I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Betsy!!
I found Betsy in my late second trimester and immediately felt like she was the perfect fit for my first childbirth experience. I had no idea what to expect from the experience, but I really wanted someone in the delivery room who was familiar with my needs and who could both help me with the birthing process and could help advocate for my wishes and priorities in the hospital environment.
As a medical student, I both know way too much about everything that can go wrong in childbirth and came to the experience with a lot of anxiety. Betsy did an amazing job of helping me navigate my feelings and eased my many many worries throughout my pregnancy without ever making me feel like a burden.
When my labor began, Betsy was available and ready for whatever I needed. While my labor looked absolutely nothing like I had prepared for, and the plan was very quickly abandoned, Betsy easily met the challenges of the new situation and provided tremendous support.
We are so grateful for Betsy and we look forward to working with her again in the future
— Sara V.
Betsy was recommended to me as a doula who is aware of birth trauma. I needed someone I could trust to allow me to birth my second baby without the pressure of other's agendas. She wholeheartedly showed up during my active labor, birth and Aftercare with a sense of trust and gentleness. She calmed my nerves during labor and encouraged me in my goal. She gave direction when I asked for advice, but never overstepped. I led my birth and even though my at home delivery was unplanned, it's what happily occurred as I felt safe and supported. She is extremely knowledgeable and calm under pressure with a lovely personality. She prioritizes and advocates for the birthing person which is paramount to a trauma-free experience. Cannot recommend her more!
— Becca T.
Betsy assisted me for my second birth at Southcoast Midwifery in Irvine. She communicated with me often and answered all the questions I had for her during my pregnancy. She made me feel very comfortable throughout the whole process and was very supportive of my birth plans. My son came very quickly and without complication; Betsy was right by my side when I needed her. She even made me food and spoon fed me afterwards while I snuggled my little guy. Betsy stopped by to check on us after we were settled in at home. I had an awesome experience with Betsy and would recommend her for any mama looking for a doula!
— Samantha Milford
We’re so glad we had Betsy as our doula for this journey. From the very beginning, she was super friendly, supportive and knowledgeable , sending us all kinds of helpful materials, everything from hospital packing lists to a birth plan template, and natural ways to induce labor. She really helped us feel prepared going into it.
During the birth, Betsy was amazing! I had a 52 hour labor and she was there with us through the thick of it, helping with breathing, acupressure, and just keeping us calm and grounded. She made it easier for me to advocate for myself, especially when things didn’t go quite as planned. Her support helped me feel way more confident and in control.
She’s also been incredibly helpful postpartum, always checking in and offering guidance and extra help with almost anything when we’ve needed it! Honestly, she’s been such a steady and positive presence through the whole experience. We truly couldn’t have done it without her and can’t recommend her enough! Thanks for helping us bring our beautiful baby Henry into this world! We’re so grateful for you Betsy!
— Lindsay L.
Betsy was absolutely amazing. From the first meeting I knew she was the one for me. She walked me through everything and made me feel comfortable for the process of labor and birth. She helped me through contractions and supported my husband through the whole process. When things got dicey and I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore Betsy helped me through it with encouragement and confidence. We needed up having to transfer to the hospital and she was there every step of the way. I couldn’t recommend her more!
— Whitney P.
I wanted to give Betsy a chance to reach out and explain herself but instead she had her husband send a message to justify her absence when I needed her most, and has yet to reach out a month after giving birth without any support. I heavily relied on Betsy as this was my first birthing experience and I had a specific birth plan and was not intending on using an epidural. I’m really surprised because I felt really good about her and she was in the same page as me. Too good to be true i guess.
I contacted Betsy as I was starting to get contractions earlier in the day, maybe 2 or 3 PM. I was advised to reach back out once my contractions were closer together and then she would come over and assist with early labor. I reached out around 10pm as my contractions were close enough together to need her assistance. The messages that my husband sent showed “read” but no response. Again, we head to the hospital around 5 AM and sent another message, showing “read”. I went 13 hours into labor with no epidural and I had no support that was promised by Betsy. Not even a response until the next day from her husband explaining that she had an accident and her phone was broken and out of service. My question is, how were the messages “read”? Also, I do have a heart and I feel for her. I hope she is ok, but also, a month later there is no communication from her whatsoever. It’s as if our meetup and plan never existed and weren’t important to her. It’s very unprofessional. Also, I’d be aware that there is no backup doula if you pick her for situations that her husband explained.
This is an important job to have when someone is in a vulnerable position and they’re wanting the support to have the birth they’ve envisioned from someone who is supposed to be passionate and educated in this field. Instead I was left in the dark, alone, and my birth was not at all what I envisioned. In fact, none of my birth plan was honored and it turned into an emergency c section. The entire event was extremely traumatizing and I have been experiencing extreme postpartum depression since I gave birth.
I didn’t expect miracles or a perfect birth. I was open to curveballs because that’s life. But when I’m asked to make decisions while I’m feeling 100% of my contractions, it would’ve been nice to have someone advocate for me while I’m unable to think clearly and make an informed consent. That was the whole point of hiring Betsy. I really trusted her and she let me down.
— M M.
From the moment we first met, my wife and I knew that Betsy was someone who we can trust with our pregnancy, labor, and delivery. During our first interview, she exuded kindness and respect, and she listened attentively to our needs and was honest with her birth beliefs and how she can help us.
During labor, Betsy proved to be an invaluable source, both for my wife and myself. Her confidence in the delivery room greatly assuaged our fears, and I found comfort in having an experienced doula with us. She was calm and patient, and she quickly learned the Lamaze techniques we were using, allowing me to take a break when needed. When we were faced with having to make tough decisions, Betsy provided clear information to help us make informed choices.
Additionally, the pre- and post-partum meetings we had with her were exceptional. She provided a wealth of knowledge, which was easily accessible through an online portal, making it convenient for us to review. She also provided insurance information, which helped us submit a claim to our insurance company.
Overall, Betsy is a wonderful doula who helped us through our first pregnancy. Her experience and knowledge are valuable resources, and it all comes with an affordable price. Thank you, Betsy, we are grateful for all you've done for us!
— Chris Danan
I 1000% recommend Betsy!! I am so thankful to have had Betsy thru this beautiful journey. She is very knowledgeable, kind, patient, and understanding. As a first time mom I was very nervous about labor but having Betsy there made things much easier. She came to my home and when it was time she we went to the birthing center with us. My husband & I are so grateful she was there. My midwife was not in the room at the time baby was making her way out and lucky Betsy was there and caught our baby.
We could not have asked for a better doula!!
— Zoe
Betsy is genuine and always there for me when I needed her. I had issues with my first doula because she hardly responded to my texts and questions and Betsy without hesitation became my new doula. She made sure to reach out all the time and made me feel like i really did have support. Some people are genuinely passionate about what they do and Betsy definitely is one of them.
— Vivian L.
Betsy was absolutely incredible during my birthing time and I cannot recommend her enough as a doula! From the moment we first spoke she was so knowledgeable and made me feel confident in my choices. Betsy was there for me throughout my pregnancy whenever I needed to talk or just answer a question here and there. Even though my birth didn’t go according to plan she was right there with me every step of the way from laboring at home to being transferred to the hospital from our birth center. My baby had been in an optimal position for weeks and then flipped sunny side up as soon as labor started. Betsy was so helpful with my horrible back labor doing hip squeezes, tens unit, using a massage gun, and helping me with the miles circuit to try to flip my baby around. When I wasn’t progressing it was recommended I go to the hospital to get an epidural to get my body to relax which was an absolute no no in my birth plan because I wanted an all natural water birth. But if it weren’t for Betsy recommending the best hospital ever (Saddleback Memorial Care in Laguna Hills) I don’t think my birth would have ended as positively. She knew how well they take care of people there and I honestly don’t know what we would have done without her guidance. Even though it wasn’t the birth I had envisioned I ended up having the best experience and unplanned C-section at that hospital. I know that we did everything we could to try to flip my baby. Turns out he was 9lbs 12oz and I am very thankful that I did not have to push him out. I truly cannot say enough great things about Betsy she is kind and compassionate with a plethora of knowledge about birth and breastfeeding. If you are looking for a doula look no further!
— Madison B.
Betsy was a God-sent doula. She was exactly the presence I needed in my birth and brought an atmosphere of joy (can you believe we were LAUGHING in between contractions sometimes?! I can't!). It was exactly what I needed in the moment and when things got hard, she knew how to just rub my back or emphasize with me. She was on top of every single thing from timing contractions to making sure we were staying in touch with the midwife and providing updates. She was supportive in every way. I would not have wanted to do this birth without her!
— Michelle C.
