Annika B

8/17/2024

It’s hard to put into words the impact Jenn had ahead of and after the birth of our first child. I spoke with doulas from three different companies and as a first time mom I didn’t really know what I was looking for in a doula. Luckily, hiring Jenn was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I don’t know what I would have done without someone so knowledgeable, dedicated, empathetic, and calm. Jenn supported my husband and I virtually from overseas then when we came back to the U.S. to deliver our baby she pivoted seamlessly to supporting us locally. When I learned our baby would need to be born 2.5 weeks early via (unplanned) c-section, she pivoted again to work with us postpartum since I had not prepared at all for the different challenges a c-section poses to recovery.

She has an incredible amount of experience, easy-to-understand answers for literally any birth or postpartum or newborn question you could possibly have, and somehow knows how to comfort you when sometimes there are no easy answers. She gave me the knowledge and confidence to tackle so many new mom challenges. My husband was initially skeptical about hiring a doula and now he tells anyone who will listen how impactful Jenn was for us and our baby. If you have the chance to work with her, run don’t walk!

Hillary

7/20/2024

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! We are SO incredibly grateful to have had Jenn there by our side supporting us during the birth of our first child. If it weren't for her we would have been completely lost in this process. She was a wealth of knowledge B.efore the birth she took many hours in several sessions to walk us through our options and educate us on what to expect, making sure we had a clear birth plan in place. At the hospital she knew what positions to put me in and advocated on my behalf. The hospital was short staffed that night and left us alone for hours at certain points but Jenn was there to help apply counter pressure to my hips, massage me and put me in certain positions that would help with the discomfort leading up to delivery. She walked us through options that came up in the hospital going through the pros and cons of options so we could make informed decisions along the way. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT HER! 

Anna M

10/15/2020

Jenn's placenta encapsulation services helped give me such a supported postpartum experience! I'm so grateful for how quickly she delivered them with such detailed and helpful information! Her kindness and desire to provide support was so clear from our interactions, and I'm so grateful for the time she spent with us. She also took the most beautiful placenta prints!! Thank you so much Jenn!!

Yael C

8/29/2019

Jenn was my doula for my daughter's birth and I cannot thank her enough. From the moment we first met over the phone I got a good feeling that Jenn would help me navigate labor and delivery smoothly and be a good addition to my birth team. I gave birth with an OB and was nervous about unnecessary medical interventions and the hospital's high c-section rates. At my pre-36 week appointment with Jenn, she stayed with us for 2 hours and answered every question possible about medical interventions, movements both with and without an epidural and more. We kept in touch after that appointment and I always felt comfortable emailing or texting her with questions and updates about various symptoms I was feeling. Once in labor, I contacted Jenn and she advised us about when to start timing my contractions, when to call the doctor and more. At the hospital, Jenn was a life-saver for me and my husband. She knew exactly how to deal with an angry woman in labor and knew when my yelling meant get the nurse because I was progressing quickly and knew when to warn me or my husband about upcoming pain. She picked up on all my cues, suggested different positions, and ultimately helped me have an epidural free birth. 

Deena Krulewitz

3/17/2018

Jenn was FABULOUS! I was initially on the fence about whether I wanted/needed a doula, but now I cannot imagine going through my pregnancy and delivery without her. She was a constant source of non-judgemental wisdom, calm, motivation, encouragement, and support - both to me and my parnter - from the minute we met. She was incredibly responsive to all my questions at all hours of the night. Plus, she was humorous in all the right moments. She interacted extremely well with the medical staff at the hospital, and frankly, made thier jobs easier! And she provided a huge comfort to my husband for what he could do to help me and what he needed to do to lookout for himself, which provided me great relief. Even though I had a great support network of family members and friends around, she was an excellent source of knowledgable support who only had my best interests (and no strings attached) at heart. I highly recommend her!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU Jenn.

Adam Krulewitz

3/15/2018

As a partner to my wife Deena, Jenn was fantastic from a support stand point. I really didn't know what to expect coming into our relationship with Jenn, but I'm so glad that we had her. During delivery, Jenn's presence, silent affirmations, and subtle cues gave me the confidence to support my partner in the best possible way. Without her, I would have been second guessing myself and asking if what I was doing the right thing. I highly recommend Jenn to any first time expecting partners. She's also got a great personality and sense of humor that lightens the mood at just the right time.

Carol Stiffler

2/14/2018

Working with Jenn as our doula was one of the best decisions we could have made. Jenn is professional, knowledgeable, and has a great sense of humor, which can't be undervalued when you're dealing with something as intense as birth! During my pregnancy and LONG early labor, Jenn was a source of support and unbiased information. As a natural worrier, having Jenn as a resource was a great comfort. Unfortunately, our baby girl had plans of her own, and Jenn was not with us during the actual delivery, but her partner stepped in seamlessly. The classes we took with Jenn (childbirth, breastfeeding, CPR) prepared us for the birth experience, and when we were faced with junctures during delivery and medical decisions, we felt calm and confident. Jenn also provided us with placenta encapsulation services, and had been available to us post-partum. As first time parents far away from family, this kind of support has been given us so much peace of mind.

Alan Katz

8/27/2017

We hired Jenn because we knew that she is an excellent planner and totally cool under pressure. We love the way that she laid out all of our birth options and accepted our choices. One of the things that makes Jenn stand out as a doula was her exceptional ability to train us, not only about what to expect, but also how to deal with it. Her presence was invaluable in the delivery room, and I firmly believe that her preparation contributed to our relatively easy birth. No matter what your birth plan is, it should include Jenn. Her services are worth every penny.

Bartlett Russell

3/24/2017

We really could not have asked for more. Jenn is a wonderful, caring, relaxing, knowledgeable doula who is committed to help you develop a birth plan that works for you and adapt it as necessary when things may not go as you like. We felt 100% comfortable in her and her partner (Jen's) hands. A few things that make her stand out:1) Jenn offers a complete set of services (breastfeeding consulting, post partum support, placenta encapsulation, CPR training, infant care classes). That was really important to us as we were really busy and her flexibility was awesome. 2) Because we did classes with her we got to know both her and her partner well in the months leading up to our birth. When the time came we felt great about having either one of them with us for the birth. 3) Jenn REALLY listened to what we wanted and helped us decide on elements of our plan that we weren't sure about. She does not project her opinions on you. 4) In the first few days after my baby was born, I was really not sure how well i was doing breastfeeding (was my milk in? was my baby getting enough?). The hospital lactation consultant made me feel terrible. Jenn came by right after we got home, took time to look at a feeding session, at what i was able to pump, and assured me I was not starving my child. She also gave me pointers about how to hold my baby to make feeding sessions easier -- lots of solutions and things to try, and how to know if i was produing enough.  I felt way better, and empowered that I knew what to look for and how to know my baby was getting enough. I don't know what iI would have done wihtout her.   I HIGHLY recommend Jenn and we will be calling her again if we are blessed with more kids.

Casey Bretz

10/19/2016

Working with Jenn and her partner (and backup doula) has been a great experience. I found Jenn through her website. One of the things that interested me about working with Jenn was her vast knowledge, not only about labor and delivery, but placenta encapsulation and breastfeeding. When I met Jenn for the first time, she made me feel extremely comfortable - she is easy to talk to, a great listener, nonjudgmental and experienced. I also appreciated her organization and humor. She is very prompt when responding to emails or text messages and won't hesitate to follow up with a phone call if needed. Around 35 weeks, Jenn made a couple home visits and explained all the details about labor, delivery, birth options, medications, positioning, breastfeeding, pump use, etc. to me and my partner. This was extremely helpful - there is so much information out there! She also provides and teaches you how to use a Rebozo and Tens unit for pain, which was appreciated. We also had a newborn informational session with her partner. This was a great opportunity to meet her and learn about how to actually care for our child once here!

I chose to use my placenta for smoothies and pills, which Jenn provided to me within 2 days of being home. She also provided a lot of information on how I could/should feel and what to look out for. Since the birth of our baby girl, she has been extremely helpful with breastfeeding - answering all my questions and hands on assessment/assistance to ease my mind that I am doing it correctly. Her passion for breastfeeding is encouraging and motivating. Overall, I am so glad I chose to work with Jenn as my Doula. She has taught me a lot and I feel confident that I could reach out to her in the future with any questions or concerns and she wouldn’t hesitate to offer assistance. I highly recommend working with Jenn if you are interested in a kind, knowledgeable, funny, down to earth doula!

Uraya Wongchaikong Kerr

7/5/2016

I found Jenn from the website and called her right away. Me and my husband met her and went to the detail and decided that we would go with her services. Jen is very professional, intelligent and knowledgeable. She is so kind and very supportive. This is my first child so I didn't know what would happen. Jen came to our home and went to all the details, what to expect when I'm in labor, how to manage pain, what would be the next steps, what the options are during the labour and after delivery. She explained the processes in deep detail with all technical term but made it so simple to understand. Jen is very organized and professional. She gave us choose what our plans and preferences are. My plan was to deliver natually without epidurul and Jen was very supportive. It took me 22 hours in labor and Jen was there all the time to support. She is very patient and told me to relax and tried to use all possible ways to manage the pain. Jen explained me what all the options are  (like epidural, etcs) and let me make decision what to do. I really love working with her and highly recommend her to everyone!! Thank you, Jenn!!

Emily Gildersleeve McDermott

6/26/2016

I decided late in my pregnancy that I wanted to use a doula but wasn't sure where to start. I found Jenn and her team at Prodigious Birth Services through DoulaMatch. Jenn was very responsive and we had an initial phone consult which was helpful for me to get a sense of what I wanted for my birth experience. We set up a time for her to come with her partner (and backup doula) to review labor and delivery preparation and discuss a birth plan. Jenn focuses on evidence-based support and will provide as much information as possible to inform the best choices for you and your labor/birth experience. My OB determined that i would need to be induced with the use of Pitocin which went against my wishes for going into labor on my own with intermittent fetal monitoring and a hep lock IV. Despite these setbacks, Jenn was completely supportive to help me have as much as the labor experience as I wanted, helping me through the contractions with support from my husband and mom. When it was determined that I had to have a C-section, Jenn was very supportive and even recommended a sheet to be used in the OR that would allow me to see my son being born. It made the whole experience much more personal. She helped me nurse my son Andrew in the recovery room and provided breastfeeding support afterwards. Jenn was knowledgeable, understanding, and helped me advocate for myself inasmuch as it was possible. I would highly recommend her as a doula!

Katy Carkuff

6/20/2016

Jenn was gracious enough to come to our home to teach us infant, child and adult CPR, and to give me and our newborn a lactation consultation.  I cannot say enough good things about her...she was knowledgeable, incredibly helpful, prompt, efficient, calm, patient, reassuring, willing to help us with anything we asked...basically a dream for brand new parents!  In addition to the CPR class, she had many helpful tips on breastfeeding that I have implemented with success.  She really helped bolster our confidence too. A++!

Hillary Clement

12/28/2015

I’m way overdue in writing this review and I can say that when I look back on my labor and delivery experience nine months ago, choosing to have Jenn there with my husband and me was an excellent and essential choice. My husband was hesitant at first about spending the money to hire a doula (saying “Doesn’t the L&D nurse do all the support for you?” The answer to that is no.) but as soon as he met Jenn, he changed his mind and after having her there for what turned out to be a very long labor, he can’t imagine not having had her there. I am so glad and thankful to have chosen Jenn as my doula. She was extremely helpful before, during, and after the birth. Having Jenn's support throughout my long and rough labor encouraged and reassured me. I especially liked that Jenn knew that “this was my birth” and she did not push her views but rather she supported me during all of the decisions I made. When faced with decisions about interventions during labor, Jenn reminded me of what I had wanted in my birth plan but she also supported my decisions when they strayed from the birth plan. She always made sure I fully understood any procedure/intervention and its consequences and she encouraged me to ask my doctors questions. I also appreciated that Jenn knew when to talk to provide encouragement and when to quietly provide support. Jenn has a very encouraging, calming presence (and good humor) and acted as a great sounding board for us. She was excellent to have with us during our whole experience and I highly recommend her.

Amy Zheng

12/4/2015

My husband and I are so thankful for Jenn to be part of our daughter's birth. When Jenn arrived to the hospital, I had already been laboring for a couple of hours. She was able to jump right in and assist me with breathing though my contractions and managing the pain. After several hours of labor, I was not progressing as we had hoped, but Jenn still did everything she could to be there for us. My original birth plan was to have a natural birth, however after laboring for 15 hours, I ended up having to have a C-Section to deliver my daughter. Jenn was so supportive throughout the entire process and stayed with us until the end. I can honestly say that I think I would have mentally not been able to go though the labor process if it wasn't for my husband and Jenn's support. I highly recommend her and would definitely want her at my delivery if I had the experience all over again.

Holly Elizabeth

7/22/2015

In my head ( really more my husband's head), it was a lot more money on top of a hospital bill for which we could not yet plan effectively (natural? c-section? etc... Oh insurance...). I know I needed someone who'd been through this before and could help us make the most informed decisions at the time. We eventually decided to hire one, and there's only one thing I can say: Jenn is gold. Due to things out of either of our control, my birth was far from my plan and Jenn was the perfect hybrid of support and guidance through it all. I'm the type of person who is hypersensitive to lectures, forcefulness, attitude or artificial people. So, I have zero patience for people who thow any of that at me. That's not the case with Jenn, which is why we hired her. She genuinely cares for you and wants to see that you're okay, no matter how the birth goes. No matter your birthplan, waiting is 95% of the game. Having another friendly face, who knows what they're doing and knows the right questions to ask to the medical staff at the right times when you're at your most vulnerable, is priceless. She's there for you to support you, to make sure you're comfortable with the decision you make and to empower you through this process. I had a nightmare of a birth: from needing to be induced due to concerns to a doctor who we needed to essentially fire, through deciding that c-section would be the best decision at the time; Jenn was a godsend! Through every step, she supported and empowered me. Even through the follow up post-bith visit, my mother-in-law (who was there) was moved and extremely thankful for Jenn's knowledgeable words and endless compassion. I experienced a significant amount of anxiety, post birth, and my mother-in-law noticed from an outside perspective, how Jenn's compassion and knowledge was able to put me at ease. She really proved to be the standard against which all doulas should be measured. We will most certainly be hiring her again!

Katya Polyakova

6/17/2015

Jenn is fantastic, I cannot recommend her highly enough! First of all, she is extremely knowledgeable about the birthing process. I am a first time mom and was very nervous about the whole process, but Jenn's confidence and experience helped me to feel much more at ease, both when i was at home and in the hospital.

Second, she loves what she is doing. You can see that this is her passion and not just business. She will be there for you as long as you need her and will be happy to help in al possible ways.

My labor was long and started to get exhausting, so I started considering having an epidural. Jenn gave me a confidence that I can continue with a non-medicated birth and she used a variety of pain management techniques (rebozo, suggesting to take a shower, advising how to breath etc) to help me through the process. As a result I was able to have a non-medicated birth as I originally planned. I know for sure that I wouldn't be able to do it without her. She never imposed any decisions on me, but instead empowered me and helped to manage the pain.

After I gave birth, Jenn came to visit us at home and once againg was extremely helpful with her advice on breasfeeding, postpartum period and many other things I had questions about. I thought I read a lot of books and already knew most of the information, but Jenn opened my eyes on many more things and also helped to reduce my level of anxiety about new experiences.

If you are considering hiring a doula, Jenn is a fantastic choice. I would definitely recommend her to any mother-to-be. You can count on having her by your side and being your best advocate!

Nora Achrati

6/16/2015

Jenn is an encyclopedia of all things birth- and baby-related, and she's an excellent communicator and really fun person to boot. My husband, who was doula-skeptical, really enjoyed learning from her -- massage and comfort techniques, the childbirth process generally, and specifics about what we could expect from our place of delivery. My OB was floored -- she said she's never had a better rapport with a doula. And I was grateful to have her support and advice throughout. For the record, nothing about our birth went as my husband and I had anticipated, but having Jenn there gave us the peace of mind to make the best decisions for our baby.

Kamakshi SB

5/19/2015

Jenn was wonderful to work with! She was very positive and supportive and always responded to my emails/texts so quickly. She was very positive during prenatal sessions while i experienced a lot of stress due to gestational diabetes, she was very knowledgeable and a helpful advocate for me. She also helped me make an important decision to decline an induction which would most likely have ended in a 2nd c-section, but thanks to her support and wisdom, i was able to have a successful and natural VBAC!

Lauren Serpati

3/10/2015

Working with Jenn was one of the best choices we made for our first child birth.  She knows her stuff and communicates it clearly and succinctly. She is also really open to all different kinds of experiences/approaches. If it wasn't for her being there with me during the hardest part of my labor, Im not sure I would have been able to stick to my birth plan and stay focused on the hypnobirthing techniques.  Once the birth is over, her breastfeeding counseling was very valuable since you really don't know what you're getting into until it's time to feed the baby for the first time. If you have concerns about breastfeeding and this is something you really want to do, I would highly recommend Jenn as your doula to help you through it all! She also encapsulated the placenta for us!

Allison Carmack

2/18/2015

If you plan to breastfeed and you don't think you'll need a consultant - you're wrong.

I knew breastfeeding wasn't going to be easy but I had no idea how complicated it could get.

I took a class with Jenn "That's What They're There For" and I learned so much - very beneficial and helped with preparing to breastfeed! But the real learning happens when your baby arrives. I learned very quickly that you can plan all you want but the second baby is here - she calls all the shots and mom is no longer in control.

Everyone said the first 2 weeks were going to be tough - so when breastfeeding was excruciating for the first 2 weeks - I didn't think to ask for help. It wasn't until a bad case of engorgement/ clogged duct and cracked nipples that my mom MADE me call for reinforcements.... cue Jenn Carlson!

SHE SAVED MY LIFE. Not only did she help me fix the physical problems, she gave me the tools to keep going and the confidence that in the end my baby and I would get to where we wanted to be. She also kept reiterating that I was doing a great job, which as a new mom, was priceless to hear ??

Jenn went above and beyond to help me through mastitis, engorgement, thrush and cracked nipples. I'm a natural remedy momma and she went out of her way to research how to heal my ailments naturally! (PS raw garlic cures mastitis!)

Jenn deserves to charge a higher consulting fee and I told her as much. I would've paid a lot more knowing what I know now.

Do yourself a favor - don't try and reinvent the wheel - just ask Jenn!

Sarah Lynn Gale

1/5/2015

I had an extremely positive experience with Jenn as my doula. She enabled me to maintain my level-headedness and trust my instincts in pregnancy, in labor and after birth. She helped both my husband and I stay calm and comfortable during labor and was a positive presence throughout our labor experience. But the thing we liked most about Jenn was that she is so knowledgable without ever being condescending or judgemental. She really listens to you and answers the questions that you ask. It was easy for us to trust her in only a few meetings.

Areana Q

12/29/2014

After interviewing several local doulas I met with Jenn and knew right away that I wanted to work with her, I liked her honest, no nonsense approach. I appreciated that she was warm and friendly but also highly professional. I have experience working in the field of maternal and child health so I was already approaching my pregnancy and delivery with some knowledge in hand. It was great to have some of that knowledge validated by Jenn and I learned more from working with her. My delivery did not go as planned (as they often don't) as my son decided to make an apperance three weeks early and I had to be induced. Jenn still managed to make herself available. She came to the hospital as I was transitioning into the final stage of labor and her presence there was calming and very welcome. She reminded me when to breath, provided relazation techniques, and worked well with my friend who was there to coach me through the birth. Despite having been induced I was able to get through the delivery without any other medications or interventions. After the birth I contacted her because I was concerned about breastfeeding and how long it would take for my milk to come. She reassured me that all was well and that sometimes inductions result in a little delay in when the milk arrives.  A little over a week after the birth she came over to check in and help with tips on breastfeeding. I'm a single mom and don't have family locally. While I have a great support system in place, having Jenn as extra pregnancy and birth support was invaluable. I would highly reccomend her to anyone looking for someone to help them through pregnancy and delivery.

Katie Fowler

11/18/2014

As first time parents to be, we knew that we wanted to have a doula present at our daughter's birth.  After several personal recommendations for Jenn Carlson and an interview we knew that she was the doula for us.  We were confident with her experience, knowledge, and passion for assisting parents through the birthing process.  On the day of our daughter's birth, Jenn was eagerly by my side, guiding my actions, reassuring me of my progress, and supporting us both emotionally and physically.  Her calm voice and gentle touch eased my pain and allowed me to have the birth experience I had hoped for, pitocin and epidural free.  She was a tremendous blessing as we welcomed our daughter into the world.  We could not have done it without her and she will always be a special part of our family.

~Katie and Tony

Amelia Cohen-Levy

11/12/2014

I reached out to Jenn while pregnant with my second child. I had a lot of trouble nursing my first and Jenn's no-nonsense, straightforward, "that's what they're there for" class was just what I needed. Her kindness, compassion, and candor helped me build confidence in my instincts. She encouraged me to forget the past and the clutter of conflicting advice. Instead, I was to study the mechanics, trust myself, and call if I needed anything.

When the going got tough during the first week, Jenn made a house call. She worked with my son and I, made some great suggestions, and reinvigorated my faith in myself. My son is now over two months and has gained 4.5 pounds exclusively breastfeeding. Plus, I have a stash in the freezer for going back to work. All due to her guidance.

I highly recommend Jenn to anyone who is looking for nursing support. She's the best!

Katie Evans

11/12/2014

Our experience with Jenn was wonderful! She is both professional and personable, which in this type of situation was crucial. She did a great job of listening to the type of birth experience we wanted and provided the needed support to make it happen. I appreciated all the information we covered beforehand and the practical ways to implement what we discussed. When I went into labor, I felt prepared and the day of she advocated for our desires. It was a beautiful expereince. I also appreicated the meeting afterwards to reflect,  and ask questions with a professional.

Lily Whitesell

11/12/2014

We are so glad we decided to have Jenn Carlson as our doula for our son's birth. Jenn was great. She is very down to earth, centered and has a great sense of humor. She understood our preferences and she followed our lead, guiding us along the way.

After the initial interview, she met with us twice at our home. She distilled the information that we would truly need for the day of and to prepare ourselves very well. Our meetings with her were a great complement to the birth classes, and we felt very well informed. Jenn knew just what to expect at the hospital we were delivering at and with the practice we had decided to go with - the GWU Midwives. Because she was so knowledgeable, we were able to have rich conversations during the prenatal visits.

On the day of labor, her expertise and guidance were excellent. When labor got intense, it was wonderful to have a calm, steady, knowledgeable presence who was there for us. She listened and heard what we wanted and hoped for and helped us achieve it. We were so happy with what she did for us. She was a great fit for us and I would without hesitation recommend her very highly.

- Lily, Andres and Baby Inti

Alahna Kellogg

11/5/2014

Jenn was amazing!!! I just had my fourth child in september, and having Jenn as my doula was the best. I had to be induced but I want to  go natural with no pain meds. Jenn helped me finally get the birthing experience that I always wanted. The births of my first 3 children did NOT go the way I wanted and I knew this was my last chance to experience labour. Jenn worked with me and my husband to prepair us for our big day. when the time finaly came Jenn was at my side, she was supportive and calm. I honestly could not have done it without her. she was able to keep me focused and remind me that my beautiful daughter was almost here. once the birth was over she made sure I was being taking care of. with her help I was able to enjoy my birth expierence and I will be forever greatfuL.

Jenn is also a LC and she was able to help me and my daughter get off to the right start with breastfeeding she is supportive and was always avaible to answer my questions.

Sheila Anthony

8/22/2014

Jenn and I met at my birth for the very fist time.  She was the on call Doula who stepped in for my Doula.  She was awesome. She entered the room as my labor was getting intense and she got right down to the nitty gritty.  She immediately supported me and made me and my husband feel comfortable and secure.  We had a great experience working with Jenn and would recommend her as a Doula.

Melanie Spence

8/12/2014

My husband and I selected Jenn as our Doula for several reasons: (1) she provided us with the most comprehensive set of information about childbirth and her role in the process, (2) she had quite a bit of experience working with women who wanted to have a natural, unmedicated delivery in the hospital setting and (3) her familiarity with hypnobirthing as a pain management tool.  Jenn was able to provide specific answers to our questions and seemed very knowledgable on a variety of child birth topics.  During the pre-natal consultations, she walked us through the labor process, demonstrated useful techniques with the rebozo, provided feedback on our birth plan and answered all of our questions.  I had a relatively quick delivery (labored at home for 12-14 hours and went straight to labor and delivery) however she was present for the final hours and provided valuable support both to me and my husband which helped us to have the birth experience for which we had planned.  During the post natal visit, she provided breastfeeding support and encouragement and also answered our questions about infant care during the early days.  She is a sympathetic listener who provided us with practical guidance throughout every step of the process.  I would recommend Jenn for anyone looking for an experienced and supportive doula for their birthing process.

Lori Steenhoek

7/25/2014

Jenn was absolutely wonderful and I would recommend her without any reservations!! She was very approachable and open to our birth ideas and plans, without pushing anything on us. She took the time to go over tons of information with us on the stages of labor, writing a birth plan, what to pack for the hospital, post-partum recovery, breastfeeding, and so on. She was also super-organized with all the paperwork/billing and answered all my calls, emails, and text messages very promptly. Though our daughter's birth didn't go at all as planned (she was born via C-section after an induction), Jenn was still there at the hospital with us, and she helped coach me through my first breastfeeding attempt. Jenn is a wonderful doula and I hope to use her services again when it's time for baby #2.

Emily Rhineberger

7/22/2014

Jenn was a great help in preparing for my first child. Both over the phone and in person, Jenn was warm and engaging. She had answers to questions I didn't even know I had! It was a great relief for both me and my husband to feel like someone else was going to help us out. And while my son came so early that Jenn was not able to attend the birth, she asked the back-up doula for updates and was there in spirit. Her postpartum visit was also helpful so don't miss it- breastfeeding support is critical!

Jen Kim

4/15/2014

We are so lucky to have had Jenn walk us through what to expect during labor and delivery. She is warm, engaging, and had lots of great ideas and information. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, but Jenn's steady, practical advice helped ease our nerves. She was indispensible as we went into labor. She has great instincts and knew just how to support me and my husband. We couldn't imagine being in the delivery room without her! I hope you are able to experience Jenn's services first-hand; I'm positive it will enhance your birth experience.

Megan Hustings

4/1/2014

As first time parents, we weren't familiar with doulas, but our experience with Jenn has made us true belivers in the field. After interviewing several doulas, we chose to work with Jenn for her professionalism, her knowledge (as a childbirth educator, lactation consultant and doula!), and her warm and calming nature.

In our two meetings before labor, Jenn made sure we were armed with all the information we could possibly have about what to expect in labor and after, she even gave us a rebozo to practice with. In the weeks surrounding my due date, Jenn was always available to answer my questions and calm my freak-outs. When labor was finally imminent, Jenn arrived quickly and set about explaining the induction process to us, helping us keep in mind the birth plan we had drafted.

Neither myself or my partner would have made it through labor as well as we did (induced, but no meds!) without Jenn's humor, reassurance and encouragement. She led us through various poses and helped me keep my calm and breathing measured when contractions got to be their strongest. She kept a close eye on my partner too, forcing him to take a break before our little darling made her appearance.

Throughout all, Jenn has been an indespensible resource and support for our journey into parenthood! She has been eager and available to answer any questions we have had, and has communicated with us clearly and quickly. I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience, or for a more capable and warm doula to help us through!

Jamie Rickerson

11/14/2013

We were blessed to have Jenn as a doula for the birth of our first child. Prior to the birth she met with us a few times during which we got to know one another and she familiarized us with the birthing process, as well as techniques to prepare for and relax during the big event. Throughout our relationship, she was available, knowledgeable, non-judgmental, compassionate, and easy going. She had a great knack for impartially translating medical jargon into easy to understand language--providing both overview and a spot-on level of detail across the spectrum of procedures and possible scenarios. During our labor, which was induced using multiple techniques (beginning with physical and ending with chemical), she was wholly attentive and supportive to both me and my husband throughout the entire process clear through successful initiation of breast feeding and beyond.

Jenn is a true gem. We cherish having had the opportunity to work with her professionally and consider her a good friend.

Inessa Kaufman

10/5/2013

Jenn was wonderful.  I ended up needing a c-section since my baby was breech.  She was there for me before, during and even after the c-section.  She came over and helped me with breast feeding and pumping.  She went over some things I didn't know.  After her visit, I was able to breastfeed my baby!  I hope to built a relationship with Jenn and that our communication won't stop here!

thank you Jenn!