Yael M.

2/21/2024

My experience with Lynn was incredible. She is both professional and personal, as well as patient, kind, encouraging, communicative, and generous with her time. Truly everything you could want in a doula and I felt so safe with her by my side. The hospital staff also appreciated her a lot and she worked very well with my nurse. I highly recommend working with her. 

Amy Ward

12/17/2023

I have worked with Lynn in delivering both of my children.   Lynn is highly organized, calm and supportive.  We felt well prepared for the childbirth experience both times, knowing that we had Lynn in our corner - particularly in preparing for our first child in the middle of the pandemic.  I would not hesitate to recommend Lynn to other prospective parents.

Jackie Marks Smith

11/29/2023

Lynn was exactly the type of doula I was looking for -- endless experience, calming presence, well-versed in the evidence, and ready to partner with both me and my husband to bring my child into the world. Lynn helped me feel empowered going into birth and supported during the postpartum period. A few months before our due date she came to our home to meet us and spend several hours talking through the childbirth experience, birth preferences, etc.  Soon after we had a virtual breastfeeding lesson with her where she taught be the basics of what I'd need to know to start our breastfeeding journey (no one else really teaches you the essentials - it's a shame, but this type of lesson is necessary!). During the final weeks of birth we were in touch after each of my prenatal visits, and ultimately when my water broke Lynn was available to me at all hours of the day and night to navigate each choice and step in the process. Once in the hospital Lynn quickly stepped into action to help provide comfort measures as I labored , and coached me through my choices each step of the way. Once my daughter arrived, Lynn stayed with us for the first hour and made sure our breastfeeding journey was off to a good start. She also captured some of the most memorable photos/videos from my daughter's first moments of life. During the first few weeks (even months!) of postpartum, I texted or called Lynn with breastfeeding questions and concerns - she was always there to either provide support or direct me to someone who could help. 

Doulas and lactation consultants (and with Lynn, you're lucky enough to get both!) are incredibly special people who support new moms and are there for our most vulnerable and unforgettable moments - I'll always cherish Lynn's presence at my daughter's birth and her support before/after. 

Yidan Yan

10/30/2023

Working with Lynn is the single best choice we’ve made during our pregnancy. We knew we have lucked out when we first met her in the interview - she’s so calming, empathetic and professional. With Lynn’s help I was able to have an unmedicated birth and achieve exclusive breastfeeding afterwards. And I’m not even a very strong person who set their mind to do a natural birth - I was just so empowered with Lynn’s help that I somehow made it without much sweat. And let me tell you something - the endorphins during a natural birth is real. I was literally high during my birth and several days afterwards. It was a dreamlike experience on a Tuesday when the hospital is so full that there’s really not so much support everywhere. The same goes to my breastfeeding journey, both my mom/grandma has never been able to exclusively breastfeed (or breastfeed at all) and I was so skeptical about my ability to do that. But Lynn’s lesson before birth have given me all the right knowledge and empowerment that I was able to do that several days after birth, with me having COVID in between/working with an anti-breast milk nanny. So I guess it’s safe to say that Lynn has fundamentally changed the way I look at myself as a first time mother and blessed me with an experience that I can be proud of my whole life. I’m now blessed with a very happy child, a healthy postpartum body and a super meaningful birth memory, all credits to Lynn’s continuous support and dedication. 

Kay M

6/30/2023

Lynn is well known in the community and by far the greatest asset to bring onto your birthing team. Midwives across the board in NY and NJ sing her praises, and we were so impressed to discover that she‘s not only a doula but also a childbirth educator and lactation consultant. From the first consultation we immediately felt at ease and could tell that she spoke from many years of experience (almost 1k births!). I could not have managed a natural birth without her - we are so incredibly grateful to Lynn for her talent, heart, generosity, expertise and all it took to carry us through. Thank you!

Tori H.

4/28/2023

Lynn's breadth of knowledge, patience, and care is unmatched. She provided me with so much information, answered any questions that came up, and helped me navigate through the entire experience with compassion and understanding. I don't know how I would have done it without her <3

Kyleigh Sackandy

3/25/2023

Lynn supported me at every step of my pregnancy, labor, delivery, and onward. Since our first phone conversation she listened, without judgement, to my history, conerns, and anticipations. She provided me with an abundance of information that I could take in at my own pace. She consistently checked in with me after my OB appointments and talked me through  recommended interventions. She never pushed me towards one perspective, but provided me with concrete information and shared her past experiences, so that i felt fully informed to make my own educated decision about my birth story. When it came time to labor and deliver my baby, Lynn helped me through each step, advocated for me, and helped me feel completely in charge of my birthing experience. After the birth, Lynn helped ensure baby and I were on the right track with breastfeeding and helped me to process my birthing experience. She played such a special role for me and I highly recommend her as a part of a birth team.

Sharon

1/16/2022

Lynn's 18 years of experience and over 700 births and patience counts. Giving birth during COVID was so stressful and she was the highlight. She put me at ease because she was positive and focused on how I felt emotionally, physically and psychological. She stayed by my side and tended to me during the hours long birth. (Medical staff and nurses have other patients to tend to. ) It was great to have someone focus on how I felt in my time of need and vulnerability. She was worth every penny. 

Tim H and Lea R

1/2/2022

Lynn was the doula for the birth of our first child in December 2021. It's difficult for us to overstate how amazing Lynn was throughout the entire process. From our first meeting to her final postnatal checkin with us, we felt that we had a true partner helping guide and support us through the pregnancy. She was an integral part of our birth and the experience would not have felt anywhere near as wonderful or empowering as it was without her.  

Lynn is insanely responsive and communicative. In the weeks leading up to labor day and after, she was great about checking in, and was massively helpful in answering our (numerous!) questions about every aspect of the pregnancy. She provided us with a wealth of informational material that clearly reflects her deep experience and thoughtful curation. 

During labor, Lynn is a steady and indefatigable ally to have in your corner. She helped to keep us focused and was a constant source of support and encouragement. She helped us make challenging calls about when and what labor tactics to try, and was an invaluable advisor around the progress of the labor. 

In short, Lynn brings an intelligent, sensitive, practical, and deeply experienced approach to pregnancy and birth. We were incredibly lucky to have her support and hope you have the chance to work with her, too. Hugely recommended.

Kelli Capka

12/22/2021

We could not have made it through 30+ hours of labor without Lynn. She helped provide support and hope when we were deep in the trenches, and she fully supported birth the way I had envisioned it. I would recommend her for all first time parents, or second time or higher parents! Her experience is unmatched, and her stamina is astounding. 

Joy C.

11/30/2021

As a doula, Lynn is prepared, supportive and comforting. Lynn provided me with calmness and comfort during my very long and difficult labor. She was very prepared with supplies that helped me during and immediately after labor. Lynn's wisdom and supportive nature were very appreciated by both myself and my husband during our daughter's birth. 

Rachel Madison

11/12/2021

Lynn provided invaluable support and encouragement throughout my labor with our second daughter. When I went into labor, the doula I had used previously was unable to attend the birth since another of her clients was in labor at the same time. I was disappointed at first, but when I met Lynn a few hours later I knew I was in good hands. She gave just the right amount of guidance and physical touch without being overbearing or intrusive. Her commendation reassured me that I was making progress. Lynn has a warm yet professional disposition that put my husband and I at ease and made for a wonderful birth experience!

Elise

11/2/2021

We met Lynn for the first time in our labor and delivery room in an unexpected turn of events when I went into labor 5 weeks early. Lynn was experienced, prepared and extremely knowledgable, helping to keep us calm peaceful throughout the entire labor process and allowing us to trust our intuiton. With Lynn's help in positioning and techniques, we were able to progress to full dilation without the need of an epidural and when it came time to push, she helped us through some frustrating stalls in labor, assuring us all was just as it should be and thinking of new ideas and tips to get us through it. Thanks to Lynn's incredible support, my delivery experience was a dream and I can't imagine having done it without her at our side. 

Anoosh N. Zain

10/28/2021

There aren't sufficient words to express my gratitude to Lynn. From the very first phone call, I sensed calmness, comfort & positivity from her voice. My favorite part about her process was going through my concerns, expectations & needs beforehand; this provided a better understanding for her & also allowed me to introspect & prepare myself mentally. We discussed ways to calm me through contractions. We also went over my own fears. Talking through those possibilities, Lynn reassured me that she would make sure I was as comfortable as possible. As someone with fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue, we discussed my need to conserve energy for pushing & thus, the need for an epidural. People think they don't encourage epidurals, but that's not true. Lynn helped me so much before I got my epidural & supported me 100%. She advised I slept once I got the pain relief, & that's what I did. During my 30+ labor, I took several naps & felt quite strong when the time to push came. Since this was my first pregnancy, Lynn helped me recognize labor pains as well. And once it was getting difficult she came over and helped me through the contractions with the double hip squeeze method, walking me around, whispering calming thoughts, reminding me to breathe. Once at the hospital, she helped me into different positions to push things along and guided us with all the medical jargon. Having her advocate for me strengthed my morale throughout. Last but not the least, Lynn is also a lactation consultant. She explained how to get a good latch beforehand, & helped us after the baby's birth & to-date guides me through my BF challenges. For a new mother, BF can be daunting & Lynn's knowledge equips one to learn this new skill. I could really go on & on about how helpful, supportive, knowledgeable & comforting Lynn is. In short, Lynn is all you could need in a Doula & so much more!

Laura

7/17/2021

I really enjoyed having Lynn as my doula, she is extremely experienced and was a valuable resource during pregnancy and was a calming presence throughout the whole labor. My husband also appreciated having her guidance. Would definitely recommend working with Lynn!

Molly and Dan

6/12/2021

We are so happy we hired Lynn! From our very first conversation, I knew that she would be a perfect fit for helping us through our daughter's birth. She is so knowledgeable and completely supportive of any decision you make in connection with your labor. Birth is unpredictable and it was so valuable to have a calm advocate in the room. She has a way of always knowing what would be helpful at every moment. We are so thankful!

Caroline

6/11/2021

I am SO GRATEFUL I had Lynn by my side as I prepared for birth, labored and delivered, and managed postpartum. As a first time mother I had my fair share of anxieties and questions and Lynn never wavered in her confidence and belief in me. She was always prompt in answering my questions and gentle and cheerful in tone. She is up-to-date on the newest research and evidence. She views birth as something to be trusted and embraced, rather than feared. She spent hours of her time chatting with me and my husband (and petting the cat!) and made us feel safe and taken care of. When the time came to call her for delivery she was with us NONSTOP. From begininng to very end she was present, calm, and confident. I cannot express to you how important that was for me. I can look back on my birth with joy and complete peace, knowing that I was in control of my process, looked after, and trusted... and that was all thanks to Lynn!

Lindsay

6/8/2021

Thank god for Lynn! She was there for me during endless braxton hicks contractions. My nonstop text messages and panic were always answered with calm and clear direction. I was so grateful for her support. And of course, her support during labor and delivery was vital. I can't recommend her enough!

Elizabeth Heisler

4/11/2021

The first smart decision we ever made as parents was hiring Lynn to be our Doula. This was our first labor but not my first pregnancy and so after many years of trying and many losses we knew we wanted to have an expert by our sides who could support us emotionally and provide us the education we felt we needed to be prepared for when the big day finally arrived. Lynn met and surpassed all of our expectations. She presented fact-based information in a nonjudgmental  way, empowering us to make informed decisions for ourselves. She spent hours preparing us for what to expect, listening to our desires and providing us emotional support and coaching. By the time the big day came snd we called for her to come over and labor with us at home before we got to the hospital we felt like we had not only gained a friend but a new member of our family. Her support as a lactation consultant is invaluable. She goes above and beyond, even today, providing encouraging text messages checking in to see the progress of the baby, and being a sound source of support no matter the day, time, or topic. We don't have any other Doulas to compare her to but my heartfelt feeling is that Lynn is incomparable.

Ziv K

3/23/2021

I wanted to express my appreciation and gratitude for your presence at the birth. Can’t imagine what it would have been like without you there. For certain my wife would not have had the birth she’s dreamed of. I’m so grateful.

Olivia

3/17/2021

Where do I even begin? From our very first conversation Lynn was just stellar- highly communicative, responsive, caring, and most importantly a champion and advocate for me and the type of birth experience I wanted. Despite my pregnancy being very normal, she checked in with me regularly providing advice and answering questions that I had. Once I went into labor, that's really where the fun kicked in.... She was with me every step (literally every step) of the way for a full 36 hour, unmedicated labor. She held my hand and kept me up through what felt like thousands of contractions, culminating in the birth of my beautiful baby boy. When I look back on my birth journey, I know without a doubt that I could not have done it without Lynn by my side. Thank you so much for your unwavering support! 

Katya C.

3/11/2021

As a doula, Lynn is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and loving. When I reflect on my labor, I really appreciate the level of care, attention, and guidance that I received. Moreover, my skeptical husband found Lynn's presence in the delivery room to be essential; he says that our labor experience without her would be extremely tough, particularly because in the moment he forgot everything we learned in the childbirth class a few weeks prior :-). Lynn's mountain of knowledge does not end in the delivery room; she assisted me in establishing a latch with my baby an hour after the delivery and continued to answer my questions and concerns months thereafter. If I could use three words to describe Lynn's support, they would be exceptional, caring, and knowledgeable. 

We are extremely grateful to have found Lynn and cannot wait to guide us through birth of baby number 2 when the time comes.

Thank you, Lynn.

Katya, Stephan, and baby Sebastian.

Zarin

11/6/2020

Lynn was our doula for the birth of our first baby and I highly recommend her!  From early on, I really feel like we clicked- she was straightforward, informative, funny, and very responsive via email/text.  She provided loving support through my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period.  When I went into labor, I learned that my OB wasn't on call and that I'd have a new, slightly difficult doctor-- thankfully Lynn knew this doctor and was able to give me tips on how to deal with them effectively.

She has a soothing presence and was always there to help both me and my husband feel as comfortable as possible, and was incredibly helpful during the first few crazy days of breastfeeding.  Our few days in the hospital were the happiest days of our lives thanks to Lynn!

Zarin

11/6/2020

Lynn was our doula for the birth of our first baby and I highly recommend her!  From early on, I really feel like we clicked- she was straightforward, informative, funny, and very responsive via email/text.  She provided loving support through my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period.  When I went into labor, I learned that my OB wasn't on call and that I'd have a new, slightly difficult doctor-- thankfully Lynn knew this doctor and was able to give me tips on how to deal with them effectively.

She has a soothing presence and was always there to help both me and my husband feel as comfortable as possible, and was incredibly helpful during the first few crazy days of breastfeeding.  Our few days in the hospital were the happiest days of our lives thanks to Lynn!

Trevor Emmitt

11/2/2020

Lynn was incredibly helpful and caring throughout the entire process of the birth of our first child. I truly am not sure what we would have done without her. Lynn filled in a lot of the blanks for us as first time parents in the month leading up to the birth, and then was with us for nearly 24 hours of labor on the big day! She was somehow able to make my wife comfortable and confident through a very uncertain time, offering suggestions and guidance that made a difference throughout. We were thrilled to have Lynn by our side throughout the magical day and would heartily recommend her to any parents that wish to have a loving guide through the birthing process. 

Vlada Yaneva

10/28/2020

Having Lynn at our second birth was so helpful - her calm presence, experienced touch and understanding of the hospital system created a comforting, safe space for this magical moment in our lives. Additionally I have benefited from and enjoyed so much being able to continuously reach out postpartum and get immediate advice on breastfeeding! Thank you Lynn for your warm presence and wisdom! 

Amy

10/22/2020

Although we were skeptical at first about doulas and the nature of the services they provide, we eventually understood how valuable they can be in providing evidence-based support and guidance during pregnancy and labor and delivery, especially for anxious first-time parents like us, delivering in the middle of a pandemic, in a city with no access to immediate family and close friends for additional support.  Working with Lynn turned out to be one of the best decisions that we made during the pregnancy. Lynn helped us feel confident and as prepared as we could be for the delivery and the immediate postpartum period. We appreciated her evidence-based approach drawing upon her extensive experience, her kindness and her patience in addressing our many (many) questions and concerns, and simply knowing that she was part of our support team.

Although our labor and delivery ultimately progressed much more quickly than we had anticipated, with a very short stay in the L&D hospital ward, we valued her assistance in figuring out whether what we were experiencing was normal, when to head to the hospital and what to expect, and she remained a calm, professional and reassuring presence when we got there.  As a new mother, I found the additional support and attention to my needs particularly helpful in the highly medicalized Manhattan hospital environment, where the delivery process is naturally focused on achieving a safe and efficient delivery.  Lynn ensured that the hospital staff paid attention to the preferences in our birth plan (cord cutting, mirrors etc.), that my husband and I had the support and encouragement that we needed to get through it, and discretely captured the moment when we first met our son with some wonderful photos.

I would not hesitate to recommend Lynn to other families that are considering hiring a birth doula, particularly in these stressful times.  We hope that we can work together again.

Tracy

10/17/2020

Lynn was our doula for the birth of both of our boys and I recommend her completely. She is knowledgeable, experienced, calm and completely supportive of YOUR birth experience. She doesn't believe there's one "right" way to go through childbirth and I found that very helpful. Lynn worked seamlessly with my OB/GYN who was also very impressed with Lynn. Unfortunately I ended up having a C-section and Lynn easily pivoted and supported me throughout, making what could have felt like a scary and sterile experience feel very warm and safe. A last note of support is one I didn't expect - the support for my husband. He has remarked on several occasions that he was so happy to have had Lynn with us. He felt very nervous in an unknown situation and having Lynn to support us took that pressure off him so he could just be there emotionally for me. I would recommend Lynn wholeheartedly! 

Yuri Jang

3/26/2020

Having Lynn Christensen as my doula was one of the best choices I made for my pregnancy and birth of my baby girl.  Even after 6 months, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have had Lynn as my doula when I refer back to modern child-rearing approaches and theories by doctors and authors she recommended.

She was organized, professional, knowledgeable, and always supportive and present for me throughout my pregnancy, and afterwards as well!  Lynn was a god-send when I went into labor nearly 2 months early without a single bottle, blanket, or birth-class under my belt.  Even though I was sure it was false labor, Lynn met me at my hospital and helped me navigate the medical jargon, process, and psychological shock of giving birth to a premature baby.  Her calming presence, pain managment techniques, and expertise in childbirth gave me confidence and eased my fears and pain during my dramatic labor story.  

Lynn helped me know what to ask for from my doctors and medical team, including getting a hospital breast pump immediately after giving birth.  She also emphasized the importance of building up my breast-milk supply, which I had no clue to do at the time.  Thanks to her advice and ongoing support, I was able to establish a strong milk supply and breast-feed my early baby.  I consider my baby's healthy start in nutrition, growth, and care strongly due to Lynn's amazing support.  I will always remember how Lynn's guidance made an immeasurable difference in my daughter's birth success. 

Lauren

3/23/2020

I can't sing Lynn's praises loudly enough. She was the captain of my birth team. I'm in awe of her loving and calming energy, her intelligence, and her ability to navigate complex situations with ease. Thanks to Lynn, my birth was more empowering and beautiful than I could've ever imagined.

During pregnancy, she encouraged me to follow my intuition & helped me switch providers. Birth can be intimidating, but Lynn always seems to know exactly what to say. Her experience and anecdotes made me feel excited and prepared. She'd remember the smallest details from our last phone call ("How was your glucose test?"), and never made me feel like my questions were unimportant ("What kind of outfit do newborns wear at night in the early fall?"). She helped us think through the implications of the various options for our birth plan. As my birth approached, it was so comforting to know that Lynn was a phone call away. She was truly on call, staying up-to-date about my changing symptoms and feelings.

When I noticed early labor signs, I took out the "when to call your doula" handout from Lynn's information-packed binder, and knew just what to do. When she picked up the phone, I was instantly at ease. Lynn checked in regularly, talking me through changing sensations and helping us decide when to go to the hospital. Thanks to Lynn, I was able to comfortably do the majority of labor at home like I'd hoped.

During birth, Lynn massaged me, dabbed me with cool towels, fed me, & helped keep the room dark and quiet like I had requested. She told me repeatedly how awesome I was doing, and helped my husband feel confident and involved. She worked compatibly with my midwife and nurses, helping to maintain continuity. Ultimately, I had the natural water birth of my dreams. Several months postpartum, she still checks on me regularly, and even when we haven't talked in a while, I feel like a Warrior Mama knowing she's forever in my corner.

Nicole Dundon

3/23/2020

Lynn was our doula for our second pregnancy. I was planning on having a VBAC and quite anxious about it. Lynn really took the time to help my husband and I come up with a great birth plan and I always felt like she had my back. From the second she came to our home when I was in labour, up until our daughter was born, Lynn was amazing. She made herself available to us and never left my side. She encouraged me in my time of doubt and was more of a support than we could have asked for. We are truly blessed to know her.

Jen Gsell

3/10/2020

We can't thank Lynn enough for her incredible support and guidance in helping us bring our daughter into the world! Lynn calmly answered our questions and talked through any fears we had as first time parents before labor, and then when game-time came, she was a critically important piece to our puzzle. I was induced at a major NYC hospital and had a long and challenging labor, so it was such a relief to have Lynn's expert advice and calming presence. I knew I could trust Lynn if I asked things like- is this normal? what comes next? what do you think? And she always responded in a gentle and caring manner while helping us navigate labor and make the right decisions for our family. Breastfeeding was a bit of a hurdle for us, and I appreciated Lynn's expert advice with that as well. Additionally we will always cherish the amazing birth photos she took, and the beautiful labor write-up, which was full of all the details that had become one big sleep deprived blur. Lynn, we are so grateful we met you and that you were with us for this momentus life experience, thanks a million! 

Marisa

2/12/2020

We used Lynn as our doula for the birth of our daughter Zoe and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I was hesitant to hire a doula but after speaking with Lynn I knew she would make the birth process much smoother and more comfortable - and I was definitely right! I had a challenging delivery and having Lynn by my side in addition to my husband made it so much better. She is truly caring and extremely knowledgeable and provides a sense of comfort that is so important during the labor and birth process. While everyone else is focused solely on the baby, it was so great to have Lynn who was there for me before, during and after the birth. I can’t imagine having gone through this without her!

Jennifer Scharf

4/9/2019

We heard about Lynn from a friend so we decided to give her a call. From the first time we interacted with her, up until the day my daughter was born, Lynn has been a huge support for my family and I. She is extremely knowledgeable, caring, calm, and made the entire labor process (which was pretty bad for me) manageable. She was the only person in the hospital I was calm with and was able to talk to and listen to. Her presence is calming, warm, and very soothing. Even my husband found comfort in having her there with us. She answered any questions I had, and was always available to me if I ever needed anything. I have to admit, I am a pretty difficult and anxious person, but somehow Lynn was the one person I was able to talk to and having her by my side for the birth of my child was the absolute best decision I ever made. I can't thank her enough for her support through the entire process!

Lauren C

4/7/2019

Lynn was invaluable to me during my pregnancy and delivery. I found Lynn when I was around 36 weeks pregnant and knew after one phone call she was the doula for me.  I hadn't otherwise prepared for labor and delivery or breastfeeding and after one visit to my home Lynn empowered me to know that I could get through it all - I wasn't quite as anxious after knowing that Lynn was part of my labor and delivery team! She is warm, informed and calm - her knowledge makes you feel like no matter what your delivery brings, you will have someone there who will help you navigate it all and ensure that you are the ultimate decision-maker.  She also provides you with a wealth of reading materials and goodies which were all very useful.  On the day of my son's birth, Lynn gave me the confidence and support I needed to deliver my son the way that I wanted to and I can't thank her enough for that.  I labored at home and Lynn joined me and my husband and mom as soon as I expressed that I needed her there.  She reassured all of us that I could continue to labor at home (and had she not been there, I probably would have gone to the hospital a lot earlier and likely ended up with a different delivery story!).  When we decided to go to the hopsital Lynn continued to help me feel empowered to make my own decisions about when to be admitted and how to progress in my labor.  Ultimately with her support and calming presence I was able to have the unmedicated delivery that I was hoping for after initially thinking I would need an epidural.  Lynn also captured incredible photos of the moments after my son's birth - moments that I am so grateful to have memorialized.  I would absolutely recommend Lynn to anyone looking for a doula - she truly contributes to your delivery story in such a positive way, and in the end I could not feel better about the way my son was welcomed into the world!  Thanks Lynn!

Snigdha Diehl

12/4/2018

Lynn is a wealth of knowledge that my husband and I needed when having our first baby. We chose to have one of her plans for support before, during and after the birth and were grateful for that. Before the birth, she came to our home for two sessions where she walked us through what to expect with the birth, medications and procedures used by doctors, and studies/research/scientific evidence to consider for each procedure and medication. I learned a lot so I could make informed decisions for my baby. Lynn had worked with my OB practice and chosen hospital many times before, so she knew the ins and outs. For example, what the delivery and recovery rooms were like and what to prepare.

I had gestational diabetes and was scheduled for induction at 40 weeks. I had an induction massage 3 days before that and went into labor that evening. Lynn was available on the phone while i started having contractions. When my water broke she was available to meet me in the hospital. She was there while i had terrible nausea, vomited several times, and talked me through what was happening calmly when the doctor was delayed or was pushing for drugs. I ended up having an umedicated birth even though I wasn't planning for this. I was able to do most of the labor at home with Lynn on call, and was already 8 cm dilated at the hospital. I had a complication after the delivery and Lynn was helpful with letting me know about what to monitor afterward. She was helpful in connecting me with a lactation consultant when I was having breastfeeding challenges. I am happy to say that I was able to breastfeed exclusively until 6 months and after that keep breastfeeding with introducing solids for 1+ year.

Lynn is in high demand so I would suggest booking in advance. I would highly recommend having a doula especially if you want to have a natural birth and breastfeed and Lynn is very knowledgable and experienced. Thank you so much Lynn!

Tzivya Kraus

8/28/2018

Lynn was our family's doula for the marathon birth of our son, 42 weeks ago.

Lynn was a remarkable source of strength, information, compassion, humor, mothering, love, coaching, wisdom, and support throughout the entire pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period.

As a longtime doula myself, I have always understood the importance and value of having a doula by one's side, and Lynn proved that a million times over! I felt so comforted having her accompany us through the experience, and she has significantly enriched our lives forever!

Knowing that our doula was there to support us both emotionally, while also expertly supporting my wife physically, Lynn gave me the freedom to experience the birth of my son as a wife and mother, rather than as a professional.

My (rockstar, birth goddess) wife endured a grueling labor, with a protracted pitocin induction, 2 failed epidurals, 6 hours of pushing, an attempt at forceps, and an eventual cesaraean birth. We were so lucky to have Lynn there with us for those 2 long days!

Lynn was a rock for us both through the labor, and continued to be a major support postpartum. She excelled at establishing and troubleshooting breastfeeding thanks to her advanced training.

Her binder of materials, and gifts of baby onesie, and a special treat of birth photography and placenta prints (!) were bonuses on top of Lynn's invaluable service.

I cannot recommend Lynn enough, and you'd be lucky to have her!

Elizabeth Cate

5/17/2018

Lynn supported us through the birth of our first child, and we were so grateful for her calm presence and assistance. Lynn demystified the childbirth process for us and provided caring assistance every step of the way through a fast-moving and turbulent labor. She has also been very helpful with nursing questions during the first year of our daughter's life. I can't recommend her highly enough!

Lisa Anzelmo

5/6/2018

Choosing a doula can feel like a completely overwhelming task. For my husband and I, we wanted someone with experience—but someone who wasn’t so experienced that they were jaded and “over it”; someone who would help guide us—but not take so much charge that they would take over “our" experience. We wanted someone who we both felt equally comfortable with, and, although not a deal breaker, we preferred them to be familiar with our delivery team. For us, Lynn Christensen ticked off all these boxes.

Ultimately, two things that are in short supply during labor are calm and patience. Lynn provided us with both of those to lead us through our (uncharacteristically long) 38-hour labor! In the end, our delivery didn’t go according to plan, but she helped guide us through the unforeseen roadblocks. As first-time parents, we found both comfort and answers in Lynn’s experience, making our extra-long and sometimes scary process a little more manageable.

Where Lynn has proved herself even more valuable, though, has been her insight post-birth. Being new parents, there have been numerous occasions where we still find ourselves leaning on Lynn’s extensive knowledge, as well as that calm and patience. It has been comforting and reassuring to know that some of the answers to the puzzling world of newborns have been just a text or phone call away. In the end, it wasn’t just Mike and myself that benefited from having Lynn as our doula, but our sweet new daughter as well!

Thank you from the three of us!

--Lisa, Michael, and Abigail

Polina Slavin

5/1/2018

Was so glad to have Lynn by my side for the birth of my second child. With my mother being 3000 miles away, her support was even more tremendous. She guided me through my labor and provided the support i needed to get as far as possible without interventions which was very important to me.

Lindsay Averbach

4/19/2018

I fully and highly recommend Lynn! My mother gifted me with a doula to assist me with my second birth, that we’d Hoped would be a VBAC. i Didn’t even have to meet Lynn in person before knowing that she was the perfect support for me; I literally hired her after a phone conversation. Something that made me certain I had picked the right doula was when she told me that the decisions are between me and my doctor, and she will support whatever we choose (A direct contrast to somebody else I spoke with that claimed my doctor shouldn’t have sectioned me with my first child.) Lynn made it clear that her role was to support me, advocate for me, and calm me down-in a completely non-judge mental fashion.

Lynn was vital  to me during my third trimester, as I knew I could text, call or email her with any question or concern I was having. She never gave *only* her opinion, but always research and evidence based facts. I so appreciated that as it allowed me to trust her answer as proven! She was also ALWAYS patient and kind while allieviating many of my worries.

Additionly, Lynn supported me with my breastfeeding journey. I really had nobody to turn to with breastfeeding questions, as  I am one of the first woman in my family who wanted to try it. Having someone to help with latch and The pain during those initial first weeks was priceless.

One last thing I’d like to add-both my husband and I believe that because Lynn was with us at the hospital, the nursikh staff went above and beyond. they knew that Lynn was a pro- and that she would notice anything amiss. A nurse even commented to me how helpful Lynn was.

seriously- look no further than Lynn for your doula. even For a scheduled c section I could see value in having Lynn there.

larae bryant

4/11/2018

When I think about Lynn’s Doula support, I can only best describe it as Life Changing for our family. You never can plan or control how the natural process of bringing a child into the world will be. You can only make informed decisions and try to keep in mind your hopes for your birth preferences along the way. Lynn was our partner, our rock, our strength all along the way for the birth of our daughter. We were able to make every decision with confidence with her help. Every fear was subsided with her by our side. Lynn anticipated our needs before we knew we had them. I guess hundreds of birth experiences, as Lynn has, gives you the depth of experience to be able to do that.
Our birth was especially long. Lynn sure does have stamina! She was with us all the while. We also had a lot of decisions to make. Some of which we didn’t anticipate having to make, but were right decisions. That we were able to take that journey with confidence, made our birth experience completely beautiful. It was a story we will always cherish and celebrate. We owe so much of this to Lynn and her very unique abilities. She is a gifted, beautiful, highly intelligent, comforting and positive woman. She comes with our highest recommendations for birth support!

Sharon B Goldfarb

4/9/2018

Lynn was great. I knew when we spoke on the phone and then met in person at our first meeting that she was what I wanted. She was honest and kind. I had alot of questions and she put me at ease to feel free to ask whatever I wanted to know and she could share from her extensive experience. A friend of mine had used her and my friend had a difficult birth in the past and with Lynn had a smooth birth. Lynn was professional and warm so I knew she would work well as part of my healthcare team. In the end, my doctor insisted on scheduling an induction and giving pitocin and then left and returned for the pushing- so I was so glad that I had Lynn. Lynn was patient and did counter pressure on my back and legs which helped with pain management and I did not need an epidural with Lynn's help. Her questionaire before the birth was great to think about experiences that would effect the birth going into it. She followed up with me postpartum which was so great to have the emotional support that someone was interested in hearing how I was doing and guiding me.

Melissa G

6/20/2017

I have only positive things to say about Lynn. She is so wonderful. She loves what she does and is truly passionate about being a doula. She came to me highly recommended by my childbirth educator. I was so happy she was available with just a few weeks notice because I decided at 35 weeks pregnant that I wanted a doula present for my first labor and delivery.

During the prenatal period Lynn was informative and really got to know my husband, myself and my birth plan. She also took the time to learn my philosophy on pregnancy and we really planned for L&D because as she put it, the less surprises, the better it would be for mom & baby when the time comes. Lynn provided me with a specially made binder chock full of resources for the prenatal, L&D and postpartum period.

Lynn's philosophy on childbirth was right in line with my birth plan. I hoped for a natural, nonmedicated, peaceful childbirth and that's exactly what I got. Lynn was instrumental in this. She supported me physically, mentally and emotionally. She advocated for me when I felt exhausted. She also supported my husband; they were a team along with my midwife caring for me. My husband and I are so thankful she attended the birth of our son. Lynn utilized counter pressure, aromatherapy and used various position changes to help me feel comfortable. I really loved my birth experience.

Lynn stayed with me for an hour after birth and helped me to try and get my son latched. She followed up with me via text for the first few weeks postpartum, answered all my questions and asked how the now 3 of us were doing. I felt so cared for by her. I also enjoyed the teas she gave me, including the pregnancy tea and abundant milk production tea. A week after my son's birth Lynn sent me my birth story written in her perspective; this was so special and I can't wait to share it with my son!

I highly recommend Lynn. I wouldn't hesitate to have her attend a future birth of mine.

Tzviya Siegman

1/19/2017

We delayed choosing a doula until I was 35 weeks pregnant. I spoke to a few doulas and was unsure about how to decide. As soon as I spoke to Lynn, I felt at ease. She came to speak with us the next day and spent several hours helping us figure out how to navigate the next few weeks. I had some complications and a long medical history. Lynn took everything in and calmly guided us. We were both very excited about our baby boy but a little unsure about the next steps. Lynn helped us become comfortable with not being sure, and we felt that she could help us make labor-day decisions on the spot. In the end, my labor was so quick that there was no time for decisions (thankfully). Lynn helped us out with post-partum, lactation, and adapting to parenthood. Having an experienced doula as one of the people I was able to call about engorgement, a blister on the baby's lip, and his weight gain was a great bonus. Lynn was always available and truly cares about her clients.

Pallavi Rohatgi

3/30/2016

Lynn is an amazing doula. I was fortunate to have her as my doula for my baby in 2014. She is supportive, knowledgeable and extremely non-judgmental. She helped me not just as a doula, but as a friend and confidante.

We met Lynn almost at the middle of my third-trimester and we were lucky that she had availability to take me on. She was a wealth of information and gave me a beautiful bound folder with tons of information - a resource I used a lot before going into labor and after. I addition, she had these lovely inspirational letters to be opened for every week of pregnancy. Something I found very touching and looked forward to opening, to commemorate every week that went by, that much closer to having the baby.

The best part about working with Lynn is her calm demeanour and her ability to give you advise, helping you make a decision, never hurrying you and always supporting whatever choices you make. I chose to take an epidural, but due to some emergency at the hospital, the administration of it was delayed. Lynn helped me through the terrible contractions (made much worse due to the fact that I was induced and had a 100 things attached to me) until the epidural could be administered.

My lactation journey was pretty frought and things didn't work out as I expected. Lynn visited me after the baby was born at the hospital and again at home. Each time bearing little tokens and full of positivity and encouragment. Something I was in dire need of. The most beautiful of all was that she wrote a long description of my birthing experience and gave it to me. Something I cherish. Trust me, you or your husband won't remember a thing, so it was nice to have someone write it down.

I would strongly recommend Lynn to be your birthing partner, friend and advisor, and of course, your doula!

Mousumi Bose

12/11/2015

Our family has had the great fortune of having Lynn attend the birth of two of our sons, in 2011 and in 2014. The 2011 birth experience was very challenging for me due to a number of reasons, and although I ended up having a c-section, Lynn helped me advocate for myself so that we had explored every option before going into surgery. More importantly, Lynn's encouragement is the reason that I perservered through a very trying breastfeeding experience, made even harder in a hospital environment that was not very supportive of breastfeeding. I went from mainly formula feeding my child to breastfeeding and pumping to exclusively breasfeeding within 6 weeks, and I owe a lot of that successful transition to the encouragement of Lynn.

When I became pregnant in 2014, I sought Lynn's advice on a obgyn/midwife group that would be more suited to my needs and wishes, which included attempting a VBAC. With her guidance and expertise, I found a group thaat was right for me and Lynn was amazing as our support during the birth experience. We were successful in the VBAC and Lynn's presence was calming, reassuring, and so encouraging throughout the whole process. She employs a lot of techniques during the birth process and will tailor her methods based on what is right for you at that moment.

I am so grateful to Lynn for helping me have the birth experience I have always wanted. I will recommend her without hesitation to anyone planning to have a baby.

Ashley Bogosian

11/6/2015

We recently worked with Lynn as our doula for the birth of our first baby in the Spring 2015. We initially interviewed about ten different doulas and were very excited and pleased with our decision to hire Lynn as our doula. We wanted someone nurturing, experienced, organized, and calming and Lynn was all of these and more. The pre-birth meetings at our home were incredibly helpful at getting us ready for our delivery as well as the first months at home with baby.  Lynn provided us with a comprehensive binder full of information that we continue to refer to and our baby is now 6 months. During the labor Lynn was AMAZING! She was cool, calm, collected, followed our cues and anticipated the next moves. We felt very comfortable with Lynn and knew that we were in good hands. Lynn provided incredible support to my husband as well, which allowed him to feel more comfortable and a little less anxious. Post-birth Lynn continued to provide incredible support---checking in regularly to see how we were doing even after we had our scheduled post-partum visits. I would highly recommend Lynn to anyone looking for a doula. She is a champion on your side and will support whatver kind of birth you want. She will not impose her position on you---she will present all the options in a way that is direct, sincere and supportive.

Laura Rowntree

11/2/2015

I was fortunate to have Lynn as my doula when I gave birth in 2014. In the hope of having an unmedicated birth at the birthing center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, I first contacted Lynn when I was about five months pregnant. After meeting Lynn in Tenafly, New Jersey (a short trip from the UWS) we were sold, not least of all because of her approachability and good humor (attributes that proved essential when I was in labor).

In the months between our first meeting and my daughter's birth, Lynn was a wealth of information, providing suggestions on a variety of resources as well as two prenatal sessions, one on labor and one on breastfeeding. (To this day, my husband and I still joke about the crocheted body parts she brings to these sessions.) In the weeks leading up to giving birth, I found her calm and steady presence via phone and e-mail to be extremely reassuring.

Although I was not able to deliver in the birth center and I ultimately had an epidural, words cannot capture how grateful I was (and am) to have had Lynn present during labor and delivery. She empowered my husband and I to ask intelligent questions about what was happening, guided us through not only hospital practices but also through the physical stages of labor, and was my emotional rock throughout. (She also fed me ice chips in the final stages of labor, for which I would have paid her fee 100 times over.)

My husband was especially grateful for Lynn's presence, because she could provide insights on what was happening (like telling him that it was a good time to rest up and then handing him a pillow and turning down the lights) as well as ways to assist me.

After I delivered at night, Lynn was with us for about an hour (no easy feat since she had been at another birth less than 24 hours earlier), then returned the following morning for a post-partum/breastfeeding visit, and made a home visit the following week.

Jessica Palmese

11/2/2015

I had the blessing of having Lynn attend my first birth in February 2012.  I have no doubt that having Lynn with us is the only reason we were able to avoid having a c-section.    When Lynn walked into our apartment at noon - I was ready to call it quits and run to the hospital for an epidural.  Lynn lept into action and somehow we managed to stay home for very active labor for the next ten hours.  When we arrived at the hospital at midnight - I was devasted to learn I was only 4 cm dilated but Lynn kept us optimistic and focused on achieving the birth we had wanted.  Having her there brought my husband great comfort, and me much physical comfort, and it was so empowering to have an advocate that we could turn to for clear headed guidance in the midst of a very emotional process.  Although I ultimately did need pitocin and an epidural - Lynn never judged and was supportive throughout.

Beyond the actual birthing experience - it was so wonderful to have Lynn for one on one pre-natal visits that gave us a primer on breastfeeding and newborn care, not to mention the materials she provided us with which I referred to repeatedly not only during my first pregnancy and post-partum period - but again with my second baby years later.  When I recently had my second baby - undmedicated and at the birth center - I was amazed by how much Lynn had taught me and my husband - she had equipped us with so many "tools" during our first labor & delivery that my husband was able to serve as my "doula" the second time around.  We will be forever thankful for having Lynn at our side.  Our birth story would have undoubtedly been less positive without her.