Bianca in Greenpoint
"The birth of our son was everything we had hoped for, and Rachel was one of the biggest reasons why."
Rachel was our doula for the birth of our first baby. She was super helpful when we had questions before the birth, informative and equipped with all kinds of reference materials and always a phone call or text away. For the birth she was in constant contact right up until we needed her by our side.
Once Rachel came to our home, she helped with pain management in partnership with my partner as well as helping fill in all the holes and see around the corners. She helped us remember things we certainly would have forgotten. Like staying hydrated!
Her presence during this intimate time was akin to water, she knew exactly where to be and just how much to be there. The birth of our son was everything we had hoped for, and Rachel was one of the biggest reasons why.
Megan in Ditmas Park
"With Rachel's loving support, I gained real confidence in this whole parenting thing and I trust myself to be able to handle whatever comes next."
Working with Rachel postpartum was one of the best decisions I made around my pregnancy and my son's birth. I was really unsure what to expect-- both as a new mom and working with a postpartum doula-- but Rachel made both feel natural. My partner went back to work only a week after our son was born and my biggest anxiety was feeling alone and trapped in the house with a newborn. Rachel's gentle guidance helped me figure out how to get comfortable caring for a baby and also taking care of myself at the same time.
During our time together, Rachel emphasized the importance of good nourishment, preparing meals for me as well as helping me find manageable ways to feed the whole family. She gave me great advice on breastfeeding and helped me with the early stages of physical recovery. Rachel was also a great companion and supporter as I figured out going out with baby-- baby wearing, navigating the world with a stroller and driving with an infant. Perhaps most importantly, though, she helped me make the transition to my partner going back to work and me being home with the baby, especially during a period where it was pretty challenging to get out of the house and I was very nervous about being lonely. With Rachel's loving support, I gained real confidence in this whole parenting thing and I trust myself to be able to handle whatever comes next.
Lindsey in the East Village
"Rachel expertly navigated the whole process, even when things were difficult. She managed relationships with challenging nurses, helped articulate my preferences when I couldn't, and was a true blessing to have present at such an intimate and intense time."
Rachel was such an incredible presence before, at, and after the birth of our son. Talking through my birth plan and preferences with Rachel was a wonderful way to get out of my head and talk through expectations, hopes, and fears. It helped both me and my husband go into the birth with more confidence having communicated well in advance.
When my water broke at 2:30 in the morning a few weeks before my due date, we texted Rachel and she responded right away. It was her reassurance that kept me from feeling nervous and going to the hospital earlier than planned. She met us at our apartment at 6 AM and helped me through contractions. When we did go to the hospital, Rachel expertly navigated the whole process, even when things were difficult. She managed relationships with challenging nurses, helped articulate my preferences when I couldn't, and was a true blessing to have present at such an intimate and intense time.
In addition to her tremendous knowledge base and her wealth of resources, Rachel's demeanor was always upbeat and supportive - when we were joking, she offered gentle humor, when I was in pain, she comforted, reassured, or coached at exactly the right times - she is a real pro. We are so grateful and recommend her highly!
Wendy in Astoria
"Rachel's amazing personalty is what made us so comfortable with her and allowed us to work as a team when it came down to it."
I could not have imagined my birth experience without Rachel. She was supportive throughout my pregnancy and helped ease my anxieties. Her calming personality helped me to remain calm throughout my pregnancy and during labor. She was there with my husband and I in the middle of the night from the very beginning while I was in early labor. She helped with managing my pain which got worse as the labor progressed and throughout my back labor, which became very painful. Without her presence, I do not know how I would have managed through the most painful contractions or how I would have managed having a completely natural birth.
Rachel is extremely knowledgeable with techniques on how to manage pain and helping you to remain calm and focused on the positive aspects of labor and the inevitable outcome :).
Rachel's amazing personalty is what made us so comfortable with her and allowed us to work as a team when it came down to it. She made the birth experience a positive one. Her presence was so valuable and I now recommend her to all my pregnant and future pregnant friends.
Chay in Jersey City
"When my blood pressure spiked and the nurses seemed to threaten me with a C-section, Rachel helped me get my breathing in check to bring my blood pressure down so I could have the vaginal delivery we had planned."
Rachel was so involved in my birth and supportive to both my husband and I. We're very happy to have worked with her.
During my pregnancy, Rachel always checked in on me and offered me articles and suggestions when I told her about pain or symptoms I was experiencing – she knew I liked reading! Rachel came to my hospital tour and my last doctor's visit which actually turned out to be the day of our induction. We were glad she was there with us from the beginning. She was so helpful to both me and my husband during the entire delivery. A few examples that really stick out for us:
At the hospital, when the doctors and nurses came in to give us updates and plans for birth, Rachel always made sure we understood what was going on and probed us to ask questions to make sure we were comfortable and ok with the decisions.
My labor was induced with Cervidil, and as my contractions started to build and get stronger, Rachel helped me breathe and move through them to manage the pain. She got hot packs and massaged my back while I sat on a yoga ball.
When the pain became more severe, she helped my husband find different ways to comfort me and ensure the pain was manageable.
She was also my coach and motivator, supporting me so I could complete the full 12 hours of Cervidil!
Rachel made sure to get the nurses when she saw anything on the monitor that she thought looked out of the ordinary.
All throughout my labor, she helped me manage my breathing. When my blood pressure spiked and the nurses seemed to threaten me with a C-section, she helped me get my breathing in check to bring my blood pressure down so I could have the vaginal delivery we had planned.
Delilah in Astoria
"Her suggestions for pain management were totally on point (including her rebozo technique and this amazing hip squeeze that literally took the pain away!)"
Rachel is a warm, calm, intelligent and kind soul - and an absolutely terrific doula. I had the privilege of having Rachel attend the birth of my second child in my home. It was the first home birth for us both, although Rachel was such a natural that I never would have known it was her first home birth! She was actually my back-up doula and we hadn't met in person until I was in labor but she instantly put me at ease with her warmth and professionalism.
Her suggestions for pain management were totally on point (including her rebozo technique and this amazing hip squeeze that literally took the pain away!) and she was very receptive to my cues. My husband, who was very hands-on during my labor, also felt very comfortable with Rachel and was so happy she was there for us as she provided support for not only me but my husband as well.
My first home birth was perfect - it was a beautiful and peaceful experience that really would not have been the same without her present and I feel so fortunate Rachel was there for us.
Jeanette in Downtown Brooklyn
"In large part because of Rachel, when I walked into the OR, I knew what to expect, which made me better able to advocate for myself and the more “family friendly” cesarean we’d talked about."
Rachel is the greatest! When we found out our baby was breach, she helped us prepare two birth plans—the natural, intervention-free childbirth we’d hoped for, and the planned cesarean we knew was a possibility. She supported us in trying everything we could to make a vaginal birth happen (from rebozo to being there with us for a version to turn our breech baby). But she also helped us stay positive—and well informed—about the possibility of a cesarean.
In large part because of Rachel, when I walked into the OR, I knew what to expect, which made me better able to advocate for myself and the more “family friendly” cesarean we’d talked about. Aside from that, though, Rachel is just a lovely presence. It was always a pleasure to have her over our apartment to talk and plan, both before and after birth. This was also the case during our baby's birth--I was always at my most relaxed when Rachel was in the room. Even our families were super grateful to have her with them in the waiting room!
Monica in Williamsburg
"Rachel made my delivery day so much easier. It was magical to have her as a part of it."
I don't know what we would have done without Rachel! She has such a calming presence that both Patrick and I thoroughly enjoyed being around.
We really appreciated all the extra love and care Rachel gave us. She made my delivery day so much easier and it was magical to have her as a part of it.
I know I will be recommending her to all my friends :)
Angela in Woodside
"Rachel has a special quality and brings a positive vibe. Birth can be very stressful if you let that emotion take over, she helps bring positivity to the room."
I began my pregnancy with a simplified view of what giving birth would be like: in a hospital, with an epidural, the end. After taking a birth education course my consciousness was raised. I no longer feared whether I was capable of giving birth, but whether I’d be able to navigate the institutional landscape without losing my agency during the birthing process. From this point I interviewed doulas and, through good fortune, found Rachel while she was on a labor and delivery tour at the hospital we were planning to give birth at.
Rachel worked with my husband and I to discuss a birth plan, constructing a positive storyline of what my son’s birth might be like. This activity helped us understand our preferences, and how we could possibly avoid the hospital until necessary. She listened and gave thoughtful feedback, sharing relevant resources.
For us, nothing went according to plan and my experience was nothing like I had anticipated. During labor Rachel guided my mother and husband to gently make me more comfortable. We stretched and moved together, she was with me during the mounting pain of contractions, over 40 hours of interventions, pushing, and the eventuality of a Cesarean section. I know Rachel’s support made my anti-birth plan bearable and even enjoyable at times.
I felt a lot of despair after having a Cesarean and during our postpartum visit she listened and we reviewed all of the actions taken during labor. This has helped me cope with some of my negative feelings.
Rachel has a special quality and brings a positive vibe. Birth can be very stressful if you let that emotion take over, she helps bring positivity to the room. She worked hard for us, finding recommendations for services, mommy groups, acupuncturists, always staying in touch and sharing articles and researching to find answers. She helped me make better food choices, and recommended relaxing rather than focusing on my guilt when doctors were alarmed at some of my symptoms.
Her services are of great value, and come highly recommended by our whole family.
** Big thank you to my clients who lovingly shared their experiences and photos for this page! <3