Alexis and Adam

7/3/2023

I found Mariola through the Swedish Doula program and am SO glad I chose her. 
We did not have a doula at our first birth, and after induction, it became one medical intervention after another. I wanted this birth to be different - to go into labor naturally and listen to my body. Mariola helped with that immensely. She listened carefully to what I wanted and talked me through how to get there. I appreciated that she has a big focus on positive affirmations, mindfulness, and coaching through the pain. 
During the birth, she worked very well with my partner. She provided counter pressure, massage, and cold towels as I needed. She suggested we try different things like moving to the tub. She affirmed my progress and encouraged me along the way. 
After the birth, she brought us food, pillows, drinks, blankets - anything we needed. Since she is a doula at Swedish, she had access and familiarity with all of those things. 
Mariola helped make my birth one that I will think back on with pride and satisfaction. She is a strong, quiet presence and gave me and my partner just what we needed in each moment. I highly recommend her. 

Morgan A.

3/6/2022

Mariola was amazing. We highly recommend her. She intuited what I needed and took action immediately - massage, rocking on my feet, cold face cloths, etc, and helped my partner support me as well.  Post birth she made sure I ate – even fed me when needed! She was just so warm and supportive to me and my partner; if she told me she is an empath I would not be surprised. I can’t imagine this birth experience without her, in fact I wish she’d been at my previous births as well! THANK YOU, Mariola!!

Julia & Grant

10/5/2021

We were extremely nervous going into our first pregnancy, especially with our baby having some potential health issues. From the very beginning, Mariola took so much stress out of the experience and was a reassuring presence the entire time. She truly took care of us as if we were family and was there for us every step of the way. She was always ready to come over to help us with any questions, walking us through our birth plan, and simply being a light of positivity, while also not sugar-coating things. She showed up at the hospital early, went to get us a much needed meal, and handled countless other tasks for us that took a lot off of our plate. She was an expert throughout the process, but especially during labor/delivery and helped us get through it calmly and did things the right way with so many helpful suggestions. 

Sarah

3/2/2021

As first time parents, our family has been so fortunate to have Mariola's guidance for the first four postpartum and newborn months. At the initial meeting, Mariola met with us to see if we would be a good fit but didn't pressure us, suggesting we meet with other doulas before committing. Once we started working together, scheduling was very flexible - we started with multiple nights and days in the first two months, then switched to days only once the baby started sleeping through the night. Because Mariola helped us a few nights a week, we were able to get some much needed solid sleep without being on constant alert for the baby.

Perhaps the best part of working with Mariola is her calm presence and wealth of knowledge. In the early days, Mariola helped me with breastfeeding and milk storage advice. When I had no idea what to do with a newborn, she helpfully lent me a book on the topic. She was always a voice of reason whenever some new worry popped into our heads. Also, our baby loves Mariola! She plays with him on the playmat/around the house, takes him on walks to the nearby parks, and entertains him while he swims in the bathtub. Mariola really cares about our son, and it's great to have someone we trust watching over the baby!

Last but not least, Mariola's cooking is delicious. Stuffed peppers, grilled fish, homemade gnocchi, steaks...we've loved it all! Thank you, Mariola!

Hayley Lawrence

3/1/2021

Welcoming Mariola into our home for postpartum support has been incredible. My husband and I were not fully prepared for the toll that sleep deprivation would have on us and Mariola's support has been invaluable. In the early days she also helped me work through breastfeeding challenges. Her calming presence and insane knowledge of all things baby will serve any family extremely well! 

Katie

12/7/2020

Mariola was very attentive and available during my pregnancy and helped prepare us for different possible birth experiences. My water ended up breaking 11 days before my due date and long before my labor began. I immediately texted her from home and she was available throughout the process of being checked at the hospital and the midwives decision-making which eventually ended in induction. She was supportive and helpful throughout my birth process in ways I never imagined I'd want or need. My husband called her a magician as she'd anticipate my needs and then pull out the perfect prop to assist! At one point I was sweating and she pulled out a hand fan. At another, she pulled out LED candles during a bath. She helped remind me to breath, move in ways to decrease contraction pain, and was an overall calming presence. She made me feel at ease and comfortable throughout labor and delivery, even though it didn't go as I'd hoped or planned. 

Mariola was also incredibly available and helpful postpartum. We got in touch with her numerous times with questions about breastfeeding and swaddling and she provided incredibly helpful advice that helped soothe our newborn. She also visited 2 weeks postpartum and was very kind and encouraging. I would highly recommend using her as a doula and hope to have her again if and when we have a second child.

Maria Lozenova

10/23/2018

I had an amazing experience with Mariola deliverying complelty naturally my first child - a beatiful baby dauther. Mariola is very calm, knowledgable, has a sense of humor and is toughful about both helping but also giving mom and dad time and space to experience the joy of the expecting delivery. She was a great advocate for my needs, she brought me coloring books in the hospital to help the time pass. in the last hour before delivery she helped me take  a bath to help me relax. Her calm and caring attitidue was a tremendous help and reassurance for me as a first time mom.

Moreover, the first week after delivery she showed me how to properly brestfeed and what the baby latch should be. As a result I never suffered bleeding nipples or other problems and breastfeeding became one of my favorite experience for bodnign with my baby.

I would highly recommend Mariola and would use her services again if i am to have another child.

Megan Davies

4/30/2018

Mariola was a calming, knowledgeable source about everything birth-related for us. We appreciated her advice and counsel on issues leading up to birth as well as birth itself. I had a very long and painful labor, and Mariola provided me some of my only moments of peace. She helped me make decisions when I needed to, and she helped me to breastfeed for the first time. If she hadn’t taken that initiative, I think breastfeeding would have been much more difficult for me later on. I’m very grateful to Mariola for helping keep me and my son safe and happy during our birth experience.

Ihunanya Ugwuh

8/19/2017

As first time parents we did not know what to expect from childbirth. All we knew was that we wanted a birth with little or no medical intervention. Mariola was a tremedous support before, during, and after childbirth.

Before childbrith, Mariola suggested and talked us through various pain management techniques that could be useful during labor. She was so patient in explaining concerns we had about labor.

During childbirth, Mariola's calming presence helped us stay calm and breathe through the contractions. Her massage techniques also helped to ease mum's back pain.

After childbirth, Mariola still kept in touch and visited us to see how we were doing. She provided breastfeeding support to mum and gave baby an infant massage while teaching us the massage techniques along the way.

Overall, Mariola was kind (I mean genuinely kind), supportive and attentive to our needs. We would never have asked for a better doula and we look forward to having Mariola around again for baby No 2!

Nanya & Efesa, Seattle WA

kelly jensen

10/3/2016

Mariola made our birth experience everything we wanted it to be. Without her, we would not have been able to accomplish the vaginal birth we were aiming for.

I hoped to get through as much of the birth as possible without getting an epidural. Before I went into labor, she discussed this with me to make sure we were on the same page about how strongly she should try to talk me out of pain medication if I was to request it during labor. She came prepared with information about positions we should try, including positions that are safe with an epidural, and resources to reference should the nurses disagree about trying different positions with epidural.

During labor, she was my advocate and a strong and confident coach (encouraging me into new positions, challenging me to try 15 more minutes, then 15 more, until 8 hours had gone by). She was respectful and considerate, checking in with me when the time was right about what kind of visualizations were helping most, making sure I drank plenty of water. She involved my husband in the process and gave him suggestions of what to do to help me best.  When I labored in the tub, she told him to get in with me to squeeze my hips to relieve pain.  It was very romantic.  Mariola was practical, gritty, focused and determined. I don’t believe she left the room more than twice during the entire 8 hours of active labor. She was knowledgeable and not afraid to get hands on.  At some point during the thick of active labor I heard the nurse say to her, "I never give out compliments - but you are an amazing doula."

After 8 hours the labor had stalled. I got the epidural. After another 6 hours the doctor stated we would need to switch to c section if things did not progress. Mariola put on a dance playlist and we danced the baby out, and in 2 hours we had gone from 5cm to 10cm and were ready to push.  My husband and I agree that Mariola brought out the best in our delivery.

Elizabeth Mary

3/24/2016

Choosing Mariola as my Doula was one of the best decisions I made for the labor and delivery of my first child.

Mariola is dedicated to each woman she works with.  I chose Mariola because during my interivew with her she came across as competent, interested, informed and excited about my birth experience. I  also learned that she offers a Dancing for Birth class. I thought it would be a great opportunity to not only get some exercise but to also get specific exericse that would help widen my pelvis and provide a routine or ritual that would be helpful during labor. Additionally, attending the Dancing for Birth class would give me an opportunity to get to know Mariola better by providing me with more interactions with her.

My husband and I attended a birth class offered by Overlake hospital (we ultimately went with Swedish Issaquah). To a certian point, the class helped us prepare us with some knowledge and practical tasks that were meant to us get through the Labor. My husbnand was a great "Dude-la" but even he could only help me so much. There came a point when i could no longer bear the pain. Having Mariola there helped me to focus and push past that first breaking point. I could bear more pain for longer because she taught me how to relax by giving me actions (such as massaging my own legs) and words that I could draw on when she wasn't around (I labored for 2 days with a morphine shot in the middle with instructions to sleep and eat).

One of my "favorite" parts of labor is that I did actually dance to relieve the pain. Mariola brought some of the music that we danced to during the class and I bounced and swayed to the rythms of the songs.

Ultimately having Mariola helped me to have an "unmedicated" delivery w/o uncessary intervantions because I could labor at home for longer. I'd choose Mariola again. Also, I count Mariola as my daughter's first friend in the world.

James Wong

2/11/2016

Mariola Klein is a highly confident, competent, and compassionate Doula whom we are so very happy to have hired and recommend to future baby parents! My wife’s pregnancy lasted over 25 hours due to the unexpected or unforeseen circumstance and by having Mariola next to our side, she was able to help my wife cope with each surge wave and also suggest highly effective methods to help the delivery of our baby go into the right direction. Personally, if you’re a person that is about to have their first child and you would like to try to deliver your baby vaginally with no medical interventions, I recommend at least seeking out a Doula to help you prepare and plan for your deliver because our baby’s are important and worth our time to do a thorough job of researching.

Sabira Arefin

11/20/2015

If you can’t have your mother with you when you give birth, the next best thing is Mariola. She’s one of the most compassionate and caring people I’ve ever known. She’s knowledgeable and experienced about birthing techniques and massage, and made a very difficult labor much easier and shorter for me.
I felt a true connection with her the first time we met and I hired her. It was one of the best decisions of my life and she turned out to be an angel in disguise. Prior to the birth, she shared so much information about what to expect and gave me massages that eased my back pain during the last days of pregnancy.My baby was overdue and during those last days of pregnancy I was in considerable discomfort. Mariola taught me moves and positions that made me more comfortable throughout the last stages of pregnancy and was there to cheer me up during the most difficult pain.
The birthing experience began at 4 a.m. Mariola regularly called to check on me and when she couldn’t reach me that morning, she went to the hospital. I was so touched.

I had a very difficult and complicated labor and Mariola spent two nights with me providing reassurance between each contraction. She gave me massage throughout the long nights to help ease the pain, helping me try new positions, making the bathtub ready, and bringing me water. The decision was finally made to do a C-section.section.
Mariola’s caring and compassion didn’t stop there. She came and helped me at home after the surgery when I had no one, giving me continual encouragement. She took beautiful photographs of me and the baby, capturing our first special moments together.
I am so grateful to Mariola for all the physical, mental and emotional support she provided and the many kindnesses she showed me. She was truly my angel on Earth when I needed one most and had no other support during a difficult labor, delivery and post-surgery recovery.

LB V

8/8/2015

My husband and I took several childbirth classes and read lots on the topic. Thinking we were well equipped and prepared for an unmedicated birth, we felt we did not need a doula. We were wrong, I did not achieve an unmedicated birth. After that, I was scared, and unconfident that I could have an unmedicated birth with my second, even with a doula so hesitated to find one. This led to a late decision that I wanted to try to go unmedicated, again; however, I would need a doula this time to do it. After meeting Mariola, I immediately felt confident in her abilities as a doula. Even though there was such a short time before my due date, Mariola went out of her way to get to know me and my preferences, prepare me, and always “checked in” with me. She went above and beyond my expectations of a doula. When I went into labor, Mariola was there when I needed her to be 110%. She used her knowledge and experience to provide suggestions for positions, progression, and making sure my birth plan was adhered to. She also provided physical comfort (massage, counter pressure, breathing, etc.) for much wanted pain relief. Having her next to me took away some of my fear and her emotional support was reassuring that things were well and I could do it. In the end, I achieved an unmediated birth. I believe, I would not have been able to do it without Mariola. My husband agrees that having Mariola as our doula made the difference from the first unsuccessful attempt at an unmedicated birth to the second successful attempt achieving an unmedicated birth. Following the birth, Mariola was still offering support with visits, “checking in”, and offering resources. I could rave more but will overall say, I would not hesitate to recommend Mariola to friends (or anyone) looking for a doula as she exceeded my doula expectations and would for others, as well. As a side note, even though no longer pregnant, I would recommend her for massage, too!

Yuliya Chepurko

6/26/2015

If you want to have a natural birth and an amazing experince Mariola Klein should be your Doula. The moment i saw her, i knew i met the right person. When she walking inside my house it felt like an angel flue in home...She has a huge passion in what she does. From day one she was always there to answer my questions. It was so easy to talk to her, so after about 5 minutes of knowing her i felt like i was talking to my best friend! She is such an easy going person and goes out of her way to make you smile. I felt extremely comfortable with her and i knew i can trust her with my  baby because you can just tell that she ACTUALLY cares!!! My baby was born on May 28, 2015 and i dont know what i would do without her. She was there for me literally EVERY SECOND at the hospital. I never even made one step without her help!!! Mariola was the only support i had and it was all support i need it. You will never regret if you have her as a doula. I came from Ukraine therefore i have a different beliefs when it comes to birth and Marila met all of my expectation. She have a very strong belief in natural birth and if your doctors offer you an epidural or c section she will be there 100% to get that baby out without any medications. She knows what she is doing and you should trust her. Having Mariola as my Doula makes me want to have more babies because i know she would help me to get them out safe. My older son who is 2 years old fell in love with her because she so kind... Mariola Klein took pictures of Baylees birth and they are precious! I cant say enough about her... I am just thanking God for meeting such a carring person and i would recommend her to anyone who trully wants a natural birth. Thank you, Mariola!!! Thank you SO MUCH!

Sarah Peachey

10/16/2014

Mariola Klein was my doula about 3 1/2 months ago and I can truly say without her I wouldn't have had the wonderful birthing experience that i did. I didn't realize that my doctor was not into natural births at all.I thought I asked all the right questions but Once in the hospital I felt that all she wanted to do was hook me up to monitors, get me induced and possibly even give me a "C" section. I will never use that doctor or refer her to anyone. Mariola's support in the months leading upto Josephine's birth and in the birthing room were tremendous. Her encouragement was vital and she is now a part of the family. She is kind, patient, supportive, encouraging and extremely knowledgable. Josephine was my first baby and we did it without the use of painkillers or induction. I was over by 1 week and 5 days and I will never have a baby without Mariola's support. I could write a novel about her. I had interviewed several doulas before meeting with Mariola. It was a job to them. Once you meet Mariola you realize this is so much more to her. It's her passion, and I am so thankful I had her strength supporting me.