Donna Joy Estes

2/5/2023

Cristina was everything we needed. She helped us prepare not only for labor, but for the days after as well. She supported me and pointed me in the right direction when I felt midway through that I wanted to change from and OB to a midwife. She provided an amazing binder full of resources that empowered me to make decisions about the baby's care after birth. She also gave us a book about building our nest which put me on to the fact you can have in home pediatrician visits and helped us find one. We officially met 3 times before giving birth but she was always available to chat with me whenever questions came up. I felt really empowered, knowledgeable, and super supported going in to labor. I got to the hospital only 30 minutes before I had my baby. We beat Cristina there by a few minutes. There was a distinct change when Cristina entered the room. She brought with her a calm yet strong knowing presence. When she stepped in to give labor support I could tell an immediate difference. She knew exactly where and what pressure to apply to help with the opening of the birth canal and it was no time before I was pushing. With our permission she took video and pictures during the birth and I can't tell you how much I have loved those! And then she had touch points with me postpartum where again she was an amazing support and resource. She even made my sweet boy a blanket as a gift which he uses daily. I really can't say enough great things about Cristina. She has a kind and gentle spirit. She is super super knowledgeable. One of the things I loved so much about her was she is a great listener and she never pushes her agenda but rather listens to the desires of your heart and does all she can to support those. She is wonderful!

Jocelyn Ritcheson

1/4/2023

We loved working with Cristina, from the prenatal preparation meetings to the postnatal check-ups and most importantly our birth experience. Our baby came 10 days late, and we had a very unexpected change in our birthing preferences, Cristina was not only incredibly supportive, but she was also helpful to our midwife and stayed with us until we were settled post-birth. Our birth experience was long and very stressful at times, but having Cristina there made a big difference in our overall well-being. 

Sara

10/16/2022

Cristina provided absolutely wonderful virtual and in-person support during my pregnancy, in the hospital and several weeks after birth. Cristina has a very calm and comforting presence and helped with everything from anxieties and questions during pregnancy, to breastfeeding support in the hospital and home visits once we were home and settled. She was available via text or email if I had important questions. She provided us with a binder full of very helpful handouts and resources that we found incredibly informative. Cristina was also able to connect us with other healthcare providers, such as a lactation consultant when additional help was needed with breastfeeding. Cristina was exactly the person I needed during this pregnancy and we are very grateful for her support. 

Christina

10/13/2022

I was a scared first time mom worried about labor and delivery and all that comes after. Cristina put my fears to rest! She equipped  my husband and I with all the tools and resources needed. My goal was to deliver as naturally as possible and feel confident in doing so. She helped make that possible. I felt great knowing I had a trusted support person in my corner who knew exactly what I did and didn't want. 

Cristina was quick to respond to any call/text when I had questions. She also met us at the hospital at 3am when I was in labor and stayed for a bit after I delivered. 

I especially loved how calm and positive she was the whole time! I highly recommend her!

Ashley Jordan

10/12/2022

Cristina was a wonderful doula to work with! She provided all the resources we needed throughout pregnancy so both my partner and I were informed and prepared. I felt so much more confident for the birth of our first child, and for breastfeeding/postpartum. She answered any questions I had, and presented options (things the hospital left out) so we could make our own decisions. She was supportive through it all. She was there during labor and for delivery, with a calming presence when things didn’t go as planned. She also took pictures during delivery that are precious to me. After, she would check in regularly to see how we were doing postpartum and answered questions I had about breastfeeding. I would recommend Cristina without hesitation!

Beth

8/10/2022

Cristina was wonderful and made me feel confident and ready for labor and delivery. After having a tumultuous delivery with my first child, I worked with Cristina when I got pregnant with my second child and she helped me navigate pregnancy and prepare for labor/delivery. She was so responsive throughout pregnancy and her classes helped me get a sense of what was to come. She had great suggestions for questions to ask my doctors and helped me prepare for a variety of scenarios that could arise during childbirth. She was ready at 1am when I went into labor and we utilized the exercises we practiced with Cristina during labor. The birth of my second child was so much smoother and my recovery was so much easier because of her help. Lastly, she was very supportive after birth, came by to visit and check on us, and provided lactation support. 10/10, I would recommend Cristina to anyone!

Margarita

7/19/2022

Cristina was absolutely amazing throughout my whole pregnancy. This was my husband's and my first child and we had very limited knowledge of the pregnancy journey, labor and delivery, recovery, and postpartum. Cristina was extremely supportive for the entire experience. I valued her deep knowledge and the resources she gave us. During labor, she was a huge anchor for both my husband and me. I also appreciated that she asked questions to help us think about all aspects of labor in addition to postpartum. You will not be disappointed with Cristina. We highly recommend her, especially as a new parent.

Katherine Tiarsmith

5/11/2022

We had a wonderful experience working with Cristina for the birth of our second child. From our first phone consultation, her calm, warm, personality put me at ease. I really appreciated how she listened and followed our lead, amplifying our birth wishes and validating our concerns, while helping us mentally prepare that this birth experience might look very different than our first. Before birth, she provided us with helpful resources - a research-based info packet, simple techniques I put into use for coping with pain during labor, even lending us a birthing ball. When I started laboring at home, she was supportive and followed our lead when we wanted to go to the hospital. Once she joined us at the hospital, I felt immediately more comfortable in our surroundings because of her encouragement, her touches to make the space more relaxing, and her experience with the facility and providers. She was just a wonderful advocate, able to ask for things we wouldn't know to ask for (warm blankets!) and helping us talk through care recommendations and suggest questions for us to ask when challenges arose. During late labor and delivery, she was the quiet voice I needed reminding me of my strength and capability. Postpartum, she checked in on us numerous times via text and home visits. I really appreciated that she showed concern for how our whole family was adjusting, and was someone I could talk to about parenting in general. She made us feel that she was a resource even once the official postpartum visits were concluded. 

Carley Dreybus

5/8/2022

It was such a gift to have Cristina as a part of my birth and pregnancy! Even during our initial interview/consultation she made a recommendation as I was in the process of switching providers that was a true game changer for my wellbeing during pregnancy. The helpful advice, resouces, and support she gave me and my husband was invaluable. She helped both of us feel much more confident in our decisions and abilities. I truly do not think I would be able to look back on my pregnancy and birth with the same joy if it wasn't for Cristina's guidance and support. At our birth she was calm, cool and comforting to us both. We both agree it was well worth the money we spent and would do it with another pregnancy no questions asked! Even with some things deviating from my "plan" I am so pleased with our birth experience and am so thankful for everything Cristina offered us. I would reccomend her to my closest family and friends! Thank you, Cristina! 

Abby Outlaw

3/1/2022

Cristina came highly recommended to me from several friends in the birth community as a fabulous doula. We hit it off right from the start and knew she would be a perfect match for us. We had three sessions before Elizabeth's birth where we discussed how to create a birth plan, pain management methods, the birthing process, my partner's role, and postpartum and breast feeding support. Our goal was to have a non-medicated vaginal birth, however that was not in the cards. We found out Elizabeth was breech at 36 weeks. Cristina was incredibly supportive and sent all of her resources on the subject. Her knowledge led me to several different avenues to try to flip Elizabeth. Unfortunately, she was stubborn from the start and would not flip despite trying acupuncture, chiropractic care, Moxibustion, and a failed ECV. Cristina helped prepare us as we pivoted toward a planned cesarean section. Her compassion and expertise were comforting and affirming when I was experiencing severe anxiety in advance of the procedure. She waited with us before the C-section, took pictures of Elizabeth's birth, and stayed with us afterward while we recovered and established breastfeeding. Afterward, Cristina touched base and checked in on us almost daily. We had two in person postpartum visits where she made sure that we were set up for success and shared resources about pumping and returning to work. Even though we did not have a vaginal birth, Cristina was invaluable as a part of our birth story and we are so grateful for her! 

Jacqueline McKay

2/12/2022

My husband and I had a really positive experience with Christina as our doula.  She came recommended to me from another friend who had previously been a doula in the Richmond area.  We were interested in having some additional support, both knowledge-based and emotional, during birth in particular and Christina really delivered.  She was a calm and positive presence during my pregnancy, birth, and post partum.  In addition to meeting with us and answering our questions, she also provides a really helpful birth binder full of useful information and tools.  She made sure we were thinking of important things to best prepare us for having a baby; not only the practical such as your registry but also the emotional such as having support once the baby is born.  I would highly recommend her as a doula, particularly if this is your first child and you want to make sure you have your bases covered.  We felt a lot more confident during the whole process with her around as support.

Cydni Massawe

2/2/2022

My husband and I took Cristina's Comfort Techniques Class.  Cristina is extremely knowledgable about childbirth and she is compassionately passionate about sharing what she knows to leave the couple feeling confident and empowered in the birthing plan they have.  We took her class in December and had our first baby in January.  This being our first birthing experience, we didn't know what to expect, but we knew we wanted to try to go through the process unmedicated.  I can honestly say that Cristina's knowledge of how labor and delivery work and progress, laboring positions and breathing techniques taught, and what kind of mindset to have through labor and delivery were paramount in reaching success of an unmedicated birth.
Thank you, Cristina, for your services through this class.  My husband and I had a great birthing experience.  

Lauren

11/22/2021

Cristina was fabulous! She took her time to explain things out for me and my husband and really tailored the class to help us in the best ways! She provided us with lots of reading material with tips and suggestions! We would highly recommended her!!

Taylor Maria Moore

10/31/2021

Cristina was an invaluable resource to my husband and me as we welcomed our first child. Her services were set up to provide us with three prenatal educational visits, support throughout our entire labor, and two postpartum visits. She also checked in on us frequently via text and was always there to answer any question we had. This design allowed us to build a bond with her while she was providing education and answering our questions. Having never been through the birthing process, she set our minds at ease with her calm and reassuring demeanor. We had very specific birth preferences, advocating for me as a fat woman in particular, and she was supportive and on our side from the beginning. She had a beautiful way of helping us reframe our thoughts. When some unexpected interventions were presented during labor, I felt defeated, and she asked me if there was anything else I had wanted to do that I hadn't. I hadn't thought of it in that way, and it made me at peace with the changes. We would recommend Cristina to any women who wants a supportive and knowledgeable Doula on their birth team. 

haley

10/17/2021

Cristina was wonderful to work with. She is extremely supportive, a wealth of knowledge, and was tremendously helpful both prior to and during the birth experience. I highly recommend her and would not hesitate to work with her again.

Toni

10/10/2021

My husband and I took her Comfort Techniques class and it did not disappoint. This will be my first time giving birth and because we plan to have a low intervention birth, I did not want to fly blindly into it. She went over labor basics as well as different positions for pain management. I really liked that she also focused on the things my hubby will need to do to keep me sane lol. She's very knowledgeable, down-to-earth and I recommend her class or her services to anyone! She's a great support! 

Cristina R

9/24/2021

Our journey through pregnancy with our first baby included a relocation - changing everything that was familiar from the first 20 weeks. As we were rebuilding our birth team, we knew we would benefit from having an extra advocate in the room. Thank goodness we found Cristina Evans. She was accommodating, knowledgeable, a great listener, and so organized! Her experience was evident in how she was able to guide us - with recommendations for a midwifery practice when I saw big flags with my OB, to keeping in touch between our in-person visits (texting to check in and sending links to resources I asked about), she was someone we knew we could count on. 

Cristina always gave us the space to ultimately make our own decisions, but supported us in the process of deciding (ie the binder she made us, the books I borrowed from her, and evidence from past clients' experiences). And then once we made up our minds, she was right there with us.

I had an unusual case of fibroid pain a month before our due date, and while I didn't get a lot of answers from the hospital, Cristina was ready to check in, and send videos explaining what I was going through. I really felt like someone was on our side through it all! She was ready to join us at the hospital when I went into labor in July - and when we were first sent home to labor more there so we could achieve our intervention-free birth, she reassured us that this was ok - she was back at Labor and Delivery when the time did come. Cristina was an essential support for me and my partner before, during and after our daughter's birth.

Additionally, Cristina also is a warm and creative personality - encouraging us to make affirmation banners for our delivery room (these decorate our daughter's room today), assigning us to write our birth story, and even bringing us produce from her garden during an in-person meeting. Cristina Evans is a master doula who you need on your birth team.

Channa Mik Carlson

9/7/2021

I am a first time mom and I am so glad that we were able to have Cristina as our doula.  We met with her once in person and once virtually.  Our third prenatal meeting was scheduled, but the baby came first.  Cristina has such a calming presence to her that makes you feel comfortable right away and it was easy getting to know her.  She is non-judgemental and when I had questions she made sure to provide extra resources.  She was always available when I had other questions and concerns outside of our meetings and she always made sure to check in frequently.

When it came to delivery day Cristina was right there with us shortly after we were admitted into a room.  She helped me labor through a great portion of my labor suggesting new positions, reminding me of techniques that we discussed in our meetings, affirming what I was doing was great, and supporting Lionel.  Unfortunately, a circumstance came up and she could not stay for the whole labor and delivery, but she made sure to have another doula whom she trusted to fill in for her and she didn't leave us until her replacement arrived ensuring that we were in good hands. Even though she was away, Cristina made sure to check in constantly, communicating with my partner, and visited us at the hospital when she could after we delivered.

Postpartum, Cristina was just as great checking in on the family and made two in person postpartum visits.  Being new to motherhood and breastfeeding there were a lot of obstacles and some moments where I was feeling down on myself, but Cristina always had great advice and was supportive.  I would highly recommend Cristina to anyone who needed that extra support during their pregnancy because she was instrumental in my experience and I couldn't have done it without her.

Elizabeth Gutierrez

9/1/2021

She is amazing! Very caring and supportive. I had a rough birth experience and she was with me through it all, helping me feel more at ease and at peace with what was going on. I highly recommend her! 

Gabrielle

6/3/2021

Our experience with Cristina was awesome! She met with us twice before the birth and twice after, took birth pictures, and of course helped support us throughout labor! My birth experience was empowering and wonderful this time because of her. She helped me get through the most challenging parts of labor by keeping me calm and focused. Thank you Cristina! Highly recommend!!

Mary

5/21/2021

We hired Cristina as our doula during the COVID pandemic. Despite doing our pre-birth appointments virtually, she was very easy to connect with and a great rapport was established. In addition to our scheduled meetings, Cristina made herself available whenever something surfaced -- which can happen often in pregnancy! Working with Cristina made me felt informed & empowered that I could have a natural birth despite having never done it before. This was my first pregnancy after a prior pregnancy loss & Cristina was extremely supportive in this aspect both in preperation for my labor and during labor. I ended up having an emergency c-section, and Cristina was able to quickly adapt to my emotional needs as well as the needs of my fiance. After my traumatic delivery (and an additional surprise surgery a few weeks later) Cristina was very present, constantly checking in and offering support. Despite COVID restricting our interactions, and my delivery deviating from our original birth plan, my experience with Cristina was nothing but positive. She has such a warm, welcoming presence that is so compatible with a labor and delivery experience. I would reccomend her for any birth experience!

Denisse Campbell

5/18/2021

When I got pregnant for the second time, I knew I wanted a doula to help me through the process, and especially through birth. My first experience wasn't terrible, but it was not the best. I met Cristina through doula match and as soon as I talked to her I knew she was the right fit for me. Was I right? ABSOLUTELY! 

Cristina is an amazing doula! What I love about her was how she helped me make informed decisions, without being pushy. Every time I had a question about a recommendation from my doctor, she helped me understand the problem and sent me links and data about how to approach the situation. She never criticized my doctor (whom I like a lot too), or said "well, that's not right". She just gave me tools to help me make the best decision for myself. 

When I had to be induced, her help and knowledge made induction way better than I could have imagined. 

When birth came, I was not able to accomplish all the goals I had, but some other parts were even better than I thought. Cristina was by my side, respecting all my decisions, and making me feel supported and strong. My delivery went as perfect as it did, BECAUSE OF HER! And for that I will always be grateful. 

I am not planning on having more kids, but if I were, Cristina would have been there again. I wish I had met her in my first childbirth... maybe I would have gotten pregnant sooner :D 

Thank you Cristina, for making me feel like a bad*ss! I hope you keep helping mothers like you did with me! 

BTW, get pictures and video! That's one of my favorite parts about having her there. I look at them all the time, and remember that moment with love. 

Bethany Frazier

5/8/2021

The supportive presence we experienced before, during, and after our birth from Cristina was monumental. Her calm and unintrusive energy was what my wife and I needed during the birth of our child. The care didn't stop after our baby was born and I'm so grateful that she showed up for me during a challenging postpartum transitional period.

I'm happy we worked with her during such a transformational time, we're not meant to do this alone, and Cristina reminded me how vital birth work care is.

Stephanie O'Neill

1/4/2021

I am so glad my husband and I got to meet with Cristina once, in real life, before we had to quarantine! We instantly vibed with her chill energy and knew she was the doula for us. It was really amazing to have access to Cristina's lending library; I read books that I didn't even know existed or would not have bought otherwise. Being pregnant during a pandemic was really weird and isolating and Cristina was really great about checking in on us, whether it was a phone call or just a text to say hi. She gave us so much information to help prepare us for labor/delivery and postpartum, which we discussed in detail during our "official" sessions towards the end of my pregnancy. Cristina typically hosts an affirmations workshop (pre-Covid) and she gave me the option to drop off supplies, so I could make my own affirmations banner. I almost passed on it, but am so glad that I didn't because reading through all of the birth/postpartum/parenting affirmations really gave me a sense of peace and calm. I was especially glad to have my banner in the hospital when my birth preferences went out the window! Labor turned out to be really stressful and she really helped us stay calm, let my husband rest a bit, and supported me through my contractions and helped me stay as comfortable as possible. So thankful that she got to come back to the operating room with us once it was determined that I would need to have a c-section. I just remember her narrating what all was going on while supporting my husband plus she photographed our first moments as a family of 3. So thankful for her postpartum visits and reassuring me that all of the things my baby was doing or not doing was most likely normal. She helped us getting acquainted with cloth diapers and continues to check in on my baby's nursing struggles. Cristina is a wonderful human and we are so grateful to have worked with her! 

Whitney Moore

11/7/2020

Cristina is great! Thanks to her we felt very informed and prepared for the birth experience and post partum period. I was so glad to have someone there to guide me through the process. I also really appreciated how often she checked in with me after the baby was born. I felt extremely well supported which really helped me get through the difficult parts of the fourth trimester with ease. Thank you, Cristina!

Liz

7/31/2020

Where to start, Cristina is absolutely amazing. She is kind, caring, and so incredibly supportive. I knew from the beginning that I wanted an unmedicated natural birth but knew that my anxiety could get the best of me. Though many people were skeptical of the work of a doula, I honestly don’t believe I would have been able to accomplish my birth preferences (aka birth plan) the way I did without Cristina. She even helped me ground myself after breaking into a panic attack in the middle of labor. It was a tough 20 hours of labor but she was there for me all throughout the process and even in for postpartum care. She listened to my cries and fears about pregnancy and parenthood, where she provided helpful affirmations to work through on making my affirmation banner. And though I forgot my affirmation banner at home in all the craziness of getting to the hospital, sitting down to work on it and processing everything was so incredibly helpful. She shared with me ample amounts of resources and information to help me prepare for labor, breastfeeding, postpartum care and more. As a first time mom, I’m incredibly grateful for all her support and non-judgmental persona. She went above and beyond, even readapting her material to fit our unique family dynamic and being inclusive to non-traditional couples, which was a must for us as my partner and I quickly realized that most people would automatically assume our relationship functionality. Cristina has become an essential part of our postpartum journey, the fourth trimester that is hardly talked about and now with Covid-19, her check-ins have been very helpful to navigate the new normal. If and when I decide on having another child, I will for sure contact Cristina again without a doubt.

Liz

7/31/2020

Where to start, Cristina is absolutely amazing. She is kind, caring, and so incredibly supportive. I knew from the beginning that I wanted an unmedicated natural birth but knew that my anxiety could get the best of me. Though many people were skeptical of the work of a doula, I honestly don’t believe I would have been able to accomplish my birth preferences (aka birth plan) the way I did without Cristina. She even helped me ground myself after breaking into a panic attack in the middle of labor. It was a tough 20 hours of labor but she was there for me all throughout the process and even in for postpartum care. She listened to my cries and fears about pregnancy and parenthood, where she provided helpful affirmations to work through on making my affirmation banner. And though I forgot my affirmation banner at home in all the craziness of getting to the hospital, sitting down to work on it and processing everything was so incredibly helpful. She shared with me ample amounts of resources and information to help me prepare for labor, breastfeeding, postpartum care and more. As a first time mom, I’m incredibly grateful for all her support and non-judgmental persona. She went above and beyond, even readapting her material to fit our unique family dynamic and being inclusive to non-traditional couples, which was a must for us as my partner and I quickly realized that most people would automatically assume our relationship functionality. Cristina has become an essential part of our postpartum journey, the fourth trimester that is hardly talked about and now with Covid-19, her check-ins have been very helpful to navigate the new normal. If and when I decide on having another child, I will for sure contact Cristina again without a doubt.

Bekah

2/21/2020

This was our first birth and I was very nervous and anxious about a lot of things! I wanted to hire a doula so that I felt like I had as much support going into labor and during as I possibly could. I also wanted to try for a low-intervention delivery. Cristina was wonderful to work with. She was so thorough and thoughtful in her preparation, meeting with me and my husband several times to talk through all the birth options. She sent us example birth plans and helped us craft ours. She showed us birthing positions and practiced with us. She was always available to answer my questions in those final weeks and share resources. In the end, our labor and delivery was a bit different than we had planned. (I had to be induced and ended up getting an epidural, so not the low-intervention birth I had hoped for!) Even in that scenario, having Cristina there was so helpful, just to provide additional support for me and my husband. Not to mention she changed her Thanksgiving day plans to be with us!! And she took photos during delivery which was just awesome! Finally, Cristina was super thoughtful in following up with me after birth, asking how I was doing and checking on the baby. She provided resources on post-partum anxiety, and visited with us twice. All in all, I am really happy that we had a doula and that Cristina was our doula! She's a joy to work with and is very highly recommended. Thank you, Cristina!!

Megan Womack

2/18/2020

There have been a few times in my life where I've felt that everything has lined up cosmically to go well for me, and I can definitively say that meeting and working with Cristina Evans was one of them.

I came late to the doula game; I knew I wanted an unmedicated birth, but figured I was stubborn and strong enough to get through it on my own with just my partner at my side. At 7.75 months pregnant, we took a low-intervention birth class at our hospital and we heard loud and clear that a doula was my best chance of having my birth desires met. 

I got home, hopped on Doula Match and popped in my due date. Cristina was the first doula to match with me, and after reading her profile and getting a general understanding of her, I had a gut feeling that she was the right person. My husband thought I was jumping the gun a bit, but I just knew. 

Cristina responded quickly, and over coffee we got to know each other. Her gentle manner of speaking and knowledge of the birthing process stood out to me right away. I felt I could trust her and was excited to have her meet my husband the next week. Our sessions at home with her, where she expertly shared her knowledge about birth, helped to set my expectations, and continued to build trust (in a very short period of time!) between the three of us were fundamental to the dream team we had in the delivery room.

While laboring, Cristina's presence was a constant comfort, whether she was rubbing my ankles, helping my husband to support me, whispering affirmations in my ear, or knowing when to step out and let us have a breath to ourselves. She intuitively seemed to know what I needed at any given time, and that didn't stop after the birth of our baby, but continues to this day, as I now have found a friend that I'm delighted to continue talking to. Cristina was essential to both my prenatal and postpartum life, and I'm grateful for her hard work and dedication.

Angela

12/19/2019

My husband and I met with Cristina over coffee for a 4th trimester planning session to prepare for our first baby. I honestly had not thought through most of the planning that the 4th trimester really demands, but Cristina walked us gently through all of the different parts of becoming prepared for this stage without overwhelming us. She is a wealth of helpful knowledge and advice specific to what you express as your desired birthing and parenting style. I'd like to emphasize what a relief it is to speak with someone that has experienced all different types of successful parenting styles and isn't here to judge or sway our personal goals for parenting and family structure. We spent a lot of time discussing setting boundaries for family members and friends, and advocating for ourselves as new parents not just during the birth, but afterwards as well. I think this is an extremely important part of making the transition into parenthood for the first time and I really appreciate how much advice she had about how to make visitations from friends and family be beneficial for both parties. We talked a lot about different ways to make sure we continue to take care of ourselves as new parents after the new baby comes, and helpful resources within the community as well. Cristina followed up the next day with an email containing more helpful info on a lot of the products and resources that we discussed, and made sure that we know to keep an open line of communication with her moving forward should we have any more questions! Her calm demeanor put both of us more at ease about what to expect, and we know that we've got a friend and a mentor just a phone call away! :) 

Jennifer Patterson

9/24/2019

Christina provided fourth trimester planning with my husband and I and was clearly knowledgeable about how to prepare for life after baby.  She was easy to talk to and conversational, never making my husband or I feel uncomfortable about our lack of planning in that area.  Cristina’s pleasant demeanor and knowledge would both be big reasons I would easily recommend her for either pre or post partum doula services! 

Maria

7/27/2019

My husband and I met with Cristina for a postpartum planning session. Since this is our second baby, we knew a lot about what to expect, but Cristina was still really helpful in bringing up some ideas and questions that we hadn't considered. For example, could our toddler stay with my parents longer than just the time we would be in the hospital to allow us to transition home a little more smoothly? What did we expect of each other, and how did we think our roles might change? How would we maintain our son's routine while caring for his new sister at the same time? To whom could we reach out to help us with meals? How could I find a better balance and stop worrying so much about all the household chores? Cristina gave us some good things to think about before our daughter's arrival, and we really enjoyed meeting her.

L

7/21/2019

We found our postpartum planning session informative. It was so helpful to have a plan and to have all of the resources Cristina had sent. I have felt so supported by my husband during the last month, and I think that he felt confident in himself because we had such an effective plan made after we spoke with her.

J.

6/6/2019

When my wife went into labor with our son, I was not at all nervous and I felt like I knew exactly what I needed to do.  That is not because we were going on child number 3, it was because of the support we received from our Doula, Cristina.  For our first child’s birth, I was not physically there and for our second, I might as well not have been because I was less than unhelpful because I had no idea what to do.  When gearing up for our third, I wanted this to be a good experience for my wife and I so I knew we needed to do something different.  When the topic of a Doula came up, I was nervous because I had no idea who this person was or if she would be replacing me in the delivery room.  I found the opposite to be true, she was there to support me and help make sure I was doing everything I could to give my wife comfort and support.  She did that through how she helped us prep leading up to labor, how she helped us set the room up once in labor and how she kept the nurses from bothering us too much.  She helped in a way that allowed ALL of my attention to be on my wife.  Because of that, not only was the experience more positive than the last two but my relationship with my wife grew stronger as well because I was able to show her that I was on her team and I was the supportive partner she needed.  I truly believe without Cristina, that experience would not even be close to the same.

Christina Kern

11/28/2016

If you are pregnant, my first pieces of advice is to invest in a doula.

Cristina stood by my side through my pregnancy and I felt her support especially as my due date came and went. We had several conversations in the post-due date weeks which helped me to stay strong in refusing to be induced. (pro tip: get your due date moved back a week)

To prepare us for birth, Cristina met with me and my husband twice. The materials she provided were helpful and succinct. As a busy lady, I really appreciated how efficient Cristina was with our time. We used these meetings as our birth classes.

The day that I went into labor I called Cristina several times. I love that she made me feel comfortable and was so available. Although, I originally thought I wanted to labor at home, we ended up going to the hospital pretty early. It was actually nice to get there and get settled without any panic. The nurse offered us a tub room after reading our birth plan which Cristina helped us to write. That ended up being great. Cristina made sure I got to use the tub twice which along with the twinkle lights and tea candles was pretty much the highlight of our experience.

I had pretty good control over my contractions but Christina helped me to regulate my breathing and really focus on my visualization. She massaged my shoulders and helped my husband to hold me in ways that were soothing. We also did some stair climbing which sounds crazy but felt great - this is something I would never have done without her.

Once I transitioned to active labor, everything became a blur. All I know is it lasted a really long time but Cristina stayed with us throughout it all. She was tireless in what must have been a really long and tedious day. I highly recommend Cristina as an excellent and experienced doula as well as a thoughtful and lovely person with whom to share the amazing experience of your child's birth.

Brooke Wilkins

8/2/2016

If you are looking for a dependable, soothing, knowledgeable supporter of the birth process, you have found her in Cristina. I am so grateful to have worked with this wonderful woman throughout my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. After a lot of research, I came across the Blooming Birth website and contacted Cristina. After an initial consultation, which never felt rushed or judgmental, I felt she would be a great fit for our family's needs. This was our first child, and my husband was uncomfortable with the idea of a doula at first. However, after meeting Cristina in our home, he quickly became at ease, and came to really value her suggestions, help with our son at the hospital, and postpartum follow-up. During my pregnancy and at our prenatal visits, Cristina provided a wealth of knowledge about birth plans, options, positions, and affirmations. She was very open-minded, non-judmental, and did everything in her power to facilitate our birth wishes and to ensure we were empowered for the birth experience we wanted. She provided a ton of resources to make sure all of our questions were thoroughly answered and that we were as prepared as possible for our birth and postpartum time. She was always available through e-mail, text, and calls whenever we needed her. She hung twinkle lights at the hospital, was present and nurturing when my husband and I needed her, and stepped back and took photos during moments that more family-focused. She was incredibly helpful with getting breastfeeding started, and checked in regularly in the weeks following our son's birth. She even made him an adorable baby blanket, and printed out an album of all the pictures she had taken at little man's birth. I'm so thankful that she captured such significant moments on film. My husband and I have nothing but amazing things to say about Cristina. She's a joy to work with, she's excellent at her profession, and she genuinely cares about her clients. Hire her!

Wyna Phonseya

4/11/2016

Cristina was there for us even when my son decided to come 5 weeks early. She was calm, assuring and encouraging during my labor. She let my husband and I work together through most of it but quickly jumped in to assist and suggest different positions when I really needed it near the end. Cristina helped me achieve my goal of a non-medicated birth. She even thought to pull out her camera during the very quick birth to capture some priceless moments. I would definately recommend her to anyone who is looking for getnle guidence through a tough and long abor.

Rachel Slack

3/9/2016

My husband and I had interviewed several different doulas and when we met Cristina something just clicked, she has a great presence. She is calm, comforting, and attentive. Cristina provided an abudance of documents and information to me and my husband to help us through our last few weeks of pregnancy and also gear up to be first time parents.  She called, texted, or emailed us just enough (but not too much) to check in since our baby girl came 9 days late.

When my husband let Cristina know we were headed to the hospital, she was there within an hour. I had a GRUELING 36 hours of natural labor before getting an epidural and ultimately a c-section; Cristina was literally by our side the entire time. She was patient, reassuring, and helped me to understand we had tried every option possible to get our baby into this world naturally and it unfortunately did not happen. She dealt with my screaming, aching, labor and never flinched. She rounded out our "team" perfectly. The nurses and our doctor at the hospital loved her as well!  She was able to provide everyone updates and keep us all on track.

Cristina provided me the strength and courage to get through the labor as long as I did.  She provided reassurance that we were doing everything possible, she provided comfort and confidence to my husband to help talk me through contractions.  She was able to remind us of our plan and be an advocate for us as needed. I never felt judged by Cristina for the decisions I made during labor and we never felt rushed, even through the night when she was unable to sleep.

Cristina photographed the first few hours of our daughters birth, including in the OR.  I never knew how special those photos would ultimately be to our family but they are invaluable.

Cristina will forever more be apart of our story, I would highly recommend anyone else have her be apart of yours.

Aysha Washington

3/17/2015

I had an amazing birthing experience with Cristina.  She was receptive, caring, comforting,  and overall made my experience a great one. I am a mother of two and  my birthing experience with my first child did not go at all the way I wanted.  I felt as if no one listened to anything that I wanted or needed for me to feel confident in the birth. I told Cristina about my first experience and she promised that this time around it would be completely different, it definitely was. Everything I expressed that I wanted in my birthing plan, she made sure she was 100% on board to help in any way. Shemade sure that my wants, needs, and desires were heard. During labor she made it such a calm and soothing environment.  When Ifelt like I couldn't take the pain anymore, she assured me that I was "rocking this birth" and it made me want to knock out this next round of contractions. In the midst of the chaos, she reminded me of things that I strongly wanted during the birth that I'd completely forgotten about. She stayed by my side the entire time and made sure that I was comfortable ever step of the way. After the birth, she continues to check on us even after her services were met and over. Everything that I needed and wanted for this birth happened with a very large thanks due to Cristina. She was overall amazing and I couldnt have asked for a better doula. Next time around I wouldn't want anyone else to help me through my pregnancy and birth!

Amy Washington

3/10/2015

I hired Cristina for my daughters second pregnancy. Her laid back, calming presence was extremely appreciated.  Not only was she knowledgeable extremely caring and accomodating. What a huge difference from my daughters first birth experience.  Cristina worked very well with the hospital staff and helped the whole birth experience to run smoothly. I would definitely reccomend her and would hire her again !!

Irina Manelis

7/1/2014

I am so grateful to have had Cristina by our side during the last stretch of my pregnancy and particularly through the labor and the delivery of our first child. From our first meeting, Cristina’s warm, engaging, easygoing manner and quick smile put us at ease. She never made us feel rushed and constantly offered to provide helpful information and resources, following up diligently. My plan was to labor naturally for as long as I could sustain it, to hopefully avoid a c-section and unnecessary interventions, and to ultimately have an epidural when and if I felt that I needed it for the final stretch to be more present to enjoy our baby’s arrival. I really appreciated not feeling judged by Cristina for my choices (and indeed was fortunately able to avoid a c-section). Cristina’s presence and assistance were invaluable during my labor, which ended up lasting over 24 hours and included a lot of painful back labor. Cristina arrived at the hospital after we had asked her to come and stayed with us the entire time for many, many hours until after the baby was delivered. She was amazing! Cristina brought a bag of tricks which were both creative and helpful. Her voice was extremely soothing and guided me as I worked through my contractions. She continually helped me by suggesting position changes and coping techniques, massaging, and being extremely attentive to my body’s needs. As an unexpected but deeply appreciated bonus, during her follow up postpartum visit, she brought a thoughtful and detailed birth story and wonderful photos capturing the labor and, critically, our first moments with our baby boy, which I love and will always treasure. Cristina is extremely talented at her craft, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to any expecting parents!

Margaret Smigo

5/7/2014

We met Christina and instantly clicked and felt at ease...the conversation flowed like we were old friends. Her demeanor, even though she was on an interview was warm and laid back and the confidence she had about her work was appealing. During our first consult with Christina as our doula we discussed the birth plan and what concerns we both had. We noticed  she would frequently jot down notes as we spoke.  Our initial consult was about an hour and a half and she never seemed like she needed to get going or look at the clock. She tolerated our pups jumping up on her and checking her out, they liked her too. Christina frequently sent us links on info we'd discussed and she would text me to "check in" leading up to the due date. During our 2nd visit she brought us material about some of the medical choices we may need to make, we talked about  the birth plan, and what our post-partem plans were. We practiced birthing positions and talked about laboring at home...we felt as prepared as we could be! The day we went into labor we communicated by text and phone throughout the day - though she would have come to our home if we needed her to. We made our way to the hospital at 2am and Christina met us there shortly after. Christina's voice became a focal point as she counted breathes slowly. I strived to meet her counts and aside from the hot tub, it was probably the most helpful thing to me during transition! During our follow-up visit Christina gave us the pictures and we were so thankful we'd asked her to take them, they were amazing. The extensive birth story was very touching, something we will treasure dearly!! So many of the details she was able to capture when we were in the heat of the moment, things we may not have remembered. Christina and my husband were the best team and she helped us to have the birth we dreamed of having. To couples "on the fence", don't consider it an option, you truly need a doula - and Christina is a great one:)

Candace Hollender

1/16/2014

Cristina is an amazing doula! My husband and I could not have chosen anyone better. Our birth experience with our third child was absolutely amazing thanks to Cristina. Cristina was quick to suggest laboring positions and to ask questions and make suggestions that were in my best interest. I had intense back pain through labor and Cristina was with me every step and constantly helped me with hands on massage. Cristina was the only way we achieved a natural childbirth with no medication.

What Cristina was able to do for my husband and I will never be forgotten. My husband thought a doula unnecessary, and now he will tell you how valuable she was, not only for myself but for him as well. She guided him to help minimize my pain and enabled my husband to really be present. I have two other births to compare to, and this one by far was the most emotionally involved in so many ways. I feel so complete in how our son came into this world. I only wish I had found Cristina before my first child was born. Cristina is awesome! We highly recommend her! We cannot fully put into words what she has done for us.

deana spundarelli

12/31/2013

We had an AMAZING experience with Cristina. I met with Cristina about 2 months before I was due, and I knew immediately that she was the one. I went home and spoke with my husband, and we agreed to hire Cristina, even though we had been on the fence about getting a doula. It was the best decision we made for our birth. She came to our house twice before our daughter was born, and showed me positions, exercises, and answered any and all questions we had. On the day we went into labor, she was available all day, and met us at the hospital. She went above and beyond, even bringing flameless candles, which I had forgotten to get! Her calm demeanor was perfect for the situation. Even though we had taken a Bradley Birth class, some of the the info is forgotten in the heat of the moment. She was there every step of the way to offer reassurance, and advice, often suggesting things that my husband could do in a way that made him feel totally helpful, and not at all out of place. She would remind me of things in the most gentle way, and I think she also massaged my back for 3 hours straight! After the birth was over, she visited to make sure everything was ok and see our girl, and even brought over pictures that she had taken of everything. It is awesome to see our first moments together as a family - a priceless gift. Any family lucky enough to have Cristina at their birth will find that they made the right choice!

melissa owens

5/2/2013

i had my first baby on november 22 2012, and had no idea what i was doing! Cristina helped me with deciding on what i truely wanted during giving birth.. she helped me think of thinigs i never thought would be a decision or even a option. When labor started she was by myside helping me breath and calming me down. she also helped my boyfriend understand what was going on and calm down. She was never pushy with anything and very layed back. i couldnt have asked for a better doula!