Meagan S.

1/18/2024

You NEED Elise on your team! Her wisdom, use of knowledge, and experience are unmatched! Her demeanor is calm and confident. She was such a rock and a resource anytime an unexpected curve ball was thrown my way. My pregnancy went to 42 weeks and required an induction. I was so nervous! Elise walked me through the process so I arrived at the hospital confident and excited. During labor, she moved me through several positions and tactics, always keeping my brain engaged and focused. She even helped baby move into an optimal position for birth. Not only did the induction progress way better than I expected, but I was also able to avoid an epidural! Elise really believed in me and that made all the difference!

Danielle

1/16/2024

I truly wouldn't have had the unmedicated birth I'd always hoped for without Elise ! 
I knew before even finding out I was pregnant that I wanted to use a doula. My sister had used Melanie with ABB for all three of her children, so I started looking there. After my interview with Elise I knew she was the one- we just clicked. I also wanted to have my placenta encapsulated so she was able to support me with that as well! 
all throughout my pregnancy Elise was there to answer any questions / concerns or provide resources when and where she could. My labor and delivery experience ended up being everything I personally did not plan for- it was VERY fast and intense. Elise was right there through it all and supported my husband and I in navigating the fast and furious experience fully unmedicated as I had originally planned ! 

Kristen Mann

1/15/2024

As someone who has always been anxious about labor and birth, Elise was the perfect fit to walk us through what to expect and keep us calm. Working with Elise was the best decision we made during pregnancy. She is calm and honest and explains things to help you make decisions and to feel at ease. I would recommend her to any of my expecting friends! We appreciated her visits, calls and texts to check in and answer question during pregnancy and postpartum. 

Melanie

9/14/2023

About 12 hours after my daughter was born, my husband said to our hospital visitors, "Elise was worth every penny"! That's how you know that everyone was so glad to have her in our labor and delivery. There were parts of my labor that didn't go the way I pictured them, and Elise helped me cope appropriately and get me to the finish line. It was an incredible experience and I'm so glad Elise was there to help guide me through. Having Elise come to our home postpartum and follow up on all things was also so nice. I was coming out of my fog, and reliving some of that process with her was really nice. It helped me to process it all, and have a good check in with someone who could guide me in the right direction if needed! I am so grateful to Elise, and would recommend her to anyone looking for a doula!

Melissa

9/14/2023

Elise was our doula for a second time this past February. She was one of the first people I contacted about being pregnant and she was so encouraging of me exploring a birth center over the hospital based on our previous birthing experience together. Elise really brings the vibes of a best friend but also happens to be a trained doula. Her familiarity yet professional presence was the perfect fit for our family. She was so connected to me even on the phone as we updated her throughout the day we went into labor. Seeing her smiling face when we arrived at the birth center immediately put me at ease. She and the midwives had a seamless relationship which allowed my husband and I to labor together with little to no interruption. She was calm and gentle and has an innate ability to read the birthing mom and the room, then fill the gaps. I could not have had the experience I did without her! 

Sara

7/29/2023

Working with Elise was wonderful! I only wish I had discovered her doula services earlier with my first born. When I decided I wanted to try for a VBAC with my second, I knew I wanted to work with a doula for extra education and encouragement, and Elise and I just clicked. She checked in with me regularly throughout my pregnancy, sent me helpful articles and resources, and was a huge support during the actual labor (reminding me to breathe and keeping me as calm as possible). I highly recommend her!

Maria Mulcahey

7/17/2023

Highly recommend Elise for any and all your Doula needs. Elise provided us with a wealth of information that helped us make educated and concrete decisions for our birth plan and events after our Daisy's arrival. Elise was a vital part of our birthing team, she coached and guided my husband through supporting me through labor as well as worked with the hospital staff to ensure our wants and needs were heard through out our labor and delivery experience. Truly without her we believe things would have gone very differently. I would also highly recommend inquiring about her Placenta encapsulation/services, it has been a vital part of my postpartum recovery! We are forever grateful for Elise and all she did for us and our precious Daisy girl!

Kathleen Freeze

5/17/2023

Elise was such a gift to my family and I. She was incredibly calm, knowledgable, and compassionate throughout the whole pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum process. I was so anxious about birth, I feared the entire process and all the unknowns. Elise was incredibly helpful and patient throughout every step. I can look back on the birth of my daughter as a truly positive and life changing experience- largely thanks to Elise. I am beyond thankful for her work, and feel grateful to know her as a doula and human! She is amazing, I can’t imagine having gone through this experience without her.

Heather Mawn

3/2/2023

I used Elise for both my births and she will be at any future birth!  Elise is kind, warm, knowledgable, level-headed, and STRONG.  This woman double hip squeezed me so much through my second birth that I don't know how she was able to move her arms the next day.  When it comes to patience, Elise has it in spades.  I went 11 days past my due date with both of my babies and Elise kept me sane each of those 11 days.  She was my first call when I had any concerns, and she would counsel me with evidence-based information while also supporting any gut instincts I may have had.  I have and will continue to recommend Elise to anyone looking for an amazing doula.

Chelsea

2/15/2023

I am not sure how I would have made it through labor with out Elise. Even before labor she was so helpful between meetings at our house where she prepared us for what was to come to my many texts during several nights of false labor. She was so supportive and eased my worries. I remember wanting a doula because I have trust issues with hospitals due to my dad dying from malpractice over 10 years ago. I knew that I would being putting too much stress on my husband to make sure I was being taken care of since we both had no idea what to expect. It was so helpful to be able to look to her and hear things were okay. Before I got the epidural I was in a lot of pain with back labor. I probably killed Elise's hands because she gave constant counter pressure which was the only thing that eased the pain. I remember my husband and my mom taking turns trying to do the same thing and they could never find the right placement or pressure. She has a magical way of making you feel instantly comfortable with her too. We will definitely be hiring her again for baby number 2 in the future! 

Liz Schiller

2/9/2023

This was my second birth with Elise as my doula and she was as indispensable this time as she was when I was a first time mom. Elise is a calming, radiant, authentic human with a wealth of knowledge about birth and healthcare in Richmond. Elise provided essential support throughout my pregnancy, beginning with the day I found out I was pregnant. She recommended an AMAZING OB and always knew the right questions to ask and issues to raise as a navigated my first AMA pregnancy. Elise's advocacy for me during my induction was a big part of my birth being as calm, exciting, and lighthearted as birthing an enormous baby as an old and exhausted mom can possible be. She supported all my choices and helped me make sure I was informed every step of the way. My husband is also one of Elise's biggest fans, and I know her being at my birth took pressure off him and helped him know what to do and let him enjoy our child's birth. My whole family loves Elise! You should definitely hire her.

Katie Wilson

12/6/2022

Elise and I had an unconventional first meeting as she was our backup doula and we first met when I was already in labor with my first son. Thankfully my husband and I immediately loved her and she helped guide us through a difficult labor and delivery of our sweet Calvin. We also found out we had the same alma mater, Go Dawgs! Fast forward 3 years and I knew as soon as I got pregnant again that I needed Elise by my side. As most second labors do, things were a little different. I went into labor on my own at 40.6, but because of some low fluid levels ended up at the hospital in early labor sooner than I would have liked. Elise knew my anxiety was high and never hesitated in coming to support us early. Labor progressed a little slowly due to all the distractions but Elise knew how to keep things moving. She went out of her way to set the mood of the room while also encouraging me to do the "tough stuff" and bring on baby. She kept telling me once I progressed that things would happen quickly, but after pushing for nearly 4 hours with my first I didn't believe her. Much to my surprise she ended up being right and after a few hours our sweet Sonny was in my arms. Following labor I had some significant bleeding and she supported me the entire time. Overall, the entire experience was so beautiful and everything I imagined it to be. While this chapter of my life is likely over, if I had to do it again 100% Elise would be there. 

Monica Harris

11/15/2022

I first found Elise in 2018 while pregnant with my first child. She attended my birth in 2019 and I truly don't know what I would have done without her there to guide me. It was like I had known her my whole life! So when I conceived my 2nd child in 2022 there was no question in my mind that I not only wanted Elise there but I NEEDED her there, too! With the help of Elise I was able to have the most peaceful, calm Homebirth imaginable I highly recommend Elise to anyone in search of a doula! 

Alyn

9/25/2022

We have worked either Elise twice now for the births of our two children (2020 and 2022). She has played such an important role throughout both of those pregnancies and births, providing us perspective on the medical decisions we had to make and a compassionate listening ear for our feelings about them. Elise used her deep well of experience as a doula and also as a mother herself to ask us the right questions to help us figure out what we wanted, and empowered us with the information and confidence to advocate for ourselves. Even now as a mother of two, Elise is an inspiration to me for her grit and strength. I feel lucky to call her not only my doula, but also a friend. 

Dynasty

12/6/2021

Elise was a great doula for our family and made the whole experience (labor, birth, postpartum) of bringing our first child into the world a great one! She was available to answer our many questions and provide the reassurance we needed as first-time parents. When things progressed faster than we expected while I was in labor, she provided reassurance to my husband and I, as well as advocated for us when it was time to go to the hospital. She was very hands-on, literally helping me with my back labor. She worked well with my husband as they both offered me support and helped me to stay focused on my goal of having a natural birth. After my daughter was born, Elise remained a great resource for the many questions we had about being new parents. I highly recommend her!

Rachel

9/2/2021

I can't decide whether Elise's help was most valuable during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or postpartum. I can't imagine any part without her. So thankful we didn't have to choose! Her support during pregnancy meant so much. I called her after one doctor's visit and she asked how I was doing, and I shared the facts and figures from the OB. She listened and then said, "But how are you doing?" She wanted to hear the full picture, not just the quick check in I was used to from my OB's office.
I went past my due date and then was admitted to labor and delivery straight from my 40.5 week appt. Being able to talk to Elise as we navigated that quick check in and the unknowns ahead was invaluable. We thought we were in for the long haul of an induction, but my body kicked things into gear after a membrane sweep and a foley bulb. We called her in the middle of the night, and she listened to one of my contractions and said, "I'm on my way." Some of the best words I've ever heard! 

I know Elise cozied up the room when she got there from things my husband told me, but honestly I don't remember! What I do remember is her warm and calming presence, her encouragement of my husband and me as we were in the thick of tough contractions, her suggestions of different positions to try, her amazing counter pressure, and her face right next to mine, whispering soft words, as I wondered how I could get through another push. 

We had a lot of wonderful family help in the first couple weeks postpartum, but one of my favorite memories from that time is Elise coming over and sitting on the bed with us as we processed our son's birth and pestered her with questions about taking care of this infant. 
In short, you'll want Elise to be your friend in the first 5 minutes you spend with her, and all the time after that you'll just be wondering how you got so lucky to have her along during such a monumental part of your journey. 

Meredith Deegan

7/20/2021

We could not have asked for a better person than Elise Benoit to be a part of our birth team. As 1st time parents, my husband and I wanted to have the support of a L&D doula.  After reading through testimonials early in pregnancy, we interviewed Elise and instantly formed a connection with her. Although we didn't meet Elise in person until much later due to COVID, she was a constant source of reassurance, guidance, information, and support. She checked in regularly throughout my pregnancy and answered our questions. During the last trimester of pregnancy, I had some unexpected complications. Elise calmly helped me to discuss my options and continuously supported me as I advocated for myself with my medical team. She made overwhelming situations seem much more approachable and offered great evidence-based information to help us make the best decisions. 

During L&D, Elise supported my husband and I the entire time. She stayed in constant communication with my husband after we had arrived at the hospital, and came just as we needed her. When she arrived with lavender essential oils and twinkly lights, she made the room feel so much more comfortable and peaceful. Her calming presence, dependability, advice of birthing positions, hands on approach (the best hip squeezes and labor positions), and patience were so appreciated. Not only did she support me, but gave my husband support and confidence. Thanks to Elise, I felt empowered and supported throughout L&D. She also was able to take pictures that I will treasure forever. I especially appreciated Elise's guidance after birth- she continued to check in with us regularly via text and in person during the postpartum period. I cannot imagine my birth story or postpartum time without Elise. She will forever be a part of the birth story of our son and we are so incredibly grateful to have had her present during his birth. I highly recommend Elise as an L&D and postpartum doula. 

Christina Owens

5/9/2021

After a difficult postpartum experience with my 1st child, I knew I needed a better support system for my 2nd. I hired Elise as my birth doula and from the very beginning she made such a positive impact. She listened to my fears and concerns and really made me feel heard. I had a home birth with this 2nd baby so it was really important to me to feel confident and safe, and Elise played a huge role in meeting me where I was at and helping me feel empowered. When I went into labor she arrived at my house quickly as my first labor went fast and she wanted to make sure she was there to support me early on. I delivered my baby after only a few hours of active labor. Elise was such a calming presence during labor and delivery, helped me stay relaxed and present in the moment, had amazing hands on techniques to help with my back labor, and knew exactly when to step in and gently remind me that I was doing great. After the birth she made sure I was comfortably tucked in, fed and hydrated, and helped me latch during the first nursing sessions. The first week of my baby’s life was hard and exhausting, but Elise was always available to answer my questions and help me work through those difficult early days. We hired her for overnight postpartum shifts as well and she was an absolute saving grace. Not only did we get some sleep, we were able to rest easy knowing that our baby was in safe, capable, and loving hands. I struggled with PPD after my first and a big reason that I was able to better combat those feelings this time around was because of Elise’s presence, help, and support. Postpartum is such a tough time, but thanks to Elise I never felt alone. Elise is so tuned into the experience of the birthing mother, I truly believe that both I and my baby had a better, calmer, more loving start together because of all the support we got from Elise. I feel deeply and forever grateful for the love and kindness she showed my growing family. She is a true gem.

Virginia & Michael

3/27/2021

We had the pleasure of working with Elise for the birth of our first child. As new parents, we were nervous about what to expect and we wanted to ensure support from someone we knew, trusted, and had discussed our birth wishes with.

Overall, our birthing experience was great and a lot of that was due to Elise! She was diligent, knowledgeable, compassionate, and proactive. She made us feel cared for and supported throughout the entire process. Virginia preferred to have a natural birth and Elise arrived with a bag of supplies, suggested position after position, helped Michael to be the best supportive partner he could be, gave words of encouragement, and helped advocate on our behalf to help us achieve that goal. We would absolutely recommend Elise to anyone considering a doula. Not only was she a positive presence before and during the birth of our daugher, but she also told us that she will always be our doula. She has checked in on us multiple times since the birth and has answered all of our (probably silly) postpartum questions. It is wonderful to know that she is always there for us.

Sara Nicholas

3/27/2021

Elise had been recommended to me by a friend and we knew as soon as we met her that she was the calm, knowledgeable guide that we wanted by our side throughout our journey. Our feelings were amplified when at 6 months pregnant, Covid hit and we were overcome with a whirlwind of emotions and questions. Elise was our constant. She provided us with evidence based information that didn’t feel overwhelming and always offered to answer any and all questions that popped up. She followed up after appointments and helped me decide what to do once my baby decided to hunker down in the breech position. (This was not my plan at all and Elise knew that.) She offered continuous support and assured us that regardless of the way our baby entered the world, it would be a beautiful experience. After weeks of hanging off the couch trying to “spin” my baby, she accompanied us to an unsuccessful ECV. That process was more emotionally taxing than I expected and both me and my husband were glad she was there to provide honest insight in the happenings to come. Walking into the hospital in the day of my c-section was one of the strangest feelings but we were comforted in knowing that Elise would be meeting us there. She guided both me and my husband through all of the initial preparations and stayed with him while the team placed my epidural. During birth, Elise provided even more reassurance, made sure our wishes (and even music selections) were known in the OR, and took some of our most treasured pictures from that blissful day. She was always quick to respond to any questions I had post-partum (no matter the time of day or the subject)!

While my daughter’s birth was not what I originally expected or planned for, it was the best day of our lives. A large part of that is due to Elise’s calm demeanor and support, and for that we are forever grateful. Thank you Elise for the guidance, friendship, and love you shared with us!

Perdita Leaman

3/11/2021

As first time parents, my husband and I were pretty overwhelmed. We had no idea what an "ideal labor experience" looked like and we felt like we didn't have much support at all. We decided to hire Elise due to the glowing reviews and her warm personality. What struck us from the get go was Elise's expertise. She's very well educated and well versed in all things pregnancy, labor and postnatal care.

Elise was 100% accessible. I could text her any time and she would get right back to me. She would even check up on me every time I would voice a concern. She truly is the perfect advocate. 

My labor experience was wonderful. My water broke in the early morning and I started having contractions in the afternoon. Once the contractions became intense, Elise came over to my house and helped me into positions to help relieve the back labor I was experiencing. She let me labor for a little while and monitored my contractions, she then helped me make the decision to go to the hospital. By the time I was at the hospital, I was already around 8 cm dilated. Elise got me to that point. I spent about two or so hours at the hospital and then pushed my beautiful baby boy out with Elise's encouragement.

I have to say, I really don't think I could have had a natural birth without Elise. Once you are in that Transition stage of labor, all bets are off. However, she helped me into different positions and into the tub and we utilized non-pharmacological pain relief. I was up walking around the room an hour later. What an incredible journey! 

Elise continues to offer her support to this day with breastfeeding and any other issues or concerns I may have. She is truly one of those people who has a calling. If you are on the fence about the investment, you should just go ahead. It is money well spent for the peace of mind and support of bringing a new life into this crazy world.

Evelyn

3/8/2021

I hired Elise as my postpartum doula for my second pregnancy. I didn't know exactly what she would help me with, but I knew I could use the help of someone who has experience with birth, postpartum, babies, and would not be judging me or trying to intervene. My husband and I were very happy every time she came, she would help with the laundry, dishes, make me company, hold the baby so we could have dinner together with my toddler, or while I took a shower, or napped. So many things! She was never overbearing and learned quickly how I liked things done. She became a friend and everyone in my house loves her! 

Lindsay White

2/1/2021

The first time Elise and I spoke on the phone, we connected instantly. I knew before we were halfway through with our chat, that I not only wanted to hire her as our doula, but I wanted her as a friend too. It didn’t matter what time I texted her, she always responded to me when I  needed her. When we found out that I would be delivering much earlier than planned, Elise was quick to make time to come over to our house to talk through things that could happen as far as our birth plan went. I ended up having to head over to labor and delivery from my OB appointment around 230 in the afternoon for induction, after some alarming bloodwork, it was determined I would be having an emergency c section that evening. The midwife came in to chat about next steps and Elise hopped on a FaceTime call so that she could be involved as well as make sure that I understood and was comfortable with what was happening next. Elise wasted no time in getting to the hospital. She and my husband both were able to be in the operating room. My husband was able to be present with me in the moment and focus on me while we were waiting for our sweet little Archie to make his debut. Elise held my phone and had my worship music playing and she even took pictures of Archie being born. I had some major complications after birth which caused some memory loss but one thing that stuck out in my mind was the huge hug she gave me when she got there. And while I don’t remember what words we exchanged at that time, I remember feeling a sense of relief. My husband even felt it too. Since birth I have contacted her almost daily reaching out for advice. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout my breastfeeding journey and always made me feel proud of the milk I was producing. I could go on and on but I will leave with this last statement...Not only did we gain a doula for life, we gained a new friend for life and our little family couldn’t be more grateful.

Kelsey H.

11/30/2020

I’m an anxious person and was nervous about the unknowns of pregnancy and childbirth before my husband and I even started trying to conceive, so choosing a doula who would be patient with my (many) concerns was very important to me. From the day we hired her, Elise was more than reassuring. (And to boot, she continues to be, as we’re now a little more than a month into parenthood.)

Overall, my pregnancy, labor, and delivery experiences were healthy. However, my daughter did make quite a speedy debut, which was far from my expectations as a first-time mom. Even still, when it became very clear that my contractions were moving along at an unexpectedly fast pace and that my husband and I were much closer to becoming parents than we realized, Elise remained calm and quickly got us to the hospital. I am sure if we hadn’t had her clear-headed judgment on our side, we may have second-guessed ourselves and inadvertently welcomed our baby into this world at home.

Because things quickly took a wild turn, I didn’t get the benefit of the peaceful birthing atmosphere that Elise encourages with things like her twinkle lights and warm compresses (although, she very sweetly set up the lights after my daughter’s birth anyway), but those are all icing on the cake. It’s Elise’s patience, understanding, and composure that you want in your corner on the big day. Do yourself a favor and add her to your team. She’s experienced in guiding precipitous labor now — you’re truly in good hands no matter what.

Kathleen Holderied

11/19/2020

My husband and I chose Elise after hearing about her family background and belief in education. We knew she was the right fit because we sought an educated and informed experience as we anticipated the arrival of our first daughter. After getting to know me better and understanding my desires for my birth experience, Elise was able to offer invaluable advice to help me achieve the experience I sought. She was always there at the other end of a phone call or text to offer her expertise on everything from first-time mom pregnancy insecurities to 12 hour bouts of prodromal labor. Once my real labor commenced, Elise worked with me over the phone since she was navigating another client's birth (thank you, drop in the barometric pressure, for bringing all the babies at once!) Thankfully, she was able to be with me when I got to the hospital the next afternoon. If it wasn't for Elise and the rest of my excellent team, I'm certain I wouldn't have been able to achieve the unmedicated birth experience I planned. She was a coach for me as well as my advocate and communicator with the midwives. I couldn't have asked for better support than what I got from Elise! Postpartum, Elise was an advocate and resource during my struggle with breastfeeding. Thanks to her support and wealth of knowledge, I went from giving up on breastfeeding entirely to being able to breastfeed my daughter and supplement with formula. My husband and I would highly recommend Elise if you are looking for a kind-hearted coach who is a wealth of knowledge, an excellent communicator, and an invaluable supporter. 

Vanessa Pastore-Smith

11/9/2020

We are so glad that we had Elisa as our doula. I had a long labor, with contractions starting 5 days before baby Luca finally arrived. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without her guidance. We were on and off the phone with her for two days of contractions at home. She met us at the hospital and stayed with us for 29 hours (!!!), spending the night in a chair next to my bed.

I planned on a natural birth, which ended up not being much of an option for me after such a long labor. Elise helped us with every decision we made straying from the birth plan, and continues to assure me that I made all the right choices. I’m also very grateful that she was able to use spinning babies techniques to get baby to move into a better position after the midwife mapped where he was. I think this was how I avoided a C-section.

After bringing Luca home, I had anxiety and insomnia for the first week or two, and had to keep cancelling our postpartum meeting at the last minute. Elise was very understanding and checked in on the phone with my husband in the meantime. Our two postpartum meetings ended up being extremely helpful. I don’t know who would have answered all of my lingering questions if it wasn’t for those meetings! She still checks in on me and Luca, and is still quick to respond to any random/ridiculous question I text her.

Throughout the whole thing, it felt like she really cared about my family, our birth outcome and our recovery.

Paige Scott

8/29/2020

When we first hired Elise, I still wasn’t entirely sure what doulas do. This was our first baby so we were pretty clueless about a lot of things. There’s data stating that hiring a doula leads to more favorable outcomes so I hung my hat on that. After having been through labor (induced for hypertension), birth and recovery, I can confidently say that Elise does freaking everything. She made sure to stay in constant contact with us and was always providing articles and information so we were as prepared as possible for labor and birth.

At the hospital, she had this bag of incredible tricks that made the room smell lovely and the lights look pretty. She was a pro at talking me off of any emotional ledges. She was a great coach to my partner and made him feel so involved. She taught him how to do the hip squeeze which makes contractions much more bearable. She was always five steps ahead of knowing what would be helpful and knowing what I needed.

I feel like I could talk about Elise for hours and still not find enough great things to say about her. She’s the warmest, most lovely, professional person and our birthing experience would not have been the same without her. She’s worth every damn penny!

**We also used Elise for placenta encapsulation. The turnaround was super quick and the packaging was beautiful. Highly recommend!

Heather Mawn

8/28/2020

We hired Elise to be our birth and post-partum doula and we could not have been happier with our decision.  Elise was there for me leading up to birth when I was 11 days late.  She supported me when I decided to schedule an induction and celebrated with me when I ended up going into labor at home about 4 hours before the induction appointment.  She made sure that everyone in the labor room knew that I did not want to know how dilated I was and she encouraged me endlessly through 18 hours of labor.  She has also been incredibly helpful in a post partum doula capacity as I went through two rounds of mastitis and a breast abscess.  She is always responsive when I text her with all my crazy questions.  She has never once made me feel like I'm over-concerned or asking stupid questions (even though I'm sure I am).  We also hired Elise to do placenta encapsulation, which I will absolutely do with every future birth.  We cannot recommend Elise enough for all of the services she offers!

Kelly Griffin

8/19/2020

Elise is absolutely wonderful, plain and simple!  She wasn't our planned doula, but when ours was called to another birth earlier in the evening, Elise was there as soon as we got to the birthing center and was an immediate source of calm and confidence for me and my husband. Following the birth of our son, Elise was there to help with all the questions we had and ones we didn't know we would have.  You'll want her to be with you during your birth experience and then be your friend afterward.  We can't recommend her enough!

Alyn

7/20/2020

Working with Elise was amazing!  She was such a calming influence during a turbulent time.  Our baby came in March 2020 just as COVID was taking hold, but Elise kept us updated on the rapidly changing hospital policies and was a wonderful support person for both me and my husband.  She was very knowledgeable and we appreciated her input as we needed to make decisions during labor and delivery.  She did a great job of explaining the benefits and risks to help inform our choices.  She took the time to understand what we wanted labor to look like beforehand and was proactive during labor to help us advocate for that vision.  Of course, lots of things did not turn out like we planned, but Elise went with the flow and helped keep us calm.  In addition to relying on Elise's expertise, we loved getting to know her and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a birth doula.  She was always available whenever we had questions.  We were so happy with the choice to use MyBirth, as we felt like Elise's backups (Keisha and Bailey) were great, too.  Thanks for everything, Elise!

Ashley Ringelberg

7/19/2020

We interviewed several highly recommended doulas and Elise was our perfect fit! We hired Elise to be apart of our 2nd birth journey…a first time VBAC! 

KNOWLEDGABLE AND INFORMATIVE: My first birth was a C-Section due to a breech baby; therefore it was extremely important to me that I fully understand my options concerning the birth of the second child. My first child was only 6 months old; when I found out we were pregnant with our second; meaning my surgically scarred uterus had only 14 months to heal between births. However, Elise provided the targeted information we needed to feel confident about moving forward with a VBAC. Additionally, we felt more confident about our options before/after birth and knew what questions to ask the doctor and nurses.

RELIABLE: Elise never skipped a beat! She truly cares about her clients. Elise balances her calendar well and only takes a limited number of clients at a time so she can be intentional with each birth. She was available by text/call/email for any questions and concerns, and was more than willing to meet in person for special events. 

SUPPORTIVE AND ENCOURAGING: I went into labor 2 weeks early…my labor lasted for 3 days…I was exhausted and in pain but Elise was there EVERY step of the way. She helped guide us to know when to go to the hospital and when to stay put. She waited with me at the hospital (at random hours of the night) even before the “final” visit to the hospital. During the birth, Elise was there advocating for my needs the entire time. She helped me get into birthing positions, assisted the nurses in completing “non-medical” tasks, made sure my husband was supported, heated washcloths, set up lights, diffused essential oils and much more! After the birth Elise would check in and continue to support my overall health!

Melissa

6/15/2020

Elise was amazing! As a new mom she was always prompt to answer my questions as I manuevered my way through pregnancy for the first time. I had initially planned to stay active throughout birth as long as I could manage. After going past due, being induced, and having a long labor that eventually led to an emergent c-section, Elise continued to support me and my husband the entire time. From meeting us at the hopsital - setting up the room - making sure we understood the plan and settled, she was available for whatever we needed. As a healthcare provider she new I was trying to go in open minded, and as the plan continued to change and evolve throughout my labor, she continually cheered us along and help us adapt. 

Even after delivery she has continued to check in on my new family and see how we are doing, as well as make a few suggestions to help me successfully breastfeed, as I was combing breastfeeding, pumping/supplementating for my new little guy to gain some weight!

we thoroughly enjoyedworking with Elise and would recommend her as a doula! she is nonjudgemental, easy to get along with and its clear she cares about her clients and families :) <3 :) <3

Dana

5/18/2020

Elise was a vital part of my pregnancy and birth team. We touched base often during my pregnancy and she helped me past any bumps in the road. She is easy to talk to and responded thoughtfully to my concerns and all the emotions that came up before and after birth. I had a fast labor and ended up transitioning in the car en route to the hospital. Elise stayed on speakerphone with my husband during the drive. She could tell I was well into the final stage of labor. She facilitated an easy arrival for us at the hospital which was so important since I was ready to start pushing right away. After our birth, Elise's visits were critical to help me and my husband feel supported as new parents. She connected me with a lactation counselor when I needed one, as well as many other resources. We also enjoyed the resources available through MyBirth during our pregnancy, and all the MyBirth doulas were wonderful. I would definitely hire Elise again and would recommend her to anyone wanting a supportive, knowledgeable doula. She helped me feel ready and empowered for birth and motherhood. 

Elizabeth Schiller

5/11/2020

Elise is wonderful. I worked with Elise for my first child's birth this past December. Elise's support throughout my pregnancy was incredible. She was always happy to text, email, and share from her wealth of knowledge. Working with a doula became really important through various insurance and provider changes as well as unexpected life hiccups, and Elise became the calm constant presence that guided me through becoming a mom. Having her at my birth was such an important element in getting the birth I wanted. I had a lot of trauma around medical settings, and it really kicked in during birth more than I expected. Elise was there to reassure me and remind me I was safe, and let me know everything was going well. Her experience and expertise with births let her do that in a way no one else could have for me. Elise's support for me as a mom and my daughter continues to this day, and I am so, so grateful. I consider myself so lucky to know Elise at all and blessed to have had her be part of such an important part of my life. We love you, Elise! 

Ashley

4/9/2020

Elise was recommended for my second birth by one of my best friends who worked at a local birth center, and we seriously could not have asked for a better partner to spend 35 hours with us!   My water broke at 3am on a Saturday morning, and my contractions really weren't progressing much, so Elise came to our house that afternoon to help try to speed things along.  She stayed with us for hours at the house, even played with my curious 2.5 year old when she needed distracting!  My daughter even said Elise was her "best friend!"  Elise helped us decide when it was time to go to the hospital and then kept us sane for the next 30 hours as contractions increased, then decreased, and very little progression. She and my husband were awesome at keeping the room lighthearted, and she made sure we all rested when we could.  She reached out to all of her doula contacts to make sure we were doing everything we possibly could, then helped us feel confident in the decision to get an epidural, and ultimately determining a c-section was the only remaining option.  Sure enough, our sweet boy just had a large 99th percentile head and was not able to make it through!  While the c-section was not at all what I had planned or envisioned, I never felt regret because I knew Elise had helped us know we were making the right decisions through the entire labor and delivery!

Ashley

4/9/2020

Elise was recommended for my second birth by one of my best friends who worked at a local birth center, and we seriously could not have asked for a better partner to spend 35 hours with us!   My water broke at 3am on a Saturday morning, and my contractions really weren't progressing much, so Elise came to our house that afternoon to help try to speed things along.  She stayed with us for hours at the house, even played with my curious 2.5 year old when she needed distracting!  My daughter even said Elise was her "best friend!"  Elise helped us decide when it was time to go to the hospital and then kept us sane for the next 30 hours as contractions increased, then decreased, and very little progression. She and my husband were awesome at keeping the room lighthearted, and she made sure we all rested when we could.  She reached out to all of her doula contacts to make sure we were doing everything we possibly could, then helped us feel confident in the decision to get an epidural, and ultimately determining a c-section was the only remaining option.  Sure enough, our sweet boy just had a large 99th percentile head and was not able to make it through!  While the c-section was not at all what I had planned or envisioned, I never felt regret because I knew Elise had helped us know we were making the right decisions through the entire labor and delivery!

Walker Generelly

3/19/2020

I had a wonderful experience working with Elise for the birth of my son. I was planning an out of hospital birth up until 34 weeks when I found out I had placenta previa and would need a c-section. She helped me find a wonderful OB and put together a birth plan for a gentle cesarian. I would have been so much more anxious and confused as to how to move forward if it’s wasn’t for Elise being by my side through the tough decisions. With her help I arrived at my surgery day feeling confident, informed, and empowered. She stayed with us the whole day and made me feel so calm and relaxed leading up to the surgery. She was able to come into the OR with us and took amazing photos which I will cherish forever. She also met with us at our house a couple of times before by c-section to go over helpful tips for postpartum which I appreciated so much. And then postpartum made a visit to our house to check on us and help with breastfeeding. She also encapsulated my placenta and it has been so wonderful for my postpartum experience. I highly recommend working with Elise as your doula. No matter what kind of birth you end up having she will support you every step of the way.

Christine

3/3/2020

When women are looking for a doula, they want someone experienced and knowledgeable who is a good listener and who makes them feel comfortable. All of these describe Elise. This was my second birth with her, and if I am ever brave enough to have a third, Elise will be my doula again. For this second birth, I progressed incredibly quickly (as in, my water broke at 3am and baby was born at 6am), and Elise was ready to go and even beat us to the hospital and was waiting when I was admitted to L&D. She anticipated my needs without being pushy, and she listened to me when I insisted I wanted pain medication (even though it wasn't in my birth plan and we had never discussed it). She wasked questions about my preferences so I was the one in control the whole time. She was reassuring and nonjudgmental when I was feeling overwhelmed during labor and helped ground me, reminding me that I could do this. She provided physical and emotional support to me, and she was a great resource after birth, too. My absolute favorite thing she did was provide a perineal spray bottle with a HEAVENLY healing concoction for after delivery-- so thoughtful and helpful! I highly recommend her to all of my friends whenever I find out one of them is pregnant. You really can't go wrong choosing her as your doula. 

Melissa Smith

2/7/2020

Elise was the perfect final piece to my pregnancy and birth plan. During our interview I immediately connected with her non-alarmist, laid back personality, and life-giving smile. She understood that we are go with the flow people; we believe in medicine and science so while we'd be having a hospital birth, we wanted it to be as calm and peaceful within that space as possible. One of Elise's strengths is being gentle and collaborative with her guidance. While I felt educated and empowered to begin with, her constant flow of knowledge helped fill in my blind spots and she was a true partner to not only me, but my husband as well. While things did not go according to our birth plan (when do they?!), Elise reassured us that the choices throughout labor and delivery were ours to make and we felt beyond supported by her at each turn. She continues to be a source of guidance for me in those moments of new mom insecurities. I am so thankful we chose Elise for our journey and would pick her one hundred times over, but let's be real I'm not having that many kids! 

Jeannette

1/29/2020

When my husband and I found out we were pregnant I knew instantly that I wanted a doula.  We began to interview doulas and we both felt an instant connection when we interviewed Elise.  Elise had a calming presence that we knew we wanted when giving birth.  Throughout my pregnancy Elise checked in with me after my appointments and provided us with a ton of reading about labor and what to expect in the post partum period. When I went into labor my water broke and had meconium in it and I needed to go to the hospital earlier then expected.  I was upset about having to go to the hospital earlier then planned.  Elise was calming and reassuring.  She met us at the hospital and made sure my room was dim and relaxing by setting up twinkle lights and aroma therapy.  My labor started after working a 12 hour night shift and after being awake for 20+ hours I stopped having contractions.  Elise was knowledgable and tried several different positions to try to restart by labor.  When my midwife suggested an induction, I was so nervous about doing it without an epidural, Elise was there to assured me that I could.  I had intense back labor due to my daughters position and Elise was there during every contraction to provide the PERFECT amount of counter pressure.  She worked with my nurses and suggested different positions to try to turn her.  My labor was long, she made sure my husband took breaks and got food.  When I started pushing Elise took pictures and recored my daughters birth.  I'm so glad that I have those photos.  Elise was so supportive during my entire labor, I really cannot imagine doing it without her.  After birth she checked in with us several times.  My baby hated being swaddled and she helped me out with different swaddle types and we found one that my daughter actually liked.  So grateful for Elise, we definitely plan on using her again with baby #2.  

Mary S

11/19/2019

My husband and I decided to seek out a doula when we found out we were expecting.  At the time we did not have a full understanding of the many benefits of working with a doula, but we knew we needed someone there to help us advocate for the birth experience we wanted, not that we even knew what that was exactly.  We met with a few doulas, but Elise stood out to us. We felt she would help guide and support us through the delivery that was right for us.  Not only did Elise do exactly that, but she was extremely helpful throughout my pregnancy.  She knew I was a bit nervous about the whole experience and offered resources that were a good fit for me, allowing me to become more informed at my own pace.  During labor, Elise offered helpful suggestions and helped to keep me calm.  I can't imagine having done it without her.  Elise checked in with us a few times after our daughter was born to make sure we were all doing well.  She even offered helpful suggestions to address nursing challenges.  We are so glad we had Elise by our side during my pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as well as the weeks after.  We would highly recommend Elise, and certainly would love her help down the road with our second baby.

Allison

11/13/2019

I hired Elise as my doula for my second pregnancy and birth. Even though my first child was only 20 months old and I thought I remembered everything there was to know about delivery and birth, there ended up being numerous things that I remembered incorrectly or had blocked out after birth. Elise walked me through my second pregnancy, gently reminding me of the things I had forgotten, but not treating me like a first-time mom either. She was there when I needed her throughout, and gently prompted me for updates after doctor's appointments when I got busy and forgot to update her. She met me at the hospital the (early) morning of my induction, making my room comfortable with little things to make labor feel easier. She left and then returned when the doctor broke my water, and was an advocate for me as the pain became more intense. When my epidural half-failed, she communicated with the nursing staff and helped advocate for different positions to try to move the baby farther down and ease transition. Elise was a huge help as my transition and delivery became fast and furious, and my body wanted to push before the doctor arrived. She helped calm me and provided counter pressure through my nearly-constant contractions near the end. She stayed after birth and made sure I was stable and comfortable, fed me crackers and juice while I held my new baby and worked on breastfeeding. She gave me some additional pointers (other things I had forgotten) and then checked on me in the days and weeks after birth. 

I originally thought that hiring a doula for a second child would be overkill since I had given birth so recently, but Elise was crucial in the success of my pregnancy and delivery and I'm so glad she was there and part of my team! Thank you, Elise! 

Katie Wilson

11/12/2019

When our original doula ended up being out of town, Elise stepped in to be our back up on pretty short notice. I spoke with her on the phone the day before I went into labor, but we didn’t actually meet until she got to our house when I was already laboring. As soon as Elise entered our home she brought a comforting presence and I immediately felt better knowing she was there to help. Because I had induced labor with castor oil my contractions were very close together and intense from the beginning making it seem pretty unmanageable alone. She was extremely knowledgeable and patient while she encouraged me to get into many different positions to help labor progress and our baby to get into an optimal position.   By the time we got to the hospital things seemed to be progressing well until I started pushing and nothing was happening. We continued to labor all throughout the night and had some scary moments when our baby’s heart rate started dropping and when the medical team intervened to discuss more invasive options for getting baby out. Elise was by our side the whole time and never lost her focus. After 15 hours of labor and nearly 5 hours of pushing our little man finally decided to make his appearance the way we intended: an unmedicated, vaginal birth. My husband and I are so thankful to Elise for her support and know the birth of our sweet baby boy would have been very different without her. 10/10 would recommend her to anyone and if you like a good hip squeeze, she’s your girl! 

Jessica Farmer

11/11/2019

Where do I begin? My labor/delivery "medical" story is not one that I would wish on anyone. It was 62 hours long, with many complications, and an innumerable amount of variables. But the ONE thing that my husband and I could count on as a constant during the entire process, was Elise's calm demeanor and knowledge of the labor process. Being an only child, I had never experienced labor alongside any other family members and was not sure what to expect but I knew that throughout the process, I could rely on Elise to tell me the truth and be honest if things were not going "to plan". She helped to keep me calm throughout the hardest experience of my life, but also helped us to cherish the happiness that followed at the end of the long journey. Also, during our pre-delivery meetings with Elise, she not only prepared us for labor/delivery but she also helped to prepare us for what came AFTER! The nights can be long and the days even longer, but she answered every phone call, every text message and every frantic question with grace and support. What was my experience with Elise Benoit? My experience changed how I perceive motherhood and one day, I hope to walk in my next labor/delivery with full confidence in myself with her by my side!

Victoria

11/11/2019

When I found out that I was pregnant, I knew that I wanted a doula to help guide my partner and me through the birth process, but I couldn't have imagined how supportive Elise was and how and lucky I feel to have found her. We met with a few doulas, and Elise stood out to us with her warm demeanor and abundance of knowledge about pregnancy, birth, and babies. She genuinely cared about how my pregnancy was going, asked about my appointments, and helped us understand our options and refine our birth preferences.

My labor ended up not following the typical contraction pattern (the time between contractions varied widely) which was confusing, and Elise helped us decide when to go to the hospital for delivery. Once at the hospital, everything happened so quickly (we were there less than an hour before baby was born!) and I was feeling overwhelmed, but Elise was able to help me to calm down, refocus, and mentally prepare for pushing, which enabled me to safely deliver our baby without interventions.

Elise checked in with us a few times after the birth to see how things were going and had helpful recommendations for the nursing challenges that we faced. I'm looking forward to staying in touch with her, and will be calling her if we have another baby!

Jenna

9/17/2019

I work in healthcare and never thought I would need a doula. I was wrong. Elise was the best decision we made for our delivery plan. She kept me calm and focused on my goals. I did not want any form of medication during delivery. I was fearful of the side effects to myself and my baby. Elise did everything possible to keep me comfortable and help me focus on everything except my pain. My husband loved her. He was surprised at how calming she was for both of us. We will definitely have her at our next birth. She is skilled, comforting, talented, and amazing. 

Jen Mason

9/17/2019

Choosing to work with Elise was one of the best decisions my husband and I could have possibly made going into the birth of our daughter. We're first time parents and Elise was patient, helpful and caring. She gave us a lot of support and education prior to the birth and then was there for us through my 36 hour labor. We had a problematic birth and a lot of tough decisions had to be made. Having Elise there through those decisions was so, so helpful. She advocated for us, helped guide us and supported us whatever our choices. She has a calming presence and obviously has a genuine love for this work. I always felt cared for and that my husband and I had someone in our corner we could rely on. I would recommend her to anyone!

Monica Harris

9/12/2019

Elise was great! My labor progressed extremely fast (too fast for an epidural) and Elise knew exactly how to keep me as calm as possible. I didn't have the best experience with the nurses/doctors at the hospital I delivered at and I can't imagine going through it without Elise. Her knowledge, comfort, and kindness were invaluable. I also had concerns of Post Partum depression/anxiety, which Elise went through herself. Elise gave me information on placenta encapsulation but was not pushy in anyway. Elise is also certified to do the encapsulation, which was comforting. I decided to try it and I believe it was a huge factor in keeping my moods stable and keeping my milk supply up. Elise is flexible and accomodating and was one of the best decisions I made regarding my pregnancy. 

Ji Zapata

7/31/2019

I was in search of a doula for birth and postpartum support and found only a few doulas in Richmond that offered both. Upon meeting Elise, her warm and kind aura immediately put us at ease, which was exactly the vibe we wanted both in the delivery room as well as in our home in those first few weeks w/ a newborn.

Elise was such a calming presence during labor, offering cold compresses to my forehead. After a few hours of pushing, we took a break and despite being 4 or 5 in the morning, Elise watched the monitors the whole time, allowing my husband and I to get some rest knowing someone was keeping an eye out. In the end, I was very fortunate that my delivery was speedy and such a positive experience. As someone who had anxiety about giving birth, I'm so glad that we chose Elise to have by our side.

Postpartum, Elise came to visit 4 times. We don't have very much family nearby so were thankful to have her on our support team. She held my baby, allowing to take a decent shower, eat lunch in peace, and do a few quick chores around the house. Elise was knowledgable and shared so many resources with us during her visits -- from helpful apps, to showing us how to use a baby wrap, to referring us to the best lactation services in the area, etc. While I'm sure you could go down a Google rabbit hole to research such info, it would have been impossible in those early days to find the time or mental bandwidth. It was wonderful to have so many recommendations at our fingertips through Elise. 

While we didn't book Elise for overnight visits postpartum, we may do so in the future while I'm on work travel and as my husband occasionally works nights. I also booked placenta encapsulation services through her as well, which I felt did help prevent me from feeling the sharp drop in hormones/baby blues. All in all, I loved that we found all these services wrapped up in one doula. I highly recommend Elise and am so grateful her help and support!!

Lauren Linville

5/14/2019

Our goals for working with a doula were three-fold: to give us designated time to prepare for birth prior to labor, help us translate/understand the medical aspects of labor and birth, and to re-distribute stress/reduce anxiety during labor.  Elise delivered with flying colors on all three. Prior to labor, she educated and guided us through prioritizing our desires for birth. We especially appreciated the preferences list she provided, which helped orient us to tools and options. Even just having her a text away was extremely helpful - like the time I couldn't remember what size birth ball I was supposed to buy.

During labor, she was unfailingly encouraging to me and a welcome companion for my husband as I labored. My instinct during labor was to turn inward. I didn't want to be touched and didn't want to talk, which surprised my husband and me. Had Elise not been there he would probably have had to sit in silence in a corner. Thank god for Elise. She read the room, knew our needs, and responded. She was judicious with her actions and advice with me, but was also able to be a friend to my husband while I was temporarily unavailable. She knew when to step in for both of us and we were so grateful. Her warmth and support were invaluable to our birth experience. 

Thankfully the birth of our daughter didn't involve much medical intervention. Elise respected my decision to get an epidural after 16 hours of laboring, even though we both knew I could have gone without one. I really felt how much she believed in me and appreciated that she wasn't disappointed in my choice. She took pictures and videos of the birth that I will cherish my entire life. Those were the cherry on top of the best day of our lives. 

Sara

5/13/2019

My first labor was long and ended in a C section, which was beautiful and exactly how my first baby needed to enter the world. This time though I was really hoping for a VBAC. I was carrying a "big" baby -thats just how I make them :). Elise talked through all my thoughts/questions and recommended some great local resources in chiropractic care and acupuncture to help me up for the best possible labor! She met myself and my husband at our home for our prenatal appointments and really took the time to get to know us as a family.

When Elise arrived she was a breath of fresh air. She helped my husband and I relax, got us all to laugh between the hard work, and had the most encouraging and calming presence. I remember once during labor I looked up and there were twinkle lights everywhere-magic!

I am sure that there were so many things Elise did for our family that I didn't even notice. She did however jump right up on the bed with me when I was trying a million different position to encourage my baby to come on out, she sat on the bathroom floor when she could see I was getting tired and discouraged to rub my feet with acupressure techniques, she laughed with me when my water broke with an audible "pop" and "gush" that woke up everyone in the room, she remembered to bring over the frame of my toddler and ultrasound picture right when it was finally time to push so I could be motivated by my "whys", and she took the most incredible pictures at just the right angle (even though I said I didn't want them) so I could see my baby being born.

Being a nurse myself I valued every single team member that was there to make sound medical decisions for myself and my baby, but as a laboring mom the most love, support, and encouragement I felt was from Elise- the best investment I made for myself and my family was hiring her as our doula! And I stare at those pictures no less than once a month :)

Taylor Hardy

5/7/2019

After posting on Facebook in search of a doula, Elise reached out to me. She was the first one I interviewed and I hired her immediately. It was just a natural click and I knew I’d be comfortable with her by my side during labor. Since I was planning a VBAC, this was very early in my pregnancy, and even so Elise would still check in with me until we started our prenatal visits to see how everything was going. She had really great information and reminders to give during my pregnancy. Especially in that last week when I knew labor would come at any point and I still had all these questions. She truly was the only support person I had other than the hospital staff and was amazing at the role. From the time we met at the hospital, she was on top of everything, making sure everyone knew what I wanted . I was kind of stuck not progressing for awhile so she made sure I would move around, do anything to make baby come and speed things along. I would never have been able to focus on asking for the items she was asking the staff to provide for me and informing me of why they were doing certain things that I was weary about. Reminding me I could say no to anything I didn't want, to stay hydrated and eat. Once my water was broken and labor really hit, everything went so quick I didn’t need much from anyone, but the reminders to stay relaxed and breath. Just knowing I had someone so supportive and on my side was enough to get me through it. Elise was a big factor in me having my unmedicated vbac that welcomed my beautiful baby girl earthside. I can’t thank her enough, the whole experience healed me from the deep sadness I had surrounding my first birth experience . She also, in a very timely manner, encapsulated my placenta for me. I would recommend that to everyone, it helped me get through those first couple months feeling great. Even 5 months down the road, I still feel way better than I did with my first postpartum recovery. 

Falon McClenahan

4/2/2019

We didn't use a doula with my first incredibly long labor,  but that experience made it clear to me how having the right people around you during the process is so important. I knew we wanted to use a doula with our second child, but I found choosing one a bit overwhelming. There are so many in the Richmond area that I didn't know where to begin.  My midwife recomended Elise to me, but I was hesitant to commit without meeting her. I heard about a doula "speed dating" event and decided to attend (even though I thought it sounded super strange!). Elise was actually one of the guest speakers at the event, which I thought was awesome since I wanted to meet her. Right when the "dating" portion of the night began she came over and sat down to talk with me. I honestly could tell immediately that I liked her and would feel comfortable with her by my side. I was so certain I booked her services the next morning. Elise came to our house for prenatal visits; my husband and daughter were comfortable with her too. She did a great job figuring out what we wanted our birth experience to be like and sharing knowledge with us. Coming up on my due date Elise was awesome about checking in with me and gaging how I was doing. Looking back, I now realize that she knew I was close well before I did! My water broke 4 days before my due date, on the night of my daughters third birthday and right before birthday cake. My husband and I communicated with Elise and she gave great advise for laboring at home. At the hospital Elise's calm, supportive presence was entirely what we needed. I was incredibly blessed with a quick, easy labor and a healthy baby boy. I'm so thankful that we chose Elise to be part of our journey. She truly was exactly the right fit for our family and I'll always cherish her presence throughout our amazing night. I couldn't recommend her more and hope that other mothers get to experience such joyous moments with her by their sides.

La Si

12/22/2018

I met Elise "My Doula" the nickname I call her on September 11th at 35 weeks. I attended a Doula meet and great at my Birthing Center and instantly i felt like i didn't need to look for another option we made eye contact while others were talking in the meeting and spoke about what they were saying. After the meeting we talked alil more and i said i would email her so we could meet again. The first time we met it was easy going like i knew her for away it was like i was meeting a friend not a medical person. She made sure i understood exactly what she would be able to do for me during the rest of the pregnancy and during my labor. She was the first person i texted when i had contractions at 5am on Sunday morning she only took 10 mins to text back i felt so much comfort knowing she was there for me she said it was early labor by the way i described how i was feeling and gave me some things to do. I did those for about 3 hours texted her again n said i felt more contractions so she said call my Midwife and tell her she thinks we should come in so i called and everyone met me at the center. While there she was by my side and my family's side the whole time she wasn't just my Doula she was everyone's she made sure everyone was good to go. She brought me food everything I needed from start to finish kind words and encouragement. My back was in so much pain and she had a heating pad and did massages the whole time.If i had to do it all over again she would be there again no question. And after the birth with the effects of postpartum she kept me on a positive path with helping me have placenta pills and letting me know I'm strong and can do this mom thing.

Heather Babin

11/23/2018

I am so thankful Elise was our doula during the birth of our first-born! We enjoyed the prenatal visits so we could get to know each other and to discuss what our birth plan and desires were. She was very thorough and provided us with a ton of great resources so we could make informed decisions. When I went into labor, she consistently checked in on us to help us decide when the time was right to call our midwife.

During the labor and delivery she was so calming, dedicated, thoughtful, and encouraging. She knew exactly what I needed and took such good care of my husband and myself the entire time. She kept checking on my husband to make sure he remembered to eat, gave me counter-pressure during the contractions, kept my wash cloth cool, offered wonderful words of encouragement, and so much more. It was such a relief to have her with us so I could focus on staying relaxed and not have to worry about anything else. After the birth, she came to our house to check on us to make sure we were doing well, not only physically but also emotionally. She has been an awesome resource of knowledge and encouragement and I am so glad she was our doula. I am very thankful to have had a beautiful natural birth that I am so proud of, and I know that Elise was a large part of making that possible. Thank you for being such a wonderful doula, Elise!

Ruth Anderson

11/8/2018

Elise was the perfect doula for me. This was my first baby and I ended up having a very long labor (31hours) with intense back labor. Elise stayed with me I think over half my labor helping my husband to assist me, encouraging me to get in good positions to help get the baby in better birthing position to ease my back labor, and also she knew how to apply pressure on my back to help ease the back pain. I don't think I could have had an unmedicated birth without her! She knew just what to say to encourage me emotionally and was such a steadying, encouraging presence at my delivery. I highly recommend Elise to anyone serching for a sweet, understanding, and knowledgeable doula.

Mary-Curtis Powell

10/30/2018

Elise was an invaluable part of my birth experience.  This was my first time giving birth.  She was so helpful leading up to delivery, by providing me with important information on how to best prepare for my experience.  She helped to educate my whole family about what we were getting ourselves into!  Her calm demeaner and knowledgable suggestions put us at ease prior to Ruby Lee's arrival.  On the day of Ruby's birth, Elise's coaching ensured I had the birth I wanted.  Against my best wishes, I had to be induced.  Elise ensured that in spite of that, I was able to walk the hallways, use the tub, the stool, basically everything I had on my birth plan.  One of my favorite memories from that day is the conversation we had while doing walking lunges between contractions.  Elise gave me the confidence to give birth without the assistance of an epidural.  She made the environment calm and soothing.  She gave my husband tips on how best to support me during labor (and saved him from tasks he was less than comfortable performing.)  Following  Ruby's birth, Elise was available for questions and continued to support us in our postpartum journey.  Hiring Elise as my doula was one of the best decisions I made during pregnancy.  My whole family is grateful for her support.

Erin Purdie

9/28/2018

Elise was my post partum doula.  I had met with her before my baby was born and was very excited to have her there to help me!  I felt an immidate click with Elise.  She checked in with me right after my baby was born to make sure all was good and to see when I would like her help.  She had dropped off my encapsulated placenta pills within a few days, which was wonderful!  She made sure to go through the how to's and help me get started.  She was always there for me when I texted her and needed help or advice.  She came over to my house numerous times and was VERY helpful!!  Everything from just holding my baby and giving me a break, to cleaning the dirty dishes in my sink, and even helping me clean and vaccuum my first floor!  She was a trooper when she helped clean my playroom, just to watch my toddler destroy it 2 minutes later.  It gave me such relief knowing that Elise was coming over!  Just having another person, and adult to talk to, was exactly what I needed!  My husband would go to work, but I felt comfortable with a crazy toddler and a newborn, knowing Elise was coming to help!  She was very flexible in arranging times to come over and was always very punctual and stayed to make sure I was feeling OK and ready to take on the rest of the day. We found out my baby girl had a dairy and soy intollerance and Elise was there the next day to help me figure out how to go grocery shopping, how to modify recipes, what restaurants I can safely go to, and so much more!  She always had a plethora of resources including amazing mom blogs and pinterest pages for me to follow.  Having high anxiety, I was thrilled to have Elise there to help me. She was always there with an open ear to be the voice of reason.  She made me feel comfortable knowing I could reach out to her for anything and she would be there for me.

amber wyatt

9/20/2018

As Elise’s enthusiastically led the doula meet and greet, I immediately felt drawn to the leadership aspects that were evident within her presentation. Throughout our experience Elise continued to demonstrate the very elements that drew myself to her. As we navigated our way through pregnancy, her outreach and presence was notable. She assisted my partner and I through one-on- one educational meet ups in the intimacy of our home. With her assistance in preparation for labor, both Chad and I felt knowledgeable and prepared for numerous birthing scenarios knowing that Elise would mold into whatever was required of herself.

Elise supported myself through a 31 hour labor that peacefully concluded with a natural cesarean. With permission, she took on the role of photographer and emotional support as the operation took place at Henrico Hopital.Both Chad and I feel indebted to her devotion of those intense days and agree that Elise‘s help cushioned us for the taxing experience.

Postpartum support, however, is where I would suggest to all considering mothers to truly invest in. Sleep depreciation and recovery was assisted with her grace and visits. Soothing our infants needs, as I tended to basic self care, was GOLD. There is no way in hell I was in the right headspace to let down my pride to ask for help from family members -so her agenda-less presence was something I could swallow as I’d shave my legs or nap for a bit. Elise continues to assist, as I transition back to work by offering pumping information, mother meet up connections, and infant support. Ultimately, I can attest to Elise’s professional ability to any mother seeking creative and strong encouragement from this truly AMAZING woman!

Sydney Pender

7/2/2018

We love Elise!!! From the first interview we had with her to our postpartum visits, we have gotten so much support from Elise. We were orginally drawn to her warm personality and the way she emphasized helping to educate us while also being completely supportive of our desires and preferences for our birth. She helped us create an amazing registry, spending time going over items and brands she would recommend and also things we probably didn't need, or wouldn't need right away. We have been so pleased with all of our baby gear thanks to her expertise!

Elise also spent time with us talking through the stages of labor, comfort meausres, nutrition during pregnancy, and answered all of the many questions we had as first time parents. Each of our meetings were filled wtih laugther and I genuinely looked forward to them.

Elise did a fantastic job during our labor, and although things unfolded differently than we had expected, she was there every step of the way encouraging me, answering my husband's questions and encouraging him to eat and rest, and also helping us as we made some tough decisions. She helped us think through all of the options and make the best choice that ended with a healthy baby and healthy mom.

She checked in on us after the birth with a visit to our home, helped me talk through our birth story, and gave support with breastfeeding. I know she is always just a phone call or text away, and she encourages me often to text her with questions as they come up. Now that we are int he postpartum period, Elise arrives at our home with a smile and positive attitude and it shows how much she truly loves supporting moms and babies. She is always up for holding and rocking our new baby, changing diapers, helping with dishes or laundry, all while providing me with emotional support and conversation. We couldn't have been happier with our experience and I would recommend Elise to anyone looking to work with a great doula.

Ryan&Nisha

6/8/2018

I cannot say enough about how wonderful it was to have Elise as our doula.  I knew early on that I wanted a doula in the delivery room, so I started searching before the end of the first trimester.  We met with a few other women before meeting with Elise, and we clicked so well with her during that first meeting that we signed the contract then and there.

Elise went out of her way to check in with us regularly even before the 20-week ultrasound.  I love and trust my OB, but Elise provided tons of extra information that I didn't even know I needed.  I had a few health complications in the second and third trimesters, and Elise was always there to offer comfort and guidance.  And when I reached out to her with what turned out to be false labor in the last 2-3 weeks before our baby girl was born, Elise was nothing but patient - and even helped me laugh through my frustration!

When I was admitted to the hospital, Elise was there within the hour to support both my husband and me.  She made sure that we both ate and stayed hydrated to keep our strength up, brought lights and candles to make the hospital feel a little less impersonal, walked through the hospital with me to help move the baby down, and helped my husband with hip squeezes for HOURS - all so that I could have the natural birth that I wanted.

Elise remained there there for us when I had some breastfeeding issues in the first few days after the baby's birth.  She came by after we returned home, too - and even impressed my mother with her swaddling technique.

If we decide to have a second child, then I will definitely be calling Elise again!

Shelby McDonald

3/23/2018

Elise was amazing. She was informative and nurturing. She calmed all my worries and answered texts at any time no matter how silly they were. She listened to every wish i had and helped me fulfill my exact dream. She was quietly present and allowed my husband to shine in the birthing room, provided advice at the right time and felt like a life long friend by my side the entire time. I highly recommend her and if I were to become pregnant again, i would hire her in a heartbeat!

Rebecca Noonan

3/22/2018

Elise has been absolutely wonderful. She is calm, compassionate, knowledgeable, and assertive. She supported me throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum with regular check-ins, pertinent resources, and suggestions for my particular challenges all without judgement or pressure and always in support of what was best for our family and what we wanted. I would recommend that all families have the support of a doula. I plan to hire Elise again for our next baby.

Anna Wade

3/3/2018

My first birth ended up being a scheduled c-section because my daughter was breech.  I knew for my second child that I wanted to try for a natural VBAC.  Since I wanted such a different birth experience, I knew my husband and I would need the extra knowledge, resources and support from a doula. I met Elise, immediately connected with her and decided to hire her.  I had taken a birth class before my first child and was hoping not to have to take a refresher course since I had a c-section the first time around and in our meetings, Elise, refreshed my memory and answered all of the questions I had about the birth process. She educated my husband and I on scenerios and topics we didn't realize we needed to discuss.  She was always available for any questions or concerns that came up. Our beautiful baby boy surprised us a little early and I had a successful natural VBAC with Elise's help! I labored at home using the positions she gave us and then we made our way to the hospital. During labor Elise was not just an emotional support but a physical support for me. Her calming presence helped my husband and I through one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of our lives. I highly recommend Elise and we were very fortunate to have found her!

Hannah Ridenhour

2/8/2018

My wife and I just wanted to take a minute to share our experience with having Elise as our doulla. With our first child we did not have a doulla and we felt like we didn't quite feel in control of our birthing experience, and we were pretty disapointed with the outcome. The second time around we had the opportunity to meet a handful of doullas and right off the bat we loved Elise's attitude and genuine heart for us to have a second shot at having a successful natural birth. Throughout our birthing experience Elise was exactly what we needed. She gave us space in the special moments and stepped in with a servants heart whenever we needed her. She was extremely thoughtful and supportive. Overall we were very pleased with her service and enjoyed building a friendship with her. She also offered some postpartum visits that we found incredibly helpful. We would highly recommend Elise to anyone looking to have a peaceful and joyful birthing and postpartum experience.

Heather Moylan

10/17/2017

Elise was a huge reason why my birth was the most beautiful experience of my life.  I had several episodes of false labor before the real thing, even once texting her in the middle of the night for what turned out to be nothing.  She was incredibly patient with me and never made me feel bad about these false alarms.  She checked on me regularly in the days before and after my birth.  During labor, she knew exactly when to offer support and when to allow me space to labor on my own. She made gentle suggestions as to how my husband could help me, which made me feel like we were bringing our daughter into the world together.  My experience would not have been the same without her.  I highly recommend her to anyone in the Richmond area who is looking for a birth doula.

Christine Jones

9/7/2017

If you are looking for a Doula, Elise is your woman! This was my second pregnancy.  But it was my first time laboring, as I had a c-section with my first daughter who was breech. I was nervous about having the birth I wanted, a natural VBAC, because things did not go as planned the first time around. However, with Elise's support and guidance, I was able to successfully meet my goals. She provided a calm and reassuring presence and her meetings prepared me for labor. I had taken some birth classes that included visualizations and very specific breathing techniques. However,  being on the other side, I feel as though those tools were not what helped me. The tools that Elise prepared me with- the stages of labor and what they might feel like, realistic coping mechanisms based on what worked for me and other tried and true techniques really helped. If you are looking for someone who is knowledgeable, caring, calming and supportive look no further!

Christine Elizabeth

9/5/2017

Hiring Elise as my doula was the single best birthing decision I made. In our intial interview, she was calming, open, and knowledgeable, and we immediately clicked. Elise provided exceptional prenatal care. She gave me reading materials and drew from her personal experiences to educate me. As a first time mom, knowledge was power, and Elise made me feel empowered and prepared for my natural birth. We had two prenatal meetings and two postnatal meetings, and she was on call from 38-42 weeks. I felt she was with me every step of the way during my pregnancy, birth, and post-partum experience. 

Elise was instrumental during labor, both before we went to the hospital and after we arrived. She anticipated all of my needs during labor, from asking the nurse to turn the lights off to gently suggesting that we labor in the tub or on a birth ball to providing counterpressure during contractions. While in labor, I remember thinking, "Is she a wizard? She just read my mind!" Elise managed to do all of this unintrusively, and she made my husband and me feel confident and capable. Because of Elise's support and suggestions, I met my goal of having my beautiful baby girl naturally with no pain medication. I could not have done this without Elise! 

In addition to providing exceptional care before and during birth, Elise was also a lifesaver after birth. She helped me find a lactation consultant when I was having breastfeeding trouble. She has been available to answer questions and provide emotional support as I process my birth experience. I especially love that she does post-partum visits so that I didn't have to hire a separate post-partum doula. 

If we decide to have another child, Elise will be one of the first people I call- I wish every mom had Elise by her side and on speed dial, like I do. I can't recommend her highly enough.

Gabrielle Wade

8/15/2017

Elise is a doula super star! There aren't enough words I could say to express how thankful I am that she was a part of our birth team. Our pregnancy journey was full of highs and lows and she supported us from our initial conversation. Our birth plan changed from a birthing center to a hospital and she adapted to that seamlessly and reassured us that everything would still be perfect; she fully delivered that expectation. From the moment she came to our home while in labor, her gracious spirit and gestures guided me through. Upon arrival to the hospital, she made no hesitations to ensure our comfort. She remained conscious of my preferences and offered an abundance of helpful suggestions. My labor and delivery room was even decorated with personal touches that increased my sense of relaxation and preparedness for delivery. After a few hours of beautiful labor, our son arrived and Elise made me feel like a superwoman! Even though the process went as smooth as possible, immediately following birth things took an unexpected turn. I had no idea how urgently I needed extra medical attention because Elise remained poised as she held my hand with positive reassurance. Elise stepped in and checked on my husband in the midst of chaos so that he could regroup and remain that amazing support system he upheld during labor and she remained our rock until the storm was over. I used "we" and "our" throughout my testimony because Elise did a phenomenal job at making sure both my Husband and I were attended to. Let's face it, the men can sometimes feel left out of the birthing process and my husband did an amazing job with her assistance! Again, I could not be more thankful that our son was brought into this world in a room full of loving and encouraging individuals and it would not have been the same without Elise! Even though Elise fulfilled her contractual duties, I still feel as if I am left with ongoing support from a fellow amazing mom. We thank you, immensely!

DSM Wamsley

7/6/2017

Elise was awesome to work with. She was calm and relaxed during labor, coached me and helped me stay in control, and help my husband be involved in the process. Her personality is very calm and laid back like my husband and I so I think that really helped us gel. We also share the same religious values which helped me decide to hire her. If I had to choose over again I would still pick her.