Sherry

11/13/2024

Meredith is a well knowledge doula that I would highly recommend. She puts much care into her work, providing the best experience before birth, during birth and after. When I was experiencing complications, she provided a wide range of beneficial methods. She is always kind and courteous to others. She is mindful of what your needs are. Her communication is great as she will follow up and explain any questions needed. 

Trevor & Hailee

11/1/2024

We highly recommend taking this birthing class with Meredith. Meredith has a great personality and also has so much real life experience on the subject matter. She does an outstanding job of teaching the material and has a heart for people. We learned so much. What more could you ask for!

Anna Benedict

8/29/2024

I was told about Meredith and her services through a friend. I am so thankful for that referral. As soon as I met her, I knew she was the right doula for my birthing experience. Not only did I feel really comfortable around her right away, but she was calm (which I needed) and extremely knowledgable and was willing to answer any and all my questions. Meredith checked in with me frequently and remained my doula even though I moved outside of her range of service, which I appreciated. I also took her courses for birthing and breastfeeding even though this was my second pregnancy. I am glad I did, because I learned so much more than I did during my first pregnancy. 

Towards the end of the pregnancy, Meredith was doing daily check-ins and was available no matter the hour. My labor and delivery was very fast this time. Meredith was there for me, took photos/videos to help me remember that time and advocated for me afterwards to make sure my baby and myself were receiving the best care. Thank goodness for Meredith. There can be a lot of information and jargon during the time that can be overwhelming, so it was nice to have Meredith there to help me figure things out and also gave me the space to discuss with my husband as needed. I felt comfortable and confident with my choices with the support of Meredith and my husband.

After arriving home, Meredith was able to help me with breastfeeding which helped since each baby is different and was able to answer any more questions that might have come up postpartum. I'm very happy with Meredith and her services and would definitely use her again if I have another baby. Highly, highly recommend Meredith!! 

Angelica Inman

8/18/2024

If you are considering hiring a doula, especially someone like Meredith, let this be your sign to proceed. Meredith significantly alleviated my stress during my first pregnancy, guiding me through each stage with exceptional care and grace. Her advocacy, attentive listening, and supportive presence made me feel valued and reassured throughout the entire process. Meredith not only provided vital support but also captured beautiful, memorable photos of labor and delivery that I will treasure forever. Additionally, she is also able to do placenta encapsulation and the creation of stunning art pieces from the placenta. I wholeheartedly recommend Meredith for an exceptional doula experience—she is truly invaluable in the birthing process.

Brittany Prince-Gamazon

7/17/2024

Meredith was like family for us during pregnancy, labor, and post-birth. Her support goes beyond what I could have ever asked for with all the unknowns in having our first child. She is so inclusive and really cares about you and your specific family's needs, beliefs, and culture. She is so knowledgeable and provided so many helpful resources to guide and support us in making the best choice for my body and our family. Having her at the hospital was like having a piece of home there! It touched me deeply with how much she took care of us. Her classes are a must too! So helpful to prepare for labor and post-birth. If we plan to have a second child, she is definitely my first choice for a doula. I wouldn't want to do it without her!!

Brilynn

7/17/2024

Meredith was my doula for the unmedicated birth of my second child. She helped me prepare by letting me know how this second birth would differ from my first. It would be more challenging with no pain medications but she assured me that I was absolutely capable and she had a tool belt full of ways to help me through labor. 

I told her about my history of sexual abuse and how I was afraid it was going to affect this birth more than the other since I would be feeling more without the pain medications. She listened and we talked about how we would navigate that during birth. I felt I could be honest with her about all my fears and concerns. I remember getting annoyed with my husband because he wasn't pushing on my back as hard as she was! About 10 minutes before my son was born I was adamant that I needed an epidural. She encouraged me to try a different position or a different tool. But when I kept insisting she kept calm and asked the nurses to call the gurney to take me to get an epidural even though she knew I would give birth before they would get there.

The fact that she listened to me helped me feel safe and like everyone was doing what they could to help me through the pain. I was able to relax a little knowing that she was taking care of me and my request. And sure enough, right after she asked the nurses to call the gurney, I started pushing and my son was born with no pain medications! I think she had winked at the nurses who probably thought she was crazy for telling them to call down a transport with how far along I was. I told Meredith a few minutes after my son was born "I did it, Meredith!". 

I'm so grateful to Meredith for helping me through labor to have the birth I really wanted. She knew I would have been so disappointed with myself if I had pain medication right before birth, yet she didn't trap me into that choice. I had the meaningful birth I had hoped for because of her knowledge and experience.

Michael & Natalie

2/26/2024

We loved working with Meredith! Unmatched expertise! Meredith created a safe learning environment that was ingersftive, fun, and educational! 

Quynnessa Kauffman

1/1/2024

It's hard to put in words how amazing working with Meredith was! 

We met during her parenting and breastfeeding class, which was amazing, I use her parental advice to this day! After the class we decided she would be a perfect fit as our doula.

It seemed like one thing after another changed during the last bit of my pregnancy. We went from a home birth plan to a birthing center birth, to an emergency hospital birth. Every step of the way she was there supporting our decisions and offering resources!

Meredith was there to be a helpful source of information and sometimes just a kind listening ear, checking in on us often. It was a wonderful experience for me working with her during the scariest moments of my life (through out my labor, C-section and many complications that followed). Nothing went as planned but my constant supports during my long birthing process and touch and go recovery were my husband, and Meredith. She not only stood by me but my husband said "I couldn't have done it with out Meredith there, she made it so I could focus all my attention on you and our new child's recovery. She was such a wonderful comfort to me in the most difficult time of my life"

All this to say she's awesome and truly cares deeply for her client's well-being and honors their birth choices. We feel like we found a doula, and gained a family member! Our son will forever hear about his rockstar aunt Meredith, and how she helped him into this world!

Makena McClune

4/16/2023

Meredith was absolutely wonderful! As first time parents who knew very little about what to expect and how to prepare, it was comforting to know that she was ready and willing to answer questions and give input. Her childbirth and breastfeeding classes were incredibly helpful and gave us a bit more confidence. She provided amazing guidance and support in the emotional rollercoaster that was the final weeks of pregnancy when we were forced to adjust our birth plan. And that support continued as we navigated the first weeks with our little one. We’re so appreciative of Meredith and highly recommend her for anyone looking for a doula!

Brilynn Salmon

1/24/2023

I became pregnant with my first daughter when I had to remove my relationship with my mother and I felt like I had no guidance or support for my first birth. Being pregnant terrified me and I felt so lost as a soon-to-be mother, so I looked for a doula to help guide me into motherhood. I got connected with Meredith and my husband and I feel that we would have been lost trying to navigate through our many pregnancy complications (our general debilitating fear of being first-time parents, gestational diabetes, breeched baby, external cephalic version, low amniotic fluid, and false early labor that occurred 3 times!) without Meredith. She is a gentle spirit who patiently listens, answered all my calls, and helped me feel confident in the medical decisions that I had to make. By the time I went into labor, I felt like I had someone who knew every detail of my individual story and I knew I could trust her wholeheartedly to be the one by my side to help me through delivering my first baby. She brought me so much peace during a season of life that scared me more than anything. I can't recommend her any more highly.

Nick & Cheree

12/29/2022

This review is long overdue. Meredith is beyond amazing. She is worth every penny. I wanted a doula from the start, my husband took some convincing. However when it came to the birth of our baby, my husband is the one who was so thankful she was there with us throughout our long 30 hour labor. She eased our nerves, gave comfort to us and is highly knowledgeable. She was our advocate throughout the entire process. We recommend her as a doula to everyone we know.  We also took her classes, and recommend those as well. Cannot say enough good things about her. Hire her now, you won't regret it!

Rikki Wall

12/13/2022

My husband and I met Meredith through one of her classes that our midwife recommended. It was such a wonderful class - Meredith is so funny, sweet and a wealth of knowledge! It was my second pregnancy (but first time for my husband) and I learned so much that I wish I would've known with my first baby! We had already selected a doula prior to meeting Meredith but if we had met her beforehand, we would have hired her! Fast forward to my next pregnancy - we found out I needed to be induced so I reached out to Meredith for support. She came through for us in a pinch and was so incredibly supportive. I couldn't have imagined my birth experience without her. I highly recommend her as a birth educator and doula support! Thank you so much Meredith!! 

Jessica

9/17/2022

I met Meredith when i was i think about 34 weeks pregnant with my second. I knew she was a doula for me because of her kindness and her compassion. You can just pick up on it right away. It was so amazing to have someone around me who was well experienced, and also knew what i wanted and what my birth plan was. I was so over being pregnant once i hit 39 weeks. As im sure most of us are. I talked to my midwife, and my doula Meredith, and got the approval for castor oil. Meredith informed me on what to expect once drinking the shake. I was very blessed to live close to her. Once my labor really started she was here! She was clam cool and collected. She helped relax and reassure me everything is fine and moving along.  I chose to deliver natural (never having done that before) Meredith was such a great support, reassuring me that i got this! Having a wonderful woman present who was calming was exactly what i needed. She was everything i wanted and more! She honestly was such a blessing. 

Lydia Allen

7/21/2022

Meredith was a Godsend. I went into my first birth with a plan but really without any idea of what was to come. It was the hardest thing I've ever done but having her by my side made me feel like I could do it and I did! She was so supportive of my birth choices while providing me with the wisdom and experience that comes from helping so many other women. I can't stress enough how helpful and comforting she was during the most intense and intimate moments of my entire life. She made sure I felt safe and heard. Not only was she there for my sons birth but she stayed in touch for months after to make sure we were doing well and provided resources when I was struggling to breastfeed. I would recommend her to any family looking for birth support. Love love love her! 

Alyssa Duda

6/14/2022

Meredith was the perfect doula. I had no idea what to expect, as this was my first baby. Meredith was there every step of the way, always making herself available to chat or answer questions (even for panicked late-night phone calls!) She is very knowledgeable about every aspect of the birthing process as well as breastfeeding, which was helpful. She is also super sweet and thoughtful. I had an unmedicated birth, and I know I could not have done it without her help. I went into labor around 3 in the morning, and after I called her, she came right over without wasting any time. While I was in labor she had all the right suggestions, helped my husband know what he could do to help me, and was super supportive and encouraging. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to help us through this scary but exciting new step in our lives! I would definitely recommend her and hope to be able to use her again someday for Baby #2! ;)

Kat

6/12/2022

We had an incredible experience with Meredith! From the start she was so kind and genuinely invested in our birth goals. While we had originally planned to have a home birth, a few unexpected health concerns lead to a quick change to an early hospital delivery. Meredith rolled with the punches and helped us adjust our expectations to fit a new setting. She made the hospital feel as much like home as she could, using little touches like twinkle lights to help with the atmosphere. During my labor, it seemed like Meredith always new the right time to offer something new or different to help me cope. She knew exactly when I needed a foot squeeze or to get a change of scenery. As labor progressed she was such a strong support to both my husband and I, encouraging us and affirming my birth goals. During the delivery Meredith took the time to capture some pictures/video for us like our daughters birth time and first few moments with us. These are things I'll treasure forever. Even after our delivery Meredith was a life saver! She helped me eat while I was trying to get the hang of breastfeeding which was huge after such a big undertaking. We've appreciated the little text check ins and all the support we've received in early parenthood as well. Our birth was made so much better by Meredith's presence and words can't express our gratitude for her. 

Courtney and Paul

4/25/2022

We had an amazing birth experience (this was our first pregnancy and child), and working with Meredith was a huge reason why. I planned to give birth at a local birth center due to anxiety in medical settings, and Meredith was 100% on board with making this happen. Leading up to the birth, she shared a ton of helpful resources for many aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. She also helped set my mind at ease about some different symptoms in the weeks leading up to the big day, saving me a lot of stress. I had been worried that I'd feel uncomfortable working with a doula since I'm a fairly shy and reserved person, but Meredith was so reassuring and understanding that I felt totally comfortable working with her.

In addition, Paul and I had taken Bradley Method classes and were planning on having Paul provide a lot of support during labor - Meredith was not only directly helpful to me during labor, but supported Paul so that he could be there for me as well. 

Our plan was to labor at home for as long as possible before going to the birth center, and Meredith helped us pull this off. She brought so many helpful items and pain management techniques that with her help, I never felt like birth was impossible. She helped us time contractions, offered counter pressure, and helped us figure out when we might want to head over to the birth center. She also took some photos and videos of the labor and birth for us, and it's so meaningful for us to have them. 

I ended up feeling really empowered by my birth experience, and Meredith significantly contributed to that. I hope we get the chance to work with her again when we have a second child someday.

Ashley and Kevin H

4/5/2022

Meredith's support of us through the birth of our baby boy was absolutely invalauable.  She is warm, practical, communicative, and funny!  Through both birth prep and during my labor, she was incredibly helpful and supportive but never made us feel like we had to do things a certain way -- just lots of great education to help us make informed choices and feel confident in our plan.  We had a very long labor (41 hours from when my water broke) and I believe Meredith's support really helped us deliver vaginally as we wanted (and we nearly had an emergency C-section several times!).  Seriously, being in a hospital is pretty overwhelming, and having someone by our side who knew the ins and outs of a hospital birth and could help us "interpret" medical speak and understand our options was so crucial to our experience being a positive one.  She also helped me avoid an epidural for a LONG time (I was trying for an unmedicated birth) -- if not for Meredith, I am pretty sure I would have ordered an epidural after the first contraction, ha! But, when I finally did choose to get an epidural, she was there supporting me in that decision as well.  We are so grateful for our healthy, happy boy, and I am especially grateful to have gone through a long and difficult labor WITHOUT feeling traumatized or alone.  Meredith is a  great doula and feels like a friend after working together!

Alexandra Goemmer

8/2/2021

Meredith was the best decision we made regarding the birth of our son. I won't be able to write a review that captures her worth and value, but two things my husband and I continued to repeat were "We didn't pay her enough" and "We always feel better after talking to Meredith." She went above and beyond in every way. Before the birth of our son, I was having prodromal labor for 5 weeks, and Meredith was convinced that he was OP and just needed to turn. The midwives kept saying that he was OA though and that everything was perfect. Sure enough, on the day that he was born, I was stuck at 8 cm because the baby was OP just as Meredith had said. Meredith helped me turn him and have the birth that I had hoped for. Everything she suggested was exactly what I needed, and my husband happily noted that she was my go to person in my time of greatest pain during labor. He felt that he could support me better because of her, and the nurses and midwife loved her! After she left the hospital, we got so many compliments from the birthing team about how Meredith worked with them. Then when we went home, I knew she was just a phone call away with questions before her postpartum visit. Of course I had all the questions and she took all the calls. Meredith goes above and beyond because she just can't help it. She loves her job too much to provide just a satisfactory service. She is excellent. My husband and I will absolutely use her for our next birth. She is worth every penny & more! 

Jimmi and Duke

6/8/2021

Meredith was an essential part of my pregnancy and our birth experience. From our initial contact she made me feel comfortable and her warmth instantly radiated outward. We hired her really early on in our pregnancy, about 3 months in, I believe, and she was with us every step of the way. She is communicative and prompt in her response times, even if it's to say she'd get back to me at a later time. We took her 4 week birth class and it was informative and so fun!

Meredith loves this work and you can tell in every interaction that she pours her heart into every family she works with. She goes above and beyohnd to make sure you have all the information for every birth path you decide to take. One of the (many) reasons I chose her was because she was adamant about my husband being involved in evey meeting and every class and every step of the process as it was our birth and not just mine. He would have been involved anyway, it was just so nice to have her be so focused on his participation. 

When I went into labor she was there every second we needed her. She came to our home at 4am to support us toward the end of my laboring at home and suggested we leave for the hospital at the perfect time. She was a huge support for us and took incredible care of us while we were in the hospital. During the birthing process she was amazing as coaching me to push and directing my husband in how to best support me as well. 

If we are in the area for another birth someday, Meredith will absolutely be our doula again. I highly recommend her to everyone considering a doula. We love her so much!

Katy and Dyson

5/17/2021

As first time parents, my husband and I had a lot of fear of labor and delivery. We were hoping to bring on a doula who could help guide us through the process and be an advocate in the delivery room. Meredith is that person and so much more.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed labor because of the teamwork and collaboration between Meredith, my husband, and the nursing staff. I felt safe, supported, and heard every step of the way. Meredith is intuitive to the moms needs, always reading the room and body language to know exactly what I needed through each contraction. She was the ultimate sounding board as decisions needed to be made, asking thought provoking questions to ensure we had all the information needed to make the right decisions for our family.

Meredith’s compassion and support extended beyond the delivery and she went above and beyond to check in on our family. She has helped us navigate recovery and breast feeding obstacles with a gentle touch. As our family grows, we will absolutely ask Meredith to continue to be a part of that journey.

Claire & Kenny Salvini

10/27/2020

Meredith played an integral role in our first baby's birth story and we would recommend her services to any and all expecting families. The comprehensive package she offers as a doula goes well beyond what we would've expected. She went out of her way to find creative solutions to help my quadriplegic husband play an active role throughout the pregnancy and leading up to delivery. From prenatal classes to daily check ins, she had a calming presence that gave us the confidence we needed throughout the process. She stayed by our side throughout the birth, offering gentle guidance and crucial information that helped us make informed decisions for a safe and healthy delivery. All of that was great, but the continuation of care and support after we came home was where Meredith really shined. She was always a simple phone call away, and would pop by whenever we needed her. Should there be a second baby, we will not hesitate to hire Meredith again.

Courtni Doherty

7/16/2020

A wife’s perspective- 
My husband and I didn’t hire a doula for our first son’s birth. When we were about to have our second baby at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I started getting more concerned about whether my husband would be able to join me for the birth. I wanted someone that I knew there and I knew that doulas were considered part of the medical team so I started my search. I was so happy when I found Meredith, she was a good fit for me, down-to-earth and realistic. My husband said that he could tell I liked her because I’m typically quite introverted and I talked to her like a friend pretty immediately. We didn’t take advantage of her birthing or nursing classes but she did come and meet with us a few times at our home to establish rapport and talk about us and how she could help best. She stayed in touch and checked in via text and phone calls up to the day my water broke. Luckily, my husband was able to come, but I was so glad Meredith was there. The experience was so much more relaxing with her there than during our first son’s birth because I didn’t have to feel like I had to remember a bunch of stuff. I could just focus on the process and baby. She especially helped my husband and allowed him to be there for me without having to worry that he was doing the “right” thing. I was so glad to have her on call through the process and was happy to have someone else in the room that I knew and trusted. She even calmed me down after my son was born when the pediatrician was freaking me out that my milk wasn’t coming in fast enough. She reassured me that everything was going fine and I was doing a great job, albeit a bit over upset due to postpartum hormones. I can’t recommend Meredith or a doula in general enough. If you’re unsure about whether or not it’s worth it, take it from this mommy, it is. I wish I’d had Meredith at my first son’s birth!

Stephen Doherty

7/16/2020

A husband's perspective - 
When my wife first suggested we should get a doula for our second son's birth, my first reaction was, "Why? Do we really need to spend money on something we don’t need, I mean we got by the first time without one!" All I can say is now, from the other side, having hired Meredith, I don't know how or why we would ever do it without a doula. Meredith was incredible. She provided guidance when it was needed and disappeared to give my wife and I space when it was needed. She was always thinking and planning two steps ahead so I didn’t have to. It’s difficult to put in writing why or how positive it was having a doula but the experience was so much better than the birth of our first child. We immediately connected with Meredith and were excited to work with her. We were put at ease by the fact that she knows she’s not going to be a perfect fit for everyone and is happy to make a referral to a colleague. The support she was able to provide to my wife postpartum has also been a huge help. When my wife was struggling with her milk coming in, Meredith came over to help put her mind at ease. If you’re reading this, wondering if you should get a doula--Do it! If it’s Meredith, you won’t be sorry. But no matter who you choose, I am a firm believer in the doula experience.

Holly Wall

5/5/2020

Meredith was outstanding in her doula role for me. I really appreciated the package deal where we could get the childbirth and baby classes with her doula services. She was an excellent instructor live and on Zoom as we had to do both in the middle of the pandemic. She was great communicating and checking in with me, especially 37 weeks and on as I could deliver at any point. My husband really appreciated her labor support as did I since it put less pressure on my husband. Meredith was very knowledgeable of the hospitals and delivery options and helped me decide where to deliver. She responded quickly to any email, text, or call I had with questions and concerns and was ready to come whenever I needed her. She helped me stay at home for most of my labor so I wasn't in the hospital forever before baby arrived. She helped me stay up to date with the many changes hospitals were making during the Virus scare. She helped me make informed decisions and was supportive with whatever I chose and helped me feel good about my choices, even if it was not my original birth plan. She didn't make me feel rushed once baby arrived and held my hand during the toughest part of delivery. She even had to give me a pep talk as I was stalling during some important pushing phases. I highly recommend Meredith and her expertise. She was a great support after baby was born too for post-partum recovery and baby questions. I look forward to hiring her again in the future!

Julia

4/13/2020

Meredith was a huge part of my birth story; I could not have done it without her! I had a difficult labor, and she guided my partner and me through it all. Her experience was key for first time parents – she knew how to navigate every curveball thrown our way. Meredith also provided great prenatal and post-partum support. I still text her about breastfeeding tips 8 weeks later! Going through labor and delivery as a first time parent can be scary, but having a doula like Meredith gave us the confidence and support that we needed to achieve the birth story we were looking for.

Kaitlin

11/4/2019

My husband and I cannot say enough good things about Meredith. Her classes were educational, enjoyable, and largely to credit for our wonderful birth. She helped us to know what we wanted and gave us the ability to achieve it. Having her present during the birth was helpful for all involved - she encouraged me to stick to my birth plan and provided great labor advice; she supported my husband in his role of my coach and gave him the tools necessary to help me through; and she was enjoyable and kind to all the family and midwives present. Her knowledge and experience makes her amazing at her job, and her kind heart makes her invaluable at a birth. She goes above and beyond to make sure you're well informed and treats you as family. We can't wait to have her by our sides at our next birth!

Medena Keyian

11/2/2019

Meredith helped us welcome our sweet daughter and I’ll forever be grateful. Because of her I was able to labor mainly at home and deliver my VBAC baby with no medical interventions or pain management at the hospital. She offered advice when needed and kept my husband engaged and gave him tips as well as reassured him throughout my labor. She helped me with counter pressure and massage and had me try various positions to help get baby in a good position for birth. Overall I had a great experience and could honesty not have done it without her care and support. Highly recommend!

Regina Reed

9/21/2019

My husband and I are so grateful to have had Meredith as our doula for the birth of our first son. She made trips all the way to where we live in Olympia, met with us to tour labor and delivery at Madigan, and was supportive of all of our birth decisions. Meredith was quick to respond to texts and calls as my due date neared, and was so helpful to me emotionally as I ended up going two weeks past my due date and being induced! Her experience and knowledge was instrumental in my achieving the unmedicated birth that I had prepared for despite that hiccup—my husband and I couldn’t have labored all night and done all the necessary position changes without her! We also took Meredith’s Life After Baby course where we learned about breastfeeding and all the newborn basics we had no idea about as first time parents. We loved our whole experience with Meredith and she will always have such a special place in our family’s heart.

Char & Stephen Herrick

7/30/2019

We first met Meredith after interviewing multiple Doulas that had reach out to us after a birthing class we had taken through the hospital. Upon meeting Meredith after the first 15 minutes we felt like life long friends. We knew we didn't need to meet with anyone else, we had found our doula. From helping us with our birth plan to in-home private sessions we learned more from Meredith in our one on one sessions than we did in our expensive hospital birthing class.  She helped us with creating our birth plan and go over needed items for our "go bag". Our birth did not go as planned, we were induced for 4 days and 3 hours before having to have a c-section. Meredith was there every step of the way. Making sure we were heard and understood each step of the process. She was with us around the clock as things progressed.  Postpartum she has provided needed guidance on breastfeeding and adjusting to having a newborn. 

This doula is amazing, we highly recommend her.

Char & Stephen Herrick

7/30/2019

We first met Meredith after interviewing multiple Doulas that had reach out to us after a birthing class we had taken through the hospital. Upon meeting Meredith after the first 15 minutes we felt like life long friends. We knew we didn't need to meet with anyone else, we had found our doula. From helping us with our birth plan to in-home private sessions we learned more from Meredith in our one on one sessions than we did in our expensive hospital birthing class.  She helped us with creating our birth plan and go over needed items for our "go bag". Our birth did not go as planned, we were induced for 4 days and 3 hours before having to have a c-section. Meredith was there every step of the way. Making sure we were heard and understood each step of the process. She was with us around the clock as things progressed.  Postpartum she has provided needed guidance on breastfeeding and adjusting to having a newborn. 

This doula is amazing, we highly recommend her.