's part of our family. read more

Nancy is incredible!!! We felt so lucky to be able to partner with her as our doula for the birth of our first baby. She was always so helpful, quick to respond, and gave great, balanced information so we could make our own decisions and help to support us through this process. Prior to my due date, we had a few visits (virtually due to covid and in-person once it was safer), and she really helped us to feel at ease with the whole process of labor and delivery. She also is super familiar with local hospitals (we delivered at Huntington) and we found that knowledge so useful for knowing what to expect, how to prepare, etc. She is so supportive, super receptive and responsive, and helped me through a long prodomal labor and supported me once I was in active labor and delivery. She knows exactly what's needed, how to interact with the medical team, was super supportive of all my decisions, and was super supportive of my partner too, so he could feel empowered to help me through labor and delivery process too. She does great acupressure during labor, has essential oils, is super knowledgeable, and even took pictures for us, which are moments we will always be able to cherish now. She made sure my first birth process was such a positive one, and it felt so reassuring to just have her on our side. She also is super supportive for after baby is here, and provided a great postpartum visit to help me with breastfeeding. Overall, we can't say enough great things about her. Thank you for everything Nancy!! read more

There is not enough good I can say about Nancy. I wasn't sure if I wanted a doula after interviewing several and after I met Nancy, who came highly recommended to me from multiple doctors and midwives, I knew 2 minutes in I really wanted her to be part of my first birth. Nancy is extremely kind, warm, professional, consistent as can possibly be, and the most reliable person you could possibly hope for. She played a huge role in the outcome of my birth and I will forever be grateful to her for everything she did to help us through the whole process. She is SO AMAZING working with the labor and delivery nurses and was incredible with my OB. If you are considering hiring a doula I cannot recommend this woman enough. read more

This review is long overdue as Nancy was my doula October 2020 but better late than never. Nancy was literally a godsend. I decided I wanted a doula just a few weeks before my due date and I'm so glad I found Nancy and that she agreed to be my doula. When we met I knew that she was the right doula for me and that I needed her expertise as I was a first time mom. Nancy is truly the sweetest and kindest person. Although my plan was to give birth at a birth center, life had other plans and Nancy had a backup plan. She provided a backup birth plan and while I didn't think I would need it, it turns out, I ended up being transferred to a hospital. Unfortunately, because of Covid restrictions, Nancy couldn't join me at the hospital but she was was so helpful while I labored at home and at the birth center before I had to be transferred. After we were back home from the hospital, she came over to our home and answered all my breastfeeding questions, she provided resources, and just sat and chatted with me for hours. I also texted Nancy several times in that early postpartum period and she always responded. If my husband and I decide to go for baby #2, I definitely want Nancy to be my doula again! read more

As a first time mom, my husband and I didn't know what to expect when it came to delivering our baby. You could take all the childbirth classes out there, but nothing will completely prepare you on the day of your delivery. Many people still don't know about doulas and their role in the birthing process. After what some of our relatives went through, they highly recommended hiring a doula because they wish they had one during their delivery. Our ob/gyn strongly recommended doulas who were DONA certified. Nancy was one of them. I did a DONA search up in my area and looked up their profiles. Nancy truly stood out because of her years of experience. She attended over 450 births. I had an unusual case where my baby's heart dropped a few times during my non-stress test. My ob/gyn was extremely worried and recommended me to be induced. We were glad that we hired Nancy because induction was very painful. Nancy was able to suggest me to try standing, sitting, and walking around to help relieve that labor pain. She knew how to do acupressure massage techniques to help me relax. Her technique was incredible. Many times my husband and I didn't know that there were many options available while I was in the labor and delivery room in the hospital. Had we not hired Nancy, I would have suffered even more. For example, when the nurse first administered Pitocin, I was uncomfortably nauseated. Nancy requested them to turn down it down because I wasn't quite ready for it yet. Nancy will never make you feel uncomfortable or pressure you into doing something that doesn't make you feel right. She will always give you all the options available and respect your decisions. In November 2017, Nancy helped us delivered our beautiful baby girl. It turned out that my daughter's neck was wrapped by her umbilical cord which caused her heart rate to drop initially. Nancy is always available 24/7, 7 days a week of you have questions about anything. You can call or text her. One more thing, Nancy loves 80's New Wave music like I do, and our daughters happened to share the same first name! Find the right match when you interview potential doulas. We were ever so thankful that Nancy was our perfect match! read more

With all of the uncertainties of being pregnant during COVID, my husband and I decided that we wanted to hire a doula to help us navigate the birth experience. Nancy was everything that we could have hoped for and more!! She is such a pro and has an incredibly reassuring and calming energy. In our prenatal meetings she listened to all of our concerns and was able to help us make a great plan based on our wishes, while providing invaluable guidance from her vast experience. She helped us know how to prep for the hospital, what questions to ask to be prepared for COVID protocols, and walked through the entire labor experience with us. When it came to the actual labor, she was our rock!!!! She helped us navigate contractions, guided us through different natural pain management techniques, and advised us on when to go to the hospital based on our unique experience. I felt supported and empowered the entire time and my husband was at ease knowing that she was there to answer all of our questions during the stressful time. Our postnatal meetings were incredibly helpful for breastfeeding positions and most importantly for moral support. I can't recommend Nancy highly enough, hiring her was the best decision we could have made for ourselves and our beautiful baby! read more

Nancy is a truly fantastic doula and an all-around wonderful person. Though I didn't think I really needed a doula for my second birth, my partner insisted--and I'm so glad we ended up hiring Nancy. Some highlights: 1) She makes herself super available for her clients, answering questions via text and phone as needed leading up to the birth. My OB was not at all informative or supportive of my birth plan, and Nancy gave me much-needed perspective on the situation without ever undermining the medical advice I was receiving. 2) Nancy wants her clients to have the birth THEY envision, and does not make judgments or put pressure on them to have a particular kind of labor and delivery. I wanted a med-free birth but in the end I needed to get induced, and Nancy helped me stay calm and stay focused on my other goals for the labor. She was so amazing that I ended up not needing an epidural, which made the delivery go faster and the recovery go much more smoothly. 3) She provides great support to the birth partner! Nancy made space for my partner to be my primary advocate in the delivery room, giving him the information he needed to talk to medical staff and make decisions supporting my birth plan when I was no longer able to do so myself. Together, they were the best support team I could have had. I highly recommend Nancy! read more

We love Nancy! She has been our doula for 3 births now and she has been attentive and encouraging every time. She is informative and reassuring out of her years of experience, and she is very warm and genuine in her work. She made sure to support our needs at the hospital (both me and my husband!) and kept an eye out for what the nurses were doing to make sure our birth plan would be followed - and coached us to advocate for our wishes when needed. We especially have appreciated how she keeps a detailed record of each birth - what were the contractions like, when did the water break, how long did I push for, etc. - which was really helpful as we prepared for the next babies. Even though I opted for an epidural at the 3rd birth after laboring for a while, having Nancy there to support my choice and talk me through the pushing stage was invaluable. I can't run out of good things to say about Nancy - she's the best! read more

Nancy came recommended to me by the teacher of my birthing class. I am so glad that we went with her. When we met her my husband and I both knew she was the doula for us. I really feel I could not have done it without her. I wanted a natural birth in a hospital setting. She had supported other mothers at Kaiser Permanente and was very comfortable interacting with the doctors and nurses there. She was able to advocate for us while at the same time not intruding at all. She got along well with the nurses and doctors and found the perfect balance. She helped support us with each decision we had to make. Through my long and painful labor, she kept letting me know it was normal to experience this. She also knew acupressure points to help ease the pain and different positions I could try. Nancy was available on the phone as labor began to tell us what was normal and help us decide when to go to the hospital. She would also have come over if we wanted but instead we chose to meet her at the hospital later on. She was also non-judgmental and fine with any decision we made. She is loving and motherly and strong and non-intrusive. She doesn't take things personally. Her experience with the process is clear. I feel I could not have gone through a natural birth without her. She also took lots of photos of the actual birth which are great to have. But I'm not sure how she was able to take them because it felt like she was there supporting me as well :) If I were going to have another, I would absolutely ask for Nancy to support us again. read more