Sam McMahon

10/12/2024

Hiring Ari as our birth doula was one of the best things my spouse and I did during my first pregnancy. Being a part of a queer family, while also having medical knowledge, lead to some conflicting feelings; I knew I wanted the birth to be at a hospital but also wanted to make sure our family was heard and respected. From our first meeting, Ari made us feel comfortable and heard. They provided three invaluable prenatal sessions where we were able to truly understand the birth process as well as familiarize ourselves with different birth positions. With countless resources, they helped us determine the birth plan that would work best for us while also helping us prepare for the countless unexpected possibilities that could follow.

I had a scheduled induction and Ari, an integral part of my birth team, was available to us virtually the entire time leading up to my labor. Once my labor began, Ari arrived and I instantly felt relieved. They jumped right in, advocating for me with the medical team and making sure I was as comfortable as possible. They were incredible every step of the way. From the ambiance they provided- strings lights and essential oils- to the emotional and physical support they offered me, I don’t know what we would have done without them. When we got to the pushing stage, Ari was amazingly helpful with different position suggestions and constantly advocated for me with our medical team.

After our baby arrived, they had some issues breathing -it was terrifying not knowing what was wrong. I am forever grateful to Ari, during that time they kept me informed and grounded until my baby was returned to me. Later, as we bonded with our new child, they made an incredible print of the placenta for us to have as a keepsake. I didn’t think I wanted anything done with the placenta, but as someone with an appreciation for beautiful art, this was the perfect way to capture it for me. We are forever thankful for Ari!

Pauli McMahon (They/Them)

10/10/2024

From our first meeting with Ari at a coffee shop, just to get to know eachother, my wife and I knew instantly that they would be the perfect addition to our birth team. As a queer/trans family, we were nervous about what our birth  experience might look like given our previous experience with doctors. While I worried about advocating for my wife and child, my wife was worried about my anxiety and people respecting my identity throughout the birthing experience. Ari checked all of our boxes. They were the calm, compassionate, knowledgeable person I needed there to help me be the best partner I could throughout the birth experience for my wife.

Before the birth, Ari helped us with so many resources to help us feel empowered to determine what birth plan worked best for us. She helped us find the confidence we needed to advocate for our family even after their job was done. The birth of my child was such an incredible and beautiful experience and I truly don't believe it would have gone so well if we didn't have Ari there to help us through it. They set the mood of our birth room with strings lights and essential oils, which proved to be calming for not only my wife and I but the nurses really appreciated the ambiance as well!

They showed us incredible compassion during our babies stay in the NICU and were very flexible with us regarding our postpartum care. I cannot recommend Ari highly enough. I told them the day our baby was born and believe it even more strongly now- Ari has found their true calling in this work. My family is forever thankful and grateful to them for everything they have done for us. 

Norah Lurie

8/28/2024

We can't begin to descrbie what an integral part of our birth process Ari was from the very beginning. From our initial meeting we felt so heard and affirmed in our birth preferences. Ari was open to answer any question we had and brought up additional possibilities we hadn't considered that were very important. She was always available and very commuicative and an all around great human to have on our team! During the birth itself Ari consistently reminded us of our desires and kept affirming our birth preferences as a hugely valuable advocate during a vulnerable time. We hope everyone can have an Ari on their team!

Ji Eun Park

7/9/2024

Ari is a fantastic doula. Ari is a highly knowledgeable and thoughtful person who went above and beyond to help me achieve my goal of having an unmedicated, natural birth experience in a large hospital.

I had an overnight labor at the hospital, and Ari was there the whole time. Ari brought a calm and positive presence to the birthing experience and guided me through different positions, which helped me relax during the most intense contractions. When I struggled during the pushing stage, Ari guided me to make deep sounds, which was highly effective and made the pushing a lot easier. 

Ari also has excellent communication skills and was a great advocate for me at the hospital. She not only collaborated very well with my husband to support me during labor but also worked closely with the healthcare team to make sure I got what I needed. For instance, when Ari knew I preferred to use the squat bar for pushing, she communicated with the healthcare team to ensure that they were aware of my preference and that they installed the squat bar before the pushing started. I could focus on the labor without getting distracted thanks to Ari's attention and good judgment.

I could not have gone through the whole birthing experience without Ari's help and I would confidently recommend Ari to anyone looking to work with a doula.

Sabine Jamal

5/29/2024

I worked with Ari during my first pregnancy and highly recommend their services. We met with Ari 3 times prior to delivery of our baby boy, in addition to a virtual meeting prior to contract signing as well as unlimited support via text/email. Each of the prenatal meetings had their own focus. We were never rushed, Ari came to our house which took away a layer of stress especially later in my pregnancy when I was at apointments a lot due to pregnancy-related complications. I found the discussions and help surrounding my birth plan particualrly helpful. As someone not orgininally from the US, navigating the healthcare system here whilst pregnant was a challenge and having Ari's knowledge and help on how to construct a birth plan was invaluable. 

Ari was very flexible with the kind of support they could provide during my labor. I was induced at 37 weeks and Ari was able to make this work even though they had other clients, we never felt like we were not important or our son's birth was not a priority for Ari. During labor itself, we opted to have Ari come and go and provide virtual support which was great and really helped my wife and I. When it came to delviery, Ari was at the hospital ready to help us with positioning, physical support, emotional support, and advocating for me and my son. Ari was an invaluable part of my care team (along with my wife and mom). Their support was essential especially as we didn't have the best expeirence with our attending (shout out to our wonderful nurse who worked with Ari to advocate for having the doctor out of the room as much as possible!!). 

We also worked with Ari for some postpartum shifts which I would highly recommend. It was lovely to "close the loop" and have them see our new family at home but also the support they provided (walking our dog, talking through the birth etc.) was absolutely fantastic. 

I highly recommend Ari to anyone looking to work with a doula! 

Sara L

5/3/2024

I was nervous about the physical aspects of birth and nervous about a hospital pushing me into something i don't know i can refuse. Ari helped me come to terms with the physical aspects and prepped me for what the hospital interactions might be like. Ari was unavailable for a few days around my due date and she arranged a backup doula to cover those days. I was able to meet and "vibe" check with that doula beforehand as well. Ari was with me during my birth and was such a soothing force for me. She helped my partner to some hugging positions thru contractions and pushing, so i got to feel my partners arms around me and supporting me thru labor. She helped me witha few positions utilizing the birth bar and the head nurse mentioned she had not seen these positions before and they were helpful. I also really appreciated the collaboration between Ari and my hospital labor team as well. I had a successful birth and Ari will always be in my heart for that. Ari also has done a few post partum sessions for me and its been really helpful to the household. I think anyone would be in great hands with Ari.

Julianna Burt

1/23/2024

Ari is a wonderful doula. My husband and I worked with Ari during my pregnancy and our hospital birthing experience. Ari was consistently a fantastic partner and coach to both of us. We felt understood, cared for, and supported. From listening to our goals, offering resources, and even providing a reassuring massage, Ari was a source of relief. We also appreciated that she was very knowledgeable but at no point told us what to do or passed judgments on our intentions for pregnancy and delivery. 

Ari is both calming and confident – the perfect energy to help me deliver our child. I strongly recommend them to any birthing parent or partner!

Jennifer

6/28/2023

I chose Ari to be part of my birth team and doula for my first pregnancy, after feeling an immediate connection and comaptability from the initial inquiry call. Ari is very attentive, compassionate, and dependable. She made me feel very comfortable through our sessions together pre-birth and was very thorough with helping me prepare for the birth.

I felt that all my fears, concerns, desires, and preferences were heard and respected, leaving me quite assured that when the time came, Ari would know how best to help me through the process and be my advocate to mediate others. And that is exactly how it went. She helped communicate my preferences to the hospital team, provide me with ques and assuring words through the trials of labor, and relieved me of worrying about both little and big details of the process and just focus on my body and baby. 

Though the birth didn't stick to my preferences to a "T", it was all-in-all a positive experience and I do not have any regrets about the birth. And I certainly do not have any regrets about having Ari as my doula - would highly recommend her! 

Jacqueline Durazo

6/14/2023

Ari was truly an incredible advocate and guide during my second birth experience. I didn't realize my first one was kind of traumatic, but it explains a lot of anxiety I had over this second pregnancy. I felt like a lot of cards were stacked against me between an international move with a toddler, being new to the area, and unemployed (personally wanted employment). My emotions were all over the place and Ari helped focus me and my husband on what to study and how to practice for the birth. She helped us feel prepared when there was so much we didn't have control over in our lives. I went from feeling really despondent at 35 weeks pregnant, truly like it was a lost cause to feel empowered in the upcoming birth, to feeling totally ready to face it with peace and excitement (and of course nerves). She was happy to be as hands-on as needed, when my husband needed a rest from supporting me, which was wonderful. And when the day came, we even had a brief 30 minutes of rest just before moving to pushing that I never would have imagined possible, because I learned how to listen to my body thanks to Ari. I realize a lot of work and credit goes to my husband as well, but both of us are certain it's entirely because of Ari that we felt motivated and focused in our efforts to practice for the birth I wanted. We are so grateful and can't recommend Ari and her services enough. We love her! Stop reading reviews of doulas and book Ari today!

Nic Coffman

4/25/2023

Let's see if I can express in under 2000 characters how invaluable Ari was to my delivery team. Ari not only helped me acheive my birthing dream, but she also helped me understand what I wanted in ways I wouldn't have known. Ari was more than an advocate and guide, she was my bridge to resources, spiritual guru, lactation consultant, cheerleader, coach, therapist, guide, friend, and confidente. Here are some specific examples of ways Ari directly helped my situation. 

1. Spirituality was my first goal. Ari touched all five sense with soft lighting, spiritual music serenading, scents of the forest looming, advocating for food, and offering continuous massage throughout labor. What blew my mind though was her work with my placenta - my baby's name means tree/forest - Ari not only enlightened me that the placenta is shaped like a tree, but she imprinted it for me while I was having skin to skin with my daughter and then held it for me in her own freezer until I was released from the hospital! If that's not going above and beyond, I don't know what is!

2. Within the first few days of giving birth, I had a clog on one breast. I was part of a lactation support group, so I went there first. They suggested warm water, which I tried and failed. A lactation consultant then suggested a cold compress and/or ice, results of which yielded zero drops. The pain was getting worse when Ari called me to ask how I was doing - I whined to her about the pain I was in and she suggested something WAY outside the box. I have two words. It worked!

3. I called the postpartum hotline after a few days of sleep deprivation and frustration made me crazy. They were too gentle. I needed something more personal. I hung up and called Ari. She asked if the baby was safe first and then asked where my dog was. She ordered me to go hug my dog and I broke into a total cathartic puddle of tears. It was exactly what I needed. 

Ari was exactly what I needed.

Jennifer Fong

1/24/2023

I am so blessed and grateful that the universe brought Ari into my life.

I’d asked the stars for a birthworker who was comfortable supporting queer POC families, and familiar with grief or acute perinatal depression because I was struggling with the recent death of my father. Ari’s sweet yet strong presence provided me with the brave space I needed to complete this part of my life’s work.

As my doula, Ari brought compassion, calm and courage to my journey of pregnancy, birth and loss. When I felt pressured by my doctor to get an early induction, Ari listened to my concerns, provided me with research I hadn’t known about (not even in my 6-week birthing class), and validated my feelings. It is thanks to Ari that I felt more complete in my body, confident in my decisions, and trust in my instincts.

I had the most positive birth experience and I couldn’t have done it without Ari’s support. Through her, I learned about the structure and significance of my pelvic floor (again, which I learned nothing about in birth class!) and she guided me in relaxing that part of my body.

In the delivery room, Ari helped me soften between contractions, conserve and refocus my energy, and give birth with ease and grace. Holding Ari’s hand as I brought my baby into this world made me feel grounded and magical.

Ari went above and beyond any doula I’ve heard of. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be by my side as I experienced one of my life’s most important events. I think any birthing person would be lucky to have her by their side!