Kimmy

7/30/2021

We had such a wonderful experience having Leona throughout our journey. She was our birth class teacher and when I reached out to her last minute (only two weeks from my guess date), she kindly offered to work with us. This is our first baby and we are so happy we reached out to her. Even though we didn't have much time before my date, she accommodated our schedules and helped us make a birth plan and met with us for consultations so we could feel more at ease and prepared. When my contractions started in the middle of the night, she came to support us through laboring at home and talked us through what we were experiencing at every step. After delivery, she has continued to point us towards trusted resources when we've had a lot of questions as new parents. She has empowered us to make the choices that are best for us and we cannot recommend her enough!

Alyssa

1/15/2021

Hiring Leona was the single best decision we made in preparation for our daughter's birth. Having a baby in the midst of a pandemic meant that lots of the typical support just didn't exist, so having her as a doula provided education, resources, and interaction I would have otherwise had to do without. She helped facilitate conversations with my partner about what we wanted and expected before/during/after birth. She offered lots of information and perspective to make the best choices for our situation but was never prescriptive or judgemental. Once we got close to the due date she stayed in touch and offered helpful suggestions and when early labor stalled found a great acupuncturist who was willing to get me in at short notice. At the hospital her support was invaluable to me and my partner. She helped keep me breathing, hydrated, and focused. Without her I think things would have gone very differently. In the end I feel like I was safe, supported, and able to stay present. I now suggest hiring a doula to anyone who will listen and happy recommend Leona! 

Rita

12/8/2020

I met Leona in my childbirth education class. I was struck by her empowering optimism, it was the perfect match for my anxiety. Leona helped me prepare for labor and when it finally started, I spent 2 1/2 days texting Leona until my husband couldn't stay awake and we called Leona to join us. I developed a hot spot of terrible pain that would plague the remaining 40 hours of labor at home, the birth center, and the hospital. Leona worked through her own exhaustion to help me relieve the pain and keep labor progressing. 

Eventually, I decided to go to the hospital for pitocin. Luckily, Leona had helped me prepare. In September of 2020 hospitals were separating babies from their mothers if COVID was suspected. Leona helped me find an Informed Refusal document just in case. She also helped me write a birth plan that I was able to give to the new team that would be attending my birth since my midwife couldn't come due to COVID. Most important to me was having procedures clearly explained and explicit consent given. There's no way I could have articulated that in labor, but it was in my birth plan so my new team knew exactly how to communicate with me. 

In the hospital it was another 17 hours. Leona brought us groceries; the honey sticks and coconut water really hit the spot. Eventually, the baby showed signs of distress and we decided to have a c-section. Leona helped us kick everyone out so we could have a moment alone. And in the weeks after she followed up with postpartum tips.

Leona couldn't make Covid go away or make my body respond to labor any certain way, but she helped me navigate some truly scary decisions at a time when I was very vulnerable and during a global pandemic. So, if you're looking for someone who will empower you to make decisions, who will help you find peace and grace in your birth story, and who can help provide you with strength when you feel you're running out, then Leona is the doula for you. 

Grace Malecha

3/27/2020

When my husband and I started planning for labor and delivery, we weren't sure we needed a doula, but we decided to meet with a few candidates because my due date was coming up. When we met Leona, we liked her calm, easy-going personality. I planned to have an unmedicated birth, so we decided it would be nice to have someone in the room with knowledge and experience who could help with pain management and keep us calm.

During the prenatal visits, we were impressed with Leona’s level of knowledge, and we felt comfortable talking with her about sensitive topics. As my due date approached, I was scheduled for an induction because of hypertension. When the day arrived, Leona met us at the hospital. For the first several hours not much was happening, but Leona stayed with us the whole time. She helped explain things, kept us calm, and even got food for my husband. We were very grateful to have her there. 

Around 2am I began active labor, and Leona and my husband worked as a team to get me through each contraction. In this intense part of labor, I didn’t want to move, but Leona knew that laying in the hospital bed was not the best position for managing the contractions. She encouraged me to move and gave suggestions for different positions that would help manage the pain and move things along. I would not have made it through an unmedicated delivery without her help and support. She helped keep me going and stay in control of myself. I gave birth to my daughter after 20 minutes of pushing, during which time Leona and my husband stood on either side of me, supporting me the whole time.

A few days after we got home from the hospital, Leona came to check in and talk about the birth. It was very helpful to have this "debriefing session" after having a few days to process. Hiring Leona was the single best decision we made in preparing for labor and birth. We cannot thank her enough; she was an invaluable part of our care team.

Sarah Lawrence-Lupton

2/19/2020

We hired Leona at the recommendation of a friend who is also a  doula.   I had a very complicated pregnancy and knew that I would need a doula with high risk experience to anchor me in this stressful experience.  When we met Leona we told her about our struggles and worries and were very impressed with her experience and gentle confidence in helping us get through this.  She met us before our birth to answer questions, think through best ways to support us given all possible outcomes and make good suggestions about preparing for our birth and hosiptal stay.  I did develop pre eclampsia with severe features and had to deliver via c section 6 weeks early.  When we were informed we had to go to the hospital to deliver we were also turned away because our hospital's NICU was already full.  We called Leona scared and confused about where to go, getting little help from our doctor or insurance plan.  Leona went to work researching options and found an excellent alternative within an hour of our call.  Her effort in this was nothing short of heroic and we will be forever grateful just for this help.  She arrived early the next morning to help us think through the day and offered wonderful comfort and anchoring during my c section; she also managed to grab a barf bag before surgery just in time, even before the excellent nurse saw it coming!  She captured some very special first pictures of us and our beautiful son, gave me gentle neck massages as the surgery finished up and helped me advocate for my needs during all of this.   She visited us in the hospital to talk through the experience and brought lactation tea. She met with us again at home and gave me some exercizes and resources to help with the post partum experience.  We will recommend Leona to anyone looking for a doula.  She's very knowledgeable, gentle and navigates both the hosptal and anxious parents with such grace and wisdom.  

Mackenzie Stodola

12/29/2019

Since we were having our second child, I wasn't sure we needed a doula this time. I thought we would probably be able to handle it on our own, but I was so wrong! Hiring Leona to be our doula was such a great decision for our family. She was able to meet us right where we were. She listened and tailored her services exactly to what we needed....of course we had done this before but what would it be like this time? What would it be like adding an infant to a family with a toddler, what did I want or not want this time that was different from my previous birth... Leona made sure we were prepared for our prenatal, birth and postpartum needs. She was quick to respond anytime I had a question or concerned. She kept me on track and encouraged me with positive self talk throughout my pregnancy and birth. Leona has endless resources and if she doesn't know the answer, she finds it. To say she goes above and beyond is an understatement. I knew immediately upon meeting her that she would be the right fit for myself and our growing family, and I would recommend her for any mother looking for someone she can trust and count on. 

Alex Groten

11/22/2019

Leona was an important part of our birthing team. Being new to the birth experience, our sessions prior to labor were helpful as we prepared fully for the big day. Leona was supportive and accessible any time we needed her and provided many extra resources based on our conversations. Her communication was excellent and checked in regularly during the final weeks of pregnancy. On the day of our baby’s birth, our plan changed considerably due to medical complications. Leona was there every step of the way to support us and be an objective voice while we made many new decisions, in a different environment than we had originally imagined.  Leona also looked out for my birthing partner,  giving helpful suggestions, and reminders of essentials like eating during long labor. She made us feel more confident in our new plan and worked super well with our care team too. It was also helpful to debrief with her days after we came home from the hospital, and provided more resources for the postpartum phase. We felt very supported in every part of our journey and would gladly work with Leona in the future!

Mickenzie Rodriguez

10/23/2019

There are not enough good things I can say about my experience with Leona! I met Leona through my birth center, Health Foundations, and hiring her as my doula was one of the best decisions of my pregnancy.  Our first meeting with Leona was for coffee, and after speaking with her for 20 minutes my husband and I hired her on the spot! We met with Leona two more times before my birth and she was so prepared, coming with literature for me to read, exercises for me to do, and also a wealth of knowledge for any questions I may have had. The relationship that we built before my baby arrived was invaluable, I trusted her and I felt safe with her, and as a first time mom that was so important to me! My husband and I agreed that Leona was the reason that I was able to progress so fast at home after my labor seemed to be stalling. She knew exactly what to do to get my contractions to come hard and fast and after about 3 hours we were ready to go to Health Foundations so I could have the water birth that I wanted! My birth experience was everything that I had wanted and I am so thankful that I had Leona there by my side. She was so amazing and I would hire her again for all of my babies to come! Thank you so much Leona, you will always be like family to us!

Michelle Zwiefelhofer

9/14/2019

Leona was our doula for the birth of our first child. From our first initial meeting through labor, birth and postpartum, she was supportive, calm and comforting. Leona was an invaluable presence and resource for our family. 

Leona provided prenatal education and support in the form of multiple in person meetings at our home. She prompted us with thought provoking questions about what we wanted and hoped birth would look like, and gave suggestions to help us prepare. 

She calmly provided support in our home while I labored and gave my husband a much deserved break. It took the pressure off of my husband to know that the two of them could tag team supporting me. After laboring at home, Leona knew when the time was right to drive to the birth location. 

We had taken a birth class and generally had an idea of what we were supposed to do but Leona's experience was essential. She gave multiple suggestions, encouragement and guidance through the entire birth. She also reminded us to eat and stay hydrated.

Leona provided a postpartum support through quick text check ins as well as a home visit. 

We are so thankful for her support and would absolutely hire Leona again!