Jenn Dunn

10/17/2024

We really appreciated Alissa's help. She was so easy to feel comfortable with and provided amazing support before, during and after birth. She was super organized and able to meet us where we were at in our needs as it was our first-time for all of it, the pregnancy,  birth and start of parenting:-) Thank you thank you thank you!

Tamara Rocha

10/11/2024

Alissa Avila-Hansen is an exceptional Doula . My family and I are so very grateful to God that she was our support during my high risk pregnancy. Alissa provided very knowledgeable support and was available for any questions or concerns I had throughout my pregnancy . She attended doctor's appointments with me to make sure my hospital birth was respected and transparent. She went so far beyond our expectations to be there for us and is very kind and caring . This was our fourth child , but if we were to have another , I would definitely want Alissa to be my doula again . 

Andrea Trew

8/30/2024

Alissa was essential in the birth of our daughter. My husband and I are in the Air Force, moving around every couple of years. So, when we were stationed in Tehachapi, California, we didn’t have any friends or family nearby. Alissa came to our home a month in advance to help prepare me for labor, teaching me how to stretch and move my body so that I could go as natural as possible. As the weeks went by and my delivery date approached, my OB noticed I was starting to get high blood pressure and possibly pre-eclampsia. This accelerated our timeline and pushed my date up to 37 weeks. Obviously, this made things a bit more stressful, but Alissa was so reassuring, and her confidence in how to handle this challenge made everything so much better. We truly felt like we had a friend in the room who would take care of us and guide us in the right direction.

When I was induced, Alissa made the trip down to UCLA and stayed with us for a few days, even sleeping in our room while I started my very slow labor (during which I was then fully pre-eclamptic). My first induction didn’t really work, so I ended up being in labor for a couple of days, and Alissa was there every step of the way. She made sure I was as comfortable as possible, helping me to the bathroom, massaging my legs etc. As doctors and nurses came and went, Alissa was there to help explain what was going on to my husband and me, and advocated for our birth plan. In all the chaos, she made things much easier to understand and gave us peace of mind.

Post-labor, Alissa would come to my home back in Tehachapi to help care for our newborn at night. She was happy to do chores while the baby slept and helped me figure out breastfeeding (which didn’t happen easily for the first few days). Alissa is a natural at taking care of babies and their new mothers. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience with a doula and highly recommend her to anyone wanting help with their birth.

Marissa Valdez Jobe

7/25/2024

I met Alissa nine + months ago, and it feels like I've known her a lifetime. Her presence and wisdom have been a constant source of encouragement, helping me push through all the challenges we faced together. Alissa was always by my side throughout my entire pregnancy, never leaving me feeling lost or scared. Without her, I wouldn't have had the experience I did. Her caring, loving, and nurturing approach as a doula shows her dedication to her job and brings much-needed reassurance during tough times. The moments we shared, both the tears and the laughter, will be unforgettable. Alissa is not just a friend; she truly feels like a sister.

Priscilla

4/2/2024

I am a first time mom and I wanted to have a non medicated birth so I decided to find a doula to help support me. I found Alissa on DoulaMatch and she was able to respond the same day I contacted her. I had met with multiple doulas but after our initial meeting, I knew I wanted to work with Alissa because her personality made me feel very comfortable. I started working with Alissa as my doula a few months before my due date. She was very thorough and provided plenty of information to prepare for labor. She helped me create a birth plan, made home visits to go over different exercises/stretches, went with me to my obgyn appt, and post birth visits as well. She was always available to answer any questions I had through text. I felt prepared and empowered to have an umedicated birth. My hospital room was transformed to a spa-like environment thanks to Alissa bringing a diffuser, essential oils, a speaker for music and candles. It really helped me feel so much more relaxed. Unfortunately, my birth experience was completely different than what I planned for. With all the twists and turn, I was still able to have a positive birth experience thanks to Alissa. I can't thank her enough for supporting my husband and I during my hospital stay. I was able to work through my contractions with Alissa's techniques and guidance to my husband. I ended up having a c-section because I could not progress past 4cm. I still feel very confident that we tried everything we could to try and have the birth vaginally. I have no regrets. I definitely plan on working with Alissa again in the future. If you are considering/looking for a doula, do not hesitate to work with Alissa. She is amazing!!

Eremis

3/22/2024

Alissa was my doula, I found her to be very helpful! My birth experience was pretty smooth. I really appreciate Alissa for the support she gave me and my husband. Especially with the tips on how to relieve the discomfort and pain I was feeling in my last month of pregnancy. Alissa made my husband and me feel calm, comfortable and heard she left us feeling more at ease. This is especially important as we are first time parents and at times we felt overwhelmed. Alissa is a  wonderful doula So calm and supportive, kind and understanding. We would happily recommend her to anyone!! Thank you for everything Alissa!!

Moani Z

3/19/2024

We cannot speak highly enough of our incredible doula Alissa! From the moment we met her, we knew we were in good hands. Her hands-on approach, combined with her wonderful sense of humor and unwavering support, made all the difference during pregnancy, labor childbirth, and the infamous 4th trimester. 

Our doula's expertise and calm demeanor were simply remarkable. She guided us through every step of the way with confidence and reassurance, even when unexpected challenges arose, such as finding out that our baby was breeched. Her quick thinking and knowledge of coping mechanisms for labor were truly a godsend.

Thanks to her presence and unwavering support, we felt empowered and well-cared for throughout the entire birthing process. Her ability to anticipate our needs and provide comfort and guidance when we needed it most was truly invaluable.

We are forever grateful for the role our doula played in bringing our precious baby into the world. Her dedication to her work and genuine care for her clients shines through in everything she does. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone in need of a skilled, supportive, and compassionate doula. Thank you for everything!

Sarah Pipitone

12/6/2023

I can't say enough about how pivotal Alissa has been in my first pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. She has been a huge support and resource for myself and my husband the entire time. From helping put together my birth preferences, preparing my mind and body for labor, supporting us both during labor, and helping us now that our baby is here. I believe my husband and I wouldn't have had such a positive birth experience without Alissa there. She helped guide me through different positions to labor in, reminded me to go to the bathroom, provided extra comfort methods, snacks and guidance for my husband. I would fully recommend Alissa to a friend or family member as their doula. 

Nicole Stewart

11/26/2023

Alissa was such a wonderful blessing for my immediate postpartum care. I was referred to her as a back-up doula, because the woman I originally hired had something come up and wouldn't be available after I gave birth. Not only was she immediately available for me at the last minute, she knew the best ways to openly communicate to understand my needs without having an extended length of time to get to know me. I am not very comfortable dealing with people I don't know or am I comfortable even asking for help. Alissa had such a warm and caring approach, she knew exactly how to give me the attention and care I needed while keeping me comfortable and never overstepping boundaries. She helped me with breastfeeding/pumping, she always asked where she could be the most useful, whether it was household chores, helping with the baby, or bringing or preparing meals. She was even there for me when I just needed someone to talk to that understood what I was going through as a first time mom. I am truly grateful for her services and I would highly recommend her for birth or postpartum care. She's extremely knowledgeable and beyond attentive and caring. 

Chloe

11/24/2023

Alissa was such an amazing support to have throughout my first pregnancy. I had a lot of anxiety originally when it came to pregnancy and childbirth and she held my hand along the way and played a huge role in making my pregnancy and labor such a breeze. She was always available to answer my questions and had amazing resources and advice. She was such a tremendous support during my labor and delivery with providing physical and emotional support. She was such a huge help during and after my pregnancy and I don't know what I would have done without her! If you're looking for a doula I would highly recommend her. Thank you, Alissa! 

Mikaela

7/26/2023

This was my first pregnancy and one of the things my midwife highly recommended was getting a doula, so I began my search. I was referred to Alissa by a different doula who couldn't take me on. Alissa and I immediately clicked on our video chat. I felt comfortable with her from the start due to her friendly and outgoing personality. Alissa was so present throughout my whole pregnancy, especially towards the end when I really needed it. She answered so many of my first time mom questions, she gave me so many resources, research, data, techniques, info you name it to educate me and my husband. When I was too burnt out to do my birth plan she finished it for me. During my birth Alissa made so many great suggestions and again was there for me even in the middle of the night before we arrived at the birth center. She brought so many tools to use at the birth center which were life savers for helping me cope with labor. She took the most beautiful pictures of my baby being born, made sure my birth plan was followed, gave so much encouragement, and after made sure my husband and I were taken care of and settled before departing. Postpartum she continued her helpfulness with home visits by helping with chores and lifting my spirits by just sitting and chatting with me. Even after my allotted time with Alissa I am still able to get in contact with her if I ever needed. Alissa succeeds expectations and goes above and beyond what I ever thought a doula would. She's always educating herself and keeping herself up to date. She goes above and beyond for her clients in all the ways possible. I could write 15 pages on why Alissa should be your doula but I'll stop here. The bottom line is Alissa was made to be in this line of work and anyone would be lucky to have her as support during their pregnancy, birth, & postpartum. I was so lucky to have her as my doula and as long as the circumstances aline next time she'll be at my next birth and all the ones to come. 

Britany

3/11/2023

I was on my second surrogacy journey and decided to look into hiring a doula for additional support when I was introduced to Alissa. She was very thorough and explained things in a way both myself, partner and the intended parents could understand clearly throughout the pregnancy to best help us prepare for when I would go into labor. She went above and beyond to help me physically and emotionally and I couldn't  be more thankful to have had her apart of our journey. She was truly so amazing and I will definitely be recommending her to other expecting families. 

Maria

3/10/2023

I'm a first time mom, and I got in contact with Alissa very late in my pregnancy. However, she was still able to accommodate me and set up several prenatal meetings to discuss mine and my husband's birth preferences and to let us know what  to expect during the labor process. She even attended several dr's appts of mine, so she and my OB were familiar with each other and to provide additional support during the appts. Overall, my husband and I could not have asked for a better doula before, during and after the delivery of my son. She goes above and beyond for her clients, and it's clear she really cares for them. Without hesitation, I would highly recommend her to anyone interested  in getting a doula for their birth!