Annie Hall

4/23/2024

I absolutely loved working with Marina. I struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety with my firstborn and saw Marina a few times during the day with him and she really helped. So for my second-born I wanted to make sure I booked her for overnights. She came three times a week for about two months and was wonderful. She has a calming presence, is excellent with babies, goes above and beyond to make the parents feel comfrotable, and is extremely knowledgable. She made having a second child much easier on me and I can't thank her enough!

Augusta

4/22/2024

Marina was an absolute dream to work with. She procided us invaluable overnight help making our first few weeks at home so much more peaceful. As others have shared, she is truly a baby whisperer. Our little baby was so calm and comfortable in her care.

Marina also taught us so much about feeding, sleeping, and other routines that were invaluable for us as first time parents. 

We are so much more confident and informed going into the next phase with our newborn thanks to Marina. 

Robert Kachko

4/22/2024

Marina is the most experienced doula we have ever worked with. She is very technically skilled with our son, and helped teach us many important things in the first few months after he was born. She went above and beyond in supporting our family. We always felt safe with Marina being with him at night. We will continue to reach out to Marina for help in the future and will recommend her highly to friends and family. 

Eshba Montagnino

4/15/2024

Maria was a godsend for our growing family as she supported us as a postpartum doula after the birth of our first child! She assisted us as soon as we brought our little one home. She was there every night 9pm -6am until my son turned 12 weeks. I trusted her completely and went to bed happily. She never lets him cry. she carries an energy that is soothing and supportive, without being overbearing.

Marina was frequently checking in even when she was not at our home. She is very passionate and it felt like having a family member home. She also provided a lot of invaluable guidance. She shared a lot of tips on how to put my baby to sleep etc. She helped him establish an amazing sleep schedule. She also helped around the house- setting up my little one's high chair, bassinet, organizing his nursery etc. She helped with questions to ask the pediatrician at each visit. She also brought me dinner (she is a fabulous cook and makes the best omelette and soup) and also offered to do groceries for me. Overall, she is terrific!

I so looked forward to 9pm every night as Marina came over, those nights just felt "lighter". Her presence was critical as we do not have family in the area.

Marina was integral in setting us up for success in the postpartum period - she's a gem!

Alexa

1/31/2024

I am so glad we had Marina with us during the first eight weeks with my son. We originally hired her for two weeks, but she was such a wonderful calming presence - for me and the baby - and I was feeling so much better rested after nights when she came, that we asked her to keep coming! She is considerate and insightful, happy to answer questions and offer suggestions. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking some extra help, extra sleep, extra calm during what can otherwise be a very difficult time!

Nadia

12/7/2023

Marina was absolutely wonderful!! She supported my family when we came back from the hospital and the support she provided was crucial to us getting back on our feet after a difficult delivery/stay. Her calm confidence made us feel secure and she answered all of our millions of questions! She identified things in my home that were potentially unsafe and helped me fix them. She also recommended apps, questions for my baby's pediatrician, and encouraged me to get help for an issue I had post-birth. She also always asked for permission when handling my baby. She gave my husband tips and tricks and in turn the confidence to help me and take care of our baby while allowing me to recover from my c-section. Marina was exactly what we needed! She was so sweet and 20/10 I would definitely hire her again!! Her knowledge and stable presence was amazing to have, especially for this nervous first time mom.

Dara

11/12/2023

Marina is incredible!! She helped us so much with our newborn son and was such a pleasure to have in our home.  Marina's calm presence, thoughtfulness, and caring demeanor made all the difference for our family.  Breastfeeding was a challenge for me and I was supplementing with both pumped milk and formula for a short period of time and Marina provided guidance and support to both me and my son as we navigated the process together. She was consistently attentive and provided guidance and referrals, as needed.  She even went the extra mile to reach out to colleagues for me and help make connections for a lactation specialist who could come to our house sooner than later.  Marina provided incredible care to our son but also to me, his mom. We are so grateful she was able to help us in the first month of our son's life and highly recommend her to any family in need of support! 

Scarlett

9/19/2023

GAME CHANGER! My family and I highly recommend Marina. It’s hard to articulate simply the value she provides, especially in those first weeks postpartum. She has the most loving, calming energy and is magic with newborns, connecting with and understanding their likes/dislikes. She provided feedback, tweaks, and encouragement throughout the entire process. It can be intimidating or even a bit awkward bringing someone in your home at your most vulnerable but I have never felt so comfortable. We hired Marina for our first born and loved the experience so much we hired her again for our second child. One of the things can distinguishes Marina above all is not only her superior ability with babies but her focus on mom, an area that can be overlooked. Constantly checking in (even outside of the shift), offering to cook meals, bring snacks and any other self care items. Marina is a true partner and I would have her live with us forever if that was an option <3 You will not be disappointed if you bring her into your family.

Marisa Scheinfeld

9/2/2023

Marina was absolutely phenomenal. She's caring, attentive, professional and everything you'd want when you have a newborn baby. Just knowing she was coming to our house some nights of the week to help care for our baby was my saving grace - it helped offset the sleep deprivation that comes with the first few months, and on top of it we have a 4 year old so we have our hands full. Our baby is on the fussy side and Marina was always helpful with techniques and tricks to help alleviate the gas. She also did things like put laundry away and washed bottles and small tasks that really made a difference. Her demeanor is also SO CALM and it really carried over to creating a warm and nurturing environment. I'd highly recommend her for any doula services. While I am not having another baby - if I was - Marina would be the first person I'd call. 

Megan

6/6/2023

Marina was a tremendous support to me my first few weeks postpartum. I learned so much from Marina about how to care for a newborn as a first time mom from naps, bathing/grooming, baby wearing, tummy time and baby massage techniques. Marina not only helped care for my newborn son, but helped care for me by cooking me nourishing meals and ensuring that I was staying hydrated to help support my breastfeeding. She is kind, compassionate, trustworthy, and an overall pleasure to be around. I'm so appreciative of her support during such an exciting but vulnerable time. 

Emily + Michael

5/22/2023

Marina took care of our newborn during the first 5 weeks of her life. She was an incredible support to us in those those early days and weeks - taking expert and thorough care of our daughter as well as teaching us so much about infants and what they need. Her knowledge is boundless. Marina is incredibly conscientious, timely and trustworthy. We never thought twice about leaving our precious baby in her care and felt completely safe with her in our home overnight. A bonus is that Marina's care extends to animals too - our dog Murray loved Marina and still awaits her arrival nightly. We highly recommend Marina!

Sharon

4/8/2023

I'm very lucky that Marina had come to help with my newborn baby. She is a caring and trustworthy person, takes pride of her work and is very knowledgable. As a first time mom, I knew nothing about taking care of a newborn and was very stressed, she helped me through that and helped me build up my confidence. One thing stands out about Marina is that she has a genunine concern for the baby, she looked out for my baby and paid enough attention to every details and gave me referrals when she saw that might be needed, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't know. The time that we spent together were enjoyable and fun, we had great conversations that had allowed us to learn more about each other. Marina also helped us beyond the content of the contract when she saw we needed. I wouldn't be where I am if she didn't come to help us.

Larah

2/20/2023

Marina is a wonderful, caring, compassionate, patient doula who has made a world of difference in our lives as we welcomed our first baby last November. Marina is very caring and loving with our baby and encouraging as well for both our baby and ourselves as we navigate a new rhytm together. Her expertise and professionalism is excellent, we respect her as professional and as a person and very thankful to have been able to benefit from her services. We also learned so much from her and Marina is a wealth of knowledge who is always open to sharing her resources. We could not speak more highly of her and would recommend her to any family that is welcoming a baby into their lives. 

Sarah

1/9/2023

Everyone needs a Marina. Our son came a little earlier than planned and Marina swooped in with her calmness to help us. While I was recovering from my C-section and in a bit of a haze she helped bring me snacks while I breastfed and showed us helpful burping techniques. I was anxious to have my son be alone at night so knowing he was safe with her put me at ease, so we could get much needed sleep. She also helped him work through his gas and was extremely responsive to his every need.

Once out of the haze she let us know he may have a tongue tie, which was missed by other health care providers and confirmed later. She also suggested stretches to help make him more comfortable that he now does with a big smile.

We are coming up to the end of the 4th trimester but I know I can reach out to her when I have questions or concerns. We highly recommend her    

Allison

12/3/2022

My husband and I can't sing marinas praises enough, she is everything you need (and don't even know you need yet) in a Postpartum Doula and more. As first time parents Marina really helped us navigate the unknown and get the much needed sleep we needed. When our son was having tummy issues Marina even caught a tounge tie issue he had, something our pediatrician missed and something we never knew to look out for.
We initially booked Marina for three weeks, but after the first week of her invaluable service extended to seven. Our son is now 4 months old and we have asked her to come on for two more months. We can't thank Marina enough and highly recommend her. 

Jaimie

11/3/2022

Marina was a complete lifesaver for our family! Her demeanor is amazing- so calm, cool, and collected. She is an excellent troubleshooter and extremely knowledgeable. We have the utmost respect for Marina and trust her completely. Can't recommend her enough! Only wish she could stay forever...

Annie Hall

12/2/2021

As a first time mom, I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. I was feeling really overwhelmed and anxious. Marina came over for a few hours every day when our son was about a month old. And I cannot tell you how helpful she was. She was an extremely calming presence for both me and our baby. She was fantastic with him and she taught me so many things. I feel so much more comfortable now and I feel I have the tools I need move forward. She also helped me offering to make food, do laundry, clean up and organize. Really a dream having her and I totally recommend to anyone looking for some help. 

Jen

11/15/2021

Hiring Marina was the best decision my husband & I have made (besides having a baby, adopting our dog, & getting married - not in any order). 

She met with us at the end of our pregnancy to walk through the house & get to know us in-person. Marina helped to prepare me for the fourth trimester by providing a suggested list of items to purchase via Amazon. 

Marina joined our family the first night we returned from the hospital. From day 1, we felt comfortable with her & were able to consult her on my recovery as well as our questions as new parents. Each night she spent with us she was loving, compassionate, gentle, kind, & knowledgable. She was wonderful with our baby boy & sure to show our dog attention each night too. Marina also helped us finding a local lactation specialist as well as other doctors.

We cannot say enough kind words for Marina & already let her know she will be with us for any future children! 

Ali

10/20/2021

Marina is the absolute best! We hired  her to help us after the birth of our second child, knowing we'd be going through a transition with a new baby and a tough recovery from a planned C-section. Marina started the night we got home from the hospital and was so nurturing and loving it was like having a family member with us. 
She was incredibly helpful in identifying a possible lip tie with our baby and recommended a lactation consultant and a pediatric dentist for us to consult. And she was right! Our son needed to have lip, tongue, and cheek ties released and without Marina we never would've known to seek help. 
She also helped us get much-needed sleep and got us on a loose schedule for overnight feeds. I'm convinced her early work with our son is why he's been such a great sleeper since she left us.
Marina's expertise, love, and gentle nature made all the difference in those first few weeks and I recommend her highly!

Amanda

8/16/2021

We are second-time parents and we realized we would need extra help transitioning our family of three to a family of four while I recovered from a planned c section.  Marina came so highly recommended from many doulas in the Westchester/Fairfield area--her name came up over and over as one of everyone's favorites--and she was an absolute godsend for our household. She made this newborn period so gentle on all of us and her overnight care allowed my husband and I to be fully rested and present for our new daughter and our toddler son. 

Marina has an incredibly kind and reassuring manner which is just as appreciated by us as by our baby. She has lots of wonderful tips on how to make your baby comfortable, including great burping and gas relieving techniques but beyond the practical advice and of course the precious hours of sleep, it's her support that is really invaluable. I was so frantic and overwhelmed when we took our son home from the hospital.  This time Marina helped me feel so much more empowered and at peace and that is truly priceless. I am so grateful our paths crossed and we couldn't recommend her more highly!

Tara Gilhooly

7/31/2021

Marina was truly a life saver for our family. I was unsure about having someone at night since I did not with my first, but called Marina,  and her easy going nature made me feel comfortable right away. I ended up having several medical complications after birth and it has been so helpful in my recovery to have a stretch of hours to not worry about my daughter as she is in expert hands and rest my body. Marina is compassionate, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. We are so grateful she came into our lives when she did go get us through this period. 

Carina

7/23/2021

We worked with Marina for a couple weeks and I wish we had engaged her sooner! She was incredibly knowledgeable and caring for both my baby and me. She taught us how to safely do tummy time, leg exercises for baby to help pass gas and initiated the beginnings of sleep training. She also supported me as I struggled with breastfeeding and shared a ton of resources with us to help our family during the fourth trimester. Having her support during those early weeks was invaluable.

Alana

6/21/2021

Marina supported our family for 12 weeks after we adopted our baby. She was an invaluable addition to our family and really made our transition to parenthood seamless. 

She helped us organize our baby's closet and dresser, taught us about developmental excersies to do with our baby and even suggested an app that we still use with our baby to keep her on track developmentally. We also had some issues with the baby's head/neck and she was great at helping us with stretches and stayed on top of us around issues that we weren't aware of as our baby grew. 

We highly recommend Marina as a post-partum doula and welcome any conversations from anyone looking to hear more about our time together.

Michelle Joeyee Ching

12/20/2020

We were so lucky to have Marina as our post partum doula. Due to Covid, our parents could not fly and support us after our baby was born.

We decided to hire Marina to help us as first time parents. She looked after me and my baby when we first left the hospital. Recovery from a c section was tough and Marina was supportive every step of the way.

She helped us organize our nursery, make sure our crib was sleep safe, taught us how to care for our baby, and offered insight and guidance for postpartum care for me and baby.

A postpartum doula (Marina) is more than just a person looking after your baby at night. But someone that makes sure your whole family is supported when a new baby comes home for the very first time.

Scarlett

10/2/2020

The best way to summarize our experience with Marina is simply a Game changer. We had Marina help our family 4 days after our first child, a baby boy, was born. She brought so much to our new family who knew so little...it is hard to articulate. Her kind, loving, non judgmental energy made me feel safe and cared for, and as a new mom not only did I feel totally secure she would take care of my prince, but she prioritized taking care of our whole family. Being a new mother can feel very lonely and I still look back on our late night chats and am so grateful I had someone I could talk with about anything, she is the type of person who automatically makes you feel comfortable. With so many unknowns I always felt secure knowing I could text her during the day as well and she would always do what she could to help. I have raved about Marina to everyone I know and will definitely be having her back with my second child whenever that time comes ??

Patrycja and David

10/2/2020

Marina has has been helping us since day one and after two months I am confident to say that she is the best support a new mom and a baby can ask for. She is loving, caring, very thoughtful and would do anything to make you feel comfortable: on the first night, I was very anxious and having a hard time with letting her to take my baby to her room even for a coupe of hours so I could get some sleep, she offered to stay on a sofa in a sitting area next to our bedroom, so every time I’d open my eyes I would see them. And she did, she spent there whole night, only woke me up for feedings. During each breastfeed she made sure that I was drinking plenty of water, that I was comfortable and that we were doing fine. 

She took care of laundry, made delicious breakfasts and helped me keeping our house organized. She is super punctual! 

Marina is very knowledgeable and I have learnt a lot from her, she gave me confidence that I am capable of taking care of my baby. She is a great source of information: from lots of tips and ideas to specialist recommendations. 

I am beyond greatfull that our paths have crossed, I am not sure how I would have done it without her and I am so happy to call Marina my friend. 

Thank you Marina for all your love and support, we will miss you tons but are very excited for the next family you will take care of. 

Patrycja, David and Alexander 

Margo

8/27/2020

Marina is an incredible doula and person. She is kind, patient, and comopassionate which gives her a calming  presense during an intense time. She is very knowledgeable about babies as well as the postpartum period, offering tips and tricks when needed. Most importantly though, Marina is warm and caring allowing for moms, dads, and babies to feel very well supported.

Melissa

6/29/2020

I had interviewed 3 doulas before meeting Marina. I wanted someone who would not only take care of my baby like it was her own, but someone that could guide me as a new mom. When I met Marina, we clicked instantly, she was a seasoned Mom and I knew I could trust her and look to her for advise. In February, we had planned that she would come the day I came home from the hospital, April 26th, until COVID 19 hit. Marina and I decided it was safest to postpone her coming to help my family, until my PPD got so bad, my pediatrician advised me to have Marina come as it was affecting how I was mothering. And so we worked it out that she would wear a mask, she was already extremely diligent about hand washing. Well, Marina is still with us today, after the best 7 weeks I could have ever asked for. She has been an angel to me and my family, and I'll always be grateful for her. I am able to get a good night's rest knowing my son is in the best hands possible. Marina, is quiet, comforting, knowledgeable and genuinely loves being a doula. She has been able to guide me with breastfeeding, provided me tips on caring for my new baby and has been a friend to me, when I felt very alone. My son was hospitalized for a UTI when he was 3 weeks old, and when we returned home from the hospital after 4 days, Marina made me and my husband a delicious meal, tidied my house,  bathed my son and allowed us to catch up on sleep. We trust Marina implicitly and are so fond of her, I cannot speak highly enough about her. Marina willingly folds clothes, and has since organized my son's clothing perfectly! We love her dearly and feel that any family that hires her, is blessed to have her. I will be sad when we no longer need her, however I do plan to use her to watch my son during the day when needed. If you are looking for someone special to watch your newborn, Marina is your top choice! 

Richard Portale

6/29/2020

My wife and I hired Marina to care for our newborn Sebastian overnights for the first 9 weeks of his life. The calm compassionate presence she brought to our home was invaluable.  Not only is she a baby whisperer, she offered incredible support insight and love to us as tired parents.  We can not recommend her enough.

thank you Marina! 

Kristi

1/10/2020

Marina is a dream child care provider - any parent would be lucky to have her caring for their child. She's highly professional, attentive, compassionate and loving. Never for a second was I worried about her caring for my baby boy. She's a gift to any family! 

Emily Drummond

11/17/2019

Marina is an outstanding postpartum doula and an amazing person. She is caring, thoughtful, calm and confident. She has a way about her that makes babies settle down  and also allows you to take a breath. I'm not sure what I would have done without her!

We moved when our twins were 2.5 weeks old and I was recovering from a c section while also caring for a toddler. Marina made sure all of us were well fed at all times, ran to the grocery store, did other errands, helped with our toddler, changed diapers and set up a changing area, washed bottles, listened to me and helped solve the crisis of the moment, connected me with a wonderful lactation consultant and many other resources, organized and helped us move in, and made sure that I showered and got some much needed rest everytime she came. 

I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Marina and highly recommend her!!

Amy

9/9/2019

Marina’s care for my baby and for me, as a new mother, has been phenomenal. She genuinely loves her work and is empathic, thoughtful, and professional. She is so knowledgeable about newborn care and is super gentle and loving. I trust her implicitly. 

Amanda

6/27/2019

My husband and I had a baby boy in April 2019. I found myself very overwhelmed with a newborn (like everyone!), especially since our families live far away and are unable to visit often. Marina visited a few times during my maternity leave. Her first visit was about a week after we came home from the hospital, at the time our son would not sleep laying down and needed to be rocked/bounced or he slept on top of me. I was beyond sleep deprived. Marina stayed with me while I nursed him, massaged my feet and the she rocked him to sleep/carried him for 2 hours so I could take a nap. I woke up feeling refreshed (it felt like I had slept for 12 hours hahaha), and Marina had even prepared lunch for me. Her i was exactly what I needed. She also cleaned up my kitchen and did the babies laundry which were added bonuses!  

During each visit Marina made me feel like I had things under control and I was doing a great job, sometimes a little encouragement is all you need to keep going. She is a very calming presence yet very efficient with her time. She can also point you to other women in her network for help such as therapists, support groups, massage therapist, lactation consultant (which I also used, she was great as well!). When the time comes for us to have another baby we will definitely be reaching out to Marina. 

Sarah Bren

6/24/2019

Marina provided 10 nights of overnight postpartum doula care after our daughter was born and she was incredible, we couldn’t recommend her more highly. Her calm and warm demeanor put us immediately at ease and she offered helpful guidance in caring for our new baby. She was professional and so sweet with both our infant and our older son (19mo). She always made sure I, as a nursing mother, had enough to eat and drink throughout the night whenever she would bring the baby in to feed. She took great care of our baby while we got some sleep in between feedings. She also offered a few really helpful referrals for breastfeeding support, including an IBCLC and an endocrinologist. Everyone in the family felt very taken care of by her. She was a tremendous help, so grateful to have worked with her!

Melanie D

6/17/2019

Marina was a great and supportive doula during my pregnancy and labor.  During my pregnancy she was available to answer any questions.  She has a varitey of books for her clients to borrow and even suggested music playlists to use during labor.  And towards the end she even offered to come over to go for a walk and massage my feet to get things moving.  She checked in after every pre-natal appointment and I always felt like she was available whether it was because I was going into labor or just had a question.  

I was fortuante to have a very short labor, and Marina was there the entire time, and worked seemlessly with the nurses and midwife to make sure I was comfortable and always respecting my decisions.  I would definitely recommend Marina to anyone looking for a supportive and respectful doula!  

Mayumi

4/16/2019

We had the pleasure of having Marina help us with our baby at nights. At 10 weeks, our baby still does not sleep well and Marina provided some much needed rest.  Marina has a calm, soothing presence and we felt very comfortable that our baby was being well taken care of. Marina was highly attentive to both the baby and mom, and offered useful advice on the baby’s care and sleep.

Courtney M

4/10/2019

Marina was a tremendous help and was very sweet and loving with our baby. She is knowledgeable about childcare and is also a great cook. She took care of things even without me asking and allowed me to take some much needed breaks.

Jaimie Lawson

2/23/2019

We were happy to have another set of hands coming home from the hospital with our newborn and to help us recover days of lost sleep.  Marina was extremely attentive to our newborn’s needs so we could rest easy. A great investment for parents in need of recovery.

Ivanna

2/13/2019

Marina has been truly amazing for us on the nights with our newborn that we just needed some extra help and much needed rest. She came into our home and took over with caring for our baby as well as for me.  Being two weeks post surgery I could still barely get out of bed. Marina was attentive to my needs the entire night, bringing me water and snacks all while waking up throughout  the night to feed our newborn. Every time she arrived she was welcomed with great relief just knowing that she was there and that she would take care of everything.  Our only regret is not having her more often. 

Wendy Klingensmith

12/6/2018

Marina is a wonderful, soothing spirit in our home! I love her and my baby loves her. She is dedicated to her job and is very professional. She has provided me with knowledge and resources for new moms that I could not have gotten elsewhere. She is always striving to learn more in the field and share her knowledge with me. She is calming and wonderful. My baby loves to see her smile and hear her sweet voice whenever she comes to our home. I feel very comfortable leaving my new baby with her and I know she will not only be safe, but also have fun and feel loved. Marina’s heart is huge and she also has provided me with much needed support and confidence. She is there for the mom, not only the baby. She has helped me around the house, is a wonderful organizer and makes some killer, healthy snacks. ?? Her scheduling is flexible and she is very up front about her availability and timing. I cannot say enough wonderful things about her! I consider myself lucky to have met her and will continue to have her in my home as my baby continues to grow. ??

Victoria M

10/30/2018

Marina is a wonderful treasure. We had her help us as a post-partum doula when we arrived home with our 10 day old adopted baby girl. She was absolutely wonderful. My husband calls her the baby whisperer and talks about how intentional and gentle even the smallest of her moves were with our baby. Our girl was comfortable and content with Marina. Our intention was just for overnight child care from Marina, but she offered so much more than we even thought we needed. She helped organize the nursery, gave us tips on baby care, elevated baby girl‘s crib to help her breathing and hooked us into her network to find donor breast milk from multiple sources. She’s amazing, choose her!

Lauren Fonda

9/13/2018

Marina helped create a serene environment for both me and my newborn twins. She is responsible, caring and trustworthy. Marina watched our boys on our first big evening outing and we didn't worry at all while they were in her care. She is also thoughtful and proactive -- she did a wonderful job with organizing the nursery, which she took the intiative to do. I would highly recommend her to other families with newborns.

Brooke Stangeland

9/11/2018

Marina has cared for my son Hudson since he was two months old - I struggled with PPD and have little support in my area- so finding Marina was such a blessing. She’s a peaceful, positive, gentle presence and has taken such wonderful care of me and my son when she’s with us. She’s knowledgeable about everything and brings a spiritual mind body soul connection to her work.

if you’re looking for support- look no further. She’s a blessing!