Grace Ostan

12/6/2024

I cannot recommend Abby highly enough! From the very beginning, she went above and beyond to support me and my partner. Her attention to detail and ability to listen made us feel truly cared for and understood. Throughout the entire process, Abby was a partner in advocating for my needs, ensuring my voice was heard and respected every step of the way. During the birth, her attentiveness, constant encouragement, and knowledge kept me grounded and confident. Beyond her expertise, Abby brought warmth and compassion that made the experience feel supportive and empowering.  Abby was incredibly hands-on, offering physical support and helping me into different positions to encourage labor progression and ease discomfort. Right after the birth, Abby was helpful in post birth preparation, and postpartum care in the weeks after. I will forever be grateful for her support and highly recommend her to anyone seeking a skilled, compassionate, and reliable doula.

Alice Ann

11/15/2024

Abby was our doula in April 2024. She was an invaluable part of the birth process. I ended up needing to be induced as baby was quite comfortable inside past his due date. Abby joined us once things got rolling- and then kept rolling. And kept rolling. The whole induction was almost 3 solid days, and Abby was there for all of the intense parts, including the ones where I broke down wondering if I made the right choice, and in the operating room once it was extremely clear my little one would not come out the traditional way. She kept my partner from worrying (too much) about leaving to get food, or take a nap once I had an epidural- and helped walk him through the process when it was clear surgery was needed. Abby took pictures in the delivery and helped me have baby skin to skin while the OB was making sure all was good and my partner was a bit concerned about seeing my internal organ on the outside of my body. 

I'm a midwife and I still benefited immensely from having Abby there for comfort and position changes and reminders and being able to tell my partner that yes, it really was OK for him to go get food or coffee during that 3 day ordeal. She ultimately was with us for a solid 24 hours. Think about how much you would charge someone to stay with them for that long, with very little sleep, with almost no notice- doulas are worth every penny, regardless the outcome of the birth. I've worked with a lot of doulas and Abby is there with the best of them. I highly recommend her attendance during your labor. 

Amanda McMullen

8/10/2023

Abby was the absolute perfect guide for me on my pregnancy journey and throughout labor and delivery. During pregnancy she was always there for me when I had a question or felt overwhelmed and needed a listening, supportive ear. Not only is she extremely knowledgeable about pregnancy and birth, but she has one of the warmest demeanors of anyone I've ever met. She is caring and kind and walks you through your pregnancy, labor, and delivery with love, patience, and skill. During labor, Abby advocated for me and made the environment so perfect for my personal preferences. I was able to labor unmedicated for a significant amount of time because of Abby's help and coaching. Eventually, I needed to get an emergency C-section due to a concern with my baby's heart rate, but even then Abby was present with us every moment, explaining everything that was happening, and putting my mind at ease. She even counseled my husband through the process, as he was just as scared and shaken up as I was! One thing I love about Abby is that she is not dogmatic about any aspect of birth. She truly supports YOU, the client, in the type of birth you want, whether that is hospital, home, or birthing center, and never makes you feel judged for any of your choices. She empowered me and made me feel prepared (as prepared as anyone be!) for labor and delivery, and made the experience so smooth, even when things didn't go according to plan. I cannot recommend Abby highly enough- she is an incredible person and fantastic doula and will do everything in her power to make you feel supported throughout your whole journey! 

Julianna

8/10/2023

I am so grateful for Abby. She is a wonderful doula and becomes a quick friend. She asks great questions and spends time getting to know you and your family's needs. She wants to understand your support system and how you want her to fit and function in it. She offers options and information and runs with the direction you choose. 
I chose to have a natural, unmedicated delivery and she provided comfort and support and encouragement and coaching to get me through a long, hard labor safely and with almost no tearing. I wish I had her for my first two births! Hiring her made for a beautiful 3rd birth. 

Cait Baker

8/10/2023

I knew from the moment I got pregnant that I wanted to have a homebirth. I had read books and had seen videos of women birthing at home and it seemed so freeing. I asked my friend Lauren if she had any recommendations for a doula. She didn't hesitate to say, "Cait, you have to use Abby." I took her word for it and set up a call with her. From the moment I talked to Abby, I knew she would be a good fit. She is so sweet, emphathetic and most importantly nurturing. Every contraction I had, she was eager to help me work through it. She was there for me emotionally and physically in one of the hardest/most incredible experiences of my life. She is so chill and the opposite of overbearing. She made my husband feel comfortable and empowered as he helped me through labor. I could go on and on about how blessed I feel to have had Abby on my birth team. The postpartum care was a treat as well. I've talked to women who say their doula didn't even check in on them once after they had a baby....not Abby. She visited and made sure the baby and I were settling in great. If you need a doula, you need to use this woman. She is the best!!

Victoria Ferreira

1/13/2023

Abby is one of the best doulas you will find. She walked us through every step, answered every question and was the most caring and kind person. She helped so much during the labor and delivery process, and my husband and I were so very thankful for her!
She has a heart of gold and makes sure you have the best birth possible. 
I highly recommend Abby! 

Maddie

1/11/2023

Abby was so wonderful to work with! I was so nervous about labor and giving birth and she listened and put me at ease from day one. I went into my birth feeling prepared and fully supported! She was great at including my husband in the process too. She provided helpful information  and input while respecting our wishes when it came to our birth. I absolutely would recommend Abby! 

Ashley Lucas

12/3/2022

My husband and I were very thankful to have Abby as our doula!  Despite our son not waiting for anyone and me delivering him in the car on the way to the hospital, Abby truly made us feel like we were ready for anything leading up to it all.  Her calm but confident demeanor gave me the reassurance that she would be a strong advocate for my birth wishes in the hospital.  Abby met us in the hospital after I delivered him in the car and was so helpful and comforting as we got settled. We're looking forward and hopeful that we can work with Abby again one day!  

Jamie

9/19/2022

Abby is an absolute delight to partner with. My husband and I are so grateful to have met Abby through our midwife. She is well versed in both natural and medicated births which was perfect for us. We opted for a natural birth, but when things didn't progress due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, she was able to attend the OR with us for an emergency C-section, which is a great privalage to have as a doula. I had so much peace and confidence with her by our side during surgery. Having her there made our birth even more beautiful and safe as we welcomed our baby girl into the world. Highly recommend Abby as a doula. She has such a beautiful soul and TRULY cares about her client's wellbeing and comfort. 10/10. 5 stars.

Mary

6/26/2022

My husband and I greatly enjoyed working with Abby! She felt like a close friend from day one. She helped me throughout the pregnancy with breathing and stretching exercises to prepare for labor.

We are most thankful for Abby for the following reason- she helped us in a HUGE way when we first arrived at the hospital. My contractions stalled once I sat down in OB triage so the staff thought I might be in false labor. Abby encouraged me to stay (staff said I could go home if I wanted) and walk around the hall for a while. She thought this was actually labor based on my description of how I felt. Well, after about an hour and 15 minutes, my little baby was born!! Needless to say, I am SO to thankful that Abby had the knowledge to navigate that situation appropriately to help me make the best decision. 

Abby will care for you well and make you feel strong, confident and calm. 

Kaley

5/24/2022

As a gal who always likes to be prepared and independent, deep down I was a bit intimidated by the birth process that I knew was inevitable about 20 weeks down the road. I knew trying to do this all on my own wouldn't work well for me, so my husband and I discussed hiring a doula to ease some anxiety I had and help me feel empowered and supported throughout the birth process. A mutual friend recommended Abby, and I'm so glad she did! When my husband and I met her for coffee, we instantly felt like we'd known her for a long time. She was kind, respectful, joyful and knowledgeable. Best of all, she didn't make me feel silly for asking questions (like some healthcare workers do), and I felt like I could be myself around her. Choosing someone to spend hours with you in the labor and delivery room is a big deal, and Abby made us feel like we could trust her to support us and handle being in the room with us during such a special time in our lives.

Abby constantly checked in on me during my pregnancy and helped me navigate those last few (long!) weeks as we waited for our little boy to arrive. She didn't wait until we got to the hospital to help -- she even FaceTimed me while I was in labor to check on me until we were ready to go. When my labor really started progressing at the hospital, I didn't feel alone for one second even though I was experiencing the physical feelings alone. She was there coaching me the entire time, and teaching my husband ways to help relieve some of the pressure I was feeling, too. And while things didn't unfold exactly the way I had hoped, she stuck with us through a long labor and the first hour after we met our little boy, taking iPhone pictures of our first moments together so my husband and I could simply be present and soak up what we experienced. 

I could write a book on how much we loved working with her, but I'll leave with this: If you're looking for a doula, Abby is your girl. 

Bridget

4/12/2022

Abby was everything we could have hoped for in a doula and so much more. My husband and I are so incredibly glad we hired her and she took us on as clients. We will without a doubt be reaching back out to Abby when we have our next baby - we can't imagine going through labor/delivery without her. She is amazing at what she does and is an incredibly kind, down-to-earth person and friend.

My husband and I just had our first child and Abby was with us every step of the way. This was unchartered territory for us, but Abby guided us, offered perspective and provided unending support through pregnancy, labor and delivery and postpartum. We are forever grateful for Abby and how much she helped our family for and during the birth of our daughter. She is extremely knowledgeable about tips/tricks during prengnacy ailments/issues, labor and delivery tools (for pain, positioning, etc.), the ins/outs of the hospital and interventions/options, and breastfeeding and postpartum help. She provides support and guidance with the best demeanor - never pushy or imposing, always supportive and with options. Abby listened to what we wanted in the birth and helped make it happen. When we had to switch gears and have a c section, Abby was still with us every second of the way offering perspective and help as we weighed our options - she even joined us in the OR!! She'll always be part of our family and we'll always be grateful for her. 

We are so glad she is part of our birth story and are looking forward to her being part of our next birth. We cannot recommend Abby enough! 

Jazman

3/29/2022

Abby is absolutely amazing! This was my second child, so I knew I wanted to do things differently and hire a doula. From day of hire to birth she was always so patient and kind and always had an encouraging word for me (especially toward the end of my pregnancy). When my delivery day finally arrived, I gave birth within 2 hours of arriving at the hospital and I know that was because of the help and knowledge from Abby. I am forever grateful for the role that Abby played in one of the most precious times in my life and would recommend her to anyone in search of a doula.

Olivia Dial

1/31/2022

I cannot begin to express how grateful we are to have had Abby there to support us in delivering our son. I hoped to do an unmedicated delivery and was grateful for Abby's knowledge of pain management strategies and different positions to try laboring in. When I decided to get an epidural, she was still so supportive and helped me labor successfully and change positions as much as I could with the epidural in place. When it came time to push, she was truly invaluable. My husband and I both agree that we would pay any price to have Abby there supporting us. You spend so much time laboring without any other healthcare professionals in the room with you, so it was integral to have her there for support and to answer questions between nurse check ins. Abby is a personal friend and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the privilege of having her as my doula.

Michael

8/7/2021

A message for all the soon-to-be dads – Abby is an amazing support for the mamas-to-be, but ALSO for the dads! Whew, I had approximately 0 clue what to do with Baby #1. Had an idea of how to support mama, but wasn’t sure about when was the right time to go to hospital, how labor was progressing, etc. Abby to the rescue!

We kept in touch to provide status updates via text when we were approaching the due date, and especially on day of delivery. She asked helpful questions and provided guidance via text, and was on-site in a few minutes once we determined it was “go time.” Mom was a champ, but dad still had questions. Abby was there to both encourage dad as he supported mom, and to make sure mom was taken care of. She was calm and supportive throughout, which was super helpful with what can be a stressful time. She helped translate what the doc was doing, how Baby was progressing, and more, which was super helpful and made both mom and dad feel confident in the progress and gameplan. And she had an awesome bag full of "care" goodies for the day (essential oils for calming, extra straws when mom wanted a cup of water, and way more!!).

For the moms-to-be – Abby is great and will support you!

For the dads-to-be – Abby is great and will support you too!

Julie Crosby

7/19/2021

Abby was an amazing doula for my first child. From the first time we spoke she was very calm and made me feel comfortable and like I was talking to a friend. When the big day came and my water broke and labor didn't start, she helped guide us through the process of when to go to the hospital. Without her it would have been much more stressful and I would have been worried and gone to the hospital way too soon. I was able to have a birth without an epidural and Abby was a large reason for that. 

I highly recommend working with Abby if you are looking for a doula in Charlotte! If we have another baby, I will definitely be a repeat client.

Chelsea

10/21/2020

Abby is a wonderful doula. So supportive. So helpful. So knowledgeable. My husband and I were so glad to have her as part of our laboring team. She helped us labor at home as long as possible (that was my goal) and I actually made it to 6cm before going to the hospital. Overall, she helped me reach my labor goals and was my advocate in L&D. Thank you Abby for being there for us!

Adalyn

7/31/2020

Everytime we reminisce about our birth experience, my husband, mother, mother-in-law, and basically everyone that was involved says, "I'm so glad Abby was there." I AM so glad we hired Abby to be my doula.

Just a few months ago, I had my first baby. It was a planned home birth so I was excited and terrified of going through a natural birth at the same time. Abby was there for me the second I hired her up until a couple of weeks after baby was born. She was the one I texted when I passed my mucus plug and went into labor. I was nervous, but her reply of excitment and assurance made me feel so much better. She drove to my house as soon as I decided I needed her. Just having her with me throughout the contractions brought me--and my husband--peace. 

Something I loved about Abby was her ability to coach not only me, but my husband through the entire process. She made sure he was involved and taught him how to be there for me. It was evident that she wanted it to be a special experience for US. 

Because it was my first time, I didn't know what to expect or ask for, but Abby was thoughtful and present the whole time and did exactly what I needed. Sometimes I felt like giving up and she was the one offering the encouragement I needed to keep going, especially at the end. I remember feeling so motivated when she was cheering for me those last few minutes. 

I didn't hire a photographer because we already had a midwife, her apprentice, Abby, and my husband in the bedroom, but she took some pictures and videos with her iphone when my baby was first born. I didn't even ask her to do that but those simple videos and pictures mean the world to me. 

All in all, she made my birth space and exprience comfortable and postiive. Her kindness and gentleness what EXACTLY what I needed and what every momma deserves! She's an amazing doula and life-long friend.

Adalyn

7/31/2020

I was lucky enough to have Abby by my side while I went through labor and delivery for my first time. I decided to do a natural home birth which was exciting, but of course I was afraid of the pain and didn't know how strong I would be in the moment. Looking back, I could not have done it without Abby. She was there the second I felt like I couldn't endure the contractions alone any longer, making my birth space more comfortable and relaxing. Although I hired her very last minute and didn't know her well, she was SO kind and acted as if we'd been friends for a long time. I expereinced a long labor but she was constantly encouraging and motivating me the entire time. I appreciated having a someone who was really calm and gentle throughout the experience. She physically helped through a lot of the pain, but her encouragement was the best thing for me. I felt so supported because of her! I reccomend having Abby as your doula because she has a uniquely kind personality that I think everyone desreves to have around during childbirth. 

Cassie R

4/29/2020

My husband and I had a fantastic first birth experience with Abby as our doula-- we can't recommend her enough! Abby was incredibly helpful, caring, understanding and nonjudgmental from the moment we retained her services.

Prior to our due date, Abby provided us with a wealth of resources and information and made a pointed effort to get to know my husband and I better. She was always available to answer any questions I had and was great about routinely checking in as we neared my due date. 

When I went over a week past my due date, Abby helped me walk through my options without pushing me towards any one path, which was so appreciated. We opted to have an induction at 41 weeks for personal reasons, and she was very supportive and nonjudgmental! On the day of my induction, Abby helped make my hospital room cozy and warm, and she again was constantly available to answer any questions I had. I was set on having a pain medication-free labor and delivery, and I can't imagine how difficult it would have been without her there. Abby helped significantly -- she gave my husband and I tips and encouragement, she helped me with positioning and pain management, and she advocated for my husband and I with the doctors and nurses. Having her in the room made a world of a difference for my husband and I. I was (and remain!) so incredibly grateful for her support. 

In sum, I can't recommend Abby enough! She was everything I could have asked for in a doula, and I feel lucky to have found her. Thank you for everything again, Abby!

Ashley Brunson

3/6/2020

Abby was a wonderful support for me during my labor. I had a very unfortunate turn of events that led to an emergency C-section, but Abby was still a great support to me, both physically and emotionally. She showed my family so much love! My husband and I are both so grateful to have worked with her. 

Kate Hartman

11/20/2019

It is hard to put into words just how much I appreciate what Abby has done to support me and my husband with the birth of our first child.  She is an absolutely professional and helped us navigate all the decisions and plans so we were completely comfortable.  She provided ongoing care throughout my pregnancy and checked in with me often.  During my delivery we were thrown a few curveballs and Abby was there 100% coaching me.  There were so many times I felt like I couldn’t keep going on the all natural path I had chosen and she was so calm and confident helping me dig deeper than I thought I could.  She was just absolutely present for every moment and so focused on me.  When my son was born she continued to make sure I was cared for and even ran out to grab my husband and I dinner!!! After we got home she continued to check in and make sure we were doing well and that nursing was moving along.  I just can’t say enough good things about Abby.  I would recommend her to any family member or friend and definitely plan to hire her for our next pregnancy!

Rachel McIntyre

6/17/2019

If you're searching for the perfect doula, stop your search now... it's Abby. My husband and I knew we wanted a doula for the birth of our first baby but we didn't know we'd find a friend in the process. Through our initial meeting, the pre-natal appointments, the actual labor and delivery, and the post-partum visit - Abby feels like family to our family. I told everyone "I couldn't have done it without her" and I mean it. My birth didn't go at all how I envisioned it - actually it was the exact opposite - but having Abby as a resource, steady, calm, comfortable friend in the room eased my anxieties and concerns. I looked to her for strength, comfort, reassurance, and encouragement and she provided all of that unwaveringly. Abby has a calm presence that immediately evokes trust. There were multiple parts of my labor and delivery that felt "scary" to me - bad tearing, the NICU team etc. and I'll never forget locking eyes with Abby asking her if I was okay and if the baby was okay and her steady, reassuring, confident self giving me the affirmation I needed. She provided essential oils, (fake because we were in a hospital) tea light candles, cold rags, massage, counter pressure etc. as well as constant verbal encouragement. She took time to get to know us and our preferences. We made clear we wanted our birth to be a spiritual experience and that we were Christian's and she helped cater to our desires in a way I imagine she'd cater to anyone's - regardless if she agreed with them like she did with us. While we were already planning on naming our daughter Abigail, it felt fitting for her to share a name with a woman who had so much influence in bringing her into the world! Look no further - choose Abby!

Hannah Wardrop

3/4/2019

I first knew that I had to hire Abby as soon as I read her bio. I instantly could tell that she had a passion for what she does, a sweet spirit, and a desire to help others. I also loved that she stated she liked to work with first-time moms and Christian moms, of which I was both.

After my husband and I met with Abby for the first time in-person, she instantly felt like a part of our family. She was always available to answer any questions or concerns I had during pregnancy, walked me through a birth plan we both felt comfortable with, and helped prepare us (as much as she could) for the big day.

When birthing day came, she was even more amazing. She showed up at 3 AM at the hospital, and, even though we only contracted her for 12 hours, she never left our side, throughout a very long and complicated labor and delivery. She was a constant source of reassurance and calm, always ready with a massage and encouraging words during every contraction. She never once lost her cool, and helped both my husband and I maintain ours as well. We definitely couldn’t have managed without her!

After my experience with Abby, I can’t imagine ever birthing a baby without a doula. And she is definitely the doula to hire! I highly recommend her and definitely plan to hire her again if baby #2 ever comes along. 

Eva Swanson

11/15/2018

Abby was amazing during my birth! It was my first pregnancy/labor so I had no idea what to expect and wanted to try and go natural if all possible. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I had my last check up and Abby was able to come with me because I was nervous that I may be admitted that day. Well, I was/had to get induced since my blood pressure was high during the visit. It was so good to have Abby there to comfort me and letting me know the step by step process. I was getting pitocin in the morning so Abby left and kept her updated/ let her know when things pick up. So Abby came about an hour before they broke my water which was great because things started getting more intense after that. Abby was there to suggest positions when my contractions picked up and made sure I was hydrated, ate stuff, & talked to the nurses when I was going through a contraction. I ended up having a long labor and baby was high up as I was 9cm dialated and was SO tired(I couldn’t hold myself up). I got the epidural and it helped that I could rest finally. Also, there was a point we may had to talk more about a C section because I was having a lot of back labor and we thought maybe the baby was back to my back and that is why she’s staying high. After the epidural, they checked me and baby dropped and said I can prob push after some rest. Abby was there for this all and when it was time to push she was encouraging me and making sure I was comfortable as much as I could be. I pushed for 2 hours and baby came out. I had to get stitches after birth and Abby was there to hold my hand while my husband had time with the baby. I’m so glad she was there for me! Also, we had 2 prenatal visits that were helpful and went other our plans and different positions. We had our postnatal and it was good to see Abby and realize how much we have progress since birth. Abby gave so much encouragement and made sure I was taken care of during it all.

Rachel Campbell

8/28/2018

My husband and I cannot say enough glowing things about Abby. From the very first time we met her, we felt comfortable and at ease. She is full of knowledge, empathy and enthusiasm and would be the perfect addition to any birth team.

She provided two prenatal appointments where we talked about our fears, preferences and hopes and she shared her "bag of tricks" so that we would all feel empowered and prepared when the big day finally arrived. She was fully accessible via phone and text throughout my pregnancy and was full of encouragement and ideas when I went past my due date.

In labor, she was amazing. I went into labor at 9:30 p.m. and went to the hospital at 12:30 a.m. She arrived by 1 a.m. and almost never left the room until an hour after delivery. She kept me and my husband at ease, helped to advocate for our preferences with the hospital staff and had lots of ideas about positioning and techniques to help with contractions. Things got rough at the end of my labor, with a failed epidural and the need for forceps and Abby helped my husband and I stay calm and foucsed. It was like having a best friend/mom in the room with you, but one who is able to keep their cool despite crazy circumstances.

If we decide to have more children, one of the first people we will call is Abby, we can't imagine doing "birth" without her!

shi bell

8/27/2018

I’m not even sure where to begin. From day one, Abby has been truely extra-ordinary. I became extremely excited and confident in my abilities to have a natural birth after initially meeting Abby! I knew for sure that Abby had to be my doula. Throughout my pregnancy she was very responsive with any questions I had. She was very educated and informative on the matter. What I respected most about Abby was that she made you feel comfortable with her by allowing you to be yourself and she never forced her views or opinions on you. That was very important to me. Throughout labor, she was very patient with me and stayed with me through every contraction giving me the confidence to continue fighting on. Although I had a very long labor, i never lost hope because of her. She really made this experience exceptional and I true can’t thank her enough on my beautiful natural birth.

Drienie Martinez

7/31/2018

Abby was amazing!

From my first meeting with her I knew was going to place my needs and dream of a natural birth first withou tcompromising the safety of our child. She took the time to get to know my husband and I and paid great attention to detail. She was very aware of our motivations and encouraged both of us along the process. Abby was very informative and provided me with so many resources and was available to answer any questions I may have. I felt very accepted by her and did not feel any jusdgement but only support.

I would recommend Abby to anyone of my firends, or even strangers. We will be forever grateful for her!

Meagan Tucker

7/24/2018

Our experience with Abby as a doula could not be any better. She was absolutely vital in helping us achieve a successful VBAC. Abby was available for advice and support for the duration of my pregnancy and postpartum. There were several times that I contacted Abby and she was able to provide evidence-based research studies to help me make an informed decision. She provided great reading materials and never made us feel pressured in any way.

She helped prepare my husband and me to labor effectively and advocate for the birth we wanted. She was very hands-on in teaching pain coping techniques.

She checked in with me weekly throughout my pregnancy and worked with us to have the best birth experience possible. I went into labor 2 weeks early (before our contracted on-call period) but Abby dropped everything to be there for the birth of our son. She had excellent backup doulas to help in the interim and coached me through a successful unmedicated VBAC as we wanted. I honestly would not have been able to do this without her.

Any mother would be extremely lucky to have Abby on their support team. Her positive attitude is motivating and she works to motivate you in the way that works best for you.

Autumn Saxon Stone

6/28/2018

I had a great expereince with Abby! She was always easy to reach and get a hold of when I had questions or concerns. She is passionate about what she does and made the expereince beautiful, sacred and special. She included my husband with techniques to use, suggested water when i didn't even think  of it and other small things that supported me in my birth. Highly recommend her!