Greta

3/9/2024

We are so thankful for all the help and guidance Erica has provided us over the last 10 weeks- we can't recommend Erica highly enough!!

We had our first baby in December and were unsure of what we would need. Erica fit right into our family and was beyond helpful. Her advice was current and well-researched - which we greatly appreciated. She was always professional and always on time. 

Erica's expertise as a lactation consultant was also helpful. Erica was able to provide continued guidance and support on breastfeeding positions, and pumping and helped me understand my baby's cues during the first few weeks when I felt somewhat overwhelmed. 

Most importantly, we felt safe having Erica help with our little one. Her knowledge and skills made us feel comfortable with the overall process. Lastly, Erica is just an amazing person to talk to and we will all miss her!

Eleana

1/2/2024

Erica was an outstanding postpartum doula! She was an incredible asset and resource for our family during the very early newborn days when I was recovering postpartum and we were adjusting to life with our first baby. Having someone whose focus was to care for our baby AND our family was such a blessing. Having a baby in the post-COVID era was something we struggled with - who do we let over to the house, where can we go with such a young baby, it could feel isolating. Having Erica's warm smile to look forward to, encouragement, and the ability to take a shower and eat lunch with both my hands when she was over and helping with the baby, was worth its weight in gold! Erica did everything from coaching me to successfully breastfeed, helping to determine a good pumping schedule when I headed back work, coaching us through nap and sleep challenges, folding piles of laundry, and so much more. Part postpartum doula part new-mom-life coach for this mama, the hardest part about our experience with Erica was saying goodbye. She had become a part of our family and I STILL miss seeing her everyday. 

Mackenzie O.

12/12/2023

Before hiring Erica, I was nervous about having a postpartum doula. I had spoken to an agency who was pushy and overbearing. When I found Erica, she was exactly the opposite and listened to what we wanted from our postpartum experience instead of telling us what we needed.

Erica was an invaluable resource for my husband and I. She has a wealth of knowledge about postpartum care and newborns. As a first time mom, I had many questions, big and small. Erica was able to answer every question or direct me to resources that could help me answer the questions. She also provided nice conversation but recognized when I needed alone time.

We wish we could have Erica around forever! But she is so good at her job that we now feel prepared to move forward on our own.

I highly recommend Erica to anyone looking for a postpartum doula and I would hire her again if we have another child.

Rachel Regal

4/14/2022

Erica was a calming, encouraging presence for our whole family. She supported my instincts while guiding me thru things like breastfeeding (so much!), naps, little big things like nail clipping, etc. Erica was responsive and checked in while not with us about issues we had discussed. She took care of household chores without being asked and fit right into the household rhythm. I have a history of depression and I believe Erica was a big reason I avoided a postpartum episode. She cares- asking about my mental health, keeping me grounded with adult conversation, encouraging me to talk a walk outside, loving my little one, teaching and reassuring me as a new mom, and more. It brought my partner comfort when he went back to work, knowing Erica would be visiting to help out. We are forever grateful to and for Erica helping our family get started!!

Amanda

4/10/2022

Erica was with our family from the day our daughter was born. She is an incredibly kind, empathetic, funny person who provided us with a listening ear, endless baby knowledge, and invaluable assistance and encouragement on my breastfeeding journey.

She was helpful to every single member of our family - playing with and reading to our toddler, doing dishes in the kitchen, changing diapers, cleaning pump parts, snuggling our baby so we could rest, checking in on us via text and phone calls between our in person time with her, the list goes on!

We cannot recommend Erica enough and our toddler has already requested we have another baby so Miss Erica can come back! :)

Beth Anne Booth

10/12/2021

I had a challenging time with anxiety and recovering from a traumatic birth experience. Erica was there for my baby and me throughout the roller coaster of emotions and feelings. She is super informed and helpful in so many ways. Erica helped me find my rhythm and flow as a mother, and by the time it was time for her to move on, I felt confident, empowered and ready to face whatever was coming next. Having a postpartum doula shoudln't be a privilege; it should be a requirement! The amount of peace and healing that came from my experince working with Erica is priceless.

Jennifer Goldberg

10/11/2021

Erica was the third best thing I've ever done in my life. Number 1 was marriage, 2 was having a baby, and 3 was hiring Erica as our postpartum doula (tied with the decision to get an epidural). She saved me and my husband's lives for the first 12 weeks after my baby was born. She provided incredible emotional support as I struggled with postpartum anxiety on top of a crippling tailbone injury during birth. Her knowledge about all things babies is unmatched. Her demeanor was sensitive yet to the point. Her breastfeeding help was so crucial and helpful. She was very encouraging and warm during such a vulnerable part of my life. If I could have all of my friends have her as their postpartum doula, I would. Not to mention just talking to her about random stuff was fun too! I joke with her that I'm having another baby just to have her help again. 

Margaret Hodges

4/30/2021

Hiring a postpartum doula was an abstract exercise for us. We knew we needed help (having no family in the area) but we didn't really know what we needed. Erica anticipated and reacted to what we needed on instinct. She was our guiding star/the calm in the storm. She was a lactation specialist, therapist, on call knowledge base and became a part of our new family! We can't imagine bringing our baby girl into the world without her help.  I would have quit trying to breastfeed without her.  If you are looking to set up a solid foundation for you and your new family without losing your mind - hire Erica. 

Rebecca Murdock

2/27/2021

Erica is a calming presence during a time that can be chaotic. Having a post-partum doula on Baby #2 was different- we didn’t have as many questions (but still plenty!) but what we needed was someone to help us from feeling outnumbered. Whether it was entertaining the new Big sib so I could nurse in peace or holding a baby for hours so mom and dad could get some sleep, she was supportive and understanding and creative with the many ways in which help can look like in the newborn days. What I found particularly helpful and unique to Erica was helping navigate issues with Big sub- and not just in relation to her new brother. She advised on potty training and competing bed times and the new dose of “mom guilt” that comes from juggling two. We also got to navigate COVID precautions as part of our son’s first year, and Erica was open, up front, and very helpful in the decisions that come from trying to balance minimizing risk while still needing some help. Part of this was her flexibility in scheduling- because we were all work from home, our needs changed as to when another set of hands was most needed, and she adapted to our new schedule. She is also a wiz at breastfeeding support- latch, production, pumping, and just plain ole affirmation when the going gets tough. Now that I think about it, perhaps that was the thing I most appreciated- her affirmations that yes, this is hard, yes, you are a great mom, yes you can keep going, yes this is awesome and lovely and challenging all at the same time. We certainly are grateful for her time with our family- our 3 year old still talks about Ms. Erica! We highly recommend and would be happy to discuss further with anyone considering doula services post-partum and Erica in particular.

Samantha

6/30/2020

I can't say enough good things about Erica and our experience working with her after our daughter was born in fall 2020. We're first time parents and had tons of questions and concerns, plus struggled with PPD/PPA, and Erica was there with us for all of it, teaching us stuff, helping us feel more confident, supporting us, and connecting us with other resources. It was huge peace of mind for us to know that she'd be coming for a few hours to give me a break or to chat about baby stuff or about whatever. We would hire her again in a second and recommend her to anyone with a new baby! (I'll also say that we found her in a desperate google search in the middle of the night and she was able to connect with us really quickly, so if that's you, just go for it! You won't regret it)

Anne

6/16/2020

Erica is amazing and so supportive! She helped us in January, February, and March 2020. We loved meeting with her before our baby was born and in the hospital when our baby was less than 24 hours old. I felt so supported as a new mom to know that I could text/call anytime; Erica even took care of me by phone when I was sobbing on Christmas day with new-mom panics. We don't have family in the area so Erica was our family and was so loving towards our baby. She was caring and kind as she took care of our newborn while we took care of ourselves (often with a nap!). Erica also took care of us by doing laundry and dishes while our newborn slept sweetly in the wrap carrier. We highly recommend Erica! Thank you, Erica, for everything! 

Kelly

2/16/2019

Erica was such a gift to us following the birth of our second child.  Aside from stepping in to do whatever we needed help with, she was also a wonderful listening ear, and was also supportive with recommendations when we needed it.  We also appreciated how she would frequently check in and follow up with things we had discussed.  Erica truly cares and is a wonderful doula!  

Anne Belch

2/9/2019

Erica was such a gift to us during our first few weeks home as new parents! When my friends asked me what a postpartum doula was I described Erica as part mom and baby guru and part extra set of hands. She helped support us in so many ways -from being a supportive ear, to teaching me different ways of breast feeding, to helping wash bottles and pump parts, to recommending all kinds of parent resources around Richmond! I would definitely recommend her to all expecting families. 100% worth the investment, especially during such a transitional time.

Tory Sprehe

3/8/2016

Erica worked with us as a post-partum doula after the birth of our daughter in the fall of 2015. In the beginning I would count down the minutes until Erica arrived so I could hand off my daughter to immediately shower and then get some interrupted sleep for a few hours. It was such a relief to know I could hand off my newborn to someone I could trust. Erica helped teach us how to give her a bath and cut her nails - two things I was really nervous about as a new mom! As the baby got older and I continued to recover from birth, I was able to go on short runs while Erica stayed with the baby, which really allowed me to start to feel like myself again. In addition to much needed help with dishes, laundry, and preparing meals, I found the time spent talking to Erica about things going on with the baby or breastfeeding were incredibly helpful. As a new mom, you have so many questions and I loved having someone experienced to figure out what is "normal" or not. Whenever I was with my new mom friends, I always found myself saying "That's okay, Erica said that's typical for this age..."

It was also very calming to me leading up to the birth of our daughter to know that I was going to have someone to help me while I was home by myself with the baby. Until you have a newborn, you do not realize how much it is completely worth the cost to have a few hours to yourself, have someone to ask all your questions to, and help with all the chores that you would never get to. I certainly would not have been able to keep my sanity during maternity leave without Erica's support and I now recommend post-partum support to everyone!

Michelle Freeman Owens

6/12/2015

Erica was our postpartum doula after my second pregnancy. My first postpartum was incredibly difficult and isolating, so I knew that the help would be most welcome! It's amazing to me that though I had been through this experience before, there was still so much to learn! In the six years between births many new tips and tricks and understandings of what's happening with baby and mama during those early weeks.

But here's the good news: Erica knew all that information - the developmental info, how to swaddle effectively, best way to carry a newborn in a wrap, checking our breastfeeding positions and minor problems - she was all-around such a big help and comfort. And it was so reassuring to know that there was this one person, once a week, who was ready to discuss everything about my baby and how I was doing. Even with a supportive spouse, even with a good support network of friends and family, this touch point of connection each week with Erica made a HUGE difference in my recovery, both physical and emotional.

I am so grateful for the support she provided, and so glad that I had the moderate foresight to have a postpartum doula to help through the challenging first few weeks and months!

Jennifer Hall

3/23/2015

I found Erica when my first born was 1 week old as a recommendation from another doula. I was struggling with feeling overwhelmed and not bonding with my baby in the way I anticipated. The first time Erica came over, she sat with me and listened quietly, patiently, and empathetically while I cried and responded in the most caring and gentle way. Erica helped in more ways than I knew she could and in ways I didn't know I needed. As a first time mom, navigating the waters of new motherhood was frightening and exhausting. She was able to help me find my footing and a new confidence. She would take my daughter and help with laundry and cleaning while I took much-needed naps or some time alone to read a book. She taught me how to use a wrap carrier and showed me the best ways to soothe my baby. We had a very difficult start to breastfeeding, and Erica gave me hands-on help with latch and positioning. Even outside of the hours she spent with me at my house, she was always available quickly through e-mail and text, and her availability was always accomodating. My daughter is now 9 months old and she is still readily available for my many questions as the months have gone by and new bumps in the road have arisen. She helped me find a group of moms to connect with outside the house, and find support groups when I needed them. Even more than the hands-on help and wealth of information, Erica's calm energy was infectious. Times when I was exhausted or overwhelmed, her calming and gentle energy was felt by both me and my daughter. I have and will continue to highly recommend Erica to any mom, both new and experienced.

Lesley Howson Bruno

2/18/2015

Erica was my postpartum doula for 8 weeks following the birth of my daughter in February 2014. This was my first child. I had interviewed both labor & delivery and postpartum doulas, but could not afford both. I decided that, whereas labor & delivery terrified me, the postpartum situation was even scarier. I have well meaning family around, but really, the 4th trimester is all mom and baby. And frankly, having my mother or mother in law help out was almost more stressful to me than just going it alone. They are lovely but I needed an objective, non-relative to help me get over the hump.

Erica always was on time and courteous. She had suggestions for me but offered them in a non-judgy way. I was an emotional, Percoset-addled wreck (I had an emergency C-section), with bad hair and the most ridiculous questions. But if she was horrified by me, she didn't let on. She came two days a week for three hours and during those hours I would a.) hand her the baby, b.) take a shower, c.) retreat to my bedroom with a sandwich that she had just somehow made me while watching my daughter, d.) watch a few minutes of House of Cards, then e.) fall asleep.

It was glorious.

She also would do light housework like dishes and laundry. I didn't ask her to do much in the way of housework though. It seemed like too much to manage, and I'm particular about things. Honestly, the mere act of explaining what I wanted done cut into my precious nap time, which was way more important.

In addition to simply giving me a break, Erica would answer my ridiculous questions and show me some tips and tricks. Swaddling, breastfeeding, putting my hand on the baby's head to get her to go to sleep, the right way to wear a sling, etc. She also brought me cold medicine when I was sick, and I think hung out with my very neglected cats.

She's kept in touch throughout this last year, which means a lot. I highly recommend her.

Melinda Martin

2/25/2014

Erica was wonderful to work with. She was professional,compassionate, and very knowledgable.  She provided support not only to myself but the entire family.  I am so grateful to have had her help during that very important time and highly recommend her to anyone seeking a doula.

Jessica Colteaux

2/13/2014

Erica was a great addition to our family dynamic. She is caring and very supportive. She was very helpful in nurturing us. She helped with light chores to help keep my house in order and reduce my stress, she helped to keep me hydrated by making sure I always had water, she helped make sure I had lots of snacks to keep up my energy, and she even joined me for walks or jogs as a encouragement. She was also great with my littl one. She took care of him when I needed a shower, a nap, or just a break. I would gladly recommend Erica to someone for help.

Anne

2/6/2014