Teri Nava-Anderson was our doula for our July 31st 2009 birth. Our birth was a planned homebirth…read morethat resulted in a transfer to our hospital with our concurrent care obstetrician. When I first found out I was pregnant I knew my outmost goal was to have a labor without the use of narcotics, epidurals or any type of painkillers for the labor. I was very comfortable with the capability of my body and trusted that I could do this with the assistance of a supportive husband, midwife and doula. I found Teri through a wonderful internet site that supports newlyweds and moms-to-be. I inquired more information and was very interested in having a doula for our birth. We meet and immediately felt so comfortable and very secure with her. She understood our wishes and goals and made us feel great about our decisions. It was the best decision we ever made. Teri was very supportive through the ENTIRE labor. She never lessened her enthusiasm to help us. She was always energetic and coherent of what best relaxation techniques suited us, even when we were just plain exhausted. At one point I was in the tub soaking through some tougher contractions. She instructed my husband on how to help me and she stayed a few feet away for the entire time (at least 2 hours!) watching us and making sure if we needed her she was just an arms length away. During pushing I wanted Teri right next to me--on the other side of my husband. I felt that she gave me some great strength through the thickest of contractions. Honestly, I felt that her positive energy is what got me through my long labor. It was her strength and confidence that gave me confidence to do the best I could in my labor. In the end I had to be transferred to my hospital at 10 cm dilated because my baby's head was not coming out, but once in the hospital I delivered the stubborn baby with 2 good pushes. I did not have an epidural or any type of pain suppressants. I did not even think or request any type of pain suppressant the entire time and I feel I owe this all to Teri's great work. She kept me relaxed and confident in the capability of my body and not the pain of labor. I felt so comfortable with Teri. She was soothing, mothering, loving, caring....everything. Her tone of voice was always comforting and loving. My husband was very comfortable with her and we really trusted her. She is a wonderful Doula and we wish her the best in her wonderful service as one. She will definitely be on our call list when we have a second child. We could not have met our wishes and survived the long labor (~50 hours) with no epidural or painkillers. She truly is a wonderful doula and made our birth the most wonderful experience. We recommend her to anyone that is planning to have a natural, unmedicated and painkiller free birth! We love you Teri! The Paoluccio's

I am happy to write a review for Teri and Harmony Doulas…read more Originally I didn't think I would want a doula at all, but my husband kept insisting. I think he was worried about whether he would be able to handle being at the birth and also worried about my stress level and wanting me to have extra support. I was a bit resistant, because I didn't know much about doulas and I was afraid they were all a bunch of hippies that would be judgmental if I decided to get an epidural, because I wasn't sure if I would need anesthesia or not. (It's hard to know if you've never had a baby before.) We met with several different doulas and also considered hiring the person who taught our childbirth classes who also happened to be a doula. In the end, my husband and I both liked Teri and her team the best. It was clear that they were all very experienced and they were very open-minded, while still being research based in terms of their recommendations. The thing that really stood out as well was the fact that Teri discussed upfront how to get reimbursement from an FSA or insurance for their services. I didn't even know that was possible before I met them and, again, it made them seem more experienced. They had also been present at births with my OB/GYN and hospital, which was a plus. I think some women like hiring just one doula so they know for sure who is going to be at the birth, but we liked all the women in Harmony Doula, so I knew I would be happy with whoever was on duty at the time. And actually for me, having 3 doulas was a big plus. I felt better knowing that if one of the doulas was pooped, someone else who was fresh would come in and take over. The other reason I chose a group with 3 doulas was because I wanted to be sure someone would be there who I knew on the big day. No matter how good one doula is, something can always happen, a car accident, a family emergency, so I felt more comfortable knowing there were 3 doulas that would be available. Before the baby was born, they came to our place a few times. Usually two of them came together, but I think once it it was all three. They talked through our birth plan and helped us think of things we hadn't considered. They also showed us prenatal yoga and massage and showed my husband how he could help me do stretches and give me massages. They were also very available whenever I had questions, like on Thanksgiving when I started having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions and worried I was going into early labor. I was pretty terrified about giving birth and they really helped me with my stress and made me feel like I could do it. As I got close to my due date, my doctor told me that they normally induce labor at 41 weeks, which I didn't realize, because I thought 42 weeks was the standard. I really wanted to give the baby time to be "ready" and for labor to start naturally, so I reached out to Teri and she sent me a lot about labor induction and pros and cons of waiting until 42 weeks. On the big day (40 weeks and 6 days), I started having contractions around midnight. I wasn't sure if they were "real" or not, so I waited and called Teri around 2 am. She answered right away and calmly talked me through what was going on. Since my contractions were far apart, she encouraged me to try to sleep. Teri then came over to our place early in the morning and helped me do some exercises to get the baby into the correct position. Then, as fate would have it, I had an OB/GYN appointment scheduled for that day around noon, so we (me, my husband and Teri) all went to the doctor's office together. The doctor checked me and said I was 6 cm dilated and should go to the hospital right away. Another thing I realized after getting to the hospital is that the doctor doesn't show up until the very end and the nurses only come to check on you sporadically, so having Teri there was huge for me, because I knew she was going to be there the whole time. When I was ready to push, the doulas had a shift change and Jennifer arrived, but Teri was excited to see the baby be born, so I actually had two doulas there with me in the end. When it was time to push, they were excellent at helping me figure out different positions to try. When I was very close to getting the baby out, I got a very intense look on my face and my husband actually got a little scared and kept touching my face and telling me to relax and Teri was able to calmly suggest that he go sit in the corner for a minute to calm himself down, which was helpful for me and for him (he made it back before the baby came out). Basically, Teri and her team are awesome and I would highly recommend them to anyone. I was able to have the birth just how I wanted and, of course, the most important thing is that the baby is healthy. I am not sure I could have made it through labor without anesthesia if not for Teri and her team.

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I wasn't sure if I was going to hire a doula, but after having…read moreTeri I can't imagine having a birth without her! Throughout my pregnancy, her classes and resources equipped us with well-researched information and pro tips, which alleviated a lot of my fears and anxiety about L&D. During my labor and delivery, Teri guided me through stressful moments and helped tremendously with pain management. I ultimately delivered unmedicated, and thanks to Teri's suggestions, I delivered safely with manageable pain. She's extremely knowledgeable and soothing, she helped us stay calm throughout the entire experience. I can say with 100% confidence that if it wasn't for Teri, it would've had been a lot longer and a lot more pain. I'm immensely grateful for Teri's help in bringing my baby into this world and creating a magical birth experience for our family!

Teri is amazing and I can't say enough about how supportive she is. She was our rock while I was in…read morelabor and provided a wealth of knowledge before hand. She is easy going and just a badass! She helped us feel at ease with everything before and after baby.

Deanna was not my doula; but I wanted a consultation with her to possibly become my doula. Her CV…read moreappeared impressive, an educator and DONA certified, which is why I emailed via Yelp and her website to set a consultation up....never received a reply. Ended up going with someone who was prompt and responsive. Expected more from a veteran doula.

When my husband and I were preparing for our first baby to be born, I knew I wanted to hire a doula…read morebecause I wanted to give birth naturally with no epidural or any other pain medications. We did our research and chose three doula services that we were interested in. After having multiple phone and in person meetings with all three, I knew Deanna was the right one for me. Meeting Deanna for the first time is like meeting a friend you haven't seen in a long time. She definitely gives you a sense of comfort. She's also very knowledgable and answered all of my husband's and I's questions we had about my pregnancy and prepared us for what to expect during labor and delivery. When that day finally came (about 2.5 weeks earlier than expected) Deanna and my husband were on it. Both of them worked so hard to make me feel comfortable. Deanna definitely helped my husband be more hands on during my labor which took over 24 hours. As much as I wanted to give birth vaginally, I eventually had to get a c-section after pushing for 6 hours and trying all the possible birthing positions Deanna recommended. I was also prepared going in to the operating room as Deanna also educated us about what would happen if I was to get a c-section. Deanna was by my side the whole time up until I had the c-section. When the nurses where not available Deanna was moving the bed to get me to a comfortable position and also helping me get to the bathroom. So if you're looking for a knowledgable doula with lots of experience and is hands on, I would definitely recommend Deanna.

We had the best experience with Maureen, one of the many talented doulas at Brilliant Births. We…read moreopted for a private Laboring together class, and it exceeded every expectation. Maureen guided us with so much knowledge, warmth and patience. She gave us practical tools, hands on techniques, and the confidence we needed as we prepare for our baby. We both walked out feeling way more prepared. If you're looking for someone who empowers, educates and genuinely cares, Maureen is incredible. We're so grateful!

My partner and I recently completed the Hypnobirthing three week course at Brilliant Births. We had…read morean absolutely incredible experience, for many reasons--The information we learned was invaluable, but also the instructors' teaching styles and depth of personal experience they offered was appreciated, comforting, and helpful. They clearly have a deep well of wisdom and experience-based expertise to share. We started our class with Keira and absolutely loved her--originally we were a bit bummed to know we would have a different instructor for our last day of the course. However, it turned out that Heidi was equitably wonderful and all things lovely-- instead of only one great instructor and guide, we ended up with two...which leads me to believe you'll be in skilled hands with anyone you interact with at BB. We will definitely be returning to take advantage of their other offerings!

Carolina is the BEST EVER!! Extremely grateful to her for giving me support during postpartum. We (…read moreme and my baby ) go to her mommy and baby yoga and we love it. Even though my baby is crawling now, Carolina encourages us to attend her sessions. She is extremely attentive to both mine and my baby's needs. My little one loves her and feels extremely calm in her sessions. Her wisdom and advice has helped me recover from postpartum issues. She's prompt to respond to questions and has high quality resources to offer. Highly recommend. Grateful to her for everything she has been doing for us.

This would have been 5 stars based on the breastfeeding class I attended. I was reluctant to even…read morego to any breastfeeding class because it was important to me to not be attached to the idea of breastfeeding, and I was worried I'd be beaten over the head with how important it is and set myself up for mom guilt if it didn't work out. Quite the contrary, the speaker was really approachable and practical. She talked through just about every scenario and offered a really great mindset - feed as much breastmilk as you can whenever you can, and it's totally OK to make up the difference with formula. Unfortunately, the baby care class dropped this down to 4 stars. It was borderline a waste of time. The instructor was scattered and not very helpful. Lots of tech challenges. Not much help in the way of answering questions or providing practical advice. Very limited hands on practice. I went with a friend because my husband was out of town and I was almost embarrassed that she wasted time in that class with me.

Amanda was our midwife for our second child and we had a better experience than we could have…read moreimagined. We used east bay midwives for prenatal care, home birth and post natal care. Amanda brought both experienced midwifery care (our son was her 314th birth!) and a strong level of personal care. She is a birth worker that truly loves what she does, is incredibly skilled in her work, and has a deep sense of care for the mothers, families, and babies she works with. We were so impressed by how supported we felt during the entire pregnancy, birth, and post partum period. I truly wish every mother could receive midwifery care as exceptional as east bay midwives. We also had excellent experience with Grace and Sophia- the team that Amanda works with are also amazing birth workers. I highly recommend east bay midwives to someone that wants a safe, supported home birth with experienced and loving help!

Had the home birth of my dreams; Amanda was with me starting 10 weeks gestation. She helped me…read moreovercome my worries, carried my troubles and showed up for me even during her own maternity leave. She was committed, confident and graceful. Amanda was excited for my birth and respected what I needed. From pregnancy, labor and delivery to postpartum; she showed me how the right care can make the world of a difference in one of the most powerful, challenging and vulnerable times. What an amazing way to bring life into the world.

I can't say enough positive things about our experience with the Modesto Doula Group and the…read morewonderful doulas who prepared me for childbirth, supported my husband and me during labor and childbirth and in the weeks postpartum. After attending a childbirth preparation class at my hospital less than two months before my due date, I began to worry about how unprepared I was and became anxious when thinking about childbirth and the pain associated with it. After meeting with Teri and Susan, we immediately knew that having a doula with us was something we needed. My due date was approaching rapidly, but we were able to do a total of three childbirth education classes, one group class in Modesto and two in home classes. I felt more and more assured after each class. By the end of the third class my anxiety had been replaced by confidence. Teri came to our house the morning that I went into labor and assisted me through each contraction as I labored at home. Still by my side in the delivery room, she used acupressure and aromatherapy which helped tremendously even during the most intense contractions. Back at home with a brand new baby, the postpartum doula services with Jennifer and Susan were exceedingly helpful for us. I had also opted for placenta encapsulation and the postpartum care basket, both of which made my postpartum recovery and healing easier. Looking back, as we often do, we couldn't imagine our birth experience without the caring and experienced support of the doulas at Modesto Doula Group!

My personal experience was 3-star - fine/better than neutral, but for me there were a few cons that…read moretook away from the pros... Other people might receive the same exact service but rate it 4 or 5 stars. I felt that the postpartum doula, Susan, could have been more open and supportive of my personal parenting style and desires, but it seemed like she thought there was one good way of parenting an 8-week old baby - the rigid schedule your baby for your convenience as soon as possible way, which isn't my philosophy but I know tons of people do want that. I also thought she needed to take more care and consideration regarding her baby wearing advice because although babies bodies are very flexible, there are safety concerns especially regarding their hips, neck, and nose that she did not properly address when telling me not to over think placing my baby in my ring sling.

Jenn is an incredible doula. We hired her to help us go through the birth of our first child, and…read moreare so glad we did! We hadn't planned our pregnancy and really knew nothing about childbirth. Jenn walked us through what to expect and fielded all of our questions with ease. She helped us to feel like we could go through the birthing process with knowledge and awe at the same time. The day of the birth Jenn was there from the start. Her constant encouragement enabled my wife to get through the roughest patches of labor and stay focused. She was also great in helping me support my wife through the labor process. The birth of our baby was a wonderful, amazing experience and Jenn played a large part in making that come to be. Highly recommended!!!

Jen was present for 2 of my births and was just the reassurance and firm but gentle presence I…read moreneeded. I was determined after having my first child that the next two times I would have a doula! Yay me for following through! I contacted Dolphin Doula & Yoga and chose Jen to be my doula. A doula is so much more than just a birth coach; a doula is a partner and sister to help you before, during and after. With my second child we danced during labor in the hospital. With my third, stuck in a diagonal breach position, Jen was there to help me meditate and relax while the doctor performed a "version", turning the baby from the outside to get the head down. Yes, baby stayed head down and was delivered in the next few days! Whew!

patti was not only helpful while i was pregnant with my second. she helped me so much in the…read morebeginning of my pregnanc. her advice relived me from so much stress

From the owner: All pregnant women deserve Doula support. You deserve a…read morebetter pregnancy, labor, and a better birth! Hypo birthing, learning your body, how to relax and let your mind go! To know what to expect during your entire pregnancy and delivery! To have postpartum care, to help you when you need it the most, in the beginning, and after the baby comes! I’m here. Let me help you!

Kara Edwards was an absolutely fabulous postpartum doula that we had the pleasure to work with for…read morea few months. Kara comes with a strong background in nutrition support and childbirth education. Not only is she a postpartum doula and a birth doula, she also teaches classes on nutrition for pregnancy and postpartum, which is so crucial in one's personal journey of pregnancy. In addition, Kara offers meal preparation to pregnant and postpartum families, in which she will customize meals on their behalf. That helps set them back on track for healthy eating, which was a huge plus for our family. Nearly a year later, we still use this awesome service with Kara, and really take advantage of what Kara has to offer with her meal prep! She is an awesome cook! This was the first baby we brought into the world, and Kara really did a fantastic job in making my postpartum transition go much better than I imagined. She was extremely supportive, nonjudgmental, and empathetic throughout my postpartum period, which made it go very smoothly! Kara also offered wonderful lavender oil scented massages as a lovely touch on top of all the support she gave us. Some of the best traits about Kara that we noticed is her excellent communication, knowledge, and listening skills throughout our entire time together. She had a great work ethic, always showed up to work a few minutes early, was a great multitasker, highly efficient on the job, and always addressed our needs while teaching us something new about our baby and guiding us along the way. Our baby was always very happy around her. Lastly, she kept up with all her vaccinations, including Covid, and respected our boundaries in regards to safety, which was particularly crucial for us around our newborn, in choosing a doula as a first time. We truly couldn't recommend her enough, and miss having her with us! Her positive attitude and warm presence made her feel like family! If we are to expand our family down the road, we will definitely have her back in a heartbeat.

Ok I can't gatekeep here as much as I want to. Kara set the bar way too high, not just with her…read moreexpertise in being a doula, but also in being a good person I could actually vibe with and trust. My wife and I found her through an INTENSE doula search that went on for MONTHS! let me tell you, BEST DECISION EVER! You get what you pay for ( even though I believe hey prices are very fair). My L&D was 34 hours long! She helped me with pain management and coached my wife on how to help me with different pressure points and positions. She also helped us advocate for ourselves when I felt like the hospital wasn't listening to my requests. We got the First 40 days package and she was ON IT! Did not let me lift a finger, Helped me with EVERYTHING.... YES EVERYTHING. Even soothed my muscles with postnatal massage. She cooks amazing chicken, makes the best cookies and does our babies laundry. Our daughter kiki LOVES her! We only trust my mom & Kara to care for our baby girl. She always checks on us if we haven't seen her in a bit (7months post delivery here). I am definitely hiring her again for baby#2 because this was Best investment ever. As a new momma, I highly recommend Kara as a Doula!