Whitney P.

6/28/2024

Absolutely loved working with Sean and Kalyn! This was my second pregnancy and I knew I wanted a doula again. They were very knowledgeable and kind in our initial interview, my husband and I knew right away they were a match for us. They tailored our following meetings to address questions we had and worked with us to make an ideal birth preferences document.

The day of labor, Sean was our on site doula and was a huge help! For me, counter pressure techniques were my best friend and Sean was an expert at determining what was going to help. She was also a very calming presence as things started ramping up in labor.

Postpartum, both were again available to any answer questions my husband and I had (and continue to have). They continue to offer their support and also be resources for any other support we might need which is really appreciated.

Thank you Sean & Kalyn, so much!!

Sarah Luck

9/28/2023

I interviewed approximately seven Doula's before making my decision to hire Sean and Kalyn. The energy and vibe that they bring to the entire Doula process and experience is incredibly positive, upbeat and educational. I was looking for someone who would be able to provide their knowledge and education to me throughout my Third trimester and during my first labor and delivery. Sean and Kalyn are a dynamic duo that invest their time and energy into their clients so that they feel calm, educated, and collected about the experience prior to, during, and after. 
I am so grateful to have found Sean and Kalyn to help me through my labor and delivery. I honestly can't imagine having gone through the experience without them and feel so lucky that they are now part of that experience with us forever. Thank you Sean and Kalyn!

Brianna Newton-Jackson

9/8/2022

My birth experience was absolutely incredible all thanks to my amazing Doula, Sean Hoke. I ended up having to be induced at 42 weeks and was pretty fearful of the process/struggled with the fact I couldn’t labor at home before going into the hospital. Sean helped me overcome all of my fears surrounding the induction process and made me feel excited and confident in the plan to be induced by explaining what the labor may look like as well as answering all my questions. She was by my side from the very start of contractions until a few hours after our daughter was born. Having Sean by my side not only as my primary support person, but also to communicate with nurses and midwife so I could focus solely on birthing my daughter, was amazing. She helped me feel confident when labor seemed impossible to continue, giving me the courage and support to carry out my goal to have an epidural free L&D. There were times towards the end that I remember saying I couldn’t do it anymore, crying in pain and fear — she was right beside me to encourage, give me strength emotionally and empower me to keep going. Honestly, my husband and I both agree that it wouldn’t have been such a beautiful and incredible birth experience without Sean by our side. She went above and beyond anything we could have imagined, her communication with hospital staff was awesome, her knowledge, teamwork with birthing partner (my husband) and love/support for both momma and baby was amazing.

Also, a huge thank you to Kalyn, she was such an amazing support and source of knowledge during all our prenatal meetings leading up to our daughter's birth. Kalyn was always so supportive and even made sure to check in on my L&D while recovering from her own L&D with her son the day before I was induced. We love Sean & Kalyn so much!

Allison chott

5/27/2022

Incredible! Sean was absolutely amazing. Her and Kalyn made me feel prepared and confident going into my labor and delivery. Theywere generous with their time and knowledge leading up to the big day. I was thoroughly educated on what to expect during L&D and Postpartum. During delivery, Sean made me feel empowered in my decisions through out the our entire birthing experience. She was a place of comfort and guidance every step of the way. She advocated for me and ensured that my birthing plan was communicated and confirmed while going through labor. When I opted for the epidural (which i originally didn’t plan for) she made me feel at ease me guided and empowered through out all of it. Sean played a major role in the success of my pushing phase. I was extremely anxious about the well being of the baby through all of labor and sean constantly reassured me and calmly answered all of my questions and concerns. This helped me tremendously. In addition, Sean was a fierce  advocate  for different positions and heard me when I needed time to rest while pushing. She allowed me space and comfort in all of my decisions. She worked extremely well with all the medical staff at UW and you could tell there was immense respect between Sean and the L&D team. Sean made made my birthing experience beautiful and empowering. I can’t imagine having a baby without her. ??

Liz

4/12/2022

We loved working with Sean and Kalyn for the birth of our first baby! We had two great prenatal visits over Zoom that came with a bunch of really useful PDF resources to work through afterwards, including very valuable birth plan and postpartum consideration templates/discussion questions to talk through with my partner. Sean attended our birth, and I cannot speak highly enough of her support during the process. We had a hospital birth with midwives, and having Sean there to coach me through the process was invaluable. Before she arrived my husband and I both felt nervous during a fast-proceeding induction since we didn't really know what we were doing. After she got there, an immense sense of calm prevailed and we worked through the rest of a wonderful birth all together. She was very attuned to my particular needs and desires, and collaborated with my husband to support me through labor. Her knowledge of different positions and laboring tools was so helpful, and really got me through. I would absolutely work with Sean and Kalyn again, and recommend them to anyone!

Rosa Alcantar

8/5/2021

I have to start by saying that having Sean and Kalyn as my doulas was the best decision I made. At the beginning of my pregnancy (number 4) I did not think that I needed to hire a doula because I never had one with my previous pregnancies...I really didn't know I was missing out. But, after having a conversation with my midwife, I decided that I needed to hire a doula. In my search, I found these beautiful people Sean and Kalyn and while having our first meeting, I knew that they were the ones I need for my birth. Since the beggining, they provided all the information I needed to have a succesfull birth. Furthermore, at the birth center they made sure I stayed focused and provided a massage technique on my lower back to help with pain, they were extremely supportive the whole time. I'm so gratefull that they were part of my birthing team.

Anne

7/30/2021

I am so glad that we hired Sean to be our doula. I had been afraid of giving birth my entire life, to the point where it was hard to even consider having a family. I felt so much better in the days leading up to labor knowing Sean would be at my side helping my husband and me for the birth of our first child. Sean was an amazing part of our labor team, and I would absolutely recommend her to anyone, including my closest friends and family.

My labor lasted over 24 hours, and Sean was with us in person for most of it. Sean was on the phone with me when I was talking to my midwives during early labor and helped me think through when to be at home versus when I wanted to be at the hospital. She was able to come to my home as I struggled through relentless contractions, and when we finally went to the hospital, she was with us for all my remaining labor. She stayed with us for a short while after delivery as well, and this allowed her to help me make sure my baby was able to breastfeed in the all-important first hour.

Sean was great not only for her skills as a doula, but also because we enjoyed the conversations we had with her before, during, and after labor. Here are some specific things I appreciated about how she helped me:

--Advice on different positions to be in while at home to cope with unending contractions (seriously had almost zero break between contractions)
--Advice on different positions to be in while in the hospital to help labor continue to progress
--Peppermint oil!
--Massage -- this was one of my favorite things -- she has skills and strong hands!
--Being able to talk through things that were making me anxious
--Having a constant member of our team who was not going to change shifts on us
--Actually helping physically lift and hold me up in certain positions during pushing (again, she is strong!)

Just do it. Add Sean to your team. You will be glad you did!

Nicole

6/9/2021

The main reason we decided to hire a doula was that we were unexpectedly cut-off from our family and friends in Canada. Without their presence for the birth, we were worried and disappointed that I'd have to give birth alone in the hospital. It turned out having a birth doula was significant for many reasons.

From the first time I met with Sean & Kalyn, I felt comfortable being open and honest with them about my birth wishes. They were genuine, non-judgmental, kind, and had great senses of humor - all of which are important qualities in doulas! Even after years of working as a L&D RN, there is always something new to learn about the birth process, and Sean and Kalyn's info about prenatal, birth, and postpartum was helpful and interesting. I felt reassured that I would have great labor support and wouldn't be alone!

As we anxiously awaited my labor to start, the doulas were always available day or night to check in and help guide my decisions and plans. My labor turned out to be fast and intense but I was still able to achieve my goal of an unmedicated birth with my husband and doula Sean present. Although a vacuum was used to help expedite birth of baby, it was medically indicated and Sean was still able to advocate for my birth plan as best as possible. The labor was so intense that I'm pretty sure I don't want to do it again but I am grateful me and baby were so strong and healthy through it all.

We are so grateful for Sean and Kalyn's support before, during, and after our birth! We highly recommend them!

Kathleen

3/24/2020

I highly recommend Sean as your doula! She was incredible. Although it was definitely NOT my intention, I set Sean's newest record for longest labor (45 hours!), throughout which she supported both my husband and I. When my contractions weren't coming on regular enough to go to the hospital, she made sure to get me up and moving and doing anything and everything she could think of to get my contractions coming. When fatigue set in, she helped me get some much needed rest and gave me a massage to help me relax. She was also wonderful at incorporating and supporting my husband. Her presence is confident, calm, and kind. When my birth plan changed from unmedicated to getting an epidural, Sean was so supportive. She made my long, arduous labor manageable. I couldn't speak highly enough of my experience with her. 

Megan

6/11/2019

Sean was wonderful! We contacted her rather late in our pregnancy, but she was more than willing to work with us even on the shortened timeline. She was full of helpful information and suggestions through the entire process. She was very gracious with us through an extra visit to the hospital on a false alarm. When the big day did finally arrived, she came to our house in the middle of the night pretty quickly. She also took a ton of pictures during the first moments with our son and I'm eternally grateful she took and shared those with us! She did a great job of keeping my spirits up and just staying positive. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a doula! Thanks for everything!

Shannon

4/24/2019

We had a really amazing birth experience with Sean. She brings lots of love and energy. She was there to meet all of my needs, and could read what I needed on my face. Mostly, she was able to stand in where my husband felt like he had no idea what to do or how to best comfort me! My birth experience was perfect!

I was incredibley anxious because this birth was a VBAC and Sean was in regular contact with me leading up to the delivery and helped keep me calm and reassured! 

Holly

3/26/2019

I can not say enough good things about Sean.  My husband and I were toying with the idea of hiring a doula we just could not decide.  We decided to meet a few and just see what we though when I realized my husband had some real fears about being a birth partner.  The moment we met her; we felt lik we knew her; we knew she was the one!

We met a few times before hand to talk and share ideas.  She is a mother herself and has had personal experiences to share which made me feel more prepared and at ease not having many friends who are mothers to talk with about the "real" fears and other concerns. 

During labor and delivery is where the real magic of Sean came in.  She was like a literal angel by my side (and my husband's) the entire time.  My birth plan went out the window as induction of labor set off a series of attempts that ended in c-secion.  From start to finish of labor and delivery she was guiding me, massaging my back, getting me essentials, keeping me calm.  When I was faced with one challenging decision after the other; she helped me feel empowered about my choices and decisions.  The lyric that seriously came to me several times was "in my hour or darkness she is standing right in front of me; speaking words of wisdom" because that is what happend.  

She was with me and my husband in the operating room.   I would look over and see her sweet face telling me everything was going to be ok and that I was doing great.  She also visited us at home about a week post partom to talk about and process the birth and make sure I was ok with the way things unfolded and made sure I knew she was there for me if I need her.   As I said, I could not say enough good things about Sean.  She was an angel to both (or all 3) of us when we needed her.  I would recommend her to anyone who asks about the services she provided us.  Thank you Sean!!

Suzanne Zimmer

10/10/2018

Sean was my doula for both of my births. She has an amazing energy that brings a rush of calm and a sense of everything will be taken care of. I felt I could just focus on the labor while everything else was taken care of. She seemlessly moved with me when I needed a change of position or as I needed to change location.

My first birth was at home. When my husband was unable to attend our first birth classes, she attended as my partner. Sean made sure to answer any questions I had throughout my labor. During labor she walked with me when I was getting into and then back out of the birthing tub. She knew the right moments to make me laugh or calm me when I was having a hard time.  Sean was a steady force through this experience that I could count on.

While my first baby was the textbook perfect homebirth that I had dreamed about, my second birth was a little more rocky. We had to transfer to the hospital, it was a scary moment for me to chanage from my planned home birth to an environment I am not very comfortable with. I can remember that it was Sean's hand that I held all the way down the hall, and throughout the next several hours of painful labor. When the moniters would make noises Sean made sure my focus was on breathing and not panicking. When I asked for an epidural I was informed that I would need to hold still, I am not a big fan of being still during labor, so I switched position and my son was born less then an hour later. Sean held on to me, and she was my lifeline in that time. Her manner, professionalism, and humor were a huge asset for me.

Natasha Zimmers

8/12/2018

Natasha Maria: I’m so grateful Sean was able to attend the birth of my second child. Sean arrived, and immediately, I felt safe and was able to relax into my labour. She kept track of me as I wandered my home. Sean is an amazing listener, and was able to figure out what I wanted and needed, even when I could not clearly express it. When my labour suddenly took a turn for the speedy, Sean was calm and collected, and handled communication with my midwife who was stuck in traffic. My daughter was in a hurry to make her appearance, and I’m so grateful Sean was there. She was present and peaceful, even in an unexpected situation, and my healthy, beautiful daughter was happily nursing on my chest when my midwife arrived shortly thereafter. I was so impressed by her professionalism throughout, and her ability to be a force of encouragement and confidence during my labour and delivery.

Jessica Williams

8/12/2018

Sean was an invaluable and amazing presence during our birth. As a first-time mom, I didn't know quite what to expect. She was gentle, soothing and empowering. I felt like she was literally an anchor in the storm that was labor. For hours, I labored in the tub and Sean held my hand. I don't think I opened my eyes once. Just knowing she was there, riding the waves of contractions made such a huge difference. I felt like I wasn't alone. I don't think I would have been able to have a pain medication free birth without her. She helped me relax and find my rhythm.

Hiring a doula was the best thing I did in preparation for labor and delivery. My husband and I took classes and read books but having Sean there helped it all come together the way we hoped. I tell all my pregnant friends that they need to have a doula. I feel like every woman (and man, we can't forget the Dads) deserves that kind of amazing support. Sean is the definition of a caring and supportive doula. I can't recommend her enough. -

Crystal Anderson

7/7/2014

We received a recommendation for Sean from a mutual friend, and instantly felt at ease when we met. She has a soft giggle and warmth in her smile that helped bring a sense of calm to my husband and I. We planned a home birth, and wanted a Doula to help guide is through the adventure. Sean's experience and confidence was one of the important factors that led to our successful first birth experience, and we are so thankful that we had her by our side. it was a very blessed, surreal, and mystical experience!

In preparation for the birth, Sean was available at our desire to answer questions, meet with us at our house, help us emotionally prepare, give guidance, and reassure us of our birth plan. She quickly became best friends with our dogs, and became a comfortable visitor in our home, which was a very important thing for us - for our home birth crew to peacefully blend into our environment.

Sean helped me through the difficult transition labor, helping me breathe, reminding me what I needed to do each time with patience and care. Her hands and voice became a focal point that accompanied me along the waves of each contraction. She was very attuned to the labor process, accepting of what I needed, and reassuring that we were on the right path. We are so very thankful that we had no complications, and honestly believe Sean had a lot to do with the great birth outcome because of her peaceful nature and confidence.

We would highly recommend Sean!

Sarah Solberg

12/19/2013

My husband works very long hours and I knew he would not be available for birthing classes to attend with me, so I knew I needed a doula with us when we had our first child together.  I didn't want to go in to labor completely unprepared, hiring Sean was the BEST decision I made to assist us with this journey.  From the start she was always available with information and always got back to me quickly.  I had originally planned to labor at home as long as possible and try to keep my birth experience as natural as I could before going to the hospital.  I had to ditch that plan when my water broke first without contractions, my OB ordered me to the hospital within a few hours.  I ended up having pretty much the opposite of a birth experience than I originally wanted, but having Sean there kept me calm and made me feel more at ease about needing to change the plan.  She was wonderful about trying to keep me as comfortable as possible and also keeping my husband calm too.  I would tell every woman, HIRE A DOULA to assist you in your birth experience and if you want an excellent, caring, fantastic, patient, kind, extraordinary doula, then hire Sean!  She will blow you away with how much she is there for you!  Birth is an investment, and you want the best with you when are taking in this journey.  Sean is it! :)

Jennefer Parr

11/4/2012

We hired Sean early in my pregnancy after meeting her at a birth fair and hitting it off famously. We found Sean to be a great resource during pregnancy about what to expect and how to approach labor. I also found it a huge comfort to have her nearby and a person I could rely on when I got close to my due date, as my husband works several hours away and is gone during the week.

As it turned out, I had a c-section, and while at first we were unsure whether having a doula in that situation would be as worthwhile, I'm so glad we had Sean there in the OR with us. Neither of us as mentally prepared for the procedure as we thought, and having her calm presence in the room with us was invaluable. Plus I think she was as excited about our son being born as we were.

Sean is enthusiastic, supportive, and very helpful and I would recommend her to anyone considering a doula.

Miriah Miller

10/1/2012

Sean attended the birth of my first child. Because this was the first birth that my husband had witnessed and the fact that he is very squeamish where blood is concerned I knew that I would need a doula so that I could free him up just to experience the birth. I had met Sean through a mutual friend and knew right away that when I went in to labor she was one of the people that I wanted by my side. Sean worked with me to understand what my idea birth situation and place would be. She answered any and all questions that I had and comforted me in my worries long before labor was even a question. When the day finally came and I went in to labor, earlier than any of us had thought I would go in to labor Sean was very comforting and helpful. She helped to keep me in the birthing “zone” and thus I never felt like I needed to be the orchestrator. She stuck with me through a long labor; she was one of my rocks one of my cheerleaders, Sean never doubted for a minute that I could do this even when I myself was not sure that I could. After what seemed like forever Sean helped me welcome my little girl in to this world. I would recommend Sean’s services as a doula to anyone that I know and will want her present at any of my subsequent labors.

Jennifer Mensching

1/22/2012

I first met Sean when she arrived in my hospital room when I was already in active labor. She showed up as a back-up doula, and was only supposed to be there for a few hours. She immediately made me feel comfortable with her, even though I was having seriously painful back-to-back contractions at the time we met. She sat there with me, held my hand, comforted and encouraged me the way I needed her to. She also helped me change positions and offered assistance when she saw fit. Even though this was our initial meeting, she met me where I needed to be met. Usually, when you first meet someone, you want to get to know them. We held off on that until later, and she encouraged me to rest between contractions rather than asking me a bunch of questions. It felt good to trust her judgement and professionalism, and she also trusted me to know my body so that I could express my needs. She obviously loves being a doula, because she ended up staying the whole time (about 24 hours from the time of arrival to the time birth). I had a very long, hard labor, complete with severe back labor. I am certain I would have ended up with a c-section if it weren't for Sean and my primary doula supporting me 150%, never wavering in their care, compassion, professionalism, laughs, fun (when appropriate), and uplifting support. I plan to reach out to both of them to be present at subsequent births.

J A

6/7/2011

Having Sean at the birth of my fourth child made a lot of difference. I had just moved into a new house a few months before, and I was feeling a lot of instability in my life.  I was confident I could just plow thru it, and having homebirthed three babies at home before, that it would be okay. But really, I was scared and lacked confidence in my surroundings -- definitely not the space I needed to be in to have a good birth.  When Sean arrived at the house on the day of the birth I immediately became calmer.  Her presence was assuring and reassuring every time she talked.  When we got into contractions that I could no longer handle well on my own, her touch helped me stay focused without having to think about it. I was able to simply let the experience happen.  What a blessing!  When she reassured me she would keep me grounded, and make sure I didn't feel like I was drifting off or feeling unsafe I believed her instantly. There was no doubt in my mind she would do just that, so I was able to just forget the rest and trust in her support.  Her presence was amazingly calming, and I could feel her respect for this process, for my family and household, and for the new person about to come to the outside. What a blessing she is in my life!  

Chris Bailey Witwer

6/6/2011

Sean was our doula at my third birth, which was our second home birth. We really didn't know why we chose Sean to be there, feeling that we had things well in hand but somehow I must have known she'd be just the right person. When my birth unfolded much faster than I had expected she was a really calming influence when it was very important to have that. The speedy birth and best birth position took me by suprise and I had a bit of panic, Sean was right there with a whole lotta chill and a little bit of cheerleader to get me through. Our daughter was born, and she made me amazing placenta super pills. I cannot even bring myself to take down her note to turn off the dehydrator which she had put on my fridge because it makes me smile everytime I see it. She's great at this. Thank you Sean!