Taking the Birth1st Hypnobirthing course with Elizabeth was one of the best decisions I made for my…read morebirth experience! I wanted a natural delivery, but as a first time mom, I was scared! Thanks to the breathing techniques, visualizations, and overall mindset preparation she taught, I was able to have an unmedicated 7-hour labor (most of it at home, arriving to the hospital almost 8cm dilated!!) with no tearing--delivering a healthy 7lb baby girl. Elizabeth's guidance gave me the confidence to trust my body and stay calm through every stage of labor. The tools I learned helped me through my surges, stay as relaxed as possible, and truly embrace the wonder and joy of the birth experience. I'm beyond grateful for this course and would highly recommend it to any expecting mama looking for an empowering, positive birth! Our bodies were made for birth and I am so proud of what I was able to accomplish with Elizabeth's help!

Elizabeth was such a God send for us. First, she is extremely knowledgeable and clearly has the…read morebackground and experience needed to be amazing at her job. Then of course is her heart. She truly cared so much about my husband and I and took the time to walk us through each and every step. We were so nervous being first time parents about the birthing experience and she truly not only prepared us but really put us at ease. When it came time for the actual day of the labor things did not go exactly as planned and Elizabeth was right there for it all! I cannot imagine going through that whole experience without her there. My husband feels the exact same way. She also was so great with the doctors and nurses. She never overstepped but kindly had my back throughout the process. I do believe that should she not have been there, the hospital staff would have pushed me to do things that I didn't want, like a C-section. It took far more time to do a natural birth but with her support I was able to have my daughter vaginally like I very much wanted. If you are considering hiring Elizabeth as your doula, I would definitely do it! She made our pregnancy and birth feel so much safer and she really took care of us every step of the way.

I am so grateful to have had Rachel in my trusted circle throughout my pregnancy, birth and…read morepostpartum experience. As a second-time mom, I knew I wanted a doula but was looking for someone a bit more hands-on than my first, who really was only there for the birth and not really reachable before or after. After interviewing a few doulas, I was so impressed with Rachel's knowledge and serene demeanor that I booked her and her partner at the time for both birth and postpartum care. As a birth doula, Rachel provided calm and insightful virtual and in-person support to me and my husband. I really appreciated how accessible she was, and the frequent check-ins put us at ease. Throughout my pregnancy, she provided evidence-based resources and thoughtful advice for my 10 million what-if questions about having an unmedicated hospital birth, managing my toddler while having a baby and exclusive breastfeeding. When some early contractions seemed to have stalled out, Rachel popped over to my house to check the baby's alignment and walk me through some exercises that ended up leading to a quick and uncomplicated delivery a few days later. (Note that Rachel's doula partner at the time ended up attending our birth, but we were in frequent contact with Rachel throughout the delivery.) As a postpartum doula, Rachel whipped up veggie broths and sitz bath soaks from her garden, provided guidance to get babywearing and breastfeeding started on the right foot and spent hours playing games with and reading stories to my toddler. She improvised a chamomile bath soak for my baby's first bath, stocked my fridge with turmeric quinoa egg bites and oatmeal balls for healthy breakfasts and stepped in wherever was needed to help me and my new family of four get back on our feet. As I felt stronger, she helped me go on outings to the playground with both kids, taking turns connecting and playing with each of them so I could do the same. Five months later, we are all happy, healthy and thriving - I can't thank Rachel enough for being such a calm, supportive and special presence throughout this journey.

It was so wonderful having Rachel as our doula for my daughter's birth. At every turn - prenatal,…read morelabor, immediate postpartum, and even months into postpartum - we have often thought about Rachel as a stable rock that has steadied the often overwhelming waves that come along with bringing a person into the world, especially as first-time parents. Our prenatal appointments were virtual due to Covid, but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth we reached each time and the level of preparedness both my husband and I felt as our daughter's birth neared. Rachel took the time to really listen to our questions and concerns and gave us great prompts to think about surrounding how we were each feeling about the upcoming birth. This allowed us to have conversations we wouldn't have otherwise had and feel aligned and ready to support each other when I did go into labor. During early labor we called Rachel multiple times for her thoughts and encouragement about how things were progressing. I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible and having her to reach out to gave my husband confidence to support me until we were ready to head to the hospital. Rachel met us at our home for the car ride to the hospital and I really can't imagine making it through those 40 minutes without her in the backseat with me helping me move into different positions and providing counterpressure as I was really starting to feel the intensity of my contractions. At the hospital, Rachel made our labor and delivery room dark and put on background music to help keep me calm. I don't even think I was fully aware, but she completely focused the mood of the room and made sure that my comfort and wishes were taken seriously at every turn. This allowed me to continue to labor unmedicated as I had hoped. She was so physically supportive as I wanted to move around the bed and try different positions. But it was her calm, quiet emotional support that amazed me the most. Throughout the rest of my labor and the hour and half that I pushed, my medical team offered various perspectives on how things were progressing and Rachel, without judgment or contradiction, whispered into my ear the physiological perspective and repeatedly made sure that I understood what I was being told and what was happening. She allowed me to feel safe trusting my body and my baby. A last minute complication meant that I needed more attention immediately after my daughter was born than I had anticipated. I was able to do skin to skin for a short time, but quickly needed her to be held by my husband while doctors tended to me. I knew I would need Rachel during labor, but I was so grateful to have her specifically in those moments. She was able to hold my hand and be my comfort while my husband spent his first moments with our daughter. In our immediate days postpartum, Rachel came to our home and helped with everything. She taught me new, more comfortable feeding positions, how to use my pump, and how to take care of my nipples so I could continue to breastfeed. She pet and loved on our sweet dog. She taught us baby burping tricks and gas relief tips. She gave me pelvic floor specialist recommendations and made sure I was aware of my body's healing process. She listened to my husband and I as we asked lots of questions about our new family member and made us feel confident in our new role as parents. I am so grateful that she continued to be a sounding board for breastfeeding questions throughout the first few postpartum months and I credit my ability to continue to breastfeed for my daughter's first year of life (as I had hoped) to her guidance and support. One year later, I look back on my daughter's birth and I am able to see it as such an amazing experience in my life, in large part because of Rachel. I am so thankful for her continued support of our family. I highly recommend Rachel as a birth and postpartum doula - her support is truly life changing.

Melissa was excellent throughout my labor and delivery. In the weeks leading up to the big day, we…read moremet in person to create a birth plan, answer any questions my husband and I had, and to practice various techniques to help reduce the pain during contractions. The hospital can be a very daunting and unwelcoming place. My nurse was actually a bit of a nightmare but thanks to Melissa, I was able to stay focus, remain calm, follow my birth plan and most importantly deliver a healthy baby. It would have been a very different experience without her warmth and care. She helped me advocate for myself which I found to be very empowering. I first heard of Melissa and Mindful Birth & Wellness when I began my research online. A veteran doula who I initially wanted to work with referred Melissa to me after she was unavailable and I am so thankful!

Trisha was great! The classes were informative and fun. It is also nice to be with other new first…read moretime moms to hear their experience. I highly recommend this class!!

My partner and I attended Tricia's 5-week group classes at her home in Bay Ridge while I was 6-7…read moremonths pregnant. We learned about many things like mis/perceptions about birth and labor, preparing for labor mentally and physically, and the stages of labor. We loved how she integrated different ways the partner could have a role in labor; it was important for us to share as much as we could of the experience of our child's birth. Her sessions on nursing and newborn care, helped get us through the first few weeks with our new baby. She also talked about different ways of birthing - I was planning a homebirth, and another student was planning a hospital birth. She customized the material to support both of our plans. And, I was grateful for the information about hospital births, epidural, Pitocin, and c-sections, as I was transferred to a hospital during my labor! As a teacher, she's well-prepared, kind and patient, and the material is well-organized, pulling the students into the discussion, giving the 3-hour sessions a nice rhythm and they don't feel too long, boring or text-bookish.

Annette is one of a kind, and I am so grateful that I had her by my side throughout my pregnancy…read morejourney, and birth of my son. To be very honest...I didn't even know what a doula is or if I needed one. But being a FTM, I had so many questions and worries about giving birth. I started to do research, and was recommended to check out Annette. And I am so glad I did! From the first conversation, I knew I was in the right hands. I am anxious and an over-thinker, but thankfully Annette's expertise and calming nature helped ease all of that. Most importantly, she helped me become informed in all of my options - so I was able to make the best choices for me and my baby throughout the whole experience - especially when dealing with doctors (which can be rather intimidating). Finally, she was also beyond helpful and reassuring to my support person, my mother...as the two of them together helped me welcome my son into this world. Annette takes on many roles while helping - a coach, a best friend, a cheerleader, an educator and many more. My family is forever thankful to her, and highly recommend having her in your corner to anyone on the beautiful, yet sometimes rather wild, pregnancy journey.

It's hard to even know where to begin. Last summer we welcomed our son into the world. Knowing that…read moreI was hoping to have an all-natural birth, and also knowing that my partner's tolerance for seeing me in pain is quite low, I was insistent on having a doula be a part of our birth story. I did a lot of research and we interviewed two potential doulas. Both seemed beyond qualified, but from the minute Annette entered our living room, it was like having a long lost friend come over. We chatted very easily. She guided our discussion, asking pertinent questions to make sure the fit was mutual. We had another sit-down a month or so before my due date to go over questions and review our desires. She went over our birth plan and reassured us that it would all go well. Fast forward to my water breaking and contractions starting. My wife was in constant contact with Annette throughout the night. The next morning when my labor was progressing, Annette came over. She was amazing. Reassuring and calm, her presence was the perfect blend of taking charge and letting our birth story unfold naturally. She guided me through breathing and various positions. When my contractions plateaued, she encouraged us to walk the dog around the block to get them started again. Her soothing and knowledgeable demeanor was encouraging and the exact support not only I needed, but my partner needed as well. She guided my wife to being the perfect support throughout. She knew exactly when to call the Lyft. We got to the hospital and our baby arrived 45 minutes later. I was hoping to be in the birth center at Mt Sinai West (which has since shut down), and found out it was closed. Thankfully, Annette guided us to laboring as much at home as possible - which was my requested goal. She was in the delivery room, and stayed until our baby learned how to latch (and he learned well - a year later he's still a breastfed baby). She was available for questions throughout the next few weeks. She came over two days later to make sure all was going well. I cannot rave enough about the virtues of having a doula throughout the birth experience - Annette was the perfect one for us!

I took Maeva's group course leading up to the birth of my first baby and she was an instrumental…read moreresource. Maeva helped me prepare for little things I could do now to help prepare for an easier labor - like certain sitting positions, yoga moves, and meditations - and made me feel strong and ready as the event approached. She was a wealth of knowledge about everything having to do with childbirth and her tips helped insure everything went smoothly when the time arrived. I recommend Maevas course to all my pregnant friends!

Working with Maeva during my pregnancy was the best choice. She taught us hypnobirthing technique,…read moreSpinning Babies, and coping strategies. We were able to go into the birth of our first baby confidently and without fear. Maeva's presence during my labor and delivery was invaluable - I truly feel I couldn't have done it without her physical and emotional support and calming presence. I would hire Maeva over and over again! Highly recommend her!

We were inspired to hire Amethyst as a Doula because we wanted someone experienced who would be on…read moreour side during the delivery day. We felt it was important to have someone on our team that we knew was looking out for our interest and not the hospital's. What we ended up getting was that and so much more. We are so grateful for all the help that Amethyst provided. Prior to the delivery day, Amethyst had two prep sessions with us at our apartment. These sessions made us so much more comfortable about what to expect on delivery day. She also guided us on preparing our birth plan. I get emotional when I think about how helpful Amethyst's support was on the delivery day. I don't know what we would have done without her. I can confidently say that hiring Amethyst was one of the best decisions we ever made. After the delivery, Amethyst helped us by preparing placenta pills and coming over for a follow up session. In this session she not only provided great tips on taking care of our newborn she facilitated a conversation that helped us get closure on the entire labor day and delivery process. I would 100% recommend Amethyst to anyone who is pregnant and considering getting a Doula.

Let me start out by saying that Amethyst and everything and anything you can hope/wish/want in a…read moredoula/friend/support system, etc during this special time in your life! If you're thinking about a doula, debating it, stop what you are doing and say to yourself - yes I need this/ I deserve this! As a first time mom, I can say I had an easy pregnancy but towards the end my pregnancy got risky and I had to be induced 4 weeks early. Without the help and support from Amethyst I'm not sure I would have been as calm, cool and collected during my experience. But let me explain how I met Amethyst - throughout my pregnancy I can say I can a fairy good pregnancy. I gained a healthy amount of weight, I stayed active, no cravings, the usually morning sickness the first trimester, etc. the only slight difference is my blood pressure was slightly higher than what it was pre pregnancy. No big deal right? With my routine check ups my blood pressure stayed the same. So towards the end of my pregnancy and realize oh sh*t this is real - like this baby has to come out - I started to freak out! Are we prepared for this? What do I need? Do I know everything I need to know etc? So I started looking into hiring a doula. Mind you I didn't know 100% of what a doula does. I did a lot of research (midwife v doula), I asked my friends who had doulas what their experience was, the credentials, etc. of course I went searching at the usually search engines, google and yelp! And that's when I came across Amethyst profile, read her reviews, her credentials, and it was weird feeling but compared to the other profiles I just kept gng back to hers! Law of attraction people! Listen to it! :-) Anywho I gave Amethyst a call, she picked up right away, we had s great conversation and we set up an initial date to meet! I was so excited! She came to my home in westchester and my husband and I had about a little over an hour meeting with Amethyst. We spoke about our backgrounds, how she got into this field, our fears, etc and as soon as she left I remember both me and my husband looked at each other and said - we need her! This was on a Tuesday But that Friday - due to my blood pressure raising to risky levels - I had to be induced! So talk about timing! 40 hours of labor, with drugs pumped into my left and right because I wasn't dilating etc then ended up having a c section, amethyst was my rock! Yes my husband was there and was my rock as well but it's different. She was there for me and my husband from the moment I was induced to the moment I was being sent out for surgery! The entire time I was so thankful and thinking wow what timing! Someone I met literally 72 hours ago and I feel like I know her forever! She has a magical spirit! She explained the process of being induced, what to expect, some of the medical terms the doctors used, she was such an amazing support system, I just simply can't thank her enough! She saved me! So if you are hesitating - don't! Give her a call! It's a special time in your life! Us women don't really talk about pregnancy (pre/post) often but we should! What happens to our bodies, our spirits, etc we should be vocalizing it! It's not a negative thing' like we just accomplished something so badass as giving birth we should be praising ourselves! And amethyst is there for you! So go ahead and do it! You'll be happy you did!

This is a review from a father-to-be: My wife and I have…read moretaken Shara's Childbirth Intensive weekend class and we both loved it. She is a good teacher, always eye level, funny and knowledgeable, but I think her most remarkable trait is her ability to be nonjudgmental. This is easily said but it can be hard to do, and in a topic like childbirth where there can be so many different opinions in one room - opinions that are often highly emotional - it's a high wire act. What Shara does is not to try to be bland or evade any hard statements. Instead she will take the time to properly explain the issue from multiple perspectives and reasons for or against each, leaving it open to us to form our own more qualified opinion. This meant that we never felt that our particular choices were judged negatively. The classes contained a lot of information and I'm not sure if I will remember it all, but what I found to be even more helpful was that each time we had taken a class, the conversation between my wife and I would continue long into the night. We would discuss the details of what had been said... "I like when she said that...." but this was not just a matter of practically absorbing the knowledge - it was just as much a matter of emotionally travelling through this time of transformation - travelling together. The classes made the upcoming events real and present and allowed us to work through the preparations together.

My husband and I can't recommend Shara highly enough. She's a highly-experienced doula and…read moremidwife's assistant, and as a teacher, she is knowledgeable, friendly, funny, honest, and down-to-earth -- essentially, everything you could want. She has helped us feel far more equipped & prepared than we did before, and far less scared, like we can actual possibly handle the tornado that's about to touch down. Best of all, without being touchy-feely, she is positive in a way that makes everyone else feel more positive, and capable, too. After only five minutes, I was having fantasies about going to labor while in class with her so that she'd feel obligated to stay with me through the process.