“As a partner in pregnancy for the first time in my life, I felt very overwhelmed with the idea that I needed to be able to handle everything my wife needed for her comfort and safety during the birth process. I was worried I did not know enough and had no experience. Even though I was reading books and learning as much as I could, I was still very scared of S going into labor and me panicking and not being able to properly support her as she undergoes one of the most physically intense things humanly possible. I expressed this to Catherina and she did an amazing job throughout the pregnancy and on the day of providing a calming and knowledgeable presence that made me feel safe in knowing I was not alone and she was there to support both of us and help ensure the best possible outcome.

I don’t think I could have managed my anxiety leading up to the day without her support. Having her presence on the day also helped me be present and feel grounded as everything changed and developed very quickly. We went from a routine ultrasound to the beginning of an induction process to an emergency c-section. Catherina showed up almost immediately when we reached out and was there for us as we processed the changes to our birth plan. She helped us formulate and ask the questions we had in the moment as we were making decisions about the c-section and was present with us as S recovered from the anesthesia afterwards.

Catherina made me feel supported as a birth partner and having her on the team to uplift and help care for S as she brought our daughter into the world was invaluable.”

“We interviewed a couple different doulas before deciding who to work with. On our intro call my husband and I both immediately got a great vibe from Catherina. She made us feel at ease and it was clear she really understood us and our values and would be able to provide physical, emotional, and educational support, all three of which we felt we really needed.

My greatest concern was that neither of us had ever done this before and were putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to learn everything about pregnancy and birth over a few months. When looking for a doula we were hoping for a guide that we could trust and who would make us feel supported throughout pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum. Catherina was exactly the guide we were looking for, and was absolutely amazing. She answered all our questions over the course of our pregnancy and helped us find excellent resources.

Anyone should be excited to work with Catherina because she is amazing. She was an excellent pregnancy guide because she created an atmosphere of security and trust for both me and my husband. Knowing we had an expert we could rely on that has significant experience and calming presence made the entire pregnancy feel easier. She showed us breathing exercises and some yoga positions, talked with us about pregnancy and our birth plan, was on call for our birth, showed up promptly and helped us through one of the most important days of our lives, visited us postpartum to talk through and process the experience together, AND cooked us an incredible postpartum stew on top of everything. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything she provided for us, I felt set up for success for parenthood because we worked with Catherina.”

“We decided to work with Catherina to welcome our first child because of her calming grounded energy. She made us feel immediately at ease and like we could be ourselves as we prepared for our transition into parenthood. She brought humor, authenticity, and knowledge to each of our prenatal appointments and helped us feel supported and seen as we approached life’s biggest change.

Heading into birth I was anxious about all the ways that things can deviate from what you plan, and in our actual birth experience things went very differently than we had expected. Catherina navigated the twists and turns, and changing circumstances with grace, calm, and care and really held us together in some moments when we needed steadfast support. I’m extremely grateful for her care.

Postpartum I needed some support in processing my birth, and Catherina provided hands-on healing body work and guided breathing exercises that really helped me find compassion for myself, and gratitude for the care and support that we had during our birth. Her approach was incredibly thoughtful and it really helped me in those challenging first weeks of new parenthood.”

“We decided to work with Catherina because of her comprehensive knowledge, affable spirit, calming energy, and individualized approach to our specific birthing needs. She helped us develop our birthing plan through open dialogue, and her expertise as a doula. She demystified the process and made us feel empowered to make the best decisions for our little one.

As this is our first child, our biggest concern was fear of the unknown. In the last few months leading up to labor, Catherina was able to address and assuage any and all concerns; finding comfort and relief throughout the later months of pregnancy, providing vital information and tools to empower us as individuals and a couple, and offering exercises to relax through labor. Whatever our concerns, Catherina worked with us to address our fears, and fortify our family bond. We knew we could meet the challenge of childbirth, but Catherina was integral to our approach and for building our confidence as parents.

I enjoyed Catherina’s sensitivity, confidence, sense of humor, and undeniable ability as a gifted doula. She cares for clients, and is passionate about the work. Her experience and strength made us feel that we chose the right doula for our family and our baby.”

“When forming a birth plan, I wasn’t sure if I wanted a doula as part of my birth team. I was concerned about the cost and unconvinced I wanted to invite another person into this private and vulnerable moment. However, after a conversation with my midwife, I decided that having the support of a doula was worth the investment. I can’t over emphasize how grateful I am that I made this decision and that I was able to work with Catherina.

Throughout my 21-hour labor, Catherina provided supportive encouragement to both me and my spouse, first joining us at home and then accompanying us to the hospital where she supported me through a (dreaded) cab ride and transformed my labor/delivery room into a serene environment with “candles” and fairy lights. Her motivation, reassurance, and hip squeezes (!) helped me achieve my goal of an unmedicated birth, which I am skeptical I would have accomplished without her.

During pregnancy, I feared childbirth would be a traumatic experience. However, with Catherina’s support, the birth of my son was the most beautiful and empowering experience of my life. My family is so grateful that she was a part of our birth story.”

“Catherina was our back-up doula and helped us give birth to our third baby. The experience was so wonderful and better than we could have hoped for! I felt very supported before and during the birth both physically and emotionally. Also, I was left feeling very happy afterwards and at peace without any lingering doubts or concerns to process about how the birth had gone.

Catherina put a lot of care into making the hospital room feel cozy and inviting. It really didn’t feel like a hospital room, but more like a hotel room with lovely soft lighting! Catherina was great at counter-pressure and massage, and she also gave very specific feedback to help me move the birth along and she had great phrases to empower me. I was so pleased with how she supported and worked alongside my husband. She knew when to give us space and when to offer to help. Thank you, Catherina, we look back at the birth of our third baby with such joy!”

“Working with Catherina was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. Through her gentle and knowledgeable personality not only did I get through delivery easier, but also through the last weeks of pregnancy. Catherina was available given no matter what time of night or day it was and was already prepared to respond with an answer when I had questions or any concerns. She made prompt responses and also showed up ASAP whenever she was needed and with whatever items or support or help I needed.

Without Catherina my delivery experience wouldn’t have been the same and it was a blessing having her around during my delivery for mental and physical support. Not only did she contribute to my mental ease but also helped me do the right things physically and stepped into helping further wherever needed, before, during, and after the delivery process. She prepared me for birth more than doctors had done so and talked me through everything when I couldn’t be bothered to read about stuff or take classes regarding certain topics. She covered birth exercise which included ways to deliver and a step-by-step of what happens while you’re in labor and moving towards delivery along with how to deliver and how to manage the hours to come after and what to expect. There was a lot that I wouldn’t have known or been ready for it Catherina wasn’t around.

In addition, she assisted with the understanding that delivery consists of being able to make your own decisions and do things the way you feel is right rather than doctors making sole decisions for you. Being able to make your own independent decisions during delivery gives your confidence because you realize what your body needs more than anyone else, although it is very useful to get advice from the professionals around. Since birth is a very personal experience and things you expect may be very different from what you imagine compared to how they are in real time, it is important to have a doula support you.”

“During my search for a doula, I was instantly drawn to Catherina’s calming presence, even over Zoom. I knew my partner and I would benefit from a grounding person in the room as we headed into the unknown. Our prenatal meetings were a mix of getting to know you, as well as education on what to expect during labor and postpartum—she had especially great info on breastfeeding.

As I got closer to delivery we stayed in contact via text and it was nice to have someone just check in and hear my frustrations about being overdue. When it came time for the big event, I was concerned about my husband feeling overwhelmed or helpless, and Catherina helped so immeasurably during my 24 hour labor and delivery. They were really a team in supporting me. She travelled across the city in the middle of the night as my labor picked up, massaged me, cheered me on, showered me, and made sure I was eating and drinking. Catherina filmed our birth and it was the greatest gift I could imagine; we watch the photos and videos constantly.

An added bonus was the meal service our friends pitched in for. The food was delicious and I loved having a few more opportunities to catch up and process the birth. I can’t recommend Catherina’s services enough!”