Leland Rayner

11/1/2024

Gabe came highly recommended to us.  We now consider her an honary family member!  Gabe is smart, knowledgeable, intuitive, hospital savvy, warm, poised, a consummate professional I wholeheartedly trust with those I love the most.    Everyone's birth and postpartum journey is sacredly unique.  One can read and educate themselves to the gills, but NOTHING will truly prepare you for YOUR experience.  When we were in those precious, nerve wracking moments, having Gabe to in our corner was an absolute blessing.  My wife's birth journey had many twists and turns, with multiple trips to the hospital, back labor, vommiting...  We had difficult decisions to make through this lengthy and painful rite of passage, and I believe that Gabe brought the best out of all of us.  Looking back, I have nothing but love and gratitude for the whole experience and I wouldn't change anything. I will never forget when Gabe came over to our house for the first time when my wife was deeply in labor.  She was having 1 minute contractions every 3-4 minutes.  I was trying to keep it cool, but internally I was freaking out.  My wife was in incredible pain and I was overthinking everything.  As soon as Gabe stepped in the room, the energy shifted.  It was a viseral grounding sensation.  The way she walked, the way she talked, the way she touched, EVERYTHING she did was in service to bring our son to the world.  The vibe changed from then on, and whatever was thrown our way we had the strength and presence to endure it.  My wife ended up giving birth vaginally without an epidural (which as our hope). Gabe's postpartum guidance was beyond helpful as well.  Belly wraps, sitz baths, reiki, lactate consultant recommendations, nutrition best practices, you name it!  She was indispensible for every step of the journey. Hiring Gabe was our best baby investment, hands down! 

Will and Emily

8/19/2024

We are so happy we hired Gabe to be our doula. My wife was pregnant with our first baby and trying for a natural (as possible) childbirth was important to both of us. Pre-labor, Gabe met with us multiple times and helped elicit our hopes and goals for the birth, and create a birth plan. She provided helpful (and visually pleasing) materials on natural methods to induce labor. She has a can-do, confident attitude which helped ease our anxiety going into the labor process. 

In labor itself, she was totally indispensable. My wife was induced and had rapid-fire contractions from the start, and was quickly in a lot of discomfort and needed a lot of support. Gabe was a calm, positive, tireless presence at the bedside: coaching my wife, providing massage, suggesting different labor positions, and using aromatherapy (which sounded a little woo-woo to me when she was describing it before labor, but helped my wife a lot during labor to distract herself from the pain and tap into something more pleasant emotionally). 

It was really important to me to be there and support my wife throughout the labor, and it was truly an amazing experience to witness -- but it was also exhausting and at times demoralizing (hard to see her hurting, and anxiety-provoking as I worried about her and Baby). For me, this is where Gabe really shined: she was a really good teammate to me, especially during the last few hours of labor -- always making sure I felt comfortable stepping away to go to the bathroom, eat a snack, etc, and stepping up in her support of my wife during those times. 

There is a lot more I originally wrote in this review (all positive--e.g., she worked really well with our medical team), but I had to cut down this review to meet the character maximum. TLDR: we highly recommend Gabe as a doula!

Elliott W.

5/24/2022

My experience with Gabe was in support of my second pregnancy and first Homebirth. She came highly recommended to myself and I would recommend her to anyone;  she sets the highest bar in what to expect from a doula.

She comes into a birthing atmosphere instantly providing a sense of security through her obvious abundance of experience, second only to her seemingly endless capacity for empathy and love that she pours onto you. When you need strength she empowers, when you need guidance she educates, and when you just need some counter pressure and space to focus there is no one you would want more in your corner. She works in great tandem with your birth team and support group coming in as much or as little as needed.

From my partner:

Gabe was professional, personal, and caring through our entire process. Her ability to communicate effectively my partners needs, desires, and my needs ensured we were able to have successful birthing experience. Her ability to read the room, problem solve, and fill the needs of my partner and I were simply incredible. Without her as a part of our birthing team, I am most certain our experience would have not been what it was for us. I am incredibly thankful for her work and expertise she provided my partner in postpartum, it was far beyond what I expected. I would not go through another pregnancy without her.

Kristen Brookshire

6/25/2021

I can’t imagine our birth experience without Gabe. She managed to be the perfect combination of calm, encouraging, firm, gentle, thoughtful, flexible, and more. You can read all the pregnancy and birth books, but experience counts for a lot and that’s what Gabe provided for us. I had a scheduled cesarean for my first birth so we were first timers when it came to labor. We were hoping for a VBAC this time and felt like we would need some extra support to achieve that goal. Looking back, Gabe really had an uncanny ability to predict how I might be feeling and so she suggested strategies in a way that made me feel like we were calmly transitioning and not frantically working our way through a checklist of coping mechanisms. It was really great to not have that responsibility solely on me and my husband! My husband decided that he wanted to catch our son, so while he was down with the midwife, Gabe was up with me holding my hand or putting pressure on my back. We really enjoyed working with Gabe and highly recommend her to anyone who is ready to work with a doula!

Amanda

3/29/2021

Gabe was my doula for my birth and I would highly recommend her! She was very present and listened well and I felt supported. I really enjoyed the lavender pillow she made me and her calm study presence and the way she guided me through what I was experiencing and helped me know what was coming next by keeping me aware of what was happening for me in the moment. I felt held and in great hands.

David

2/23/2021

I am a father who before our son's birth was skeptical of the doula profession altogether. I thought a third person might invade our privacy. Or perhaps I vainly thought I could support my wife on my own. I had never witnessed a labor before. 

In short, Gabe's presence at our son's birth was transformative for me and my wife Janie. She was reassuring, deeply knowledgeable, and created a space for us to bond together - e.g. she did NOT take up too much space on her own. It was truly elegant how Gabe coached and supported my wife, while still letting me play a major supportive role.

She coordinated seamlessly with the midwifes and nurses and advocated on our behalf, with discretion and tact. She is also simply a joy to be around; after our son's birth my wife and I agreed we would very much like to be her friend!

Gabe expertly helped us navigate the more difficult / tense parts of the labor that required major decisionmaking while my wife was in pain. She was able to read my wife's emotions and feelings intuitively in a way that helped us maintain wisdom and poise even during exhaustion. Without Gabe, we may have made decisions differently that might have negatively impacted my wife's labor experience.

Gabe spent so many hours with us before, during, and after the labor. From a financial perspective, her fee was an absolute bargain in my opinion and she would be justified to charge much more.

In a word, we plan to have several more kids, and I will personally do whatever it takes to make sure Gabe is there for each of their births.

Cecilia Hernandez

1/26/2021

Wow, where do I even begin? I would choose Gabe as my doula over and over again if I could. Not only is she warm and knowledgeable as a person, but as a doula, mother, and woman too. Her reassuring and guiding spirit makes you feel like everything is okay even during the hardest parts of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. She was there every step of the way even during these times of COVID and when she has her own life to live. She's also super strong as she allowed me to hang on her with all my weight for a long time during labor! She's just overall amazing. I recommend her without reservation! 

Rebekah De Pass

4/3/2020

To be honest, the reviews I read about Gabe were almost too good to be true-- but we knew from the first moments of meeting her that she was the perfect doula to witness and shape our birth journey.  I was committed to finding a doula that understood our desire for a natural birth AND the possibility that we may need to engage in more conventional hospital based delivery methods.  My husband and I had taken a Hypno-Birthing Class and wanted someone who would acknowledge and use language with us in empowering and practical ways. Finally, we wanted someone with substantial experience in helping us use a wide range of comfort measures (in the hospital we knew we would already be limited and needed an out of the box thinker).  Gabe met all of our criteria and exceeded our expectations at every turn. We ended up calling Gabe earlier than anticipated due to an induction process that didn't go according to plan based on circumstances outside our control. From the moment she arrived, she was a healing force and source of strength for us both. The nursing team asked her name and even wanted her card because she added so much hands on support to me throughout the entire experience - and several of them ( throughout our almost 30 hour experience)  commented that they had never seen a doula as skilled, compassionate, and present as she was. Throughout the most challenging experience of my life, working with Gabe was like having all of my closest sisters and friends show up in the package of a skillful doula. It was like we had known her forever somehow... and she did whatever it took to make our experience a sacred gift. She sang with me, walked with me, comforted me, helped me in and out of clothes ( and situations in the bathroom) I never thought I could be comfortable asking anyone but my husband to do, and she asked the questions that enabled us to transform what could have been traumatic into a beautiful memory to last our whole lives. 

Fatiha

9/6/2019

Initially, Gabe was referred to us by a former doula. We met with her and from that first meeting, I saw how passionate and knowledgable she was about the birth process. 

Throughout my pregnancy, I went back and forth as to whether to hire a doula or a midwife but ultimately decided to go with Gabe towards the end of my second trimester. 

From the moment we hired her, she was very communicative, prompt with responses to any questions, informative, and thorough. If there was something she didn't have the immediate answer to-she'd go do some research and follow up with a recommendation or a resource to look up myself. 

Gabe and I had very candid conversations about my wishes for birth and what to expect. Gabe sharded her books from her library with me which allowed me to be even more informed on the process. Although this was baby #2 there were still many things to learn and Gabe was definitely that pillar of support there from start to finish.

Throughout my birth, Gabe came when I needed her, acted as the liaison between me and the hospital staff, made useful suggestions as to what positions to try to keep the labor progressing and was the calm in the midst of what seemed like a marathon of both tense, and intense periods of labor.

Postpartum, Gabe did my Belly Binding and also showed my mom and husband how to do it to so that we could continue to make use of the practice. 

In short, I highly recommend Gabe as a Doula and would hire her again if we should decide to expand our family in the future!

Carly Bailey

7/26/2019

Gabe was the perfect presence at the birth of our second child.  Her calm, knowledgeable, and intuitive guidance allowed me to labor in a space that felt unobserved and safe.  Her guidance also helped my husband to help me. Gabe was accessible through my pregnancy and incredibly patient through my 25 hour labor. She was wonderful, and I would highly recommend her to anyone considering a doula. 

Sarah

4/14/2019

Gabe was absolutely wonderful and a vital resource during preparation for birth and during labor. Before going into labor Gabe walked us through birth preferences, items needed in my hospital bag, different positions to try while in labor, comfort measure options available, things to do to prepare the body for labor/delivery. Gabe was also essential in preparing my husband for assisting in the laboring process and which hypnobabies prompts and tracks to listen to at different stages, she also reviewed different rebozo strategies for comfort and improving babies position. During labor Gabe was a godsend!!! Not only was Gabe able to provide great advice on positions, apply heat and massage to relax me, she was essential in keeping my husband and I calm throughout the process. My husband and I were so glad to have her there to provide assistance with pushing, explaining options available and her experience with these different options. Even hospital staff were commending her after she left for being so helpful and knowledgeable. Throughout the whole process it was great to know that a well informed and experienced person was on “our side” looking out for our preferences. Gabe will definitely be there for baby #2!

Gretchen

2/28/2019

My husband and I were both beyond pleased with Gabe and her support before, during, and after our baby was born! The prenatal meetings were incredibly hepful - especially paired with our childbirth education class. Gabe also knows our childbirth educator and the Women's Birth and Wellness Center and their midwives incredibly well, which as a huge bonus as we prepared for our birth experience and her wisdom and insight plugged seamlessly into what our midwives were recommending. And, during prenatal appointments at the Birth Center, when a midwife would ask who our doula was, their response was always "We love Gabe, she's great!" My pregnancy and labor weren't as smooth as we hoped, but Gabe was supportive and provided advice on trying to flip a breech baby (he flipped!), induce labor, and other important game-time decisions that needed to be made during labor (which wound up being at the hospital). Her presence during labor was super calming and she gave my husband the confidence he needed to know how to support me during labor. We would both highly recommend her without any reservations. We wouldn't hesitate to lean on her for any future babies!

Amy McKinnis

2/3/2019

I am so thankful for my doula, Gabe.  She was like an angel from heaven to me.  I knew within 1 minute of our initial meeting that Gabe was the perfect fit.  She is centered and serene and the easiest to talk to person I have ever met.  I am a shy and private person, but throughout our 3 prenatal meetings, during labor, and at our folow up visit, I have poured out my heart to Gabe, clung to her like I would my mother or sister, and chatted like I would with an long time friend.  After the birth of my son, I missed Gabe and couldn't wait for our follow up visit.  As I am learning to care for my newborn son, I can hear her gentle voice in my mind, encouragng me - "That's the way.  There you go."  Gabe was a gift from God to me.

In regard to the administrative side of things, Gabe is extremely organized and staight forward.  I never had to wonder about cost or protocol because all the details were in writing.  Gabe was on time for each meeting and was very easy to schedule with.  She went above and beyond our contractual agreement with texts and phone calls following my birth.

I was so grateful to have Gabe to take care of me during my labor.  She gave me confidence to have a beautiful natural birth.  I only planned to have one child, but now, maybe I will do it again.  Thank you, Gabe!

Alicia Frei

11/29/2018

How incredibly thankful I was to have Gabe as my doula for birth of my second babe ?? We contacted Gabe after receiving multiple recommendations for her, and knew from the start she was a fantastic for our family. She’s kind and warm, and instantly puts you at ease. Because it was our first time planning a homebirth, we especially appreciated her experience with supporting mothers and families who chose to birth at home.

We met twice before the birth, and it was a great opportunity to talk about our preferences for support during labor. Gabe was so patient and understanding, and helped me work through some of my fears in anticipation for the birth.

During my labor, Gabe was encouraging and reassuring, offering touch when needed, and reaffirmations to keep me focused. When labor intensified and my contractions had peaked, she was grounded and calm, giving constant physical support and maintaing such a peaceful tone despite the intensity of the situation. Pushing was intense and Gabe never faltered, even when I’m sure my grip tightened and my vocalizations turned to screams. I’m sure I couldnt have birthed our 11lb babe so easily without her support!!

Paget Fink

11/27/2018

Gabe is simply amazing! I couldn't have imagined a more supportive doula to guide us through our second birth experience. She is nurturing, kind, and very attuned to what a birthing woman needs in the moment. The excellent support she provided during my pregnancy and birth was due in large part to her ability to really listen. She took my concerns and questions seriously and always patiently talked me through different options while respecting the importance of listening to my own intuition. I was very happy to realize my first natural birth and first hypnobabies birth with this second baby and her knowledge of both is simply tremendous (she is a certified hypnodoula)! I wholeheartedly recommend Gabe and would have another baby just so she could be our doula!!!

Karen Day

11/8/2018

Gabe has been incredible to work with.  We ended up at the hospital for what was supposed to be a natural labor, but turned into a very long painful induction and then Caesarian section. Through it all Gabe stuck by us always encouraging me through the labor process. Gabe has a very kind and loving soul. She has been a truly incredible doula to work with and I can’t recommend her enough!

Leslie Redmon

6/22/2018

Gabe epitomizes what you’d imagine the perfect doula to be.  Working with her was wonderful! She has such a kind and gentle spirit and was the perfect person to guide us through our pregnancy and birthing experience. As first-time parents, it was important for us to have a neutral and supportive person guiding us along the way; someone who would support not only me as the birthing mother, but my husband too. She made us feel completely at ease and well-informed about all of our options and everything we’d be experiencing during our birthing time. She is gentle and respectful and made us feel completely supported and I am so grateful that we had Gabe by our sides throughout this entire journey. I would never have another baby without Gabe!!

Ariana Vigil

4/19/2018

Gabe Lazarus was a great doiula - she was very attentive to and respectful of my wishes, she helped me think through various aspects of the (planned) birth experience, and offered guidance and recommendations in a very supportive manner. I felt very well-supported and like we were on the same page.

Jacqueline Pagnotta

3/26/2018

Our experience with Gabe was truly amazing. I had never known anyone who had a doula before so it was a new concept for us. I can honestly say it was truly the reason I think we have our sweet baby. Gabe was the most patient, kind and supportive women during our pregnancy. She was committed to us and stayed with us for on/off 3 days until our baby made her grand appearance. Even in the most difficult moments she remained nonjudgmental supportive and unbias in any way. She provided support not only to me but to my husband in somewhat scary moments for our family. She remained calm and supportive througout the entire delivery.

Prior to the delivery Gabe met with us and reassured us of the process. She provided resources and affirmations for our family. After the delivery she took her time in processing the birth and our changing life. She provided Reiki and belly binding services as well. Again, she was patient, kind and reassuring in all of these. She is such a dynamic person- kind, smart, genuine and supportive. We are so grateful she came into our lives and know that she is the reason we did not have to have a c section.

We would 120% recommend her to someone and know that she will help make someone elses birth experience just as special.

Thank you GABE!!

Jennifer DeCesari

3/16/2018

Gabe was wonderful!  Being on my 4th pregnancy and having had a doula before I knew much of what I needed in a doula and the type of support I wanted and Gabe was a perfect match.  We met a few times before I went into labor and she answered any questions I had.  I was in prodormal labor for several weeks before my son was born and she was wonderful in keeping in touch and making sure my husband and I were handling it well.  The night I went to the hospital was thankfully slow and we told Gabe to stay home until the next morning and when she came the next day she was able to help me labor easily by walking the halls and drawing a bath for me.  It was a great experience.  With her help I was able to hold off on getting an epidural until 10 cm!  This was my ultimate goal and I was more than thrilled to be able to hold off on the epidural until the very end which made pushing and delivery much easier (and the manual extraction of my placenta was much easier too!).  

After a traumatic delivery with #3 Gabe was everything I needed to make #4 not only the calmest and easiest delivery I've had but also the best to recover from.  She's a gem and you would be very lucky to have her help you too!

Gina Arnone

3/7/2018

Gabe was a strong, supportive presence for my husband and me from the first time we met with her, through the final stages of my pregnancy, and during the labor and delivery process.

Prior to hiring Gabe, we met with her in order to get to know each other a bit and to see if we were a good match. (We were!) We found her to be very comfortable to talk with/be with, knowledgeable, and caring. She met with us in our home two additional times before the delivery. During those visits, we discussed our birth plan, as well as techniques my husband could use to help me during labor, among other topics.

Leading up to the day I went into labor, as well as during the early stages of labor, Gabe checked in with me and was readily available to field questions. This was my second baby, but my first experience with labor. My first baby was in a breech position, so I had a scheduled cesarean birth. I really appreciated having someone (much!) more experienced than me as a resource.

That I valued Gabe's presence became very clear to me during one particular moment of my labor... I was in the tub at the hospital, eyes closed in the throes of intense back labor. My husband and Gabe were by my side. Gabe stepped away momentarily to get me a pillow, at which point I opened my eyes and asked my husband in a panic, Where's Gabe?! I was very relieved when she returned not 10 seconds later. Ha!

I had a VBAC with no interventions/medications, as I had hoped, and Gabe played no small role.

My husband adds, "As a father, Gabe's non-judgmental style helped me feel closer to my wife and allowed me to attend to her needs without feeling the full weight of the responsibility of navigating both family and the medical team."

In sum, we are both truly grateful to have had Gabe's support.

Claire Dennis

2/26/2018

Oh my goodness, how do I find words to describe how incredible helpful Gabe’s presence was during the birth of my daughter? Gabe helped my husband and I bring our first baby into the world at Duke Regional. Gabe has a grounding presence and helped us to map out what was important during our birthing time. She has us consider so many things that would have never occ to us on our own. She helped my husband to find his role during our birthing time and helped him to help me, thus bringing us together in ways that we would have otherwise missed. She was a great resource during pregnancy, only a text away when we had random questions pop up. Gabe changed the course of our birthing time. She directed me into to so many helpful positions, massaged me for hours, and provided so much mental and emotional support. She saw cues about the delivery that even the hospital staff missed which ended up being super helpful. I cannot imagine my husband and I navigating that intense time alone. I can’t recommend her enough. It’s an intense experience and makes a HUGE difference to have her support. Thank you, Gabe! We will never forget what we gained from her presense.

Hannah Gatner

1/25/2018

Gabe is such a caring and intuitive doula and a delightful human being.  I will forever sing her praises for the support that she gave me during the birth process and my entire pregnancy.  Her knowledge of pregnancy and labor, and her endless bag of tools from which she draws made her an incredible asset for us. I did not have a doula for the birth of my first child, but was lucky enough to have a very doula-like nurse.  I realized for the second child, however, that that might not always be the case so we sought out Gabe, knowing that we could very well need extra support.  We are so glad that we made that decision, and would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to make sure to have an advocate and support person in the birth room.  During pregnancy she promptly answered any question I had, and during labor was a wealth of ideas and a calming presence. The Reiki sessions during pregnancy and postpartem were also incredibly grounding experiences that I would recommend anyone take advantage of.

Eleanorigby

9/12/2017

Gabe was fantastic! We were so glad to have her with us throughout the birthing process. We decided to have a doula when we discovered we were having twins and thus would pretty much have to give birth in the hospital (birth center doesn't do twins and midwives don't usually either). She was very supportive and informative of all our questions and concerns regarding labor, delivery and hospital protocol. I went into early labor at 34 weeks and progressed very quickly (throwing out our initial idea that we'd labor at home as long as possible) and she met us at the hospital. With shift change of doctors and nurses from night to day and not having met the main doctor, it was so important to me that gabe was a constant and familiar presence and support. She encouraged me throughout and i labored naturally to 9cm overnight. I really feel that my birth experience was a primarily positive one in large part because of Gabe's doula support. She has checked in on us many times since the birth to see how were all doing (my twins were in critical care for 2 weeks) and the belly binding she provides has really helped my belly shrink back down very quickly. I can't recommend Gabe enough, she was very positive and supportive through the whole thing even though twins come with a lot of uncertainties and anticipated complications (mine were relatively normal, just a bit early.) She is a wonderful doula and person.

Jade L

7/12/2017

Gabe was absolutely wonderful! We could not have had the peaceful and open experience we had without her. Some things, due to medical complications, simply did not go according to our birth plan. Gabe's flexibility, courage and tenacity in the face of the labor and delivery process being so unpredicatble was a tremendous comfort for us. Gabe was there every step of the way, making sure that our preferences were honored despite the challenges. She was able to help us see what might be impulsivity versus addressing true suffering. When things took a turn and I needed to accept an epidural to allow my delivery to continue successfully, Gabe responded with grounded clarity and provided a space of non-judgemental support. Even though the the medication was not part of our original plan, with Gabe's support we could see that peacefully gretting our daughter certainly was and that I needed to come to a decision for myself to see that end goal. Ultimately, our beautiful baby girl arrived and we cannot thank Gabe enough for being such an instrumental figure in witnessing and assisting in the welcome of our new family! We cannot thank her enough or recommend her more highly.

Stephanie Gordon

4/12/2017

Gabe was an absolute delight to work with! I felt extremely confident in her knowledge of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. She helped ease my worries when I would have a pregnancy concern. Leading up to labor I had questions about the best ways to help encourage labor to start (I gave birth at 40weeks and 3 days) she gave me suggestions that I would run by my OB and do what I was comfortable with and with no judgment, only support from Gabe!
My labor was quick-ish for a first time mom. I labored at home for a while and was in contact with Gabe. We figured out ways to help labor pick up when it would stall. Before I knew it, it was time for the hospital. Gabe met us there. I was REALLY excited and prepared to not have any kind of pain meds or C-section because I had such an “easy” pregnancy. Not even 10min into labor at the hospital they couldn’t find baby’s heart rate for almost 5min. I became extremely fearful and preparing for the absolute worse. Talk of an emergency C-section was on the table and I feared a stillbirth. Gabe was SO calm, direct, and reassuring with both my husband and I. They found baby’s heart rate and while doctors remained on high alert I was able to relax while trusting my baby and body. We found positions to help encourage good and STRONG contractions! ? Because at that point I had to labor in bed with many monitors. Near the end when I thought “hmmm I wonder what an epidural or pain meds would be like?” I then remembered because of Gabe, that it’s in those moments when the most progress is being made and baby is almost here! 7 hours of labor with my husband and Gabe at the hospital THEN baby arrived! I owe SO much to Gabe and will be FOREVER grateful to her. I am such a worrier and plan for the worse. Had she not been there with her experience and support I shudder at the thoughts of what may have happened. I cannot thank her enough.

Amy Lillquist

4/7/2017

My husband and I met with Gabe for an introduction prior to requesting her doula services.  This was a free initial meeting and was nice to ensure that we were a good match.  After she explained her services and provided paperwork, we hired her as our doula.  We met with Gabe one time prepartum.  It was a beneficial meeting as we were going to be first-time parents.  Gabe educated us on a lot of the basics--what to expect in the delivery room kinds of things.  We were to meet one more time prior to the birth but I went into labor 6 weeks early.  My husband called Gabe on a Saturday morning--six weeks before she was expecting us--and she came to the hospital when it was apparent that I was indeed going to give birth.  She was enormous help and comfort for the labor and delivery.  Since we did not get the second prepartum meeting, she was able to help guide my husband in real time as to good techniques to help me with pain and to keep focus.  I was able to maintain my spirit and determination enough with the help of Gabe and delivered naturally without needing an epidural.  This would not have happened had we not had Gabe there.  Gabe then kept in communication with us about the condition of our baby and met us in the hospital to talk about our birth experience.  I also had the belly binding and Reiki sessions, which helped with physical healing and relaxation.  Overall, I was grateful to have had Gabe as our doula and appreciate the connection she has maintained with us.  I recommend hiring a doula for anyone who would like a natural delivery.  Thank you Gabe.

Stephanie Lumpkin

3/28/2017

Gabe was absolutely amazing!

1. She was very flexible in meeting eariy on. She was clear with her services and contract and was able to answer all of our questions early.

2. First meeting - she came to our house and made me feel so comfortable and supported EARLY on. She made a few welcomed suggestions but really gave me the space to explain my thoughts and concerns.

3. Second meeting - she met with my husband and I much closer to our due date to go over our plan. My husband, who had no idea what a doula was, left with a clear understanding of her role and looked forward to working with her.

4. Availability - I knew exactly how to get ahold of her at all times. When I found out that I needed an induction, she was immediatley available and helped me make a decision as to when she should join us at the hospital.

5. Birth - she was so patient and caring during the induction. She helped keep me nourished, provided plenty of ways for me to cope with the pain and feelings that I was having.  After my amniotomy, the contractions became very intense and I started dry heaving/vomiting after nearly every contraction. She and my husband were constantly switching out puke buckets and cool washclothes. She helped me when I was struggling as to the right decision for me about an epidural... which was not originally part of my plan. In a very non-judgmental way, I remember, in the heat of things, her saying, "this is your decision, remember your initial goals and motivations that were part of your BIRTH plan, is this something that you want?" When it came time to push, she stayed on my left side and cheered me on and my husband was on the right. I needed every bit of support that they gave me. My induction lasted for 48 hours and I pushed for 1.5 hours, it was our first baby.

It was an honor to have Gabe present for the birth of our first son, Hadley. Born St. Patrick's Day. 8lbs, 10oz.

Jason Richardson

3/22/2017

We had an excellent experience with Gabe. She met with us twice before the birth and was available to answer all of our questions throughout the process.

My wife's labor with our son came on very suddenly. Gabe came over at 2am and was with us throughout the entire 40-hour birth process, going with us from our home to the birth center to the hospital after the labor stalled.

Gabe is very calm, collected, knowledgeable and kind. She was a very important, calming presence through what turned out to be a difficult, but ultimately successful, labor.

My wife and I recommend her highly and would definitely work with her again.

Aubrey Delaney

1/3/2017

Gabe was great! She was a wonderful resource during my pregnancy and helped my husband and I think through what we wanted out of our birth experience. She was prompt in answering any questions I had. She wasn't able to make the actual birth (not her fault - the baby came too fast!), but my husband was able to use some of what she had told us about to help me feel better whiole in labor, and Gabe came afterward and helped us feel settled in hospital and process what had just happened. We hired her to do belly binding, which is going well so far and definitely helps me feel more supported post-partum. I'd recommend it! I would definitely hire Gabe again.

Kathryn Brown

12/23/2016

From the moment my husband and I first met with Gabe, we immediately felt at ease with her and knew that she would be the calming presence we would need at the birth of our first baby girl, Evvie. Boy were we right!!
Gabe was so helpful throughout my pregnancy in preparing and guiding us through what to expect during delivery and she met with us on several occasions prior to our daughter’s birthday. She knew how important it was to both of us to have as few interventions as possible and helped us to select Hypnobabies to prepare us for a beautiful birth. I gave birth to a 10lb 3oz baby without any interventions at our birthing center and our daughter was healthy, beautiful, and ready for the world! My birthing team was incredible and I was so thankful to have my husband there to motivate and encourage me and Gabe right there by my side to help keep me calm, focused, and peaceful during my labor. 
Having her at our daughter’s birth to reassure us was invaluable and we wouldn’t have it any other way. During our tour of the birthing center early on in my pregnancy the director told us that they didn’t offer epidurals but they had something even better, birthing tubs. I told Gabe after giving birth that I didn’t feel the need for any drugs or painkillers because I had something even better, HER!

Stephanie Orihood

9/13/2016

I cannot say enogh wonderful things about Gabe! I hired her halfway through my pregnancy for help with my labor and delivery. Knowing that my husband would be out of town for the big day I needed as much help as I could get. Gabe was an excellent resource for pregnancy books and information leading up to the birth. As we got closer to labor I could count on her for even more support, stragegies and just as a sounding board for my many complaints. Day of labor and delivery she was there to help me breath, hold my hand...whatever I needed! It would have been difficult to get through my labor without her. I would strongly recommend Gabe if shopping around for a doula. You couldn't ask for a better teammate for the big event of birth!

Clifford Chafin

8/23/2016

Gabe was a a fantastic help and really helped prepare and ground us for what was a very difficult and long labor.  My wife wanted to do it all naturally but the baby's position was destined to make it very hard with lots of back labor and some tearing.  The whole experience of labor kicked in right after a long exhausting day and went on for a long time.  My wife does poorly when sleep deprived making it all the tougher.  Nevertheless, she naturally labored for many hours successfully and Gabe really helped both make the experience positive and kept bringing new levels of energy to us when we thought we were at the end of our reserves.

There was a point where we were dizzy and frazzled and she kept coming up with new ways to find comfort and rest with props and tricks.  The midwife was very distant and coldly professional so that we had very little information to go on and felt pressured towards paths that would lead to a C-section.  Gabe's experience kept us laboring effectively to 8 cm and +2 position.  At that point we could see my wife was really at the end of her reserves and needed some break for sleep to get her energy back for pushing.  She helped me discuss the options and help Jill make the decision for an epidural to get a bit of relief and rest.  Because we had done all the laboring up to that point we were not stalled out and then were able to, with a little Pitocin, have my wife finish dilating and push the baby out vaginally.

Although it was not a perfectly natural birth, my wife had the dream of avoiding surgery and delivering vaginally fulfilled and a beautiful happy baby arrive.  Without Gabe I think we would have been routed down the path to a C-section and felt more disconnected from the whole process.  She also was a great source of information before and after the birth.  I had my doubts about the value of a doula am very happy we chose her!

Noa Gueron

7/28/2016

We were very fortunate to have Gabe with us at the birth of our son! Our original Doula was at another birth at the time, and Gabe was so kind to jump right in and replace her on short notice. Although we haven’t met with Gabe before, we immediately “clicked” in the delivery room. Gabe brought into the room her warm and caring spirit, and made me feel supported and taken care of. She was very helpful both emotionally and physically (great back rub during those tough last contractions!) and helped position me in a way that really speeded up the delivery! She even stayed with us at the hospital long after the birth was over to assist the nurse with my care. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience, I hope we will meet again with our next one!

Masooma Razvi

7/23/2016

I hired Gabe after interviewing several doulas in the area and she was a blessing through the whole experience! I started my search for a doula late in my pregnancy as I wasn't sure if my husband would be able to attend the birth. Gabe was very warm and supportive from the start and excellent at tailoring the experience to my needs as this was my 2nd baby. I went past my due date, and Gabe was regularly in touch via phone calls/texts/emails. My husband was present when labor started, and Gabe kept in close contact and joined us at the hospital when she was needed. She was very responsive to things that I requested and proactive about what might be beneficial for me during the labor and delivery process. We were limited in the techniques we could try because of continous fetal monitoring requirements but Gabe had great suggestions throughout the process that kept me as comfortable as possible in the early part of labor. She worked really well with my providers, especially my nurses, and we would offer her interpretation to ensure that we were all on the same page regarding the care I was receiving. I wanted a minimal-intervention birth and this would not have been possible without Gabe! She kept me focused on my goal when the contractions and pain progressed very quickly and did not leave my side during the final stages of labor. My husband felt that your presence tremendously helped him stay focused and reduced his anxiety, especially when compared to our previous experience. He was able to follow your lead and suggestions throughout the process and felt that we would not have been able to achieve the birth experience (minimal interventions and deliver vaginally) without you. We would definitely hire Gabe again!

Sherry Young

7/23/2016

My husband and I cannot speak higher of Gabe and the wonderful birth experience she provided us with. She is incredibly warm, friendly and respectful. We knew immediately that we wanted her calm presence at our birth. Gabe is a great communicator and made sure to clarify our wishes and expectations to ensure everyone was on the same page. We gained a lot from our prenatal visits and loved having access to her library of childbirth/parenting books. We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for extra support in labor!

Emily Baragwanath

7/14/2016

Working with Gabe Lazarus was an absolute delight. I'd sought a doula for birth no. 2 as part of my plan to have it be a completely different birth experience from birth no. 1, and Gabe played an important role in helping me achieve this. Gabe is extremely warm, supportive, and down to earth -- just the sort of presence you need when things get intense (as they did in my crazily intense and unmedicated 2-hour labour). The prenatal meetings with Gabe were highly informative and helpful, including about post-partum recovery, and she herself was easily accessible whenever I needed to contact her by text or phone call. The emotional support Gabe offered in the weeks leading up to the birth, as well as during it and just afterwards, was perhaps even more valuable than the many, and extremely helpful suggestions Gabe offered regarding the physical aspects of labour (especially pain management). My husband found her presence very reassuring as well. Gabe also went the extra mile, as in popping over to my place with suggestions (e.g. about acupressure points) about what might encourage my overdue baby to decide to start arriving (and these appeared to have their desired effect - the contractions started in earnest that same evening!) Her upbeat, positive affirmations during labour were tremendously encouraging and helpful. She and a wonderful midwife from the Women's Health Alliance, Chapel Hill (Sue Holliday), were the best imaginable birth team for my delivery at Duke Regional Hospital. I recommend Gabe very warmly, without reservation!

Claudia Low

6/7/2016

I feel extremely lucky to have had Gabe as our birth doula and would enthusiastically recommend her without reservation. If we had more children, we would hire her again and hope she was available!
Gabe is a particularly perceptive and sensitive listener, instinctively picking up on subtle clues and hints throughout prenatal/postpartum meetings and during labor and delivery that allowed her to quickly tune in and offer suggestions that were appropriately adapted. She is very organized, punctual and consistent in following up regularly after prenatal appointments and responded quickly to email/text questions on coping with the last few weeks of pregnancy. She “had my back” as soon as we hired her and throughout the remainder of my pregnancy. 
At our prenatal meetings, Gabe asked many thoughtful questions that helped us review the previous birth experience with our first child, which helped us more clearly crystallize our birth preferences. Gabe had a lot of very helpful suggestions and insights we either had not previously considered or were not aware of. The postpartum meeting was also very helpful in reviewing what happened at the birth and processing the entire experience.
During labor, Gabe suggested many position changes that were very helpful in finding the most productive way to labor. Gabe provided counter pressure for many, many hours during contractions and consistently reminded me to vocalize. Gabe’s warm demeanor and calm, peaceful, level-headed presence throughout labor, delivery, and afterwards was very comforting. She was my advocate and cheerleader, especially when I was feeling tired or discouraged.
Although my husband and I took Bradley childbirth classes, we would have felt significantly less prepared and more vulnerable during labor and delivery without Gabe. Her constant guidance and support were instrumental for me and my husband in realizing our goal of natural childbirth.

Amy Willis

12/26/2015

When I got pregnant with my second child, I knew I wanted a natural birth so I began researching all of my options. Along with all of the research I did, I began looking for a doula. I talked with a few doulas so I could get a sense of how our personalities matched. When I met Gabe I knew she would be a perfect fit for our birth experience! She was quiet, calm and kind...all the things I was hoping for in a doula.She was also very professional and organized. She really spent time getting to know me and my plans for birth.

Throughout the pregnancy she was a fantastic resource for any and all of my questions. She was so sweet to my husband and older child, always incorporating them into our discussions of pregnancy and birth. I was impressed with her experience and she always had great advice for any pregnancy discomforts!

Near the end of the pregnancy she kept in close contact with us, so we were all on the same page about how labor was (or was not!) progressing. When I did go into labor it was such a relief and a joy to have her at the birth center with us. In early labor she was so fun to chit chat with while we passed the time! When labor began getting more intense, Gabe was a very calming presence and had many wonderful suggestions about positions and other ways to manage my labor. She was so positive and encouraging, always motivating me and gently reminding me of my goals. Gabe was very in-tune with my labor and worked so well with our nurse and midwife. She felt like a natural addition to our labor "team".

I would highly recommend Gabe as your doula! We were blessed to have found her and I'm so glad she helped us bring our baby girl into the world!

Dot Hope

7/22/2015

Gabe was an amazing support during a very long and difficult labor. She was by my side for 28 hours and never let me feel alone throughout the whole process. Gabe's calm presence and warm heart helped make an incredibly stressful and potentially terrifying time into one that I can remember as also full of love and wonder. I cannot recommended her highly enough.

Abby Zeveloff

3/13/2015

Gabe helped us as a back-up doula when our doula was at another birth. Gabe showed up at the hospital at 3 am and was immensely present, despite what I imagined was a hectic night. She was creative in her interventions to help me manage my pain, such as helping to press on my back while I was in the tub. She also showed my husband ways to support me through massage.  This allowed us to both be partners in the labor experience. Gabe is sensitive, thoughtful, and has a grounding presence.

Yovania Veeren

10/14/2014

We had an exceptional experience with Gabe, and we can't thank her enough for the support she gave to us, both physically and emotionally, during our daughter's birth. She was in touch over the phone for a day after the water broke, while we waited for the contractions to become more regular. She came to our home when the time felt right, and gave us a lot of advice about moving the process along naturally. She accompanied us to the Birth Center in the middle of the night, and stayed with us for what ended up being an 18-hour process until the baby was born. She brought an uplifting and optimistic spirit to the whole room, worked very well with the midwives and nurses, and even brought a lot of confidence and comfort to our family members who were in the waiting room for a long time. Gabe was very sensitive and attuned to our feelings, and what we needed at certain times, and during particular challenges. We ended up having such a special birth experience, and it would not have been possible without Gabe!