I knew I wanted to have a doula with me during my birth when my husband and I took our tour of the hospital. It was in that moment when everything started to get real! I thought that if I had someone who had already been through labor, coaching me through it I could have the all natural birth plan I wanted.
It wasn’t long after that we were connected with Erika. I was a little hesitant on allowing someone who I had never met before be a part of one of the biggest days of my life! My husband assured me that I would love Erika, as they had been friends for a few years. Looking back on that day now I can’t imagine going through that day without Erika being there!
Erika and I had met several times before my due date to discuss what I wanted for my birth plan. She was 100 % on board with helping me achieve my goals of wanting to deliver naturally with no medication.
The night my water broke, I went to the hospital 6 hours later to find out I wasn’t dilated yet. I returned home and Erika came over to try to help me bring labor on naturally. After trying different positions and techniques to start labor we went back to the hospital to find out I still wasn’t dilated. I was then started on pitocin, which was going to bring on my labor hard and fast! During the 5.5 hours of my labor there wasn’t a moment where Erika wasn’t right there beside me telling me I could do this. She was constantly trying different positions and massage points with me to help ease the pain. Her calm and encouraging voice helped me to manage my pain through each contraction. Having Erika there with me during labor helped to take all the responsibilities of being my “coach” off of my husband, and he was able to simply just be there for me. Erika came to the hospital the day after I had my daughter to help me with some latching issues. She always conducted herself in a very professional manner and I always felt comfortable with her!
Erika is a phenomenal doula and you can tell that this is her passion. She truly puts her heart into her work and that makes all the difference! I was beyond pleased with my experience using her, and will recommend her to anyone who is thinking of using a doula during their birth. I know that I will be asking for her services in the future.
Allison - June 2019
Erika is amazing. She is so passionate about her work as a doula, and she has a calm, reassuring presence, which is exactly what I needed when I was in labor. Even before going into labor, Erika was an awesome resource. She provided me with a lot of information that helped me feel prepared and empowered. When I did go into labor, her encouragement and pain management techniques helped me labor at home until I was in transition. My husband and I both felt like we were in good hands with Erika, and she helped ease some of our anxieties about the unknown. When I was pregnant, I was on the fence about having a doula, because I knew I wanted an epidural. I still got the epidural as I had planned, but I am incredibly grateful that I had Erika by my side during my labor and delivery process. Erika went above and beyond each step of the way. She told me up front that she hates feet and would do anything to help me, except rub my feet. But there I was, in the hospital bed, in the throes of intense contractions, and I look down to see Erika rubbing my feet. Erika provided me with so much physical, mental, and emotion support during my labor and delivery, and I will love her forever as a result.
Molly - July 2019
Sometimes you just know when things are meant to be. And having Erika as my doula was just one of those things that the cosmic powers made happen in such an incredible way! From the moment I first spoke with Erika there was an instant connection and I felt incredibly comfortable explaining what my birth needs were and why they were so important. My biggest concern was having my 20 month old at my birth and my husband having to pull double duty with trying to support us both. Bringing on Erika on board with my birth team brought me sooo much comfort just from knowing that she could be the support the 3 of us needed while bringing our family of 3 to a family of 4.
At 37+2 I very surprisingly went into labor (Erika totally predicted I'd go early) and she was there right when I needed her! With careful hands she expertly provided my body with the counter pressure needed to quickly progress through my last couple of centimeters and jumped right in with helping my midwife get the pool set up for my home birth.
I truly feel I would not have made it if Erika did not show up when she did. Her presence and energy gave me what I needed to be mentally strong. And her hands on techniques gave me the physical strength to prevail and that I will never forget!
Breiyona - August 2019
Erika was fabulous to have with us during my labor. I had a very long and strenous labor. She stayed by our side, calmed my husband and reassured us when we had doubts. She brought laughter and joy to the room when things were getting tough. I would highly recommend here as your doula and am confident you will want her by our side!
Ginger - October 2019
I was really hesitant about hiring a Doula. The thought of having someone I didn’t know very well in the room with me during one of the most intimate events of my life honestly made me really nervous. And then I met Erika! Our first time meeting was so comfortable and easy, I felt like I had known her for so long. This already brought me a lot of comfort. She was very supportive of my husband and I throughout the whole journey. I ended up going past my due date and was scheduled to be induced. Erika came to the hospital the night I was admitted and stayed as long as I wanted her to. She then came back the following morning when it was time to get things moving. Erika helped me with all different kinds of pain management strategies until I got my epidural. Her presence was extremely reassuring and she did all that she could to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. I had a fairly quick labor and she was right by my side every step of the way! She also captured the BEST pictures of my sons delivery, which are some of the most amazing memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. Also, following my delivery I spiked a really high fever and was suddenly starving. Erika was so quick to give me her pb&j (which she initially packed for her own lunch!). It might not sounds like a big deal to anyone else, but it was EXACTLY what I needed in that moment and I’ll never forget that act of kindness!! Following my sons delivery - she stayed with me in the hospital and made sure I was as comfortable as I could be before leaving. I had a pretty rough recovery myself, and Erika came to my house multiple times when I got home to bring me soup, help with latching, give me tips on pumping and just be a friend to help me through a really rough time. She shared countless resources with me on breastfeeding/pumping which was so helpful because it was all so new to me. Erika is the best and truly a friend that I hope to have for a very long time!! She made my birth experience so much better and you can truly see through her work how much she loves helping mothers during this season of life. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone to have her as their Doula!
Lindsey - November 2019
Erika was amazing! She answered all my questionsi has, and gave me a lot of information that not even my doctors shared. Erika gave us good exercises and stretches to help me be more comfortable and to help me try go into labor, since I went past my due date. She was so supportive the minute we got into the hospital until the minute we left. I had a very long birth, and Erika was there when I asked, helped me form the best decisions for myself and she also took great pictures!! I'm so happy to have the pictures Erika was able to capture. I used Erika for my first child, but I will definitely use her for my next child.
Alexis - January 2020
I would highly recommend Erika for her infant feeding services! I had a lot of questions and anxiety about going back to work and having to pump. I exclusively nursed and going back to work from my maternity leave, and having to use a pump every 2 hours, was something that I was not super comfortable or educated in. Erika came to our home, sat in our nursery where we were comfortable, and set me up for success. She provided helpful tips, transition resources, and made sure I knew how to properly use my pump and had the proper sizing. She definitely made me feel more comfortable with this transition!
Jamie - Feb 2020
Erika is not in the same state as I am but from day 1 (literally one of the first people that knew I was pregnant) she was super supportive and as helpful as she could be from so far away. After going through fertility issues finally getting pregnant was a huge deal for us but we were also trying to keep it private for awhile. Erika was there for many from giving helpful info, to try soothing my crazy anxiety about everything that could go wrong. I had my baby last week and she's been there for me the entire time!
Tori (Virtual Client) - April 2020
Erika has been absolutely invaluable during my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. I found out very early that I was pregnant, and knew right away that I’d likely be going thru pregnancy and raising a baby as a single mom, and knew I needed help. I never expected to get this level of love and support. Erika truly emulates what it means to be a doula. She provided valuable information to help all my decisions, she helped level me with what to expect, and she was unbiasedand patient throughout the entire process. My entire goal in pregnant and birth was to keep calm. And Erika did just that. And her knowledge and calm demeanor helped shape my birth plan and ultimately when that birth plan went sideways in the form of an unexpected c-section, she was there to make sure I understood in the moment what I was agreeing to and what was happening. She ultimately made what could have turned out to be an extremely traumatic experience one I will instead cherish. I never once felt alone or unsupported and if I ever choose to have more children in the future, Erika will be the first person I call.
Ps, she is also an AMAZING photographer for maternity and newborn pics, sooooooo there’s that plus.
Savannah - May 2020
Hiring Erika as our doula was the best decision my husband and I made during my pregnancy. As first-time parents, we felt overwhelmed with all the information out there and Erika helped us feel prepared to welcome our son. From helping us put together our birth preferences and answering our endless questions, she was a calming presence every step of the way.
It was so reassuring to have her with us during delivery, we knew we could count on her to be there to support us. Not only was she wonderful during labor, but she was immensely helpful after we got home from the hospital with breastfeeding and pumping support. She is patient, totally non-judgmental, and truly feels like a friend to us both now.
She is also an incredible photographer and captured my son's birth so beautifully. Birth is such a blur now, we will cherish these photos forever. And if we decide to have more children in the future, we will absolutely hire Erika again. We couldn't have a baby without her!