Working with Kathy McLean was the best decision we could have made for the birth of our first…read morechild. She's an invaluable resource and provided wisdom, comfort, care, understanding, positivity, and enthusiasm as she guided us through pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and helping us answer postpartum questions. She was key in making a difficult labor and delivery (sunny-side up baby) actually joyful and peaceful. She was an MVP team player -- so much so, that our OB will keep Kathy's info at her office to continue referring to folks! A doula that can be bffs with a doctor is high praise :) We will always highly recommend Kathy to anyone we know! Thank you Kathy!

My wife and I had such a great experience with Rebecca! This review is long overdue as our baby is…read morenow a toddler. It was our first pregnancy so we didn't know what to expect. Rebeca helped my wife be at ease during the process and was a great resource of information. The moms groups that were run by The Birth Doulas was a nice setting for my wife, as she was able to make new friends and connect with others in a similar lifestage. If we were to enlist the support of a doula again, Rebecca would be our first call.

About a year ago, I had no idea what a doula was. When my wife said that she wanted to hire one to…read morehelp 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.

My wife and I highly recommend Rebecca. This was our first pregnancy and a friend told us the best…read morething 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.

We are first time parents. We had booked a different doula with Brave Birth and on the day I went…read moreinto labor our doula was sick with COVID. I was grateful our contract meant that we would be provided a backup doula. I felt we lucked out because Kelly had facilitated our childbirth class so we had spent a weekend together. Kelly was not a total stranger. Kelly was in contact with my husband throughout my early labor at home and offered to come as soon as we wanted support for laboring at home. We felt so supported by Kelly's checkins and support even from afar. She encouraged Chris with specific tactics to keep labor progressing when I had a slow down before her arriving. At about hour 12 of labor my husband was exhausted from helping me through the waves. When she arrived her energy was calm and informed. Kelly's approach is consent based and empowering. I could sense her understanding of labor and her guidance was calm and direct which is what I needed. She immediately offered comfort measures such as massage and counter pressure. Both were amazing and gave Chris a much needed break. The pain of labor was intense and Kelly's energy, knowledge, and touch supported me in staying in my body. We've never done this before, Chris was anxious and wasn't sure when to make the call to go to the hospital. Kelly helped Chris feel at ease. Chris felt relieved to have someone to trade off with in the physical support of my labor. I didn't have to worry about anything except getting through each contraction. No easy feat. Unbeknownst to me Kelly and Chris would collaborate on next steps. Kelly's discretion in pulling Chris aside for next steps helped me focus on labor. Each stage of labor Kelly would come to me make eye contact and describe the next phase of labor. I usually heard it as "ok this next part is going to be harder (than the last phase) here is what is happening and how to proceed." It wasn't what I wanted to hear but it was what I needed to hear. I appreciated the clear and direct communication about what was next. It was exactly what I needed.Anytime I got stuck during active labor, Kelly would give me tips for getting through. How to breathe, how to let go, how to welcome contractions with curiosity and then let it go. Kelly was the anchor Chris needed in supporting me through labor, making sure his physical needs were met so he could continue being there for me. Kelly was my lighthouse in the stormy sea of labor. I would look up to find her or Chris and then gather the strength to sail the next wave.I got through labor and delivered our amazing little baby. Kelly advocated for me, took charge when needed, and stayed with me throughout. I was able to go into my deepest self to gather strength and power for labor. I could let go of control of everything around me because I knew Chris and Kelly were taking care of it all. In the days after our baby's birth Chris and I continually recounted that Kelly's support was vital and invaluable to our birthing experience. We would not and we're pretty could not have done it without Kelly. We are so grateful. I felt held and empowered. Kelly is an expert doula, highly intuitive, and doesn't miss any detail. Doula work is hard to define, but it fills in the gap of care for birthing people. What does it mean to really hold and care for someone as they bring new life into the world? It is powerful work and Kelly gets it.I feel like we won the lottery having Kelly as our backup doula through Brave Birth and would recommend Kelly to any pregnant person whether or not it is your first pregnancy. She is an incredible doula.

I worked with Crystal Broer for postpartum doula services. Being a first time mom with not much…read morefamily in the area, securing her in advance of my baby's arrival gave me great peace of mind to know she'd be there to help ease the transition. Crystal was fantastic. From a planning and availability standpoint, she was exceptionally professional, respectful, and on the ball. She was amazing with my baby, and most importantly gave me confidence to trust my intuition. She was calm, knew how to get things done and help around the house, but not be overly intrusive. Highly recommend.

We had such a wonderful experience working with Katrina and Bridgetown baby. Their insurance…read morechecking benefits and automatic, matching with lactation consultant were extremely helpful. We were lucky enough to work with Katrina who from the very first meeting, was incredibly kind, patient, and supportive. She created a comfortable, judgment-free space where I felt heard and understood. What I appreciated most was her collaborative approach. She really took the time to listen to our concerns, answer questions thoroughly, and work together to find solutions that felt right for our family. Her guidance was practical, encouraging, and tailored to our specific situation. I'm truly grateful for her expertise and compassion, and I would highly recommend her to any family looking for knowledgeable and caring lactation support.

I recently had my second baby and unlike my first I wanted to have a lactation consultant home…read morevisit as soon as baby arrived. I have PCOS and had a low supply and tongue tie with my first and wanted to get baby checked out right away so we could do what we needed to help milk production. Rosemary was amazing and came right away and helped me navigate all the things related to breastfeeding and feeding my baby. I felt heard and very well cared for in those beginning days when you are so vulnerable. We had a follow up today and she reassured me that I'm doing everything and heading in the right direction. She was really there to listen to what I had to say and my concerns and gave the advice that I needed to feel confident and keep moving forward. So thankful for Rosemary and Bridgetown baby for the much needed support.

Ashley hosted our private birth education course. Even though we had completed a birth course with…read moreour first baby, Ashley created a customized course to support us in the kind of birth we wanted the second time around. Her teaching style was warm and friendly, she made me feel so comfortable and empowered. Would highly recommend her.

I was fortunate to have Ashley as our Hypnobirthing instructor at the Birth Education Center and…read moreour birth doula for my first child (pre-COVID). My husband and I were on the fence about having a doula, but my friend who took the classes and had Ashley as a doula recommended I at least meet Ashley in person. During our hour-long chat at the coffee shop, I realized that the birth of my child would be one of the most important days of my life, and what we see on our TV and movies is FAR from how the birth experience really is. Ashley was so knowledgeable about all the hospitals/doctors/protocols, anatomy, just anything birth-related. This was helpful in having the awareness and expectation so that I could make my own decisions. I had to get induced at 38 weeks due to high blood pressure and other conditions and was basically freaking out. Ashley helped me through it and assured me that this was the right time and the right call for my situation. Her calm demeanor kept me calm. She was very hands-on and helped me throughout my labor (utilizing spinning babies technique and massage/hip squeezes), and my husband still talks about how helpful it was to have her there so that he could take a break and eat lunch! Ashley was an advocate for me during birth and I am so grateful, like when the nurse just decided to buttoned my gown up in the chest because that's more "modest" and Ashley, knowing the importance and benefits of skin-to-skin and my wishes, unbuttoned it when the nurse wasn't looking! Small things like this add up and actually mean a lot. I ended up having a beautiful and positive birth at the hospital (opted for epidural) and I have Ashley to thank for it. Ashley is one of my favorite people, and I cannot recommend her enough. She is a fairy godmother! As for the hypnobirthing...my first reaction was "I'm not a hippie," but after that meeting with Ashley, I realized it is a total misnomer, and Hypnobirthing is just relaxation methods AND birth education to help you feel confidant on the big day. I recommend taking these classes over the classes taught at hospitals which tend to be more clinical.

These ladies are great, they came highest recommended by my doula group and I can definitely see…read morewhy. I really appreciated their quick responses, kindness professionalism and care during a 35 week late care transfer time they comforted me and were so helpful. If you're looking for a group that's attentive to your needs and listens to you this is the go to place. Quality care and the respect every birthing person should get to experience.

Heather and Emilia blew me away. The instant I met them I had complete confidence in my decision to…read moredo a home birth with Rosehip Midwifery. I actually transferred care to them at 36 weeks. It speaks volumes to their remarkable care because in those short two weeks leading up to birth they packed in 8 months worth of care! They are leading educators in midwifery care. From prenatal, labor and delivery, to postpartum, they instilled me with every ounce of confidence I needed as a first time home-birther. They are knowledgeable, personable, accessible, reassuring, perceptive, thorough, empowering. There aren't enough superlatives to describe them, honestly! It was the most beautiful birth story I could have hoped for, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. At a time when there is so much stress and uncertainty for pregnant mothers, it was such a gift to be completely calm and confident through this process and I owe that all to Heather and Emilia. They answered every question I had. We laughed our heads off and their demeanor was exactly what I needed. I literally told them between pushes that this was the best decision I could have made and that I wanted to write their first 5 star review during labor! You can tell they absolutely love what they do and adore babies.  I went into labor the same day we moved intoour fixer upper and we didn't have a washer and dryer. Heather is an angel on this earth and surprised us at our baby's one day appointment with our laundry cleaned! She also clipped my baby's tongue tie the same day, so we wouldn't have to suffer through the difficult breastfeeding. Emilia is a certified lactation consultant and we wouldn't have survived breastfeeding without either of them. They won't just catch your baby, they'll give you the moon. Without hesitation, I would recommend Rosehip Midwifery to every expectant mother in Portland!

We are so appreciate to have Sarah and Cassidy's assistance with our first water birth. Having a…read moredoula is like having an advocate and expert that knows what you need before, during, and after your birth. We have a healthy baby now and positive experience to look back on. Thank You!

What can I say about Homespun Midwifery? Only good things!…read more Sarah was so awesome! We had recently moved out of Portland and needed a midwife. Due to having many children already (4 at the time) at home, we were hoping to find a midwife who would do prenatal visits at home. We emailed so many different people and nobody responded. The only one who reached back out to us was Sarah (at Homespun Midwifery). After meeting with her we knew immediately she was the one! She was nice, caring, and willing to make the drive out to us! Sarah was so patient and caring with us and our kids. The prenatal visits went well. She made sure we were well cared for even when she was out of town one time. She spoke to us over the phone outside of our normal prenatal visits to discuss our concerns. She was there for the birth of our daughter and responded even at wee hours in the morning! At my birth Cassidy and Megan were there too and were awesome helpers during the birth and after. They all helped to make sure I felt good and was well nourished before they left after the birth. All the post-natal visits were great too. If/when we are expecting again we hope to have Homespun Midwifery there at our side!

I was lovingly supported by my wonderful doula, Hannah, while welcoming two (out of six) of my…read morebabies earthside. They are two years apart. One was born in a hospital; the other at a water-birth center. With her intuitive guidance and kind encouragement, I felt empowered. I had very positive birth experiences, and highly recommend her services.

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Hannah . She was truly my angel, not only…read moreas my doula during a very difficult hospital induction, but as well as my LIFESAVER as a postpartum doula to my twins. We had interviewed a few different doula's in 2018 and once I met Hannah, we instantly clicked. She was so warm and kind, down to earth and had so much experience behind her. She met my parents who instantly fell in love with her demeanor and personality. My husband also, felt completely at ease with her. I enjoyed our pre-delivery meetings, going over birth plans and alternative plans if birth didn't go as planned. I specifically remember desiring a natural birth in a hospital setting, as I had already gone thru a crash csection, and medicated vbac. But my body became pre-eclamptic and forced me into a chemically induced labor, which Hannah still heroically advocated for me to be pain med free as we had previously discussed. I still remember that moment, as I was throwing up from the pain of pitocin, I finally cried for dilaudid... Hannah took my face into her hands and said "are you sure, is this what YOU want" and I remember just feeling so amazingly supported and accepted in that moment... like there was someone advocating for ME, what my heart wanted.. not what my body was telling me I needed. I teared up and said yes, just give me the pain meds... i'm done fighting this pain... and then on to plan b, she advocated for my pain control and got me where I needed to be when my brain was exhausted and my body was overtaken from the pain. She took my placenta as we discussed and brought me back these dehydrated placenta pills, which helped immensely in my recovery. Fast forward to 2022, I reached out to her again to doula my twin birth, but we decided to not proceed with that as I needed to have a c section because of their shared placenta. Instead we opted to try postpartum doula-ing.. .and it was the most amazing experience by far! Hannah is SO capable as a postpartum doula, not only was she a master at handling a newborn set of twins, complete with feeding tubes, she would juggle my other kids as they came upstairs for water or night terrors, so this exhausted mom and dad can get a good nights rest... and can we talk about the lactation cookies she baked most nights for me. She was my guardian angel in both experiences... and I can't say enough about the blessing that we was to our family! I highly recommend her and her company, and know that all those doulas working here are just as amazing and wonderful as her.... you will be in the most experienced hands :)