Emily

10/17/2023

I have had such a positive, stress-free postpartum experience and that is in very large part thanks to Aijanae. I feel so lucky to have found her and her team -- from the moment I first talked to her, I knew I would want her to support me and my family. She exudes calm and kindness, she is incredibly knowledgeable, and she is very generous with her time. Aijanae supported me for the first 6 weeks with overnights, and then her team (Jazzy, Wren, and Hailey) joined to support for the following 4 weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed Aijanae's company during the middle of the night feedings and so appreciated all her advice on breastfeeding and newborn care (and appreciated her folding laundry, doing some meal prep, and cleaning pump parts). Aijanae really cares about you as a new mother and goes out of her way with texts, phone calls, and in-person conversations to make sure you feel heard and supported. My experience with Jazzy, Wren, and Hailey was also great, they are all clearly experts in what they do. And the great thing about working with an agency, like Aijanae's agency, is that if you have a longer term contract like I did and someone inevitably gets sick or can't make a shift, there is always someone else who can cover. Our 10 weeks with Aijanae and her team were a big financial commitment but it was worth every penny. I would wholeheartedly recommend Aijanae and Village to Village to any family who wants a smoother postpartum experience. 

Liberty & Shane

10/9/2023

We are so thankful for Aijanae and her team (Jazzy and Jin) who helped us navigate the first few weeks with our newborn son. As first time parents, we were on the fence about hiring Doulas to help assist us; Did we really need help? Shouldn't we be able to do this ourselves? Isn't that our new found job as parents? We did the first week of our sons life by ourselves and quickly realized that, yes, it was doable, but being our first time, adjusting to our new normal, was taking quite the toll on us. We ultimately decided to seek help through getting some overnight Doula's and after a very comforting, informative phone call with Aijanae we felt that this was the right move for us. We wanted to invest in our mental health and get some much apprecaited help (mainly restful nights). We ended up getting 16 sessions, 4 nights a week for 4 weeks that would start the next week. We split the nights between two Doulas (Jazzy and Jin), who each did 2 nights a week with us. We were very happy with how on-time (sometimes early if requested so we could inform them of new routines or things we would like to try), friendly, respectful, comforting, and knowledgable they were. They both quickly put our minds at ease and we gladly entrusted the care of our Son overnight with them as we got our much needed rest. Not only did they allow us to get rest, they were very willing to do light chores related to our son (laundry, bottle washing, bottle making, and sanitizing) while our Son was asleep. They also helped with breast feeding education which was very much appreciated and helpful during the initial struggle we faced there. We loved how personable both Jazzy and Jin were and that they really took to our entire family. We very much looked forward to the nights that they came to assist us and everything they helped us with, did for us, and taught us. We are very thankful for Aijanae, Jazzy, and Jin! We would highly recommend their services!

Alicia S

10/1/2023

Aijanae worked with us as a postpartum overnight doula for our first 2 months with our twins. As first time parents, we found the first few prenatal meetings with Aijanae really helpful in preparing us both practically and emotionally. She provided us with a google doc guide to help us think through who we could lean on for support, how we would like support, how to give ourselves self care time, and things like that. She also connected us with a great lactation consultant. After the twins were born, she did an amazing job taking care of them 3 nights a week so that we could get a little more rest! We could tell that she really cared about their well-being, and she was always available to answer questions and give us pointers as we navigated all the changes they went through in their first 2 months. I was exclusively pumping, so she would bring me the pump parts twice during the night and help wash them so I could go right back to sleep. She was also very attentive to my needs and recovery post C section. Overall I would recommend Aijanae to anyone needing support postpartum, and especially for families with twins!

Nina Coleman (Lindsey)

7/13/2023

I had the privilege of having Aijanae as my baby's doula for a few months, and I couldn't be happier with the care she provided. Aijanae's genuine compassion and knowledge made a remarkable difference during this crucial time. Her caring nature was evident from the very beginning, always going above and beyond to ensure my baby was well taken care of.

Aijanae's expertise and vast understanding of newborns were truly impressive. She was always ready to answer any questions we had, providing me with valuable advice and guidance. Her knowledge on breastfeeding, sleep routines, and overall infant care was exceptional, making me feel confident and supported throughout this journey.

Beyond her expertise, Aijanae's genuine love for babies was unmistakable. It was evident that her main priority was the well-being and happiness of my baby, which brought me immense peace of mind.

I am incredibly grateful for Aijanae's presence in our lives. Her caring nature, knowledge, and dedication made a significant impact on both my baby's well-being and my own confidence as a new parent. I highly recommend Aijanae as a doula to any parent looking for exceptional care and support during this precious time.

Allyson

6/7/2023

We loved having Aijanae as our postpartum doula! She was always very prompt, came with a positive attitude, and had great suggestions and tips when I asked for them. Navigating those first couple of weeks postpartum (especially as a first time mom), she supported me both physically (helping me get more rest) and emotionally. She is also really connected within the postpartum and doula communities, and set me up with a great lactation specialist when my baby had trouble latching. She checked in with me regularly throughout the weeks leading up to the birth and on her off nights—always there to answer questions or help research issues as they came up. I can't recommend her enough!

Katy Klein

9/11/2022

We had Aijanae as a night doula for three nights a week for six weeks after the birth of our second baby. She was a life saver! Aijanae caught some rough nights with the baby, while my husband and I both slept soundly. She also reinforced our practices to make sure things were consistent for the baby. She figured out different soothing techniques that worked and told us so we could implement them. Also, we asked her to help us establish good sleep hygiene habits with the baby and she was full of suggestions and options. Our baby started consistently sleeping through the night at two months old. Aijanae was a great listening ear and also proactive. She helped me figure out a pumping routine, so I could start to build a milk supply in the freezer. She's extremely knowledgeable about all things baby and sleep and nursing and families adjusting. I've recommended her to everyone I know!

Allison

7/29/2022

Aijanae worked with our family as a postpartum doula and having her support made all the difference for our family. Aijanae was wonderful with our baby, but she was also incredibly supportive of us as first-time parents. Right from the interview, it was clear that Aijanae was there to support us in whatever choices were best for our family without judgment. She helped us establish successful nursing and also gave lots of helpful advice on pumping and bottle feeding. We highly recommend Aijanae!

Lauren

4/19/2022

We engaged Aijanae as a night doula, starting with us 3 nights per week following the birth of our second daughter.  We'd learned after our first go-round that this arrangement can be a lifesaver during those initial, difficult months of a new baby - and it totally was this time, too!  We never once worried about our daughter's safety when she was in Aijanae's care, which meant that we could focus on sleeping and recuperating whenever she was here.

A few details / notes about Aijanae:

- She's high-energy and inclusive.  While my partner and I are a heterosexual, cisgender couple, I noted from the beginning that Aijanae defaulted to neutral language and pronouns.

- While we only requested that she care directly for our infant - making bottles, feeding, diapering, soothing, etc. - she started emptying our dishwasher for us.  If I recall correctly, she's also willing to do baby laundry, clean pump parts, bring the baby to the mother for overnight nursing, etc. 

- She's an excellent communicator.

It is worth nothing that, especially when COVID still looms large for folks (like young children) who are unvaccinated, you should speak with any doula you engage about how often they generally have to reschedule, what happens if you or they need to cancel, what their protocol is in case of COVID exposure.  This is always a good callout, but especially in a pandemic, as I think everyone can experience a scare that requires a potential reschedule.  This was true for Aijanae, too, but we were always able to resolve.  Additionally, I really appreciated that she was highly communicative about her COVID protocols and always willing to take an at-home test if we requested. 

All in all, we enjoyed working with her and were always confident our baby was safe in her care!

Jessica Steffanci

12/15/2021

Alison G

9/15/2019

We had the most amazing experience with Aijanae. She spent so many hours with my husband and me before birth and has followed up many times since our baby was born. When we met Aijanae we knew she was the one and didn’t interview any other doulas. Aijanae was with us at our home when we went into labor and stayed with us for over 24 hours while we labored in the hospital. We had an unplanned c-section and I was very scared and held Aijanae’s hand while my husband went to meet our baby and my surgery continued. I (we) wouldn’t have gotten through it without Aijanae! We love her. 

Tina Wang

7/22/2019

Aijanae was a great help in the first 6 weeks when we brought our daughter home. She was always on time. Having her helping us through the nights meant my husband got to sleep all night and I got to sleep with as little interuption as possible. Aijanae was very prompt in communication through text messages. If something comes up, such as another client of hers going into labor earlier than expected, she let me know right away and had a backup ready to fill in. In the end she was able to make it herself. But we were never left to wonder whether we would get the support we needed. 

Randi Eseltine

6/28/2019

I would recommend Aijanae’s services to my most beloved family members and friends – she’s amazing, experienced, and accessible. When asked about our experience with our Doula, Aijanae, my perfectionist spouse often says “there is no amount of money we wouldn’t have paid for what Aijanae did for us” (coming from a household that does not have a lot of disposable income). From the very beginning, Aijanae was available all hours of the day, gave us great advice, asked helpful questions, helped both of us feel more comfortable physically and emotionally, clarified her boundaries around how much we wanted her to take the lead, and really helped us understand what our choices were regarding our labor. She helped us design the labor plan that was perfect for us, and she also helped us be comfortable with the fact that things might not go to plan. She is the reason we did not have to use any medication – even when my contractions had stalled, and the doctors were ready to give us Petocin. I think our labor story is a wonderful anecdote of Aijanae's commitment and passon: she she walked an hour in the snow to get to the hospital at 5am for us, and when she arrived she calmly walked us through everything that was happening, was available for anything we needed, all while she made our delivery room as spa-like as possible (with our permission) including lavender oil, candles, music, etc. We were so thankful for the entire labor team we had, and Aijanae was the reason we felt so well taken care of, the personal touch we needed during such a vulnerable and tender moment in our lives. We keep in touch with her once in a while exchanging baby pictures – she cares deeply about every baby she helps deliver. 

Laura Oxford

12/5/2018

We chose Aijanae to be our doula for the birth of our first child, and I couldn't be happier with that decision. From the moment we met her, Aijanae put me at ease; she was knowledgeable, calm and friendly. In our pre-birth appointments, she helped us out both practical concerns (i.e. just what exactly do you need to pack in your hospital bags?) as well as checking in with us emotionally.

I ended up being induced 9 days after our baby's due date, a decision which made me feel a bit anxious. Aijanae was there every step of the way, helping me feel relaxed and making sure I was on board with the various medical decisions that needed to be made. Once labor really got going, I was SO glad Aijanae was there with us. I felt like she was on my same wavelength and I was able to focus on her words and advice. Even as contractions got more intense, I wasn't ever worried because I knew she was there supporting me. I eventually made the decision to get an epidural, and Aijanae helped facilitate that process as well.

Aijanae was also a big support for my husband, which was important to us. He wanted to play an active role in the labor and delivery but wasn't entirely sure how. Having Aijanae there allowed him to focus more on me and my needs. I was also grateful that Aijanae routinely checked in with him, making sure he was getting water, food and rest breaks.

Aijanae has been a big help during my postpartum recovery as well. I provided her with our insurance information, and she was able to recommend pelvic floor physical therapists who accept that insurance. So much nicer than having to search an insurance company's website!

All in all, we loved our experience with Aijanae. I'd recommend her to any couple getting ready to welcome a new child.

Melanie Roper

11/25/2018

Aijanae was the perfect doula for our first pregnancy and birth! Both of us had no idea what we were doing. Aijanae was very great at asking questions, listening to our thoughts and concerns, and offering ideas in a very kind and non-judgemental way. She was very reliable and checked in often. . I felt very connected to her and confident walking into the birth. The night of the birth was really long and Aijanae stayed with us the whole time. She was supportive in ways ways that I didn’t even think that I needed - grabbing me water and feeding me snacks and helping me reposition on the bed when I wasn’t comfortable. During the delivery she was right by my side, offering guidance and encouragement. Even though my labor was long, I came out of it feeling very empowered and supported and strong and so much of that was because of Aijanae‘s support!!

Betti Sanchez

11/15/2018

We had a wonderful experiencing working with Aijanae in preparation for the birth of our first child. She helped to guide us to resources to enable us to be better informed patients before the big day. Her knowledge and experience were just what we needed to help us develop our birth plan. She also assisted us in creating questions for the OB during the prenatal period.

When the contractions started, Aijanae immediately made herself available in the middle of the night and joined us at the hospital. She was with us, either in person or available by phone, during the entire 34-hour laboring process. When the contractions weren’t progressing like needed, she gave great advice for how we might approach the situation. Eventually, we got back on track and headed back to the hospital where Aijanae was the best support person I could have asked for. Her patience and expert guidance enabled me to deliver a healthy daughter vaginally, without pain medications or medical interventions. It’s hard to imagine that having been possible without her. If we had to do it again, we’d definitely use her again.