Robbie

7/19/2023

When we were pregnant and in need of information and resources, we hired Megan to be our doula and we were SO pleased with the expertise and care she provided. She was an amazing wealth of knowledge and helped us prepare for the birthing process in every way possible. She had regular check ins and visits with us and took a real interest in how we were doing mentally as well as physically. She helped me prepare to be a great partner during pregnancy and childbirth and I could not have supported my partner in the way I was able to without her expert guidance. We went into the birthing process totally confident and prepared and when things didn't go according to plan she stayed by our side all night and all day and was a crucial resource helping us make decisions on the fly, while also allowing us the space, independence and compassion we needed. Megan helped us with so many resources after birth in the early weeks of our new baby's life and I'll always be grateful for the services she provided and for the others in the birthing and newborn care community she referred us to. Megan is amazing!

Katie Ranstrom

1/31/2022

From our first meeting I could see that Megan was highly knowledgeable and would be amazing at supporting me though my pregnancy journey.  Even though we just had met, I felt like I'd known her for years. Megan made me feel at ease and taken care of. I was welcomed to txt and call whenever I had questions or just needed emotional support. She is well educated in techniques such as spinning babies and lactation and was a wealth of knowledge throughout the process. She gave me ways to prepare for childbirth and educational resources that absolutely made a difference when the day came. I can't imagine having my baby without her support. It was a wonderful experience and she was tuned in, right there with me, coaching me though it all. Her presence is calm and reassuring, an absolute necessity when dealing with the changing stages of labor. 
Her training in Estim for use in labor was a major reason I was able to endure each contraction and am thankful she has spent the extra time to become well educated in several techniques to help her new moms. 
In addition to all she offered leading up to the birth, she also offered complimentary photographs of the birth. The photos she captured are such a treasured memory. Her postpartum care was also stellar and included 2 postpartum meetings and providing me with options for my placenta. 
Megan goes above and beyond for her moms. I can't imagine having anyone else help me with future pregnancies. 

Carly Derrick

8/25/2021

Megan was a back up doula to the one I hired. I was nervous about having someone I hadn't met come to my son's birth. Those worries quickly disappeared  when Megan arrived. She never felt like a stranger and when both my husband and I were at a loss of how to cope with my super fast labor, she stepped right up and got me through it. She was so calm and reassuring and her voice was literally the only thing I clung to when going through the painful contractions. Megan, I know this review does not do you justice to how amazing you are, but I am SO grateful you made the long journey to be by my side at the last minute. I am forever grateful! 

Mia and Nicholas Johnson

7/13/2021

To say that Megan did an amazing job during our birth experience is an understatement. From the moment we met Megan, she was open, empathetic, kind, and honest; qualities that are great to have as a doula and that made our time with her worthwhile. She was very respectful when it came to how we best wanted to be supported through her services, and never hesitated to ask how we were feeling through the process. This allowed us to feel as calm as possible. Not only is Megan a fantastic doula, but she also captured SPECTACULAR photos of our little one and us during delivery and labor--photos that we will cherish forever. Our experience with Megan has made us want to return to her in the future when he have another child. We wholeheartedly suggest to receive Megan’s services. She will make sure that you feel in control and empowered during your whole birth process! 

Kimberly F

4/30/2021

We are so happy we hired Megan for the birth of our daughter! As first time parents we had no idea what we were doing and this was during Covid so we wanted an out of hospital birth and someone who could help my husband better support me. Megan went above and beyond what we expected of a Doula and was kind, confident, knowledgeable, resourceful, unbiased and had lots of referrals and connections in the birthing community. All of the midwives at the birth center we went to knew Megan and where happy to be working with her. During the birth itself she was everything we needed and I don’t think I would have made it through a natural birth without her! She knew when I needed to be pushed and when I needed space and rest and had a lot of techniques that helped move things along. Her spinning babies technique got my labor progressing out of a lull every single time! She stuck with us through the whole night and made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed (including a fresh placenta smoothie) after the birth before leaving. After the birth she was a great resource for breastfeeding and other issues that came up with the baby and postpartum. We also used her placenta services which I also found to be very helpful in the following weeks. I will definitely use Megan for future births and would highly recommend her to anyone who needs a Doula!

Cynthia G

1/26/2021

After taking a childbirth ed class, my husband & I agreed that we needed a doula: an expert to support me laboring without pain meds & a coach to support my husband.  

We got Megan's contact info from our midwives & liked her right away. She put us at ease with her kindness, excitement about our baby, wealth of information and excellent questions - I could tell she had a counseling background since she checked in about our emotional needs. 

This was my 2nd labor after a hospital transfer & unneccessary overnight stay. This time I really wanted to labor at the birth center with our midwives. Megan helped this happen! She advised me on my birth plan & my birth center bag and taught us the 3 Sisters exercise with a rebozo! She asked important questions identifying my worries & helping us find solutions. During labor she gave me much needed reminders to hydrate & eat, helpful suggestions on positioning during contractions & coached my husband on support positions & ergonomics. She provided a TENS unit which gave me pain relief! When I started to feel fatigued and a little helpless during transition, she guided my focus back to my body - how much good work it was doing, a sign things were working! I felt safe, supported & grounded during the entire process. We got to welcome our baby girl with the birth team we wanted in the place we chose!  She prepared my placenta into capsules which stabilized my mood & boosted my breast milk production. She even created a beautiful print from the placenta, a keepsake from this time.   

I'd recommend Megan to anyone seeking an educator, emotional supporter and expert labor coach! She has a wealth of information to share but is in no way pushy, actively listening so she can meet your family's goals in a compassionate, competent way. I'd especially recommend her to people who have trouble voicing their own needs. She is wonderful!

Danielle Land

10/30/2020

I was on the fence about hiring a doula from the beginning since we were delivering at a birthcenter with midwife. I thought I would have enough support but thought it might be nice for my husband to have someone to support him as well. After talking more about it, my husband convinced me it would be better to be over prepared and hire one rather than not have one and wish we did.

From the moment we met Megan we knew she was the perfect fit for us. She was kind, informative and just what we were looking for. She was there for us prenatally, during the labor & birth and postpartum. She was available to us leading up to the birth for any questions we had and had referrals for anything we needed such as back up doula, CPR classes, breastfeeding classes, pediatrician, etc. When I went into labor we were on the phone with her every few hours as I labored through the night. She checked in with us if we forgot to call and came to our home as soon as we thought we needed her there. When my labor seemed to stop progressing she provided us with some spinning babies moves to try that really got things going. Within 2 hours of Megan arriving at our home we were off to the birth center! She made sure to keep me hydrated and reminded my husband to eat & drink during labor as well. She took pictures when she could & I will cherish the documentation of our first moments together as a family.

Postpartum she provided me with placenta smoothies, placenta encapsulation, breastfeeding support & referrals and anything else I could possibly think of. Not to mention the constant reassurance that we were doing a great job. We truly could not have done it without her. Hiring Megan was the best thing we could have done and we would not hesitate to do it again!

AJ Nelson

10/24/2020

How do we even start with how greatful we are that Megan was our Doula and a new friend? She was so supportive in every aspect of my pregnancy to birth to postpartum. When my husband and I first zoom met her we knew that she would be an amazing person to have support us throughout this journey. I could ask her any question throughout pregnancy and get a prompt, well thought out answer. She helped calm a lot of anxiety during pregnancy. 

For the birth, I had an entire birth preference list written out that Megan wholly supported and also contributed ideas towards (which was good, as I had an inkling but no specifics!). Megan came to my house after my membranes ruptured and I had been contracting for about 14 hours, and was so helpful in following and supporting my wish to labor at home as long as possible. We did different positions and she had so many wonderful tricks up her sleeves for coping unmedicated. When we got to the hospital, she was such a help as myself and my husband had no idea what we were in for! As my husband continues to say, we could not have done it without Megan! 

My birth went differently than I had hoped an planned with a 30 hours unmedicated labor and several hours of pushing before we went for a cesearan section because of multiple factors. Megan was with me every step of the way, helping to focus me on decisions that needed to be made to safely deliver Oscar. It was a very positive birth even if it ended in a c section, and Megan was a huge part of that. 

Megan also visited us post delivery twice and would check up on me all the time, making sure that I had questions answered and resources if needed. We also encapsulated my placenta and I think that has made a huge different postpartum in my recovery and mood. 

We LOVE Megan and all that she did for us. Best addition to my birth tema that I could have imagined!

Lauren

4/21/2020

I can’t recommend Megan and her amazing services enough! After having a traumatic birth with my first baby, she helped and supported me through my pregnancy and helped me to have the birth that I had hoped for. She was with me every step of the way, from answering all of my questions, calming and easing my fears, and being a friend and amazing support when I needed it the most.  She has been wonderful postpartum as well, helping with breastfeeding along with my many other concerns. Megan is a wealth of knowledge and resources, and choosing to have her as a doula with me was the best choice I could have made for my pregnancy. She is a special person that anyone would be lucky to have by their side during pregnancy and birth.

Danielle

1/3/2020

When my husband and I decided we wanted to use a doula for our first child (11/6/19), we made sure to interview several before we went with Megan.  When we met with her, we left the meeting feeling like she was the one.  One of the things that immediately stood out for me and set her apart from the other doulas we met with was that she actually looked at my husband and asked HIM questions during our initial meet and greet.  This small act really sealed the deal with me since one of the reasons I wanted a doula was so that he could get the support he needed so he could support me during labor.

After we hired Megan, she was great with checking in and her pre labor visits were priceless.  She gave us the tools and comfort we (mainly me) needed to feel good about the marathon we were about to embark on.

My labor wasn't an easy one - went in on a Monday and gave birth via c-section on a Wednesday after pushing for 5 hours.  Megan was there for the whole thing encouraging us, cheering us on, whipping out her tool back of tricks to massage and maneauver me to help me get to the outcome we were hoping for.  She seemed to have a suggestion for every challenge we faced and when she was out of suggestions, she consulted her tribe of doulas and came back with more ideas.  

Megan was and is nothing short of a superhero in disguise. We couldn't have gone on this journey without her.

Thank you Megan!

Genavie

1/2/2020

When my husband and I started looking for a doula, we weren’t sure where to start. We looked on doula match but it felt a little overwhelming. Personally I like to find people though reconditions from friends.

We met Megan via another doula. I know I speak for both myself and my husband when I say that we couldn’t have been happier with Megan and everything she did for us during our pregnancy and during the birth of our son. I felt completely supported and well informed during my pregnancy. Megan took the time to talk with my husband and myself about our expectations during labor. This really helped both of us be on the same page and have an idea of how to help us both through the process.

I know Megan helped my husband be involved and supported during my labor and she was also a huge part of keeping me focused as well.

I also got my placenta encapsulated from Megan and I was really pleased with how clean and well packaged the capsules were. She also provided plenty of information about using the capsules.

As a huge bonus, Megan took pictures during my labor and I am so grateful to have them to look back at and see everything from a different perspective.

In the month following our sons birth Megan checked back in often and was always available for my new mom questions.

I can’t recommend her enough!! I would say if you are looking for an incredible doula, Megan is your gal.  If my husband and I have another kiddo, she will be the first person we will call in hopes she will be available to be there for us again during such an important time.

Danae

5/30/2019

Megan was wonderful to work with at every step of the way- always taking time to check in and answer questions. She took the time to really learn my preferences and help me stick to them during the birth- resulting in the natural childbirth I had desired. My husband was very hesitant to hire a doula, but now he is convinced we need one at every birth! We are so happy with our experience! 

Tiffany Taylor

5/28/2019

Megan is an INCREDIBLE birth doula! She is knowledgable, supportive, and kind. She has a great sense of humor and puts you at ease from the moment you meet her. Megan came prepared for all of our prenatal meetings and answered both mine and my husbands questions in a non-judgemental, informative way. She was hands-on when showing us how to prepare for the birth using Spinning Babies exercises and also provided us with a binder of information on numerous prenatal/birth/postpartum related things should we want/need it. Despite this being my first birth, I opted out of taking a labor preparation course; however, I never felt unprepared with Megan as part of our support team. My labor was long (2 days) due to induction and the delivery wasn't easy either (3 hours of pushing and a shoulder dystocia), but Megan never waivered. She offered a hand to hold or a soothing voice when needed. As an added bonus, Megan was able to capture on camera some of our most precious memories of the labor, birth, and first postpartum moments for us to keep forever. Intuitively, she knew when to be close and when to give us space as a family. Most surprisingly, my husband was completely won over by Megan. In all honesty, he thought a birth doula was a complete waste of money; however, after just our first prenatal meeting with her he said, "she is worth every penny". I couldn't agree more. He has already decided that should we be blessed with another birth in the future, she will be there as our doula. 

Finally, if you are on the fence about getting your placenta encapsulated (a service Megan offers); do it! After a lot of thought, we chose to have her do this and she delivered the pills to me at our first postpartum visit (3 days after the birth). I went back and forth many times about whether or not I wanted to do it, but now I'm a believer! They helped me to avoid a massive hormone dip following the birth, kept my milk supply up, and aided me in maintaining energy.

Megean Twitchell

2/3/2019

Megan was our doula with our second baby, born on 12/6/18. From the first time we met her, she was super welcoming, kind and just made us very comfortable. I had a lot of pain during pregnancy due to SPD and Megan saw this from our first meeting because walking was hard and painful. She offered to come to our house weeks earlier than she normally would to help us with stretches for my pain. I had a high risk, stressful and anxiety-ridden pregnancy. I texted Megan a LOT throughout the last trimester of my pregnancy and she always responded with such kind and positive words. I never felt alone during my difficult times because of her. When I was 37 weeks and 3 days, I found out I had a pregnancy complication that required induction. I was trying for a VBAC so I asked her to come to the hospital shortly after I was admitted because I was so anxious and scared and really needed her support. She came shortly after and I felt instantly more relaxed. She was there with me the entire time I was being induced and working through contractions. I ended up having to have another c-section and make some decisions and it was so nice to be able to have Megan there to run my decisions by and feel better about them. It was also so nice that she knew my provider, whom I just met that day. During my c-section, I was soooo anxious and a wreck, honestly. She was there with her calming voice and comforting words and helped calm me down. She was able to take pictures and videos of my baby being born that I wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. It was so nice to have her there with me during my c-section while my husband was able to go be with the baby. I couldn’t have gotten through the end of my pregnancy or c-section without Megan! She is so calming, caring and just a genuinely caring person. You can tell she truly loves what she does! If we were to have another baby, I would ask Megan to be our doula in a heartbeat!

Sophie Michele

1/31/2019

We couldn’t thank Megan enough for being part of our first born sons arrival. Since the moment we met Megan we felt a sense of “home”. Knowing we were going to be in a hospital during delivery, this feeling made my experience as comfortable if not more than I could ever imagine. Megan is passionate, knowledgeable and professional. Looking back on my overall pregnancy and labor experience I would rate them both a 10. I know i couldn’t have said this if it weren’t for working with Megan!

Nyiesha Palmer

11/26/2018

Megan changed my entire birth experience . My originally scheduled doula ended up leaving our birth about 30 hours into my labor . I called Megan and she was more than willing to jump in and help with my birth . She came over to the birthing center immediately and jumped right in to assisting with different positions to move the labor along . She was so kind and an amazing listener . She understood what I was going through and motivated me with a warm heart to get my labor done and over with . I appreciated her honesty and her knowledge . Not only did she help to end my labor (baby arrived only a couple hours after Megan’s help!) but she also did our placenta encapsulation and tincture , a placent print , and our umbilical cord keepsake. To top it all off she is so sweet enough to still be checking on our family two weeks after the birth . She helped with breastfeeding and is just generally a God send in all aspects of birth . We are more than grateful for Megan and the miracle she helped us to bring into the world . You really can’t find a greater person on this earth . She was like a shining angelic light through the nightmare that my natural birth get like . Thank you so much Megan . ??

Alston Dean

11/21/2018

Megan was a true life saver.. Being first time parents and not knowing what to do having Megan around to be able to take charge and keep focus and provide different tips and guide us was amazing. We could have not gone through our natural birth without her. She made everything comfortable and relaxing not just for my girlfriend but also for myself. We will be using Megan for ALL of our future births. We cant thank you enough for your time and knowledge.

Stephanie Hunt

9/17/2018

We highly recommend Megan Gifford, asshe was an amazing doula! She was extremely supportive and involved before the birth, during and after. She always came prepared with lots of information, ideas and energy. 
We wanted a natural birth and Megan paved the way for us to do so.
Weeks leading up to the birth she taught us lots of stretches and techniques that I know made our birth a smoother one. Also, they got my husband involved and he not only felt like an important part of the birthing process, but he truly was.  Megan was a perfect coach for him and gave him confidence by knowing what to do and when.
During the birth, I don’t know what I would have done without her. Every time I felt overwhelmed or exhausted, she would help us switch up positions and use a different technique for that moment. Ex. When I thought my legs would give out on me, Megan got out her massage oil and helped my hubby rub some life into them.
She exerts positive energy, continuous encouragement and calmness. Which to me is exactly what I need in a doula. She made sure I knew exactly what my options were during the entire birthing process and that all my questions/concerns were being acknowledged throughout.
We wish we would have found her sooner for our previous births!! She is a gem and worth every penny!

Joseph Cook

7/31/2018

Megan is amazing! She is a pure natural at what she does and has the warmest of personalities and a heart of gold. She was a true leader and a rock during our pregnancy, which was filled with complications and extremely scary moments to where I was worried of losing my wife. My wife was induced on a Monday night and didn't give birth until Thursday morning. Megan stayed with us the WHOLE time and barely slept along with me as we coached and encouraged my wife. Megan also joined me in the operating room during the C-section (as I was going on three days of no sleep) to keep me calm and explain what was going on. She also stayed attentive in watching my wife throughout the entire process, with a special sense of knowing when things were "off". She was the one who helped alert nurses of symptoms that would eventually lead to a life-threatening emergency. She kept me calm during the scariest moment of my life and provided comfort as I experienced more anxiety than I ever have before.

I learned that nurses are great at their jobs during pregnancy, but it doesn't mean they'll be by your side helping explain things every minute, encouraging you through the pain, and providing helpful expert advice in getting you through your pregnancy. Megan will do that!

Overall, we were truly blessed to have her as part of our first pregnancy. I (and my wife) never would have made it through this tough pregnancy without Megan. We are now the proud parents of a beautiful and healthy baby boy. If you're looking for a doula, LOOK NO FURTHER!!!

Connie Richards Aigner

5/20/2018

Our experience with Megan was so great!! Her support before, during & after the birth of our 2nd daughter for my husband and me was priceless.  She met with my husband and I in our home on short notice a few weeks before I was due and gave us the kind of information & support we lacked with the birth of my 1st daughter.  I had admitted that I had an attitude of avoidance towards birth, and she helped me to feel more preppared and be equipped through information & excercises.  I ended up having false labor for week starting on my due date and she made herself available and was in constant communication with me for support.

She was at the hospital with us the entire time for labor & until after delivery for support and encouragement. We all went through the strenuous 23 hour process together, and I am not sure how far I would have made it through my birth plan without her help.  She helped me cope through hours of labor pain and pushing. Even though I ended up requiring a c-section through a combination of factors- the opposite of my ideal plan, I feel closure with what happened - because I felt like I and with the help of her and my husband, did everything physically, mentally, and emotionally possible to deliver my daughter.  Even though this birth ended in a c-section, I felt more empowered and in control than how I felt helpless for how the birth of my 1st daughter (who was 3 lbs & 3 inches smaller than this 2nd baby) went. My husband and I would have also been extra petrified about a c-section if Megan would not have been there for us.

Postpartum Megan has been great support too, with advice and check-ins about how we are doing.  She also was nice enough to get some pictures taken for us. Everything about our experience wtih Megan was great and she is very helpful, supportive, kind, and thoughtful every step of the way.

Katherine Dickerson

3/20/2018

Megan helped us feel confident and comfortable as first time parents in the weeks prior to the birth of our son. She supplied us with information and support that helped us make the right decisions for our family. We felt like we had someone knowledgeable and trustworthy to turn to when we had questions or concerns anytime pre and postnatal. Although, what really makes her stand out is the care and support she gave us when health complications arose. She was available at short notice and came straight to the hospital with us, helping us navigate through the stress and worry and stay grounded through an unforeseen issue that brought our son into the world a few weeks early. With her support and guidance through that trying time, we were still able to receive what was most important to us from our birth plan, and helped us really enjoy our delivery despite our health complications. Our postnatal experience with her was just as rewarding. Other than the two postnatal visits, she made herself available via phone and text for any questions or concerns we might have. She gave us the lactation support we needed and helped us feel more comfortable with our new life in the weeks after our son’s birth. We personally feel that Megan is an outstanding doula, and someone you will want advocating for you and supporting you, whether you’re a first time parent, or a not.