We hope this finds you very well. We wanted to thank you for being there for us when Max was born. What a day that was!. I thought I go for a quick check up to my OB and a few hours later we are in the hospital with lots of decisions to make. Honestly, without your calming advice I would have been totally lost. With high blood pressure, all sorts of hormones raging and the fear of a c-section, your presence, experience and clear explanations helped to make the right choices and calm me down. Childbirth is an extraordinary experience with many ups and downs, it is humiliating and exhilarating. Thank you for being there. You have an incredibly calming and comforting presence. I am so happy Max was delivered vaginally and will never in my life forget when he was put down on my chest immediately after. He was screaming and as I mumbled something to him, he calmed down. I know that Max, Greg and I had this moment because you were there and steered us through the maze. Thank you! - Christine, Greg and Max, June 2016

Dear Steffi, We would like to sincerely thank you for your professional, warm and flexible support during the time before, during and after the birth of our much-loved son. Being in New York without family made a feel a bit uncertain about how to approach everything relating to the birth- especially since this was our first child. You not only replaced the support and good advice we would have surely gotten from our family, but further provided us with all the expert advice we needed in making important decisions, and all that in the loving, warm way that you and your colleagues show towards your clients. We are so grateful for all this and are convinced that having you was the best thing that could have happened to us. Thanks a million! - Felix & Aneka, October 2016

Stephanie’s services are literally priceless. Being a first time mom in a city with no family can be completely overwhelming. Stephanie’s expertise and passion for her work made our entire birth process calm and joyful. I don’t know what we would have done without her - Kylie Deppen

I was hoping for a natural birth however ended up having to be induced which resulted in a lot of intervention and a long labor. Your support was amazing and you made us feel comfortable with having to alter our desired birthing plan and kept us informed about what was happening and what our options were along the way. While I know you must deliver hundreds of babies, it felt like you really cared about our situation and you were on the journey with us. Your warm and caring nature was just what I needed to help get me. My husband and I both didn't want your shift to end. The care we received from the other midwives was perfectly fine and we were in good hands throughout but in our minds there was a clear distinction between you and the others - honestly you were exceptional! We were touched to hear that you had followed up to see how we had got on after your shift had ended. Just another example that showed that you cared about our situation and that we weren't just another baby. - BS

Our experience with Simone was great. We connected with her just in time, as our daughter was born two weeks before her due date. I think we had our prenatal meeting the week before she arrived! The prenatal meeting was helpful in reviewing our birth preferences and making us more comfortable with what could possibly happen during labor. My labor unfolded in a way that no one could have predicted, so I was glad to have Simone there for it. When it’s your first time giving birth, there are so many things happening that are out of your control, and in my case, labor was unexpectedly fast and furious. It felt totally out of control. In the midst of it all, just knowing there was a “neutral” person there (non-family, non-healthcare provider) who understood my birth preferences was very grounding. I don’t think I could have stuck with my wish for an unmedicated hospital birth without Simone as our doula. I also don’t think my husband would have been as confident without her by our side. It was invaluable to have someone with us throughout the entire experience: before, during, and after the birth. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a positive birth experience. — Kate Flynn

Bottom line:  I’m certain that Simone’s quick thinking saved my son’s life.

But, let me start from the beginning. I hired Simone after interviewing 4 other doulas in person or on the phone.  I needed someone to be my full support person in the birth experience because I was not going to have a partner in the room with me.  Simone stood out for not only her warmth and knowledge but also for her open minded attitude towards all types of birth plans ranging from home birth to those with lots of medical intervention like mine.

Due to medical complications, I was induced and Simone met me at the hospital  She kept a vigilant watch over me while I slept after finally getting an epidural after many hours of contractions with no progress in my labor.  At some point, the monitors stopped detecting my son’s heartbeat.  Before the labor nurse ever noticed, Simone attempted to adjust the monitor, found a very decelerated heartbeat and alerted the nurses.  I was panicking while they gave me oxygen to help my son.  She talked me through my panic and calmed me down.  I was raced to the operating room for an emergency c section.  Simone accompanied me to the OR and had the presence of mind to bring my phone to take pictures.  I was very nervous during the surgery, and she kept me calm and took pictures of my son moments after he was born completely healthy.  She also made sure to gather all my belongings from the labor room and bring them to recovery.  Simone stayed with me and my family until after I was in recovery with my son.  She was warm and thoroughly professional the entire time.

I simply cannot speak highly enough of my experience with Simone in my son’s birth and would recommend her to anyone for their birth experience.

- Yasmin

Simone worked for my wife Sol and I as our doula for the birth of our first child Kamran. Prior to meeting Simone, I can honestly say that I had no idea what a doula even was no less much about the birthing process. A friend of ours recommended that we consider a doula because I travel extensively for work and we wanted to be sure that we had some help and support on the home front. My wife and I interviewed a few doulas and we found Simone to be warm, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We clicked with her right away and felt comfortable that she was the right fit for us. She was always on time to appointments so we felt that she was responsible and trustworthy. She answered all of our questions thoroughly and helped us network with other professionals who have since given us help and support after the birth of our son. When my wife went into labor at 2am, Simone did not disappoint. She kept us calm and confident until her arrival at our home. She was there every step of the way through the birth process. For 23 hours straight she worked with my wife and I and side by side. Given that my wife labored through Mother’s Day and Simone has a child of her own at home, it never discouraged her. We were also complimented by the midwives at Beth Israel about Simone being a top-notch doula! When our son was born she followed up shortly thereafter and continued to provide expertise and interest in our collective well-being. Simone is a genuine and caring person, hard working, and professional. I would strongly recommend her as a doula. Simone worked for my wife Sol and I as our doula for the birth of our first child Kamran. Prior to meeting Simone, I can honestly say that I had no idea what a doula even was no less much about the birthing process. A friend of ours recommended that we consider a doula because I travel extensively for work and we wanted to be sure that we had some help and support on the home front. My wife and I interviewed a few doulas and we found Simone to be warm, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We clicked with her right away and felt comfortable that she was the right fit for us. She was always on time to appointments so we felt that she was responsible and trustworthy. She answered all of our questions thoroughly and helped us network with other professionals who have since given us help and support after the birth of our son. When my wife went into labor at 2am, Simone did not disappoint. She kept us calm and confident until her arrival at our home. She was there every step of the way through the birth process. For 23 hours straight she worked with my wife and I and side by side. Given that my wife labored through Mother’s Day and Simone has a child of her own at home, it never discouraged her. We were also complimented by the midwives at Beth Israel about Simone being a top-notch doula! When our son was born she followed up shortly thereafter and continued to provide expertise and interest in our collective well-being. Simone is a genuine and caring person, hard working, and professional. I would strongly recommend her as a doula.
- Solmaz and Drew

My husband and I are first-time parents and had a lot going on around our due date (besides working, we were in the process of buying a new home and moving). Simone came in and took care of our biggest concern – getting prepared to go to the hospital and wondering what to do at which point. She had a calming presence about her that made us feel completely taken care of – she knew when to step back and let us be and when to step in and help us out. She was respectful of our wishes and made sure we were comfortable at every point. It was great to not have to worry about the hospital experience, knowing she had our backs – whether it was calling for a nurse, double-checking on any symptoms or making me comfortable with massage. My labor went on much longer than we thought it would and we were thankful to have her with us throughout it all. We never had to worry about what we had to do next. She either knew or would find out for us. We were able to just concentrate on the arrival or our baby! She has followed up with us to make sure we’re doing okay and genuinely cares about the wellbeing of our new family. We highly recommend her services
- Preethi

When pregnant with my second child I knew I wanted to try for a vaginal birth after my c-section with my first. I was expecting a long labor and felt my chances of having a successful vbac would be higher with more support. I’m lucky to have an amazing husband, but I knew that he could probably use some help during the labor as could I. I decided very late in my pregnancy to look for a doula, did some quick research and interviews and chose Simone. I thought she seemed kind, easy to talk to and very experienced. Simone made the process easy for me which I was grateful for given the limited time we had before my due date. In the weeks before the delivery, Simone provided useful information and gave me much needed confidence. As expected, I had a long back labor. Simone spent about 16 hours at the hospital with us helping me through contractions, trying different positions and offering guidance as I was making decisions. Simone was crucial, as she and my husband took turns rubbing my lower back through each contraction for 15 hours straight. She was also invaluable in the very end when I was doubting myself. She talked us through everything. We succeeded and delivered a healthy baby boy. I’m very happy that such a good soul was there and part of our birth story.
- Amber, VBAC mom

Let me first start off by saying we have not only found a birth doula, we have found a friend. From our very first phone conversation Simone made me feel at ease and made me feel confident that we could have the birth that we wanted. The night i went into labor Simone was on the phone with me helping me figure out my contractions. She gave me life saving tips. Then once the contractions were too much for me to carry on a conversation she spoke to  my husband through the car ride on the way to the hospital. (We live in Long Island and we’re giving birth in Manhattan We were lucky it was a Sunday evening and there was no traffic. )  when we got to the hospital i was already 7 Cm and moving along quickly. By the time Simone got there i was in a labor and delivery room having contractions every 2 minutes. She came right in and started massaging my back, handed My husband a fan and helped me breathe through each contraction. i had a very quick labor. From  the time we got to the hospital to the time i started pushing was about an hour and a half. Simone held my leg while I pushed for 20 minutes before  our beautiful son Theo came into the world. Simone  stayed for the first hour making sure that he latched after birth. Theo and i didn’t have the easiest time breastfeeding for the first week. Simone checked in on us frequently and suggested I check for tongue and lip tie. Low and behold he had both!  Simone was right In diagnosing his latching issues. it has since been taken care of by an amazing oral surgeon. Simone came for a follow up visit to make sure everything was back on track with Theo’s Latch and feedings. Simone was always there for me those first few weeks through text and was truly a god send. my husband and i plan on having two more children and will have Simone by my side for the rest of them.
- Sarah R.

My husband and I live overseas but came back to NYC for the birth of our first child. Although I wasn’t sure at the outset whether having a doula would really be “worth it,” choosing Emilie as our doula proved to be an excellent decision. Coming from overseas and arriving just six weeks before my due date, there were a lot of things to figure out, including narrowing down which doctor/hospital to go with. Emilie was incredibly helpful from the get-go, sharing her experience at various hospitals in the city and giving us a sense of what we could expect during the labor and delivery. During the labor itself, Emilie was a calming influence and a low-key, supportive presence. She and my husband took turns being with me in triage, where I spent over five hours. During that time, as the contractions got stronger, Emilie helped me breathe, shift positions, and massaged me to help ease the pain. When I got sick and threw up (twice), it was Emilie, not the nurses, who cleaned me up and reassured me that what I was experiencing was completely normal and a sign that I was advancing in my labor. Although I had hoped not to have an epidural, when my labor went on and on (it was 20 hours in total), and the pain became unbearable for me, Emilie was not at all judgmental when I decided to get an epidural. Later on, as we got closer to the delivery and the doctor informed me the baby was not in the ideal position to come out, Emilie successfully used a rocking technique to shift the baby into position. She helped me during the pushing stage as I tried different positions and also helped my husband support me during the delivery, since we were both going through this for the first time. Finally, she was great not only for the two of us, but also for my parents, who were anxiously waiting in the hospital. She went out to give them updates and reassure them that things were going well. Following the birth, Emilie stayed in touch, making sure we were doing ok and sharing her experience and knowledge on some of the challenges we faced. She gave us the space that new parents need and also made clear she was genuinely interested in how we were managing. We spent a lovely few hours with her a few weeks after the birth, and she gave us an innovative idea to help with a breastfeeding issue. In sum, I am so glad we chose Emilie as our doula!
- Rachel, baby girl born 7/8/16

Emilie has been a tremendous blessing to our family. As a first time mom, Emilie has been a constant source of support along the way — from answering questions to setting up weekly FaceTime calls. She would also occasionally send inspirational emails or pass on an article for me to read, just because she saw it and thought about me. Her care and concern clearly shows. She is calm under pressure (we had a pretty rough delivery) and stayed with us till the very end, even sleeping in a chair during my labor when we all needed some rest. Just knowing that she was in the room and knew the right questions to ask helped put me at ease. It gave me the peace of mind to focus on myself and the baby while Emilie spoke with the doctors. She asked questions that neither I nor my husband would have ever thought to ask. She is reliable and easily reachable by phone or email. We had a wonderful birthing experience made largely in part by Emilie and will not hesitate to recommend her to anyone seeking a highly competent doula.
- Lydia

The quality, care and support that Connie provided during my pregnancy and labor was incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better doula to support me and see to it that I was calm and prepared during labor and post-partum. - Allegra

Connie was there for my family and I on more levels than I ever expected. Her words and support gave me confidence to remain calm even when things did not go as planned or expected. I highly recommend Connie. - Yadanis

Jen helped my husband and I as our post-partum doula after the birth of our son.  I was induced unexpectedly more than 3 weeks before my due date, and our son was born via emergency c-section long before we were remotely ready for him.  He was on the small side, and we struggled with breastfeeding, so by the time we were discharged from the hospital he was under 5 pounds and my husband and I were both terrified and delirious with exhaustion. My mother was supposed to come stay with us to help, but she had gotten the flu and wasn’t allowed anywhere near the baby for almost a month. Jen spent several full days with us helping us manage the deluge of work, fear and inexperience that we were facing as new parents. She went grocery shopping for us.  She made us weeks worth of meals that we could freeze and reheat for dinners.  She showed us techniques for helping our baby eat and sleep more effectively.  She gave us really excellent massages.  She did our laundry. She taught us how to bathe him. Most importantly, she made us feel like we could get through those exceptionally hard first few weeks and that it was going to be okay. And it was!  Probably because of Jen. Hire her, she is the best doula (for birth or post-partum) that you will ever find.                            -Rebecca Venters

Jen’s innate compassion and empathy made her the perfect doula for the birth of our daughter.  She was a fantastic resource during the pregnancy and instrumental in getting me through 64 hours of labor.  Her calming demeanor, nurturing sensibilities, and command of the labor and delivery process in all its nuance really put my husband and I at ease.  We were able to relax and be present during our little miracle because of Jen.  I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone having a baby, she’s a Godsend!

-Christina Reichelt

I’ve been blessed to know Jen for twenty-two years. As one of my closest friends, who just so happened to be a Doula, it was a no-brained for me that I would ask her to be my Doula for the birth of my second child. Going into the hospital with a birth plan that soon went out the window, Jen never faltered in her support and guidance. She was there through the calm, and then accompanied me into the OR when I needed a c-section and my husband couldn’t make it to the hospital on time. I wish I could put into words the amount of courage and assurance she instilled in me when I thought I hadn’t any left. Having two difficult and scary births under my belt — one with her and one without her — I can safely say I wish she had become a Doula sooner so that she could have been there for my first birth! I’m honored to call her my friend, and truly lucky that she was by my side as the caring, professional, and amazing Doula she is. -Katrina McHale

We had so many plans for our birth and or course, nothing happened the way we planned it. Erica made us feel comfortable and informed and talked us through all of the difficult decisions. Erica was a huge part of making our birth story so positive. She helped us advocate for ourselves and feel like we understood what was happening. – Nicole & Kevin, Long Island

We can't imagine what this process would have been like without your support, kindness and love. From midnight Q & A to mid-day Oreos, from labor pains to family pains - you had us covered. We're ever grateful to have found you! – Heidi & Brad, Brooklyn

Erica was one of three doulas I met with to support my birth experience and after our initial meeting I knew I wanted her as my doula. She has an extremely calming, confident nature. I am one hundred percent sure the reason my labor was short and easily handled was because of Erica. I was able to concentrate on just breathing. Erica continues to check in on our family and makes trips to see our daughter. – Heather, Queens

My husband and I were first timers with everything: first time being pregnant, first time learning about labor and delivery and the first in our families to be pregnant. We were newbies thirsty for information. Bailey was phenomenal - she was a resource, a teacher, a therapist and most of all, a supporting coach and friend throughout our whole experience. In addition to being our doula, she also taught us Hypnobirthing and helped us have the labor and delivery experience we dreamed of having (even better actually!) With her guidance, she and my husband were able to coach me through a drug free labor that was beautiful. I know that sounds strange, and “come on... beautiful?”, but it was. With Bailey’s help we were able to re-frame the way we thought about birth, eliminate the fear and enhance our sense of personal strength and capability. I’ve never felt more empowered or prepared for anything in my life. We can’t thank Bailey enough for helping us bring our little guy into the world! - Kaylee

We loved working with Bailey, she is extremely knowledgeable and provided us with great information throughout the process. We especially appreciated the pre and post delivery consultations and the fact that she was always available for questions via text/email/phone. During labor and delivery Bailey's calm demeanor was a godsend for both my husband and I. Her recommendations for massage techniques, labor positions and use of aromatherapy were a huge help with keeping us on track with our birth plan. She also provided my husband with techniques to help me through my surges which allowed him to be very involved and made the experience more special for us both. We also used Bailey's placenta services and are very happy with the products. I feel like the capsules have helped me manage postpartum hormone changes and the balm was really helpful for nipple irritation. She also provided us with placenta prints and a heart keepsake out of the umbilical cord which is a sweet touch. I would (and have!) highly recommend Bailey! - Jenise

I can not say enough good things about our special Doula Bailey. I wanted the perfect non medicated birth but ended up having an early C section during a prenatal procedure. Bailey was there for us right away- helping my new family emotionally and physically! Our post-partum hours were priceless, Bailey helped us with our latch in the hospital and we have been successfully exclusively breast feeding for two months. She cooked delicious healthy meals so I could stay off my feet and recover while being super well nourished. I can't wait for my next pregnancy and special time with our doula! - Lauren