Jess

9/9/2024

I am very grateful to have had Alanna as a birth doula back in 2023. She offered a wide array of ideas and education leading up the the birth, and stayed with me for a very long labor (even coming into the OR with me for an unplanned C-section). Her calm and reassuring demeanor really helped both me and my partner. Alanna was also amazing at partnering with the hospital staff, advocating for me throughout and assisting with things like offering exercises to help turn the baby. She is very thoughtful and gifted in this work, and I would highly recommend her!

Jaimini

8/5/2024

Alanna made me feel safe and cared for in my birth. She explained the birthing process. Met with me several times to get me ready for birth and teach me coping skills. She was generous with her time and care. She is very responsive and supportive by text. As soon as I started having contractions I called her. She helped me and coached me for an hour at home and then came with us to the hospital. She helped me to develop a birth plan so I felt prepared when I went into the birthing room. She always checked with me to make sure I was okay with the interventions proposed by doctors. She helped me through labor with calming energy. She helped me bring my baby into this world surrounded by kindness. I highly highly recommend hiring a doula, and specifically recommend hiring Alanna.

Jess

2/20/2024

Alanna was an incredible ally to have for the birth of my first child. She was organized in getting set up with my partner and I and we found it really easy to get things established even just a month before my due date when we realized we wanted the extra support. I really loved how easy-going and supportive she was for me and my partner through the whole process. I think my favorite moment of my labor was when she was massaging my hip and chatting with me and suddenly my water broke! I also really appreciated her post-partum visit and care package, so much so that we hired her for additional hours. Her support afterwards meant so much to me.  I’m so glad we chose to work with Alanna!

Alanna Arroues

1/1/2024

Alanna was a phenomenal doula. I had many fears going into the birth of my second after having a traumatic first birth that ended in an unplanned c-section. Alanna listened to my concerns and validated my experience. In preparation, she was a wonderful teacher. She educated me in different labor positions and pain management techniques. In labor, she was a calm and confident presence, which made my second birth so much more comfortable. Despite some minor complications that arose during labor, I felt calm with her by my side and educated to make the right decisions for me. I fully credit her for my successful VBAC. 

Chandra

10/26/2023

I am so grateful for Alanna and all of her support! We are first time parents, and so we were very nervous and didn't know what to expect. We left each prenatal visit feeling much calmer and more prepared for what was to come. Alanna's calming presence also helped immensely during labor, where she supported me and my partner in navigating all of the decisions that needed to be made. She guided me through many different laboring positions, and helped my partner know what to do to support me. She stayed with us all the way to the end, and I felt so comforted by her presence. I honestly don't know what we would've done without her! Her postpartum visits were also so sweet and helpful. If we have another baby, we will definitely call Alanna to be our doula again!

Emily

10/21/2023

We loved working with Alanna as our postpartum doula! She met with us pre birth to talk through making a postpartum plan, which helped us go into birth feeling more confident about where things stood. She then came for several postpartum sessions to help out around the house and with our baby. She was always on time, reliable, and just a positive presence to have in the house. Most importantly, we trusted her to hold and handle our baby. Would recommend Alanna to others!

Natalie

3/3/2023

I knew I was lucky to have Alanna as a doula because after each prenatal visit, I was left feeling so much calmer about my anticipated birth experience.  Alanna was incredible during my very long and challenging labor.  She worked with my partner in sync to keep me feeling supported and as comfortable as possible.  She helped advocate for me to the staff at the hospital when there was no way that I could.  I ended up in an emergency c-section and  after the baby was born and my husband went to be with her, Alanna sat with me and held my hand through the very painful experience of them stitching me back up.  I don't know how I would have made it through without her and I am profoundly thankful that she came into our lives to help bring our baby earthside.

Ari Robin McKenna

2/13/2023

We were able to get to know Alanna a bit in the months before Luisa's birth, and she was a calming, knowledgeable presence throughout, even though our sessions were filled with useful activities. She got us excited about how we could try and tweak the birth room to promote Natalie's (my partner) comfort and the accompanying oxytocin. In a sense, she helped transform the experience away from any fear or dread we may have harbored, and towards joy and anticipation.

During the birth itself, Alanna was legendary. To this day, neither Natalie nor I understand how she was able to remain so strong and calm throughout the long, grueling process. Even without sleep, she never wavered or allowed any of the stress to impact how she held herself.

What is really hard to describe is how great a teammate she was. During the lengthy build-up to active labor, we were able to work in sync for hours at a time, without misunderstandings, awkwardness or negative tension. We followed Natalie's lead as she lead us through a variety of positions--many of which Alanna had prepared us for during the sessions beforehand--and despite the friction I felt with the rushed tone of Swedish (owned now by Providence) we were able to remain focused on Natalie's needs. In a situation that is that charged, it seems so easy for misunderstandings or chaffing over roles or just physically getting in each other's way to happen and become a part of that experience. I cherish being able to have a memory of the birth of our only child that didn't include any of that, and instead, is centered on Natalie, Alanna and I working together seamlessly despite the constraints and pressures we felt.

Since the birth it's been wonderful to get to spend time conversing with Alanna about our early parenting concerns, and to continue to spend time with someone we now admire.

Latisha Olson

2/9/2023

Alanna is incredible, whatever you need she has you covered. From helping me catch up on dishes to tidying up my living room and watching 3mo Bella so I can get some sleep- she has been godsend. I will continue to recommend her to friends and family who have little ones because she will allow you to catch your breath while also being a warm presence supportive for you and your little one. 

Julia Paley

1/6/2023

Alanna is the best. She's so caring, kind, and educated. I really enjoyed having her as my birth doula. She was there through the entire birth process and helped me stay calm. She provided me with so much knowledge and help (because I am a first time mom). I would totally recommend ??

Lee Aragon

1/4/2023

Having a doula was crucial to my birth experience and Alanna exceeded my expectations! She is warm, caring, empathetic and goes above and beyond to get to know her clients and their needs. You can tell she is really passionate about what she does. She came over to our place as soon as we were ready for her help and I was so incredibly grateful to have her sitting in the backseat with me as my husband drove us to the hospital since my contractions were already intensely painful at that point. I had an intense labor (back labor) lasting 22 hours from the time I started measuring regular contractions and Alanna was physically and emotionally present every second. As a first time mom I didn't know how little the midwives would be in the room during the labor process and it would have been far too much for only my husband to be my support person. I needed a presence like Alanna who could be fully there to help me get through it. What I liked about Alanna was that she was so hands on which I really needed with the back labor and she was also great at adapting to my changing needs throughout the process. i would definitely use her services again!