Kaitlyn Absher

7/8/2022

Abrehet was our doula for the birth of our first child. I am now 8 months postpartum and wishing I would have written this testimonial sooner because Abrehet is absolutely amazing! From the very beginning she made me feel very comfortable and safe. She visited my home before the birth so that we could get to know each other, and from the get-go she felt like family to me. She taught my partner I a lot about what we needed to know before going into our first birth. From pain management skills, and different positioning techniques of labor to what to expect at the hospital. Her knowledge helped us in so many ways. Giving birth can be a scary thing, depending on how you grow up and what you are taught and Abrehet helped me get over a lot of my fears by informing me of my options. When I was told I was going to have a high risk pregancy and needed to have an induction, she prepared me with the information I needed, so that I felt comfortable with the decisions my doctors were making in order to have a safe delivery. She went above and beyond. Abrehet is responsive, respecful and in every way a kind-loving and nurturing individual. I strongly believe that I would not have had such a great birthing experience without her guidance and loving care. She was there for us when we needed her the most, even when I was re-admitted to the hospital after giving birth, for severe post-partum preeclampsia. For anyone who has doubts about hiring a doula, I know that you will not regret it if you hire Abrehet. Doulas are worth it in every aspect and I would absolutley do it all over again with her by my side. 

Anne Davidson

6/24/2022

I'm so glad that we worked with Abrehet for the birth of our daughter and strongly recommend her doula services. Before, during and after delivery she was incredibly caring and listened to what my husband and I wished for and offered incredibly helpful advice and guidance. We met while I was still pregnant and she provided us with movements that I could practice to help prepare for birth and was available for questions that I had as we neared the delivery date. During labor, she was truly incredible. She had the right balance between calm, empathy, and coach and partnered very well with our doctor and the nurses at Swedish. Her communication was always very clear and she always listened to me and my husband. After delivery, she checked in and made us feel very supported as we navigated breast feeding for the first time and all the new things we were experiencing. Again, if you are looking for a doula we would strongly recommend Abrehet.

Katia

5/29/2022

Abrehet joined us about a month before my due date (my first pregnancy), and in just that short time, she became not only my doula but a part of my family. I can't imagine giving birth without her!

Abrehet is an incredible listener and deeply empathetic person. She provided non-judgmental and encouraging advice as my body prepared for labor, and she was quick to support with additional resources when I was ready to learn and do more. When I went into labor, she was a phone call away all day until I needed her by my side. When she arrived, she made sure I ate something (homemade bone broth!), worked with me through movements we'd practiced together, and supported me when I felt it was time to go to the hospital. Once at the hospital, things quickly escalated and I found myself suddenly at high risk and transferred into OB care. Because of the medications and interventions that were necessary, it was really hard to stay calm and understand all that was happening. Having Abrehet by our side throughout that very traumatic experience is why I can look back at my birth positively. Not only was she a witness to all that happened, she was able to give me space in the moment to pause and express myself when I felt pressured to respond quickly to medical staff/doctors. My experience after delivery continued to be difficult and I needed to go to the ER twice within the first week. Being able to text, call, and see Abrehet during that time was absolutely essential for my mental and emotional health.

Looking back, Abrehet helped to ground my partner and I and honored our goals, wishes, and vision for the birth. She was the perfect advocate for us while engaging with the medical system, a great person to have in your corner. This is true for births without any complications, but especially so for births with any unexpected challenges like the ones I encountered. I cannot imagine this birth, or feeling positively about my experience, without her support!

Colleen Robertson

2/9/2022

I directly credit working with Abrehet with the positive and empowering delivery of my son.

From our initial conversation, it was clear that she has a deep intellectual and emotional connection to the work of a doula. She was able to help me approach the challenge of preparing for delivery and my actual labor with a wide variety of modalities. She draws on her experiences with previous clients, her studies abroad, and her intuitive nature to deliver compassionate and impactful care. I would recommend Abrehet to any mom to be (and family/ partner) who appreciates direct communication and who is looking for an empowering birth that is grounded in the belief that women are powerful and capable beings, designed to deliver children into this world in a healthy and joyful way.

I have already referred Abrehet to a close friend - which is a testament to how I feel about her and her work.

Between labor one and two (which were very similar pregnancies) I pushed for only 75% less time while working with Abrehet. That was a HUGE positive. :) She is a great, strong advocate during the L&D process and she gracefully threaded the needle of communicating my needs and wants to the nurses and midwife. She also worked well with my husband: reassuring, kind and straightforward.

Bottom line: Abrehet is a generous, skilled, and caring doula who helped us have a wonderful birth experience at Swedish. I strongly recommend her and her work.

Aya Wilde

2/2/2022

Abrehet was a wonderfully supportive, empathetic, empowering, and knowledgable doula. From our first interview, where I half-joked that I was feeling out of breath, Abre made space for us to slow down and center by taking a few deep breaths together. Even over zoom, I felt her calming, grounded energy and loved it.

Abre took extra time to listen to my and my partner's needs and concerns as a first-time parents-to-be, and she patiently and thoroughly guided us through factors and decisions we didn't even know to think about. 

Abre doesn't just focus on the birthing process as a standalone event. She took the time to get to know my partner and I, and shared her story with us too. This helped us form a connection and friendship that was really helpful during the birth, when you need familiar and comfortable energy around you. She was a blessing with her massage, her quiet firm voice, her presence of mind to take some photos during labor, and with some tricks to help things move along when my labor stalled.

My birth didn't go according to plan, and Abre was wonderful in taking time to help me process through it so that I could direct my attention and energy to my new baby. I really appreciated having her with us as we prepared for the birth, during labor and delivery, and afterwards. Thank you Abre for being such a caring and attentive doula! 

Amy Hunter

12/28/2021

Abrehet is amazing. I highly recommend her whether it is your first birthing experience or second, third, etc. She came alongside my husband and I during the labor and delivery of our second child. We were looking for someone who had experience and passion and who could help us, especially during labor, to provide support. And she went above and beyond our expectations. Abrehet does her job with immense care and attunement to her clients. You can tell by meeting her that she doesn't think of her work as a job, but as a calling. Abrehet championed me during the birth of my son and I felt empowered. She also was there for me during the post partum period as I recovered and had concerns about breast feeding. She played a crucial role in our birth story and we couldn't be more happy. 

Jean

12/8/2021

Working with Abrehet was a pleasure. She truly listened to our hopes for and questions about childbirth and offered helpful and totally nonjudgmental guidance. Abrehet was super responsive when I went into labor and offered support from afar until it was time to head to the hospital. She met us there almost as soon as we arrived. At the hospital, she provided a calming presence as well as physical support through my contractions. We’d discussed the birth plan extensively ahead of time and she ensured that I got an epidural as soon as I was ready for it. In the weeks after the baby was born, Abrehet was tremendously helpful with both breastfeeding support and providing some much-needed validation to two new parents! My partner and I were initially unsure if we wanted to work with a doula, but working with Abrehet was among the best decisions we made. She’s amazing!

Marquis Daniels

10/27/2021

I am so thankful I chose Abrey to be my doula!!!
-Abrey was very supportive and made me feel very comfortable throughout my pregnancy & even after. She was very involved providing me with resources & information, which supported me in many ways to make this all a great experience. She was also supportive to my partner in this journey. She is such an amazing person. I'm thankful for for all the help she's done for me & my family, even when sometimes that was just being a listening ear.
My goal was to have a natural, unmedicated birth & with Abrey's help I did it. I don't think I could have done it with out her! She was such a great support person to lean on in preparation & especially during labor. She genuinely cares and makes sure you are heard! She is honest & so well informed. I will always recommend Abrey & definitely plan on working with her again in the future!! 

Courtney Lawton

10/17/2021

What an incredible blessing it has been to have Abrehet as a member of our birth and postpartum team. It was always very apparent to us just how passionate she is about supporting birthing people and their families. She provided so much support and love throughout the entirety of her services and made each visit feel so special. She supported each member of our family by providing tools and knowledge that promotes confidence.  She made me feel so empowered during the birth of my daughter as well as the postpartum period. I owe so much gratitude to Abrey for the safe space she helped create and her presence immediately following our cesarean  which contributed a huge part to our success with an excellent latch to facilitate a successful breastfeeding journey. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking out a doula. 

Mikesh Vora

10/8/2021

Abrehet is special. I had the fortune of meeting good folks across many cities i've once called "home" over 33 years. In time, I've grown pickier about who I trust. And when it comes to my most prized asset, my wife, I have a higher bar. A person earns my trust when (1) their words and actions match, (2) they see the world "half-cup-full", (3) they forgive easily, and (4) they invite authenticity through vulnerability. Tough to find I know; and it did take a minute. We intervewed half a dozen doulas in a month until we met "Abrehet" over Facetime. She was charming but what I liked most was that she didn't oversell, or laugh at my half-joking request to be the "Tony Robbins" of doulas during delivery. We sealed the deal. Low and behold come August 26th Priyanka's water broke, 3 weeks early. We meet Abrehet for the first time in the flesh at Swedish given my son's pre-maturity. How could I trust this women when I'm meeting her for the first time? Well, she did 4 things. First, she got to know us; opening up about herself, her own labor, her passion for helping colored women get a fair deal in the delivery room. Vulnerability criteria check. Second, after the nurses overwhelmed my wife with questions as we approached showtime, Abrehet's voice filled the room with quiet confidence. "Priyanka, you got this girl." Making Tony Robbins proud. Third, she described things she'd do, which honestly, I didn't expect her to follow through with. I would've forgiven her for not decorating our room with candles, making sure Priyanka's Spotify was set to the Drake track that'd get her through pushing, massaging her 27-hours straight, capturing key moments on my iPhone. Even in pain and being yelled at, Abrehet silently forgave. Last, she kept her word. She threw in 2 post-natal visits making up for the pre-natals we missed. Priyanka now latches like a pro. I'm honored my son entered the world in the presence of Abrehet. She's a good person. I trust her. You will to. 

Alison

9/17/2021

I hired Abrehet for my second pregnancy. My first delivery had been traumatic. I was looking for someone who would listen and understand what I had been through and how it would affect my second delivery, who would advocate for me in difficult moments, and who would help me understand what was happening at every step. She did all of these things and more, perfectly, and I am so grateful she was there for the birth of my son.

Abrehet immediately showed a command of trauma-informed care. In our prenatal visits, she listened with compassion when I discussed my first birthing experience. She took the extra step of making time to talk separately with my therapist (with my consent, of course), who knew all the details of what happened during my first delivery, to get a better idea of how to support me. When I had a difficult prenatal appointment, Abrehet asked if she could attend, and she was amazing, making sure I knew what was coming, that the provider explained everything, and holding my hand in painful moments. 

During labor and delivery, Abrehet was a godsend. She was both a calming and powerful presence who made me feel safe at a time when I felt scared and vulnerable. She held my hand, made sure we had water and food, created a peaceful environment at home and in the hospital. She had a great rapport with the midwives and nurses. She subtly pulled the nurses aside and told them about my prior experiences, which completely changed the way they approached me, for the better. She talked through every decision with me and prepared me for each step of delivery. When it came time for the epidural, which was scary for me because of my first delivery, she held onto me and gave me the comfort and support I needed. She was by my side, caring and advocating for me in so many thoughtful big and small ways. I can't recommend her highly enough. I will never forget what she did for me, and will forever be grateful that she was part of the experience.

Ellen Haile

5/14/2021

Thank you for helping me out during my delivery time and it was so nice to meeting you and knowing, you are  very special person I ever seen and also my husband thanked to you a lot. 
Thanks,
Ellen Haile

Olena Uelese

2/2/2021

To whom this may concern

I am writing on behalf of my doula, Abrehet Francis. Aubrey supported me and my partner through the  birth of our child and helped us resolve any lingering Trauma surrounding the birth of our firstborn child during that process.

Aubrey demonstrated such compassion, concern and genuine heart during that process. And truly helped us be mindful that this will be an exciting, new and amazing experience. Aubrey helped so much with my mental state, comforting me and aiding to my every need, along with helping me get through breakdowns at times I felt I couldn’t handle the  contractions anymore. Without Aubrey there, my experience would have been extremely stressful, me or my partner would’ve had a hard time knowing what the best thing to do was. I couldn’t imagine a birth without her there to help me through it. From the gentle reminders to the helpful guidance, she was there for me and my partner every step of the way while making sure I was at peace and not in pain. She helped me in so many ways, especially in the way of helping

me and my partner to remember to advocate for ourselves and to make decisions that were important to us. The next time I give birth, I’m requesting Aubrey as my doula again. I wouldn’t have it any other way, she helped change our lives in the perspective of hope and healing in this life affirming event.

Warmly,

Olena Uelese