Autumn

11/4/2024

Such amazing essential work! Brana was the most amazing doula and lactation consultant we could hope for. Brana's support during the birthing process was literally life saving, and I am not exaggerating. I could not have had such a low intervention birth without Brana's support and assistance. Pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond: I could not imagine anyone better. I recommend Brana to everyone I know in the area who is pregnant. 

From our first meeting to just last week when I weaned my nearly 2.5 year old, Brana has been knowledgeable, supportive, and helpful. As a first time pregnant person Brana was able to give me enough information to make me feel prepared while also helping me embrace the unknowns of every birth and lactation process.

There simply aren't enough words to express my gratitude for the work Brana did. Doulas are essential and Brana is the best.

Henrietta Bitar

10/26/2024

Brana is absolutely amazing! We recommend her to everyone we come across! Hiring a doula, especially one as great as her, was definitely one of our best decisions. She guided us throughout the entire process - from before we were even pregnant to now, almost 8 months postpartum. She is still responsive and advises us on issues. Her contacts and recommendations have also been lifesavers - a prenatal masseuse I still go to and a sleep trainer. She kept us calm during the pregnancy and explained things to us which helped us make the right decisions for our family. Hire her immediately!

Henrietta Bitar

10/26/2024

Brana is absolutely amazing! We recommend her to everyone we come across! Hiring a doula, especially one as great as her, was definitely one of our best decisions. She guided us throughout the entire process - from before we were even pregnant to now, almost 8 months postpartum. She is still responsive and advises us on issues. Her contacts and recommendations have also been lifesavers - a prenatal masseuse I still go to and a sleep trainer. She kept us calm during the pregnancy and explained things to us which helped us make the right decisions for our family. Hire her immediately!

Rebecca Rowen

10/14/2024

Let me start off by saying, I will not give birth without the support of Brana or her team in the future! Years before being ready to have a baby I would agonize over my fear of giving birth. When I got pregnant, I knew I wanted to find a doula to help guide my husband and me and put us at ease throughout one of the most important journeys of our lives.

We spoke with many doulas who were very kind, knowledgeable and qualified, but Brana stood out as being incredibly relatable/no bull, take charge but also very chill and relaxed, knowledgeable, kind and funny--not to mention with her prior experience as a nurse. We felt Brana blended the best parts of the medical world with intuition and empowering individual choices. Brana was not someone who judged for any choices we made or did not make, but gave us info to make our own choices.

Brana first helped me to unpack and understand my fear around birth and then helped me reframe. She also helped educate us which I quickly discovered the more info I had the less scary it felt. She helped us feel at ease through the whole pregnancy and delivery. Brana hooked me up with referrals and recommendations along the way and helped navigate feelings as they arose.

We had the most beautiful birth and the hospital staff was laughing as I enthusiastically said “I can’t wait to do this again” while in labor! Apparently they had not heard it many times before, but giving birth is now at the top of my list for coolest experiences ever. After giving birth I also shouted “I think I want to be a doula” but I think oxytocin and exhaustion aside, what I really meant was “I’m so grateful I had Brana and everyone should be so lucky."

Miranda Krantz

10/8/2024

I worked with Rebecca as my pre and postpartum doula and could not imagine going through these periods in my life without her. She was a constant source of knowledge, empowerment, and calm. During my birth she was incredibly present when I needed it but also less visible when I needed space. She was an effective advocate with my OB and the nursing staff and asked helpful questions to ensure I got the best care. Postpartum, she was a lifesaver in terms of thinking through breastfeeding and helping my husband and I get into a bit of a routine. I cannot recommend her enough! 

Alisa Houghton

10/2/2024

Rebecca is armed with so much information and would do research on any information we asked for that she wasn't intimately familiar with already. She wanted to make sure that we felt supported with data and then supported us in making our own educated choices, which is really what we were looking for in a doula. Her approach is a wonderful blend of facts and feeling -- knowing what to expect both in terms of what will happen and what it might feel like, both physically and emotionally. She's an old soul and also so fun, easygoing and has a twinkle in her eye. My husband and I both felt so comfortable having her in our home and our visits were such a welcome part of preparing for and welcoming our baby. We love Rebecca and will absolutely want to worth with Birth Alchemy Doula Collective in the future.

Chloe Mithal

9/27/2024

When I was pregnant, I was so overwhelmed with the information on the internet. I had a tremendous amount of anxiety and fear about what was happening to my body and what my body was going to go through when I delivered my baby. I felt guilty that I wasn't reading books because it would make me even more nervous to learn about what was happening/ will happen to me.

Fortunately, my husband recommended that we get a doula. His friend recently had a baby and he said his wife went through the ringer (got induced and a whole medley of medical intervention) and he wished he had a doula to help them make more informed decisions. 

Brana's experience, energy and expertise made her the perfect doula for us. 

Brana would always send me voice messages in her calm soothing voice when I would text her about questions around my pregnancy, doctor appts, my body, baby products, etc. She was prompt in getting back to me and had no problem picking up the phone to give me a call. She never made me feel any sort of shame for not reading books and for wanting an epidural. She was so supportive and loving.

She also has the best network ever! She's referred me to amazing people like a pregnancy chiropractor (I was scared at first but I am now convinced that she was the reason I loved my labor & delivery experience), a couples therapist, postpartum support groups, mommy yoga, and more!

My labor and delivery was a beautiful experience. She helped me stay calm and breathe and gave me the best pushing instructions! She also gave me water and these little honey snacks from erewhon which gave me energy to push. Once my daughter was born, she was still accessible and continues to be a wealth of knowledge and a pillar in this new mommy world that I feel so honored to be apart of. You won't stop talking about her and recommending her to everybody you know once you have her in your life.

Svetla R.

9/20/2024

We had Brana as a doula during the birth of our daughter and we can't thank her enough for the magical and amazing experience that we had! She played an enormous part in the way it turned out and I cannot be thankful enough about that. Even though it ended up being a hard birth, I will always remember how empowered and strong I felt during it which is an incredible feeling to have. I felt strong, in control, I felt capable, I felt so supported, I felt I can rely on you. I felt heard and I was never pushed for anything and I was respected and when I was scared I could speak up my fears and we worked through them. I trusted my body this time and leaned on it too, which I could not have the bravery to do otherwise. I had a very hard first birth with my son and was terrified how this second one will go. 

Both me and my husband still cherish the memory of this birth. It is a warm, tickling memory or waiting for our girl to arrive, almost like the feeling you have when you fall in love with someone and you anticipate seeing them. It changed our perspective on birth and it changed my view of myself!

Cameron

9/20/2024

Bringing the doulas on for our pregnancy was such an impactful experience. They brought a wealth of support and knowledge to help us identify what we need most for our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They are an incredible team and it has been a wonderful experience having them by our side during this special time. As a first time dad, the doulas have played a huge role in helping me feel prepared to bring home our little girl!

Cleo M.

9/16/2024

Getting on board with the Birth Alchemy Doula Collective was one of the best decisions my husband and I made when we were preparing for the arrival of our first baby! Brana, Rebecca, and Dawn bring such warmth, compassion, joy, and expertise as they guide you through what to expect during birth, the breastfeeding journey, and postpartum life with a newborn. The classes they provide are indispensable and empowering. One of their main lessons that has stuck with me is placing emphasis on my own bodily autonomy and agency, a crucial component of birth (and beyond!). We would seek them out in a heartbeat for any future pregnancies!

Rebecca Arenas

9/11/2024

My husband and I are so grateful for our experience with the Birth Alchemy Collective. We were able to use their services with the Carrot benefit offered through my job. We had incredible, constant support from Rebecca, Brana and Dawn from month 2 all the way to a few weeks post partum.

The labor package was incredible. It included:

-constant check-ins throughout the pregnancy

-birth class

-prenatal 1.0 and 2.0

-lactation class

-37 week check in to discuss the pregnancy plan

They also offered social and emotional support. They host monthly prenatal/post partum circles where you can meet other families going through the same transition. And some of these families could even be in your birth classes if your due dates lined up. It was pretty incredible community building. <3

We had Rebecca present for my actual labor. Her expertise and calm nature were instrumental in keeping me calm. Looking back, I have nothing but happy memories about my birth story thanks to these ladies.

Candice Chen

9/9/2024

Dawn, Rebecca, and Brana were absolutely wonderful to work with. I had a really positive experience working with an individual doula during my first birth in New York but found the experience of working with the three of them for my second birth even better because they offer not one, but THREE sources of expertise and perspective.

The three of them have thoughtfully designed a support offering that covers all the necessary aspects to prepare you for birth and the new baby.

As part of their package, they facilitated a labor prep workshop, which was an invaluable resource for my husband and me. Even as second-time parents, we found ourselves in need of the mental and tactical preparation of preparing for birth. Their pain-coping strategies and labor prep exercises were something I sorely missed during my first birth. In addition to their direct support, they also referred me to a prenatal chiropractor to help position the baby ideally. The combination of these things helped prepare my body so that my labor was only 4 hours!

Something I appreciate about their collective is that their on-call rotation system meant that I never had to worry about an unfamiliar backup doula attending my birth. Each of them was well-acquainted with my birth preferences and I got to know each of them beforehand, so I was comfortable with any of them being the doula at my birth.

Brana ended up being the doula present at my labor, and her support was instrumental in helping my labor progress naturally. All in all, I only had to push for 4 minutes thanks to Brana's expertise and hands-on positioning support. Post-birth, Rebecca supported me in the hospital with lactation advice, improving my baby's latch and my comfort breastfeeding. A few days later, Brana did a home visit and taught me how to belly bind, which has helped with my recovery.

I am incredibly grateful to them for making my labor and postpartum recovery so smooth and seamless. 

Kevin

9/8/2024

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Birth Alchemy Doulas, and I can't recommend them highly enough. As an experienced dad, I thought I had a good handle on things, but our doula's support and guidance went above and beyond anything I could have managed on my own.

Watching her help my wife to achieve a natural birth was nothing short of powerful. My wife had a short 4hr 44 min labor; Dawn worked her magic to empower my wife to get through it.

If you're a couple looking for support during birth, The Birth Collective (Brana, Dawn, and Rebecca) is the way to go.

Esme Marcial

8/23/2024

I was introduced to Birth Alchemy by my doula Brana, with whom I had a great experience during my previous birth. The support from Dawn, Rebecca, and Brana during my third birth was exceptional. They each brought their own expertise and personal touch to my late preterm birth at 35 weeks, which involved an induction. Thanks to Dawn, I achieved a natural induced birth; her comfort and pain management support were invaluable throughout my 4-hour and 44-minute labor. All three were also incredibly supportive during my postpartum recovery and nursing support. 

Esme Marcial

8/23/2024

I was introduced to Birth Alchemy by my doula Brana, with whom I had a great experience during my previous birth. The support from Dawn, Rebecca, and Brana during my third birth was exceptional. They each brought their own expertise and personal touch to my late preterm birth at 35 weeks, which involved an induction. Thanks to Dawn, I achieved a natural induced birth; her comfort and pain management support were invaluable throughout my 4-hour and 44-minute labor. All three were also incredibly supportive during my postpartum recovery and nursing support. 

Auriel Rudnick

4/10/2024

My husband and I worked alternately with Rebecca and Dawn as our postpartum doulas and we could not recommend them highly enough! They both brought such a calm, understanding and warm energy into our home and made us feel like we were in the safest of hands from the very beginning. Rebecca was so knowledgeable and helpful on everything from breastfeeding to recovery, and even assisted me with a few sessions before the birth (which really helped me feel confident and prepared for the hospital visit). Not to mention she is an incredible cook! When you are exhausted and sleep deprived, having a fridge full of healthy, nourishing, delicious food is a special form of care that truly works wonders. Dawn was also incredible, so generous and gentle, she taught us all about sleep with our baby and even helped give her a very first bath! After their visits, each of them would leave us feeling so rested, restored and ready to jump back into the maelstrom of those early days. But more than that, Dawn and Rebecca taught two new, scared parents how to find their footing and confidence. And for that we will be forever grateful.