Amber B.

11/19/2025

Our birthing experience was not your typical Labor and Delivery experience and we were fortunate after looking for several weeks to find our "Diamond in the Rough" Fiona Schiano-Yacopino, as our Doula.  Fiona was the best decision we made. Fiona provided knowledgeable, calm, and personalized support before, during, and after birth. She was the constant during a long and difficult labor . She had techniques that not only supported the stages of labor that I was goig through, but also helped my partner be the support system that I needed in a time of uncertainty.   She put "Us" first!  As first time parents, or parents to multiples, your choice in a doula is one of the upmost important decisions.  So without hesitation we highly recommend Fiona Schiano-Yacopino and wish all who are entering into parenthood the best of luck!!!

Wendy uy

11/14/2025

Fiona was by our side when our daughter was born just a few weeks ago. This was my second pregnancy and I knew I wanted to be more in control of my birth experience and choices this time around. Even though I had an idea of how things could go having Fiona with us transformed my birth experience to just being aware of options to feeling empowered to ask more questions and make requests that made me and baby more comfortable. Before the birth date Fiona checked up on us and was supportive. When she arrived at the hospital many decisions I made were due to her encouraging and supportive suggestions, some that hadn't even occurred to me. I could not have asked for a better team to be with me during my babys birth. From emotional support to making me more physically comfortable with her gentle massage during labor, Fiona's calm energy helped me enjoy every moment even the hard parts. I feel so lucky to have had Fiona by our side, having a positive birth experience has helped me enjoy the post partum period much more this time around. 

Shannon

11/6/2025

We had such an amazing time working with Fiona to deliver our second child. She was warm, knowledgeable, and reassuring from our first phone call through delivery and postpartum. I was determined to have an unmedicated birth after having epidural complications with my first child and Fiona helped me achieve this goal. I ended up needing to be induced at 37 weeks and she was ready to support us immediately. Throughout my labor Fiona shared positions/moves to try, offered massage and physical touch, and guided my husband with helpful suggestions on how to assist. Having her as a part of the whole experience truly felt natural and comforting for both me and my husband.  

I did not work with a doula for my first pregnancy and can confidently say that it made all the difference. I wholeheartedly recommend working with Fiona to have an empowering birth experience. She is the best! 

Ashley Lopez

7/23/2025

I was recommended Fiona by my midwife and I cannot express how glad I am that I reached out to her. When I spoke to Fiona for the first time I felt an instant connection with her. She expressed to me her passion of becoming a doula and was very open and honest with me of her experience. 

Fiona was everything we didnt know we needed. After my first child via cesarean I was determied to educate and prepare myself for a V-back for our second child. Once I was in the clear for natural birth I reached out to Fiona and knew I needed her in my corner. She was there with us from the very first moment I texted her notifying her of my contractions (albeit two weeks EARLIER than expected). When she told me she would be availabe for me she meant it. Fiona advocated for me in the hospital ensuring that MY birthplan was followed. She was so supportive, kind, patient and encouraging throughout my labor. I truly believe that my V back was a success because of her and I recommend her 110% to anyone who is considering a doula. 

Jen Anderson

7/1/2025

Fiona was recommended to me by my midwife, and I am honestly grateful every day that I met her.
I gave birth to my first baby 10 weeks ago. Fiona came to my home during my pregnancy so we could meet and get to know each other. From the moment I met her I felt comfortable in her presence. She exudes a warmth and friendliness that put me right at ease. We discussed my birth preferences and she helped guide me in creating a vision for what a calm birthing environment might look like for me. She reached out to me regularly throughout my pregnancy, checking in to see how I was feeling and if she could help me in any way. I was always happy and thankful to hear from her, and she made me feel like it was safe to express any fears or concerns I may have had at any given time.
When I wound up in the hospital with preeclampsia at 36wks, I was terrified. Fiona was there EVERY step of the way, throughout my entire day and a half induction/labor and the birth of my beautiful baby boy. She was the calming energy, the safe space, the kind face, the gentle touch, the listening ear, the advocate, and the healing presence I needed. And even though my labor and delivery didn't go as I expected or hoped, she absolutely proved to be the reason I wanted a doula. She was an invaluable member of my team, and I truly believe that her being there for me and my husband, was a huge part of the reason I was able to make it through all those hours of anxiety, uncertainty, pain, the awful uncomfortable haze of magnesium sulfate...and that I was able to finally deliver my healthy baby vaginally, feeling totally supported, cared for, and surrounded by peace and love.
She came to my home again a few weeks after I had my baby, to check in on us and see how everything was going. I just felt so supported by her from start to finish. I highly recommend Fiona to anyone seeking this kind of support on their journey. 

Molly Fagan

7/1/2025

Words cannot convey how special Fiona is. I am lucky enough to have had her as my doula for the birth of my second daughter. This was my first experience with a doula and after this I can confidently say I will never be birthing again without her by my side. Most of us expectant mothers plan out our “dream birth” or have a specific birth plan written out and ready to provide to our practitioners. I was one of these women. However, a week before my due date I had to be induced due to preeclampsia. I was devastated. I was terrified of Pitocin and of not having my drug free dream birth. Fiona immediately eased my anxiety and swooped in to be by my side. I ended up having not only Pitocin, but a foley balloon and my water broken by my midwife as well. All in all it was a 30 hour labor that I am confident I could not have gotten through without the help of Fiona. She kept me moving, motivated and mellow for the entirety of it. Despite all of the necessary medical intervention, I ended up with my drug free dream birth, thanks in big part to my dream doula. This woman was a huge part of one of the most special days of my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Alexandra Rodriguez

5/9/2025

If you are unsure about a doula, I wholeheartedly recommend hiring Fiona. Having her present during my labor was the best decision I made in my birth plan and I am confident that it greatly contributed to my successful delivery. 

My midwife recommended that I consider a doula to help me have a successful vaginal delivery. Because my first baby was a C-Section, and I wanted to get the epidural, I was unsure of the role a doula might play. However, it was important to me to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere to labor and deliver my child into and to have as "quick and easy" a delivery as possible. Upon meeting her, my husband and I knew it would be beneficial to have Fiona with us in the delivery room.

Prior to going to the hospital, Fiona checked in regularly to see how I was feeling, answer any questions, and provide resources to help promote labor and stay comfortable. She created a plan that helped my labor progress, manage any discomfort until I was ready to receive the epidural, helped me change positions that supported me and my baby. Fiona was an assuring and supportive presence without being overbearing or intrusive. She worked with my midwife to communicate cleary with us, cheer me on, and take each stage of the process in stride. 

Apart from her technical qualifications, Fiona is simply a good and kind person who wants to be of service. She is committed to this work because she finds it meaningful and important and she continues to educate herself, learning new and creative ways to support her clients.

Without Fiona, I am not sure my VBAC would have been successful. Her knowledge and various techniques, soothing aura and calming presence, and steady support were essential and I am so happy she is a part of my birthing story.

Jennifer M

3/16/2025

Working with Fiona during the end of our pregnancy and labor and delivery was incredible. There are not enough words to express how grateful my husband and I are to have her as part of our birthing process. She is calm, kind, caring, and genuine which helped us feel beyond prepared for anything that came our way. During my 39 week scan we learned our baby was small and I was low on fluid so we needed to be induced. I called Fiona and immediately she was calming and reassuring with a plan of how we would tackle the induction. She stayed in constant contact as we went through the process that would lead to labor when she would come to the hospital. Unexpectedly I ended up needing a c-section and Fiona became the person who made the whole surgery as positive as it could be. She helped keep me calm during the anesthesia process, was able to go in and out to communicate with my husband until he was allowed in the OR to calm his nerves, and then was there holding me and keeping me calm when my husband and the baby went into recovery and I was still being worked on. I genuinely do not know how I would have gotten through the latter part of the c-section without her. Having someone to hold your hand, stroke your head, and talk through distraction was beyond comforting in a scary situation. Fiona will forever be a special part of our family’s life knowing she was there for myself, my husband, and my baby when we needed her the most. 

Hunter Dubon

3/15/2025

I was referred to Fiona through my midwife at one of my later maternity appointments. We had scheduled to meet in person on the following Wednesday, however my daughter had other plans and came 2 weeks early on Superbowl Sunday. There was a terrible blizzard due to hit that night and I contacted Doula Fiona to see if we could still make it happen even though we never got to meet to complete the paperwork. She ensured me it was not a problem. We stayed in contact throughout the day and I migrated to the hospital as the weather was getting quite bad. I went through some of the early stages of labor supervised by my midwife and once contractions got stronger, I contacted Fiona at the early hours of the morning on Sunday. She arrived at 4 am and supported me through some of the most intense moments of my life providing affirmations, gentle touch, and all the encouragement that I so desperately needed to keep pushing forward. She was aware of my birth preferences and constantly questioned next steps provided by my midwives and reassured with me to make sure I was okay with everything. She was super aware and constantly encouraged me to move into a more comfortable position. After many hours of pitocin and contractions, I had not progressed much in dilation. I was strongly encouraged to get the epidural as I was showing signs of extreme fatigue and my water broke 27 hours prior so I ran the risk of infection. One hour after the epidural I went from 3 cm to 9 cm dilated and pushed my daughter out in 18 minutes. I can honestly say that without the support of Doula Fiona I am not so sure I would have found the strength to stick to my birth plan and definitely would have not been able to get up and change positions as much as I did which definitely helped progress things along. I would not have changed a single thing about my experience and feel blessed to have had Doula Fiona by my side through it all.