As a first time mom who was also planning a low/no intervention home birth, I was overwhelmed and…read moreclueless about where to start. I started interviewing doulas and midwives when I was only 3 months pregnant. After contacting Cynthya thru the Happiest Doulas website, I spoke with her and knew immediately that I needed the support of a doula from The Happiest Doulas as a part of my birth team. I requested a consult with Jeni Standard. Jeni's biography resonated with me the most because she had studied functional nutrition, and was certified in both nutrition and lactation. As a sufferer of Celiac Disease and someone who struggled with getting pregnant, I knew she would be a great resource and offer the support and understanding I needed. And I was so right - Jeni was the calm to my storm! She was there to comfort me after after some scary experiences. She also had great reading recommendations, as I was avidly reading all the books while pregnant. We had so many questions after our son was born and Jeni was so supportive and responsive. Because she is also a certified lactation consultant, she was able to support my decision to breastfeed, despite many obstacles. She followed up with me many times after our son was born, and I still feel like I could reach out to her just to catch up! Included in my birth package were 10 weeks of birth bootcamp classes. Our instructor, Alexa Gumm, was so wonderful! Her warmth and experience made our weekly Sunday classes something that my husband and I truly looked forward to. It turned out to be a great bonding experience for the two of us. We learned so much - from what to expect during labor (we got to watch videos) to info on breastfeeding. The classes were great for me, but mostly, I wanted my husband to really understand the process. He is not the type to read books, so a class was perfect. Alexa made sure the "dads" understood ways to support their partners during the birthing process. Alexa would have been so proud of my husband because he remembered everything she taught us during class and he was really supportive while I was in labor! She even followed up with me after our son was born and gave me some recommendations that were really helpful. I am so thankful Cynthya brought together the wonderful group called The Happiest Doulas! I will surely call on them again in the future when I plan my next birth. Cynthya was so kind and helpful as well throughout. I feel as if I gained 3 wonderful friends by the end of my pregnancy.

The best decision I made during my second pregnancy was to hire Happiest Doulas. Jeni was heaven…read moresent and helped me to finally achieve the birth I wanted. The resources Cynthya provided made me and my husband feel informed, extra prepared and confident as we navigated all the choices we needed to make. From the moment we met Jeni, she made us feel so at ease and excited about our labor and delivery journey and she created such a calming and sacred space in the hospital for us. Jeni advocated for us when we needed it and provided emotional and physical support that made me feel safe and empowered the entire time to have an unmedicated birth. Her post partum visit saved my breastfeeding journey where she gave us valuable advice and almost 5 months later, I am still happily breastfeeding. We couldn't be more grateful for Happiest Doulas!!

Paige and Margaret shared in welcoming my first born child into this world. It was a beautiful…read morepeaceful experience in the comfort of my home. Their tender loving care was everything I hoped would accompany a natural labor and delivery. I can't imagine how a clinical environment would have altered my birthing plan. There were no fear based pressures only encouragement and the education of choice. I would recommend Modern Midwifery to every woman creating life. If you want to trust your body to function as it's intended during child birth, learn more about the process, and have a voice with a choice; then these ladies will be a gift in your life that you will always treasure!

Margaret's holistic approach was right for me and my family. She understood our concerns and…read moresupported our decision to include our son in the birthing experience at Atlanta Birth Center. She helped me prepare. Her info packet was practical and asked concrete questions about pain, coping skills and post-partum issues. I felt comfortable taking her homeopathic recommendations and herbal infusions (yummy Nora tea!) Critically, she was always available for checking in. It was easy to talk with her and I sought her advice about an ongoing problem I experienced with a particular midwife. (Since she both volunteers and gives massages at ABC, she's well-known there and familiar with its routines/rhythms. This put me at ease because I was a new client.) Margaret's post-partum help with tricky nursing issues proved equally invaluable. Margaret's a skilled licensed massage therapist who specializes in Arvigo Maya abdominal work. I was bigger this time around so the last trimester was tough. Having weekly massages in my last month was such a treat. Her massages were restorative, relieved me of the constant pain and worked to center me. The birth of my 2nd son was highly unusual but through the expert knowledge and skills of Margaret and the rest of my birth team, I experienced a safe and empowered natural birth. My son was born at 10 lbs and face first, quite a rare and challenging presentation. His labor was long and slow (3 days). Once we learned his presentation, we required a transfer to the hospital. We all worked together as a team to make his birth go smoothly and safely. Throughout all of this Margaret remained calm, focused on my well-being, supportive of my decisions, patient, positive and helpful. I couldn't have had the beautiful birth that I did without the team that I had. Having Margaret as part of my birth team made for an overall positive pregnancy, birth and post-partum experience. I feel truly blessed. Thank you Margaret!

Insert anxious and angry mommy with her birthing partner somewhere across the country in between…read moreSalt Lake City, UT and Champagne, IL. Yeah, no fun. I call Corinna based on a recommendation from a lovely couple that I met on a hospital tour of North Fulton Hospital. They had RAVE reviews of her HypnoBirthing class, and services. Now I have my own to share. I hired Corinna for an in-home weekend intensive session, and I had to cancel it due to a last-minute furniture shipment that consumed my family room. She eagerly accommodated the move, and we met at an alternate location. The space had lit candles, aromatherapy and the ambiance was definitely calming. I needed it too, coming off of 285 weekend construction traffic. We spent the day together learning about anatomy, doing relaxing techniques, learning how my anxious body keeps my muscles and organs in fight-or-flight mode, which all does NOTHING for a happy baby or speedy delivery. I can go on and on about things that I learned and heard for the first time, but the long story short-- Corinnna: made me address my concerns, supported me, helped me identify the cause of anxiety, helped me with affirmations to replace the worries, and equipped me with so many tools that I feel ready to tackle anything. Her class is awesome, she continuously provides herself and future classes as a resource for past students, and doesn't leave any mom-to-be or birthing partner-to-be feeling inadequate or unprepared for the lovely joy of labor. I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a doula, fitness coach, and childbirth educator to anyone in my family, close circle of friends, and of course, to you all, my Yelp family. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. If you have further questions, just message me!

When my wife found out that she could not have an epidural, her OB recommended that she find a…read moredoula. She researched and we found Corrinna, and we could not be more pleased. We attended Corrinna's informative hypnobirthing class and learned so much about the process. She came to our house and helped us prepare for the big day, and was there in the hospital with us to coach, massage, and most importantly, calm my wife as she delivered our son naturally. I can honestly say that having Corrinna on our team was the best decision we could have made. She is incredible, and we highly recommend Ambiance Birth.

Bre was absolutely incredible. As a first-time mom, she supported me in so many ways and gave me…read morethe confidence and guidance I needed throughout my breastfeeding journey. I truly would not have been able to breastfeed for a full year without her help. Her knowledge, encouragement, and genuine care made all the difference. If you ever need support with breastfeeding or general baby care and advice, I cannot recommend Bre highly enough--she is simply the best!

After working with multiple lactation consultants through the hospital me and babe were still…read morehaving quite a few issues breastfeeding. I finally found Bre and I am so thankful I did. She helped us diagnose, treat and work through my sons oral ties as well as educate us on how to help his reflux. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to breastfeeding and babies. I also love the fact that she can help give suggestions for more natural approaches prior to trying medicines. We probably would have given up on our breastfeeding journey by now if it weren't for Bre and all of her help.

When I decided that I wanted a natural childbirth for my first baby, some friends recommended that…read moreI hire a doula. I had initially contacted another doula in Flintstone, GA, but she was booked solid and sent me to Amy at BirthRite. What a blessing! Amy helped my husband and me have the calm, natural, joyous birth experience we wanted. When we first met, I was immediately struck by her soothing nature. I felt assured that no matter what we decided to do - even if I chose to get an epidural at the last minute - she would support our every decision. I'm glad to say that I didn't need any pain meds, because Amy comforted, coached, and massaged me through my rather long labor. She was wonderful with the hospital nurses and our OB, too. I guess natural childbirth is pretty rare at Erlanger East and frankly, I think it throws off their system for getting things done. I can see how these circumstances could lead to a contentious atmosphere, which is the last thing a laboring woman needs. That never happened. I credit Amy for creating a mellow environment, and for bringing a bag of chocolates for our very busy nurse! She's a true pro. If you want to give birth naturally (whether at home or at a hospital), it's wise to invest in a doula. Especially for first time parents, it's so hard to know if what you're experiencing is normal, or how close you are to the finish line. Amy's experience and wisdom was a priceless asset. If we decide to have another child, we will definitely work with her again.

Rachel is an amazing doula and provides many birth-related services. She has been at one hospital…read morebirth with us and one home birth and was essential in both settings.

I have been fortunate enough to have had 3 planned home births, with my middle being a transfer,…read morebut, still natural and free of complications or much intervention. Lucky as I was to have escaped most of the trauma that many women face in hospitals and institutions of the like, I felt this journey would be like any other home birth... and then I met Debbie. From the first seconds, she embraced what made me offensive to others. She strengthened what I questioned in myself and my own abilities, and she validated me as a mother; a good, strong, smart mother. She supported dreams that others said I may have to sacrifice or give up on. She taught me how to trust my body when everyone else has made me fear that it is broken. Most of all, she was real, she was present, and she was a source of strength and comfort and support for me that was unlike any other that I have ever had in my life. I could never adequately articulate how important and precious and crucial her love and support was to me, not just in birth, but in the entire journey and the avenues it took even outside of what she signed up to help me with. From the first day, she made herself available to me for anything, at any time. You cannot put a price on that, but, if you could, it would certainly be more than what she charges. Her honesty is kind and grounding. Her wisdom is deep, vast, and comforting. Her heart is bigger than the universe that tries to contain it. She was someone and something I needed, not just for the birth of my third and last baby, but, a love and strength that I had yet to encounter in my life and I feel God brought me to her for that reason. She gave me a kindness and love and inspiration that only comes from the likes of a mother - and I've never had that. Her care filled voids and healed wounds that I didn't know I still had. Debbie and Amanda were the candles I was fortunate enough to be able to light, amidst a storm that took my entire mental and physical grid out for months. They kept my head above water and when the light at the end of that tunnel finally started to emerge, they held me up by reminding me of my own strength, marched me forward by teaching me how to trust MYSELF, and they came running in the middle of the night after having had no sleep from a previous birth and still gave me SO much of their time, attention, and love. I was cared for in a way I have never been before. They motivated me to stay strong and have the birth I wanted when I was tired and my will started to shake a little. They caught our sweet Kyrie girl in their wise and precious hands, and then Amanda took her time and allowed my elder two children to meet and hold their sibling while Debbie helped me shower, dried me off, and helped me to bed. They hand-fed me and made sure I was hydrated, they did everything in their power to make me comfortable and safe and confident before leaving me to snuggle my sweet newborn - in my own bed, in my own home, with my own food and my family surrounding me. They then came back the very next day, with not much more sleep than before, to check on us and ease any worries or concerns that I had. The way Debbie puts the mental and physical health of her clients above even her own needs, at times, is invaluable and I feel so blessed to have had our paths cross and to have been able to choose her for this baby. There is a love in my soul for her that will last lifetimes beyond my own. She gave me the home birth I have wanted since the first time, but, she also gave me the gift of showing me how to become aware of and grow into the woman that I am, when I've spent pretty much my whole life sort of doubting my strength and instincts and capabilities. We all love you SO much, and thank you for a stable pregnancy and a successful home birth. You have the BIGGEST piece of my heart and soul, forever.

The midwives at dawninglife are amazing! They are knowledgeable, kind, comforting & personable. I…read moreused their services for my youngest child and loved every moment of the experience I had with them. I would (and have) recommend them to anyone in their service area. If we still live in the area when we have another baby, I will definitely be going back to them!

(Zero stars wasn't and option)…read more Pregnant friend: "Hey, have you ever heard of Whitney Whitmore?" Friend's Doula: "Oh yeah, I've heard of Whitney... She's as sweet as could be but I'd never work with her." Pregnant Friend: "I'm not interested in hiring her or anything. I was just curious to see if you had heard of her in the home birth community. I have a friend who had a bad experience." Friend's Doula: "Yeah, she's very inexperienced and operates 100% out of fear. Which is concerning when it comes to delivering babies in a home environment. If you WERE interested in hiring her, you'd have to find another Doula " Around week 38, she started to throw red flags, which were all negated by trusted Drs. "I think the baby is breech... Go to the hospital and tell them that you haven't felt the baby move in a long time, they'll do an Ultrasound and you can ask if the baby is head down." My husband and I were a little thrown off by how unethical that ridiculous suggestion was. We didn't feel comfortable lying about the well-being of our unborn baby and opted to go to Dr. B's office to ensure that our daughter was in the proper position for birth. At the visit, Dr. B chuckled, saying that Whitney was texting him frantically asking for his advice and he continued to reassure her that everything was fine. At this point, my husband and I started to question if we'd made the right decision in hiring her... Fast forward to week 40. She had us frantically rush into the hospital, suggesting that I be induced because our baby's heart rate kept dipping down into the 1-teens (114-118). She said that she "just didn't feel comfortable" delivering a distressed baby in a home environment. We sat in the hospital for hours while being continuously monitored. The dr came into the room and couldn't figure out what the problem was... He said that heart rate variation can range, starting at 110 and that this was COMPLETELY normal. At 40 weeks, he didn't want to induce so I was sent home to go into labor spontaneously.... Whitney's response to this was, "Spoken by a person who could get you onto an operating table within 10 seconds."....... Hospitals are induction happy and they SENT US HOME (30 mins away) because our baby was perfectly healthy and not at all distressed. She was, and I quote, "the healthiest baby on this floor". We never heard back from Whitney after this. She collected all of our money, transferred us out of her care for NO reason at all and never once texted or called to discuss how we would move forward, or to check on me and my baby... Nothing... We didn't hear from her until AFTER our daughter was born stating that she would've liked to have been there in a "Doula capacity"... I would hope that a Doula would frequently check on me after surpassing the 40 week mark. Especially with claims of health issues, if that's what she truly believed... I honestly don't believe that she ever had any intentions on delivering our baby. I think that she was intimidated by the fact that I have fibroids (which were discussed before we even STARTED care and Dr. B said that they were a non issue) and decided that she would collect the money and then transfer me out of care before completing the service. We contacted her and asked that she return a small portion of the money that we paid, she lied and said that she was already planning to do that. We received nothing but an itemization of services in the mail which indicated that she had no intentions of returning what was rightfully owed back to us. At this point, my husband and I are in the process of pursuing a case with the DA in order to rectify things. Hire at your own risk.

Whitney was my midwife at my last two births. I absolutely loved all of my prenatal…read moreappointments--it was nice to get to know my birth team so personally as well as them get to know me. It was nice to be heard any time I had a concern and not treated like I didn't know what I was talking about. I felt right at ease from the moment I met Whitney. She was warm and inviting and funny and so very knowledgeable. I knew I was in good hands. My births were both fast and amazing. Whitney was great and tuned in directly to me and knew exactly what I needed at exactly right moment. She knew what I was saying beyond the words that were coming out of my mouth. I felt so very well taken care of! If I ever get pregnant again, Whitney will be my first call...then maybe my mom. ;)