Jasmine

11/17/2021

It is a hard decision choosing someone that will be with you during the most vulnerable moments of your life, but Janine made that decision easy. I got to know her during prenatal yoga where she not only taught the practice but made you feel comfortable, heard, and supported during your pregnancy journey. That is when I knew I wanted her as my doula. She met with us multiple times to go over delivery, walk through things we would not have thought of because it was our first time, and gave us tools necessary to get through labor. The night of labor she stayed in contact letting us know when we should be going to the hospital. And during delivery she was a huge support and guiding presence. Bonus - she took pictures for us that are invaluable!

If you are on the fence about a doula, just meet with Janine and I'm sure she will melt away your fears and nervousness about labor like she did for us!

Clio

9/16/2021

Shortly after we got pregnant with our first baby, we decided to hire a doula.  We interviewed 3 doulas and decided to hire Janine because her easy-going spirit and many years of experience allowed us to feel very comfortable with her. We felt confident that she would help carry out our desired unmedicated hospital birth.

Janine made 2 visits to our home prior to the birth. She brought reading materials for us based on our plan to have an unmedicated birth and reviewed with us what to expect postpartum. During both of these visits, Janine was very warm and friendly, which eased our anxieties leading up to labor and gave us some extra confidence knowing we'd have her support at the hospital.

When labor began, we contacted Janine, and she provided good advice on what to do and later met us at the hospital when we wanted her there. While at the hospital, the nurse would pop into the room for a bit to check the progression, and then we wouldn't see her for 2-3 hours. During those times, it was really nice to have Janine present to guide us along in the birthing process. Janine was willing to do anything we needed from getting more water to applying pressure to my back during contractions. Janine also helped us review and discuss our options before making medical decisions such as avoiding pitocin, taking cytotec to progress dilation, and using nitrous oxide to deal with the pain. Per our request, she took a nice series of photos documenting the labor and birth. After about 24 hours of labor, our healthy baby boy was born, pretty much according to our birth plan.

One week after giving birth to our baby, Janine made one last final house visit to follow up on the labor.  She helped us process the enormity of our labor and delivery experience which was much needed.  Additionally, she took detailed notes during the labor/delivery and emailed us a nice timeline and summary of our birth.

Caitlin

8/23/2021

I knew Janine was a perfect match for me and by birth journey the first time we met. She asked me all the right questions about my hopes and fears - as there were many since I was a first time mom of twins! Janine provides a steady, calming presence balanced perfectly with confidence and energy. She was genuinely enthusiastic about working with us which made our birth experience more fun to share with someone who felt like a friend. I especailly appreciated her keeping a journal of the step-by-step, minute-by-minute progress we made in our multi-day labor and delivery because otherwise we would not have remembered everything that happened. Janine's experience as a yoga instructor also brings a uinque qualification of mind-body-spirit connection that was so important to me. I highly recommend Janine as a birth doula!

Laura

7/24/2020

Zoe was born in the midst of the pandemic, after 30 hours of labor and finally an unplanned C-section. During all of this, Janine was right by our side, supporting us, educating us, and easing us through our transition to parenthood. Even though our birth was not how we envisioned it, Janine made us feel confident and informed about each decision. She was also absolutely delightful as we bonded during our pre-meetings and long hours in the hospital over music, dogs, and the random stories that come to mind at 3am in our hospital room! We can't thank her enough!

Stacey

3/30/2020

We had our first baby in February of 2020. Like any new parent, I had a whole pile of worries and Janine helped to set my mind at ease and get me ready mentally and emotionally. She told me how all births are different and you never know how it will go, but there is peace of mind in going with the flow. Good thing I had this perspective because after being told that I would have to be induced, my baby found a sudden urge to arrive and my water broke the day after the due date. The little guy made his entrance 12 hours later, with Janine coaching me all along.  Thanks to her, we also have lots of pictures to remember his birth! We are very grateful to have had Janine as our doula -- she helped to make the birth experience the best we could hope for!

Sam

3/26/2020

Janine was our doula for the delivery of our daughter in December of 2019. I hoped to have a vaginal delivery but was worried it would not be possible for many reasons. I was of advanced maternal age, the women in my family have all had c-sections, and our baby was projected to have a head size in the 99th percentile! Janine believed it was possible regardless. She gave unwaivering support prior to/during/after delivery, provided valuable pain management, and even took some photos for us. In the end, I had the delivery I dreamt of even with a 10 pound 6 ounce baby! I am confident Janine's support and guidance helped us make that happen. We were so blessed to have her there!

Sarabeth Craig

2/19/2020

Janine was a great support to me and my husband before, during and after the birth of our first child! We were new to the area and did not have family nearby, so having a doula was extra helpful. Janine has such a warm personality, is an excellent listener, and is genuinely passionate about the work she does. My husband texted Janine all through the night while I had contractions and she offered great advice and comfort to us as this was all new to us. During the birth she took some GREAT photos that we would not have had otherwise - and she quietly left us some delicious treats that kept us going through the first few sleepless nights! She also picked up a phone charger for us on the way to the hospital because we forgot to pack one. Thank you Janine for your support!

Julia

10/16/2019

We are so grateful to have had Janine as our doula. She is so warm and caring that from our first meeting we felt completely comfortable with her. As first time parents, we didn't have a strong vision for what we wanted at our birth and Janine spent time getting to know us, then talked us through all options and helped us figure out what we wanted with gentle guidance and no judgement. I had several complications throughout my pregnancy and Janine was always available to talk through concerns with us and help us feel confident in various options. When our son arrived on his due date, she talked us through each stage throughout the day and when we arrived at the hospital with much less time to go than we had originally thought, she was there immediately to be with us through an hour long hospital birth. Things progressed very quickly and it was quite intense and scary for both of us, but she was there with suggestions, guidance and assurance. I do not know how we would have gotten through without her. Our son needed some immediate attention directly after birth and Janine stayed by my side letting me know what was happening and offering reassurance that helped me get through a difficult hour of not being with him while I was being stitched up. I can't recommend Janine enough, we are forever grateful for her support.

Jolyn Belk

10/2/2019

Janine was our doula for our VBAC in July 2019. She is amazing!! From my first meeting to my post partum visit she was exactly what my family needed. She is caring, compassionate and knows what she is doing. She kept me sane through the pushing and helped with counter pressure with my back labor. She was always responsive when I was updating her throughout my pregnancy or I’d i had questions she always answered them fully. She truly gets to know your family and cares. When we found out we were pregnant I knew we had to have a doula. I researched and found Janine through word of mouth. I am so glad that we did. She is one of the main reasons we were successful with the VBAC. Get on her books because you will never find a better doula in this area! Thank you so much Janine for helping to make this birth, of our second child, an amazing experience. Thank you just doesn’t feel like enough for everything you did for us. 

Elizabeth

7/26/2019

Having Janine as part of our birth experience was truly special! It was as if we had known her forever. We are first time parents and, as most new parents can relate to, didn’t know what to expect beyond some reading and birth classes. Janine was just as helpful to me as she was for my husband. Even my OB was really impressed at how well Janine fit into the scene.

She took the time before the birth to get to know us and provided us with just the right amount of information. As my due date came and went, I let her know that the Dr suggested an induction and Janine called me to make sure I feel ok and to talk through any questions or concerns. I went through with the induction and after only a half dose of Cytotec, the contractions came in hot and I was in labor. The timing was completely unexpected, yet Janine was immediately responsive to a 4:30am text and joined us at the hospital super early for what turned out to be a really long and exhausting day. She was incredibly supportive, encouraging, and knowledgeable. If a challenge came up or a decision needed to be made, she was able to provide us with clear options. 

Without Janine, my husband and I agreed, it would have gone completely different and we would have had regrets. Instead, we were completely supported and able to stick to our original hopes for the birth. If we had to do it all over again, we would do it all the same! After the birth, Janine set up a time with us to come to our house. Because everything was such a blur, it was nice to go over what had happened and ask any questions that came up. She even documented a timeline. Knowing that music is important to us, she even noted what song was playing when our baby was born. The personal touches were countless and completely appreciated!

Abbie Johnson

12/28/2018

We are incredibly grateful to Janine for her guidance and support through the birth of our first child. I had prepared for a natural birth and Janine's advice and constant positive presence helped me fulfill every part of my birth plan. She was by my side through every contraction as I labored in the tub at the hospital. She gently guided me through transition and communicated my progress with the midwife. I was 9.5 cm dilated when I left the tub to be checked. Janine stayed with me through pushing seamlessly becoming a part of the team of nurses, midwife, and my husband supporting me through that stage. When I felt like giving up after hours of pushing, Janine helped me visualize the finish line and I was able to recharge and summon up my last energy to bring our daughter into the world. Janine also helped bring my husband into the birth process to ensure he was able to be an active partner. We could not have done it without her!

Rianna Thomas

5/10/2018

We found Janine with doulamatch and used her as our doula for the birth of our first child this April and could not have been happier with her. I had every intention to have a natural birth and felt like hiring a doula would be the best way to accomplish that. We ended up getting induced at 41 weeks because Lincoln decided she needed to cook a little longer. I had received cervidil and pitocin to help with the induction process. We took a break in between the two to take a long walk through the halls and try to encourage dilation, making it to about 4cm. Janine was very helpful acting as a translator for us with the doctors and making sure my birth plan was followed as long as possible. I ended up needing an epidural to get some sleep after we had been at the hospital for almost 30 hours. Janine even napped in her car while Nick and I were sleeping! I was in labor for 41 hours and could not have lasted as long as I did without medication if Janine had not been there to suggest different positions to try. She even helped me with pushing because I needed to be on my side and the nurse didn't really want me to try that way. After spending so much time with her she almost feels like a part of the family. Nick and I will definitely be contacting her for any more children we decide to have.

Alyce Neal

1/9/2018

As soon as I met Janine I knew she was the Doula for me. She has such a calming and gentle energy. I was nervous about having my first baby in a different country but with Janine's help, I had a great experience. Not only did she help me during labor but the care I received before and after the birth was so amazing. My labor progressed very quickly and even though she lived an hour from the hospital I delivered at, she made it there quickly on short notice. She was by my side and supported me through every twist and turn that arose during my labor. I found it remarkable that Janine was 7 months pregnant at the time but stayed awake with me through the night and reassured and encouraged me every step of the way. Whenever I would panic or loose my breath I could hear her calming voice helping me re focus my energy. When my baby was born and needed immediate care Janine told me to speak to him from across the room, as soon as I did he started to cry. It was such a special moment. My husband and I were both unsure what was happening so to have her there to give us advice and help us stay calm was a blessing. Janine has a natural way with mamas and I'm so thankful I found her.

Cara Scanze

12/6/2017

Janine was our doula for the birth of our daughter in October. We couldn’t have found a better fit for us! Janine’s calming presence and knowledgeable support not only helped me through labor, but helped my husband and my sister effectively provide support. We originally planned on a natural childbirth at a birth center, but in late pregnancy I developed high blood pressure requiring us to switch to a hospital birth and, ultimately, an induction. Janine guided us through the change—reviewing our new birth plan—and reassuring us that our hopes for a natural childbirth were not all lost. In the end, I went through a long induction. When it came time to start Pitocin, my body responded well, and I was able to turn off the drip and labor naturally. Janine supported me throughout, having me change positions, move around and focus on my deep breathing. With a halt in progress after several hours, I ended up getting an epidural to make it through the pushing (40+ hours of labor and little sleep!). Janine made sure I was confident with the decision before proceeding. Without Janine’s support, I don’t think I would have made it through natural labor as long as I did. Though our birth story didn’t go exactly as planned, we were thrilled with how everything went and had no regrets. I think this is in large part due to having Janine by our side. Thank you, Janine!!!

Emily Lewellen

8/19/2017

I first met Janine through a prenatal yoga class she was teaching. I really enjoyed the way she led her classes and the guidance and mindfulness practices with which she prompted us.

When I discovered she was teaching a childbirth education class, my partner and I decided to take it. We both came away from the class feeling well-prepared for our impending birth experience and super excited to ask Janine to be our doula. She was just so knowledgeable about birth and left us feeling confident that she would advocate and support us in every way possible.

When my water broke at 4:30am in the morning and I started having intense contractions pretty early, Janine helped guide us in our decision on when to head to the birth center and she met us there ready to help us work to deliver our son. As my labor progressed throughout the day, she provided verbal and emotional support, helped my partner stay calm and collected, gave me massage and counter pressure to help with my back labor and continued to reassure me that everything was going well and that all my work was yielding progress. Finally, towards the latter stages, Janine took a step back when I couldn't handle being touched any longer and began to take a few photos for us. We didn't hire a birth photographer and it is so nice to be able to look back at these images of our first child being born!

Janine continued to support us after the birth by coming to our house for a visit and we even met up for a post-partum playground visit a few weeks later. We were so glad she was a part of our birth team! ??

Melissa Adzima

5/16/2017

I first met Janine when I took a prenatal yoga class from her at 18 weeks pregnant.  She began the class by checking in with everyone. I knew immediately at that point that she would be my doula.  She showed immense care, compassion, and wisdom to each and every person.  That was the type of person, the type of positive energy and experience, I wanted in the delivery room.  After we chose Janine to be our doula, she met with me and my husband a number of times preparing us what to expect- from signs of labor, to pain management, to postpartum care. She provided us with resources and answered any and all questions we had in a very timely manner. She listened to us every step of the way, supporting us in however we needed it.  Besides my husband, there is no one else I would want in the delivery room.  While our baby is 3 months old, if we have a second child, Janine will be there again!

Andrea Z

1/23/2017

We used Janine as our doula for the birth of our third child this past January. It was our first time giving birth in Colorado and even though my first two births went smoothly, I was nervous about giving birth in a new place. I also wanted to make sure I was able to have another natural childbirth (unless there was an emergency) without feeling like I was being pressured into any type of interventions. Janine helped to make this possible and ease my anxiety about birthing in a new place! She was very calming throughout the whole labor process and made my unmedicated birth possible by talking me through coping with contractions. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula!

Aimee Parnell

9/21/2016

We decided to work with a doula because my husband was working overseas until a few weeks before my due date, and I wanted to have support just in case our baby came early. We interviewed several doulas in our area, and Janine was the most down-to-earth and genuine of all of them. It came down to the question: "with whom do I think I'll feel most comfortable in my most vulnerable, open state?" and she was the one! We got together many times leading up to our son's birth, sometimes spontaneously running into each other at events in our little town, and so we also got to know her sweet little family. We'd planned on a natural birth - having been through the high intervention process of IVF to start our pregnancy - I wanted to give my body a chance to do the end part on its own! But on my due date, we discovered that our boy had flipped back to breech, and so we had to decide between an external version and induction (with only a 50% chance of turning him and still possibly leading to an emergency C-section) or choosing to schedule a C-section for the next morning. We were so disappointed and scared, and when we got home, called Janine to tell her the news. She helped us calm down, and gave us the superb advice of taking a break to eat lunch before we made our decision (we were feeling pretty strung out from the stress, and doing something "normal" really helped bring us back to earth). In the end we decided that a planned surgical birth would be the gentlest, most peaceful way for our son to be born. Janine sat with us and kept us cool-headed while I was prepped for surgery by keeping the conversation light and totally non-birth related, and brought us a lovely basket of snacks and homemade banana bread (the girl can bake!!), and a super-cute moose blankie for our little guy after he was born! She is just so sweet and a truly grounding, calm presence; we are glad to know her and so thankful she helped us feel at peace about how our birth turned out. :)

Lisa Borgmann

9/11/2016

I am so glad that we had Janine as our doula for the birth of our first child. In our meetings with her before labor, she provided invaluable information that helped us feel more prepared for our little girl's arrival. When I finally went into labor (a week late!) my labor stalled with contractions five minutes apart - I was there for twelve hours. Fortunately Janine came to our house and helped me work through some positions that helped get my labor moving.

I did not anticipate being in labor for 42 hours, but Janine's support helped both my husband and I stay calm and focused the whole time. Even though we ended up deviating from our original birth plan, I felt that Janine supported us and helped us make decisions that allowed us to still have a birth story we are proud of.

I would highly recommend Janine - I honestly don't know what we would have done without her! She is amazing!!

Sarah Steward

7/23/2016

It is an honor to have the opportunity to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for the level of care, attentiveness, and wisdom offered us through pregnancy and the birth of our precious daughter.  We were blessed to experience the natural birth we hoped for and have the sacred time with our daughter right after her birth. We HIGHLY recommend Janine and her services to anyone going through pregnancy and birth. We will not hesitate a moment should we decide to continue to grow our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Janine, for your brilliant and positive presence, humor, support, and love.

Juliana Veneziani

10/10/2015

This is my first baby and as I went into labor, I was trying to be calm, however, at all times I had a fear in the back of my head of my baby not being able to pass through my birth canal. In my rational mind, I was just too small for her head. I had told Janine and my doctors that I wanted a natural birth, with no medication, since my desire to experience birth was always greater than my fear. In the time I went into labor and my contractions were close together, I headed to the hospital and Janine told me she was coming soon after. The contractions became extremely hard to handle, byt Janine was there, right wth me with so much peace, strenght and serenity while she helped me practice meditation through them, massaging me, assisting me with varions soft movements that not releaved my pain but helped my body open up for an easier birth. When I was finally having the baby and my fear really kicked in, jumped right in and afirmed me that I could do it and I had the strength in me. I went with her and let her and the doctors guide me. Once my baby was born and laying on my chest, I realized that this was one of the most miraculous and magical and loving experiences I have ever felt! I cant describe in words how thankful me and my baby are for Janine and her team in helping me, extremely, with this opportunity!

I am now looking forward to my next natural birth, with no medication, with Janine!

he helped me

Lisa Kriederman

8/6/2015

After hearing so much positive experiences with doulas from the community and no negatives, my husband and I decided to look for a doula for the birth of our first baby. After our first meeting, her sweet and patient personality made me know she was perfect for us! I wanted to try to bring my baby in with out drugs, but after being 2 weeks past due, and I had to be induced. This made me even happier we had found Janine to be our doula. Janine helped greatly with dealing and getting through 6 hours of pitocin induced contractions, until it was too much and I had only dialated one centimeter. I eventually got an epidural, but was so gratetul to have Janine there for the rest of my 18 hour labor for the comfort, for the conversation, for the knowledge and the connection. She is a wonderful doula whom we would recommend over and over to everyone! Thank you Janine!

~ Ben, Lisa and Quintessence

Jessica Nicolella

4/14/2015

Janine is kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable! What a great supportive presence to have at our birth.

Bonita Stone

4/1/2015

Before moving to Colorado a year ago and becoming pregnant, neither my husband nor I even knew what a doula or midwife was. After attending prenatal yoga and learning the scene of the birthing world I thought that I could benefit from having a female (non-family member) present at my birth. My husband and I were ambivalent about the idea, cost, and having a stranger present at your most vulnerable moments. I am so glad we decided to hire Janine and that she was available, she taught my prenatal yoga classes so I got to know her personality there, she met with our family twice pre-birth and followed up with us post. Janine was put on this earth to assist women through this amazing process, really and truly. I loved hearing her soft voice reassuring myself and husband throughout and having her gentle touch guide me was probably the best motivation. I know that my husband and I would have been lost in our hospital birth had Janine not been there, the nurses & doctor are in & out, they don't stay with you and when the contractions are hitting all the pre-birthing class information goes straight out the door & panic sets in. Janine helped guide us through positioning, movement, massage and breath which got us through. I highly recommend hiring Janine as your birth doula and we'll definitely use her again in the future (should we have another baby). ;)

We had a natural birth to a healthy 7lb 4oz baby girl :)