Faith and the NOVA team are truly first rate. Expertise is on pace with any doc we spoke to. The guidance and peace of mind was priceless. We cannot recommend them enough. Easily the best money we've spent in regards to the birth process. Joslyn has been a huge help with the baby at night and treats him like her own. She has offered expertise and little hacks here and there that have made a huge difference for us in getting acclimated as new parents (hello pace feeding). we only wish there were more of her! We feel so blessed to have found NOVA and confidently recommend them to anyone, even though we would selfishly like it if we could keep them for ourselves. God Bless! read more

How do you even begin to write a review for someone who has truly changed your life? I can't recommend Lauren and NOVA Birth Partners enough and feel incredibly grateful that she chose to take me on as a client. After having a C-section with my first birth, I knew I wanted a doula for my second pregnancy. My first birth had felt like something that just happened to me, and this time, I wanted a different experience. When I went past my due date, Lauren gave me the reassurance and confidence I desperately needed. When I felt hopeless, she gave me hope. Her recommendations and introduction to Faith were invaluable in helping me go into labor. She held space for me to make my own decisions. She had the confidence and experience I needed as I prepared for a VBAC. During labor, she helped me move through different positions to encourage my baby's descent. She provided hands-on support and, when I needed it, tough love. I couldn't have asked for a better person to be there in the moments after the most empowering experience of my life. I am beyond grateful for Lauren. Without her support, I know I would have ended up with a repeat C-section. She helped me take back my birth, and for that, I will always be thankful. read more

I inquired with NOVA Birth Partners regarding doula services as it was something that i was interested in having for my first pregnancy. I loved how they wanted to support your birth plan and the type of delivery that you wanted, whether it was medicated, unmedicated, home birth, c-sections, etc. along with the medical interventions that you preferred. I also liked that there weren't services or preferred methods pushed onto me and that I would be in control of what I wanted in terms of giving birth. My doula was Yvonna and I also had support from Faith and Lauren throughout the process. I also went with the placenta encapsulation with Sarah who was sweet and extremely flexible -- I literally filled out the inquiry form and went into labor 2 days later and she was able to pickup, complete, and deliver my capsules by the time I got home from the hospital! Unfortunately, my entire birth plan went out the door as my water broke almost 2 weeks before my due date and I gave birth a few hours later! It was literally like the movies and happened so quick. Yvonna was able to provide support towards the end of pushing and after delivery, as well as postpartum support about 2 weeks after I gave birth. I also appreciated the prenatal discussions regarding my birth plan and preferences as well as all of the details about giving birth (birthing positions, labor techniques, how to manage contractions, etc.). As a first time mom who went through the entire pregnancy and labor and delivery experience during quarantine as a result of COVID, I wanted all of the support that I could have, especially since my hospital limited myself to one support person outside of a professional doula. It's definitely something that moms-to-be should consider! read more

I had a call scheduled to discuss possibly retaining the services of them for a sibling doula. Unfortunately blocking out the time for the call proved to be a waste of time because they never reached out. If that's any indication of their response time when the service is actually needed then you're in serious trouble. read more

I attended infant CPR with my partner. While the class and instruction was adequate, $99/couple for barely 35 minutes of class seemed extremely overpriced (considering the class was scheduled to be for 90 minutes). We were interested in an in person class and were disappointed to arrive to class only to watch a DVD on infant cpr, which was supplemented by commentary from the instructor doula. It would have been preferable if the instructor doula did all the teaching live, instead of relying on the DVD to do the teaching. The most useful part of the class was practicing compressions on a baby dummy but I don't think a price tag of $99 is worth 5 minutes of practicing. I recommend checking out infant cpr YouTube videos instead and you'll learn the same exact thing we did. read more

I had the absolute pleasure of working with doula Lauren Digby during my first birth. I have nothing but phenomenal, top-tier, 5-star things to say. First of all, I was absolutely impressed and floored (in the best way possible) by her incredible bedside manner, respect, candor, kindness, follow-up, and genuine care for my family's well-being. She took her time answering any and all questions I had (and there were a lot lol). I thought the support she offered me before the birth was top-notch, but she outdid herself when it was time for the baby to come. She showed up at the birth center promptly! She would have come to my home first, but I didn't know I was in labor until it was time to go to the birth center. She provided the educational facts, maternal support, and guidance I needed and more. She was attentive during the entire process, staying in tune with what it seemed like I needed, and was gentle in her approach On top of that, she was the best guide for my husband. They were both very active during my birth, I'm talking holding my weight in many positions as I pushed, feeding me, keeping me hydrated, annd talking me through my contractions when necessary, honored the silence when necessary. She created a line of communiation that had us and the midwifery team all working together smothly. My midwifery team was even impressed with Lauren and how well she stayed attentive and anticipated ALL OF MY NEEDS. They expressed in interest in having her alongside them again! After the birth she called, checked on me, offered text support, and provided breastfeeding education. If you are on the fence about hiring a doula, please just go ahead and do it. If you're in the area, hire Lauren! We love her! You will not be disappointed. read more

For us, not the best experience. The service may work well for some, but not for others. Pay close attention to the fee structure and little nuances read more

My journey began several months ago when I started looking for postpartum doula support for my first baby. I was approaching my due date so I probably overlooked some of the red flags up front that eventually became a bigger issue. Communication from day 1 was horrible except for the actually doula I ultimately worked with. Issues started the day after my delivery when I reached out to my doula to confirm dates for her to come that week. She had suffered two sudden deaths in her family and was unable to help for the next week or two. She asked if I would like to find alternate support that week and I was desperate for help. She let the agency staff know but it wasn't until I had to reach out to the agency staff that I was told they were looking for someone. I got a call from a woman that said she just had started working there and was willing to help. Clearly I was thrilled but then I learned she had no newborn experience and had a full time 9-5 job. Long story short when she arrived at my house she asked if it was ok that she sleep on the floor of my sons nursery. I was so uncomfortable but knew there wasn't anything I could do at that point so I obliged. I even had to teach her how to handle the diapers since my son had a circumcision. She had only ever watched a grown baby but never a newborn. This isn't the kind of stuff that a new mom should never have to deal with. Sadly I was already dealing with PPA and this made it worse. I reached out to the office and asked if I could get back those hours or someone portion of them since I had originally hired someone with much more experience and didn't receive that. It took us a lot of time to finally get a phone call and once we talked to them they said they'd get back to us. They never got back to us. Eventually my doula returned and was so incredibly happy with her. I learn about a month later from her that she'd be ending her time with the agency and never once did anyone at the agency tell me that. She had to communicate her end date and everything. What kind of agency doesn't discuss this with you directly? I have written very few reviews in my life and I felt so strongly I had to write this one so that I could hopefully prevent any new mom from going through this horrible experience. It's a totally shame because while they may hire talented folks, their communication and handling of an issue is atrocious. read more

They're great! Amazing post-partum and babysitting services.

I met NOVA Birth Partners' founder, Faith, and the Baltimore Birth Festival. We spoke at length about many birth-related things, as I'm also a lactation consultant, and I let her know I was nearing my second trimester and looking for a doula to support my VBA2C. From the start, Faith was very supportive, and she recommended Nancy Goodman to be my doula. I am so glad that she paired us together, because Nancy was such a wonderful doula! When I was put on bedrest for eight weeks, Nancy checked in on me through texts to make sure I was holding up okay. She was very mindful of my mental health needs throughout my whole pregnancy, since my last pregnancy and birth was traumatic. During my birth, Nancy was vigilant in making sure that nothing unnecessary or off my birth plan was being done without my explicit consent and understanding. Although my birth did not go as planned, I still felt like I was in control, like I was heard, and that I didn't fail because Nancy was there to keep me level-headed and calm. I appreciated this the most out of my whole experience with Nancy -- there was never a time that I felt like things were spiraling out of control. She has such a calm demeanor and aura about her, and her personality was perfectly in tune with my own. Thank you to NOVA and especially to Nancy for being there for me. My family is complete, and I'm glad that we had you there to help. read more

Hiring Faith & Lauren as my doulas is seriously one of the best decisions I've ever made. These two ladies are so passionate about birth, babies and making sure you have the best possible experience for you. I particularly appreciated that they backed up their suggestions with research and medical knowledge. I had an all natural water birth in spite of COVID, stalled labor (multiple times) and an asynclitic birth so believe me when I tell you that if the birth you want is at all possible, Faith & Lauren will support you and find a way to make it happen! read more

My NOVA Birth Partners doula, Lauren, was absolutely amazing throughout my pregnancy, home birth, and postnatal recovery. She made me feel at ease from the first meeting and talking to her always decreased my anxieties about becoming a first time mom. Lauren was knowledgeable, compassionate, and encouraging. The wealth of information and resources she had at her fingertips was both impressive and comforting--whether I was asking about pregnancy symptoms, birthing options, infant care, breastfeeding, or the like, she was there to provide me with sound guidance and reassurance. She worked perfectly in tandem with the rest of my birth team. I also had a easy process with getting my placenta encapsulated through NOVA Birth Partners. The whole experience was everything I could ask for and more. read more

My experiences thus far with NOVA Birth Partners have been amazing! I sent an inquiry about a doula and within minutes Faith called me and spent time answering questions and matching me with the perfect doula. The meet the doula event I attended was great and offered so much information! My husband and I took the one day intensive birth class and it was amazing! Tracy did a great job covering all of the basics, answering lots of questions, and making the day fly bye! We're going to be taking the newborn class and my experiences with my doula, Kim, have been amazing! I couldn't recommend this company more highly! Update: Kim helped us have an amazing birth experience and deliver our baby girl without complications. As a first time mama, she helped me walk through the journey of labor and was amazing ! I couldn't recommend Kim or NOVA Birth Partners more! read more

Navigating your first pregnancy during a global pandemic is anything but easy. I knew I would hire a doula before I got pregnant but was unsure of what that looked like during these uncertain times. I did interviews with a few different companies and after speaking with Faith and Lauren my decision to go with NOVA was much easier. I had great prenatal support whenever I had questions and their support during my labor was also great. They knew which positions were best to get my baby down while also providing me with some relief. Lauren was awesome leading up to the birth. She gave me tips when I started doing a little too much toward the end of my pregnancy and helped me to relax when I started to get concerned about the possibility of induction. I also used their placenta encapsulation services and working with Sarah was wonderful. She checked in leading up to my delivery date and my capsules were completed and delivered faster than I expected! I am very grateful to NOVA for the support I received in delivering my son. However, reflecting back on the day, I did have a few issues which I have since made them aware of. As a result of that and their response, I would say to make sure you make all of your expectations known and have anything said to you that may not be in the contract in writing. Also make sure everyone is on the same page to prevent any communication issues or misunderstandings later. read more

Nancy Goodman was the best decision I made during my pregnancy. We hired her after interviewing several other doulas and I knew before we hung up the phone that she was the one I wanted by our side in the delivery room. Nancy possesses the ability to make you feel like you can do anything in the world. Several times during my pregnancy I had doubts about laboring at home and whether or not I would be capable of doing so. I would text or call Nancy and she would ring back and make me feel like a superwoman. If I had questions I could reach out to Nancy. Doulas are there to help coach you during delivery and a really good Doula will help you understand what's going on so you feel confident throughout the process. Frankly doctors have to come and go throughout the entire process and there were a couple of times in my delivery where the doctor would come in and leave without saying much then a nurse would come in prepared to start some procedure (IV, bulb, breaking waters, etc.) without having discussed anything with me. Nancy was there to say we need a moment before you start doing these things to discuss our options. She was my voice when I needed one. She helped my husband when he needed to be told to take care of himself. And most importantly she not only supported my decisions, but made me feel confident in making them. If you're having any doubts about labor and delivery, I strongly recommend hiring a doula. And if you want one of the best look no further than Nancy Goodman. read more

As I embarked on my journey seeking a natural birth, I was lucky to hear about NOVA Birth Partners through my masseuse. And even luckier to be paired with Faith as my doula! She is wise beyond her years, and gave a knowledgeable answer or advice for every little question I had throughout my pregnancy and beyond. I will definitely work with them again if I have another baby! read more

I am not one to write reviews but in this case I feel I need to make other mothers aware if considering their services. I really wanted to like this agency but there are definitely some glaring issues that no new mother should have to deal with after giving birth. I reached out to NOVA because I was looking for a doula to assist post-birth with taking care of our newborn. I went on their site filled out the form and heard back via email pretty quickly. However, I had several questions about the process and requested a call on a number of occasions but instead received responses back via email. They set me up to interview someone but turns out that was the only doula available and I was told if I did not secure payment soon I could lose her to another family. I had several questions and concerns about the payment model.The company's payment model is to pay everything upfront for the entire time period you work with the doula instead of paying as the hours are worked by the doula. That seems absurd because how many families can one afford to pay thousands of dollars upfront. Also, it was my first time using the company so seems like a great leap of faith to dish out so much cash for the service. Fast forward, I decided to secure some of the hours vs. all to test the waters. Within the first two weeks of the doula starting she ditched us. The night before she was scheduled to report week 3 she stated she had an issue come up and would not be able to work with us for the foreseeable future. On top of that for the two weeks she did show she was rarely on time. I reached out to NOVA right away to notify them and ask if they had another doula available or would they provide a refund. They responded they did not have any other options and would refund me. However, they would take a 4% processing fee and another portion. for temp care fee. I was in disbelief and responded saying now I am being financially penalized for someone else's inability to work. Their response yes that is the policy. So the policy is that although it was not my fault or doing that I am now responsible for these additional administrative fees. I have worked with other care companies in the past you pay week to week directly to the provider once the hours are complete. Also, I have never had someone charge me for fees when it is the companies fault they can't complete the service. I do understand issues come up, but no new mom just coming out of delivery should have deal with such poor service and lack of disregard for the customer causing undue stress. read more

We became interested in hiring a doula when we read about all the good outcomes they can provide, and decided to go with NOVA Birth Partners after speaking to Faith over the phone and getting a great vibe from her. We selected the Junior Doula Team package and based on our due date and were able to have very constructive conversations with two junior doulas (Lare and Krystin) who were a pleasure to speak with. Towards the end of my 36th week I very suddenly developed preeclampsia and had to be induced; throwing much of our original birth plan out the window. The on-call doula, Jess, came to work with us and even though we had never met before, she was an instant calming presence and was extremely knowledgeable about inductions. It was a brutal experience for me and my husband as this was our first baby and we didn't know what to expect with an induction. Jess taught us many comfort methods and was a great support person for my husband as well. We were so close to asking for a c-section but she helped talk us out of it and gave us much needed perspective on how the labor was going. She also came to visit a few days after the birth and helped shape our perspective on it. Faith also came to visit after and really emphasized my role as a mother in this postpartum stage, which is to rest and feed the baby and provided some great advice on establishing a good milk supply and leaning on people for support. read more

NOVA Birth Partners is the BEST!! I'm a first time mom that decided I needed a doula just a few days before my scheduled induction. Based on a positive experience from a mom friend, I called NOVA Birth Partners to see if it was possible to get a doula on such short notice. The answer was yes and they were amazing! Faith responded quickly to my inquiry and my husband and I met with Kim a day or two later. For my delivery, we got paired with Nancy. Our experience with all three women was incredibly positive - they're caring, responsive, knowledgable and supportive. We would work with them again in a heartbeat. My husband and I (especially me!) are so incredibly thankful to have had Nancy by our side during my delivery. My scheduled induction took place over a couple days. During every step of the way, Nancy was our support. Whatever we needed, Nancy was there for us. We had tons of questions that she was able to answer or help with getting the answer. She was able to help expand upon things that the doctors and nurses would tell us. She made me as comfortable as I could be and helped me get through some painful procedures (those cervical exams are no joke!). I wanted to deliver naturally and Nancy was instrumental in helping to get baby down to a station where I could start pushing. Once I was able to start pushing, she was the perfect guide and helped me through the contractions. At this point my husband's nerves and excitement was overflowing and at times could be distracting. Nancy's calm and sure energy was the perfect counterpoint to my husband's. After 4+ hours of pushing, I had reached my physical limit. I couldn't get the little guy out and had to deliver via c-section. (Forceps/vacuum-assist wasn't an option because my baby could have gotten stuck due to his size.) Nancy was supportive and helped talk me through what would happen next up to the point that I had to leave the room for surgery. After delivery we were brought back to my delivery room and she was there to help support me with tips on breastfeeding and any other questions we had. When I entered the hospital, I was definitely anxious about what would happen during childbirth since you can't really know what's going to happen until it happens. Nancy was able to calm any fears and give me the confidence I needed through every twist and turn. Yes, we took the classes and read up on childbirth, but having someone there to help you through your specific situation is invaluable. I can't say enough good things about Nancy and hope to have her with me for any future births! read more

I used NOVA birth partners for birthing class and doula service on the day of my delivery. First, the class was really informative and helped me feel more comfortable about giving birth for the first time. They helped me come up with a birth plan and made me feel ok even it didn't all work out that way. I'm happy to say I had a wonderful birthing experience and a large part of it was due to my doulas, Melissa and Faith! I'm lucky my labor wasn't long and I was already 9 cm by the time I got to the hospital. Things happened so quickly but Faith and Melissa made it there in no time and put me at ease since I was freaking out about my son come 4 weeks early. I'm fortunate to have also had my mom, sister and husband there to support me but with their vast knowledge and experience Faith and Melissa were my advocates when it came to dealing with the medical staff. With the US birth mortality rates being high and worse for minority women I was really scared of something going wrong that could have been prevented. They gave me massages, used aromatherapy and helped me in all the crazy labor positions I got in. Even the best midwives and nurses won't do that. The doulas listened to my concerns, coached me through my unmedicated labor and encouraged me to keep going. I wholeheartedly recommend all women have a doula in the delivery room. They will support whatever kind of delivery you want: medicated, unmedicated, home birth, c-section, etc. I had a healthy 6 lbs baby boy and was able to follow most of my birth plan including no epidural. Even you think you can't afford one NOVA Birth Partners will work with you and even offer free doula for those in need! Ladies, you will not regret having a NOVA Birth Partner doula! read more

I cannot say enough good things about NOVA Birth Partners--they have literally been lifesavers for me, my husband, and our newborn baby girl, who is now six weeks old. Our relationship with them began when we reached out for their birth doula services. As first-time parents with no family nearby (mine are in Connecticut and my husband's are overseas), we wanted back-up in the delivery room and back-up prepping for the birth. We were paired with Nancy and she was A-MAZ-ING. Seriously, off-the-charts good. I had a long labor (about 26 hours), and stalled multiple times during it (got stuck at 8.5 cms for HOURS); but Nancy never missed a beat. She was our positive, soothing voice, our sounding board, our coach--and when I needed levity, my comic relief. ;-) I had wanted to skip meds, but ultimately decided (after 18 hours) it was best to get an epidural. She supported my decision with grace and sensitivity. My husband also felt so much better having her there. She was just fantastic--and was also very helpful during the postpartum visit (I couldn't figure out that Baby K-Tan for the life of me...it was like origami). I want her as my doula for every future birth! She has the perfect combo of interpersonal skills and knowledge (she knows SO much about birth and babies, I thought she must have gone to nursing or medical school). We also took two baby care courses with NOVA: the newborn care class and the infant CPR class. Colleen was our instructor for newborn care and, like Nancy, she was SO GOOD. The class flew by because she kept it both fun and informative. She was a midwife for years and is qualified as a lactation consultant AND a birth and postpartum doula, so it was like being taught by an encyclopedia come to life (and with a sense of humor). I have also gotten to work with Colleen again postpartum in her capacity as postpartum doula/lactation consultant. I was suddenly having trouble with nursing--my baby was fussing a LOT at the breast, and then crying and screaming, but it wasn't cluster feeding so I was stumped. Colleen confirmed that my supply is good, and said it seems my baby is very gassy and perhaps having trouble with my fast let-down. She taught me techniques to soothe baby, and ended up suggesting I try skipping dairy for the gassiness (when I still had some struggles). So far, so good! Baby still has her moments but it is much much better now (knock on wood!). Both Nancy and Colleen have also given me the encouragement and support I really needed postpartum. Case in point: My confidence was shaky when baby started acting different due to the gas. Colleen talked me through it and made me feel so much better, and so validated and like a good mom. Nancy also continues to cheer me on. She and Colleen are my dream team! Last but not least, there is Faith, who runs the organization. She treats this like a calling, not a job, and so do her employees. That means that when I text her or Colleen or Nancy, they always reply with helpful advice and support. For example: I was really anxious one night when my baby was cluster feeding, and since it was 10 PM I couldn't call my pediatrician. So I texted Faith and, sure enough, I had a reply within minutes. If you want a doula service that provides the whole package and is in it for the moms and babies, not the paychecks--look no further. They're it. read more

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A DOULA FROM THIS ESTABLISHMENT!!!! I WASTED $500! I attended a great prenatal class here and was impressed with some methods they discussed using when trying to do a VBAC. I hired them, had a few phone calls to create my birth plan and even met up with a doula. It turned out that the doula I met with wouldn't even become my doula so they substituted her with someone else who was not as knowledgeable. On the day of my due date, I had an ultrasound that determined that I would have to get a c section due to very low amniotic fluid. I let my "doula" know and she said that she would meet me at the hospital for my c section. Honestly, this lady/"doula" was the last thing on my mind as I prepared to not only welcome my baby but prepare for surgery as well. There were no calls about what I should do to prepare, I was left to do that on my own. The "doula" who I had only had a phone conversation with did show up for my c section. While I was being prepped for surgery, she sat in the lobby. You can only have 1 person in the back with you so I chose my husband bc now was not a time to exchange formalities. I ended up telling my husband that she could leave bc she was just sitting in the lobby. I was in the hospital for 4 days and recieved a text message 2 days in. That's it! No phone call, no home visit after like they promised. Nothing... just them taking my money. Don't waste your time or money. read more

My husband and I welcomed our first child at the beginning of July. Without the help we received from the wonderful women at NOVA Birth Partners, I can't imagine how we would have done any of it. We can't begin to thank them enough. First and last and most of all, our doula KimMarie Glick was an angel sent to us from God. Kim met us when we arrived at the hospital and stayed with us for 26 long hours of labor, the only person except the two of us who stayed the whole time and saw us through the entire labor and delivery. When I was exhausted beyond my limit and my husband collapsing from fatigue, Kim stayed steady and calm, easing our path with every small detail she took care of, helping us communicate with hospital staff and being there for support and encouragement when I needed it most. Kassi and Colleen both visited after the birth to check on us, see how I was doing, and teach me + the baby to nurse. Faith and Sarah came to the hospital to pick up the placenta - they had turned it into pills by the next day. Faith also came over with Kassi to visit us at home and was so kind and wonderful. We will be grateful to these women forever. Don't even think about having your baby without them. read more

We had an incredible experience with Nancy. She was so well informed, confident, communicative, caring, and made us feel so empowered both going into and during our birth! We could not have done it without her. I can't say enough great things!! read more

I contacted NOVA birth partners while experiencing yet another sleepless and tear-filled night with my newborn breastfeeding. I had my daughter three weeks early at the end of November. Even though she latched well in the hospital and I met with the lactation consultant there, once I was home I felt so lost and overwhelmed. Sleep deprivation will do crazy things to your mind! After another sleepless night with my 2 week old having latch issues, bleary eyed and somewhat hysterical I called several lactation consultants on Yelp including NOVA birth partners desperate for help. The owner and RN Faith called back within a few hours, late in the evening, and immediately calmed me and reassured me that everything would be ok. I can't tell you how much her phone call helped- when you're a first time mom feeling helpless when what should be a natural process seems to fail, a comforting voice from a professional telling me I'm not alone meant so so much. Faith gave me some immediate pointers and offered a couple different options for in home help to include an insurance covered, in-home LC visit or an out of pocket visit from a midwife and LC in training. I chose the latter as the midwife was able to come the very next day. Colleen was so incredibly sweet, had amazing tips for different holds, when I should begin pumping to not hurt my supply, how my husband could help, and how to get in sleep during these crazy first weeks. I received so much more advice and help than the hospital and even the pediatrician/LC. Best of all was the reassurance and kind words that I was doing everything right for my baby. There is no price on a kind word when you're second guessing yourself and sleep deprived. I can't recommend NOVA birth partners enough to any mom struggling with breastfeeding read more

I have utilized NOVA Birth Partners for a number of services and have found them to be an incredible resource for so many things related to childbirth and motherhood. I used NOVA BP to find a Doula for the birth of my first child and could not be more grateful to have found Nancy. Nancy was so knowledgeable, caring, and in tune with the many facets of the pregnancy and birth experience. She not only helped my husband and I feel calm and steady as we navigated decision-making, she also provided tools and resources to help me manage anxiety leading up to and during the birth process. She supported my desire for a natural birth and inspired me through her own personal experiences. Things never go exactly to plan, and I felt so much more confident with the decisions we ended up making because of her wisdom. She also provided a lot of physical comfort during the hardest parts of labor that made it so much more bearable. I treasure my birth experience in large part because Nancy was a part of it. I highly recommend having a doula--especially Nancy! read more

Their doulas are lifesavers (literally)! My family used 2 of their doula services (labor/birth doula and overnight postpartum doula), which I will detail below. ***Labor/Birth: Colleen M. was a part of NOVA Birth Partners (NBP) advance doula team and was my birth doula. She came to us highly recommended by the founder of NOVA Birth Partners. She's also a lactation consultant, so at about 7 or 8 months, I took the breastfeeding class she taught. Overall, my husband and I feel incredibly blessed that Colleen came into our lives! Colleen is a very kind and loving person. Her positive but realistic and non-judgmental personality put me at ease from the time I first met her. My birth plan was focused on a natural birth without pain medication, but we knew this could be a challenge while delivering at a hospital. I ended up having an induction at 39 weeks and still wanted labor to be as natural as possible. I know I would not have followed through without Colleen's help. She allowed me to make my own decision while providing me with information about the pros and cons of my options. With this help, I was able to have an induced vaginal delivery without pain medication. That's why we think of her as our warrior princess mom. Whenever I had a contraction, which was about every 2 mins or so for over 14 hours, she told me I could do it and she helped me through it with comforting positions, breathing techniques, and care. She also demonstrated to my husband ways that he could help me through the contractions. I cannot express how thankful I am that she was there. If she was not I have no doubt that my labor/birth plan would have gone down a different road and may have even resulted in a c-section instead. At one point, I was having incredibly painful back labor and our warrior princess mom stepped in with the rebozo among a range of other comfort measures in order to help our baby boy get into the right position. She did this for hours!!! She was incredible. She was calm. She was patient. And, she worked with the nurses to optimize my support. On top of this, I am forever grateful to have the beautiful images she captured during my labor and delivery. My husband was too "mesmorized" and I forgot all about getting pictures. Some of the shots Colleen took, we discovered on our devices weeks later-- thankful that these once in a lifetime cherished moments were captured! Lastly, after giving birth, Colleen continued to offer support to us after our baby boy arrived. She gave us home visits to help us as we fed our newborn every 1.5 hours to ensure he retained/gained his birthweight back during his first 2 weeks. First, she gave tips on increasing my supply and encouraging breastmilk let down before feedings. She gave me strategies to rest but also manage breastfeeding demands. Colleen will forever be a part of one of the hardest but miraculous things I have ever done and our family is thankful beyond words. ***Post-Partum: Angie was a delight to have in our home as a night doula for several night during our when our son was 2 months old. I had nearly reached a breaking point from a lack of sleep and 1000s of hours of full-time giving of everything I have in me to my newborn. My husband knew that we as a family, inexperienced and being transient to this area without the network of support locally that we needed, we needed some additional support. He contacted the founder of NOVA Birth Partners who was kind and responsive and was able to get us support for the upcoming night. I was so delighted to hear from him that I would get a night off to attempt to catch some zzz's. Angie was our overnight doula and you could tell right away that she loves what she does and loves babies. I felt super comfortable with her in our home and with our baby boy. She always arrived on time and was helpful with offering advice about caring for a newborn (such as feeding techniques, sterilization of feeding materials, and handling frozen breastmilk). Angie took great care of our baby. As a new mom, it's not possible to sleep unless you know your baby is safe and happy (not distressed and crying). Well, with Angie, whenever I got up to pump her first night there, there was a gentle quietness in my home (no crying baby!!!!). That gave me the peace of mind to really just relax!!!! I finally was able to get 4 hours of sleep straight (for multiple days in a row). I felt like a new woman (or more like, my true self). Angie was professional, loving, and great with our son. She also helped us with some minor household chores. Overall, NBP is by far the best way we have spent money as parents-to-be and new parents. We are thankful for the support we got from NBP classes, doulas and founder, Faith. read more

Doula KimMarie Glick is knowledgable, experienced, soothing and kind, and I would hire her in a heartbeat for help birthing a second baby. Kim guided my husband and me through the most momentous day of our lives, and we are so thankful. Her help made the birth of our daughter a little less scary beforehand, in the moment and afterward. She helped us sketch out a birth plan and then feel OK when things didn't go according to plan, with an unplanned C section. When I was looking for a doula, my main question was, who makes me feel the most calm? Within minutes, I knew that was Kim. Thank you! read more

I can't recommend NOVA Birth Partners enough, especially Lauren. From the moment I contacted them I had a support system--Lauren and Faith helped me prepare for the birth of my child, made sure I had all the information to make the right choices for me during the labor and delivery process, and were patient and friendly through my many many questions as a first time mom. Lauren was incredible. She understood my husband and I from the moment we met and adapted to serve our needs. She was our rock during labor and continued to be a valued resource of information afterwards. She kept the chaos and panic away and made sure we have a fantastic birth experience. read more

Let me start by saying this review genuinely comes from the heart. This is the first review I have written for a company that could literally bring tears to my eyes just thinking about how immaculate they are. Becoming a mother whether for the first time or a beautiful addition can be scary. You want support. You want to be heard and you want to be respected. NOVA Birth Partners did this for me. This was my first time working with a doula but I knew It was something I wanted to experience as I completed a natural water birth in the heart of the city. All of the ladies offered tender loving care in their own special ways and they made such a great team. They work well with each other and respected one another always staying professional but making me feel comfortable in my own skin. Free from judgement. You felt genuine love, kindness and patience in the room. They had a lot of feedback guiding me through my process and helping me feel in control and pampered. As I sat in the room pushing my baby out I felt so much strength within myself. But later as I began to reflect on my birth while at home, I realized we were all showing strength in that room. Every woman on this planet deserves that type of support. We deserve to be celebrated for creating and sustaining life for this very planet. read more

One word: Phenomenal. Kim was a phenomenal doula and I don't know what I would have done without her! Worth every penny. I walked into Nova Birth Partners not knowing what a doula even was or why anyone should consider getting one. Get one. I considered it an insurance policy that was the best investment I have ever made. They help you to navigate the hospital system asking great questions on your behalf and acting as an advocate with your best interests top of mind. Instead of being a number in a sea of patients at the hospital you have an advocate on your side individualizing your care and comfort. Kim helped with everything! Kind, compassionate, understanding, supportive & nurturing. She took turns with my husband holding my leg up for hours because it was more comfortable for me during a particular part of the labor. On Labor Day Kim & Faith helped me navigate through difficult induction conversations with my provider. (Always helpful to have a Nurse owned (Faith) business). Kim was also always asking the Dr. great questions like what position is the head at? -2, -3? And then would position my body in different ways to assist the baby in progressing forward. She also had amazing abilities to press on pressure points and different parts of my body to assist with the pain. Thank you Kim (and Faith). You are a godsend! read more

My husband and I partnered with Nancy as our doula for the birth of our daughter in March 2019. Nancy was a great match for us and brought her amazing personality with her. We had a long labor (almost 5 days) during which Nancy went above and beyond in providing support to me and my husband. Nancy was familiar with the staff at GW Univeristy Hospital and was able to work with our needs and their needs in order to make the labor process smooth. Nancy came with a bag of knowledge and skills which we utilized over the course of the labor process. She was empathetic with my needs and helped me focus through the tough times. Most important to us was Nancy's attitude; she brought with her a positive, can-do ethic which was coupled with her great sense of humor and care. I find this point to be so important because having a partner with the right attitude was key in making a tough labor that much more bearable. Knowing she was by my side relieved tension and frustration. She helped me focus at the tasks at hand and also guided my husband through assisting in the process. I cannot thank Nancy enough for her efforts. She gave so much of her time to us and it meant a lot to me and my husband. We could not have asked for a better doula and we would work with her again in a heartbeat! read more

Very informative classes on breastfeeding and newborn care. We benefitted from the hands on learning and handouts, and our instructor was very knowledgeable and able to answer our questions. read more

Wife's review: Working with Nancy as my doula was one of the best decisions I made for my labor and delivery experience. I never felt more empowered, informed, and resilient throughout my labor and delivery and a big part of that was due to my relationship with Nancy. Nancy is client-centered, never pushing her own or any one agenda, and not only supportive to me as I went through my first experience giving birth but she was also supportive of my husband. My husband is a very practical guy and always likes to find ways to save money! He has said multiple times that he was so glad we hired and worked with Nancy as her role in the room and for both of us was invaluable. He felt he learned through Nancy how to best support me and was put at ease in making informed decisions along the way. He felt comfortable and trusting of Nancy to guide us and was able to rest himself knowing she was there. I look back at my labor and delivery joyfully and positively especially having Nancy there. She is warm, experienced, knowledgeable, immeasurably helpful, and knows how to fit herself into the room seamlessly without stepping on anyone's toes but still being a helpful advocate. She helped orient my husband and I in preparation to giving birth and her post-partum visit was a wonderful way to come full circle in our work together. I have enjoyed staying in touch since delivering my healthy and amazing baby boy and I look forward to hopefully working with Nancy in the future for our next pregnancy as I would choose to work with her again in a heartbeat. I really enjoyed working with NOVA Birth Partners and they led me to the wonderful Nancy. However, some of the classes were not quite what I was needing or expecting. The breastfeeding class, one-day labor and delivery intensive, and infant CPR were wonderful and what was described. The newborn care class did not meet what I was looking for when I signed up. It breezed through or skipped over content and seemed to focus quite a bit on breastfeeding which felt redundant to the breastfeeding course. Additionally, the classroom space had uncomfortable seating - not a good thing for pregnant women! read more

Lauren Digby is AMAZING! She helped us with nursing and pumping at the very beginning when my son was born. And then we did the four-week package when he was almost four months old to help with sleeping and feeding issues. Lauren got us through the four-month sleep regression. She also instantly realized our baby boy has a cows milk protein sensitivity. Neither we nor the pediatrician had figured it out. We went to the pediatrician the day after Lauren's visit and they confirmed she was completely right! Our poor kiddo! Now he finally is getting the dairy-free milk and formula he needs. During the sleep regression, we had some really tough nights and there were multiple times that Lauren called and texted us through basically the whole night. Even though it was still hard, we finally had a gameplan and better understood what to try and when. There would be nights when we thought al hope was lost, but Lauren saved it and we ALL got sleep! Honestly, thanks to Lauren, we've gotten so many more hours of sleep than we would have on our own. She is absolutely worth every penny. I wish I had her with us during the birth and I expect we will probably work with her again to get through a future stage. You really can't call her soon enough! read more

I had an amazing birth experience with Nancy Goodman; I'm so glad my midwife called her in! She was patient, steadfast, caring and didn't try to overload me with those tired and empty mantras ("You got this, Mama!"). I also loved to learn that before she became a doula, she was in exactly my line of work (technology product executive)! Made for some very fun post-birth conversation. If I have another child in the DC area, I'll definitely be reaching out to Nancy much sooner than the actual birth-day this time. read more

It took me a while to write this review as it is difficult to put into words how amazing Nancy Goodman is. After 36h of a long, unexpected and painful labor, I delivered a healthy baby girl with Nancy by my side, holding my hands. I told her and I am happy to share it with the world: I would not have done it without her. She is literally an angel that God sent us and a beautiful reminder that the universe is conspiring in our favor. Thank you for making an otherwise difficult process so much lighter and joyful, my family and I are forever grateful. read more

I had an absolutely amazing birth experience birthjng my first child with Nancy as my doula. She was incredible, knowledgeable, funny, and a true support person throughout my labor. My plan was to have a natural birth and although I ended up getting an epidural at 8cm, I would not have gotten as far as I did if it wasn't for her. She was very knowledgeable about different laboring positions and helped me get through each and every contraction. When it came time to push, she went into coach mode and helped me get through an hour of pushing when I wanted to give up. Nancy, you are one of a kind! Worth every single penny. read more

NOVA Birth Partners is a fantastic organization! The owner, Faith, is a nurse and is deeply knowledgeable about all aspect of the birth process. Before my emergency induction, she got on the phone with me (with no notice and during what I believe must have been bed/bath time for her kids though I never heard them in the background) and talked with me at length about the process and provided tips on how to make the induction as supportive of natural birth as possible. She is wonderful! We also took a Spinning Babies class through NOVA and loved it. The whole team is fantastic. I also hired a doula, Kim Glick, through NOVA. My husband and I highly recommend Kim, and we are especially well qualified to speak about Kim because we spent over 50 hours with her during our very long birthing process! She was by our side every hour--including through the night for several nights-- staying well beyond what was required of her. She provided tips on positions that might help the baby move down and did the positions with me when my husband needed a break. She massaged, encouraged, provided her perspective on our options in a non-pushy way, helped me stay focused, and was generally a great person to have around during our birth. From our prenatal meeting to the birth to the postpartum checkup we have always been so impressed with her expertise, warm personality (which is a must if you're going to spend 50+ hours of labor with someone!), and focus on helping us achieve the birth we hoped for. We had been planning for a natural birth using the Hypnobabies method, which Kim is trained in. In the end, our little girl needed to come out via c-section, but we were still grateful to have Kim. It gave us the assurance that we did everything we possibly could to try for a natural birth and in the end we were at peace with the process our child needed. She's just dynamite! You'd be lucky to have her as your doula and to work with NOVA! read more

So many great things to say about NOVA Birth Partners and our doula Nancy. 1. We met several of the doulas through a meet and greet session. Highly recommend attending one of these sessions if you can. That said, Nancy was not there the night we went, but Faith helped coordinate a phone conversation/interview and within moments of speaking with Nancy we knew she was the one for us. 2. We took the Spinning Babies workshop, Advanced Comfort Measures, and Infant CPR classes. We took away several nuggets and coping strategies from these sessions and recommend them highly to any of our first-time parent friends. 3. Nancy. Where does one begin to describe the anchor for both Mom and Dad in the birthing process? All our interactions with Nancy, from the in-person meeting at 30-something weeks to the phone calls and texts late at night, to the day of our daughter's birth were exactly what we needed when we needed them. Nancy has a very grounding energy and is respectful of all birth plans. As the Mom, I found her personal experience birthing three children to be reassuring and empowering. When I had to have an unplanned and last-minute induction (due to high blood pressure reading and headaches), Nancy was by our side guiding us through the process more than any of our initial medical team. She answered our questions and helped me advocate for the birth experience I wanted (I was up and walking/moving until I was finally pushing). When things started to take a turn for the worse with my daughter's vitals, she helped my husband stay focused on me and ignore the 15+medical personnel in the room. After the delivery, she also stuck around to make sure we were settled in our recovery room. Nancy was the silent hero of our whole birthing experience. She never hovered, she always encouraged my husband and me to work together, and she brought the perfect balance of humor and support. She also contributed immensely to our processing the chain of events during her postpartum visit. We are eternally grateful for the role she played in helping us navigate the unfamiliar experience of welcoming our child into the world and cannot recommend her highly enough! read more