I worked with Karissa and Jasmine for my first pregnancy and birth. After our first consultation I knew they were the right fit for my husband and myself. We were attracted to their calm and collected demeanors and their obvious experience with a variety of births.
Karissa and Jasmine helped prepare my husband and I for the birthing process in the months leading up to our due date – they were available to us 24/7 for any questions/comments/concerns and always responded immediately.
Jasmine was with us for the birth of our son. Like most births our experience did not go as planned. My son was sunny side up and stuck so after many hours laboring and pushing, my birth resulted in a cesarean section. Throughout that entire process there were many decisions to be made – Jasmine was an invaluable resource to us, talking us through all of our options and making sure we were aligning with our values we had shared during our consultations. From the second we arrived at the hospital, Jasmine was extremely attentive to my birthing wishes and made sure to address them with the nurses and doctors. For hours on end Jasmine was constantly thinking of ways to make me comfortable via massage, essential oils, music, lighting, etc. – all which contributed to a more memorable experience.
Post birth Karissa came to meet our son, provide a homecooked meal and post birth consultation. Karissa and Jasmine again have been available to us 24/7 answering all of our new parent questions/comments/concerns.
We would highly recommend this doula pair – they were an amazing addition to our birthing journey.
Review
If you are looking for a skilled, knowledgeable, warm, and compassionate doula, you’ve found one in Karissa! Karissa became our doula just a few weeks before our daughter’s birth due to some scheduling issues with our previous doula, and I loved how she naturally slipped into an easy relationship with me and my husband. Karissa is a good listener and has a wonderful presence of calm and reassurance. She is always looking to figure out how she can help, whether it’s with massage, oils, providing warm rice sacks, changing positions, counting, or just about anything you’ll need. I felt so much more confident going into my second birth with her at my side. She was also a great support to my husband in assisting him with helping me, providing reassurance, and answering questions. She makes you feel listened to, and pays attention to what is happening with nurses, doctor, my partner, and myself.
Karissa also took lots of pictures that will always be priceless for our family and a couple days after the birth she emailed a long and detailed account of the entirety of the birth, from the moment she walked in the door to our daughter’s cleaning and at last, cuddle time. I’ll always be so grateful for this as I didn’t take the time to write this all down with the challenges of a newborn and a 2-year-old at home. Karissa’s photos and her writing of the birth story will always be a precious keepsake for myself and my daughter. Giving birth is a scary and exhilarating time, and I’m so grateful we had Karissa to support us and our daughter. Karissa is a gem!
