Allie

11/21/2022

Adriana was an absolutely wonderful labor and delivery doula. I was pretty scared of the whole process and she made me feel supported, heard, prepared, and calm throughout the entire experience, and she served as an excellent advocate at the hospital. If I ever do have another baby, I'll make sure she's right by my side again. :) 

Jamie and Matt

7/24/2022

We had just moved to Chicago and this was our first baby, the brief we gave was that we wanted a doula who would be ‘motherly’ and also give it to us straight when needed. Adriana fit this perfectly and was wonderful during the entire process. From meeting, speaking and texting during the pregnancy she was available to answer any questions and concerns we had that made us feel comforted and supported. We found Adriana’s knowledge, experience and expertise so valuable before, during and after birth.

The labour itself was long and challenging and Adriana went above and beyond. She firstly stayed with us for over 26 hours in the hospital until the birth of our little girl. During the labour itself Adriana was a trusted ear and expert helping us to navigate some difficult decisions that we needed to make with a mixture of calmness and clarity of thinking. Our birth plan didn’t go exactly to plan but having Adriana there meant that we could still have the birth we wanted and we consider her a friend and confidant even post birth. Our whole hearted thank you and appreciation to this wonderful woman who helped us welcome our sweet girl into the world, we could not recommend her highly enough.

Jamie and Matt

Lauren Peat

7/21/2022

We were so happy to be matched with Adriana as our post natal doula. Her knowledge is endless and was just so helpful in every way, particularly with any concerns we had and often was able to demonstrate how best to do things e.g. bath our baby, feed with a bottle, swaddle correctly etc. We were also very grateful that Adriana was a lactation specialist, having taken her class beforehand we knew that there was no better person to help support us for the start of our breastfeeding journey. She put our minds at ease with all our questions and made us feel more confident about it all. We can't rate Adriana highly enough, as first time parents she was the perfect doula for us and as a result we feel more confident in our abilities with our newborn baby. 

Nafeesa

7/12/2022

My husband and I chose Adriana after interviewing a few other doulas first and when we met Adriana we immediately knew she was the right fit for us! She was very flexible and supported whatever plan we felt was right for us. She supported us with excellent resources and information throughout my pregnancy and was always there for questions. I had a very difficult 40 hour labor that ended in a c-section and Adriana supported us every step of the way. She was essential in helping me with different positions, breathing techniques and comfort measures. She also provided us with a lot of valuable information during this process. She supported my husband so that he could tap out and take breaks when he needed and he found her presence to be a huge comfort to him. We are extremely glad we chose Adriana and that we had her support during our pregnancy and birth. I recommend her without hesitation to anyone considering a doula!

John Howland

3/18/2022

My wife and I worked with Adriana for our baby born in March 2022. She is extremely knowledgeable and provided both her own perspective as well as a wealth of other resources like books, videos, and websites. During the birth she worked both with us and the hospital staff to create a positive environment that was conducive to our birth plan. Afterwards, she assisted with breast feeding as she is highly qualified and certified in that field.

I would recommend Adriana to anyone who is looking for a knowledgeable resource who has “seen it all”. We tend to ask a lot of questions and Adriana was always able to answer them. Having someone who is an expert in breast feeding was a bonus

kalin N wise

12/16/2021

If you're wondering if you need or want a doula, the answer is yes, you do! I wasn't sure about a doula but I couldn't imagine not having one now. It's essential. Best birthing decision I made was having a doula.now that I've made it clear how essential I found the practice to be, I highly recommend Adrianna as a doula. She was amazing and soooooo helpful. She is very organized and our first several meeting were so informative and she had such excellent ideas. There was so much I didn't know, she was a great educator, an amazing supporter. She identified aspects of labor that concerned me, she assisted with my fears, my misconceptions, she supported the things regarding labor that I hoped for. She was absolutely crucial to the formation of our birth wishes. She guided me and my husband through materials that got us through the last few weeks. We read positive birth stories and made "labor-ade" an amazing and hydrating drink. I cant express how our early meeting helped create a birth wishes  we were all comfortable with and that was supported throughout. She also greatly helped my husband and helped him to help me. She showed hiM physical ways and emotional ways to help which worked beautifully in the moment (many hours of moments). Adriana was an advocate for me while in the hospital and she was so caring and supportive. It was wonderful having her there to assist me and paul (my husband). She also was a great help after the birth. She gave phenomenal recommendations for breast feeding, infant holding, bathing, and infant overall care at our postpartum visit. I highly recommend Adriana and doula services, I'm so grateful to her and her practice. 

Karena

12/13/2021

Adriana was INCREDIBLE! She is an amazing human, compassionate and very knowledgeable doula. We were late in booking a doula but were so grateful we found Adriana about a month before my due date. To have a bilingual and culturally competent doula was something I was really craving and after many agency interviews I was able to find it in Adriana. She dealt with my awesome Spanglish pre and during labor in addition to all of my first pregnancy questions.  She was supportive of my husband's role in labor - educating and supporting both he and I - and helpful in making sure I was doing the right positioning exercises pre-pregnancy and during labor. I credit having a relatively low intense labor to Adriana and highly recommend her to anyone looking for that extra support - especially during these trying COVID times. 

Nesli

11/16/2021

Adriana was great! I could not thank her enough to support me during my labor, she was so motivating and encouraging! She was super helpful with her expertise, I would definitely work with her, and recommend her - thanks again!

Melissa and Matt

11/5/2021

My husband and I highly recommend Adriana. She provided valuable advice at every step of the way, through prenatal and postpartum visits. She was especially great during labor, helping us to navigate chaotic shift dr and nurse shift changes, request a second epidural that actually provided relief, and advocate for ourselves to see the attending physician. 

She provided excellent reading and video resources at every stage, pushed us to think about our birth preferences ahead of time, and encouraged us to develop affirmations and visualizations. All of these things helped inspire confidence in advocating for the type of delivery I wanted, even at times when things weren't going as smoothly as we would have hoped for. 

Adriana was a great addition to our birth story and we are so grateful to have worked with her!

Althea Klein

9/22/2021

Adriana is a highly knowledgeable doula with a warm, reassuring demeanor. She provided us with unconditional support leading up to and throughout the birth of our daughter. We also appreciated that she is fluent in Spanish so that she could adapt easily to the bilingual communication dynamic between my partner and I.  Before the birth, she met with us to learn about our hopes for the birth, to educate us on options, and provide us with strategies to psychologically and physically prepare for the birth. The birth itself did not go as we had anticipated (I ended up opting for an epidural and eventually had to have an unplanned cesarean birth after laboring for 12 hours). Nevertheless, Adriana's presence was very helpful. She was reassuring and supported us through the unexpected twists and turns of our daughter's birth. During the home visit after the birth, she supported us in processing our experience and offered support in figuring out our new parent struggles. We highly recommend Adriana for anyone seeking holistic doula support throughout their birth experience. 

Elizabeth

8/20/2021

Adriana was such an amazing support for me while I was pregnant and during L&D. She helped me visualize a birth plan that was right for me. During active labor, she helped me breathe through contractions and keep me present, while helping to get me in the best positions to help my baby get into the best position for delivery. This was my first baby, so it was amazing to have a familiar face in the hospital. It helped me feel a sense of comfort. She worked so well with my husband to keep me as comfortable as possible. My plan was to go without an epidural, but after pitocin was turned up many times, I eventually decided to get it so I could rest. Adriana was very supportive and helped me to not feel any guilt at all about my decision. That was very important to me to know it was okay to do this for myself and know everything can't always go my way. Overall, I would recommend Adriana! She is very sweet and calming and knowledgeable. I am very glad I chose to have her with me during such an important time in my life!

Kaelee

7/13/2021

I’m so thankful Adriana helped guide me through the first few weeks of postpartum life. She is personable, caring and has extensive knowledge about babies! I was immediately comfortable enough to ask her everything from baby basics to more personal questions. Each time she visited our family she would help with the whole feeding process and then get my newborn to sleep in record time! After that I’d get some much needed alone time to shower and take an uninterrupted nap. I highly recommend her for postpartum doula support!

Ben and Jennifer

7/6/2021

We used Adriana for our first pregnancy.  We wanted someone who could answer questions and serve as a support person as we approached our due date.  Adriana was fantastic.  We had taken prenatal classes, but her in-person visit and tips, as well as on-demand availability for questions provided more comfort as we prepared for our life change.

While the prenatal experience was good, her presence and guidance during the delivery was above and beyond.  She arrived early in the morning and guided us through a long, unusual and tricky delivery.  She kept my wife comfortable, let me know how I could help, and advocated for us with the doctors.

We're very grateful for her throughout our birth experience and would highly recommend Adriana to anyone considering a doula (and those who aren't too!)

Eugenia Schontag

7/5/2021

Adriana was our birth and postpartum doula. She is very knowledgeable, caring, patient, and supportive. It was reassuring to have her with us during the birth of my daughter. She spared no effort to make us feel comfortable and confident. During the six weeks she spent with us at our home she provided great advice on how to take care of our baby, and also made sure that we were taking care of ourselves. We had amazing conversations and learned a lot from her.  Our time together was really special and she has truly become part of our family. I cannot recommend Adriana enough.

CV

6/2/2021

As a first time mom, I had my hopes set on an unmedicated delivery, but knew I would need some support to accomplish that goal. Adriana was a fabulous support leading up to and during birth. She checked in with us in the weeks leading up to my due date, and was available for any questions we had. When it was time to have the baby, Adriana was a calming and knowledgeable presence. She followed my lead, and coached my partner to be a better support during labor. Adriana helped amplify our wishes during labor, making sure hospital staff understood what we were asking for. After delivery, she stayed and made sure baby got a good latch for the first feeding.

Adriana was so helpful in figuring out my birth plan, and ultimately in having the unmedicated birth I hoped for! Would love to have her support for future births.

Natalia

5/29/2021

I’m not from the states and didn’t know what to expect from birthing in an American hospital. It was vital for me to have a doula that would help me go to the hospital feeling confident and well prepared.

I was so afraid of contractions, labor and delivery. I was looking to get a natural unmedicated birth, so I’d need somebody to ease the pain.

Though when my contractions started I wasn’t sure it was them. I was calling my midwife and then Adriana to ask how do I know that I’m going into labor? By the time I was figuring that out the true painful labor had started, and I had to go to the hospital. I wish I called Adriana sooner because I took an epidural before she arrived.

She helped me nap for 2 hours with a peanut pillow and I opened up while sleeping. In the pushing stage I felt confident to follow her suggestions for different positions and it took me another 2 hours before I met my baby girl.

My overall birthing experience was great, I felt taken care of and relaxed. I can't wait to give birth to more babies! Thank you, Adriana, for your knowledge, kind heart, and excellent material before birth: exercises and labor positions.

Chris & Dana

1/26/2021

Adriana was a wonderful addition to our pregnancy support & birth team! Her kind, heartwarming attitude and expertise brought a positive & peaceful energy to our experience and we absolutely recommend her to anyone seeking a doula. My husband and I were hoping for an unmedicated labor & delivery and were very fortunate to have the experience we wanted. We were seeking to assemble a team of trustworthy people to support us in this process and advocate for our wishes, and Adriana was the perfect addition to our team. As a pregnant woman, I was nervous about giving birth and Adriana was always available to speak with me when I had concerns or any questions. In addition to providing a calm, motherly and spiritual energy, she also provided reassurance and education about the birth process. She met with us a few times before the birth of our son to discuss birth wishes, advice for a smooth pregnancy, and spiritual & physical preparation for birth. My husband and I felt very prepared going into labor as a result of Adriana's support and I felt empowered to have the unmedicated birth experience I hoped for. I arrived to the hospital at 9cm dialated after a quick labor at home. I attribute this progress in large part to the support I received from Adriana because I entered labor relaxed and with the attitude that my body was designed to birth my son. During birth, Adriana was there for us as a support and extra set of eyes ensuring our birth wishes were respected by hospital staff. She was familiar with the policies at Swedish Covanent and worked effectively with the midwives there. She also provided natural pain relief methods such as massage and a cool rag with pepermint oil on my forehead during the pushing stage. Immediately after the birth of our son, she helped with breastfeeding and visited our home a week after the birth for a postpartum checkin. We highly recommend Adrina to anyone seeking a trustworthy and experienced doula!

Kimberly

12/14/2020

Adriana was amazing. She was supportive, encouraging, and helped us navigate the complex maze inside of the delivery room. We loved working with her!

Jess & Peter Dillon

12/9/2020

If you are considering getting a birth and/or postpartum doula, look no further than Adriana, she will take all the stress out of the journey so you can just enjoy this incredible life moment! Having our first child was incredibly exciting and equally daunting but all our worries and concerns were eased by having Adriana’s amazing support throughout the experience. We wouldn’t have gotten through it without her and she’s worth her weight in gold! Her wealth of experience and knowledge about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and caring for newborns is incredible. She eased all our stress and worry about the labour, birth and those early months of caring for a newborn. She genuinely cared for our son and looked forward to seeing him which was heart warming. She took such great care of him while we caught up on some much needed sleep which is the best gift anyone can give new parents! She not only took care of him but she took care of us and helped us understand his cues and needs better so we could be the best parents possible. She taught us so much without any judgement which made us feel so comfortable to ask her anything and she would always offer solutions from her wealth of experience and encourage us to trust our parental instincts which helped us build our confidence as new parents. Classes and parenting books are great and important to take / read but they don’t come close to the support you’ll get from Adriana. Highly, highly recommend having her be apart of your birth and postpartum experience!

Josh & Ashley

11/18/2020

We are so grateful we had Adriana by our side, in labor and afterwards.

Our baby decided to arrive a little early (~2 weeks), but Adriana was ready to go right when we called her. She coached us through laboring at home, and she met us at the hospital at the same time we arrived. The next few hours (of labor and delivery) were a blur, but it was amazing having Adriana there to help guide breathing, body movements and other tips and tricks. Beyond having another pair of helping hands (so Dad could go to the bathroom), it was great to watch Adriana react to what was going on and help us progress through the process. Once our baby was delivered, Adriana stuck around until we were comfortable with breastfeeding and holding the baby, and she made herself available for any questions we had later on.

We also used Adriana for some postpartum support in the first and second week of our baby's life. She continued to share her wisdom and teach us how to do things, from swaddling better to bathing the baby. She also is willing to help do other stuff around the house (e.g., dishes) so Mom and Dad can rest or do whatever!

Thanks again, Adriana!

Dana Binder

4/3/2020

Adriana took care of our son a few days after he was born and also during the past few weeks. Adriana had an immediate connection with him and you could tell she enjoys taking care of him and really loves him. She took such a good care of him we felt secure leaving her with him alone. Adriana has lots of experience, knowledge and relevant education on sleeping habits, breastfeeding, birth proccess etc. which makes her a perfect match for new parents like us. She is confident and knows what she is doing, but very calm, relaxed and pleasant at the same time. Every time Adriana came to our house she also gave us many useful tips and left behind some sord of magic that kept baby calm and happy. We had to stop seeing Adriana due to COVID-19 situation and hope to see her again soon. We highly reccomend Adriana, she is fantastic.  

Andrea

12/28/2019

Having Adriana as our doula was one of the best decisions we could have made. Thanks to her, we had the childbirth experience that we were hoping for. She met us at home and as soon as she arrived she comforted me and helped me work through each contraction. Not only did she help me, but also my husband by never leaving my side while he had to focus on other things like parking the car at the hospital or getting everything ready to leave. Thanks to her support and knowledge, I felt safe during delivery and had a great childbirth experience that I will always remember. I highly recommend having Adriana as a doula for your family.

J. Wu

12/22/2019

Adriana was part of our wonderful support system through the pre- and post- labor periods. She was part of a doula team, and her counterpart was on call for the actual birth, but I loved knowing that Adriana would be there as our safety net. She's calm, knowledgable, and understanding, always checking in and available. Her calm and experience was a large part of our choosing these particular doula services. I would definitely recommend choosing her to be part of your birth team!

Patricia Marechal

11/28/2019

Doula Adriana was absolutely amazing! She was always available when we needed her before and after the birth, and she was extremely patient and supportive. She answered every question we had, and was able to help us when our midwives didn't have useful advice. She met with us before the birth to answer questions and gave us tips for the birth and lactation. She taught us many technics for labor, which gave me confidence and made me feel secure. During the delivery, I felt safe thanks to the presence of Adriana. When the time came, Adriana came right when I needed her. She labored with me, and I can honestly say that the best and most memorable time of my labor was working through the contractions with Adriana's aid: she guided my breathing and motions so that I could cope with the contractions and have the birth that I wanted. She used massages, visualizations, breathing exercises, postures, and motions. I wouldn't have been able to labor without pain medications (my preferred choice) without her. She was always respectful of my choices, and supported me when me and my partner made our decisions. She also supported our requests for time, and encouraged us to follow our needs and not be pushed or pressured by the medical staff. During the pushing phase, she was right there encouraging me and making sure I was OK. I am forever grateful to Adriana. After the delivery, she visited us and helped me with lactation -- she knows everything about lactation and baby care. And she answered questions we had about the baby, heping us feel confident in our parenting skills and orienting us when we felt at sea. Choosing her as our doula was the best decision we made in this wonderful journey. I can't recommend doula Adriana enough. She is a wonderful person, she is extremely knnowledgeable, and she is sweet and caring. 

Adriana Gutierrez

11/7/2019

Working with Adriana Liwsky was a fantastic decision; I would highly recommend her! She expertly and gently helped my husband and I construct a list of "birth wishes" for the delivery and postpartum period. Her calm, confident presence is resonated with me from the moment we met, and is precisely the energy that helped us navigate childbirth. She helped me cope with unmedicated labor for hours. When the doctor recognized that my baby was no longer tolerating the contractions, Adriana was a voice of reason and reassurance while we navigated the decision-making process to try an epidural, and ultimately to have a c-section. As I recovered from surgery, she assisted my husband in achieving skin-to-skin until I was ready to hold/feed the baby myself. She stayed with us while we settled into the recovery phase, and was so warm and encouraging throughout the entire experience. She was an excellent resource throughout my pregnancy, her postnatal visit was lovely, and we hope to keep in touch and attend some of her classes in the future. She met and exceeded all expectations. 

Kim Sernel

9/20/2019

Adriana came to our family in Sept 2018. My pregnancy included a sub-chorionic hematoma and a chronic placental abruption. I went into labor and gave birth at 30 weeks via a life-saving c-section and began our daughter’s 53-day stay in the NICU. Myself and my husband Chris were exhausted and overwhelmed after a difficult year. Adriana was vital in helping us rediscover our sanity and set up our new normal with our preemie Ayla and our 2-year-old Avalyn.

Adriana was an extension of myself. She helped with all aspects of household and baby, from laundry, to feeding, from cleaning, to bathing, from organizing, to soothing (both baby and me!). She was amazingly comfortable with our teeny tiny little girl. Ayla was barely 5 pounds when she came home, but Adriana handled her with confidence and quality care.

As Ayla grew, Adriana worked with her to help her achieve milestones. She gave suggestions on how to reposition her for sleeping to help with her slightly flatten head. She used infant massage to stimulate digestion and relieve discomfort due to dairy and soy allergies. She supported me in my journey to breastfeed, which is 1,000x more complex to establish after a long NICU stay. She made Ayla’s health and safety her priority. Adriana became a part of our family and gave me confidence as a mom of 2. Her words of encouragement and comfort during trying days kept me going.

Adriana was with us for 10 months. She loves our Ayla and has said so. But what is special is that she also came to love Ayla’s big sister Avalyn. When my girls see Adriana, they light up and get great big hugs and kisses. There is nothing that warms a heart more than seeing people love on your kids. Adriana is always going to be a part of our family and I intend to keep her involved in our kids lives for as long as she will allow. We love her and are forever grateful for the time we had with her. She helped bring us back to life. Thank you, Adriana

Nina werner

9/17/2019

Adriana was an amazing doula for me semd my husband who helped us have the birth wer wanted for us and our baby.  

Adriana was calm and supportive of ot birth wishes,  and brought tons of knowledge and coping methods to the table when we felt overwhelmed. She helped us to  ask questions in the moment so that we felt empowered and in control.  

Adriana was also a huge support to us with being able to call and ask her questions leading up to birth and after delivery. 

Having Adriana as our teammate made the birth experience si intimate and special.  I highly recommend her foot anyone wanting support.

Andrea H

8/27/2019

My husband and I hired Adriana as our doula for labor, because we were planning for a natural birth. Adriana came to our home to meet with us before my scheduled due date to help us make a plan for the birth, and as my delivery date approached she was great about sending a ton of useful information related to our baby, such as questions to ask potential pediatricians, and even a recipe for a homemade electrolyte drink for labor (which I did make and drink). When I found out my baby was breech weeks before his due date, Adriana sent me ideas for helping to turn him, and even offered to come to my home to help with some of the exercises. When I did go into labor at home, Adriana checked on me constantly, and was helpful in advising me on when to go to the hospital when I could not see a steady pattern in my contractions. When I arrived at the hospital I was nearly fully dilated.

I ended up needing to deliver by C-section, and Adriana was there with my husband and me every step of the way during the rest of my labor, and as we worked with the medical staff to make decisions about how to proceed with the birth. Adriana also acted as a calming presence for my husband as I was prepped for a surgery that we both had been hoping to avoid. After the baby was born, Adriana ensured that I was able to nurse my baby as soon as possible. She also checks in with me even after our birth, even beyond her home visit the week after I was released from the hospital. My husband and I found Adriana invaluable to our birth experience, and we recommend her without reserve.

Lisa Kamino

8/16/2019

Adriana was our postpartum doula when my son was 2-3 months old to help me while I prepared for an out-of-state move. I was nervous about hiring a doula but she immediately put my mind at ease with her calm demenor, professionalism and knowledge. Prior to Adriana, I had an extremely difficult time getting my son to take naps during the day and she helped me with getting him into a routine. She was very kind and engaging with my son and I felt very comfortable with having her watch my son while I was at an appointment, even after her first day with us. She was always very punctual, reliable and hard-working. I also enjoyed chatting with her and learning new skills from her that helped me feel more confident as a first-time mom. I really appreciate all the help she provided for us and we miss her now that we have moved away. 

Nathan

7/4/2019

Adriana was a key member of our birth team and I highly recommend her services to other soon-to-be parents. She visited us in our home about 6 weeks before our due date where we discussed different exercises we could be doing as well as things to consider when putting together our birth plan. She was very knowledgable and gave us good information to be used when making decisions.

On the day that we went into labor, Adriana was very supportive while we labored at home and met us at the hospital in the middle of the night when we were admitted. Having Adriana there was incredibly helpful and reassuring. As a first time father, seeing my partner in pain and not knowing what to do when the nurses weren't in the room was very overwhelming. However, Adriana was able to be our advocate and support person throughout the night. She knew exactly what to ask for in terms of room lighting, birth ball, extra pillows, blankets and other things that I wouldn't have even know to ask for. She was able to massage my partner and help her through the painful contracts, making them more bearable. She stayed with us for the entire 12 hours we were in the hospital and was a calming presence throughout.

Adriana visited us at our home about a week after the birth of our beautiful daughter. As a first time parent, it was hard to anticipate the amount of questions we would have even after just a week of being home with our infant. This postpartum visit was very valuable as Adriana was able to put many of our concerns at ease and gave us useful information about caring for our newborn.

If you are pregnant with your first child, I recommend and encourage you to reach out to Adriana and meet her in person. She was a wonderful guide for my partner and I and I am confident she can help you as well. 

Nicole Colegrove

7/1/2019

Adriana is compassionate, gentle, knowledgeable and competent to provide inputs into difficult decisions. There are four main moments that stand out in my mind that exemplify the critical support that Adriana provided me throughout my pregnancy and delivery.  First is the concrete information and ideas that she provided ahead of time including recipes, a hospital packing list, a checklist of things to think through to manage pain, amongst many other items she shared in a visit in our home about a month in advance of my due date. The concrete, actionable advices were perfect. Second, due to some complications, my midwives were suggesting an early induction. In discussing with Adriana, I always felt the decision was mine to make, but that she was key to helping me focus on my instinct and remind me to listen to my body. She was a very important resource to talk to in the throes of a fairly stressful moment. Third, at the hospital, once I was induced, it seemed as though my labor was going to pick up quickly. So she joined us at the hospital. However, labor didn't pick up and it would be hours before anything really started to happen. Adriana intuited that it might be helpful for her to step away for some hours and come back when things got going. Her manor of communicating this suggestion made us feel supported yet still in control. Her intuition was perfect as it would be another 10 hours before active labor started. Finally, most critically, Adriana provided two key suggestions (amongst many) during the worst part of labor that helped me endure contractions. Although we had talked about these strategies beforehand, in the moment I was not thinking about them. And in just the right moment, Adriana introduced a breathing technique and later a rhythm technique that were game changers. She was a constant source of support, keeping me focused on those two techniques and before I knew it, I was pushing a baby out! 

Pamela

5/15/2019

Adriana was such a godsend! She graciously and calmly supported my husband and I throughout my last trimester of pregnancy, labor and deliver and the first few weeks home with our little one, who was born in Feburary 2019.

I was very very anxious about labor and delivery and especially my ability to manage the pain effectively. I knew that I would ultimately want an epidural, but I wanted to delay getting one as long as possible to maintain movement and to avoid being stuck in bed for 20+ hours (we've all heard of those stories). Leading up to my due date, Adriana helped instill confidence to trust my body and equipped me with techniques to manage labor when the time came. Her tip to use comedy and laughter while in labor was the most helpful and I was able to do alot of my pre-labor and a good portion of active labor at home.

While at the hospital Adirana was such a great soothing presence. Her calming massage techniques, ues of aromatherapy and moral support for my husband was incredible. She was also very good at suggesting at other positions when it came time to push and I was super thankful to have a strong, yet gentle, advocate in the room to help provide a sounding board.

After the baby was born, Adriana helped ensure I had proper latch with my little one. She also came for a house visit shortly after we returned home and she was super helpful in providing suggestions for breastfeeding and how to cope with our new reality as parents. Her postiive encouragement was very helpful in our initial sleep-deprived state and helped us get through the steep learning curve of new parents. We are very thankful to have her by our side and would highly recommend her.

Dana

4/30/2019

Adriana helped my husband and I in the delivery of our daughter in April 2019. We had an excellent experience with her from start to finish. She is incredibly warm, caring, calm and informative. She shared with us helpful knowledge for pre/post natal and suggested educational courses that we found incredibly useful. From the beginning of labor, Adriana checked in with me periodically. As I progressed, she then met me at the hospital and provided pain management techniques, kept my husband, stood by my side the entire time and ensured that the nurses and doctors we're following my birth plan. After 4 hours of active labor and pushing, my baby was born and Adriana quickly helped her latch on. My baby has been great during feedings ever since then! Im certain that our delivery would not have gone as smoothly without her support and suggestions. She is truly a blessing and I highly recommend her

Kate

3/6/2019

Adriana helped in the delivery of our son in January 2019 and my husband and I had a wonderful experience with her. From the first time we met her, we were struck by her calm, caring demeanor. I experienced some anxiety and uncertainty at times during my pregnancy and Adriana was remarkable in her ability to help me address and overcome these anxieties, while not trivializing them. 

During labor, Adriana’s  pain management techniques were a huge help. She provided several hours of counter-pressure to my low back, which I know must have been tiring for her but I don’t know how I would’ve managed an unmedicated delivery without that. She was empathetic, supportive and her calm demeanor helped me stay calm during a trying delivery consisting of 4 plus hours of pushing. I have no doubts her presence helped me persevere through my son’s labor and delivery, sticking to my original wishes for an unmedicated delivery. She is a kind, professional and empathetic person and I would recommend her to anyone looking for additional support during their labor and delivery, as well as during pregnancy and post-partum.

Caroline Kulma

2/27/2019

 
I had the pleasure of having Adrianna's support for postpartum care when I had my son in the fall.  She started support immediately once I got home from the hospital and for 8 weeks following.  Adrianna is probably one of the most comforting, patient, empathetic and compassionate people I've ever met.  I always felt a calmness over myself (and my family!) when Adrianna walked in the door.  She was extremely knowledgable about being a doula, and showed great love for what she does.  Adrianna was just wonderful with my son and always figured out a way to comfort him.  She was exceptionally helpful to me with nursing and was very encouraging, as it was something very important to me.  Adrianna was so sweet with my four year old daughter, and was always making sure she and I were also taken well care of.  She was very hands on with anything we needed done around the house.  Adrianna would go out of her way to come support me last minute as well.  She would make sure she was there for me as much as I needed her! Adrianna was always prompt, as well as, communicative and supportive even outside of the time she was at our home.  I would highly recommend Adrianna to anyone looking for a doula for any of the support services they offer.  I am incredibly grateful to have had Adrianna be there for me during my postpartum.  Adrianna and I have stayed in touch and continued our friendship

Jastine Dumlao

1/28/2019

My husband and I found Adriana on Doula match less than 2 weeks before our EDD. When we met Adriana for our initial consult, we knew instantly she was the right fit for our needs. We decided to hire Adriana because she is not only knowledgeable and experienced, but she also has an extremely calming and warm demeanor. She is down to earth, respectful, cultured and well traveled which made her so easy to connect with.

We had a natural birth, and Adriana helped us create a plan for our birth wishes. We learned a lot from the prenatal visit, especially approaches for pain relieving positions during early/active labor. When labor began, we did not call her in right away, but she was quick to respond to all our calls/texts. At the hospital, Adriana was able to keep my husband calm, kept me strong and motivated with her soothing voice/mantras, and guided me through the first breast feeding.

We are so glad we hired Adriana. When we are ready for another one, we won't hesitate to hire her again.

Jaspreet Thiara

11/27/2018

Adriana was an amazing birth doula - she helped me to have a natural birth by providing several different pain coping techniques and strong emotional support during th entire process.  There were some unexpected events during my delivery and Adriana gave me helpful advice to navigate the process with my providers.  Adriana is a good listener, open-minded, and supportive.  I am so grateful she was there for the birth of my baby girl.  Adriana was also an excellent post-partum doula - she was always eager to help, gave me great advice for caring for my newborn, and did a wonderful job in caring for her.  I highly reccomend Adriana!

Kristina Bothfeld

9/5/2018

Adriana is an amazing doula! From the very beginning, she was extremely responsive to all of my questions and concerns. She came to the house for a prepartum visit to discuss birth wishes which was very helpful to get everyone - me, my husband and her - on the same page. On the day that I went into active labor, she came to my home before we went to the hospital and helped me with my breathing and positioning during contractions, and also had me do different moves to get the baby in the right position. Before she arrived, my morale was pretty low and I was ready to get to the hospital immediately. Instead, when she arrived, my mood changed. I became much more relaxed and had a much more positive outlook. We ended up staying at my home for 4 more hours so that by the time I arrived at the hospital, I was already at 6cm. At the hospital, Adriana was extremely supportive and by my side the entire time. She helped explain what nurses/doctors were saying and gave me her advice before I had to make each decision. She was particularily helpful with pushing and explaining how to push. Pushing only took me 20 minutes! I can honestly say that I could not have done it without Adriana and strongly recommend her as a doula!

Kristen Jeschke

4/23/2018

It was an absolute joy to work with Adriana.  I decided that I wanted to employ a doula after experiencing anxiety surrounding my first pregnancy.  I had previously associated doulas with all natural births.  As such, I had some reservations because I expected to want an epidural/medical interventions.  Adriana was a perfect fit because she fully explained to me the benefits of certain decisions.  More importantly, she armed me with the tools to make informed decisions about all options I confronted.  She also empowered me to trust my intuition.  Adriana's skills peaked during my labor.  I cannot imagine undergoing labor without her assistance.  Under her guidance and massage, we moved around as labor progressed.  Adriana carefully monitored my progress and fully supported all of my decisions.  It felt incredibly comforting to have an advocate in the delivery room with me. i also found it helpful to have an objective "coach" in the room with my husband and mother.  I found labor less intimidating (and more magical) in her presence, and I highly recommend Adriana's services.

Allison Melch

3/23/2018

My husband and I met Adriana as our childbirth educator. From the start we noticed that she was knowledgeable, experienced, and had a incredibly calming energy about her.

Initially we had no idea we even wanted a doula, but this was our first child and we had no family nearby who could have supported us through our pregnancy and childbirth. Moreover, we were started to consider that maybe we didn't want family present during the birth and that an objective third party would be helpful. After some discussion about our expectations and how to best meet our delivery wishes for a natural birth, we decided to approach Adriana about her doula services.

Prior to the birth she made herself available and was very flexible with meetings and communication. She always listened to us and provided good advice.

The actual day of baby's arrival was a confusing one. Already when my contractions began they were less than 5 minutes apart, so we were never able to tell when we truly needed to go to the hospital. After 3 or 4 hours we decided it was time to call Adriana. She was at our house within the hour. At a certain point she made the recommendation to go to the hospital. We went. Despite having contractions at 1 minute apart, I hadn't even begun to dialate! However, being at the hospital was the right call. What started out as a natural childbirth wound up including an epidural and a pitocin drip, the latter of which we never even got to because I was rushed to the OR for an emergency C-section. Looking back, we went through every possible childbirth scenario in a matter of 12 hours!

Adriana's presence made us feel as confident as we could be during those scary and uncertain stages of labor and delivery. We had many important decisions to make on that day and had any of them been different, our son might not have been here with us. We are thankful she was there to support us and would absolutely recommend her services.

Megan Northcutt

10/31/2017

I enjoyed working with Adriana tremendously.  She tried some massage techniques with me to help relieve pain that were very helpful.  Without her, I'm sure I would have gotten an epidural at just 3cm.  But she helped me get to 6.5cm before getting the epidural which really helped my labor move along faster once the epidural was in.  I would definitely use her again and I have already recommended her to some friends.

Gena Bezdek

10/24/2017

We had a wonderful experience working with Adriana. We loved that she had massage therapy experience and fit the persona of the individual we had dreamed of - someone older than we, with children (and in her case a grandchild) of her own, who was calm and didn't have a strict philosophy about how a birth should go but instead was there to support our individual decisions. In my case, my philosophy was to do things "as naturally as possible for as long as possible."

When I went into labor three weeks ahead of my due date, we immediately called Adriana. She listened carefully as I described my contractions and she calmly explained that it looked like we were going to have a baby that day! My preference was to labor at home for a while and Adriana offered to come to our house. When contractions sped up quickly, we re-routed her to the hospital where she played a huge role in keeping me calm and massaged me as we waited in the waiting room for triage. Throughout the next two hours of unmedicated labor, I was so relieved that Adriana was there. I felt no shame at all in making crazy sounds and she encouraged me to get in different positions that felt best. Her massage skills were a huge aid as my lower back pain increased. Her ability to help guide my husband was also really appreciated.

I ultimately ended up having a somewhat emergency forceps delivery in which my midwife, my husband, and Adriana had to step back and let the OB do her work. Adriana's grace in this moment was also something to appreciate. She understood when to be right beside me and when it was necessary to let others take the lead.

Having the chance to have Adriana hold my daughter and debrief the experience with her in her follow up visit to our house is one of my favorite memories of those first couple weeks. We are so grateful for the chance to have her be part of that day with us.

Katie Mesha

9/15/2017

Adriana was a wonderful and supportive doula. From the moment we met her, she had a calming presence. It's like having a wedding coordinator for your birth. She helps with your birth plan, knows your wishes and desires, and helped to facilitate my birth to go as smoothly as possible. Her back and arm massages provided so much relief! She had cold washcloths, essential oils - she was so prepared. Adriana also helped to give my husband a break which was greatly appreciated. I arrived at the hospital at 1:30am on a Friday night and Adriana was there right away. She was a key part of me having unmedicated birth, and for that, I am so thankful. I loved how experienced she is and her soothing energy. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Just to add - my midwife LOVED Adriana and she has worked with a lot of different doulas.

Joanna Lind

2/13/2017

Adriana introduced herself to me at the end of my pregnancy. We'd been deciding whether or not to get a doula, and not only are we glad we did, we are very luck to have had Adriana and cannot recommend her highly enough!

She drove to our apartment for a consultation, and we knew right away that she was a great fit for us. I wish we'd hired her sooner - I didn't know she would have helpful information to give us during my pregnancy. A week before my due date, we met again to go over my "birth wish list," discuss options, and make a list of questions to ask my doctor.

I had an intense labor, and from the moment Adriana met us at the hospital, it changed everything. She was able to help me relax, breathe, and advocate for me with the hospital staff. She was as big a help to my husband who had a hard time seeing me in that state. He did his best, and Adriana helped guide him in his support role.

When I didn't want to be touched, Adriana had me squeeze her hand and talked me through my contractions. She recommended different positions that would be more comfortable and help things progress. She made sure I had water and lip balm when needed and encouraged me throughout. After the baby came, she stayed with me while my husband went with the baby and nurse. She stayed with us through the first feeding to make sure the baby latched well and I was settled. Her calming presence really made all the difference.

A couple weeks afterward, she came to our place again to make sure things were going well at home, process the experience of labor and delivery, and answer questions that came up about having a newborn. We also texted and had several phone calls in the first few weeks when issues arose. She was caring and awesome at each step.

Adriana is a natural - she has truly found her calling. Our advice is to contact and meet with her even if you're not sure you want a doula. We bet you'll decide you want her with you on your big day!

ANA CAMILA JOHNSON

8/21/2015

We met Adriana in a class she was teaching for pregnant mothers. To be honest, the first time I heard the word Doula was in that class. After a few weeks of class, my husband and I decided that we should hire Adrianna to act as our Doula during my labor. I thought she would be of great benefit to assist in all methods of message/relaxation during labor. I also thought she would be another set of eyes to ensure that I could deliver my baby the way we described in our birthing plan. My husband believed that even if the Doula did one thing of benefit during the pregnancy it would be worthwhile. We both underestimated Adriana and the benefit she provided. Her home consulting prior to our birth gave both my husband and I great comfort. We were able to ask all the questions that were on our minds. During the birth, she was simply amazing. She stood by my side for 12 hours and helped so much. She was helping me to breath and the back messages were so helpful. Her encouragement, determination, and positive energy kept me going through all the tough contractions. Looking back, I could not imagine doing it again without her help. My husband was so grateful, as he was exhausted from just standing and trying to support as best he could. But there were hours where only Adriana could help in making me breath correctly and helping me to relax. Both my husband and I are so thankful for Adriana, and I recommend her without any reservations. You don't realize that even though we had an excellent midwife and two nurses supporting us, it was the doula's role that helped make the entire process complete. Thanks again Adriana - you are a wonderful person and doula!

Dan and Jessica Dye

5/31/2012

Bonnie Pearce

12/13/2011

It was my depest desire to have a natural birth, after a complicated and medicated delivery with my first child. I knew that part of why my first labor was so difficult was that I lacked support. Upon finding out that I was pregnant with my second child I knew that I wanted to have a doula. It was the best decision I could have made for myself and my child. From the moment Adriana arrived at the hospital a wave of relief came over my husband and myself. The entire atmosphere changed with her presence, I was at ease and felt like now we can get started and have this baby. Adriana was able to help me relax and change my breathing patterns to help ease pain and speed labor. My labor was a fifth the legnth of the previous, pushing went quickly and easily and the pain was more managable. The difference between this birth experience and my previous is incomparable. The first was a little traumatic for our family, but the birth with Adriana was a truly rewarding experience.

Jennie Andresen

11/17/2011

While my birth experience was not what I had planned/hoped for as I ended up with a scheduled c-section due to breech presentation instead of the natural birth I had hoped for, Adriana was still a big help throughout the process.  She was very supportive when I found out my daughter was breech and wanted to try to turn her and also when at 32 weeks I decided I wanted to switch medical practices.  She not only used her knowledge from her experience and training but also completed research and spoke with contacts to make sure she was supporting me in every way that she could.  It was a trying time facing that I was likely not going to have the birth experience I had planned but with Adriana's support I was able to come to a sense of peace about any outcome and know that my daughter was born the way that she was meant to be and for that reason it was still magical.  I know that she really cared about me and my family and supporting us in this wonderful time.