Testimonial from Lindy
August 2023
Kassie was truly so instrumental in supporting us through what ended up being a very positive pregnancy & birth. From my first conversation with Kassie, I felt comfortable, heard and empowered. As someone who struggles with medical anxiety, having Kassie as a resource throughout each trimester provided me with the knowledge and reassurance I needed on many occasions. She was there to answer questions, share evidence-based information and encourage me along the way as I prepared for my first birth.
When asked about our birth experience, my husband and I tell everyone that we are truly not sure what we would have done without Kassie. And we mean every bit of that. She goes above and beyond. She helped create a calm birthing space, guided me through positioning until it was time to push, helped me make informed decisions along the way, and assisted my husband in supporting me during the entire experience. Having her there as a constant familiar face, to encourage my progress and affirm my abilities made all the difference.
After birth, the first few days postpartum are overwhelming in every way. Once again, I am not sure what we would have done without having Kassie's guidance and support. Honestly, just the feeling of having someone checking in on me and encouraging me through those initial days was so helpful. Not only did she take the time to touch base with us, she also answered my many questions regarding breastfeeding & recovery, provided suggestions and calmed any worries I had as I cared for my newborn.
I cannot recommend Kassie enough. She was everything we'd hoped to have in a doula through physical support, emotional support and SO much more. If you aren't sure whether you want or need a doula, more specifically Kassie as your doula, you do!!!
Testimonial from Laura
June 2023
We worked with Kassie since the very beginning of my first pregnancy and honestly I don’t know what I would’ve have done without her knowledge, kindness and wisdom. I’m an anxious person who hates medical stuff so it was such a relief to have a support system in my corner that guided me gently through a process that was pretty scary for me at first.
We had a really unique situation- a move across the country halfway through my pregnancy. We were having trouble finding a provider in Chicago who would take me on after 20 weeks. Kassie assured us we would find support and even offered a list of incredible hospitals and birthing centers. One of her suggestions were the midwives at Swedish which worked with our insurance and accepted me as a patient!! I couldn’t have been happier with my midwive or this hospital.
From being available via text when I had a question to chatting on the phone when I was nervous about my 20 week ultrasound, to providing us with curated registry suggestions and acid reflux guidance - she was a huge resource and source of support throughout the pregnancy process.
When it came to my labor, Kassie prepared us with wonderful suggestions for birthing classes, and even came by our home in my 3rd trimester to talk through my birth preferences and offer more guidance. She gave me the support and confidence to have an unmedicated labor in a bathtub which I did!!! During labor she decked out the room with LED candles, scented cold towels, and all kind of tricks for breath and pain management. There was a moment I almost went for the epidural and she gently reminded me of my preferences + costs and payoffs of the epidural which allowed me to make a confident and pressure free decision and gave me the strength to keep going!
My birth was magical and I attribute the confidence and calmness I had leading up to it and during it because of Kassie’s support and presence throughout my pregnancy and birth. She even took photos of the labor and birth that documented moments I would have never seen otherwise.
Post birth Kassie visited us at our home again offering us post partum support and guidance. She has still continued to support me by checking in and providing essential resources as I navigated PPD and PPA and lots of trouble breastfeeding.
She has been right by my side the whole experience. She has gone above and beyond anything I could have imagined. Do yourself a favor and hire her right away. No matter what your circumstances or preferences she will honor you as a birthing person and that’s what matters.
Testimonial from Sara
June 2023
My husband and I cannot recommend Kassie enough as a doula - it was one of, if not the best, decisions we made as we prepared for the birth of our first child. Her calm and supportive demeanor, as well as the wealth of knowledge provided to us pre-, during-, and post-birth were invaluable to us. With her guidance, we were able to feel confident in the decisions that we were making in the delivery room in order to have a smooth birth. Initially, we were hesitant to have yet another person in the delivery room, but Kassie was so much more than "another person" and we felt supported and heard from just the first virtual meeting. Our birth story would not have been possible with Kassie. From personal touches -- setting a calm atmosphere with flameless candles, grabbing my husband a coffee so he could stay in the room with me, and taking pictures as our baby was born and the first few moments together -- to the actual physical and emotional support she provided -- knowledge of positions, comforting techniques, and help with making evidence-based decisions regarding possible interventions -- needless to say, Kassie was an absolute critical team member of our baby's birth that we will be forever grateful for. Her support doesn't stop after the birth either. Kassie made sure to check in frequently on how I was recovering and able to answer any questions I had regarding our new baby.
Testimonial from Courtney
June 2023
Kassie was truly a godsend throughout my entire pregnancy and birth! She helped keep me at ease and was always available when I had any questions. We couldn’t imagine not having her during the labor and delivery of our son, she was such an asset for us!
Testimonial from Leila
February 2023
I have nothing but the best things to say about Kassie. She was a wealth of knowledge, positivity, and comfort every step of the way during my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. She answered any question I had, helped me make a birth plan that I felt great about, and then stepped in and eased my worries when things didn’t go according to plan. She responded to my texts/calls at all hours of the day leading up to labor whenever any issues came up (including a middle of the night trip to the hospital with high blood pressure). I had such a beautiful and positive labor/delivery experience thanks to Kassie and I’m so grateful for her.
Testimonial from Sarah
February 2023
I can’t say this enough, if you’re pregnant book Kassie as your doula!!! My husband and I weren’t sure if we needed a doula and after speaking to a friend who had one we decided to consider it. After speaking to my OBGYN about our interest in having one, she recommended Kassie. She said that Kassie was the best there is and she was absolutely right. My pre, during, and post labor experience was great and it had almost all of it to do with having Kassie by my side.
During our pre labor sessions, she gave us a ton of information on how the process of labor usually goes. She took the time to listen to our questions and explained with patience. As we got closer to my due date, she was always available and checked in with me to see how I was doing. I didn’t want to get induced and wanted the least amount of intervention as possible, so she provided a ton of resources to help get things going naturally.
My water broke at 39 weeks and as soon as it happened Kassie was my second phone call, after my OBGYN. She met me at the hospital and was by my side during the 12 hours of labor. She helped me navigate my contractions, offering support and knowledge throughout the entire process. She also helped guide my husband on what he could do to help. It felt like we were a team. She advised when was the right time for the epidural and that made such a difference, because we were able to get things moving the right way, so that labor didn’t last too long.
After I gave birth, she was there to help me with what comes next. She showed me how to have my baby latch appropriately and again that made such a difference in my breastfeeding journey. About two weeks after I was discharged, she came to our house and we discussed how I was doing both physically and emotionally.
My daughter is 10 weeks old and Kassie has been a tremendous resource throughout this journey. I said it in the beginning and I will keep saying it, book Kassie as your doula, you won’t regret it.
Testimonial from Emily
May 2022
We've used Kassie for two births now. The second time was as smooth and wonderful as the first. When my labor slowed, she was immediately ready with ideas either to speed things up again or to remind me of the "marathon" mentality and encourage me to rest. She drew on my strengths and encouraged me when I was most uncertain or anxious. I have such respect for the knowledge she brings to the room and the presence of mind she offers when my laboring mind goes off in all different directions. Now I'm superstitious about ever not birthing with her.
Testimonial from Elizabeth
February 2023
Kassie worked with me as my birth doula, and it was an amazing, amazing experience. This was my first birth, and I'm an older mother, so having her expertise and guidance was truly life changing. She helped me understand all of the "unknowns" of the birthing process, and knew what questions to ask and how to ask them to ensure a good birthing experience. She also checked in with me multiple times post-birth to ensure I was doing ok, which I greatly appreciated. I would highly recommend Kassie if you are considering working with a doula!
Testimonial from Bridget
February 2023
Kassie was an incredible support through our pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Not only is she extremely professional and a well-spoken communicator, but she is the calm, assuring presence we needed to tackle the uncertainty of pregnancy with confidence.
Her extensive experience with the team and environment at Prentice was invaluable. She knew the ins and outs of the facility as well as several team members. Having this familiarity on our side made a huge impact.
Kassie helped guide us through the tactical (e.g. a birth plan document, what to bring to the hospital and how to give our son his first bath) and the intangible (e.g. our mental preparedness for the big day). We particularly appreciated her postpartum debrief; she helped us remember positive moments of our birth story we might have forgotten.
All in all, we are deeply grateful for our time with Kassie and couldn't recommend her enough.
Testimonial from Kira
October 2022
Kassie is an unbelievably kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable doula. She was always willing to offer a listening ear, and a space to vent, cry, celebrate, etc. I had a scary situation halfway through my pregnancy, earlier than doulas typically start, and Kassie was so supportive, and present. I ended up having to have a planned c-section, and honestly cannot imagine not having her around pre and post op. She lifted all our spirits in the room, made me feel calm and cared for, and also supported my partner with such care. I highly recommend her!!!
Testimonial from Orr & Gabe
November 2022
TLDR; Kassie is the best.
We love Kassie so much and cannot recommend her highly enough!
Kassie joined us for our second birth. It was a powerful and good experience, and much easier than the first one. We think this is because we made better decisions, with much thanks to Kassie. She brought a rich experience that was very effective in helping us make the right decisions for us.
She is a great listener and had excellent advice to us in the lead up to birth. She talked us through different exercises and gave specific pointers which really helped in the days leading up to the main day. One of the things that she recommended was an induction method when I was approaching 41 weeks. It brought me closer to where I needed to be, and made everything else go smoother.
On the day of the birth, Kassie was totally present and made a huge difference in lots of ways big and small at the hospital. The hospital itself was quite busy, but Kassie made it so that we always felt like we had a partner with us with a deep intuitive sense of how things go based on an immense amount of real world experience. Kassie would frequently pick up on cues and say the midwives are going to notice this signal and it’s great because we are moving to the next stage! And sure enough, the midwives would show up minutes later, ready for the next steps.
Birth is such a personal experience and Kassie really listened to what was important to us. We think anyone would be lucky to have her as their doula.
Testimonial from Kativa
March 2022
We hired Kassie for the birth of our first baby and it was the best decision we made. Kassie went above and beyond to support us through every milestone. She was my greatest resource throughout pregnancy - very helpful, passionate, extremely knowledgeable, comforting and supportive! She was also incredibly intuitive — she seemed to know exactly what I needed and when.
Not only did she make me feel like I was ready for whatever would come, she also helped my husband feel comfortable and prepared. She helped us understand our options, provided evidence-based information, and experiences that she encountered either personally or in her work which truly prepared us. She also did so much to build my confidence, all the while giving my husband the tools he needed to be the best support person possible. We could not have made a better choice in working with her as our birth doula. If you are considering hiring her for your birth journey, don't look any further and do it now! She's quite literally the best.
Testimonial from Kelly
July 2022
We hired Kassie for the birth of our first baby and it was the best decision we made. Kassie went above and beyond to support us through every milestone. She was my greatest resource throughout pregnancy - very helpful, passionate, extremely knowledgeable, comforting and supportive! She was also incredibly intuitive — she seemed to know exactly what I needed and when.
Not only did she make me feel like I was ready for whatever would come, she also helped my husband feel comfortable and prepared. She helped us understand our options, provided evidence-based information, and experiences that she encountered either personally or in her work which truly prepared us. She also did so much to build my confidence, all the while giving my husband the tools he needed to be the best support person possible. We could not have made a better choice in working with her as our birth doula. If you are considering hiring her for your birth journey, don't look any further and do it now! She's quite literally the best.
Testimonial from Maggie
May 2022
Kassie was phenomenal - from our initial outreach, throughout the remainder of my pregnancy, on delivery day and more. She is a calming presence, takes the time to fully hear you, and asks such thoughtful and helpful questions! Our pregnancy was high-risk and we felt completely comfortable and confident in Kassie’s ability to care for us and our baby. We recommend Kassie wholeheartedly, and truly don’t think we would have had the experience we had without her!
Testimonial from Christina
June 2022
If you are considering hiring a doula... look no further than Kassie Leachman. Best decision we made. I can't imagine what our labor and delivery would've been like without her. With Kassie's guidance, we were able to create our optimal birth preferences using her expertise so that we were prepared in advance for any possible outcome. She also gave us invaluable recommendations and referrals for all things third trimester and beyond. When it came to the big day, Kassie was our guardian angel. She was there every step of the way to offer relief and support. She gave wonderful suggestions to my partner to help soothe me and feel 100% part of the experience. And she kept going! Our meetings with her postpartum made us feel so taken care of in those early crazy newborn days. Thanks to Kassie, our baby came to us smoothly in an environment that made us feel so safe and respected. Kassie is a radiant human and one of the warmest souls to grace this earth. The birthing community is so lucky to have her, as are we.
Testimonial from Rowan
June 2022
Kassie was such an incredible support before, during, and after the birth of our daughter. She patiently answered all of our questions, put our minds at ease when we had any concerns, and brought an amazing, calm energy to our birth. We had a beautiful, short, natural birth, and I don't think it would have been possible without Kassie; she made us feel safe and cared for. I can't imagine any part of the experience without her!
Testimonial from Sarah
June 2022
Kassie is wonderful!!! You want her as your doula. My husband and I both felt immensely supported by her throughout our pregnancy, labor, and postpartum time. We don't know what we would have done without Kassie. She provided excellent care and is extremely knowledgeable. She knew exactly what I needed at different points in labor. She genuinely cares about you, your partner, and your baby. You would be lucky to have Kassie as your doula!!!
Testimonial from Mackenzie
May 2022
Hiring Kassie as our doula was the BEST decision my husband and I made throughout our pregnancy. We can’t help but think back about how different our birth experience would have been had she not been there with us. Kassie came to our house and met with us about the birthing process and what to expect during labor and delivery. Her visit was so comfortable and she really made us feel at ease about everything to come. Our baby was late and initially I really wanted to avoid an induction. Ultimately around 41 weeks, induction ended up being the route we needed to take. Kassie was so supportive and helped me work through my anxieties and fears without making me feel any added pressure. Once at the hospital Kassie made the space feel so much more calming - way less sterile! She provided guidance to my husband in a way that modeled supportive and nurturing behaviors, without telling him what to do - this was particularly helpful as he had been so nervous and unsure of how he could best support me.
During labor Kassie was incredible!! With this being our first I was very unsure what things I could ask for or what options would be available to me. Kassie made sure my voice was heard and ultimately she’s the reason I was able to have a vaginal delivery. She provided assistance with positioning, breathing, resting, and making sure my needs were being met. She was such an advocate for me and I truly believe we would have had a drastically different experience had she not been there. I’m so grateful for the support Kassie provided and every woman going through labor deserves to have someone like Kassie in their corner. Kassie was truly such an AMAZING support and we couldn’t recommend her enough!!
Testimonial from Jamie
May 2022
We believe our positive birth experience was a direct result of having Kassie as our doula. She was an amazing source of information, support, and reassurance throughout the labor process as well as during my third trimester and postpartum. Her presence was both upbeat and light hearted as well as calming and comforting.
Kassie was right there with us through the whole process. She checked in with me in the final weeks of my pregnancy to answer any questions and provided a ton of resources to help us make decisions leading up to labor. Once labor started, she guided us through the process and helped us advocate for ourselves with the hospital staff. Having her there eased the pressure on my partner to know what to do in different circumstances. This allowed him to play a constant emotional support role versus also trying to communicate with hospital staff, help move me in different positions, ask questions, etc.
After hours of laboring, we found out our baby wasn’t in the ideal position for pushing, Kassie had the knowledge and experience to get me into different positions to help move the baby in the correct position for delivery. Had she not been there, the nurses would have been able to help but with much less consistency and individual support which could have resulted in more interventions.
Having a doula made all the difference in our birth experience and Kassie was the perfect fit for us, would 100% recommend working with her!
Testimonial from Anna
February 2022
There aren’t enough words of expression to describe what an asset Kassie was at our birth. Even before our birth began and we were interviewing doulas to find the right fit, Kassie slid into that feeling for both my spouse and I, seamlessly. It was evident she was a powerhouse of knowledge, gusto for “getting in there,” all while with so much gentleness, attentiveness and care. It was an easy immediate decision to work with Kassie. From there she made herself available to us for questions, thoughts, worries, etc. Kassie was so thoughtful about everything; she brought resources, explained everything in full detail, and even made homemade treats (date balls) as a consideration for a natural method to induce labor. More and more, she naturally reinforced the best decision we made in bringing her on to our team. At the time of my birth, Kassie arrived at the hospital with a funhouse worthy of paraphernalia to make the room more cozy. We really enjoyed Kassie’s company, and loved chatting, laughing, playing games, and she was so helpful with recommendations of movement. Kassie is not shy at all when it comes to this process, and Kassie and my spouse even joined me while I sat on the toilet! It was a special experience to have her there, to be a strong advocate for us and relaying messaging, especially information we wouldn’t have thought of to share to the medical team, to meet our little one, to tend to me as I was having some pretty intense post-birth complications. Kassie’s energy is healing, uplifting, tender. It was energy I didn’t even think I needed. We were also so happy to share a postpartum moment with her; have her re-meet the little one she helped bring into this world and to check on my spouse and I both. We never doubted Kassie’s commitment to both of us, and now the three of us. Kassie is resourceful, communicative, and so much more. We undoubtedly think you need Kassie as part of your birth team!