Testimonials

“Bryn’s “Bringing Home Baby Class” was exactly what my partner and I needed heading towards the birth of our first child. It was extremely informative with interactive lessons on feeding, swaddling and changing diapers.”- Matthew 1/2024 via Google

“We had the most wonderful experience with Chicago Family Doulas! We had postpartum care both daytime and nights several days a week and it was such a huge help during the transition as new parents. They were professional, and helpful in caring for mom, baby, family and helpful around the house. It allowed me to recover and enjoy my newborn and find my footing as a new mom.”- Emily 1/2022 via Google

“Plainly stated: We could NOT HAVE SURVIVED HAVING TWINS without the postpartum care and support we received from Chicago Family Doulas. Letting us sleep through the night (especially as I was recovering from a CSEC) was the most valuable gift we could have gotten. We loved the 2 doulas we were assigned, and still talk to them frequently!! And truly, the ability to get a good night’s sleep, and knowing our babies were in the best hands, gave us the ability to then ENJOY the days with them, rather than resenting or being overly tired. This is a MUST INVEST category for us. If we have more kids I cannot imagine not working with Anna and the team again.”- Aubyn 2/2021 via Google

“Incredibly lucky to have found CFD, they have made a world of difference in the first months of welcoming our third baby. Don’t be like me and wait until baby number three to realize how important sleep is! You are in good hands here! Thanks again Anna!”- Toni 10/2020 via Google

“We had an excellent experience with Chicago Family Doulas! They have supported our family for the passed 9 months since our son was born, in which we had three incredible Doulas based on our schedule and needs. We are moving out of the country, otherwise we would keep using their services and we highly recommend them to anyone needing assistance with their baby.”- Dana 7/2020 via Yelp

“Chicago Family Doulas was an essential resource during my first pregnancy. My husband and I wanted to be equipped with as much information and as many tools as possible as new parents, so we utilized several services (a labor doula, prenatal yoga, and classes) offered by Chicago Family Doulas. I can’t speak highly enough of our experiences with Chicago Family Doulas!”- Jennifer 1/2020 via Yelp

“First of all, if your looking for a “night nurse” what you might actually want is a doula. You just don’t know it yet. It was news to me that doulas would also do overnights. At first I thought night nurses and doulas are the same thing, but they are not. Anna and her team has saved my families butts twice now during an unexpected hospitalization. We don’t have family nearby and we needed help, fast. Twice now they have pulled through with great quality people and little notice. They are just very easy to work work. Second, the doulas are great! If Katherine could literally move in, I’d take her. She’s kind, funny, super observant. Aside from just the obvious baby and housekeeping, she watered the Christmas tree, asked me how I want my laundry done, when I asked for an Apple it was “cut or uncut? Skin on or skin off?” Its like having the best version of your mom at home with you to help during a rough time which can be priceless.”- Jennifer 12/2019 via Google

“I was sooo happy with my Doula. There are a ton of others but this group is TOP NOTCH. They made me feel sooo at ease with the entire process. It was such a stress free experience which I would do again and again. Their compassion and dedication is like no other. I highly recommend. Thank you for all you have done for me. Anna, the owner, was amazing to work with. She went above and beyond and meet all my needs.”- Janelle 11/2019 via Yelp

“After speaking with Annamarie Rodney over the phone I was confident that she was someone I could trust to pick the best postpartum doulas to help make the postpartum transition easier for my family and I. Katharine, Ashley, Andrea, Shelley and Alex did an exceptional job taking care of my 3 kids 5 and under, newborn and I that I couldn’t of asked for a better experience. My husband and I are very grateful for all the support they have given our family. They went above and beyond our expectations and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for postpartum care. They love what they do and are dedicated to providing the best care for families. Thank you Chicago Family Doulas”- Emily 11/2019 via Google

“I highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas! They helped us with daytime support in the early weeks/months after our daughter was born and as first time parents we were beyond grateful for their help and support. They taught us so much and were a calm and helpful presence to have in our home. Thank you thank you Anna and to the entire team we had the pleasure of working with!”- Lindsey 11/2019 via Google

“Chicago Family Doulas offered comprehensive phone consultations, a variety of doulas, and wonderful classes to choose from. Amazing support, for mom AND partner. I don’t know how people give birth without doulas and I wouldn’t recommend it.”- Lindsey 3/2019 via Google

“The Chicago Family Doulas are wonderful! My OB recommended them for anything I needed pre and postpartum. I reached out about placenta encapsulation initially and they were quick to respond with information and pricing. We moved forward with using them and it was so great! They gave me all the details on how it would work before my birth and it went just as discussed. One of the doulas picked up the placenta from the hospital just after my birth and then dropped off the capsules with directions within 24 hours. I was so impressed!! You can trust that they will take care of you like family! I reached out again postpartum to get help with bottle feeding and the doula who helped me was fantastic! She was so patient and kind and even though it was a challenging process (I seem to have a pretty head strong little guy!) she made me feel comfortable and confident in the approach. I highly recommend this doula practice for any help you need. It takes a village and they are a wonderful village to have!”- Kristen 10/2018 via Google

“Working with Chicago Family Doula’s was the first best decisions I made as a mom. I used them for hypnobirthing class, labor doulas (Celena), and post-partum doulas (Adrianna, Shelley, and Kelly) and placenta encapsulation. I never thought I would need the post-partum doulas, but thankfully because I went with this doula service, they were available to me when I needed someone most. Anna took the time to get to know me / my personality, and my expectations to align me with one of her labor Doula’s, Celena. Celena was incredibly knowledgeable in all things birth and baby! She would answer all my text messages promptly, no matter how ridiculous my questions. We had a few meet ups before I delivered, which was great because I got to know her even better and connect with her before my labor and delivery. On the day-of she came over right when I needed her and helped make my labor smooth as possible. She calmed me and helped with my labor pains with her AMAZING massage. I am not one for massage normally, but for an unmedicated labor it SUPER helped! The other thing I loved, is she did not overshadow the experience with my husband. Once concern I had was how intimate this moment would be for my husband and I, but she made the experience better and was there for both me and him. Also, they got me my placenta pills within 24 hours of delivery – which was WAY faster than anyone else I was reaching out to. The post-partum doulas were amazing. They made small tweaks to how I was swaddling which made a big difference for my baby. My baby had to be held for her to sleep and they took care of that so I could sleep! And Shelley deep cleaned my house AND somehow made me an amazing dinner for not having any food in my house. The connections this company has and the resources available truly set them apart. I could not have been happier with the care I received. It has been almost a year and I STILL keep in touch with this group.”- Emily 8/2018 via Yelp

“All of the doulas from Chicago Family doulas who cared for me and my infant daughter were warm, caring, professional, and experienced. The support they offered was invaluable (especially since this was my first child!). I was able to get sleep knowing that my newborn was in excellent hands- such a blessing!”- Jessica 6/2018 via Google

“From my first conversation with Anna, Chicago Family Doulas’ owner, I related so easily to her and truly appreciated the resources she shared. Shortly after, a welcome folder arrived (with a handwritten note!!) and she frequently checked in on me as the decision process began. It was obvious to me that Anna is a dedicated business owner, passionate about birth work. I also enjoyed meeting two of her doulas in person: Adriana and Ashley. Both made it easy for me to open up and share my perspectives and anxieties, which meant a lot.”- Julia 8/2018 via Yelp

“For the birth of our second child my husband and I were planning a VBAC. Based on the scary experience of the birth of our first son which resulted in an emergency C-section, we knew we needed calm professional guidance for our second labor. Since we wanted to hire post partum help as well, Chicago Family Doulas was a perfect choice since they have labor AND post partum support for as many hours and as long as you need them. We couldn’t have been happier with our doulas! Our labor doula kept us calm and prevented unnecessary freak outs during our labor keeping us focused on THIS birth and not our scary first birth. And our post partum team was WONDERFUL! They were so great with the baby, and my toddler who still asks about his buddies Alex and Ashley. The owner even set us up with a doula to meet us at the house when bringing our baby home as a last minute request. We 100% recommend them to any family who may need that extra special trained support whether you are having multiples, a VBAC, have older kids at home and need to divide your attention, don’t live near extended family, etc. These women are REALLY skilled and can handle it all!”- Jackie 5/2018 via Yelp

“We had a tremendous experience working with this amazing staff.  Our son was not sleeping well and we needed extra support for both days & nights.  Anna was incredibly supportive of our needs and was able to find highly qualified doulas on a short notice.  There are no words to express our gratitude to Anna, Ashley & Melissa for their amazing support.  Chicago Family Doulas genuinely cares about doing the right thing beyond just a business transaction and that’s what makes this place special.  One that I’m sure we’ll come back to if we’re ever in need of their service in the future. Thank you!”- Joe 2/2018 via Yelp

“I made a last minute decision to have a doula, I thought I had left it too late but as Anna reassured me ‘as long as the baby is still inside you it’s never too late!’ And she was right, we met with Celena and I immediately knew I wanted her at the birth of my baby. The birth was rather tricky towards the end and Celena held my hand and kissed my face like a mother would with her own child, I remember crying and holding her hand so tightly, I am so glad she was there, I’ll never forget that moment.  I was so happy to see her the next day when she had encapsulated my placenta, I honestly think it aided in my quick recovery and definitely my mood postpartum.  As a result of the delivery I needed help around the house postpartum and Anna very quickly arranged for Adriana to come to my rescue – she did the many loads of laundry that a new baby (and a 5 year old!) creates, she cleaned the house and entertained my eldest while I napped with the baby, she even came with me to a midwife appointment and looked after the baby and she gave me a massage too! I will forever be grateful to Anna and her team and how much the helped me, what a wonderful service they provide.”- Kelly 7/2017 via Yelp

“We were 3 days home from the hospital and I was overwhelmed. I now had a beautiful baby girl, and a wonderful husband, but I still felt helpless. While talking with my sister-in-law she asked if I had considered a doula or night nurse. Honestly, I hadn’t. I started to research online and came across Chicago Family Doulas. I submitted an inquiry and within an hour Anna called me. And I know this may sound dramatic, but Anna is an angel! She talked with me for 45 minutes just listening and offering encouraging words as I rambled on questioning every decision I was making – my baby won’t latch, is she eating enough, is she sleeping enough, should I give her a bottle, will giving her a bottle ruin nursing, how often should I feed her, is she too hot/too cold – on and on. After 45 minutes Anna let me know she would have a Doula over within 3 hours to stay with us for the night. And that night I finally got some rest, and had the comfort and reassurance that we were in fact doing ok. After that first visit we then started a schedule of having a Doula come over 3 times a week for 5 hours. Our baby girl is now 7 months old and a social butterfly at daycare. To this day, my husband and I talk about how working with Chicago Family Doulas was the best decision we made as parents – yes, again dramatic – but it’s true! Anna and her team are the most supportive, kind, empathic, nurturing, informative, and encouraging group of women. They never “told” us what to do, but rather provide insight into different methods, supported us in our decisions, and reassured us “this too shall pass” in moments where you want to give up. And while we had graduated from the Doula program, we still exchange pictures and texts on updates of Emma’s growth and development. And yes, still ask a few questions here and there 😉 We cannot say enough about this team – yes, yes, yes – partner with them!”- Katie 7/2017 via Yelp

“5 stars to Chicago Family Doulas! The doulas provided AMAZING support for the birth of my 3 children! With the support of the doulas I was able to enjoy intervention free and relaxed birth experiences with all my kids! I also used them for postpartum care for my youngest 2 children. I felt very comfortable with the doulas in my home and confident with their care for my babies! The owner Anna is very kind and easy to talk with. She seems to only hire the best! I highly recommend this company and all their services!”- Theresa 4/2017 via Yelp

“Chicago Family Doulas was a life saver for us. After some tough delivery complications, I knew I would need extra help. We called them the day before I was discharged, and they were able to have someone at our house the next day as soon we we arrived home from the hospital.   They worked to ensure consistency — we had the same person most of the time and a second person subbed in a few times when she couldn’t make it.  They accommodated the hours we needed (6pm – 6am). Our first couple weeks at home were so much less stressful thanks to them- I was able to recover, our newborn got excellent care and attention, and we had the bandwidth to tend to our toddler as well.  About a month after we first used Chicago Family Doulas, we had another emergency situation and they were able to send the same person that night to help out.”- Freya 4/2017 via Yelp

“I contacted Anna after speaking with Chelsea at a Bump Club & Beyond event while I was pregnant. When I met Chelsea at the event, she took the time to look me in the eye, answer my questions, and empathize with me. This set Chicago Family Doulas apart from so many other doula and night-nanny services that I spoke with at the event. These are the individuals that will be supporting me during a whole new phase of my life and caring for my most precious baby – I wanted to feel heard and confident in their care. With this in mind, Anna, Chelsea, and Ashley were nothing short of amazing. I knew I would need postpartum help, so I booked a doula for a 10 hours (2 day time shifts or 1 night time shift) with the option to add more to my contract after the baby came. Spoiler alert: I added more shifts after the baby came! Ha. Ashley was our postpartum doula – she was so helpful to my husband and me. She taught me baby massage, baby wearing, and helped with breastfeeding when I was having a small issue. She gave me additional tips for breastfeeding and baby care as well. She did our laundry, cleaned, did food prep, and played with my baby while I took a nap or shower. Sometimes I had *her* play with the baby while I did some chores because I wanted to (yes, I am weird like that). She reminded my husband and I that we needed to do grocery shopping, because duh! when you’re 5 days postpartum, you forget basic needs sometimes. In fact, perhaps even more important than all of these things that our doula did for us was the emotional support that she provided. The first day she came, the baby was only a few days old, and I was starting to doubt myself that morning. Ashley came, took care of us, brought kindness and gentle support to my home, reminded my husband to go grocery shopping, helped me with my new baby wrap to hold the baby, etc. And my husband says I was a different person by the time she left. It was the emotional support – Ashley is the only other person other than my husband to say to me unprompted – “You know, you are a great mom. You really are.” It was a pivotal moment, Ashley watching me care for my baby and saying it, honestly and authentically, picked me up right when I needed it. And on a phone call with Anna, she gave me loads of advice. I spoke about my family and some of my worries and I think, perhaps I had been comparing my family with others without realizing it. Anna said, “You set the tone for your family.” I carry that wisdom with me every day. I stopped comparing and worrying and know that our family is okay. I would hire Anna’s team again in a heartbeat.”- Kristen 3/2017 via Yelp

“After having an awful (painful and out of control) experience with the birth of my son in 2013, we decided to hire a doula to assist with the birth of our second child. I knew from the moment I met Anna, she was the perfect person for the job. After listening to my story, she first consoled me and made sure I didn’t feel crazy and my fear wasn’t unjustified.  She explained some things I could try differently the second time through.  And most importantly, she armed me with the right questions/thoughts for my next doctors appointment.  Although I like my doctor group very much, I didn’t know what to ask or how to talk to them. We came up with a plan and I felt very ready to make sure this birth was exactly what I wanted. Unfortunately, towards the end of my pregnancy, I had some health complications and doctors were strongly suggesting an induction for the safety of my baby. I, of course contacted Anna right away.  She responded immediately with new suggestions, questions, and things to discuss with my doctor.  The emails, texts, and conversations with Anna kept coming in.  One came at 3am while she was ‘up doing some research.’  She was there for me when I needed her.  At all times. Although it wasn’t the birth I was originally hoping for, Anna made sure I was confident again. And, it was perfect.  Even with an induction the birth of my daughter on August 26th, 2015 was amazing.  Peaceful, calm and most importantly, I felt in complete control the entire time.” – Teresa 9/2015 via Yelp

“We welcomed twins into our lives recently and the post partum care through Chicago Family Doulas was essential for supporting us in the transition from expectant parents into family of four. Our doula was professional, knowledgeable and reliable, providing competent and compassionate care. We highly recommend Chicago Family Doulas, especially to families who are expecting twins.”- Nick 8/2018 via Facebook

“Emily has been with our family for the last 3 years. Honestly, I don’t know what we would do without her. Not only is she one of the most responsible nannies we have ever used, she is also one of the kindest. She is so knowledgeable  with children and she also knows how to provide a warm and nurturing environment  for them to thrive. She is very passionate  about what she does. Not only with my children, but with her work as a doula or really any other endeavors I have seen her take part in. She really enjoys helping others. If you are looking for someone who can provide a strong and gentle presence at the same time, especially  while experiencing childbirth she is a perfect match. Our family is forever grateful for having her!”- Megan

“My spouse and I took a ‘Bringing Home Baby’ class recently with Kelli and learned so much important info and it was such a wonderful inviting and open space to grow. Really appreciated the small class size and how much Kelli shared with us and was open to different experiences and questions we had. Highly recommend!”- Lydia 5/2018 via Facebook

“Reasons Why you need Anna as your doula :
– if you choose natural delivery you need to have a doula
– – Anna prepares you what to expect before you are in labor, she can answer all your questions about labor and hospital protocol
– – she teaches breathing techniques that helps you through labor
– – she is there as support from the moment you hire her
– she would drive you to the hospital in case no one can drive you
– – she is next to you in the delivery room as your biggest support, she tends to your needs
– when you are in pain she is there to guide , encourage and help you
– -she guides you through your last steps in the pushing process
– -she stays next to you and makes sure you and baby are fine after baby is born
– -she is calm, loving , understanding
– -she is who you need when the special time comes for your baby to be born”- Kinga 7/2015 via Yelp

“Anna is an amazing doula! Her knowledge about all things birth and baby related is really impressive. And she is so warm, kind, and reassuring, just having her in the room brings everyone a sense of peace. I absolutely recommend her as a doula. I first met Anna as my hypnobirth instructor. My husband and I hired her for in-home private classes because he had recently had Achilles’ tendon surgery and it was more convenient to to it in home. I was so terrified of labor that I was almost in tears when I opened the door to Anna. She answered all my questions and her peaceful and wise words calmed me. I wasn’t sure I wanted a doula before the class, but after meeting Anna, we decided to ask her to be our doula. She just felt like a wise and comforting friend. The thought of having her there for our birth was very reassuring. During the rest of my pregnancy, she was always available to answer questions and offer supportive words. My son came 11 days late and I really did not want to induce labor. Anna encouraged me to go with my instincts and suggested I discuss it with my doctor. Anna never pushed an agenda or opinion, but encouraged and supported me to be a confident parent who listens to my own parenting instincts. I postponed the induction twice and ended up going into labor naturally. Anna had great advice on natural induction ideas and in the end, it was one her suggestions that finally helped to jump start labor. During labor, Anna was awesome! She came prepared and even brought me chap stick and a ponytail holder, two things I needed but forgot to bring. She even made me a rice sock that we could heat up and use for pain relief. She rubbed my feet with peppermint oil and pushed on my back during contractions and talked me through the surges. Her calm, wise, and comforting presence was soothing to both my husband and me. At one point, after 10 hours of labor, I was not dilating and the doctor wanted to manually dilate me with a catheter, she suggested instead that we try to shift the baby’s position first through a series of squats and other exercises. The baby moved his position and I dilated to 7 centimeters in an hour. In the end, I ended up having an emergency c-section due to the baby having the cord wrapped around his neck, but had I induced or done the manual dilation, he may have been forced out too soon and died. Anna’s wise advice likely saved our baby’s life. During my c-section she helped my husband cope with his anxiety.  Afterwards, she stayed with us and helped us with first feeding, breast pumping, and getting settled. She stayed in touch after the birth answering questions about breastfeeding, newborns, and recovery. Then she came to visit us for the postpartum follow-up bringing food, gifts, and tea to help with milk production. I can’t imagine a better experience with a doula. Anna has not only an amazing amount of knowledge but is truly a loving, strong, and empowering person. She made me feel more confident as a new mom. The hospital staff kept remarking that they had never seen such an engaged, active, and all around good doula. I recommend her without reservation. She is a gem!”- Charlynn 12/2014

“Emily was our postpartum doula/night nurse over the course of several nights when we had our second baby and that whole ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ option was no longer. We started after i was not nursing, so it was amazing to go to bed at 8, and wake up at 6 with clean laundry, cooked food in the fridge, dishes done and a baby who was well cared for all night there to greet me. I could go to bed feeling confident that my little guy was in great care. Great investment for my mental health and sanity.”- Rachel

“Anna was an absolutely wonderful doula to work with for my second homebirth, and was the perfect person to work with my family. She is so down-to-earth, a very grounded person who is passionate about supporting birth the way the family would love to have it go. I first learned about Anna through my midwives’ FB page. I looked at her website and read a few testimonials and just had the sense that she’d bring an element of peace and centeredness into my birthing experience. Having had a previous home birth, I had a decent idea of what to expect and what supports I’d more intentionally need this second time around. Anna was able to put together a support package that factored in those needs. Anna met with me once for a consultation, once again for an official pre-labor visit, and put together a detailed support plan. She was very professional, very organized and very detail-oriented. I was even able to gain additional comfort measures insights from her, as she is a hypnobirthing instructor. The wealth of knowledge she brought with her regarding labor support was a tremendous asset for my husband and I. Anna knew exactly what to say to me to keep me motivated and focused in labor. She alternated with my husband in supporting me and talking to me (as well as in taking photos per our request). She also knew EXACTLY where and how to apply pressure to my back when I’d have a contraction, especially when surges just almost felt like too much. She used a variety of additional comfort measures (like cool washcloths with fabulous essential oil blends) to make the surges as manageable as possible. I’m honestly a little sad that my birth has come and gone. Anna is not just a doula, she’s a great person, the kind of person that anyone would love to become good friends with. I cannot recommend her highly enough for any family’s birth experience! You’ll be so grateful to have her by your side.” – Annie 11/2014

“My husband and I decided to hire a doula less than two weeks before our due date after realizing we needed knowledgeable support to help guide us through the birthing process. After quite a bit of research we contacted Chicago Family Doulas and met with Emily. Her experience and personality put us right at ease. I ended up having an extremely long labor and delivery and Emily never wavered in her commitment to help us though the entire process. She stayed the entire time and provided constant support, reassurance, and techniques to help us through the delivery. We were very happy with her help and guidance. My husband and I both agree that we made the right decision in hiring Chicago Family Doulas and would hire Emily again in a heartbeat.”- Erin

“Anna was a perfect match for us! As this was my first birth I really appreciated her knowledge and encouragement to birth naturally. She really went alongside with what we wanted and was such a source of support I don’t think I could have done it without her. She went above and beyond what she said she was going to do. My birth was much longer than expected and she hung with me the entire time. She is so personable and sweet and not having family nearby made this especially important as she filled the role of mother and a sister at the same time while having experience too! I definitely recommend Anna! My husband and I both loved her!” – Dana 11/2014

“Emily is professional and reliable and was a godsend during my labor.  She came to my apartment at the perfect time, was decisive in telling me when we needed to go to the hospital, and was amazingly helpful riding in the car with us to the hospital (she and I rode in the back seat and she applied pressure to my hips during each contraction).  Once at the hospital she was on her toes the entire time, getting me anything I needed, voicing my needs to hospital staff when I was uable to and helping me through each stage of labor.  I couldn’t have done it without her!  Highly recommend.”- Lexi

“I used Anna for a twin pregnancy. I wanted to do natural delivery and was in a difficult relationship and felt like I needed some extra support. I found out that I most likely would not be able to deliver naturally, but we still tried to come up with a natural plan hoping that I would be able to. She was very knowledgeable and educated me to help me prepare and make choices in what I wanted with the birth. There was so much I didn’t know and had no idea about! I ended up having a c-section, but she was there by my side the entire time; and I really felt like she was my advocate throughout the process and that is what I needed. I am so happy I had her there and I cannot recommend her enough!” – Raychelle 9/2014

“My experience with Emily was great. We got such peace of mind knowing that she would be with us for labor and the birth. Having had a scary experience with my first born (c-section), my husband and I wanted to have an advocate for us in the hospital. With number two, I was most worried about the long car ride to the hospital, which had the possiblity of being up to an hour and a half if we had to leave during rush hour. We did end up having to leave during rush hour, and Emily came quickly to the house and helped us get in the car. She helped keep me calm in between contractions and helped ease the pain during contractions by pressing on my hips. She offered different positions too, which I wouldn’t have thought of. Overall, I can’t imagine that car ride without her! Once we were at the hospital, Emily was by my side, offering various comfort measures and helping me to breathe through the pain. She did not judge when I decided to get the epidural. Then during the pushing, she cheered me along. I am so happy to have made the decision to have the support and advice of a doula and I highly recommend Emily!”- Sharon

“I was fortunate to have Anna guide and soothe me through the birth of my second son. When my water broke and I was nervous, she was the first person I called (even before my midwife). Her voice was always calming and she stayed cool and clear-headed in even the most intense moments. During my labor, she intuitively cooled me down with cold compresses. She listened to my body when I couldn’t find the words to say “I need counterpressure on my lower back”. She pressed tirelessly for hours, a job which required major exertion. She was my guide in labor and I can’t imagine having accomplished a natural birth without her. When I doubted myself and my body, she gave me the encouragement to take labor one contraction at a time and breathe right through to the end. Anna has a deep respect for all human beings, and a true awe of the birthing process. She epitomizes selflessness. I hope Anna can share her gifts with other laboring women.”- Michelle

“I am a career woman. I waited 37 years for this day to arrive…I gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl. During my pregnancy I tried to get everything in order -OB GYN, books to read, reached out to friends, signed up for bogus hospital classes and learned about a Doula. Immediately, I was stunned, DOULA!!!??? YES! I need one. Then, weeks passed by, and I wasn’t sure how the hell I was going to find someone who would be nothing less than EXCELLENT….and then, I crossed paths with Emily and Anna. A team of feminist divas who empower ever decision you make in the labor room. I was 27 hours in labor and Emily coached me and Gary through it all. A Doula does everything…calms you, gives you a bath, cleans up your piss, makes eye contact, coaches your husband, greets your family….there isn’t one single thing EMILY was not willing to do for me. One thing I regret is not taking advantage of the after birth visit. I had breastfeeding challenges and didn’t even know. My kid lost 14% of their birth weight, and passed crystals in her urine from deyhration…I learned all of this on day 3. Oh well, you live and you learn…today Braelyn is nearly 5 months -babbles, smiles, holds her neck, rolls, nurses we just love love love her. Emily was apart of my once in a life time experience and we salute her! Thank you Emily for supporting us to have our baby BIB (her initials) join the world.”- Sandra