We had such a wonderful experience with Rebecca. I have a medical background so having a doula that was well versed in evidence based birthing practices was essential. For every decision that we were going to face in the birth process, Rebecca presented us with all options and research to back them up, letting us decide what was in our best interest. My favorite part of our pre-birth doula visits with Rebecca was the emotional support that she provided. Most often, the visits ended up being a somewhat therapy session around our excitement, anxiety and fears about childbirth. We always left feeling informed and confident. As sometimes happens, our birth plan went in the complete opposite direction as we had expected and having Rebecca guide us through the process kept our (or my) anxiety at ease. She then helped me process my birth experience, something I didn't really realize that I would need. I also had Rebecca process and encapsulate my placenta which I'd highly recommend! I had no idea there were so many ways that placenta capsules could be beneficial in my postpartum journey. One last bonus - Rebecca took some of the most beautiful pictures of our birth day. I hadn't originally wanted any pictures but I'm so happy that I have them now. read more

Rebecca was absolutely incredible during my birth. It's hard to even put into words the support she provided my family and I. I had a very rough birth and she was like a rock in the storm. It took a bit to convince my husband that we should get a doula. Now he believes in their magic. She was there for me during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Worth every penny! read more

About a year ago, I had no idea what a doula was. When my wife said that she wanted to hire one to help during pregnancy and delivery, I instinctively said yes because I'm no fool and a pregnant wife gets what she wants. Later that night, I quietly Googled it... Guys - think personal quarterback mechanics coach. Rebecca was referred to us from a friend who had used her services for her own pregnancy just a few months earlier. My wife scheduled a meeting and Rebecca arrived on-time, very prepared and very knowledgeable. She discussed her methodology and services and answered our questions. She encouraged us to think about it before making a decision about whether or not she was the right doula for us. She was not pushy at all, and never passed judgement on our birth plan. (I was pro-nitrous because I wanted some for myself.) Seriously though, she's so Zen/calm that it's contagious. Because we felt such a strong connection with her, we hired her. Honestly, we probably could have chased after her in the driveway because it didn't take long to know we had found an amazing, caring resource that we NEEDED to help us in our journey. With Rebecca at our side, we always felt prepared. When things came up, we knew we could rely on her to help us with experienced guidance and research. "Let me send you an article on that..." was probably the most common phrase to come out of her mouth. (Mostly because I apparently wasn't doing enough reading/researching on my own.) Even when things veered as far as possible from our birth plan, Rebecca helped us in ways that we never expected, especially in extraordinary ways that were beyond what she was obligated to do. She helped keep us calm and sane in a time when fear could have easily gotten the better of us. I can't imagine the birth of our daughter without Rebecca being there. And if you're reading this review, you are probably searching for a doula to assist with your pregnancy. Congratulations - you found the best. read more

My wife and I highly recommend Rebecca. This was our first pregnancy and a friend told us the best thing they ever did was hire a doula, so we took their advice and found Rebecca through Yelp, which really was one of the best decisions we made for the birth of our son. We chose Rebecca out of all the other doulas because right from the moment we met her, we felt comfortable. For us, that was very important. My wife's pregnancy and birth had its own set of complications and once we hired Rebecca, she was available for all the support we needed. She kept an open line of communication, which was especially helpful through some difficult times leading up to delivery. There were never any judgments on our birth plans or on any of our decisions. She 100% supported us and would always answer all of our questions, even emailing us articles regarding any of our concerns. By the time our delivery came around, we had grown so close to Rebecca, it felt like we had a friend there to support us. She was ready and so prepared when we needed her, that we never felt like we had to ask her to do more for us. During delivery, Rebecca kept everyone positive and motivated. She also made sure I was taking care of myself properly! i.e. eating and resting when possible. We don't know how we could have made it through delivery without her support. Overall, Rebecca is smart, kind, supportive and we felt blessed to have her there for the birth of our son. There is no question that we will hire Rebecca for the birth of our next child. read more

I spent a lot of time debating whether to hire a doula at all, but I'm so glad we decided to go for it and that we found Rebecca, in particular. We interviewed several doula's, but Rebecca's experience, confidence and warmth won us over...and she was all these things and more when it came to working together to bring our daughter into the world. After a very easy pregnancy with no issues, we ended up having a serious complication in our final month that required an induction...not what we'd been expecting. Rebecca was incredibly reassuring and helped us understand focus positively on the new plan of action. She was incredibly knowledgeable about every possible course of action, our options and the various ways we could strive for the natural labor we were aiming for. Rebecca not only helped me throughout my labor, she made sure my husband took care of himself (which was a weight off ind). I highly recommend Rebecca. read more

Rebecca is an amazing doula! She helped me in many ways besides getting through a 42-hour labor and go 20 plus hours of pitocin contractions without drugs. I was very nervous when I got to almost 42 weeks pregnant and still was not feeling contractions. She used her extensive birth knowledge and own experiences to reassure that everything woud be fine. I had many questions pre or post labor and she always sent me information and let me make the choice for myself. She never pushed her views or opinions on me. She reminded me it was my baby, my body, my birth. She spent extended time with my parter and I to get the birth plan we desired ready before labor, so we could communicate clearly with our doctor and nurses before and during labor. She visited me in the hospital after my birth and continued to support me post labor when the postpartum depression was setting in. She was an essential part of my birth team and made me feel very supported and as comfortable as possible through the pain of labor and after. She coached my partner and sister to help me through contractions and I never felt alone through the entire long labor. I highly recommend Rebecca as a doula if you want someone educated and professional who really wants the best for you and your baby. read more

Rebecca was such a blessing to have with my partner and I during my birth experience. Our prenatal visits were comprehensive and well paced - never rushed. I was with an OB group that I wasn't loving... and she encouraged me to champion for myself to get the kind of medical care I wanted. After some long phone calls with Rebecca, weighing pros and cons, I decided to change from the OB group to a midwife practice at 40 weeks. Without her encouragement I don't think I would've had the guts to do it, and I'm 100% confident it was the right choice for me. I felt very confident going into the labor experience even though I was almost 2 weeks late. She reassured me that it was fine to text or call any time, she came when we needed her, and stayed by my side through a seriously long labor. She helped my husband support me, which was so appreciated. Since she attended so many births, her touch and support during the process were invaluable. It was shocking how much I really needed that second set of hands. She supported me through 2 days of unmedicated laboring - on the phone, at my home, and at the hospital. She was my champion with the medical team - asked questions of them that I didn't think to ask and helped me make some tough decisions. Overall, I really trust Rebecca and felt she was an honest, supportive energy that made my birth experience a fabulous one. Would highly recommend her to any friends... especially 1st time parents-to-be! read more

Rebecca Durlin Smith - Favorite photo from my birth experience... Rebecca's face when we found out I was fully dilated and ready to push! - Doulas Near Me

Rebecca was our doula during the home birth of my second baby. She was a wonderful, calm and nurturing presence and was an invaluable source of support for myself and my husband. She knew just when to step in to help with massage, bringing me snacks, or a reassuring word, but also knew when to hang back and let my husband and/or sister assist in my labor. I can't recommend Rebecca enough for your birth. read more

When I click five stars I get a "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" message, that is putting it mildly! My wife and I had our 2nd child together, her third, and our fourth altogether. She was a wonderful doula, a great coach, and a fantastic person to have with us. Unfortunately, when my wife was 34 weeks pregnant, our toddler got diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer so our world got turned around, sideways, and upside down. My wife had had 2 c sections and was trying for a VBAC. On the blessed day of the birth, Rebecca was the rock on which we both relied. She asked all the right questions to the doctors/nurses and provided all the right support and guidance for my wife. After almost two days of labor and a LOT of hard work, my wife was able to have her VBAC and our beautiful little one was born. Thank you, Rebecca, for all your help! You have been and always will be close to my heart. Thank you for all your advise, dedication, and for helping my wife fulfill her dream. read more

It was hard at first to grasp the value of having a doula for our first pregnancy and delivery, but working with Rebecca was incredibly helpful from day one. As a family physician in training, I found her ability to discuss aspects of our birth plan and all of the twists and turns in a way that my non-medical partner and I could both relate with. Emotionally, she is incredibly in tune and empathetic, helping us feel embraced through very difficult times. We never felt like she imposed her preferences on us, or judged what we wanted, and she was fun to hang out with in the down time during our week-long labor experience. She also encouraged us to get connected to her group's support groups which we have found incredibly helpful as well in starting to build our parent tribe. It has been an incredible journey together, and we couldn't recommend Rebecca more! read more

Rebecca is amazing!! My husband and I decided to hire a doula for the birth of our second child in hopes to have a better experience and that is exactly what happened!! If you are considering hiring a doula you NEED to make an appointment with Rebecca! She is so sweet, very knowledgeable and has great experience. She helped me succeed in having a vbac and was the voice/advocate I needed in the delivery room. Her calm demeanor helped calm my fears and anxiety during the birthing process and allowed me to enjoy giving birth to our daughter. If we have anymore children I will be asking Rebecca to be our doula again! (Also I used yelp to find her and am so thankful to all the others who left reviews for her!) read more

I knew Rebecca was the right doula for us as soon as she walked onto our porch and picked up a package to hand to me. It sounds silly but when you are pregnant it's the little details that matter. The prep work that we did before the birth really helped me feel that I had an understanding about how things would unfold. This was helpful so that when I was in labour I could understand what was happening. This allowed me to relax into the process rather than letting my fear dictate. She was a solid presence throughout the birth for me AND my husband. He was so grateful to have her there because I was wrapped up in my experience. She knew when to step forward and when to hang back all the while holding space for the process. The doctors and nurses made a point to tell us afterward how great our doula was. Do yourself a favor and hire her! read more

We can't recommend Rebecca enough! She was both our doula as well as our bradley method class teacher so we got to know her well. There is very little about the birthing process that I could control so we decided to get educated and find support. Rebecca was there for us on so many levels. I ended up being in labor for 42 hours (don't worry odds are you won't) and in that process we had many choices to make about our care. We were informed and when the time came I felt like we could make choices that were right for our family. She brought knowledge and support and was not judgmental. She really allowed us to make the decisions. As for the actual birth, she was a wonderful member of our team! During heavy labor I just remember saying and thinking "gee I like that" and it was all the different things that she would suggest to my husband to help me along. Everything from when to eat and drink, different positions and massage techniques. She also knew when to give my husband and I room when we needed to just be between the two of us. Anyone would be lucky to have her as a doula! read more

Rebecca Durlin Smith - Thank you Rebecca! - Doulas Near Me

I have waited to write this review because I've been searching for the words to describe what a wonderful doula Rebecca was for my husband and me. It has now been six weeks since the birth of our daughter and I've given up on finding the right words because words really cannot adequately describe the incredible support Rebecca offers her clients. I will say that I was very anxious about labor and delivery. I wanted to attempt an unmedicated birth and knew that a good doula would help me achieve that goal. Rebecca far exceeded any expectations I had of what a doula does! It's truly her life calling to serve in this way. My husband and I interviewed a few doulas. It was crucial to me to work with someone that my husband felt comfortable with because I viewed our doula as a resource for him as much as for me (if not more). Once we met Rebecca we knew we had found someone special. Rebecca wasn't just there for us on the big day, but also the weeks leading up to it. Our initial consultation and two in-home visits never felt rushed. Rebecca is patient, warm, and professional. She was a calming presence during a stressful and uncertain period in our lives. Rebecca brought the ideal blend of scientific reasoning and emotional support to our experience. When we asked a question, she would give us her take and provide informative articles later that night by email -- the articles were always grounded in evidence-based research, which I really appreciated given that there is so much pregnancy propaganda floating around out there. I never felt a hint of judgment coming from her and she was always clear that it wasn't about her -- she was there to support us. While I was in labor, Rebecca was amazing. She encouraged my husband to take a break that he desperately needed (he had been awake for almost 24 hours at that point) and stayed with me, getting drenched while I labored in the shower. During the pushing stage, she did lots of little things to help me simultaneously relax and be more efficient. She helped turn an experience that was physically demanding into something magical. Giving birth is full of very intimate moments. Everyone needs to find the right match for them. But I can't imagine having anyone else there with us aside from Rebecca. We're honored that she was one of our baby girl's very first friends. read more

As a business owner and a health care provider I did not initially think I needed to use a Doula for support but am grateful meeting Rebecca helped us see how that was false. Hiring Rebecca was the best money we spent in 2015. As a bilingual and bi cultural family we found her sensitive to our cultural values. She was exceptional at meeting us where we were at and giving us an abundance of support while we were pregnant and running a business out of state. I'm so inspired by her care and advocacy that I am pushing to build more Doula services in my own area out of state. We will never forget Rebecca and will always remember her with great admiration and appreciation. I don't doubt she helped us have the water birth we had wanted because of her advocacy for us while at the hospital! And loved her placenta services too. Highly recommended! read more

Rebecca was integral to the positive birth experience we had as a family. Her calm, confident energy was exactly what my husband and I were looking for in a birth partner. Being first time parents, we had a lot of questions and concerns and Rebecca was able to address every single one of them, and give us the confidence we needed to have the birth we were hoping for. We had multiple meetings before the birth, which were great opportunities to get to know each other. There were a few medical questions that arose later in my pregnancy with a potential early induction, and Rebecca reassured us over many phone calls that all would be fine. Without her encouragement I don't think I would have had the confidence to advocate for myself, which in the end resulted in us getting more time and allowed baby girl to arrive when SHE chose, without an induction. My labor started after an acupuncture session that Rebecca had suggested we try. I was hoping for an intervention-free, natural childbirth and we had just that, thanks to Rebecca's support. She was a huge help to my husband, having her there really eased his nerves and allowed him to be the best birth partner he could be. Both Rebecca and my husband had a pretty physical hands on approach supporting me during labor, and without them helping me through each contraction I think I would have relied on other methods for pain relief. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Rebecca to absolutely anyone looking for a supportive birth partner, outside of the mainstream medical field. We will be having her by our side for any future babies, that's for sure! read more

Let me just start out by saying this review is LONG overdue. We had our little one, Evelyn, 8 months ago and I am now (embarrassingly) just getting around to praising the wonderful Rebecca. My husband and I debated having a doula but since we were having our first baby we thought it might be a more calming environment. It turned out to be such a great decision! Rebecca was so caring, attentive and amazing to work with. We ended up having a student midwife the majority of our laboring process who seemed VERY new and if it weren't for Rebecca advocating for us, we would have had such a negative experience. She was able to be our voice and keep our birth plan in mind throughout the whole time. I wanted a natural birth and am happy to say that is exactly what I had! Thanks so much again Rebecca for everything! :) read more

My husband and I are so glad we decided to have Rebecca as our doula for our natural child birth at CMPC in San Francisco. She was a huge support throughout the pregnancy, labor and birth. She was a great resource during our pregnancy, as we had various questions regarding everything! She even helped me avoid an induction. Knowing she herself is a mother, has been through natural childbirth, and has supported other families was so reassuring to us. Her depth of knowledge and kind (but firm) demeanor and spirit really gave us comfort. During the actual labor and birth, Rebecca was above and beyond supportive. She quickly answered my texts at 2am when I started labor, and met us at the hospital at 5:30am (she was going to meet us at our home but the labor was progressing a bit fast). During our time at the hospital while I was in labor, she did so many wonderful, helpful things - to name a few: she fed me juice, water, reminded me to calmly breath, spoke supportive words to me and applied counter pressure to my lower back for almost all contractions (I'm sure she was sore afterwards!). She worked with the hospital staff to make sure I had the most comfortable labor possible, and was there for my husband when he needed a break (for coffee, the bathroom, to rest, to drive back to our home to turn off the alarm clock!). I'm not sure if I could have gotten through the natural birth without Rebecca. She was the biggest support we could have asked for. She even took pictures during the delivery. We feel so lucky we were able to have her as our doula and help bring our baby into this world! read more

Rebecca was everything we wanted in a doula and more. When any friend asks about our birth experience she's the first thing I bring up because we couldn't imagine doing it without her. From our first meeting we knew that Rebecca was that rare balance of warm and honest, strong and patient, and incredibly knowledgeable without ever being dogmatic or pushy. She answered all our questions in the weeks leading up to the birth and was there for us as a calm, experienced sounding board in the few days before when some complications arose and tough decisions needed to be made. Once labor kicked in and Rebecca arrived at the hospital she was there every step of the way either supporting me and my husband directly with breathing tips and reminders to eat and take breaks and she let us have our own personal experience and just be in the background when we needed her. We are eternally grateful for everything she did to help make the most intense and important experience we've ever had a safe and beautiful thing. read more

Rebecca was an amazing support during my pregnancy and birth experience. This was my third pregnancy and after two induced and medicated births, I was hoping for a different experience this time. Having Rebecca as our doula was the most important decision we made towards having the natural and empowered birth experience I was hoping for. I was two weeks late and she was so helpful and supportive during that stressful time. When I finally did go into labor, Rebecca was super knowledgeable about how to move things along and offered great suggestions for positions to try at home. At the hospital she really helped keep a calm and peaceful environment in the room and made me feel empowered at times when I needed it the most. Her intuition, strength and compassion were invaluable during one of the most challenging experiences I've had. I can't imagine doing it without her! My husband and I would highly recommend Rebecca to anyone, whether this is your first pregnancy or 5th! She is truly remarkable. read more

Rebecca was the most amazing doula during the preparation for and birth of our first child in December 2013. I first met her in a prenatal yoga class that she taught, and immediately was put at ease by her calm, knowledgable, approachable, and non-judgemental sensibility. During our prenatal sessions, we learned so much from her- and after each session she would send us emails with attached information that we hadn't learned before- all geared towards having a natural childbirth. She was also available via email and phone/text and responded very quickly if we had questions. During the actual birth, Rebecca was truly amazing. My husband and I are both so grateful to her. My labor was quite long, and she had assisted another client the night before I went into labor. Still, she was at the hospital with us for 20+ hours, and with her help, I was able to have a natural birth with no drugs at Kaiser Oakland. She was wonderful with the hospital staff, throughout all 4 shift changes during my labor. Towards the end, she suggested something to the doctor that the medical staff had missed, because she had been with us the whole time. It made us so glad we had her with us, who knew us, and who was there the whole time. We were definitely a team during the whole birth process. The post partum visit was wonderful too- and I loved how she kept checking in with us for the few weeks after the birth. I wholeheartedly recommend Rebecca as a doula, and we will definitely call on her if we are lucky enough to have another child (in a few years!). read more

Working with Rebecca was an incredibly wonderful and powerful experience. My husband and I were fortunate to get pregnant; as new parents to be, we read a milieu of books, searched countless websites, and attended numerous informational classes by our managed care provider so that we could better prepare ourselves for the birth of our daughter. This was helpful but we really needed was one to one contact with a person who would guide us in the preparation, provide us with emotional support, and help advocate for us to follow as closely as possible the birth experience that we identified and wanted. Rebecca provided this and so much more. Rebecca provided us with A + + + + + + service. A+: Attentive--Rebecca was attentive to guide use through this journey and seek information to answer our questions. In addition, she was fully attentive to us, on our big birth date by providing emotional support and motivational coaching during the labor pains to the delivery. A+: Active--Rebecca actively and frequently checked on us as our daughter's birth date was arriving. With the preparation of getting our home ready, doctor visits, and last minute preparations before my temporary work leave, it helped and consoled me that she checked in with us to see how we were. She also informed us about services that have helped others with the birth experience (specialists in prenatal acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage) that we might want to explore in our personal journey. Knowing about the options was extremely helpful. A+: Agile--Rebecca agilely guided us through the hospital bureaucracy to ensure that we had the healthy birth experience--natural birth--that we wanted. A+: Alert--Rebecca alerted and reminded my medical provider of our needs and wishes. A+: Advocate--Rebecca checked in with me (mother to be) and my labor support team (both father and grandmother to be); this ensured that any question and concern we had was both heard and answered. Also, she assisted us by identifying when we may not understand what was going on the birth and advocating that our managed care provider clearly explain the process, options, Rebecca advocated that the birth plan, that my husband and I had discussed and completed, was carried out by our managed care provider was read and used as a guideline for our birth experience, unless, we opted to make changes. A+: Adaptable--While I was in labor, I was not as responsive to some of the "comfort measures" that we had practiced prior to this big day. Rebecca quickly re-assessed and identified what would work best for me during my labor pains and provided with the support and courage to have a successful natural birth. Thank you Rebecca. I highly recommend Rebecca Durlin Smith's Doula services. She is the ultimate professional and provided my husband, daughter, and me with the support and guidance we needed to make this life changing & special day!!!! read more

I was fortunate enough to attend births with both Brooke and Rebecca as a baby nurse and knew I wanted to hire them even before our interview. I can't say enough about how amazing they both are. After losing our first child, we knew we needed extra support for the birth of our rainbow baby. As a nurse and doula myself I'm comfortable with the birth process but knew that it was unknown territory for my husband. Brooke and Rebecca did a beautiful job supporting us both through nine days of prodromal labor followed by a quick active labor. Their calm, reassuring presence was exactly what we needed as we navigated days of uncertainty with contractions that came and went as baby turned herself into a less than ideal position. We talked to them each by phone (as they traded off call and attended other births) and Rebecca came to our home to help us through some Spinning Babies maneuvers and to talk through our frustrations. Brooke attended our delivery and was such a soothing presence as contractions hit hard and I pushed out my big, beautiful girl exactly the way I had envisioned. She managed to get some beautiful photos that I will always treasure. My midwife was so impressed with Brooke that she asked for her card to refer other families and we gladly recommend this fantastic duo to any expectant parents. read more

We cannot recommend Rebecca highly enough. She made us feel so much more relaxed and comfortable before giving birth to our first child. During the process, she helped us remember all the things we cared about that otherwise would have been lost in the chaos of the moment. She held the space, helping us feel centered and grounded. She always provided well-researched information to help us make decisions, as well as space for open, non-judgemental dialogue. We hope to have her with us for our next child! read more

I recently had the great pleasure of working with Rebecca during the birth of my daughter. She was a "backup" doula - my original doula was involved in another birth when I went into labor. So, Rebecca came into the situation at a disadvantage, never having met me before. I am so glad it worked out the way it did! She immediately put me and my husband at ease. Her support throughout the birth was constant but never obtrusive. I found her to be very knowledgeable, and she helped me navigate the medical jargon/process so I could make informed decisions. When my original doula became available midway through the birth, I chose to stay with Rebecca rather than lose her invaluable support midway. I highly recommend her! read more

We couldn't have had our baby without Rebecca. She was such a vital part in our journey to having our little one. Not only did she make sure that we had all the proper information on the signs of labor but positions and making sure all parties involved knew what to do. Honestly, my labor went so fast that we really didn't have time to think or act. Rebecca was right there helping with the nurses and my partner to make sure that my birth plan was in the foreground. We would have been lost without her, especially my partner. There was just so much going on and decisions that needed to be made and Rebecca made sure that everyone was on the same page before any decision were made and that I was ok - She talked me through everything. Her voice and my partners voices were the only ones I heard during my labor, which brought me comfort and helped me keep going to have a natural birth. If I have another baby I am for sure going to have Rebecca by my side again. She was truly a shining star and my rock in my journey to motherhood. I really couldn't have done it without her - Thank you Rebecca. read more

Rebecca was an amazing doula for us and was absolutely essential before and during the birth of our son. A calm and reassuring presence, she made the entire experience all the more meaningful and peaceful. One of Rebecca's greatest strengths is her ability to read a situation, be open to different scenarios, and jump in or step aside when necessary. We also really appreciated all the times she met with us before the birth, making sure we felt supported and that all our questioned were addressed in an informed and sensitive manner. She provided us with a lot of important articles and science-based information regarding many aspects of birthing and made sure we were comfortable and informed with all the decisions for our birth plan. She is very knowledgeable and experienced which was apparent to us right away, but what made us so confident to have her by our side is how respectful she was of our choices. When I went into labor and contractions were getting more intense she made me feel comfortable, supported and encouraged, whether it was by asking the nurse and doctor important questions to make sure I was informed and had a say, to giving my husband breaks when he needed them. She also knew when to give us privacy or snap a special picture, and overall added to the calm and oxytocin-filled environment. As she was such a vital part in helping bring our son into the world, we would highly recommend her in helping you along your birth journey. read more

Rebecca was absolutely amazing as our doula!!! Given it was out first child, she put our minds at ease, answered all the questions with patience so we felt completely comfortable going into this experience. During my labor, she was invaluable in the delivery room often ensuring i was comfortable and had everything I need. She made sure my husband asked nurses and docs all the right questions. Her postnatal visit was amazing as well. As a new mom I was overwhelmed with paranoia about every little thing that was going on with my daughter and Rebecca yet again put my mind at ease and answered LOTs of questions and helped me sort out ocean of information I was researching online. Rebecca has a calm and nurturing presence along with her extensive knowledge of childbirth and personal experience of delivering and raising 2 kids. She is a genuine and warm person and easy to connect with. We wouldn't think twice about hiring her again. read more

I wish there were more than 5 stars to give! Rebecca was born to be a doula! The work she does is so powerful and I can easily say that I would not have had the pregnancy & labor that I dreamed of without her immense support. She helped create a space with me and my husband that allowed for a very organic and spiritual experience to unfold. A very important part of our experience with Rebecca is that we always felt comfortable asking questions and in making our desires known for what type of labor we wanted. Because of her sheer breadth of knowledge on the subjects of pregnancy, natural labor, Bradley method etc. I always felt like I was safe and in good hands. I wasn't afraid going into labor and so much of that I owe to Rebecca. I knew that she would be there which was very comforting and she had instilled in me the fact that I could do this! Because of our meetings with Rebecca, I went into labor feeling confident and ready to do the work I needed to do to meet my baby. I seriously have never felt more cared for in my life than I did during my labor with Rebecca as our doula. It was amazing how well she read each moment and knew exactly what both my husband and I needed to get through and to help my labor progress. It wasn't only amazing how she was in taking care of me physically-massaging me, putting chapstick on my lips, lying cool washcloths on my forehead etc; she knew how to be around me in a way that made me feel safe; she would look into my eyes and hold my gaze and with that powerful, pure, mama energy she eminates, she would propel me forward. It brings tears to my eyes just to think back on it. Never in my life have my husband or I ever known that level of support before. I couldn't have picked a better person to guide me through the most important moment of my life. We are forever indebted to Rebecca and are ever thankful for her helping to facilitate a beautiful and empowering labor experience. read more

Where to begin? Rebecca is in a word- amazing. We felt so lucky to have her by our side on our journey to welcome our little son into the world. She's incredibly kind and patient. She answered our many questions and was a wealth of information. My labor ended up being longer than expected and many aspects of our birth plan went out the window, but Rebecca never waivered. She coached me to say Yes! to the entire experience and to stay in the moment. She also gave me and my husband the time and space we needed to make hard decisions along the way and was never judgmental. Because of her, our birth experience was incredibly positive. I highly recommend making Rebecca a part of your birth team!! I'm really glad we did. read more

People come into your life just when you need them. It is the only way I can sum up my relationship with Rebecca. As I was nearing the end of my second trimester I knew two things 1.) I needed support through the rest of my pregnancy to help prepare myself for labor and 2.) I wanted to go into labor feeling strong, knowledgable, and supported in my choices surrounding labor and childbirth. I decided to start a pre-natal yoga class at a new yoga studio. Whom should be the teacher of that class? Rebecca! My husband and I had discussed how I could have a strong labor and the idea of a doula had been passed around. As the yoga session ended with Rebecca, I asked her what she thought about a doula. To my delight she told me she was not only a childbirth educator but also a doula. I remember driving home knowing that both of my "needs" were going to be satisfied. I talked about Rebecca to my husband every day for a week, baiting my him to say, "Let's set up a meeting." Of course, like clockwork, he mentioned as I went to my second yoga class that I should set up a meeting to see if a doula was the right road for our family. There are many things I admire Rebecca as someone in the childbirth industry, a woman, a mom, and more. She is always present in the moment, thoughtful in her words and actions, she practices what she teaches (note the teaches and not preaches), respects her clients to the highest regard, is honest, and believes that knowledge should rule decisions. I also want to note that she was not just there to support me. She was there to support our family and included my husband in our journey to becoming parents. She not only made me feel strong during my pregnancy and labor, but did the same for my husband. We had a wonderful labor experience. Rebecca helped my husband and me become knowledgable about labor ahead of time so that we felt confident in our choices during the birth of our daughter. Every time one of us tells our labor story, we tell about Rebecca. She made labor special and really helped us both stay present in the moment and stay focused on our end goal: a natural childbirth and a heathy child and mom. There was no awkwardness about her being in the room on one of the most intimate and important experiences we will go through as a family. In fact, it is hard for me to imagine a future labor experience without her by our sides. Bottom line? Rebecca is the doula I recommend to all of my friends. She is more than just someone that is there to support us. She became part of our "baby team" as my husband put it. She is a strong, loving person with the best of intentions put to practice. You will not regret having her join your "baby team." read more

My first question when I met Rebecca was "what is a doula?" My last question after our postnatal visit was "will you be available if we are lucky enough to have a second baby?" I echo the other comments on this page that she was extraordinary. read more

My wife and I sought out Rebecca initially based on her great yelp reviews. We had initially set up interviews with other doulas but there was no need after meeting her!We knew right away that she was the right one for us for our first child based on her calming warm personality in the months after we met as we prepared for our son to arrive Rebecca was always available for all questions we had, meetings, and gave us a ton of resources including connecting us with support groups and birth class options. As a first time father, I needed all the support and help I could get since I didn't know how everything worked! She was extremely respectful of my wife and my journeys in this process together and showed genuine interest in our individual experience as well. We spent a lot of time preparing for managing the contractions at home as long as possible before heading to the hospital for the birth, but as a great surprise, our son burst through the bag of waters 10 days early and in the middle of the night. We called Rebecca and she talked us through the contractions which was crucial since my wife was dealing with rapidly increasing intensity and I was scrambling to implement my "wisdom" from my months crash course in how to be a support. Since things were progressing so rapidly, Rebecca agreed to come over to our house, and ultimately decided to meet us at the hospital given that my wife was begging for the epidural in our own house shortly after we got off the phone. In the hospital, the experience was quite chaotic initially, but Rebecca arrived quite quickly and her calming presence was immediately felt. She calmly helped us make decisions throughout the 8 hour labor and I can't imagine having our first birth experience without her. Most definitely worth every five stars! She processed the placenta into pills and has continued to begin email/text contact with us in the weeks following the arrival of our new family member! Thank you Rebecca! read more

My husband and I agree that hiring Rebecca and Brooke as our doulas was the best decision we made during my pregnancy. Rebecca and Brooke are experts in the field, tremendously kind, supportive, accommodating, and skilled. Having successfully guided so many births, nothing surprises them, and the experience and wisdom they are able to impart as a result helped us prepare long before the big day of. In addition to being awesome doulas, they are well connected to other skilled and trusted birth practitioners in the community, which made it easy to manage other aspects of birth and early childcare as they came up (e.g., maternity acupuncture/massage/chiropractic work, lactation consultants, etc.). The day of our daughter's birth, Rebecca was on-call, and from start to finish she was amazing. I was able to have the unmedicated birth that I hoped for and cannot imagine having gone through that experience without her support. She helped us through home labor, and once at the hospital, she acted as a advocate for our birth plan, a liaison with our family and the medical staff, and most importantly, knew exactly how to support me and help me progress through all stages of labor. Her steady, calm demeanor helped us stay centered and assured as the process became more intense, and helped give me the faith and confidence to make it through labor. We know we would have gotten the same love and support from Brooke too had she been on call that day. We can't recommend these two ladies more highly. read more

Rebecca provided exceptional emotional and physical support to both me and my husband before, during, and after our daughter's birth. For most of my pregnancy, we were very conflicted about whether it made sense for us to have a doula because it seemed like a luxury we couldn't afford and because we wanted my husband to be completely involved in the labor. We met with Rebecca for an informational interview, and right away felt very at ease with her and impressed with her professionalism. She was confident, knowledgeable, resourceful, and very sensitive to what we wanted and in tune with our preferences for how we hoped the birth would go. Altogether, we met with her twice before the birth, and went over birth preferences, what to expect, any questions or concerns we had, protocols, labor positions, roles for my husband and other support people, etc. We quickly came to trust that she was helping us to prepare as much as one can prepare for birth. Before hiring Rebecca, we had felt a lot of uncertainty about whether we were doing everything that we needed to be doing to prepare, so working with Rebecca provided a lot of peace of mind. During the labor, Rebecca struck the perfect balance between advocating on our behalf with hospital staff and stepping back so Sean could be my primary support person. For example, there was a point when my dilation hadn't progressed for several hours, and emotionally I was starting to hit a wall. As I learned later, the nurse wanted to suggest that I take an epidural, which I knew I wanted to avoid if possible. Rebecca made clear to the nurse what my preferences were, and instead gave me a really effective "pep talk" that helped me get through it. However, at other times she would just let my husband be the primary labor coach, while providing minor suggestions when needed. Another thing that was very helpful was that even though we had talked through many different positions and strategies for labor, Rebecca had a lot of other tricks up her sleeve so it never felt like we had exhausted all of our options. It was really important to us to have photographs of the birth, and Rebecca very willingly took lots and lots of pictures. We met with Rebecca for the postpartum visit about a week after the birth. The visit was a great chance to debrief. One thing we really liked at this meeting was that Rebecca provided insights about the labor and birth that we wouldn't have been aware of otherwise. For example, she told us that one of the reasons why the dilation hadn't been progressing was that the baby had her fist up by her head, and so was exerting unequal pressure on the cervix. She also made sure to ask me how breastfeeding was going, knowing that it was very important to me and something I had a lot of anxiety about, and provided some helpful tips. I've attended the bi weekly support group that she's organized at her house, and it's been nice to meet some moms this way. My husband and I had a great experience with Rebecca as our doula, and would recommend her very highly! read more