Ali Sterne

12/13/2024

Dawn was an incredible doula for me and my husband for the birth of our first baby. She was warm, caring, very experienced and always made us feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the birth process- especially with the classes we had with her before the birth.

I loved that Dawn was always a text away during my pregnancy if I had any questions. She also checked in on me periodically and many times leading up to my birth.

During my labor, Dawn was an incredible coach (mentally and getting me to do things to move my baby in the right position). She stayed positive, light, funny and so supportive during my labor. She always made me feel confident and that I could do it no matter how tough my contractions were. It was such peace of mind to have her there with me and my husband throughout labor. She also captured some really special moments for us during birth that we will cherish forever.

We couldn't reccomend Dawn more for someone looking for Doula who truly cares about your wellbeing and birth experience!

-Ali, Will and McKenna Sterne

Maddie B

12/13/2024

We've now worked with Dawn twice and both experiences have been absolutely wonderful! She is always there to answer any questions we had and if she didn't know the answer, she would help guide you to figure it out. For my first pregnancy, my labor went very quickly, so working with Dawn again, it was great to know she already knew me, my situation and my body. This was very helpful because we talked about things that could happen with my second- faster labor, home birth, no pushing, etc. There of course was no guarentee my second labor would go exactly as predicted, but it was great to meet with Dawn and go through possible scenarios so that we were prepared for anything. We also had 4 years in between births, so it was really nice that she didn't assume we "knew it all" already. She still was prepared to talk about things we already experienced, to give a refresher but was always fine moving quickly or skipping a subject if we felt comfortable with it already. She also was great about talking through and giving us ideas on what it would be like to have two kids so that we could mentally prepare as well as prepare our first-born and house for having a second child. Every pregnancy and childbirth experience is different, and thats why I would absolutely have Dawn with me during each preganacny, no matter how many I might have. I would absolutely recommend Dawn and her services to my friends, family and anyone reading this (in fact, I already have). Thank you so much again, Dawn!

Claire M

6/5/2024

My experience with Dawn as my Doula was exceptional and I cannot recommend her enough. My husband and I began searching for a Doula in my first trimester due to his fear and anxiety in medical settings making him think I would need extra support during labor in case he would not be able to be super supportive to me. I also wanted an unmedicated hospital birth and knew the likelihood of achieving my goal would be higher with a doula coaching me. Dawn went above and beyond both me and my husband's expectations and we could not be more grateful for her. She has incredible knowledge, wisdom, and experience of physiological labor and positions to help make labor more comfortable that she went over with us prior to labor in our class sessions and during labor to ease discomfort and get baby into better positions. She worked seamlessly as a team with the hospital nurses at Lutheran medical center who were also great birth partners as she has such a positive approach and outlook. Her warm and kind nature made me feel safe and my birth preferences heard and communicated to the hospital in an effective and friendly way. She coached and guided me in such an encouraging way, I cannot imagine not having had her there on the big day and she helped me achieve all of my goals for a super positive birth experience. We are so grateful for all of her support and I would recommend her 10/10 to anyone looking for a Doula! I can't stop telling my friends and family about how great she was for both me and my husband ( who also ended up being totally fine day-of and they worked together as a wonderful birth partner duo team for me)! 

Julia Toepfer

4/19/2024

We loved working with Dawn as our doula. She has such a calming presence and is very experienced. It was incredibly helpful to have someone who we trusted to guide both me and my husband through the labor and delivery process since this was our first child and we did not know what to expect. Dawn made me feel prepared beforehand and helped me feel less anxious. She really listened to what I wanted and envisioned for our daughter's birth, and always advocated for me. Having Dawn on my birth team was one of the best choices we made!

Molly Ray

4/5/2024

We used Dawn as our birth doula for the birth of our daughter (first child) Feb 2024 and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.  My husband and I learned so much from her birth classes and she was there every step of the way during my 20+ hr labor. She made my husband feel confident in how to support me, she helped w pain management and helped me have an amazing birth experience in a hospital. I couldn't recommend her enough and we look forward to using her again with our next child. 

Rachael Johnson

4/3/2024

My husband and I were so pleased that we were able to find Dawn ahead of the birth of our daughter. Dawn guided us in a reassuring, and kind way in the weeks ahead of the birth. She offered important classes on birthing, post partum, breastfeeding and more! She   stayed with us for my labor and overnight for the birth of our little girl (she even detailed our birth story and took photos!). She is very warm and knowledgeable and listens to what you want in creating a birth plan. We could not be more grateful for her work and highly recommend her!

Ariel

4/2/2024

Dawn was invaluable in both of my pregnancies! Her knowledge and expertise put me at ease so even with any potential complications, my babies and I were safe. She ensured my labor progressed with movement and helped manage pain with natural techniques. Any decisions that had to be made I looked to her for guidance. My husband and I were able to trust that I had an advocate by my side for my birth plan. 

Jordan and Danny Frank

7/27/2023

We could not be more thankful for having Dawn as our Doula throughout our first birth experience! From day one of meeting her she has been so knowledgeable, confident, gentle, empowering, and overall a huge advocate and support to my husband and I. I had a very long labor and Dawn stayed with us throughout and never left my side. I truly don't know what my birth experience would have been like without her helping guide me through and be my/our cheerleader. Dawn will forever have a special place in our heart for her help throughout this pregnancy.

Kim

11/29/2022

We were interested in a doula that had experience with the Spinning Babies approach and it brought us to Hilbre Doula. It was the best decision we made for the birth of our second baby. We had several one on one prep classes with Dawn prior to the birth and found her to be incredibly warm and easy to connect with. She tailored each session to our particular needs, especially as it was our second baby. Each session left me more confident and ready for the birth process. I ended up being induced and the baby was presenting sunny-side up. My labor was incredibly intense and my hospital support was not particularly helpful. Once Dawn arrived for the birth it was like a breath of fresh air. She immediately took charge and was my advocate with the hospital staff. She adjusted the bed and positioned me in a way that seemed to immediately turn the baby and I was ready to deliver in what felt like minutes. Because the labor sped up so quickly once she arrived, she helped to guide me through breathing techniques that kept things progressing in a safe way. When I was being pressured to deliver from a position that the hospital staff wanted me in, she helped to advocate for a more upright position. I honestly can't say enough good things about Dawn of Hilbre Doula. She was worth every penny of her services and I would use her again in a heartbeat.

Dawn Harris

7/21/2022

In response to Sarah's testimonial:

Sarah, I became a doula to help women find their voice in labor and find the strength to walk through labor into motherhood. I feel such sorrow that a part of your birth story was not what you had hoped. I wish I would have been allowed to be your doula and to have been a part of your birth experience. In our conversation the night before your c-section, your wishes were that I would not attend to you. Accordingly, I left postpartum communication to you, for when you were ready. There was confusion on my part if my role as your doula was complete before your c-section, or if you wanted me to continue. I am sorry that I didn’t ask more questions to make that clear.

It seems as though there may be some miscommunication as to my Childbirth Education classes. I wish we could have addressed them in the moment. DONA states in the Advocacy Statement for all doulas that our role as advocates does not include speaking on behalf of their client or making decisions for their client. We are there to help you voice your desires to the Dr. and we will help create that space. In my classes regarding pushing and pelvic floor protection, I want all women to understand what the hospital may expect from them, but I also teach deep breath pushing. One is what the hospital may expect and one is what I hope we can do together if the Dr allows. My desire is to prepare all of my clients for hospital protocol, and to familiarize them with alternative options, if desired. Again, I have such sorrow that we were not able to work together in the birth of your child.

Sarah

7/19/2022

Would not recommend.

Pros: comes to your house for classes, knowledgeable on optimal position for baby, friendly in person

Cons: expressed discomfort advocating for preferences in birth room & questioning doctor, teaches breath holding for pushing, did not have stats on # of vbac she has attended, forgot a meeting, can be difficult to schedule with, 0 postpartum communication/follow up and aggressive in her defense

I ended up having a repeat c section recommended (before labor started) & decided Dawn was not necessary in the OR because I had delivered at the hospital before & the nurses took pictures & helped with breastfeeding. I did not hear from her from that point & let a week pass after the birth before reaching out to her. She had no idea how the birth went, how I was, nothing. She said she had left it in my court - her last text was for me to tell her “how big the baby was”. I told her I was disappointed to not have heard from her for a week & asked about a partial refund since postpartum support & a visit was part of my (very expensive) payment. She then sent a very aggressively worded email; I was floored by her response & had not responded yet when she sent a second aggressive email less than a day later. She did try to call after I responded that I was shocked that someone I literally paid to support me would talk like that. In hindsight I ignored a few red flags while I was pregnant because I just wanted a doula & fewer decisions to make. Now when I think about my positive birth experience it is tainted with her unprofessionalism.

I don’t doubt the other reviews & that she was great for them, but if you still have hesitations (ask her how she coaches pushing) after a few interactions, keep looking. I learned more birth education from Instagram and YouTube videos & wish I would have saved my $1500 especially since I lost my job while I was pregnant.

Jaclyn Azqueta

3/1/2022

Dawn made our entire experience so much less stressful and actually enjoyable. She provided continual support and guidance on a personal level. Having her was one of the best decisions we've made on this journey... hands down. We feel so lucky to have met her! 

Katie

8/21/2021

We LOVED Dawn and she was an integral part of our birthing team. She made the experiencce so personalized for our needs and was a calming presence in the birth room. In the weeks leading up to our due date, we enjoyed having one-on-one classes with Dawn, as this allowed us time to get familiar and comfortable with her. It also allowed us time to share our birth plan and things we were learning in our other classes to make sure we were all on the same page. When our labor finally started, we relied heavily on Dawn's expertise to try and reposition the baby and make the first stages of labor more comfortable. Dawn spent time with us in our home, and then gave us space to make it through a few hours of laboring as a couple. By the time our contractions sped up, she met us at our birth center and jumped right in to make sure we were comfortable and understood next steps. She worked seamlessly with our team of midwives and nurses at the birth center to make sure mama and baby were happy and healthy throughout labor and delivery. She also made sure to help my partner stay included, yet have some breaks to recharge during labor. She was such a great asset and we couldn't have imaginged the birth experience without her by our sides. She was such a great friend and advocate for our family. We would definitely recommend her to anyone considering a doula as part of their birthing team! I was so comforted by her presence. 

Meghan

5/12/2021

Dawn is an empathic, thoughtful doula who was very responsive and in tune with my and my partner's needs throughout my pregnancy, labor, and birth. She supported our goals and values, was a strong advocate in the hospital, and helped me feel more empowered throughout this experience. I'm so grateful she was there to guide me through my fast labor and unmedicated birth - her presence and guidance without a doubt made the experience smoother and more aligned with my goals.

Maddie Bobrick

11/11/2020

My husband and I decided to search for a doula due to COVID-19, as we knew we were not going to have the support of family in the hospital during the birth process. Hiring Dawn turned out to be one of the best things to come out of COVID so far, besides our sweet baby!

We were thrilled at the rate and classes offered by Dawn. We took preparatory classes through the hospital, but the classes Dawn gave us were hands-on, in home, personal, and offered more opportunity for questions. One of the most beneficial classes she offered was the "Birth Philosophy" class. This guided my husband and I to consider and discuss what was most important to us during this process and allowed us to really consider all options and pick which we were most comfortable with. Dawn made sure to listen to our wants while always making sure we knew about any possible complications that could arise, and keeping the end goal of a safe, healthy delivery at the forefront. 

The day of delivery, she was just exceptional. She came right away, in the middle of the night, and offered constant support and encouragement. Her guidance and calm demeanor throughout the labor process helped me to not become overwhelmed. I was in the low percentage of Moms whose water breaks before contractions, plus my baby ended up being posterior. This made the labor process more difficult and uncertain. Through it all, she kept in mind my wishes to have a natural, unmedicated birth, but also reminded me that if any medication was necessary, it was going to result in a safe, healthy birth and that was most important. Luckily, with her support, calming practices, labor position guidance, and words of encouragement, I was able to deliver vaginally without pain medication or pitocin. 

Ultimately, Dawn was wonderful! I would heartily recommend her to anyone who is looking for an extra advocate in the delivery room. We loved working with her and are excited to see her again for #2. 

Rachel

6/23/2020

We absolutely enjoyed working with Dawn and highly recommend her. She offered to meet with us more than other doulas and spent the time with us to build trust and understand our needs. We gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic which really changed our plans and she was with us the whole way. We had met with her a few times in person before the stay at home orders necessitated converting to video calls, and she was great about helping us work through our concerns and supporting us through the changes caused by the pandemic. Our meetings included going over the birth process, comfort measures, breastfeeding and establishing our birth philosophy. In the birth philosophy we worked through what was most important to us and under what conditions I would want to receive medical interventions, which ended up being a very valuble process.

Our goal was to have an unmedicated birth in a birth center, and ultimately this isn’t what happened. After a longer labor failing to progress, we moved to the hospital where I had an epidural and was able to have a vaginal birth. Dawn was with us for a day of early labor over the phone and then for 28 hours on a video call for active labor since she wasn’t allowed to be with us in person. While this wasn’t ideal for anyone, Dawn adapted with us. She helped encourage us, suggested laboring positions, and helped us make informed decisions about our birth. It was a comfort to have Dawn there when we needed to change our plans and switch to the hospital when things weren’t progressing as we had hoped.

While I was learning to push in an overstimulating hospital room at the peak of my exhaustion, Dawn was a source of calm guidance. My highest priority was to have a vaginal birth, and her coaching during pushing helped me do this when the OB was starting to consider interventions. I’m thankful we had her there with us and for the help she gave me to process the experience afterwards too.

Carolyn Parish

12/18/2019

My husband and I hired Dawn to do some prenatal classes. She was fantastic. She came to our house, worked with our crazy hours, and gave us really great information. But most importantly she made me feel empowered to give birth the way I wanted to-- naturally. The day my daughter arrived, started with my watering breaking. I headed to the hospital to find out I was one centimeter dialated and my daughter was head down but face up. Dawn walked me through exercises to help turn my daughter and begin labor. Once I was 6 centimeters dilated and in full labor Dawn kicked into action. She helped me achieve my goal of giving birth naturally and safely. She made me believe I was capable. I can not imagine giving birth without her help. I highly recommend hiring Dawn as a doula. She is personable, calming, kind, and knowledgeable. I will be hiring her again when my next child comes. 

Katie Chetta

9/5/2019

I am a medical professional, very familiar with the OB/GYN and pediatric world and wanted to experience a more holistic side of childbirth after my first son was born via c-section for a breech position. I wanted to have a doula present during the birth of my second child as I attempted a VBAC - vaginal birth after c-section (or TOLAC-trial of labor after c-section, but we don't say that because we are optimistic- right Dawn ;)?) I had recently moved to the Denver area and found Dawn's profile and website. Her interesting and in-depth international experience and training seemed to click with my own and something drew me to her. She was quick to answer my long initial contact email about my goals. Long story short, she was absolutely phenomenal - she taught personal pre-birth classes to me and my husband and a stretching regimen to make sure this baby girl was in the right position (she had been breech too on my 32nd week U/S to my dismay but I credit Dawn's exercises to her being in the correct position by term). Dawn was present every moment during my long hours of latent labor, and was an excellent coach during my short but effective active labor, pushing and post-partum. She helped with pain management techniques and I was able to have a successful vaginal delivery with no complications under the medical supervision of the University hospital OBGYN service. My labor was somewhat high risk- and she was the perfect support person in addition to my husband, and seamlessly integrated into the family and with the medical team. She even took notes and wrote our birth story afterward! I would definitely hire Dawn again for my next baby, and I would recommend her to anyone searching for that extra emotional support and is able to book her (she only take as a couple clients a month). All and all, having her at our delivery was a great experience, worth every penny, and we love Dawn!

Stefanie Callens

1/7/2019

I cannot say enough good things about Dawn. We met early in my pregnancy and she was there for me throughout the entire process. She answered questions, provided references for me to read, reassured me when I expressed fear and coached me through the labor and delivery. Dawn taught me and God allowed me to have the beautiful experience of child birth that she had discussed upon our first meeting. My desire was to have a natural delivery if everything was going okay, and I honestly would not have been able to do it without Dawn being there! She coached my husband on things he could do to make me more comfortable which helped him feel useful, she provided suggestions on positions and options to move around and progress labor, and talked me through every single horrible contraction with reassurance that I could get through it. It is clear that Dawn loves her job and is extremely good at it. If you're even considering hiring a duola, look no further than Dawn. Your partner and you will not regret it.

Kaylee Hassick

1/2/2019

Dawn was an essential asset to the birth of our first child.  My husband and I were nervous and had no idea what to expect.  From the moment that we met Dawn, we knew that she was the Doula for us. Dawn assisted me with nutrition, exercises, positions to practice and avoid, as well as being a sounding board for concerns/ anxieties we were feeling with our upcoming major life change.  She was always available when we needed her and she was a clear communitcator if she knew she would not be readily accessible.

A few weeks before our due date I had a false alarm.  Dawn was incredibly compassionate and was with us every step of the way encouraging me to listen to my body.  The real day came and again, she was a constant encourager and a voice to help get me through.   I had a pretty slow labor- 26 hours but Dawn was in it for the long haul.  She taught my husband ways to assist with easing the pain of my back labor.  Our son was "sunnyside up" and she worked with the midwives to recommend positioning and techniques.  With their help he flipped and we had a natural delivery.

Dawn came to visit us in the hospital to make sure latch and everything was going ok.  She also followed-up with us a few days after the birth to write down our son's "birth story"- something that we will treasure forever.  Thank you, Dawn, without you we may have ended up with a c-section!