Testimonial from Becca

September 2021

We are so grateful to have found such a wonderful doula as Kassie to guide us through the birth of our son. She was exactly what we needed in each moment, profoundly calm, supportive, instructive, and caring. She has a wealth of knowledge (and snacks!) and shares amply. We could not have asked for a better guide when navigating tough choices while giving birth in a hospital. She was an invaluable interlocutor with our doctor and nurses, and a great comfort to us before, during, and after the birth. When we struggled with medical decisions, Kassie stepped in to help, as our translator and advocate. She has our trust and deepest gratitude, and anyone would be lucky to have her by their side during their birth.

Testimonial from Kat

September 2021

Let me not bury the lead here ... if you are reading this and debating hiring Kassie as your doula, do it!  She is amazing and was a bright spot in my birth story.

We hired Kassie as our doula kind of late in the game (36 weeks).  I wasn't convinced I 'needed' a doula - as I didn't have a birth plan I felt super strongly about, I just wanted to meet my daughter ASAP with as little pain to her or me as possible.  However, as the weeks ticked by I grew more and more nervous that my body wouldn't know what to do and I started to feel a little panicky, so I decided to call in some reinforcements into the labor process in the form of a doula.  I only interviewed one - and it was Kassie and it was a no-brainer.  

She 'normalized' so many worries I had with her easy demeanor.  You can tell she is incredibly knowledgable, but is able to relate that knowledge in a kind, compassionate, light-hearted way.  She really feels like an old friend - which is exactly who you want holding your leg in one of the biggest moments of your life.  Kassie was a friendly face in my delivery room and was incredibly helpful throughout.  I think that was the biggest thing I underestimated the importance of, the helpfulness BEFORE the pushing process.  Because she had been through many births prior to mine, she anticipated my needs before I even know what I wanted.  This took me pleasantly by surprise - and honestly probably helped my husband quite a bit as well.  

Overall - 10 out of 10, would recommend!  Kassie is wonderful!

Testimonial from Julie

September 2021

Hiring Kassie as our birth doula was hands down the best decision we made during the birth of our first baby! Having a doula was invaluable for so many reasons, but Kassie was particularly skilled in these areas:

-Kassie was unwaveringly positive and confident in us. This was so valuable for me leading up to the birth and so helpful during the birth. I truly felt like she believed in me and it gave me the confidence I needed to have a birth without pain medication. There is no way we could have achieved that goal without her!

-I never felt any judgement about the way I wanted to go about things or the way I was handling my pregnancy.  From meeting her, I felt like I could talk to Kassie about anything.

-Through our 26 hour birth, Kassie never let on, even the slightest bit, that she was tired, even though she had been at a birth the day before.

-I am amazed with the way she took a leadership role during the times we needed it, but also made plenty of space for my partner and I to bond, and for us to interact with the hospital staff.

-Kassie is a completely enjoyable person to be around. She's positive, warm, and caring. We are so lucky to have found her to be our doula!

Testimonial from Kristin

August 2021

I am so happy I decided to have a doula for my first birth, and I am so grateful that it was Kassie. I probably never would have hired a doula if it wasn't a requirement with my provider to have one at my home birth and what a mistake that would have been. My home birth did not go as planned, in that it did not happen at home, and having Kassie through the whole ordeal was so much more essential than I ever could have thought. She went so far above and beyond what I ever expected from a doula. She arrived at my home at midnight, after I texted saying that my contractions were getting more intense after my castor oil induction She stayed up the whole night as I had intense contractions between brief periods of sleep. The following day she kept me rotating between the shower, the tub, the bed, and the ball to keep labor progressing.

I labored like that for 24 hours, still at 4 cm dilation, until I gave up and decided to transfer to a hospital for pitocin and an epidural. Kassie arrived there with me, walking me through each step of the process. She slept in the chair beside me until the following day/evening when I was finally dilated enough to push for two hours and give birth. Labor was so much longer than I expected to be, and Kassie was extremely kind and patient throughout. She was my advocate in the hospital and even bought some treats for the nurses. She grabbed my boyfriend a couple meals, and even scoured the hospital for lemons and ear plugs per my request! I'm not sure what she ate the entire time, or if she did! She refreshed me after every time I had to push and stayed with us in the hospital after the birth to make sure we were well-situated. If I have another baby, I will definitely want Kassie there. I cannot recommend her highly enough!

Testimonial from Alyssa

August 2021

I was hesitant at first about whether we needed a doula but I am so glad we did and that we went with Kassie. I unexpectedly had to be induced at 37 weeks and my husband and I were really anxious and definitely not prepared for the birth. Kassie made sure she'd be there for us despite the short notice and really helped us through the incredibly stressful experience from talking us through various steps of the process, knowing what to do to help with my pain relief first before my epidural and then hours later when pain from my pre existing injuries started worsening from all the bed sitting, guiding me through different laboring positions, and reassuring me I didn't have to do anything I was uncomfortable with. I can't imagine having to go through the experience without her support.

Testimonial from Jenny

June 2021

Kassie stepped in for us in the middle of a tough labor, and she was outstanding. She brought such positive energy into the room at a moment when our birth experience had strayed pretty far from what we had hoped. Kassie offered amazing support for coping with the epidural--she helped me change positions in bed, gave my husband and me eye masks so that we could rest, and kept us encouraged when we were stuck at 9.5 centimeters. She worked really well with our nurses and tactfully made suggestions at the right moment (the peanut ball made everything happen for me, and I am not sure we would have used it without Kassie in the room!) She discreetly took photos for us, including a beautiful one of the sky at the time our son was born. It has become one of our favorites in the collection.

I am so grateful that our original doula chose Kassie as her back up. It was a leap of faith having someone new come in when our original doula was timed out, but we couldn't have picked a better fit ourselves. Her instincts for what support we needed were spot on, and her presence was so kind and positive. With our first doula having left Chicago, we'll go straight to Kassie when it comes time for number two. Thank you, Kassie!

Testimonial from Aisha

July 2021

Upon meeting Kassie, I instantly felt a connection. Kassie is personable, empathetic, and extremely thoughtful. I knew from day one of meeting her that we made the right choice to have her support us through labor and delivery. My husband and I are so grateful for Kassie's support and guidance during our prenatal sessions and my extremely long labor and delivery experience. Kassie educated us on what to expect during labor and delivery, so we felt fully prepared going into labor. Due to her education, I was able to thoughtfully discuss delivery options with my doctor and decided not to go through a premature induction. I knew the right questions to ask my doctor and I felt comfortable advocating for myself. When Kassie arrived at the hospital, she set up a calm experience in our labor room, with candles and tulips, which were my late mother's favorite flower. She made a concerted effort to help bring my mom's energy into the room, which I really appreciated.

When my labor did not go as planned, Kassie helped calm my nerves, empowered me to advocate for myself, and really took the time to ensure I was comfortable. She helped guide me through pushing and put cold towels on me constantly for 4 hours as I pushed and pushed! She put our minds at ease throughout the whole process. Kassie was very helpful post labor as well, helped us with latching in the hospital and during our postnatal visit, and continued to check in on us in the early days of being parents. Kassie went above and beyond and we highly recommend her for your family!

Testimonial from Izabela

July 2021

Kassie was recommended to us by Chicago Family Picnic where we took birth education classes.We originally did not plan to have a doula present for the birth of our first baby, but after attending birthing classes felt that it would be helpful to have someone in the room who had a better understanding of labor and delivery process than we did. We interviewed four doulas and ultimately went with Kassie because we loved her down to earth approach, experience, and the range of services she offered before, during, and after the birth. Looking back, hiring a doula and choosing Kassie was definitely the right decision and 100% worth the money spent. Kassie is very approachable, easy to talk to, and definitely knowledgeable. Having her in the hospital with us was a huge help and afterwards several of the nurses commented how great our doula was. Something I did not realize is how much of a difference it would make to have someone available to us for postpartum support. As a first time parent I was mostly worried about giving birth, and did not think much further, but having Kassie's help with breastfeeding and taking care of our newborn in the hours, days, and weeks after the delivery was invaluable and gave me the confidence and peace of mind I otherwise would not have had. Highly recommend!

Testimonial from Michael

July 2021

We originally didn't plan to go with a Doula for the birth of our first child, but changed our minds around week 30. We managed to book Kassie, and that was probably the best decision we made. She provided invaluable assistance and information before, during, and after the birth of our daughter. She helped us prepare for the birth and develop our birth plan to share with doctors and nurses. She shared tips I could use, as the non-birthing partner, to care for mom during and after labor. I was particularly grateful that we had Kassie's assistance in the hospital right after the birth. During the time she spent with us at the hospital, she helped with breastfeeding, and other skills we didn't have experience with. Kassie is very responsive to texts and calls, answering all questions we had within a couple minutes. The day after the birth, the nurses told us how grateful they were that Kassie had been there to help out in the hours after the birth. Kassie's post partum support was also very useful for making sure we were doing things correctly once we got home. Overall, I am extremely glad that we hired Kassie!

Testimonial from Al

June 2021

I cannot say enough good things about Kassie! I had a very positive birth experience and she absolutely made that possible. We are first time parents and my wife and I both felt completely supported by her every step of the way. She spent many hours with us during pregnancy: educating us about birth options, helping us develop our preferences, and ensuring she knew how to best support us. Each time she came to our house, took the time to get to know each of us, and stayed for more time than was allotted to make sure she answered all of our questions. 

I was induced at 40 weeks and Kassie met us at the hospital in the middle of the night, when they finally had a bed available. My induction took almost 12 hours; Kassie helped me use the restroom, got me snacks and water, put cold washcloths on my face and neck, and just generally kept us company. After getting pitocin I went directly into hard labor and Kassie immediately pulled out a series of positions and comfort measures to try. When I decided to get an epidural she was nothing but supportive and positive. After the epidural, Kassie helped me get into a position on my knees in the hospital bed that helped bring the baby down and get me from 5cm to 10cm in just over an hour. Then it was Kassie who went running to get the midwife when I felt like the baby was coming. She physically supported me while I pushed, and then took the most beautiful photographs of my family once he arrived (with permission of course). Kassie helped the baby latch immediately and made sure the nurses brought me a snack. She then walked us all to the recovery room, and only then, over 20 hours later did she head out. 

Once we were home, Kassie followed up with us regularly offering support (and super delicious homemade snacks) and answering our frantic new parent questions. Importantly, we never felt judged or pressured by her to make a particular choice - Kassie always supported and advocated fiercely for our choices.  I am so unbelievably grateful for her presence throughout the whole process. We truly don't know what we would have done without her. 

Kassie is also just so very kind and personable! She was an absolute delight to have in the birthing room, which ended up being filled with laughter and joy for the vast majority of the time. I recommend her without hesitation to any growing family!!

Testimonial from Cameron

March 2021

My partner and I hired Kassie for our first birth. I was reluctant to hire a doula , so when I decided that I actually wanted one at our birth I was so happy to have found kassie among everyone I interviewed. Right away in our intake interview Kassie made me feel at ease. She let me share openly so I could process not only hiring her but all the changes that were happening to me, my body, relationship, and everything that was to come. Birth is this unknown that we spend so much time preparing for, and everyone processes differently. I can tell you hands down Kassie will meet you exactly where you are. She created space for me, my partner, and my daughter. I was in early labor for about a month and kassie constantly checked in on me! She wanted me to know she was here no matter what may happen or when! Due to medical issues I ended up having to be induced. Kassie met me and my partner at the hospital. When we saw Kassie in the waiting area our nerves eased and it was like a friend who has been through all of this before was meeting us and showing us the ropes. During my birth she constantly explained things and made us feel empowered and informed. My birth was the most beautiful experience of my life, and I am so thankful she was by my side. Not only did Kassie support me and my partner in prenatal and birth- but in postnatal as well. My daughter had to be rushed to the NICU and was there for the first four days of her life, and Kassie was always a call or text away. checking in on us, supporting us, grieving with us, and advising us. She eased my anxieties more than once and continues to influence me and my confidence in motherhood to this day. I can not recommend her services and skill enough. From her heart to her resources she is here for you and yours through and through. She will 100% be hired again if I have another baby and referred to all of my birthing buddies.

Testimonial from Haley

February 2021

As first time parents, my husband and I were so thankful and grateful to have Kassie by our side in the final weeks before our son's arrival and during a long and somewhat complicated delivery. Kassie is warm, calm and sensible, and particularly in time of covid restrictions, she was such an important part of our support system. She put both of us at ease immediately during our prenatal sessions. She helped us put together a wonderful birth preferences document, offering us resources for science backed decisions and helping us feel like we knew our options. She was able to offer advice without ever pushing a particular agenda - for instance, I knew I wanted to labor at home as long as possible, but planned on an epidural once we did head to the hospital. She helped me understand the options and was happy to provide appropriate support. When our birth plan did not go as smoothly as we'd hoped, Kassie was a source of calm, encouragement and advocacy for us both. She made sure we had time to process next steps and make the right decision for us as each point, including helping me process and accept that a c-section would be the safest and best option for us after a long labor.

It gave me a lot of peace to know that my husband had another person to help support him and help make sense of the many things that were going on in the hospital as the nurses and doctors were primarily focused on me and the baby. After 24 hours in the hospital, Kassie still went above and beyond, coming back after after my c-section to check on us and get us settled in for our first night as a family of three, assisting with breastfeeding, and just making sure we were doing ok. Kassie is a wonderful professional (so easy to communicate with, great resources, delicious goodies for those last few weeks and such cute branding :) ), but more than that, is someone who has found her calling. For all these reasons and more, we'd wholeheartedly recommend Kassie.

Testimonial from Ashley

November 2020

Kassie was wonderful! My husband and I were very happy to have worked with her for the birth of our baby boy born in November 2020. She was open minded and encouraging and helped give me the confidence to labor at home as long as possible and go through labor and delivery at the hospital with very little medical intervention.

Testimonial from Emily

August 2020

To say my husband and I were satisfied with Kassie's services would be an understatement. From her professionalism to her grace and patience, Kassie's role in my labor and delivery proved invaluable. While we had long been interested in having a doula, we didn't book her until I was 36 weeks along. She was prompt in her response and coordinated our initial conversations quickly. Fast forward to 40 weeks and 4 days: my water broke without being in active labor. Once admitted, I texted Kassie around midnight, asking her to come help me cope with contractions while my husband got some rest. She came and was immediately, from that point on for the next thirteen hours until our son was born, 100% at my side. She fanned me, set up stations for different labor positions, assisted my husband in how to help me, provided snacks, gave encouragement, took my lead by listening to me but also offered ideas as I managed the pain, coached my breathing, and allowed my husband to stop and get something to eat or go to the bathroom when contractions were much closer.

Once our son was born (which happened without medical intervention, as I had hoped all along), Kassie stuck around for several hours afterwards, making sure we were okay before she left (to ANOTHER client, who gave birth later that night). One of my favorite things was that I was able to ask her afterwards: "Okay, what was happening when my eyes were closed there?" and "When exactly was my transition? How long did I actually push?" I felt like I could immediately process what just happened, laughing and crying at it all, even as I still think back to the whole experience and catch myself in awe at all that labor was and how much support Kassie was by my side. She has continued to provide postpartum support, answering questions about breastfeeding, hemorrhoids(!), baby growth, and the like over both text and phone calls. She's made a grocery run for us. She also makes some killer granola and cocoa date balls.

Testimonial from Katie

August 2020

My husband and I both feel Kassie played an absolute essential part in our birth experience. My labor was progressing very slowly before her arrival. Kassie guided me through different movements and exercises that I feel rapidly moved my labor along. Had I not been gently assisted by Kassie to get into the uncomfortable but necessary positions she recommended, I'm not sure how my labor would have turned out. She played a vital role in helping me have the birth experience I truly wanted. Kassie went above and beyond to make me feel cared for prior to my birth, during and after. I cannot recommend her enough!

Testimonial from Michelle

October 2021

Kassie is hands-down the most compassionate doula you can find. She exudes light and kindness, and stays calm during any scenario that might come up. Choosing Kassie to be your birth doula is the best investment you can make - she's non-judgmental, compassionate, and supportive through all of the exciting, anxious, and/or challenging moments!

My son is now 1.5 years old, but we STILL talk about how thankful we are that we hired Kassie to be part of our birth team. Throughout pregnancy, Kassie did so much to help us prepare for birth - providing resources, information, referrals to other providers, and a calm presence while validating our concerns. It was really reassuring to know that I'd have continuous support throughout labor, and my husband benefited from having someone help teach him what birth support might look like. If he ever needed to take a break, he was able to know that I was getting the support I needed, too.

When my water broke, I called Kassie first (even before I woke up my husband!) and she was so kind and calming, despite my 3am nervous energy! At the hospital, she helped with position changes, nourishment, emotional support, and being a collaborative partner with the nurses and OBGYN. I ended up having several complications, which made Kassie's presence even more important. She helped keep us calm during scary situations, decoded medical jargon for us, and helped reassure us when birth plans inevitably changed. My husband still tears up thinking about the emotional support he received during really critical parts of the birth.

After the birth, we had a lot to process, so the postpartum visit meant so much to us. Kassie was really generous with her time as we talked through it and she supported us emotionally. We really could not have done it without her.