Nana N.

9/22/2023

How do I describe someone who made it possible for me to have the most life-changing and magical experience? That’s what Kristen did for us.

Before Kristen, I didn’t even realize that the kind of birth experience I wanted was available to me. As a 44-year-old first-time mom, I spent most of my pregnancy under the assumption that I was high-risk everything, hospital everything, intervention-bound. At 31 weeks into my pregnancy (!), Kristen spent an afternoon with us, parsing out our renewed wishes for a more natural birth—and sprung into action to open numerous doors for us to pursue an entirely different path at a birth center.

She connected us to classes and other resources, and every time I had any question, her response was immediate and thoughtful. Even though I’m a natural worrier who has trouble asking for help or relying on others, Kristen was somehow able to put me at ease.

Kristen is beyond kind, patient, responsive, and truly an unwavering, calming presence. I trusted her from the beginning, and was able to go into labor knowing that I will be OK, no matter what happens, because we had Kristen by our side. It is difficult to find words for the way she gave me confidence, and the way she stayed connected with me and lifted me repeatedly throughout my long labor, even as I was barely understand her words of support. Another thing I noticed is that everyone loves her, and she bring out the best in everyone. Because of this, I had the incredible fortune of having a power A-Team of Kristen and the midwives manifest for the birth of my baby.

Kristen will always be one of the most special people to my family. I’m forever grateful for what she gave us.

Jonathan M

9/22/2023

My partner and I will never forget the support and guidance Kristen provided us during our birthing experience. We both feel Kristen was heaven sent and was the reason we had the amazing birth experience we envisioned. Kristen is a dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate professional. She brings a vast amount of experience, wisdom, and connections that will be valuable for you in helping achieve your desired birth experience. Kristen is a skillful communicator and educator which is very important both in the early stages meeting her one-on-one and also during active labor when emotions and intensity can run high. Kristen is calm, thoughtful, and very organized. There is a lot to learn going through the birthing experience and Kristen will help bring a solid foundation for you and your partner at each stage of the process.  

Kristen came on board with our family around the 30th week and helped guide us in making a late stage care provider switch that turned out to be possibly the most important decision in our birthing process. Our goal was to have a natural birth and I am convinced we would not have had one without her. As a first time dad, Kristen’s support enabled me to be there for my partner to the best of my ability. Her guidance gave me so much more confidence throughout the process but most of all during the day when my partner went into labor. She was always available for us when we had questions and continually pointed us to resources that could help. Additionally, she connected us to other amazing resources in this incredible local MN doula and birthing network. During active labor at the birth center Kristen was a key partner with the care provider team and took such good care of us while there was so much going on. Kristen helped both of us so much at every phase of the birthing process that we will never be able to thank her enough. I just don’t know how we could have done it without her! 

Margaret

3/14/2023

We had an excellent experience with Kristen as our Doula! From her first prenatal visit to her final postnatal visit, Kristen was kind, supportive, and knowledgeable. She was always available to us as a resource for information and as a patient listener. Whether in the hospital or our home, she brought a calm, positive energy to the room, which eased our anxiety and empowered us throughout the pregnancy and delivery. During labor, she was instrumental in guiding our approach, suggesting positions, offering timely advice, and helping advocate for our preferences. We are deeply grateful for her help and friendship, and we're proud to have her as a part of our birth story.

Clay Parrish

2/20/2023

Kristen was just the absolute best doula we could have possibly imagined! I would recommend her to everybody who asked.

She met with us to help us develop our birth plan (including understanding how to build an achievable plan focused on the controllables) and a few at home visits to make sure we were feeling confident. She also recommended different classes we took that we loved and helped us feel more prepared for labor and for the first few weeks postpartum.

That was all GREAT. But where Kristen really shined was during labor. She stayed with us for over 30 hours, worked through contractions with my wife, and helped us build and communicate with our entire birth team, including the doctor who ended up performing my wife’s c section.

We truly could not have done it without Kristen. She is worth an elephant’s weight in gold. We are proud and honored to say she was part of our birth story, and therefore part of our family, forever.

Rita Bergmann

6/16/2022

Kristen provided invaluable coaching before, during, and after my baby's birth. She gave education, insight, wisdom and reassurance. When I felt like a ship at sea in the stormy night, Kristen was the guiding light on shore safely showing me the way. I cannot imagine having done it without her!

Each time I looked for support, she gave the words and expressions I needed to never feel alone or too overwhelmed. She reminded me through the intensity to work with my baby and body, to sink into the sensations and not fight the feelings.

Kristen's demeanor is soothing and reassuring. She has a completely calming aura and an earnest sweetness that comes with true strength.

I had an unmedicated homebirth, and Kristen arrived hours before my midwife. Having her help through every contraction made all the difference. I thought a midwife would be indispensable, but a Doula is more hands on and Kristen is a shining star! 

She is organized and thoughtful, providing concise handouts of exactly what you need to know going into labor. Even though I had taken 13 classes to prepare for birth and looked at many articles through my midwife, it was Kristen's paperwork that I referenced as I approached/began labor.

I am incredibly grateful that I had her on my team. She's highly skilled, a diligent worker, naturally gifted, confident but unassuming, and just such a joy to be around! Her level of intelligent, gentle kindness is rare. You want a person present during such a big part of your life to genuinely loves what they do...and I feel that Kristen has found a true calling in being a Doula! I'm so glad she was the one with me for my first baby!

One other special thing: Kristen asked if I wanted her to document with photos, and I said yes. I am so glad she did this! The photos mean the world to me! They are perfect and priceless like everything else she offered! I'm just so thankful! I'll remember her kindness forever! ??

Jackie

4/26/2022

My fiance and I are so grateful to have Kristen be a part of our journey. She is knowledgeable, informative, positive, calming, reassuring, and thoughtful. 

During our prenatal visit, Kristen provided us with a wide variety of valuable resources such as pre-labor exercises, tips for the support person, a visual of the labor process, a list of affirmation, and a template for a birth plan.

Things did not go according to our birth plan but Kristen was with us every step of the way. We don’t know what we would’ve done without Kristen by our side during our 40+ hour of labor. She made us feel confident in decisions and kept us positive and calm from pre-labor through the delivery of our baby girl. 

It’s been a month postpartum and Kristen continues to text and check up on us. She was absolutely amazing! If you are looking for a doula, we highly recommend Kristen!

Kaylin Saindon

4/26/2022

I genuinely cannot speak highly enough about our decision to hire Kristen as our doula.  She truly did so much to help us prepare with great resources throughout my pregnancy.  I went into labor feeling calm and ready and that was largely thanks to her!! I wanted to avoid having a set plan for labor and delivery, but instead educated and ready to make decisions in the moment.  Kristen was supportive and helpful to accomplish this.  She was a great help to us as soon as my labor started and joined us at our home for the first half of a very long day.  She helped direct me through different positions to progress and helped me feel centered and strong.  Kristen's support in our home and at the hospital was not only key for me but for my husband.  She is the absolute best and we would recommend her to any expecting family based on her calming presence, vast knowledge, organized resources, and evidence based approach. Love her and can't wait to hire her again for baby #2 someday!! 

Amy Roseth

3/15/2022

I would highly recommend Kristen! This was our first pregnancy and she took all stress out of it. She helped answer all of the questions we had in a professional and kind manor. It was wonderful having someone on your side during the whole process that knew what you wanted out of your birth and was an advocate in your corner. If you are wanting someone kind and attentive and professional then Kristen is definitely your girl! She was there every step of the way to make the whole process for both me and my fiancé calm and enjoyable! 

Janette Driscoll

1/28/2022

Kristen was the perfect calming presence and guiding force during pregnancy and into postpartum. Throughout the pregnancy, she checked in frequently and responded to questions quickly, which really reinforced that she would be there whenever she was needed! It was so nice to know that after a rough first birth experience, we had this wealth of knowledge and compassion on our side for our second baby. Kristen is extremely attentive, but not overbearing, and a genuinely kind person! My induction progressed extremely quickly, so she arrived to the hospital right before I started pushing (although texted my husband throughout the morning with ideas for comfort measures). My husband says that when Kristen walked in the room, he saw my face immediately relax. To the extent that that's possible at 10 cm, I believe him! I've never had someone up in my face, making me feel so empowered and safe as she did during my daughter's birth. I highly recommend Kristen for her skill, knowledge, and most of all confidently compassionate approach to each birth!

Linsa

12/4/2021

Kristen was my birth and postpartum doula for my second child and she was simply amazing! With her support and guidance we were able to have the labor and delivery we always wanted but never thought possible. Her training and knowledge helped us feel supported and confident during the entire journey. Her guidance during labor was exactly what I needed to get through the hard moments and have the quick and unmedicated birth I wanted. I truly couldn’t have done it without her. Kristen’s help postpartum was invaluable. She visited us four times and helped with breastfeeding, bathing baby, pumping, light house work, answering all my questions, and watching baby that allowed me to have the me time I needed the first week to recharge for the day. She has a kind and loving personality and she quickly became a friend that we felt completely at ease with. We are so grateful and lucky to have gone through this journey with her and highly recommend her!

Brianna

12/4/2021

Kristen was an absolutely necessary and valuable part of my birth experience! Our prenatal visits were full of good information and thoughtful discussion. Kristen was there for me in the middle of the night when I mistook prodromal labor for the real thing. She picked up my call right away when my water broke. During active labor, Kristen was SO calm and encouraging and supportive. She made great suggestions and prepped me for what to expect next. She also showed my husband how to do different types of counter-pressure, and made sure he took breaks if he needed them. I know I would not have been able to have the unmedicated birth I had hoped for without Kristen. She was fantastic in every way!!

Annie

10/24/2021

Kristen is a fantastic doula. She is compassionate, supportive, nurturing, and kind. Her wealth of knowledge on maternal and infant health is genuinely remarkable. Throughout pregnancy, delivery, and now postpartum, she has been there to guide me through the challenges and help me feel confident. I am beyond grateful that she has been a part of this wild journey into motherhood!!!

Alice K-S

7/25/2021

We were very lucky to have found Kristen in time for the birth of our daughter in May. We can't say enough good things about her! We liked and trusted Kristen immediately upon meeting her. We wouldn't have wanted to go through the preparation and labor and delivery without her help, and highly recommend her to others.

She approaches the doula relationship with openness and honesty, and we felt heard throughout the process. We were so impressed with her ability to listen carefully and provide non-judgmental feedback and options. We also found it incredibly helpful that she diligently followed up with us during the postpartum period, when we were too tired to proactively ask for help, but were so glad to receive it. Her calming influence and knowledge has been so important to us over the last few months. There were things we hadn't thought of that she talked about in detail and it put us at ease throughout every step of our journey.

Through the prenatal meetings, labor and delivery, and postpartum visits, Kristen was supportive and just the cheerleader that we needed. We're so grateful to have had such a kind person by our side during this lifechanging experience.

Cat and David Brindisi-Darrow

7/7/2021

It is difficult to try to begin to explain how grateful we are for Kristen. She was THE key to our highly successful labor experience. After working with Kristen, I cannot believe I ever thought having a doula was "optional." My husband and I tell everyone to do everything they possibly can to not only have a doula, but specifically to work with Kristen.

Kristen went above and beyond our expectations. From meeting with us multiple times and making us feel that we could reach out with questions whenever we needed, to literally holding my hand through the hardest parts of my labor - she was truly present and our partner for it all. She provided the strength and the exact coaching I needed while allowing space for me to have ownership over my entire pregnancy and labor. She was such a loving spirit while also providing the specific guidance we needed. Her incredible intelligence and kindness provided such comfort to both me and my husband. After one minute of laboring, we knew we could count on her. Even during a long and hard labor we ended up with moments of laughter, which have become some of our favorite memories.

When we look back on this time, Kristen was so obviously an integral part of our journey. We had done so much research and thought we knew a lot about childbirth, but Kristen had us think through and discuss things we hadn't thought of. We felt prepared, cared for and wouldn't change one thing about our experience. We have our beautiful and healthy son Henry and are so grateful. When people ask if I would do it again, I say, "Absolutely. But only if Kristen was there!"

ST

5/24/2021

Kristen came to help care for my baby boy 2 times (postpartum doula services) when he was 4-5 weeks old. She was heaven-sent! While here, she cared for my son by feeding him, doing tummy time and reading with him, and rocking him. She also did some loads of laundry and dishes both times. I was able to shower, eat, and nap during the sessions and I felt SO refreshed after. It was amazing to be able to do some self-care without worrying about my baby stirring and feeling confident that he was being cared for correctly. Kristen is also very knowledgeable on the spectrum of postpartum recovery and baby care - I was able to get some great tips and resources through chatting with her. I would definitely recommend Kristen for anyone looking for postpartum doula services. 

Mackenzie Bruun-Bryant

3/15/2021

Kristen Wanta is a lovely human being!

I just gave birth to my first child in January (2021) and Kristen was my birth and postpartum doula. As first time parents, my partner and I didn't know what to expect during labor. Kristen guided us gracefully through the entire experience by providing us with information, helping us create a plan, teaching us/applying techniques to manage pain and stress throughout labor and providing us with resources during pregnancy and postpartum. I can't imagine going through it without her! 

Kristen is professional and attentive while also being warm and compassionate. Her gentleness and calm demeanor during the exciting whirlwind of labor and delivery helped keep me and my partner at ease. I felt safe knowing I had such an informed and caring person by my side to advocate for me in the hospital.

I highly recommend her services. We feel extremely fortunate to not only have had Kristen with us throughout our plunge into parenthood, but to also have gained her as a friend. :)