Birth doulas honoring childbirth as a rite of passage

At every turn Dawn has gone above and beyond to help us bring our daughter into the world in a safe, peaceful and magical way. She helped us tremendously both pre and postpartum with education, answering more questions than I could count, and providing a warm, reassuring and safe source of expertise on everything from a birthing plan to hands-on labor facilitation techniques....She was with us for two days in the hospital during an induction....We especially appreciate her blend of Eastern and Western approaches. She had the perfect sensibility that there is no "one way to do it correctly." This helped me feel empowered as a new mom and learn to trust my intuition more and more. Truly, she has felt like our guardian angel. It was one of the best decisions we have made to have her by our side. I can't imagine what it would have been like without her."

- MELISSA

We had our first conversations in the 2nd trimester, and Rebecca brought a serenity and sensitivity that immediately put us at ease. During labor, she was an integral part of our homebirth team, and provided support for both me and my partner. And we’ll never forget Rebecca’s postpartum care when she gave us knowledge and perspective that helped offset the most bewildering aspects of new parenthood. Through it all, she was compassionate and patient and gentle and nurturing. We feel so grateful to have had her with us during this transformation.”

- CORINNA & HARRIS & ELI

Every time she arrives our toddler lights up, and my wife is visibly relieved. She taught our newborn to fall asleep (and continue sleeping!) in his crib which, before she started working with him, seemed like an impossible feat. She's also funny and generous with her praise, which lifts the spirits on the more exhausting days. It has been such a relief to have someone with so much experience supporting us -- we can ask her advice on anything about the newborn and toddler, and she always has an honest, empathetic answer or suggestion to help us figure out a path forward. She's the best!”

- JARED N.

It's hard to put into words my immense gratitude to the universe for connecting us. She comforted and reassured me. she made me realize my feelings were valid and normal and reminded me to tap into my body and relax. I had a homebirth but I had to be transferred to a hospital and she came with me. I was naked and bleeding and sad and vulnerable and the nurses felt hostile. She advocated for my right to a support person being by my side; she made me feel safe and protected. I wish I could go on and on; alas, there is a word limit to this review. She has a strong grounding energy and she walked me through the most pivotal moment of my life, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. She respected and supported me from Day 1 and I’m forever grateful she was with me on this journey.”

- GINA CORSO

As a first-time father, I had a lot of anxieties about the birth and beyond. From day one, Rebecca was a calming, encouraging presence in our household. She helped us to maintain our sanity and gave us practical tools to navigate the stress of caring for a newborn. We truly had no idea what we were doing and Rebecca totally saved us. On top of all the logistical and emotional support, perhaps the greatest comfort – was the food. Rebecca offers a customized menu that is healthy and delicious and that my wife and I still talk about years later. She’s simply the best. I had so many questions about so many things, and Rebecca was always there to nudge me along in the right direction with her good humor and gentle heart. I am a far more capable, present parent thanks to Rebecca. She will always be part of our family.”

- JOSH HALLOWAY

We became acquainted at 4:30 AM the day my daughter was born, as she was standing in as backup for my pre-arranged doula. They say that your birth goes how your birth is supposed to go, and that certainly felt like the truth here. Dawn showed up with such a calm presence that within 20 minutes of meeting she had sent my husband to bed, leaving me, his laboring wife, with a veritable stranger in the middle of the night. She talked me through everything she was doing, gave me choices, asked for consent before touching me, all in ways my laboring brain could understand and felt comfortable with. It felt that night like she was some mix of the conductor of a symphony and a witch, predicting the future. The truth is, she understands labor. She is an expert. She knew when it was time to call the midwives. She knew when it would be most helpful to get into some warm water. She just knew. And I was able to focus on labor. That's all I had to do. And I'm so grateful. If I were to have another baby, I would want Dawn there from the very start. She's amazing, truly.”

- CLAIRE M.

Her kind and nonjudgemental presence before and during my first baby’s birth helped me feel relaxed and confident. Not only was she lovely and calming to talk with (and funny, too), she presented us with crucial information—making an overwhelming experience feel less so. She also provided great support for my partner, answering all of his questions and giving him confidence in his ability to support me. We loved working with Rebecca and recommend her wholeheartedly!” 

- BECCA

Brana truly cares for her clients and takes time to get to know them and explain all their options. She is without judgement and only wants to support, no matter what decisions her clients make. I learned so much from her, and had my eyes opened to an entirely new life-changing perspective. When the day arrived that our baby girl came into the world, her presence was invaluable- the baby came so fast that there ended up not being time to go to the hospital as planned. She was there to help me breathe and relax, to help my husband do the same, to help relay our information to the paramedics, to catch the baby, to grab our cellphone and snap a few invaluable pics of us holding our baby girl for the very first time. Brana handles everything with a confident inner peace and grace. Expectant mothers have so many questions and their minds are flooded with so much uncertainty- Brana's presence is exactly what any expectant mother needs to help alleviate that stress and truly enjoy the birth of their child.”

- MARIANNE MAZUROWSKI

How do I give more stars? It is a rare and treasured experience to meet someone who so immediately aligns with the values and goals of your family. At every turn she has gone above and beyond to help us bring our daughter into the world in a safe, peaceful and magical way. She helped us tremendously both pre and postpartum with education, answering more questions than I could count, and providing a warm, reassuring and safe source of expertise on everything from a birthing plan to hands-on labor facilitation techniques. Not only did she bring over homemade bone broth, fix us some meals, and hold the baby for awhile so that we could catch our breath, she also taught us soothing techniques that immediately improved our relationship with our baby girl. We especially appreciate her blend of Eastern and Western approaches. She had the perfect sensibility that there is no "one way to do it correctly." This helped me feel empowered as a new mom and learn to trust my intuition more and more. Truly, she has felt like our guardian angel. It was one of the best decisions we have made to have her by our side.”

- MELISSA J.

Rebecca was so helpful during my pregnancy, guiding us on how to plan for the birth and things that came up along the way as we got closer to my due date.  She is a great listener and problem solver.  Her knowledge and experience is invaluable, especially as we navigated all the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic. During my labor, Rebecca was an amazing support to both me and my husband. She helped keep me calm, as relaxed as possible, and comfortable. She worked collaboratively with the nursing team at the hospital, presenting helpful suggestions on natural ways to keep my labor moving. She calmed my husband’s nerves throughout my long labor so he could feel confident and present in the moment. Rebecca was also a great help and emotional support in the early days of postpartum, providing amazing resources and her own brilliant wisdom. She exceeded our expectations in every way. We couldn’t imagine going through the experience without her, and hope to work with her again someday!” 

- HANNAH AND MICHAEL

Rebecca lovingly shepherded me from those raw first days after my home birth to a state of calm and confidence by the end of our time working together. She most literally took care of me, making sure I was eating for nourishment and joy and stocking my fridge and freezer with delicious meals. She is an amazing chef and her recipes are still in rotation at our house. Having these meals and someone tending to my needs those first weeks was huge. Rebecca also has this incredible presence. Lastly and most significantly, Rebecca provided me with so much emotional support. She answered my endless questions as a first time parent and helped instill in me a sense of confidence in my own intuition. She helped me process this radical change of becoming a parent and my birth experience. We had such meaningful and fulfilling conversations during this tender time. I cannot imagine a better person than Rebecca to have in your corner in the birthing process. She has a gift for this important work.” 

- BETSY

She is deeply intuitive, calming, has an insanely high EQ, and a great sense of humor. I wanted to attempt a natural birth but had no misgivings about needing to opt for an epidural if it felt necessary. The breathing/vocalization techniques Brana taught me and her massages allowed me to stay at home FAR longer than I would have been able to on my own. I arrived at the hospital 8 cm dilated and opted for an epidural soon after. My baby came out in 6 pushes and the whole thing felt calm and joyous. I cannot imagine what a scary experience it would have been to navigate the hospital system without Brana there to gently help guide nurses and my husband. I was so grateful we had Brana there to be our advocate and ensure that small measures were taken (allowing me to birth on my side, for example) that made huge differences for me in the end. She was also so giving of her time and was there to support us even after our formal sessions ended. She made space in our hectic lives for us to pause and take a moment to truly appreciate the life changing event that was about to unfold.”

- LAUREN & STEVE

Having Rebecca by my side before and after the birth of our kids was a life-changing experience on so many levels. I feel truly lucky to know her and I can’t imagine getting through the birth or those overwhelming first few weeks at home, without her constant, amazing support. Rebecca is just a one-of-a-kind special force of nature. I felt safe knowing she was there to guide me and to advise me in a totally safe, non-judgmental way. The hardest part of my birthing process was when Rebecca’s eight weeks were up and we had to say goodbye. My husband and I will be forever grateful for the light and love and delicious energy balls that she provided.”

- SARAH