When I found out my husband and I were expecting again just after our second turned six months old…read moreI immediately told him I wanted to hire a post partum doula. I interviewed three companies, and chose Better Beginnings because I had heard such glowing reviews from a friend. Joy went above and beyond: providing our family with much needed support and care as well as delicious meals that I still (over one year later!) think about. We felt so well cared for and held during a vulnerable and overwhelming time.

After the birth of our second child, we used night doula support through Better Beginnings. Saideh…read moreand Eileen were our doulas and they were fantastic-- proactive in finding ways to support our family and offering gentle encouraging support as we transitioned to being parents of two. All of the communications, from the first introductory call with the owner to our pre-natal consultation to our first meetings in person with the doulas were all so professional. We don't plan on having more children, but if we did we would absolutely use Better Beginnings again!!

I am so glad I hired Doula Aileen! She was instrumental in helping me achieve the unmedicated birth…read moreof my dreams!!!! Like so many of us, I'd had a difficult first birth and I was determined to have a better experience the second time around. The first time, I thought I'd be bothered by an additional person present, so I didn't get a doula. But this time I knew I would want that comforting presence and words of encouragement. My bf was happy to feel a little less pressure and have a teammate in supporting me in the birthing experience rather than having it be all on him to help me through something as major as childbirth. Doula Aileen met with us as a couple on zoom twice and answered any questions we had, helping us know what to expect in terms of doula services. I really appreciated how down to earth she was. The crunchy world can take itself too seriously, and I absolutely loved Aileen's lighthearted spirit and willingness to support whatever birth preferences I decided upon. I happened to be going for an unmedicated hospital birth, but she came right out and said that even if I were planning an induction or epidural or Caesarian that she would have shown up with the same nonjudgmental support and approval to help me though the special day, which I think is great to have no matter how your birth plays out. I had interviewed a few different doulas, and I was happy to find such a natural fit. I couldn't have asked for more. The day my son was born, I labored at home throughout the afternoon, took a nap and returned to contractions in the evening, and actually got caught up enjoying the birth process, (hard to believe after a tough first birth but it's true) and time flew by! I had been having contractions close together for 3 hours and felt I was close to birth and finally my bf called her to say meet us at the hospital. By then I didn't want to get in the car and I got on the phone and Aileen said "Gina if you want a hospital birth you have to get in the car like now." I needed to hear that! So between waves I got in, and my bf drove, peeled into the parking lot where he double parked. Then I didn't want to get out of the car! But I did and got to triage, which sucked but it helped to know Aileen was on her way there. She arrived just in time for me to be admitted to delivery and for my bf to go move his car. I was delivering on all fours, and I was feeling uncomfortably warm from the mask and hot room and my hair falling forward getting in my face was making it even hotter. Aileen pulled the hair tie I needed out of thin air without me even asking. She helped me with the coconut water my bf brought. She then produced some lavender essential oil and a cool washcloth. Those things were little and yet such a tremendous relief to me! She just intuited what I needed and showed up with it. The doctor told me to flip over onto my back which I was not about to do, and I felt like I had an ally for my autonomy if staff were to get pushy. Baby was born just 2 hours after I arrived. I found out I was only 4cm upon arrival. I had asked in my birth preferences sheet not to be told dilation which was the second smartest thing I ever did in this pregnancy, second only to hiring Aileen. In my first birth I was discouraged by a nurse who told me at 4cm I had 6 hours minimum to go. That was when I had given up and gotten all the drugs last time. This time I had the confidence in myself and a supportive team to get me through, and admittedly this labor was not painful since my water had not broken and baby was in a good position. I'm so glad I had the chance for a natural birth and that Aileen was my doula. Her soothing voice, almost mindreading caretaking gestures, and jovial demeanor were a major source of strength for me and I will forever be grateful.

From the owner: Placenta Encapsulation can help you have an easier postpartum time after you give birth. Placenta…read morecapsules can give you more energy, boost milk supply, and help prevent postpartum mood issues. We also offer placenta tinctures, placenta prints, umbilical cord keepsakes, and postpartum herbal bath packets. Doula Aileen is certified, reliable, and has a super fast turnaround time! We have a dedicated placenta kitchen and follow a strict safety & sanitization protocol. Contact us today to ask questions and book your encapsulation package!

Having JoLynda as our doula was by far the hidden miracle of our birth experience. JoLynda is…read moreextremely accepting of every woman, no matter their birth plan. She believes every woman should have access to an empowering birth experience. This was my husband and my first birth experience and there is no other person we would want by our side for our labor journey in the future. With her guidance and support, both my husband and I felt at ease and empowered to make the right decisions for our birth. JoLynda is able to use her knowledge to work with each couple to provide a unique value to their experience. Her knowledge, expertise, and amazing attitude helped us have a wonderful birth experience!

Choosing Ellee as our doula was one of the best decisions we made during the whole pregnancy. She…read moreput us at ease right away. We asked her tons of questions and she was knowledgeable, respectful, funny and very personable right from the very beginning to the end. During my labor she gave me tips and positions to try and when she joined us at our home, her encouragement is what kept me there longer - resting and waiting before going to the birth center. When I was exhausted she was kind and complimenting - it was exactly what I needed to hear. She helped me center and relax, and gently pushed me to try things I would not have done on my own. I was sad when our last visit was over. She's the kind of gal that you wish was your friend or an auntie. Thanks Ellee!!

Amy was our Doula for both of our kiddos. I'm absolutely positive that my first experience was…read moregreat mostly because of her presence. Her support leading up to our birth helped me get my mind and body ready. During labor I was able to really relax because I knew between her and my partner everything was taken care of. I felt supported, safe, and calm. My second birth I needed more help with comfort measures and somehow she always knew exactly what to try to get me through the contractions. I would recommend her as a Doula without hesitation.

From the owner: Holistic birth doula support for families during the childbearing time.read more

Working with Justine, Ale, and Rachel was definitely the best decision my spouse and I made in our…read morebirth experience! From providing evidence-based responses to our questions to helping us advocate with providers to simply cheering us on, we were so supported by this team! Justine joined us at the hospital for labor and was absolutely essential to making us both feel comfortable and safe as mine and baby's medical situation got more complicated. We truly could not have imagined doing this without her!!

If you're on the fence about hiring a doula like we were, don't be--especially if you're…read moreconsidering Justine and her team. We hired Justine for our second pregnancy because I was high-risk, on Lovenox, and managing gestational diabetes, and an unmedicated birth felt right for us. With my first pregnancy, I had no complications and chose an epidural, so my husband was very skeptical about needing a doula this time, especially since our first delivery went so smoothly. What ultimately made us move forward was knowing that my husband, being a very logical person, wouldn't be able to give me the emotional support I'd need during labor. After meeting Justine on a video call, everything instantly felt right. She was warm, supportive, and confident from the start, and she was the only doula who genuinely believed I could have an unmedicated birth--especially considering how quickly my first labor progressed with an epidural. She also reassured my husband that her support was just as much for him as it was for me. Throughout the pregnancy, Justine and her team answered every question and helped me navigate every curveball. No matter what came up, she was there with guidance, resources, and a listening ear. On delivery day, I delivered our baby girl in under an hour--completely unmedicated, just as we hoped. Even though there were moments when I wanted to give up, Justine's calm presence and steady, encouraging voice helped me push through. It ended up being the most magical birth experience I've ever had, and I still can't believe I did it. Hiring her was truly one of the best decisions we made. TL;DR: We were unsure about hiring a doula, but Justine completely changed our minds. Despite a high-risk pregnancy, she supported us from day one, reassured my skeptical husband, and helped me have a fast, completely unmedicated birth. Her calm, steady presence made it the most magical delivery experience--we're so glad we chose her.