Megan

10/30/2024

Prenatal Care: I was very frightened about attempting a VBAC for my second child, but Saphren was incredibly supportive from the start. She helped me navigate my options and anxieties, connecting me with evidence-based resources on VBAC success. She also prepped me for my midwifery appointments, offering insightful questions and suggestions based on my needs and goals to discuss with my care team.

Birth Support: Saphren arrived at my home around 6 a.m. with a TENS machine, just as things were getting intense. I was struggling to cope, but she guided me through different positions to help me feel more comfortable and keep labour progressing. She stayed by my side, supporting me through each contraction. When we transferred to the hospital, she continued to remind me of my options and supported my decisions as circumstances changed. During active labour, she was integral to my successful VBAC, especially when I came close to needing another emergency C-section. Her encouragement and hope were unwavering, and in the end, I was able to deliver vaginally without interventions. Saphren was with me every step of the way, staying by my side for 18 hours.

Postnatal Care: Saphren visited twice postpartum, offering additional resources for my recovery. We also had a much-needed debriefing session, helping me process the birth experience positively. She even took some beautiful photos, a meaningful keepsake that I didn’t have from my first birth. These photos are a special way to connect with that time, and I’m so grateful to have them.

I am forever grateful to Saphren for her attentive, skillful care. She was an essential part of my successful VBAC.

Adrianna

9/10/2024

I am so grateful for the incredible care that Saphren provided throughout my pregnancy and birth.  My partner and I are first time parents, and we were referred to Saphren through a friend. After meeting with her we knew she would be an excellent fit for us. She embodies kindness, compassion, and professionalism. Pregnancy and birth is such a unique and personal experience, and she provided thoughtful advice that helped us create a birth plan that worked for us. She was particularly skilled at doing this in a non-judgemental way that felt free of her own potential biases.

She was a reassuring presence throughout my labour and birth. I had a long early labour that was both physically and mentally taxing. Saphren really helped me keep it together when things were progressing much more slowly than I had hoped. When my labor intensified, she was always prepared with the next coping strategy, exactly as we had discussed, which brought me great comfort. Saphren’s quiet confidence was especially reassuring in the most intense moments. She worked extremely well with the healthcare team, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and collaboration. Thanks to Saphren, I had the best birth experience I could hope for. I am so grateful to have had her by my side, and I cannot recommend her services highly enough!

Shawna, Pedro, and Finley

8/29/2024

I am beyond thankful that I decided to get a Doula to support our pre and post partum journey as well as support me and my husband during labour. Saphren was beyond what I could have asked for, in the handful of visits leading up to the birth of our little boy I learned more from Saphren than I had in the nearly 35 weeks of pregnancy. She was not only incredibly knowlegable with things to consider and resources she shared. I also felt she really got to know me and our family and this is what stood out the most during an incredibly long labour. Saphren's level of communication when we had questions but also when labour began was beyond exceptional replying to us right away and offering support both over the phone and in person as soon as we needed it. During labour Saphren was the reason I got the home birth I wanted not only did she get me through the hardest thing I've ever done but she protected the space I was labouring in and ensured my husband and I (and our dog) were taken care of during times of uncertainty and the unknown. 

If you are considering a Doula or still doing research on whether or not this is something for you I guarantee this will be the best investment you make in your entire pregnancy! Saphren was there for us through every little and big milestone and we will forever be eternally grateful for her presence and care for our family. I got everything I wanted for my birth and Saphren was a big factor in making that happen. I cried writting this (I'm sure hormones are a factor) but this is because I do not know what we would have done without Saphren... The impact she had on me during the biggest transformational moment of my life so far will be something I will forever be grateful for and remember. 

Louise

7/4/2024

My partner and I found Saphren via Brood Care here in Vancouver, and after one meeting I knew she was the right fit for us! I knew VERY little about childbirth. Saphren helped educate both my partner and I before we even hit the third trimester, all with a sense of calm and reason we so quickly came to depend on! She was also aligned with my appreciation for both modern medicine and holistic wellness.  

When I finally went into early labor, Saphren patiently guided me through the first 24 with patience and understanding, and as we had discussed in my birth plan, encouraged me to stay home for most of it. When things finally kicked into gear, she was at my house in a heartbeat, helping me through contractions with the TENS machine and encouraging new positions to help me cope naturally with my back labor. It was incredibly painful but I felt confident I could push through with her amazing ability to reassure me through the more painful contractions that everything was ok and progressing as it should.

When I was finally admitted to the hospital, things were feeling really good and seemed to be going quickly until they really slowed down around hour 30. The midwife concluded my baby had slightly shifted, leaving her face up and at an odd angle. I was told my water needed to be broken and I would likely need intervention. While I was pretty open minded to whatever needed to happen, we were then at hour 35 and I wanted my baby OUT! Once again, Saphren’s calm and reassuring presence, as well as her ability to work in tandem with my midwife, helped me decide to keep pushing (sans epidural) with guidance from my midwife as one final option. My daughter was born shortly after, safely and healthily. I’m so grateful for Saphren, and I honestly think I would have had a very different delivery had she not been there to help keep me on the right track and as close to my ideal birth as possible. 

I highly recommend Saphren!

Katie and Gordon

6/29/2024

Hiring Saphren was one of the absolute best decisions we made in preparing to have our baby! We knew that personality fit between doula and birthing person/birth partner was really important, and we interviewed a couple of different doulas before finding Saphren. We chose her because we really liked her quietly confident, kind, open-minded, and very informative but not overbearing style. Unlike some others we chatted with, she clearly had no agenda around how she wanted our birth to go - she just wanted to make sure our needs were met and that we felt safe and confident. I had some anxiety around medical settings and birth in general, and having her to consult helped so much.

The prenatal visits took place at our house which allowed us to be nice and relaxed. She answered all of our questions and provided us with specific info about the hospital where we were planning to have our baby. She also helped me make a great birth plan. When I ended up needing an induction for gestational hypertension, which took 4 days (!) in the end, Saphren made herself available all week and was free to chat through all of the steps of the induction and tell me what to expect. When we were finally admitted to the hospital on day 3, she came along and helped my husband and I cope with labour, providing hands-on support and gentle suggestions for coping measures to try. I ended up having to have a c-section which was made joyful and not traumatic in large part due to Saphren's reassuring presence, right down to her making sure we had a good playlist on in the OR! She took a ton of photos during our son's birth and we will cherish them.

We'd 100% recommend hiring Saphren and would do so again in a heartbeat!

Jaclyn Wallace

3/6/2024

Going into pregnancy, I thought I wanted a doula and I am so glad with our decision. Saphren was the only doula we met and her balance of science and intuition worked for my partner and I. She completely changed the path of our birth and empowered me in so many ways. Her knowledge and understanding of birth and hormones is inspiring and she guided us through the process with ease. We laboured at home until 10cm and I witnessed how different her role is from a midwife during that time. My mom, partner, midwife, and Saphren were all present and they all took on such different roles. Saphren supported my partner, allowing him to support me and process the labour on his own. Saphren encouraged me to labour in several different positions and intuitively knew when my body was transitioning into the next stages. Once at the hospital, it felt comforting to know that Saphren was on my side and had witnessed our labouring process to advocate for what I needed. She took photos throughout our labour and delivery and I am so grateful she captured the whole process. I cannot recommend her enough and words can never express how grateful I am to have had her there. 

Ali Shane and baby Saive

2/26/2024

Ali and I can't speak highly enough about the attention and care that we were provided through our entire birth experience by Saphren.

We knew from our very first zoom call that she would be a great fit for us and she didn't disappoint. She was always responsive to any questions we had at any time during Ali's pregnancy. Our visits with her left us feeling more educated and excited about the upcoming labour.

Saphren's calm but direct approach along with her great sense of humor left us reassured that she would be a great support and advocate for us on the big day.

When it came to Ali's labour's Saphren was an incredible part of our birth team. She helped Ali with staying relaxed focused and positive throughout. She said all the right things at the right times. She also was a great support for me helping me to remember to take care of both myself so that I could be present in a meaningful way with Ali.

She played this key role during the labour and somehow managed to capture every beautiful moment on camera. The pictures were beyond what we had expected given we had all the lights off in the room. We will cherish the images forever. We still don't know how she managed to stay so present with us while also capturing these moments so perfectly.

As we navigate through these first few weeks as new parents we are so so thankful to have her continued support.

Saphren is incredible and this new family are her biggest fans!!

Sam

1/9/2024

Saphren was an invaluable member of our pregnancy and birth team. My husband and I were expecting our first child and were unsure of how to navigate our way through prenatal care and birth planning. Saphren provided us with so much information that we were missing and helped us find prenatal classes, midwifery care, and plenty of research backed resources for us to utilize. All of our conversations with Saphren left us feeling more informed, empowered, and confident. During my scheduled c-section, Saphren was there at every step to explain what was happening and what to expect. While the surgery team was focused on the procedure, Saphren had all her focus on me and was able to really guide me through the process and keep me present- she also took a number of photographs and videos that I am so grateful to have to remember the experience. I truly feel looking back that having Saphren by our side made all the difference and greatly improved our entire pregnancy and birth experience - I cannot recommend her enough!

Nikki

12/7/2023

I can't even begin to express how grateful we are that Saphren was a part of our pregnancy and delivery. I know within minutes of meeting her virtually that she was the one. Her calm demeanour, ability to put me at ease, and knowledge were the kinds of things I knew I would need. Every time we met, I felt more and more prepared for labour and delivery.

The last couple weeks of my pregnancy were challenging physically and emotionally and she was always just a text or call away.

When it came to our time in the hospital, Saphren was there to support me, help me with pain management and guide my husband in how he could best support me and be part of the birth experience.

Labour and delivery can be daunting, especially as a first time mom. But Saphren was there every step of the way. She did her best to help me have the birth experience I wanted and knew just how to reassure me during moments I was feeling nervous or overwhelmed.

We also opted to photograph the birth which was wonderful. It all felt like a bit of a blur so getting to look back on it was such a beautiful and emotional experience.

We will be forever grateful to Saphren for being such an incredible support system and guide. Thank you for all that you've done for us and our little girl. You will always have a very special place in our hearts!

Evelyn C

11/17/2023

I felt really lucky to have Saphren with us for my pregnancy and birth of our first baby. She’s got a calm, confident, and steady energy. We had a number of meetings before the birth to go over options and plans, and I appreciated her experienced insight. She gently corrected common misconceptions I was hanging onto and provided information about the things I didn’t understand. It felt so valuable to have someone experienced provide their wisdom about how things work, and gain a clearer picture of what decisions I could make.

During the birth, she was able to respond to the current situation with ease and fluency. In critical moments when I had little outside awareness, she provided me with care and comfort through water, blankets, popsicles, pain relief (like the TENs machine), and words of encouragement. She fit in seamlessly with the relational dynamic of the other people on my team (mom, husband, midwife, and nurse). I appreciated her reminders to move and try different positions, the way she advocated for me, and her coaching during the most intense moments. The moment of birth had some complications, and it was her calm reassurance during those moments that grounded me until everything was resolved and I could hold baby in my arms.

Saphren was so present and tuned in during our time together, and she was available through text and email throughout. I absolutely recommend her, and feel extremely grateful that she was there on the journey to bring my son into the world!!

From partner:

Saphren was diligent in understanding and respecting our preferences like ensuring we made evidence-based medical decisions for both mother and baby. She provided support when needed, but stepped back to allow family in when appropriate. When labor got intense early in the morning she came to our apartment to support us, and communicated with the midwife to ensure we went to the hospital at the right time.

Laura Brailsford

10/6/2023

Saphren was nothing short of amazing. After a traumatic second birth I decided to use her for the birth of my third child. I wanted a healing experience and went in super nervous. With saphren's help I got the birth experience I wanted, despite being in a high risk room in a hospital surrounded by dr and nurses. She advocated for me, helped with pain relief, was a wonderful calm presence not just during the birth but during the nervous run up. Having her in combination with the drs kept me and baby safe but also allowed me to have a beautiful birth. She was reliable and great with my husband too. I had a truly healing and wonderful birth experience. I wish I had had her at all my births. My postpartum experience was a lovely high after a wonderful birth and I can't thank saphren enough. Even if things hadn't run as smoothly as they did for me I know she helped with pain relief (massively) by pulling a new trick out every time it felt too much, keeping me calm and being an ear for all my worries before baby came. And I can compare to my births without a doula and see that it was a much much better experience with a doula, particularly such a competent, lovely and reliable one. Thanks saphren ??

Kayan Hui

6/19/2023

I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible support and guidance that Saphren, our birth doula, provided during our journey to parenthood. Saphren’s dedication to our well-being, her wealth of knowledge, and her unwavering commitment to our birth experience truly made her an invaluable part of our team.

From the moment we connected, Saphren demonstrated her commitment to empowering us as parents. After our first introductory call, Saphren thoughtfully curated a wealth of articles, videos, and other materials that covered various aspects of labor, delivery, and postpartum care. These resources provided a solid foundation for navigating the multitude of choices and options available and allowed us to approach our birth experience with confidence and clarity.

During labour, Saphren's ongoing care and advocacy were nothing short of remarkable. Her preparation of a soothing bath created an environment of tranquility and relaxation, offering respite during intense contractions. Saphren also skillfully guided us through various breathwork techniques and the use of the TENS machine, helping us find our rhythm and stay grounded amidst the waves of contractions. Her calming presence and unwavering support instilled in us a sense of confidence and reassurance, making the entire labor experience more manageable and empowering.

Finally, Saphren's dedication to our well-being did not end with the birth of our child. She remained available postpartum, providing guidance, resources, and emotional support during those early days of adjusting to parenthood.

In summary, Saphren has been an absolute blessing on our journey to becoming parents. We wholeheartedly recommend Saphren as a birth doula to any expectant parents seeking a compassionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated support person. Her impact on our experience is immeasurable, and we will forever be grateful for her presence during this transformative time.

Katie

3/8/2023

I am so glad we hired Saphren as our doula! During our early meetings, she provided all the information and resources I needed to make informed decisions about my labour. Once I had settled on a plan (I was open to an epidural but wanted to try other pain management strategies first), she made clear that she would stand behind and advocate for all my choices. During labour, she came to my house twice in the night (around 10pm and 3am) to support us and ultimately rode with us to the hospital. At the hospital she spent hours spraying warm water on my back while my partner held me in the tub. Ultimately, I needed/chose a c section for non-progressing and she supported me all throught that as well. Although some would see my labour as hard (a few hours of unmedicated pushing and a c section), I recall it as an empowering experience for me and a bonding experience for my partner and I, and I think Saphrens support is what made the difference!! Her photography and postpartum support were also great!

Eira Glover

2/9/2023

Saphren was an indispensable part of my pregnancy and birth journey. She was able to support me in so many ways: by truly listening to my hopes and my concerns, by providing me with (so much!) information and resources when I asked, by being available to discuss, and debrief quesions/issues from my midwife appointments, and by being so open-hearted and deeplying caring in her approach. Saphren was the best decision I made!! Her groundedness, her calm and steady voice, and her unwavering presence with and for me at my home birth contributed to it being an absolutely magical experience. She also took exceptional photos of the labor and birth that I will be forever grateful for :)

Adrien

2/2/2023

I write this with my baby girl happily sleeping on my chest. Saphren is calm, understanding, and clear. Her guidance and support gave us confidence to feel in control (despite the many things out of your control during birth). She was able to walk us through many scenarios and present them with nuance, making us prepared to make decisions regardless of where the journey went. During the wee hours of labour, I felt safer knowing she was on our team. I cannot imagine going through our birthing process without her quiet strength. Thank you Saphren.

Matthieu P

12/2/2022

Saphren is simply amazing! As someone who does not feel very at ease in hospitals, I was very anxious about being able to support my wife during labour, but Saphren's calm aura and vast bag of tools to be used made the whole experience so much more bearable for my wife, and erased all the fears I had on my end. 

We did not reeally know what a doula was before, but we now recommend to all of our friends to get one, and Saphren really painted the best portait possible ever for all doulas out there. She helped us having a perfect birth, made us feel good about everything during all stages (pre-labor, early labor and of course during labor!).

Can't recommend Saphren enough, if we had to go through it all again, we would not change a thing.

Kelly

11/19/2022

This is my first birth and my partner and I feel so lucky to be matched with Saphren as our doula. We had a really positive experience in the form of a water birth. From the get go, Saphren's calm energy and knowledge regarding birthing helped us feel more confident and empowered leading up to the labour.

During my labour, Saphren and my partner were my ultimate support team, and we developed a rhythm that I found comforting while having contractions. Saphren is intuitive and observant and was able to anticipate my needs. She also recommended different positions that helped with my contractions.

Saphren helped us achieve our ideal birth experience. Without Saphren, we would have likely changed our plan so we are so happy that she was able to steer us to achieve our original wishes.

I recommend Saphren for anyone looking for a doula and if we have a second child, we would most definitely want Saphren as our doula!

Jas

11/10/2022

I didn't plan to have a doula and thankfully Saphren was open to the last minute nature of my request. I wanted my birth to be experiential and intuitive. I didn't want to spend endless hours reading about what to expect. I relied on Saphren to research and advise on topics that were important to me. I trusted her birthing knowledge and wisdom. Her approach was gentle, empowering and reassuring. She listened to my partner's concerns and eased his anxiety which, provided relief for me. The birth photography was a beautiful gift. Thank you Saphren! 

Melanie P

9/30/2022

I cannot say enough about our experience with Saphren. From the get go I felt a very calm energy and a genuine connection (even over video chat!) she asked lots of questions to understand our wishes for this birth and provided lots of options and information for us to look into ahead of time. We checked in frequently as the day grew closer, she was always quick to calm any concerns or answer any questions I had. The night I went into labour was fast and furious and although we were only at the hospital an hour together before my baby was born, I truly couldn't have imagined her not being there! She was a calming presence and even though it was the first time we met in person, I instantly felt safe and supported. I vividly remember her saying "you're in transition, so close now" at the exact moment I was feeling that transition anxiety. It was what I needed to hear to keep going. Even though we didn't get deep into her bag of tricks, as this baby came fast, her being right there for me (quickly setting up the room with candles and lowering the lights, providing counter pressure on my lower back / suggesting different pushing positions, getting me toast RIGHT after delivery) was exactly what I needed. My husband also loved having another person there to help support us. She also took some incredible photos/videos!! We didn't have a doula with our first, and I wish we did.  I couldn't recommend Saphren enough to any future parents out there! 

Sandy

9/28/2022

We had a really positive birthing experience and Saphren was a big part of that. She was reassuring throughout, provided suggestions to my partner to help me cope, and was able to ask for things for me while we were at the hospital that I would not have known about or asked for. She even went on a long 3-hour walk with us around the hospital to help me progress the labour further. The TENS machine that she had made contractions much more bearable and she also took some photos that we otherwise would not have taken. She has a very calming energy and I would highly recommend her for anyone looking for a doula!

Kathy Zhang

8/10/2022

We were so lucky to be matched with Saphren as our Doula.  I couldn't imagine going through the birthing experience without her calm, kind presence.  We were extra surprised by the early arrival of our baby girl at 36 weeks.  Saphren immediately helped calm and reassure me that the baby would be fine (which she is) and ease me through the process of an unexpected labour (no easy feat considering I was a panicked first time mom!)

She was so supportive during the process, there with a gentle word or offering me a cold beverage when I didn't know I needed it.  She also helped my husband with his role in supporting me in labour by offering guidance and suggestions.  Saphren is also an extremely talented photographer.  She utilizes her background in the Visual Arts and was able to take some wonderful photos of the birth which was a surprise and pleasure to have.

During our follow up visit she was able to provide wonderful resources and care for myself and baby, and helped talk me through some post partem mental health struggles I was having.

I cannot speak highly enough of Saphren.  She was simply amazing: kind, professional, uplifting, and just an awesome human.  If I had another baby I would want her right by my side.

Sincerely,

Kathy Zhang     

Vanessa

7/18/2022

Saphren was actually our "substitute" doula when I learned our original doula was unavailable as I went into labour.  While originally anxious about the last minute change of plan, this ended up being completely serendipitous and I feel so grateful and fortunate to have had Saphren to support me throughout my hospital birth at BC Women's Hospital.

Saphren was able to come and meet my husband and I at the hospital very shortly after we were admitted.  As someone with a lot of anxieties around labour and delivery, she was such an amazingly calming and reassuring support to me.  She seemed to draw upon her many years of experience to suggest different techniques and strategies for pain mangement, from assiting me with the TENS machine and spending (what felt like) *hours* repeatedly pouring pails of warm water on my lower back while I laboured in the bathtub.  She truly provided the encouragement I needed as a nervous, first-time mother and was completely devoted to my comfort the entire time she was with us.  Even after the birth of my child, she continued to look attend to my needs bringing me juice and some much-needed PB&J toast! 

Somehow (!!) Saphren was even able to send us over 100 photographs of our labour and beautiful newborn son.  While she'd mentioned she'd take some pictures beforehand, my husband and I were both genuinely shocked as we had *barely* seen her take any pictures at all when she was with us.  There is no way to express what it means to us to have photos of the very moment my son was born and placed on my chest for the first time.

Being a doula is obviously a sacred calling for Saphren and my family is beyond lucky that the stars aligned to have her support and care. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Saphren! 

Monique & George

6/13/2022

From beginning to end, Saphren played a huge part in our birth story. She knew my birth plan and was able to share that with the nurses when i was not. She asked questions that i didn't know to ask. She gave my husband some techniques to help coach me through the pain. She gave me options that i didn't know i had. Every question i had, she was able to answer. My husband and i are extremely glad we went with a doula and that Saphren was sent to us. Bonus on our end, is that she has a professional camera and asked if we wanted to have photos taken. Looking back, we would probably have no photos of our little one coming into the world, as Dad was busy cutting the cord and I in awe with our little guy. 

Saphren, thanks again for being so great.

Ella

10/3/2019

Having Saphren at the birth of my daughter was so wonderful. From about 35 weeks on she was always available for me to call/text with questions, and she always made sure to check in at least once a week.

Then when I first started going into labor, she sat with me at home in the middle of the night while my contractions got more painful and closer together - helping me find new positions during the contractions and showing my family techniques to help me get through them. She was there timing and helping us decide when to go to the hospital, which took that stress away from us. Even those small things meant so much!

Saphren provided so much emotional and physical support throughout the 33 hours of labor to both me and my family. And having her around during this incredibly challenging and magical event in my life was so special.

Not only that, but when I returned home she sent me over one hundred beautiful, emotional, and candid pictures of the birth to look back on. I will cherish those pictures forever!

I am very grateful that I had her there and I can’t imagine having done it without her and her calm, loving presence. Thank you so much Saphren for being a part of my labor and my daughter’s birth. Your role in the process was so huge and I will never forget your support and kindness throughout the hardest, yet most rewarding experience of my life.

Debbie

8/15/2019

Saphren jumped in last as our substitute doula and was amazing! She helped my husband find ways to help me which kept him focused instead of stressed and the positions and breath guidance she gave to me were invaluable in the moment. I was lucky to have a very short labor but it was made even easier by Saphren’s calm demeanour and steady support.  Thank you Saphren!

Kerry Blackadar

9/2/2018

Saphren is an incredibly calm, knowledgeable and kind doula. She was a true rock throughout my entire labour experience — from providing support during the over 24 hours of early labour to coaching me through the final stages of active labour. Saphren taught my husband and I a wide variety of methods to help me cope with the pain — and her reassuring words are ones that I will never forget. In addition to supporting us, she also captured some beautiful images of our daughter’s first moments of life and visited us at home in her first few weeks. My husband and I will be forever grateful for our wonderful doula experience with Saphren.

Tracy Chard

12/30/2017

Saphren is an excellent doula and I am so pleased to have chosen her to be my support throughout this journey. I can describe Saphren as kind, passionate, dedicated to her profession, reliable and easy to communicate with.   I gave birth to my baby boy in November 2017 in a Vancouver hospital with a midwife.  Sahren played a key support role during my labour and delivery and despite the birth process itself being more difficult and complex than anticipated, it was Saphren's experience, knowledge, calm disposition, consistent support and her ability to work well with other professionals that got me through it and helped me accomplish my personal goal of feeling empowered and not traumatized by the event. Furthermore her support before and after the birth was very helpful and appreciated. If I ever have a second pregnancy I will most certainly chose to hire Saphren again. I highly recommend her to you.

Andrea Cilona

10/14/2017

Saphren was recommended as a back up Doula while mine was out of town on vacation. We did not have the opportunity to meet, were only introduced over text messages.

Unexpectedly I went in to labor on Labor Day, and texted Saphren right away. She was available and open to coming to us immediately or as we wished. She made sure to be available for what our needs and requests were. We waited until the pain was quite intense and then phoned her that she was needed.

When Saphren arrived she immediately brought a sense of calm. I felt as if I had known her forever and she dove right in to help. She began with discussing how I was doing with my husband and seeing what felt like relief in my discomfort first. When I shared being on all 4's was helpful she tried some pressure on my back and hips. What I loved was she always asked if she could try something. She kept reassuring me how well I was done and suggested changes in my breathing.

once we all agreed on going to the hospital, having her there felt like we had our own guide. She knew her way around and ensured I did not need to think about anything. At the hospital Saphren ensured me that I was in a safe place.

Even though we didn't have a chance to go over my birth plan, we were on the same page! I wanted to have  a natural birth and Saphren made sure to provide me with the strength, calmness and reassurance I could do it.

I particularly loved the toast she gave me right after birth that gave me some energy! She also then has come to visit our little miracle Enzo now that we are home!

I strongly believe I wouldn't have had the labor and delivery the way I did without her!

Amber Von Apple

8/18/2017

From the first meeting with Saphren, I knew that she was the right fit and that I wanted her to be at my birth of my son. Throughout my pregnancy, she would text/email to see how we were doing and to ask if I had any questions about prenatal classes, labour strategies, and ways to cope with pain management. I always felt like she was thinking one step ahead and preparing us for the journey of birth that lay ahead.

I was 11 days overdue. Saphren would check in every few days to see how I was doing and to offer foot & hand massage as well as a few other methods to help get my labour started naturally. She was always there to offer up suggestions as well as encouraging words to help keep my spirits up. It's not easy being overdue. I was induced on the 11th day with cervidil. We went home to see if we could get labour started with some easy walking. Saphren was the first person we called when the contractions started to come closer together. She was quick to arrive and never left my side. She came prepared with massage techniques, lavender scented oil and a calm energy. As labour progressed she stayed in touch with our midwives and helped us decide when it was time to head to the hospital. At the hospital, she set the scene by dimming the lights and set up flameless candles. She was pivotal to my comfort during labour. She massaged my back, applied pressure on my hips during contractions and continuously poured water over my stomach while I laboured in the bath. After our son was delivered there were some complications and I had to be rushed off to surgery. Saphren remained calm and assisted my husband every step of the way.

After we arrived home she texted to make sure we were doing well and visited after a few days to help us decompress about our labour and delivery. She even baked the most delicious muffins.  I would highly recommend Saphren to anyone looking for a great doula!

Doris Kwong

2/25/2017

We really appriciated Miss Saphren's help!

She uses her knowladge and patience helped us went through the hard time. Saphren been taking care of us since we first time met. When we talking to her are more like talking to a old friend.

When we deliver our little doughter Elisha, Saphren are staying with us all time supporting and helping us to arrange the hosipital. If without Saphren's help our first baby deliver won't be easy.

Because of her professional work and the lovely personality, make her very easy going and feel reliable when you talking to her.

So we strongly recommend her in her future works, hope she can goes further and better.

At the end we want to say thank you Saphren for all you have done for us!

sincerely,

Doris and Danny

vicky luong

2/16/2017

We first met saphren after she had gotten referred to us by our midwife. She came to our home and instantly we could tell she was a very sweet and kind person. Throughout the pregnancy she ensured me that I was able to email or text her whenever I had a question or was worried about anything. Of course I had taken her up on her offer and she was very responsive and helpful. She sent links of different websites for different stages of my pregnancy to let me know what I was experiencing was normal, but also what was to come. If she was unsure about something she was honest about it and informed us to go visit our midwife instead. A week from my due date, saphren and I kept in contact every day throughout the day. She was very attentive and when it came time, she was over at my house within a half an hour! During the birth saphren helped me feel relaxed which made my partner feel better. She stayed during the entire labour (over 30 hours at the hospital and approx 6 hours at home) and after my son my was born. We insisted she rest or go get something to eat (we felt awful because she was with us for 2 whole days!) But she said she was prepared with snacks and was rested and not to worry about her but to focus on how I'm feeling. Saphren is an excellent doula and I would definitely love to have her again for my next one! You will not be let down.

Carey Lee

2/14/2017

We had the amazing experience of having Saphren with us during the labour and birth of our son. Saphren helped us through labouring at home, utilizing a variety of relaxing techniques to help me through the pain and monitoring the progress of the labour. By the time we got to the hospital, I was already 7 cm dilated. Labour can be a very intense and very painful experience and it takes someone with compassion, intuition and instinct to help guide us through the process. All characteristics Saphren has an abundance of.