I cannot emphasize what a crucial part of my pregnancy and daughter's birth Stephanie was for us…read more Stephanie provided the exact support we needed; from the moment we hired her to the days leading up to my labor to the birth of our daughter to the days after and everything in between. Any question, request, guidance needed - Stephanie was there. She made us feel no shame in asking the smallest questions. She was clear about when something was evidence-based vs her intuition/experience. She never pushed us to do anything and was always supportive of decisions we made. It was important to me and my husband to have a natural birth, which was my main motivation to hire a doula. Truly could not have delivered this baby without Stephanie (I mean, I would have, of course - but likely after much more pain and decisions I would later regret). She was with us on the phone (my husband, mostly) as soon as my water broke and she was with us in person by the time contractions got heavy to get us through the later stages of labor and the pushing/delivery process. Stephanie worked so in sync with the midwife and nurse on my delivery team - it took a village! In addition to Stephanie supporting me, she was also an amazing guide and support to my husband - equipping him with reading materials before delivery and coaching him on best ways to support me throughout labor and delivery. In the days after our baby was born, we talked to Stephanie every day. She visited us to make sure baby was latching properly, showed me some other tips and tricks for feeding, and has continued to provide us with guidance on feeding and pumping and all feeding things! When I become pregnant with baby #2, Stephanie will be among the first to know - could not imagine doing a totally natural birth again without her!

Hiring Stephanie as our doula was one of the best decisions we made while preparing for the birth…read moreof our first child. When my partner and I started looking into childbirth education, we quickly realized how much we didn't know and how overwhelming it could be to research everything on our own. From our very first meeting with Stephanie, it was clear how knowledgeable she is. She focuses heavily on evidence-based information, which was exactly how we wanted to approach decisions around birth. I became interested in attempting an unmedicated birth, although I was only about 60% confident I could actually do it. Stephanie never doubted me. From that point on, all of our preparation and meetings were geared toward helping me achieve that goal. She was always quick to respond to texts and emails and provided detailed, thoughtful information whenever we had questions. Stephanie also did an incredible job coaching my partner ahead of time so he knew how to support me during labor. In our prep meetings, she walked him through different techniques and ways he could help when things became intense. Because of that preparation, he was able to really play an active role during labor. Even during labor itself, Stephanie continued guiding him on how to support me in ways that were actually helpful in the moment. When things were very intense, she would gently coach him on what to do, whether that was how to help with breathing, positioning, or encouragement. If he wasn't sure whether something he was doing was helping, she gave him feedback and reassurance so he could keep supporting me confidently. That support for both of us made a huge difference. When my labor started, I was able to text Stephanie updates and questions and she was always quick to respond and help ease my worries. At one point she had another client in labor (which we knew was a possibility), but her backup doula came to my house and provided wonderful support until we went to the hospital. Stephanie met us there and immediately helped me focus on breathing and staying calm. The moment I'll always remember most was during the pushing phase. I was exhausted having been awake for nearly 36 hours, but Stephanie's coaching and encouragement made such a difference. Her reminders to breathe for the baby and "blow out the birthday candles for the baby," along with her steady counting and encouragement, helped me push through and ultimately deliver my baby the way I had hoped. One unexpected benefit of working with Stephanie is that she is also a lactation consultant. She helped us prepare for breastfeeding, explained how pumping works, and helped us troubleshoot breastfeeding our baby a few days after coming home. I didn't expect that level of support, but it ended up being incredibly helpful. Stephanie is incredibly knowledgeable and very honest. She gives you the information and may offer a recommendation, but she never pressures you if you decide differently. She's straightforward, fact-driven, and clearly very dedicated to her clients. Working with her truly showed me how valuable doulas can be. Stephanie was wonderful to work with, and I would not want to have another child without her by my side.

Afshan was doula for my wife and I as we worked through the pregnancy and birth process in the fall…read moreof 2018 and I cannot speak highly enough of her. She is calming and kind, helpful and responsive, while also being effective as a guide when difficult decisions arise. After working with her during the birth of our daughter, I cannot imagine it being any different At first, I was a little wary of having a third person in the room during the birth, because I wanted to be the main source of support for my wife. But, at our first meeting, Afshan put those concerns to rest and continued to do so by truly serving as support for me and for my wife. She did what we needed to make sure the process was as smooth as possible, while making us both feel honored and vital. It was really great to have that kind of support so that if I needed a rest, I could do that and then come back as a better partner. In addition, having Afshan there with us was really helpful because of her excellent relationships with the staff at the hospital. The fact that she had worked with the nurses and doctors there was very helpful in relaying information, getting what we needed, and in working together as a team when it was time to push. Afshan is truly a wonderful doula. I would recommend her to anyone.

Afshan was absolutely amazing ! She was an amazing support prior to be going into labor and…read moreconsistently checked up to see how I was feeling and doing . As it got closer to the day she explained to me what was normal and advised me with what to ask the doctors in order to give birth naturally . When I went into labor she was with me the entire time and made giving birth naturally possible . She was patient , kind , and gentle . I wouldn't have been able to do it without her ! After our beautiful girl was born Afshan checked in on us to see how we are doing and continued to be an amazing support. We truly value her and would love to work with her for our future pregnancies . She goes above and beyond and we will forever be grateful .

Jamie was fantastic, I had an hour long reading from her and start to finish, it was such a great…read moreexperience. She's very professional and made the experience very easy and welcoming. More than that, she's spot on in her reading and very encouraging and warm and just plain wonderful. I really enjoyed my appointment with her and would HIGHLY recommend that anyone who's thinking about it books an appointment with her.

Jamie is beyond talented. She is extremely intuitive, her abilities far surpass any other…read morespiritualist experiences I have ever had. I left my session feeling hopeful, empowered, and excited about my spiritual journey. I am looking forward to taking more classes with her and coming in for monthly tune-ups.

We're expecting our first baby in February 2026 and initially felt pretty overwhelmed about where…read moreto start with birth planning. We were even hesitant to take a birth class at all--but we're so grateful we took Lisa Greaves' class. While we're planning a hospital birth, we hope to avoid a C-section if possible, and Lisa's class truly empowered us to feel comfortable and informed about all of our options. We learned about laboring at home longer, pain management strategies both with and without medication, and how to advocate for ourselves throughout the process. By the final session, we felt much more knowledgeable about pre- and postnatal care and genuinely prepared to welcome our baby. We also really appreciated the sense of community and the additional resources the class provides. Can't recommend it enough!

Lisa is a gifted educator on all things childbirth and we're SO happy to have attended her 3 day…read moreintensive in-person classes a few months prior to our due date. I was immediately impressed by Lisa's care and high-touch approach when I saw her thoughtful response to my intake form at the time we registered for the program. And throughout the course, Lisa's wealth of knowledge, passion, and genuine desire to help really carried through. She's also a bright ray of sunshine and we really appreciated her warmth and hospitality in what could feel like a long three day class otherwise. We had snacks and drinks, were able to move around freely, sit on the floor, sit on the yoga ball, there are squatty potties in each bathroom, I mean she literally thought of everything in trying to make this experience as comfortable and smooth for us as possible. With each class, we felt more and more confident and well equipped to welcome our baby and of course the added bonus in this being in-person is that we also loved connecting with other couples that we will continue to stay in touch with. I would highly recommend to any couple who's expecting no matter the kind of birth experience you envision for yourseleves.

I used Ashe for my first birth in 2024. Emilie was my doula and Milta was her partner. Both of them…read morewere so supportive and patient during my pregnancy - they are knowledgeable and kind, never pushy and always helpful and kept what my partner and I needed at the forefront of all of our interactions. They answered every question and I had lots! Emilie and Milta were very gracious and mindful of supporting my husband, as well. I was grateful for them and their guidance throughout pregnancy, but my labor and delivery is where Emilie's sunshine beamed the strongest. She seemed to know what I needed before I could even ask her, providing physical support and pain management for me at my induction. With her unwavering help, I was able to carry through with my hopes for an unmedicated birth even with an induction and even though I was nervous! She had total faith in me and it made me believe in myself. She checked in on us at home after the baby came, and we also used Ashe's postpartum services to get a few, much-needed, nights of rest (Courtney is amazing!) Ashe does it all and they do it all beautifully. I'm grateful every day for Emilie and her team. I wholeheartedly recommend their amazing care for every step of your journey! We could not have been happier.

I am so glad that Emilie was my doula during my pregnancy and delivery experience. I knew I wanted…read morea natural birth experience, and someone who would champion for my wishes. Emilie did that and much, much more. In the months before delivery, Emilie met with me for pre-natal care, informing me about hospital interventions, medications, and decisions I'd have to make for my child. When contractions begin, Emilie coached me through the contractions and then met us at the hospital. (She was getting ready to meet us at home but my labor was very fast). At the hospital, she helped me settle into a comforting routine. With every contraction, she held my body, coached my breathing and I felt completely in control of my labor and delivery. There was no screaming, or kicking as I imagined there'd be. The nurses even commented that this was the most controlled delivery they'd ever seen -- thanks to Emilie! She kept me hydrated, massaged me, and coached my husband about what he could do. She worked incredibly well with the nurses and doctors. I was so nervous about giving birth but I was fully empowered and in control over my body. I absolutely loved my labor and delivery experience. After giving birth, Emilie visited me twice, bringing sitz baths and talking me through all the issues I was facing during that first month. It's been several months and she still checks in on me. You won't regret going with Emilie!

Kim Collins is well known in our community for her amazing skills as a doula and for being a…read morewonderful person in general. My husband and I were impressed with her upon our first phone call and in person meeting. She was able to speak to my husband's scientific sensibilities and my desire to incorporate more natural approaches to health and wellness during pregnancy and childbirth. Kim's help was indispensable during my labor. My husband has retold the story many times of how I was writhing in pain in a rocking chair until Kim arrived and snapped me out of it with just a few words. Kim calmly suggested that I soften my face, release my shoulders, and take a deep breath and suddenly my whole body relaxed. With Kim's calming presence, expertise, and knowledge of women's bodies in labor, I was able to move past my own self-doubt to deliver my daughter without pain medication. For me, the key benefits of having Kim as our doula was how she showed my husband to help, her guidance in breathing and relaxation through tense moments, and her kneading my strained muscles. My husband and I have agreed to ask for Kim if/when we have additional children. After baby was born, we had trouble with weight gain and breastfeeding. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Deirdre McLary came to our home with less than 2 days notice and helped turn things around. She listened to me talk about our feeding experiences so far, my anxieties, and my hope to exclusively breastfeed for a year. She also weighed the baby before a feeding, gave tips during the feeding, and weighed the baby again afterwards. We learned that baby was not latching well and was not taking in very much milk. Deirdre helped ease my misconceptions about breastfeeding, pumping, and formula so that I could do what was needed to make sure my daughter was fed. With her help, my daughter has been gaining well and progressively latching more efficiently. Both Kim and Deirdre are remarkably responsive to texts, phone calls, and emails - always with a gentle professional manner no matter how panicked or scrambled I may be.

From the owner: Doula ~ Lactation ~ Newborn. MommaArts is a full service…read morematernity agency transitioning Rockland County NY and Northern New Jersey parents from pregnancy through the first year since 1997. We offer excellent and experienced care from our amazing team of doulas, educators, newborn specialists and lactation experts. Fees range depending on who you work with, from hourly rates to full "maternity concierge" packages. With a rich local history and a diversity of experience in all different birth and home settings we are certain we can create a birth and post partum plan that is perfect for you.

One year ago, on this exact day I gave birth to my son (first child). Today on his first birthday I…read morecan't just help thinking of Myla as she played such an essential role on my son's birth. I was lucky to have a smooth pregnancy over the course of the nine months and had a very clear idea about my birth preferences. However, I was concerned about the strict protocol of the main hospitals of New York City. My husband and I are both Italian and birthing process in Italy is different than here. So, we started looking into doulas and interviewed quite a few of them. Myla was the one who impressed us the most. With her calm and peaceful manners but also her deep knowledge on anything related to birth, we both felt she was the right doula to assist us. Myla was really crucial in giving birth of my baby. I had a natural birth and my son weighted 11lb 10oz: a shocking news for everyone especially since I was able to deliver him naturally and with no C section. Having a natural birth was my main wish but I am aware I wouldn't been able to accomplish that without Myla's support. She helped with breathing, soothing massage and expert touch to get my baby in a lower position. My husband was engaged all the time and the three of us literally 'worked' as a team over the long hours of labor and then pushing. Myla reminded us to take our time before rushing into any decision and we truly felt reassured with her on our side. I remember one of the most experienced nurses praising on Myla as she pointed out how lucky we were on having such a knowledgable and passionate doula assisting us (and I guess she had seen quite a few over the years). And yes, we truly felt blessed in having Myla on our side. The process was painful, I won't lie, but without Myla I would not have been able to deliver my baby without a C section. I'm glad I was able to safely accomplish my wish. After my son was born Myla took the time to make sure my baby latched and she even took so many pictures of the three of us during those first moments as we wished to have a memory of those. We could count on Myla even after the birth experience, as we met her again a few days after leaving the hospital to provide guidance and helpful advice with our newborn. "Grazie Myla!" - You were a precious gift to our family.

Having a doula during the birthing process was integral to making the day of my son's birth as…read moresmooth as possible, and Myla exemplifies this. Myla was an incredibly kind, supportive guide through my pregnancy process. She helped me cut through the noise of opinions and blogs and provided the resources to know what and how to talk to my birth team (doctor, hospital, partner, etc). Pregnancy can be a roller coaster of emotions and even fears and Myla helped navigate what questions we would potentially want to ask and how to ask those questions to empower ourselves to make the right decisions. My confidence when it came time to enter into the actual birth I can absolutely attribute to Myla. During my birth itself, Myla was there to help me have a positive experience. Whether it was soothing massage to ease labor pains at home, or just reminding me in the hospital to ask for time to think about choices that I needed to make, her focus and incredible knowledge and many years of birth experience made everything easier. I felt confident that I was making the right choices because Myla was there with me. After the birth Myla continued to be a crucial resource. She is a lactation consultant and guided me in the breastfeeding process. In the hospital she got my supply started and helped me navigate challenges that continued once I was home Myla's full continuity of care from pregnancy to newborn is invaluable. I experienced curve balls throughout the entire time and was able to navigate everything and ultimately have a successful confident experience thanks to Myla.

I had my daughter 6 months ago and my family and I had the pleasure of having Nancy as our doula. I…read moredidn't take any birthing courses so Nancy sat down with me and my husband and thoroughly went through the birthing process, including the many scenarios we could encounter. We read books and watched videos and she answered all of our questions with much detail. She really helped to prepare us for the day our daughter was born. We ended up with a very intense labor that ended in a c section and we are so thankful to have Nancy's compassion and expertise through the process. She was also very supportive to my family when they needed her most. After we came home from the hospital, Nancy cleaned and prepared our house for our arrival. I'm a new mom, so she taught me important steps for taking care of my baby. She cooked for me and our family and just truly made our transition into parenthood so easy. I would highly recommend Nancy of maternal instincts doulas. Her service, skills, knowledge, attentiveness and work is priceless!!!

Nancy helped me as a post-partum doula following the birth of my daughter in 2013. I was recovering…read morefrom a planned c-section for a breech baby. Nancy showed so much care for me, my husband, and my baby. She taught us a great deal about parenting and assured us with answers to our many questions about caring for a newborn. One of the things I will always remember is how she communicated with our many family members who came to visit in the first days following the birth. She helped them to be sensitive to the privacy I needed as I recovered, and the bonding time that we needed with our new baby. (Not to mention the sleep!) I am still in close touch with Nancy. She is funny, loving, and incredibly trust-worthy. I still go to her with questions about my now 14-month old!

We asked Taylor to be our doula for baby #2. Pretty sure I would still be pregnant and in labor if…read moreI didn't have her by my side! I was expecting an easier labor since it was my second, but it wasn't really the case. I was progressing slowly, but already at the hospital so after a while the pitocin talk started. I was exhausted at that point and started breaking down because, to me, that automatically meant c-section. Taylor helped us through the decision, encouraged us to speak up about our hesitations, and got me through labor on pitocin without an epidural. She was always ready with positions/tools and gentle but empowering words to help me keep going. Her soothing presence kept me and my husband calm. Her visits before and after were always pleasant and helpful. No matter what my fears and insecurities were about birth, motherhood or wife-hood, Taylor always validated my feelings, offered solutions and was never judgmental. She says I could have done it without her, but I just don't see how that would have been possible!

From the owner: As a doula it's my goal to help you discover and navigate your birth options and preferences, and…read moreto support you in ways that make you feel empowered and safe. My role is to provide you with information, offer continuous emotional and physical support, and be a calm and steady, non-judgemental voice as you journey from pregnancy through parenthood. Serving Northern and Central NJ and NYC.