taylor koudela

8/5/2024

rachel is a godsend!! i truly don't know what we would have done without her support and guidance for this birth. she was so informative and opened her arms up to both me and my husband. we hired rachel as our doula for my second birth - which happened to be a high risk pregnancy and a desire for a VBAC - and we did it!! i ended up having a very precipitous labor and rachel was a vital part in my baby's arrival AT the hospital and NOT my car!!! she advocated for me with staff and made me and my husband feel safe and confident in our ability to have bring this baby safely into the world. i couldn't recommend her enough!! ♥?

Shelby Fisher

8/1/2024

I cannot recommend Rachel enough! She was a huge reason why my second pregnancy and birth were a more wonderful experience than my first. When I first talked with Rachel, she took the time to get to know me and really understand my first birth and postpartum experience. She made me feel seen and understood during our first meeting. Throughout my pregnancy she continued to make feel supported and empowered. After every conversation or meeting with Rachel, I would walk away feeling confident and strong. I swear she has super powers! She is also so well connected with support resources within the birthing community. During my birth, she was everything I needed. She provided the ultimate support for both me and my husband. Rachel somehow managed to be the ultimate advocate, hype-woman, momma-bear, and therapist during labor. She does it all! I can’t express how thankful I am to have had her by my side during my pregnancy and birth.

Melissa Kennedy

5/13/2024

My husband and I were very fortunate to have found Rachel and have her as our doula! As a first time mom, it’s scary to think about giving birth and fear of the unknown really creeps in with not knowing what to expect or how the events may unfold. However, I couldn’t have asked for a better labor and delivery experience!
I set out to find a doula after reading about all the benefits of having one during one’s pregnancy journey. I set up a consultation meeting with Rachel, and my husband and I knew right away we had to have her by our side during this journey. During the first consultation meeting, Rachel sat down with us and we talked for hours. She listened to us about our goals for the labor and delivery (having a natural birth without medication or epidural, both of which I was able to accomplish) and she shared with us her insight as an experienced doula and even guided us during that meeting. My husband and I left that meeting feeling like we NEEDED to have Rachel as our doula. We both could tell that she has a passion for this and with our goals in mind she was genuinely trying to help us accomplish them even though I wasn’t even her client yet. She was kind and very open to answering all of our questions and even sharing resources. I truly feel that I had a positive labor and delivery experience thanks to the support that Rachel showed me and my husband. She was able to help guide us that day that I gave birth and she really helped us to stay calm amidst everything going on. Not only did we feel we were in good hands but once the baby arrived Rachel stayed with us in the hospital delivery room and helped assist me with breastfeeding the baby. She also followed up postpartum. We feel very very grateful and couldn’t recommend her more!

Becca Long

2/28/2024

I worked with Rachel for the birth of my first child and it was one of the best decisions my husband and I made. We had a truly amazing experience with her. I wanted to work with someone who would be an advocate for us during delivery and help us navigate any unexpected events that came up. This was the first time we were going through the process, and we wanted someone who could help us feel prepared and confident, help us understand our options with a hospital birth, and ultimately help us have a positive experience. Rachel blew our expectations out of the water. She is so knowledgeable and got us to think through questions we didn't even know to be asking. She was an invaluable resource as some unexpected events did come up and she was an amazing support through a long birth. Rachel made the experience for both me and my husand a really positive one, which I don't think would have been the outcome without her. She gave my husband and I each the support we needed and her advice was something we relied heavily on. Rachel has a wide breadth of experience, was always available for our questions and is a kind, positive, enthusiastic person that we felt lucky to have on our team. We would highly, highly recommend working with Rachel.  
 

Emily S.

1/3/2024

I worked with Rachel for the birth of my first child and had an excellent experience with her. As a first time mom, Rachel was so helpful in increasing my understanding of what to expect both leading up to childbirth, during and after, the various choices I could make, which made everything seem so manageable and less overwhelming to me. During my birth at the hospital, she was a valuable advocate in explaining what was happening and my options at a deeper level than the nurses and hospital staff offered,which was especially helpful given the junior experience level of my nurse. Overall, I am extremely pleased with how my birth went which I think is partly due to having Rachel on my team.

Emily S

1/3/2024

We hired Rachel for my first pregnancy and birth and knew at that point she would be a must for any future babies. Now that my second is two months old, I can look back and think about the magical birth experience we worked so hard together to achieve! Rachel is tough, kind, both gently and fiercely supportive, and knowledgeable. We wanted a VBAC for my second and it was clear our success was as important to her as it was to me. We were successful and I think daily about the benefits this experience offered our family. A positive birth experience and VBAC made my physical and mental recovery as well as my connection to my newborn so smooth and beautiful. I am forever grateful for her! 

danielle

8/4/2023

I gave birth to my baby boy in May and truly believe I couldn’t have done it without Rachel! Being my first pregnancy I had no idea what to expect from birth and knew I needed a doula. Hiring Rachel was one of my and my husbands best decisions, she educated us on everything that was happening with my body and what was going to happen during birth. She was not only there for me during labor but also helped my husband stay calm and focused. We would highly recommend her to anyone and will definitely be using her again if we’re lucky enough to have more children!

Megan P

8/3/2023

Rachel was a godsend for us as first time parents. She was able to guide us through some questions we didn’t know we needed to be thinking about, provided evidence-based information when we had questions, and was a true miracle during a long birth. She supported both my husband and I in ways that we each needed without being asked. Would absolutely recommend her services for anyone who is looking for additional support through pregnancy and birth.

Amanda

12/16/2022

Rachel has a passion for supporting mothers in this beautiful journey and I am so grateful to have had her on my team.

Michael

9/13/2022

It's hard to explain with words the value of having Rachel with us throughout our pregnancy. Caring, thoughtful, available, flexible, dependable, and so much more... Thank you for everything you did for us and we can't wait to work with you again through our next pregnancies!

Nicole Gamino

7/28/2022

I had an amazing experience with Rachel! I had moved to Texas when I was more than halfway through my pregnancy and she was kind of to take me on when I was really close to having my baby. Although we didn't get the whole 9 months to get to know each other, I still felt like I had known her for a while! SHe was extremely helpful throught my birth and I look forward to using her again!

Stacy Cash

6/8/2022

The choice to hire a doula was by far the best investment we made for our pregnancy journey and Rachel was the best steward for our journey.  My husband had no idea what a doula was but he humored me and met with Rachel.  Immediately after our first introduction he said "everyone should probably hire a doula."  Rachel was thorough, professional, and warm.  She presented questions that helped us determine what our birth goals were instead of presenting her own opinion about a particular birth journey.  When my son was firmly in breech for 3 months and my Dr. presented a c-section birth, Rachel presented available alternative options.  When I chose to move forward with the c-section she firmly respected my decision, though it wasn't my original birth plan.  She also reframed the entire experience and reminded me that this birth was still a birth even if it wasn't what I envisioned or planned for.  In fact, it turns out that a doula will even better prepare you for a surgical birth than your medical provider will.  She coached us on what to expect and how to prepare before and heal after a c-section...information my doctor didn't provide.  If we hadn't had her insight, the experience would have been much scarier and shocking.   Beyond the technical aspect of Rachel's offerings, she's a delightful human.  She's very personable and easy to welcome into your home and your life at a time that you might feel a lot of emotions. She's quick to respond to questions in a non judgmental way and provide all the information you need.  She has lived experience as a mom and has obviously attended a lot of births.  If you are someone who loves to be coached and informed, Rachel is simply the best. 

Emily

6/5/2022

When my husband and I first asked Rachel to work with us, we knew we wanted labor support for the birth of our first baby but had little grasp of the extent of Rachel's work. My first impression was that she was charming and kind, but she knew her stuff and was capable of holding her ground (exactly what us mamas need in the hospital birthing space.) Once I started the journey of educating myself on pregnancy and labor, she was there every step of the way. She quickly earned my trust and would answer questions often. This helped me build confidence in myself. But I was really wowed when I finally did go into labor. At that point it really sunk in for me how much I needed her to help me manage and progress labor, help communicate my wishes to nurses and doctors, adjust our strategy as the situation evolved, and support me mentally and physically during the most trying (and at many times joyful!) 24 hours of my life. Her actions turned what could have been a traumatizing birth experience into a labor where I felt powerful and in control. I can’t say enough about this woman and her care for me. I can’t wait for baby #2!

Carson Clark

4/6/2022

Wow. Just wow. Rachel was perfect. This was a memorable birth full of laughter at the absurdity and tears of joy. Believe it or not, at one point the labor actually included my wife, Trish (midwife), and the Rachel twerking to Dr. Dre during the Superbowl. It was hilarious. Seriously, though, my wife and I cannot recommend Rachel highly enough. She's truly an incredible doula. From the first time we met Rachel at her office in Oldtown Spring, I had a great feeling about her and every subsequent experience confirmed that hunch. We both particularly appreciated how Rachel was always mindful, sensitive, and empathetic to my wife's particular medical circumstances. Rachel went above and beyond to provide the care my wife needed, including outstanding post-partum support in the days immediately after the birth. Rachel is a great communicator who's kind, thoughtful, compassionate, insightful, professional, and passionate about supporting women. If we end up going for #3 in a few years, we'll definitely be hiring her again as our doula. Thanks, Rachel!

Caroline Pomeroy

12/14/2021

Rachel is an amazing woman and doula! My husband and I were so grateful for her guidance on my way to a safe VBAC. It was not smooth sailing for me and I don't know how but she had faith in me when I had none in myself. She kept me calm, hyped me up, kept me focused and diverted my attention all when necessary. Her team is also fantastic. I went to 42 weeks which surprised all of us and I was induced while she was out of town and had the pleasure of working with one of her teammates and we LOVED her as well! Rachel was on the phone with us through my whole 29 hour labor and was absolutely involved in every decision and "next step". I will never forget these women and what they did for me and my family. Absolute angels. 

Christina Maschmeyer

12/4/2021

Rachel was recommended to us as a doula by a friend, and I am so grateful she agreed to work with my husband and me. Going into the final trimester as first time parents, we had no idea what to expect about the process of birth and medical care, nor many of the basics of post-partum care. My husband and I joke that Rachel was the Operations Manager of our birth, but that's exactly what she was!

As a childbirth educator she tailored the material to what was most relevant for us in our living situation and knowledge base. She made the material easy to digest and the childbirth classes fun, getting to know Josh and I through the process.

As a doula, Rachel was phenomenal. She took time to learn how Josh and I interact as a couple, integrating to our communication style and acting as an advocate and support seamlessly. She made sure that we had all of the information we needed to weigh options in real time during the birth when things didn't go according to plan.

I would recommend Rachel to anyone having a child. Her kindness, knowledge, professionalism, and passion for birth are an asset to any family. 

Thank you, Rachel!!!

Sophia

11/22/2021

Hiring Rachel to be our doula for the birth of our first child was the best decision we made in regards to feeling prepared and having a positive birthing experience. She was the mom/aunt/best friend I needed during my pregnancy and birth to help us know what to expect, how to prepare, and what’s “normal.” At the actual birth she was prepared and never left my side. She was also wonderful for my husband to be able to step up and support me during the birth and I’m sure that the techniques and helpful tips and little gifts she gave us during pregnancy and postpartum helped me have a relatively short (13 hours from induction to baby) and dare I say “painless” birth. I know I’m going to recommend her to all of my expecting friends from here on out, especially those who didn’t have a positive experience with their first births.

Janelle Rendon

11/8/2021

Rachel was a great fit for our family for the birth of baby #3! She is a great listener and always validated my feelings and needs before, during, and after birth. She is a great communicator and was always responsive to my texts, regardless of the time of day. Rachel also gave lots of soft recommendations, provided countless resources, and was a wealth of knowledge on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She made both my husband and I feel very supported and taken care of throughout the process. We feel our family is complete, but we would absolutely hire her as our doula again if we were to have another baby!

Hannah

9/21/2021

I highly recommend Rachel! We hired her for my pregnancy/delivery and she has been so wonderful. With her kind nature and expansive knowledge she prepared us amazingly so we could make all the right decisions that were best for our situation! I wouldn't have wanted anyone else by our side. She was also very supportive for my husband and we are so glad we picked her!

We will definitely hire her again if we have another baby.

If you are looking for a wonderful doula who is also very knowledgeable and emphatic, don't look further!

Dru Cirio

9/14/2021

If you're in search of guidance, experience, empathy, and flat out awesomeness for your pregnancy/birth experience, Rachel is your one stop shop. She is by far the most caring and all around awesome person that displays a phenomenal and acute sense of care, tact and guidance and will bend over backwards in support of your plan and goals! Could not imagine a delivery room without her!

Annie Farino

8/25/2021

If you’re looking for an extremely knowledgeable, evidence based birth doula to assist you through your pregnancy and birth journey, then you can stop right here. Rachel was invaluable to my birthing experience. My goal was an unmedicated natural delivery, and throughout the process of preparing for birth, Rachel’s positivity, openness, and honesty gave my husband and I the confidence we needed to advocate for ourselves and achieve the goal of the type of birth that we wanted. She was always available to answer questions through text or email (every time having evidence based links/papers to back up her answers). Rachel is also very well connected within the birth world of Houston so she’s an incredible resources for other pregnancy/baby related things. Lastly, we are so grateful for Rachel’s attention to detail. After my birth, we had multiple pediatricians, lactation consultants, and nurses come see our daughter for regular check ups, but NOT ONE of them mentioned my daughter’s tongue tie. Rachel pointed out her tongue tie within 30 minutes after her birth, which really affected my baby’s ability to properly breastfeed. If Rachel had not identified her tongue tie so early on, I don’t think I would still be successfully nursing my daughter 6 months later.

Christina

8/24/2021

I 100% recommend Rachel as your doula. She played a key role in helping my husband and I prepare for our first baby with the great resources she provided and her knowledge. She was quick to answer any questions I had throughout pregnancy and really helped me feel more prepared to give birth. Birth rarely goes as planned but I'm so incredibly thankful I had Rachel by my side to help get me through an intense labor. She was amazing, extremely knowledgeable, patient, supportive and a great advocate. I can't imagine how I would've gotten through it without her, I will definitely be reaching out when we have our next child :) Thank you for being part of our baby boy's birth story, we are so grateful!

Kayla DeKraker

8/15/2021

I absolutely love Rachel and I'm so thankful she was apart of my birth experience. I had an awful experience with doctors and was looking for someone to support and advocate for me. I found her towards the end of my pregnancy and she was still willing to take me and work with me. She's an extremely warm and calming presence, but will also fearlessly stand up for you if needed. I would highly recommend her to anyone! 

EG

8/15/2021

Hiring Rachel was some of the best money spent during my pregnancy. She offered great help as we prepared for our son, both with her formal programming (like creating a birth plan) and ad hoc support (like helping me figure out what care I would need postpartum). But where she was really invaluable was the birth itself. Rachel was a trusted sounding board, a coach, and a source of comfort all in one. She was with us in person for over 24 hours, and guided us through a birth that started as an unmedicated birth in a birth center to ultimately a c-section. Even with the change of plans, we had a great labor experience, which I attribute in no small part to Rachel's help. I recommend her as a doula wholeheartedly!

Amanda

5/15/2021

Rachel is an amazing doula. She is extremely knowledgeable and was very helpful through all the stages of birth prep, labor, delivery and postpartum. She made me feel at ease during my entire labor and delivery and she stayed in contact with my midwife to make sure she was there in time for the birth. With Rachel on my team, I had no fear about my labor as she made me feel comfortable and relaxed throughout active labor and transition and she helped my labor to progress smoothly. I will definitely be calling Rachel to be my doula with my next pregnancy!

Lauren

5/6/2021

Rachel is truly a great doula. I am so glad she was with us throughout my pregnancy and delivery. She is knowledgeable and so very kind. I was very lucky to be able to have her come to the hospital with us during COVID. I don't know how we would have gotten through our COVID pregnancy without her! When my labor and delivery didn't go as I was hoping it would (because of course not), Rachel was invaluable in understanding and talking to the hospital staff about our options. She knew exactly what I needed throughout the process, whether it was a frank conversation or just a hand held. Thanks, Rachel! 

Laura C.

2/26/2021

Where to even begin... If my husband and I could give Rachel 100 stars, we would. She is kind, informative, responsive, and supportive. As Canadians with no family in Houston we thought it would be helpful to have some additional support, especially during COVID. This was one of the best decisions we made. Although she could not attend our son’s birth due to hospital restrictions, she was still such a key part of his birth via Zoom. She was responsive to questions in the days leading up to birth and extremely supportive in the difficult days postpartum. We cannot thank Rachel enough for all she has done for our family!

Joanne S R

2/11/2021

By the time I thought of acquiring a doula during my pregnancy, I was embarrassed to ask if Rachel would take me on as a client at 30 weeks. But she assured me that she would tailor our journey together toward what was best for me as a new mama. The pregnancy was easy till the end, and then there were all these complicating factors of breach baby, large baby, A push for C-section that didn't align with Rachel's professional insight. She researched heavily, discussed with other doulas and medical practitioners to always bring me that most evidence based information. She was my warrior. And I knew her for not more than 10-12 weeks. The relationship that birthed from knowing her left me speechless and so supported. I would trust Rachel a million times over with my health and mama goals 

Kathryn

2/9/2021

Rachel was an like an angel for me during my pregnancy.  I was terrified of having a baby and she guided me through the whole process and provided constant support.  I HIGHLY recommend hiring Rachel no matter what type of birth you are having.  She was a mix of all the things I was looking for in a doula; incredibly knowledgable, kind, supportive, non-judgemental and had no agenda other than guiding me and my husband through the process of having my baby.  I am already referring her out to anyone I know that is having a baby and would recommend you hiring her too.  

Ilsa Krane

2/9/2021

Rachel was such an integral part of my pregnancy, labor &delivery, and postpartum journey. Rachel provided the knowledge and tools to prepare my husband and I for our first baby. She was always available for questions during the pregnancy and was proactive about checking in with us. We appreciated her support during and after L&D to help when things did not go according to plan. Rachel continued to follow up with us the days after our baby was born and was always available when we needed her. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula!

Amanda Green

2/9/2021

Rachael is the absolute best decision I could have made for the delivery of my baby girl. She was avlb from the moment we hired her from late night calls to panicked "false alarms". She helped me get the help I needed with sciatic pains I was having in pregnancy and was more that I could have imagined in labor! She was attentive and knew everything my body needed without me having to ask! She really knows her stuff and how to work a baby out as painlessly as possible! Love her and my only regret is not hiring her for my first baby! 

Lacy Sirois

11/12/2020

When I found out I was pregnant back in January I knew I wanted to have a natural birth (vaginal/no epidural). In order for me to acheive that goal I sought out a doula. After interviewing multile doulas, I had no doubt that Rachel Stonebrook with Radlove Doula was a perfect match. She helped us in ways we never expected and far exceeded our expectations. She met with us several times before labor to ensure she understood my birth plan and to enducate us on the birthing process. Because we were delivering our baby at the hospital I was dissapointed that Rachel couldn't be there with us in person due to the hospital's Covid-19 restrictions. However, she was still able to offer us virtual support during my entire labor and she absolutely rocked it. I have no doubt that because of her I was able to have the birthing experience I always wanted.

If you are looking for a doula, PLEASE do yourself a favor and at least schedule a consult with Rachel...you won't regret it!

Sophia

9/25/2020

We were so SO pleased with Rachel and the support she provided throughout my pregnancy. She was an amazing resource in helping us navigate the various options for delivery in the Houston area as well as postpartum support. When labour started she was invaluable in getting the VBAC outcome I was after. She came over to our house and helped me labour before recommending I head to the hospital. She took all the guess work out of the journey and made us feel at ease with the whole process and come up with a plan. She continued to support us virtually through the long hours in the hospital-which worked out really well. I definitely recommend Rachel even if it is just for virtual support due to Covid restrictions. Cannot recommend her enough!

Carolyn

7/29/2020

Rachel was the first person I chose for my birth plan and I'm so glad that I did. She helped guide me from the very beginning (pre covid) through to post partum help (mid covid). She helped me find the right birth team, even when that meant changing plans from hospital to home birth mid pregnancy. She was my constant reassurance throughout the process and did a great job with my birth education. She's the exact type of person you would want on your birth team. Sweet and comforting when you need reassurance and strong and assertive when you need someone to have your back. She's down to earth and very well educated. She's passionate about what she does and it shows. She truly cares about her clients. Would definitely recommend having her on your team. 

Camila

7/14/2020

I knew that I wanted a Doula even before I found out I was pregnant. However, finding Rachel was finding more than a doula. She was a true baby womb whisper-er! From the interview process to the end of our new beginning, her energy filled us with driven confidence, knowledge, power, and reassurance. Luckily my pregnancy was a smooth one, and even with questions along the way she had the answers or the perfect resources for the answers. Rachel never pretended to know or guide us with items she did not have knowledge on. She did not try to over compensate nor did she ever give us misinformation. In these times, that was truly important to us for the safety of baby & I. The greatest thing was that Rachel has such a comfortable, open, and welcoming aura. Her passion resonates through everything she says, meetings she hosts, and education that she shares. Through tough time such as Covid-19 she stayed on her toes with information over hospital protocol, mind stability for mama, and support for dada. For my first birthing experience between COVID, a sudden appendicitis, which led to an emergency C-section, my baby girl was guided by God entering the world. However, we were prepared for the turn of events thankfully because Rachel was a realist and shared and helped us understand that we can plan and plan but have to be ready for detours. I believe and pray I will be blessed with another angel and there isn't a doubt in my mind that Rachel will be there to bless my second delivery which we can only hope will be a VBAC. There is no doubt or another Doula I would choose!

Suzanne

7/1/2020

The first time I spoke with Rachel on the phone, I knew she was the perfect person to be a doula for our first birth. Rachel has a positive and nurturing personality-she felt like an old friend from the first meeting.

Rachel meets with you multiple times leading up to the birth.  Each meeting was well planned had a focus (birth planning, labor prep, etc.) as well as plenty of time for questions.  We appreciated that she never made our first time parent questions seem insignifiant. I also loved that she had non-biased, evidence based research for every question I had and she never tried to push her opinion on our family.

Our original plan was to have Rachel meet us at the house when I went into labor and stay with us until I transferred to hospital since she was not allowed to come with us due to COVID restrictions.  My labor progressed really quickly, however, and that plan was out the window.  Rachel rolled with the punches though and stayed on the phone and available for support through the whole labor.  She helped support me and my husband and gave helpful reminders to try all the comfort measures she had taught us.  Having Rachel with us in the months leading up to birth and during labor played a big part in me getting to have the unmedicated birth that I wanted.  We will definitely be teaming up with her again when we decide on Baby #2!

Fun Fact: Rachel shared her birthday with our precious little girl. :)

Lauren Wienecke

6/27/2020

I found Rachel on my local ICAN network because I knew I wanted a VBAC! I loved that she was willing to meet with me before I was even pregnant and she was actually the first person I called when I found out I was because I knew we needed to get to work! Rachel was absolutely amazing to work with. She was VERY responsive to all my text messages and questions throughout my pregnancy and adjusted so well to the COVID nightmare. Rachel was SO encouraging throughout my whole pregnancy and constantly reassured me how great of a job I was doing all the the way through pushing while I was in labor. I love that she had so much experience delivering 4 babies herself in all different settings. I can't recommend Rachel enough, and if you ask my husband he will say she was worth every penny! I wouldn't have acheived my VBAC if it wasn't for Rachel's knowledge, quick thinking, encouragement, and smiling face throughout my labor constantly assuring me I could do it, and I was doing it! 

Amanda Leal

2/11/2020

This was my first time having a baby and I wasn't sure if I wanted a doula or exactly how much of a role she would play in my experience.  In the end I figured I should go for it since most (if not all) of my research to prepare for natural childbirth highly recommended one.  I am so grateful I made this decision and could not have been happier with Rachel.  In my naivety I had my birth plan and meditated on a regular basis how it would play out.  Of course, once labor reached a certain point, it was difficult for me to think clearly and my plan could not have been further from my mind. 

Every time I was ready to quit, she would encourage me to go through one more wave.  She worked off my energy seamlessly and switched up the plan based on my behavior/attitude.  She was very supportive without being pushy.  I felt extremely safe with her and knew she would fight for me and the baby.  She respected what I said/how I felt and would patiently make her recommendations and wait for me to be in a head space to be receptive. When you are in a vulnerable position such as labor you need to feel protected.  Despite my preparations and support, I started to feel lost, lonely and powerless at a certain point.  Rachel's presence changed that for me.  I felt she intuitively knew the way and could navigate on my behalf.  I felt she understood what I was going through without me having to speak.  During labor I said that I loved her and that was the truth- I felt so close to her in that moment and was overcome with emotion that she was there in the trenches with me and giving it her all.

Bottom line: Delivering my baby was one of the scariest experiences of my life and without her it could very likely have had a different outcome.  I'm forever grateful to her for helping me realize a dream of mine and providing me with a life changing experience that I will remember fondly forever.

Adel

1/9/2020

Rachel was the calming, strength I needed. Her gentle soul and strong mind guided me through the process: providing fast, accurate information and rock-solid emotional support. The nurses were great, but they have lots of other patients to see. Rachel was with me every step of the way (helping with in-law issues too). Together we navigated the birthing waters and welcomed my sweet, sweet boy into this world. Thank you Rachel!!

Jessica Neal

11/20/2019

Rachel was extremely compassionate and supportive throughout the entire pregnancy and delivery process. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders during delivery and remained calm while truly listening to me.. what I wanted, needed, and desired. If you are looking into a doula.. she is the ONE to choose! She is confident and knowledgeable, down to earth, and so easy to work with... Even my doctor loved working with her. :)

Thank you Rachel for absolutely everything you've done, and continue to do for me and our sweet little one. We couldn't be more grateful for your part in our story.

Rebecca

10/9/2019

I was on the fence about hiring a doula for the birth of my second child, having achieved an unmedicated delivery with the first. When I struggled to find someone who'd be a stylistic match I nearly gave up - but then I met Rachel!

Rachel was everything I wanted for my birth support team: smart, straightforward, funny and endlessly supportive. In our very first conversation she gave me advice that led to me changing my healthcare provider (best decision ever!), and she was always just a text or call away throughout my pregnancy.

When it came to the delivery, it was important to me to have someone I not only trusted but enjoyed being around, and Rachel was the perfect presence. Her unflappable, pragmatic, encouraging approach was absolutely what I wanted and needed. She kept the atmosphere relaxed, positive and low key, and I'm so grateful to have had her there.

I can't recommend Rachel enough. She's knowledgeable, insightful, upbeat and loads of fun! Anyone giving birth would be lucky to have her, and in particular I think she'd be a fantastic support for LGBTQ couples/individuals, single moms, or anyone who feels marginalized by the birth industry. She really is fantastic, and my only regret is I can't time-travel her back to my first birth!

Tracy Butler

8/15/2019

This was my second birth but my first birth with Rachel as my doula and my husband and I had a wonderful experience. I was seeking out a VBAC, which was challenging, but Rachel guided me through months of searching for the right provider for me. She also tailored our birth education according to our needs and was always available to talk whenever I needed her in the months leading up to the big day. Rachel did everything she could to make sure I had the best information, mental and physical preparation, birth support, and other tools to ensure that I had the best shot at having the kind of birth experience I was seeking, and it worked! I had an unmedicated, unaugmented VBAC, just as I had planned. She guided my husband and I through the birth with such patience, grace, and respect. She is truly gifted at what she does. We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Rachel as our doula!

Stephanie Naquin

6/16/2019

After interviewing several doulas in the North Houston area, we knew within two minutes of our in home consult that Rachel was our gal. As first time parents, we were nervous, excited, and really scared. Having someone we could rely on and trust was important to us. We knew we needed a doula but didn't really understand exactly what a doula could bring to the table. Fortunately for us, Rachel was a shooting star that went above and beyond. Something we value above all else is knowledge, and that's exactly what she provided. We had weekly in home prenatel appointments where she would help us navigate what to expect on the big day. We practiced numerous positioning techniques, she provided us with books, informational collateral & articles to help us comprise a beautiful birth plan, made sure we were aware of all of our birthing rights and options, and helped us get into a peaceful state of mind. We couldn't have been more prepared for the delivery of our son. On D day, Rachel was there holding my hand as I breathed through contractions, she fed me chocolate bites, rubbed my back, encouraged me, made me laugh, ensured that the hospital staff & family followed my plan, & most importantly got me through delivery. So grateful for our experience with Rachel, she is a gem. 

Danielle Sokol

5/8/2019

Rachel was referred to us during my second birth as a back up doula. The doula I hired had to leave town and Rachel came to the rescue. We met for the first time the day before I went into labor and Rachel was FANTASTIC during our labor and delivery. My second was much more difficult than my first and Rachel was so accommodating considering she swooped in on the fly. She listened so well and picked up on my cues beautifully. We were incredibly blessed to have her during our birth and we would highly recommend her to others who are looking for a doula. 

Chandra Golding

4/23/2019

With 4 girls 10 and under, having an awesome sibling doula when I delivered #5 was so important! Rachael turned out to be exactly who we needed. She came over before the birth and played on the floor with my girls, got to know them, and when she came the second time, she remembered all of their names. We could really tell how the girls felt about her when they hugged her as she left and asked her when she'd be back to play with them. When it was time for baby girl #5s birth, Rachael swooped in with cookies to bake, books to read, and pages to color while I labored. She was very intuitive about when the girls needed a break from hanging out with Mama, and the right words to say during transition. It was so nice to not have the burden of entertaining the girls and breaking up squabbles, etc. during labor. All in all, our first home birth was a wonderful experience, due in large part to having Rachael there. We can't recommend her enough! The girls want to know when she's coming back!

Michelle Rivera

4/16/2019

I met Rachel in a very difficult moment of my life, I was 37 weeks pregnant and just moved to Texas from Oklahoma. Had no doctor and nobody wanted to see me because of how far along I was. When I called her I just wanted to know prices and a little bit more of how a doula could help me during my labor, I found in her that and even more. She gave me advice and help every step of the way,  and she took me to a birth center showing me another option besides a hospital birth. I am very thankful that God put her on my path, she is an angel for me, and love her so much even tho we just met. I decided to have my baby in the birth center and even tho I was terrified her and my midwife were my support through the whole delivery of my baby. She showed me how strong I am even when I felt so weak, she is amazing and I would totally recommend her to anyone looking for the support of an amazing doula. You will find in her Not only that support, but also her loving soul and her friendship. I would not change anything on my delivery, she did an amazing job getting me through the hardest moment of my life. 

Yohanna Ruocco

10/26/2018

Rachel was our secondary doula during my second pregnancy and birth. She is extremely kind and has so much knowledge about pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She came up as a backup after I had been in labor for a day and she was ready to hit the ground running. It was like she had been there all along. She helped me cope with the transition from laboring to getting prep for a cesarean. I was shaking a lot and was very nervous and it was extremely comforting to have Rachel there not just for me but for my husband as well. Our hospital did not allow her to come into the OR with us but she took our things to the postpartum room and stayed with us to make sure I was fine after recovery and breastfeeding was going well. We love Rachel and highly recommend her for your birth and postpartum.

Kim McKee

4/7/2018

Review for Rachel

Rachel took me on at 37 weeks when things were starting to sound like this birth might be more intense. Baby was suspected to be pretty big and she was in a less than ideal position. I knew having a doula to support and guide me would be the best chance at having the all natural birth experience I wanted. Even though our prenatal time was limited, Rachel worked hard to make sure we still had time to get to know each other and feel comfortable before it was go time. She worked with me to give me exercises to get baby in the best possible position for birth. An ultrasound the day before delivery proved it all worked - baby had adjusted into prime position. Rachel was a calm and reassuring presence from the moment I met her. She helped me work through penvious birth issues, anxiety, and exude the confidence I needed to achieve the birth I envisioned. I was able to deliver my daughter naturally with her guidance. Initially, my husband had reservations about using a doula - he was concerned about someone else being my support through labor instead of him. After delivery, he was as grateful for Rachel as I was. They worked together to help keep my mind and energy where if needed to be. He was thankful for the guidance she gave him and felt more confident in the ways he could support me.

Rachel even continued to provide support after delivery and has always made herself available when I had questions or needed to talk. Not at all because she had to, but because that's the kind of person she is. She truly cares about her clients and their wellbeing. Even several days after texting her about a problem (6 weeks post partum), she was checking in and making sure I was okay and offering all kinds of help.

The only thing that I regret is not having Rachel from the beginning. I couldn't recommend hee more. If you need a doula who is truly passionate about what she does and providing the best care for clients, she's your girl.

Christie Horton

8/6/2017

When I decided I wanted a natural labor experience, I knew my husband and I would both need the support. I searched for several available doulas in my area and interviewed a hand full of them. When my husband and I left the meeting with Rachel we hadn't gotten 1/2 mile down the road before deciding that she was the right choice for someone to support us in this journey. She made us both feel so comfortable immediately and we felt her experience and knowledge was invaluable to be able to help us achieve the natural birth we wanted!

The postpartum visits we had with Rachel were great. She was very thorough with her questions to help us think through what we really wanted out of this journey and she was very informative with information. I love that she always checked in on me, to see how I was feeling both physically and emotionally. Her questions helped me to stay in tune with my body and my emotions.

Fast forward to delivery, i can honestly say the entire experience would likely have been very different if we hadnt hired Rachel. She helped to keep me focused, she helped to remind me at the peak of each contraction, when the pain was the most intense, that I just needed to ride the wave and it was about to come back down. She helped my husband to know exactly what would be beneficial to me! During each contraction she had him do a double hip squeeze to help open my pelvis, and it really helped to counter the pressure of the contraction. Without her knowledge and how she guided him to help me, I may not have been able to do it they way I did.

I feel like I had an incredible birth team to help me, and I am so glad we made the decision to hire Rachel to be a part of that team!!! I HIGHLY recommend her to anyone looking for a doula!