Amber B.

11/10/2024

When I learned I was pregant, I knew from the beginning something I wanted to prioritize was my physical, mental and emotional well-being because it would directly impact the wellnes of my baby. Working with a doula was a way I envisioned creating a sense of "safety" throughout my birthing experience, and Amber brought that to my journey through and through. Amber helped me and my partner discover what our priorities were, find confidence in ourselves as we embarked into the unknown, and gave me a sense of autonomy throughout the entire process. I would work with Amber again in a heartbeat! She was the best investment we made for the start of our family. 

Steph B

10/7/2024

Having our first child took a lot of unexpected twists and turns. We’re on the other side of it now and I’m beyond grateful we had Amber there to guide us through it all. From finding a new medical provider, to answering all our questions, to helping us through a long and harrowing labor. Not only is she a warm and supportive presence but she also has an incredible amount of experience, knowledge, and insight around the entire process. We’re both so happy she was there with us. 

Amber, you have our endless gratitude. We couldn’t have asked for a better birth doula. Thank you.

Laura Van Lenten

9/3/2024

We had a great experience with Amber as our doula for the birth of our first baby! She was so helpful during our prenatal check ins and meetings and prepared us for not only our desired birth plan, but of course the other possibilities of how birth could play out. During birth I was grateful to have an advocate in Amber. She was especially helpful in reminding me of different comfort measures to try. Thank you so much, Amber for making our entire process easier to navigate and more comfortable. 

Kale

8/12/2024

As a gay/trans couple, we were nervous about being able to find a trans-knowledgable doula in Central MA. Amber was everything we were hoping for in a doula and more. I had a challenging birth with a long induction (3 days), and Amber was available the entire time with via text as we navigated the process. Amber had so much helpful advice for us outside of the actual birth as well- from stretches for me during my last month of pregnancy, to ways to handle feeding and wearing baby after she arrived. I could not recommend her services more!

Emily Morin-Martel

3/26/2024

Working with Amber was a wonderful experience. They were so helpful to me and my spouse as we navigated pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The childbirth education class that we took really helped me to finalize my birth preferences and understand all the different options that were available to me. It was also so helpful to work with someone who had experience at deliveries in the hospital that we were going to deliver at. Having a doula during my baby’s birth was vital as a form of support for not only me but also my spouse. As a first-time parent we did not have any pervious lived experience to compare labor to and the one-on-one attention of a doula helped me to feel confident in my decisions in the moment even when they involved deviating from my original plans. Amber’s presence also provided support to my spouse  to know that I was being taken care of if he needed to rest. I also loved the baby wearing session that I did with Amber and the sessions that we had postpartum were helpful to allow me time to recover and rest. If you are having a baby, I highly recommend reaching out to Amber!

Nora and Laquentis Francis

3/10/2024

Because I had an IUI pregnancy we found out we were pregnant at 8 weeks and started working with Amber around 10 weeks pregnant. To say she is amazing would be an understatement. This being a difficult pregnancy to even get to my anxiety was through the roof especially at the beginning of the pregnancy and Amber was so helpful at easing those feelings. Not only did she validate my worries but she also provided words of affirmation to use. I wrote them all down hung them up on my bathroom mirror and still have them up there. Throughout the pregnancy journey Amber was there to answer every question and every concern me or my husband had. When we got to the labor point, I was 38 weeks and was induced. The induction was super quick and it was unexpected that it would be so quick. Nevertheless Amber showed up at the perfect time and provided so many tools to me while going through the last moments of my labor before pushing. She fed me my water and talked me through each contraction. She held one of my legs when I pushed and she also somehow managed to take pictures and videos that I'll cherish forever. We then had her for two postpartum visits where she took care of our baby while we recuperated and slept. She neatened up the nursery and and our living room. We didn't ask her to do anything but take care of the baby and she went above and beyond. She made my view of birth way less scary and I can't wait to have our second baby and work with Amber again. 

Anna

2/15/2024

Amber is amazing!! She is so knowledgeable and has a natural way of making you feel comfortable and confident in your ability to give birth (whatever your birth preference may be)! She provided me with the tools and resources to make educated decisions and go into my birth with the support (both physically and mentally) that I was looking for. Amber is so kind and such a genuine person and you can tell she really enjoys the work that she does helping to successfully bring new life into this world :) 

Anne + Jehan

12/20/2023

From the moment we met Amber, we knew we had found a truly special and dedicated professional. Her unwavering support, knowledge, and commitment to our well-being made our pregnancy experience so much more positive and memorable.

Amber consistently went above and beyond in every aspect of her role as our doula. She was not only a source of emotional support but also a wealth of valuable information. Her in-depth knowledge of the hospital systems in Boston was invaluable to us, as first-time parents, and she helped us navigate the often overwhelming world of healthcare with evidence-based recommendations.

Amber was an unwavering presence throughout our entire pregnancy, offering guidance, reassurance, and a listening ear whenever we needed it. When we found out our baby was breech at 32 weeks, her genuine and compassionate nature provided us with a sense of calm and security during an anxious and uncertain time. She helped us weigh our different medical options and referred us to a wonderful network of people within the greater Boston area who helped us navigate this experience (e.g. Spinning Babies Instructor, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, & Massage Therapists).

Amber is dedicated to her clients and she made herself available day and night, ensuring that we felt supported at all times. Her commitment to our well-being was evident in her willingness to go the extra mile, whether it was checking in after prenatal appointments to discuss options/next steps, providing comfort during labor, or offering postpartum support.

We cannot express our gratitude enough for the positive impact that Amber had on our pregnancy journey. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a doula who is knowledgeable, professional, genuinely caring, and supportive. She played an instrumental role in making our pregnancy a joyful and empowering experience, and we are confident she will do the same for many others in the future.

Shannon Rose McAuliffe

11/14/2023

I’m 15 months postpartum, and if I’m transparent, I’m still not totally okay. A standard doula will support you through antenatal appointments and quell the fears and pangs of anxiety, sure. They’ll do everything to make sure that you experience a birth that’s close to your articulated preferences. And then, maybe your birth goes a bit off the rails— outside the realm of what you could ever have expected. That’s when the doula matters more than ever— and I lucked out. Amber saw me through 50+ hours of induction/labor, offered unwavering encouragement as I pushed for three of those hours, and, most importantly, helped me to accept that I’d need the C-section that had been my actual worst fear. She was there when I encountered even more complications in the days and months following delivery. She brings clarity, reality, and validation to whatever you’re experiencing, in a way that helps you to remember your worth and your rights— and to feel empowered to make your own decision. Any time I’ve felt unmoored, Amber has been there to provide grounding support and unfathomable kindness. To invite someone into your birth is intensely vulnerable, and there is no better human in whom you can put your trust than Amber.

Lindsey

10/9/2023

We worked with Amber on the birth of our first child in June. They were so helpful and knowledgeable. Amber took so much of the anxiety out of pregnancy and labor for me!

Our baby was born prematurely and I was so grateful to have Amber in the room with me as my wife and baby rushed to the NICU.

When an induction was looking likely with my preeclampsia Amber walked us through all the steps of the induction process and what to expect. Even our midwife was impressed with our knowledge.

More than knowledge though, Amber was kind and compassionate. We felt truly cared for.

Mary Horan

9/5/2023

I had a great experience with Amber as our doula for our second child. This is the second time Amber has been our doula. First with our daughter in 2021 and now again with our newest addition who was born in 2023. 

Amber is super knowledgeable on all things involving pregnancy and it was a big help to me several times throughout my pregnancy to be able contact her to get her support. 

During my actual labor she was there the whole time and helped out during the delivery process which I'll always be thankful for.

Angelica Emery-Fertitta

8/21/2023

Amber is wonderful and was a crucial part of navigating pregnancy, birth and postpartum for our family. As first time parents, we had little knowledge of what to expect and the prenatal visits were key (as well as her availability via phone). Labor ended up going very differently than planned for us but Amber was there every step of the way to support, explain, advocate and advise. She was critical to both myself and my partner. Her support postpartum via phone was essential as well when we felt totally out of our league. We love and value her social justice orientation and, as a biracial/bicultural family, felt seen and supported. We highly recommend her to anyone seeking birth support! 

Anne Reeder

7/23/2023

We LOVED working with Amber! She was so supportive from day 1 and provided us with lots of great information and tools to guide us through the birth of our second child. In particular, she helped us construct a realistic birth plan that was feasible for the hospital birthing staff to honor. We would highly recommend her to other expectant families. 

Alison Vitello

5/18/2023

My husband and I cannot recommended Amber enough as a doula. We worked with Amber for the birth of our first child and it was an incredible experience, we could not imagine our birth without Amber. She was supportive, encouraging, a great listener and made us feel as prepared as possible for the birth. Amber is very knowledgeable and was able to answer any and all of our questions about birth, the hospital experience, post partum, newborn care, feeding, etc.! Highly recommend!

Katie

5/7/2023

We had a great experience working with Amber. I felt comfortable with her immediately. She is warm and non-judgemental, and was always looking for ways to be supportive. She spent time getting to know us and our preferences for birth, and was a huge support during my 37 hours of labor. She helped us prepare for birth and navigate the hospital system, and took some great photos immediately after the birth of our daughter. 

Keelin Caldwell

4/2/2023

We loved having Amber as our doula! From texts about weird pregnancy symptoms, to helping us decide when to go the hospital, to hands-on support throughout the labor, and emotional support postpartum, Amber was always kind, reassuring, present, and thoughtful. She was always quick to respond and had direct connections to many of the staff at our hospital. She helped us create a redemptive second birth experience that we will always be grateful for. 

Kerry

4/1/2023

Working with Amber was one of the best choices I made during my pregnancy! From the first time we spoke, her demeanor was warm, friendly, and calm, and I felt comfortable with her right away. As we made a birth plan, Amber was such a great resource, providing unbiased evidence-based information to help us make our own decisions. In the end, I needed to be induced for medical reasons, which was unexpected and scary. Amber explained what would likely happen and what our options were. Her knowledge, expertise, and support at the birth helped me to be so much more calm and confident. Her support postpartum was also so helpful and necessary. I cannot recommend Amber highly enough!

Kali

2/8/2023

Amber was absolutely critical to my labor and birth experience, and I would recommend her to anyone! I had a lot of doubts going into this process and wasn't sure what I would be able to handle; I thought MAYBE I could have an unmedicated birth but assumed I would want an epidural. Amber was very open to all options and made it clear she would support any choice I made. I completely credit her for championing me throughout my labor and helping me get through it without an epidural. She came when called and was by my side the whole time, telling me I could--and was--DOING IT. While I ended up being induced early and didn't have the opportunity to labor at home with her support, she helped my husband and I decide on a course of action after our hospital care team provided us with several options. We truly did not know how to proceed, so we called Amber and she talked us through our options so we felt more confident in our decision. Even though Amber was not with us during the early labor process, she was pivotal at the moment we needed her and then was a phone call away and came to the hospital when I went into active labor. Even as I was laboring and pushing, I was asking her, "Am I doing this right? Is everything OK?" She was always reassuring and would remind me that every push was bringing my baby closer and that there was no "rush." We also didn't necessarily intend to film our labor but had given Amber permission to take photos and videos. I didn't realize this until several weeks later, but she captured the moment on video, and I am so grateful to have such an empowering moment recorded forever. My husband and I will never forget the support she provided. Even now, at five months post-partum, it brings me to tears. We are so grateful! Thank you, Amber!

Neema Avashia

1/18/2023

Amber was a phenomenal support to us throughout pregnancy. She was always available to answer questions, and her calm and positive demeanor made it really easy for us to feel comfortable quickly. 

As the non-birthing partner, and a queer person of color, I had a lot of anxiety about what my experience would be in labor and delivery. Would I be relegated to a corner, or not seen as a full partner in the process? Amber knew about these concerns and made sure that I was always fully involved. At one point, when several medical professionals were in the room and crowding me out of my place by the bed, she literally took my hand and pulled me back into the mix. It meant so much to be seen in this way, and to know that she was holding both my partner's needs and my own in her mind as she worked with us. 

We had an incredible birth experience that I'll never forget, and I am certain that this was in large part because Amber was there to support us through it! 

Laura Cennamo

12/29/2022

Amber is an outstanding doula, and was an integral part of our birthing team. She met with us before our delivery to get to know us, discuss our birth preferences, and make sure we were set up for the best birthing experience possible. She was available to answer our questions in the weeks leading up to our due date, and checked in with us as our due date approached. 

On the day our baby arrived, we were in touch with Amber in the hours leading up to her birth. She was on call for us, and was present as soon as we needed her. She was an invaluable player in our birthing experience. As the birthing person, Amber supported me physically and emotionally throughout the labor and delivery process. She also heavily supported my partner in being able to participate in the experience with me. She was a strong advocate for our needs with the hospital staff, and was an excellent liaison for us during the whole experience.

Melanie

12/13/2022

Our friend recommended Amber, and we are really glad she did! Amber was friendly off the bat, and very respectful. We wanted to make sure we had someone who was LGBTQIA+ friendly to help us make sure the hosiptal staff were respectful -- no one wants to be correcting pronouns while in labor! She created a beautiful sign for our room to help the hospital staff. She helped me create a "Birth preferences" in a timely manner so that I could go over it with my providers. She was very communciative over text during the pregnancy - I would even ask her about baby carriers and non labor related things. My labor progressed unusually fast, so we couldn't use some of the laboring tools she had, and she came as soon as she could - I was really glad to have her there at the end and she took some beautiful pictures of our first moments with the baby. She did a post partum visit with us and answered many of our questions and taught us a bit more about our baby (like how to do "throne" position for gas). Overall we would definitely recommend Amber as a doula!

Amy C.

12/8/2022

My husband and I decided to hire a doula early on in my pregnancy because we knew that we would both like extra support in navigating through as first time parents. As a plus sized person with a history of medical trauma, I was very anxious about navigating through pregnancy. Amber was an amazing resource for both my husband and I and was always available to us for questions. My induction ended up being very long and it was so helpful to have Amber on call to support us and navigate through. I had also had a very difficult time postpartum and Amber was available to me for questions and advice and continued to check-in with us after the birth. Overall, I am so glad we hired Amber and would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a kind and knowledable doula!

Becca Richmond

10/21/2022

Amber is an absolute gem. As a first time mom, I was uneasy about pregnancy and labor and delivery. Amber eased all of mine and my husbands concerns. She is so attentive to what you want and is a wealth of information. After working with her, I felt so calm and at ease as labor approached, which was a huge accomplishment since I had such fear around birth before hiring Amber. She knew all the comfort techniques during labor. She helped me navigate tough decisions throughout my entire pregnancy. She educated my husband and I on advocating for ourselves and our baby. I couldn't have gone through this pregnancy and labor and delivery without the guidance and support of Amber. I recommend her services to anyone and everyone looking for a doula! 

Kristen & Lily

9/15/2022

From the moment we met and chatted with Amber, we could tell without question that she would be the perfect person to support our birth journey. As first time parents and despite countless hours of childbirth classes (and maybe a little Google), we really had no idea what to expect from pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Amber has been there every step of the way to support us, answer questions, and help us feel like we maybe have this new parent thing down even a little bit. She really is an amazing person and everything (and more) that we could have hoped for in a doula.

It was important to us to have a doula who would guide us with honesty and advocate for our family with kindness and compassion, but with Amber, we got so much more than that. She has a clear calling to birth work and it is hard to put into words the support and comfort that she has given our family. She helped me to feel that I was in control to achieve the birth that I had hoped for. With her support and knowledge, I knew we could do it. Our daughter will grow up knowing that she was surrounded by strong and supportive women as she made her entrance Earthside, and Amber is at the top of that list. We feel lucky that we have Amber in our lives now and so grateful for her every day. When we hired a doula, we had no idea that she would become like a member of the family. 

Elizabeth Mara

9/7/2022

Amber was an incredible resource and birth support person for every aspect of our labor and delivery. She is extremely knowledgeable and helped us through every step of the process leading up to birth and the actual birth of our miracle baby. When I think back to the actual birth, I smile fondly as it was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. After struggling with infertility, having had many rounds of IVF, years disappointment and loss, we wanted a support person to guide us to the finish line that we dreamed of for years...  Amber helped to ensure that our birth story would be as “smooth” as it could be after the struggle to get this far. Amber was an instrumental part of our birth team, helping guide us on what expect in the process, and give us the birth that we always dreamed of.... and it truly was perfect.

I addition to being instrumental at the birth, we took Amber’s Child Birth Education Course. Being nervous first time parents, we took both a “cookie cutter” hospital L&D zoom course and Ambers Childbirth Education course to be “overly prepared”... in hindsight, I wish we skipped the hospital course all together and spent our time focused on only Amber’s teaching as that was much more informative and hands on session.

We cannot recommend Amber enough and are so thankful to have had her support for the birth of our daughter.

Demi & Christina

8/18/2022

Over the last couple years, Amber has been our grounding source of comfort and an incredible support system during our conception and birthing journey. Amber took the time to understand our values and priorities as a family unit, and as first time parents she normalized all our concerns with humor, grace, and compassion. Leading up to the birth of our child, Amber offered constant text support and helped us understand so much of what was left unexplained by the typical OB medical experience. Amber presented incredibly thorough childbirth education in the weeks leading up to our laboring experience and helped us feel prepared to confidently navigate a hospital birth.  She also referred us to incredible local lactation consultants to help us prepare for our newborn.  When we learned we would have an induction, Amber helped us understand our new birthing options and process.  This context became extremely important because things move fast in the hospital, and there wasn't always time to fully understand what was being offered by staff. During our labor experience, Amber helped us advocate for our preferred interventions, brought much-needed laughter (which we had asked for), and encouraged us to be present with one another following the birth. She also was much loved by our nurses, OB, and hospital staff, blending with our medical team seamlessly. Despite what once seemed like unsurmountable challenges to become parents, Amber gave us the confidence and encouragement needed to carry on. Amber, we will never forget the impact you had on us in our most important moments.  10/10 would absolutely do again-- with you by our side. 

Ashley

7/8/2022

Amber is an incredible person. She helped me and my husband so much. During the birth of our child she was so supportive and calming. She has a great sense of humor. Our post partum visits were also really helpful . Highly recommend 

EJ

5/18/2022

We couldn't have done this without Amber. From the beginning we found her to be such a warm and loving presence with lots of experience and openness to our goals. In the prenatal visits she took time to walk us through the birth plan and discuss the details about what labor would look like. She was always available by text, and sent me tons of resources that I used throughout my pregnancy (and connected me with the best massage of my life!) I felt very confident going into my birth experience, and felt comfortable laboring at home when the time came. My labor and delivery experience had a lot of unexpected turns once we reached the hospital, but having Amber there made it so much more manageable for both my partner and me. She walked us through some very difficult decisions and helped me to find my voice when I needed to advocate for myself. She also guided my partner so that he felt confident in supporting me and taking an active role in the experience. Because of the complicated delivery, she ended up staying with us continuously for over 30 hours and was one hundred percent there for us the whole time. Having her there with me before, during and after provided very important continuity and allowed me to process a traumatic experience in a very safe and loving space. I would say it was the best money we spent, but working with Amber was truly priceless. 

Lindsey

4/25/2022

Amber helped my partner and I feel confident and prepared going into our birthing experience.  She respected our wishes and supported us to better understand our options and best moves at each step along the way.  As a first time mom, I had a lot of, sometimes very random, questions and she always answered them in a timely and respectful manner--it made it us feel all the more comfortable on the big day.  Even when things didn't go as planned, as they never do, she was with us so we could understand what was coming next, what to focus on, and how to make the most of everything.  We had a great experience and highly recommend her services.

Sarah H.

4/21/2022

A lot of people asked if I was scared to give birth to my first child and my answer was always, no, because I knew I had Amber helping me every step of the way. From the second I met Amber on a zoom call I knew she was going to be the perfect person to support us. Right away I could tell she was warm, supportive and very knowledgeable about pregnancy, birth and newborn care.

I ended up having to be induced and Amber let me know no matter what time we needed her to call when I was ready. When it was time, she arrived at the hospital quickly and helped me relax. Giving birth is hard and painful no matter how you do it. Having Amber there helped us to achieve our goal of an unmedicated birth despite the induction. I asked her many times when was it going to be too late to have an epidural. She told me not to worry about that and to just focus on one contraction at a time. This was KEY to me achieving the unmedicated birth I was looking for. In addition to supporting me, Amber also supported my husband. Although partners aren't giving birth, being the support person has its own set of challenges. She didn't miss a beat with me and even helped him.

In addition to the pregnancy and birth support Amber came to our house twice for post-partum visits. This was AMAZING!! She showed us how to give our new baby a bath, helped with breastfeeding positions, showed us how to do tummy time without the baby screaming and so much more. The best part though was just seeing Amber, getting to talk to her and having her tell us about the birth. Although I was there I remembered very little detail so having a firsthand account and pictures was amazing. I am so very grateful for Amber. She feels like a member of our family and I know if we ever have more kids she will be the second person to know about the pregnancy because I need her there to help support us again.

Diana

4/19/2022

My husband and I hired Amber for a few reasons. We weren't necessarily concerned about advocacy because my husband is NOT afraid to speak up, but as first time parents, we didn't really know what to be advocating FOR. We'd also both recently lost our moms and so I sought out a doula to help fill in what we couldn't get from our moms, knowledge, experience, and support. Amber was all of that. She helped us be informed of all of our options as we created our birth plan, and she was always available for a call or a text. She was super responsive and easy to get along with. We felt like we could laugh and joke with her but also knew she would take things seriously when that was needed. She had been part of several births at Beth Israel in Plymouth so she was familiar with the layout and the procedures there, which was helpful to us because we couldn't tour due to COVID-19. 

My labor began early and went so quickly that we weren't sure Amber was going to make it, but when she did, we sighed a huge breath of relief to have her there. Having her squeeze my hand in reassurance for the rest of my labor really helped me get through it and the support and advice she's given me since my son was born has been invaluable. I would definitely recommend her to others search for a doula!

Heather Segal

3/11/2022

My wife and I were grateful enough to have had Childbirth education class privately taught by Amber. She tailored it to US and we truly could not have asked for a better experience. Amber also included our 13 year old twins which we truly appreciated. Thanks again Amber for everything!

Elizabeth D

1/5/2022

My partner and I loved working with Amber!  We were so glad to have her on our birth team.  The warmth and kindness she brings to each interaction are some the reasons we hired her - that and her wealth of experience. 

Being first time parents we had lots of questions pre-baby and she walked us through each one in prenatal sessions.  She covered pain management techniques as well as helped us create a birth plan.  We appreciated how supportive Amber was of each of our birth plan decisions.  For decisions we weren't sure about she sent us research studies and/or research-based articles so we could feel better informed before making a choice.  From the prenatal sessions we felt she'd be a great advocate for us when in labor (which she was!).

During the birth process we were glad to have her calming and positive prescence with us.  Specifically I remember being very grateful for her coaching through the pushing part of delivery.  After we had our baby, Amber checked in with us often via text.  We got a lot out of our post-partum visits and really appreciated Amber's guidance on topics like breastfeeding, bottlefeeding, and sleep.  Between visits Amber was very responsive to any questions we texted as well.  

We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a doula!

Alex Maider

1/2/2022

After a traumatic first birth, my partner and I sought a doula that was both trauma informed and queer-positive - and we found all that and more in Amber. She is kind, patient, forthright, and dedicated. Another aspect we appreciated of Amber's doula work is that she is committed to safe, informed, evidence-based birth practices - she's a support AND and advocate. Amber is responsive, attentive, and helped us have a second birth that was much more aligned with our values. We are forever grateful! 

Mica Manecchia

12/1/2021

Amber is extremely personable and knowledgeable. She answered all of my questions surrounding the before, during, and after birth and made me feel super comfortable even when I thought I was asking silly or nonsensical questions. She is very progressive in how she treats her clients, incorporating pronouns that you specify, creating birth preferences, and offering holistic approaches in addition to explaining medical approaches. I love that we are the same age (28-29) and has so much birth experience- it made it so easy to relate to her. 

She was very prompt in responding once I began going into early labor and throughout the entire labor process. She got to the hospital very quickly, and was very assuring through everything, coaching my through breathing while I was 9 cm dilated. When my water broke, it was clear that there was meconium in the liquid, and she calmly explained to me what that meant and what would happen next, how it would change the birth outcome, etc. I felt completely safe with her and that I was in good hands. Thank you, Amber for everything that you do and have done! You helped make my birth experience better than it could have ever been. 

Cristina

10/9/2021

We realized we wanted a doula very late in the pregnancy and Amber was thankfully available and there to support us in the last few weeks, in the hospital and afterwards. With limited support due to Covid it was so helpful to have her a phone call away to ask questions and get some peace of mind. She's wonderful! 

Carlee

10/6/2021

Amber was amazing to work with.  We were a little late in hiring a doula for our birth but we're grateful she was available! We ended up delivering baby 4 weeks early (went into labor 3 days after hiring Amber ). She made herself immediately available and offered to come to the hospital as soon as we were ready for her. Because my water broke early we were faced with some unexpected decisions around induction and Amber walked is through different options to help us make the best choice.  Once active labor arrived she joined us for our delivery.  Unfortunately for me I tested positive for covid at the delivery so she had to leave the room, but continued to provide support over text and calls and kept checking in following the delivery.  During our post partumn visit she helped us process the birth, walked through baby wearing options, helped us sort out swaddles, and gave us great advice about anything we had questions on. Even now we still check in with some qs that come up. 

The main reasons we chose Amber for our birth were her experience with births and babies, her non judgmental approach to supporting the birthing persons wishes, and the feeling of comfort we had when meeting with her on zoom  -we knew she would help me feel calm during the process...which was key for a first time mom with anxiety!

Kandyce Casey

9/15/2021

I found Amber while "googling"  LGBTQ friendly Doula's as we are a lesbian couple. I came across Amber's page and instantly felt welcomed. I sent a message and she was prompt to schedule a virtual meeting. She answered all of my questions with professionalism and knowledge. I felt comfortable hiring her to be my doula. The hospital I was going to deliver it was not allowing doulas at the time. Amber was quick to submit for patient advocacy for me to have her attend my birth. This was successful and she was able to attend and I felt very grateful to have her advocate for me.  We had a prenatal visit and she went over our birth plan and answered any questions that I had. I also appreciated that she is very COVID aware and was always safe with wearing a mask and washing her hands. She was also very supportive to my partner with any questions she had and with making her feel supported during the labor and delivery process as well. Amber made herself very available via text and I could text her anytime of day or night with any questions or concerns I had. Amber confirmed I went into active labor and was quick to come to my house. We then went to the hospital together and labored the rest of the time at the hospital. Amber was supportive, comforting, and always listened to my needs. We had a beautiful birth and I wouldn't change hiring Amber. Amber is incredible to work with from pregnancy to postpartum. She cares for her patients and is passionate about the work that she does. I highly recommend Amber for any doula services.

Shannon S.

9/14/2021

At my therapist's suggestion, I connected with Amber because she is specially trained in pregnancy after loss -- a uniquely delicate time with complicated emotions and fears. So I hired Amber for three prenatal meetings and was sure that we would not have her in labor and delivery.

My husband and I came to trust Amber over several prenatal appointments covering everything from the birth plan, baby carrying, nursery set up, and laboring at home -- all of which were very helpful preparation steps that I wasn't getting elsewhere. Then, at 38 weeks pregnant, I started exhibiting signs of early labor. I kept in touch with Amber over several days to ask her what was happening, and she was so calm and clear on what I could expect to happen next and the timeline for the baby's arrival. Over the next three days, I went to the hospital twice and called in several times, every time sure that I was having the baby and each time being sent home or told by the doctors that I still had weeks to go. She disagreed with them and said that the baby was coming in the next few days. I agreed with her, AND SHE WAS RIGHT.

To make a long story short, we called Amber to our house while I was laboring at home, and she stayed with us until the following day after the baby had been born! She was essential in helping my husband keep me comfortable, telling us when it was time to head to the hospital, staying with us overnight in labor & delivery, answering ALL of our questions, and explaining every decision. By the end, she was holding my leg and cheering me on while I welcomed my son into the world.

I was the biggest skeptic in the world about hiring a doula. But, now Amber feels like family. Hiring Amber was the best money I spent during my pregnancy. The support my husband, son, and I received from her is UNMATCHED. We wouldn't have got that compassionate and personalized care otherwise.

Thank you, Amber!

Heather

8/18/2021

I'm not great with words, but I really want to share with everyone just how great it was to work with Amber as my doula. So, bear with my awkward formatting!

Amber was my doula with my 5th birth. It was my first time hiring/having a doula.
I have several chronic health conditions and a history of traumatic births. In this pregnancy I was also suffering from HG again. Right away after connecting with Amber, I knew that she was going to be supportive and a good fit for my specific set of circumstances... and she exceeding my expectations.

Amber was there with emotional encouragement, knowledge, and tips/tricks from the beginning when I was suffering horribly with nausea and vomiting to the end when baby decided to arrive later than I anticipated.
During my labor, she offered me physical comfort measures like counter pressure, so that my partner could be focusing solely on emotional support. The combination of the two, allowed me to be in the moment and to overcome anxiety/panic stemming from previous trauma.

Circumstances played out just the way that I had hoped for my best-case birth scenario. I had an unmedicated, complication free home birth. However, I know that had things gone a different direction that I would have been in great hands with my birth team, including Amber.

Amber as a doula makes you feel like you have a perfect combination of close friend mixed with a professional birth worker and advocate at your side.

My only regret is that I didn't work with her for my previous 4 births!

Jess R

8/14/2021

Working with Amber for our third unmedicated birth was amazing. Her initial consultation was great to review/remind the birth basics. We hit it off well from a personality standpoint and I appreciated her positive attitude and humor. She was always responsive via text/phone when we needed her. 

The morning I went into labor, we met Amber at the hospital. She helped us navigate the check in process and requested the hydro delivery room for my first water birth. Amber coached us how to use the tub and positions for pain relief. I would have been so nervous trying for a water delivery without her guidance and reassurance. We used intermittent monitoring and my contractions slowed during measurement. Not sure if it was performance anxiety but it felt like I wasn't making progress which stressed me out. Amber reassured me that we were on track. Her support was crucial to feel confident in my own ability to trust my body. When labor seemed stalled, the midwives suggested we rupture my membranes. My birth plan specified minimal interventions, but I was frustrated and wanted labor to progress. Amber provided support and was a sounding board for us but didn't pressure either way. I made the decision to do it. 

My labor progressed quickly so it was intense. Amber helped provide motivation for each contraction. Her encouragement allowed me to trust myself and my body while pushing and delivery. She took photos and videos at my request, which I love. After delivery, my placenta didn't detach which resulted in an emergency extraction. Amber was by my side the whole time during a very stressful situation. She was our second set of hands, eyes, and ears to advocate for me, and ask and answer questions that we had. When that complication was resolved, she helped us pack up, move and settle into our recovery room. She followed up for a post partum visit. We are so grateful to have had her support and gotten to know Amber as a person! 

Emily Cummins

8/13/2021

We loved working with Amber. I had a scheduled c-section, and she was great at helping us make the c-section family-centered and making the day-of less stressful. She was also a great postpartum resource for us! She promptly responded to any questions we had, and really helped us relax and bond with our little one. I loved working with Amber and would definitely hire her as a doula again. 

Nicole Maggiore

7/10/2021

Working with Amber was the best decision my husband & I made for my pregnancy and labor & delivery.

We had 3 prenatal visits where we reviewed what to expect when in the different phases of labor & different comfort measures we could use during labor to reduce my discomfort. During those prenatal sessions we created & revised a birth plan that my husband and I were comfortable with. She was supportive of all my preferences & decisions around what I wanted my labor & delivery to look like.

The morning I went into labor I was convinced I was just having more practice contractions, but I reached out to Amber just in case. A couple hours later Amber was at my door, she hung out with my husband & I for three or four hours before leaving for the hospital. Once in the hospital Amber helped advocate for my decisions. She reiterated that I wanted a non-medicated labor answered delivery. She helped me manage my pain by keeping water on my back in the shower, applying counter pressure on my back/hips during contractions, & recommending different positions to labor in. After our baby was born, Amber cam up to the maternity ward with us to help us settle in despite being with us for over 12 hours and it being 3am!

The evening after I got home from the hospital with the baby I was worried that he wasn't eating enough. I called Amber in tears explaining what was going on, she helped calm me down & gave me some suggestions on what we could do. Her support in that moment helped me become a more confident parent. 

Our package included 2 postpartum sessions where Amber came to our home & answered many questions about caring for a newborn & offered many postpartum/newborn care resources.  Also her padsicles are what got me through my recovery, they're life (and vag) saving!

Amber is a supportive, knowledgeable, & warm doula and I would recommend her to everyone!

Caroline Seroussi

3/21/2021

We don't have enough good things to say about Amber. As first time parents, we were overwhelmed, especially when it came to our newborn's sleep. On her very first night, Amber got our daughter on a sleep routine that worked for all of us. Perhaps more importantly, she made us feel more comfortable and confident as parents by sharing her endless knowledge with us without any judgment whatsoever. No question was a dumb question, which we really appreciated. It's easy to be hard on ourselves as new parents and Amber's warm and easygoing nature put us at ease and allowed us to create a strong bond with our daughter. 

Rebecca and Ben

3/6/2021

Working with Amber was the single best decision we made for our birth. Before the birth, Amber spent several hours providing us with pain manage techniques, reviewed possible birth interventions, and helped us make a birth plan. We never felt judged or led to any particular decision.
I could call Amber with questions leading up to the birth. When I went into labor, Amber offered to come whenever we wanted her. When she arrived, she talked me through the contractions and used tools to help with the pain. When labor progressed and I said I need an epidural immediately, which was not in my birth plan, she was supportive. At the hospital, Amber traded off with mu husband applying counter pressure to my back. She brought calming music, gentle lighting and scents that made the environment calmer. She was by my side and offered encouragement when I said I couldn’t do it. My husband felt empowered to be the best birth partner and could ask her questions whenever he felt unsure.
Afterwards, Amber regularly checked in. When I expressed that I was having extreme baby blues and anxiety, Amber asked for my permission to research therapists, something I needed but didn’t have the time or energy to do with a newborn.  She did a follow up visit to answer questions and helped us give our son his first bath.
Amber has a gentle, reassuring nature. She is approachable and easy to speak with. She understands wanting a natural birth that balances and respects science. We also greatly admire Amber’s commitment to inclusion and to helping all who birth have the most positive experience possible, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, size, or any feature that might cause others to discriminate against them.
We would absolutely recommend for anyone to work with Amber as their doula. She is an incredible doula and brings the values of inclusivity and respect to the birth. We are so grateful we got to work with her!

Racel & Sol

3/1/2021

Amber was absolutely awesome at literally every stage of our journey - she was informative, educated, passionate, supportive, and available. We really appreciated getting answers to our questions to give us peace of mind as we navigated uncharted waters for the first time. Amber really helped Racel get through active labour, giving Sol a break and Racel a friend to talk to to take her mind off of the pain. 

In general we had a really fantastic pregnancy and Amber was a huge part of the reason for this. She helped us switch to the right hospital for us mid-pregnancy after a not-so-great experience at our first hospital and helped us through the transition from one place to the other, helped us make choices that were right for us and massively contributed to how happy the birthing experience was; we expect that if we had stayed at the first hospital we would have had to get a c-section which was directly against our wishes.

We had the most wonderful experience with Amber and would thoroughly recommend her to anyone seeking help through their pregnancy journey. Elia’s birth was a total party and the most joyous experience for us both, filled with nothing but love, support and sublime happiness.

Briana and Sam P.

12/3/2020

Amber is exactly what I was looking for in a doula. She is kind, supportive, and is honest when she doesn't know the answer to a question. My husband and I liked her as soon as we met her. We liked that she was very upfront about her day to day values and about her approach as a doula. We felt comforable around her which was very important, especially when it came time for labor and delivery. She was able to be at the hospital in person which was wonderful, but even if she had to do things virtually I think it would have been worth hiring her.  Defintely would recommend her to any mother and/or couple looking for a doula to support you!

Katherine Nevins

9/17/2020

Not only was I able to know Amber as my doula, but also as one of my oldest friends. Being able to have someone I trust and someone I have known for 10+ years made it that much more special. Throughout my pregnancy I knew I could text, call, and just lean on her with anything! From giving me amazing advice on keeping nausea away in the beginning to staying up with me all night in the hospital while in labor. She was even able to get my husband to be more attentive during the process and kept him busy helping me sooth my contractions. And now, here I am, 7 weeks post-partum and she is just as attentive. She checks in with me, almost, every week. She has truly been a major supporter throughout the entire pregnancy and, even now. Means the world to me, especially with the world around us these days. Amber is truly well versed in everything she does and shows so much passion and compassion for what she does, it undeniable that she does it with so much love for all.