Investing in Davinah's support as our postpartum doula was such an important decision for our family. The first three months of motherhood were so much more difficult for me than I could have anticipated (even though I did as much preparing for the difficulty as I could have...the sleep deprivation and endless infant screaming still humbled us in a major way)! Having Davinah's presence to look forward to got me through. On multiple evenings when I reached what felt like the end of my capacity to mother, I would remind myself, "Only two more sleeps until Davinah comes.", that thought gave me the hope and energy to keep going. Her presence in our home gave us so much! Never before have I felt hosted in my own space. She was warm and attentive, and did everything from wiping down my kitchen counters to holding my fussy baby to giving me reassuring hugs while I wept on the couch. I felt like I could truly invite her into the mess of my home and emotional state. The postpartum months are uniquely vulnerable, and she was able to listen and respond to our families needs with so much thoughtfulness and depth. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- From my husband : as a new Dad, I didn't expect to need or want support from a postpartum doula but I can't imagine the transition into parenthood without Davinah. She works fluidly, flexibly, and tirelessly. I was so impressed by her ability to intuit our needs and remind us to take good care of ourselves. The mornings of sleeping in while Davinah fed or soothed the baby were magical. When we woke up breakfast was ready! It was such a blessing to have her support. read more

Davinah - she just breeds joy and empathy with a side of fierceness! I can hear her now saying "that's real" and I learned so much from her about how to be a better listener. Davinah was a voice of reason during our prenatal stages. She helped us prepare for the unknown that was to come as new parents by giving us concrete tasks to plan for and questions to answer for ourselves. I think it really saved us during those first few weeks and months. I ended up having a scheduled c-section so we did not get to experience Davinah's full services in labor, birthing, but she was there with us all along the way as we navigated the hospital, OBs, etc. and showed up for us as a postpartum doula to help with the much needed basic care after friends and family had returned home and husband was back to work. If she does not know the answer to something, she's honest about it and directs you to a wealth of resources in the community. We wholeheartedly recommend Davinah for any expecting parents, whether it's your first time or not! You will feel heard, supported, advocated for, seen, and celebrated. read more

Dav was an amazing guide from the start. During planning meetings, she helped us invision the birth that we wanted, led us through questions about labor, and helped us navigate through the messy waters of creating healthy boundaries during and after birth. Her knowledge also literally changed the course of my labor for the better. After a day or two of inconsistent prodromal labor, Dav was able to assess a situation with us over the phone and suggested a course of action: our baby was likely posterior, which might be why the contractions were so wonky, and she gave us hope that the baby could be repositioned a bit with some guided stretches and gentle exercises. Dav came over right away and guided me through movements that enabled the baby to reposition. With this work, my intense, closely spaced, unproductive contractions slowed and I was even able to get some much-needed sleep. Truly, the difference felt like night and day! During our hospital birth, Dav helped me -a people pleaser who often has trouble speaking up for myself- amplify my preferences to the staff when hesitations or questions came up about interventions or procedures. She was a calm, reassuring, and protective presence in the birthing room. Without her, I might not have felt as confident or empowered during my labor experience. Her presence, professionalism, and wisdom were everything. She holds space for laboring people beautifully. During the parts of labor that felt especially hard; when I was the most exhausted I'd ever been and fear was permeating my self-talk, it's as if Dav's voice, cheering me on from just over my shoulder, replaced my own conscience for awhile. Gentle and strong with the wisdom and solidarity of someone who is very tapped into whatever it is that binds all birthing women through time and space; ancient and raw and sacred. She reminded me of my power. We can't sing her praises enough! read more

During pregnancy Davinah helped us feel empowered and excited to have a home birth in the midst of a global pandemic with no family around -- words I never thought I'd write. We made the decision to have a home birth out of fear. The pandemic was just beginning and hospitals were questioning whether to even allow partners in the room. That was it for us. We would have this baby by ourselves if we had to. Then the clouds parted, Davinah came into our lives, and she helped us turn our fear into joy. Soon there was no other world we wanted, we were almost grateful for the circumstances that brought all this support and knowledge into our birth. There were moments in labor and especially while pushing when the only voice I wanted to hear was Davinah's. She knew how to talk to me when the experience was rushing over me, she was able to find me and tell me exactly what I needed to do. We felt safe and seen as she helped protect the bond between my husband and me, which was the most important thing to us that we were together and able to honor our intimacy the whole way. Davinah's dedication was humbling and I can't imagine how I would have found that deep-down-55th-hour-in-labor power without her. read more

I can say with certainty that my work with Rooted Birth changed my life. After losing our baby at 17 weeks and enduring so much medical trauma, we were left high and dry by our doctors and hospital. Davinah gave us language for our loss that no one had used, she held space that no one had opened, and she heard us in a way no one else ever did - these things allowed us to begin our healing. She has wisdom beyond this world to bestow and I cannot recommend her services enough. We also worked with her after an earlier loss and again I was floored by how incredible she is at this work and how helpful it was to me and my wife. read more

First and foremost, I could not have had the home birth I wanted with out her! Not even the homebirth "I wanted" like with a specific look or feel, I just mean a homebirth at all. We would have ended up going to the hospital! Davinah came over late and she worked all night long, guiding me and my husband through things I would never have done on my own to help reposition the baby and help make contractions more productive. She never gave up on me despite how exhausted I was. She was gentle and reassuring and it felt like she always had something we could try. If she wasn't there coaching me through those contractions and positions I wouldn't have had a home birth. I know that I was ready to do whatever it took to get that baby out, if it wasn't time to do it at home I was ready to go to the hospital. Without her support I would have been so worried I would have given up on doing it at home. I'm 100% sure that Davinah helped soothe my support system. The Grandmas were both in the house. Neither of them had a birth experience like this and after seeing me struggle with inconsistent contractions and knowing that she was trying to reposition baby's head, doubt was creeping in. Davinah got me through it and I know she helped them process the experience and probably helped shift their lens. The entire process with Davinah was great! I looked forward to her visits. Having her in the house felt natural, nothing strained, like having my favorite family member there preparing to help me do the most physically intense thing I'll ever do! She is truly a gifted and special human being. read more

The loving support Davinah provided during my labor was only a part of the care she gave my husband and me. We had a challenging pregnancy, one that required emotional healing before delivery. At 22 weeks, we contacted Davinah. From the moment we met her, there was trust. During our initial meeting, I felt myself opening up, exposing wounds that desperately needed healing. She listens intently when you speak, acknowledges your feelings, and in the right moments gently asks you to dig deeper.  Davinah knew what we needed in order to have a safe and healthy delivery was to emotionally prepare and let go of the things that were holding us back. Through the months leading up to our birth, she worked with us to heal wounds left by the earlier stages of the pregnancy. Davinah created space for my pain, for my husband's concerns, and for our healing as a family.  During birth, Davinah gave me confidence. She reminded me that my body was capable of delivering this baby. She reminded me that this was not something that was happening to me but was something I was doing. She was a calming presence in our birth space. Available always when I needed her, and a silent protector at all times.  Davinah was not only there for me, but for my husband as well. She ensured he was taken care of; emotionally, physically, and mentally. Because of Davinah, he could be present for the birth instead of feeling that he had to take care of me. What a gift! We knew we wanted a doula to help during the birth of our son, but what we didn't know we needed was the love, attention, and guidance Davinah provided us every step of the way. read more

TL;DR: Hire Dav now! I had my baby in early April and Dav was our labor doula. I wanted a fully natural birth without pain medication, but had no clue what to expect as a FTM. We hired Dav when I was 32 weeks into my pregnancy as she was so sweet and we were drawn to her calming presence. When I started having contractions, I was constantly texting with Dav who was incredibly responsive even at 2AM+. She coached me on how to time my contractions and manage the discomfort, and at the same time, she was gauging how far along I was. 24 hours after contractions started, when I was finally admitted to the hospital at 5AM, Dav arrived within the hour with her bag of tricks, a positive attitude and smile. I was in labor at the hospital for 12 hours, and Dav was there with me the entire time, coaching and encouraging me through every contraction, offering tips and positions to manage the pain and also help labor progress. Dav helped me cope mentally, as well as physically over the course of the day. I ended agreeing to a small dose of Pitocin to speed up labor and help me dilate the last few centimeters on the recommendation of my midwife, but only after privately consulting with Dav who I trusted to have my best interests and preferences in mind. When contractions got super intense during transition, Dav broke out her robozo and helped massage and apply pressure to my lower back to help counteract the pain. She also supported me when my medical team asked me to push laying on my back and I insisted I needed to push on all 4s. The entire time, she was so encouraging and motivating--I truly believe I couldn't have done it without her, and because of Dav, I got my epidural-free, vaginal birth! read more

Davinah was such a gift! We knew we wanted to hire Davinah when we experienced her commitment to truly understanding us, our needs, and our goals (she is a phenomenal listener and so thoughtful in her interactions with clients). Then, once we were actually in labor - even though we had done so much of our own research and preparation - we were totally saved by her gentle wisdom, loving care, and stalwart advocacy. Her suggestions and guidance might very well have been the difference between a cesarean and vaginal birth for us. I can't imagine a better care-taking experience, and we are so grateful for the memories of warmth, knowledge, and kindness that we can associate with our first labor and delivery. read more

I'm incredibly thankful that we made the decision to have Dav as our birth doula. She was extremely supportive in helping us understand what to expect before, during, and after the birth process as new parents. Throughout the process, Dav was incredibly knowledgeable, selfless, and present and made my wife (who was a bit nervous about her first birth) feel both at ease and confident in preparation for giving birth to our daughter. From our early conversations with doctors to the time in the hospital, she empowered us to make informed decisions. Once in the delivery room, her guidance and support were invaluable in making the birth of our daughter a beautiful and life-changing experience. I am certain we would not have had nearly as wonderful of an experience without Dav on our team. read more

From our first meeting with Dav, she was a grounding and calming presence with a healthy dash of humor - all things my partner and I knew would be absolutely necessary during the uncertainties of our first birth experience. Throughout our 27 hour labor, Dav provided unwavering support for both me and my wife. For me - she reminded me to eat, take breaks and get rest in order to give the best support I could. For my wife - she did everything from recommending positions to alleviate back labor, offering calming words of encouragement and taking the initiative to do things like fill the bathtub or talk to our family at the hospital. Her communication was direct and compassionate. She was very clear with us on what we should expect from the hospital and advocated for us to hospital staff when we needed it. Dav has her process honed; the Prenatal visits were key in establishing our relationship and gameplan.  She laid out clear scenarios with us as well as forming the foundation for an excellent postpartum plan. Her advice was sound and articulate while being respectful of our choices. Dav is a gift to the birth-world and we cannot recommend her highly enough. read more

Davinah was an essential and integral part of our birth team and I cannot imagine our birth experience without her. Her warm presence, sense of humor and encouragement both before and during the birth was unparalleled. What I particularly appreciated was how she held space for me (as the birthing person) to experience my story, and to realize and voice my needs. Though my journey was long and took unexpected twists and turns, Davinah was a constant source of information, ideas and comfort. She was always "in my corner." I cannot recommend her highly enough. read more

It's hard to describe how valuable and integral Davinah was to our birthing process. She helped me think about what my experience as the non-birthing partner would be like, enabling me to mentally and emotionally prepare to witness the person I love most be in pain. She asked about my needs and expectations, which I hadn't considered prior to our conversations. She normalized and validated thoughts we hadn't even had yet, so when they came up, we didn't for one second shame ourselves over them. On the day my wife gave birth, Davinah was perfectly present and yet not at all in focus in my memories. Her calming and steady spirit was thick in the room, but she held so much space for my wife and I to connect and zoom into each other. In the toughest moments, she looked me right in the eye and mouthed "she's ok." It was a split second of reassurance and it made all the difference. In terms of Davinah's practical expertise and skills... 1. She made our labor efficient. In her first pregnancy, Nikki arrived at the hospital 6cm dilated. This was thanks to the exercises Davinah led us through at home. Her knowledge and expertise ensured Nikki's pain wasn't in vain, but that every contraction had purpose. 2. She helped us avoid intervention during the pushing phase. Our little nugget wasn't in the optimal position. He had his hand up right by his face which meant Nikki's hours of pushing hadn't been effective. Our midwife suggested some manual manipulation, which could lead to forceps, which could lead to an emergency c-section if the baby didn't tolerate it well. Davinah asked if we could try a different pushing position first. In just a few minutes of pushing, Nikki and Nugget were making tremendous progress. We never again discussed interventions. 3. She provided postpartum support we desperately needed and hadn't anticipated. My wife has said over and over that the hardest part of the journey was postpartum. Physically, emotionally, relationally - It. Is. Hard. People don't talk about it, but Davinah does. And then she shows up for it so you can talk about it. I feel unbelievably privileged and grateful that Davinah was a part of one of the most intimate, vulnerable, and truly magical moments of our lives. She is a gift I wish we could give all birthing people. read more

With the more time that passes, the longer I have to reflect on the pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience and the immense gratitude I have for the role Davinah played in it. She prepared and educated us from the very beginning. Her questions and suggestions encouraged me to dig deep inside myself for the answers every step of the way. Davinah set me up to have the best birth experience possible. She showed up (repeatedly) for me in ways no one else has ever done before. She knew exactly what I needed and how to reach out to me, and that means a lot as someone who is awful with asking for help. I am certain that without her this entire experience would have played out very differently, and possibly with different (and less favorable) outcomes. I highly recommend working with Davinah for any and all of the services she offers. She is a true gem! read more

This is the badass, authentic, deep caring person you want at your birth! Dav is an incredible human and a wise, experienced doula. She gracefully supported my partner and I through a holistic birth experience including intentional prenatal and postpartum visits that left us with a stronger marriage, more skills to navigate family complexities, and deep appreciation for our birth experience. Her presence mitigated my anxiety and allowed me to be fully me before, during, and after giving birth. read more

Getting to work with Davinah was truly the best decision of my pregnancy. From our very first meeting, she made me feel empowered, supported, validated and informed. She answered all of our questions and helped my husband and I to better and understand and prepare for the journey ahead. During what turned out to be a very stressful labor and delivery, her calm and compassionate spirit helped me to persevere and to stay strong. She was the glue that held my husband and I together during labor and delivery. Davinah provided the kind of support we didn't even know we needed just when we needed it the most, like ordering breakfast for us and making "padsicles". During our postpartum period Davinah has continued to check-in with us and has provided much needed emotional support, tangible assistance, and healing. I am forever thankful to Davinah for being a part of our team!! read more

Having Davinah come into my life has been one of the greatest gifts. Dav was not only a huge support for us for the birth of our second baby but continues to provide unconditional love and support months after. Dav has such a warm and calming presence and we knew the moment we met her that she was the doula for us. We were planning a VBAC for our second baby. One of my biggest reasons for hiring Dav was to help support me physically during labor but when our birth quickly turned into a repeat cesarean, I never knew how much emotional support Dav would provide and how much I would need that. It was huge to have Dav in our corner, supporting all of our decisions and affirming that we knew what was best for our family and our baby. Just having her by my side, sometimes not even saying a word but just holding my hand along the way meant so much. If I were to have known I would have a repeat cesarean I am not sure I would have hired a doula but I saw firsthand just how truly important it is to have doula support during a cesarean. Having Dav there for us in the weeks after another unplanned cesarean and being able to unpack all of our emotions that come with unplanned cesareans with someone who was by our side the entire time was invaluable. I cannot say enough amazing things about this human being and the impact she's had and continues to have on my life but I will forever be grateful to have met her. read more

Having a new little one was so amazing, but postpartum was so much more challenging than I was prepared for. I struggled with breastfeeding issues, postpartum anxiety, sleep, and adjusting to being a mom. Utilizing Davinah for postpartum care was one of the best things we did for our new family. She provided the compassion and tenderness I needed when I felt like I was failing. She was able to provide space for me to process all I was experiencing. She was able to acknowledge and validate my struggles and offer support. Her recommendations to lactation specialists, new mom groups, and other resources really made a difference. Every visit was catered to what I needed most and ranged from cooking, folding laundry, holding our baby so I could nap or take a shower, or just talking. After each visit I felt relieved and empowered to keep going. Her intuition and sensitivity to new mommas is remarkable and you will be grateful to have her help and support. read more

Dav provided our family with post-partum support for several months after my daughter was born. Her hands-on help, intuitive approach, proactive suggestions and wise words kept us afloat, while we all adjusted. I still repeat some of her sage advice to myself while caring for my daughter. Dav helped us with everything from daily chores like dishes and laundry to trouble-shooting challenging infant care aspects, such as breastfeeding, dealing with thrush, screaming in the car, sleep challenges, etc. Sometimes she just held the baby so I could take a breath, a shower or a nap. She also helped me process the birth and helped keep tabs on our emotional health, my overall mood and how well my husband and I were relating to each other. Dav is an excellent listener.Having Dav's support helped make my husband's return to work much easier, logistically and emotionally. Our dog needed some extra time adjusting to the new baby, and Dav's support gave us some extra bandwidth to do that. Dav is also very well connected to additional resources in the Seattle community. My daughter was having issues with bottles and she referred us to a feeding consultant who specialized in breast-fed babies who wouldn't take a bottle. I can't say enough about how thoughtful Dav is. She started every visit by asking, "what would feel good today?" That simple question gave me a minute to check in with myself and ask for what I needed. And when I didn't know the answer to that question, she had some suggestions. I'm a very introverted person and worried about having someone around during such an intimate time. Dav just GOT IT and fit seamlessly into the mix. Her gentle care was exactly what we needed! I can't recommend her enough. read more