Where do I even begin! I feel so blessed that I found Brana and Dawn. Their presence and energy made my transition into motherhood so...sacred, special, and grounded. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but both women have a special energy that is sturdy but gentle. And together, the combination is perfect. Very complementary. Having Brana and Dawn helped the tail end of my pregnancy feel very supported. It was nice having their expertise and advice, and not just my OB's perspective. Brana was at my birth and honestly, I credit her (and all the amazing nurses) for everything during my birth. I could honestly go on and on, but will leave it at...you will not regret having them on your team!
— Sara
We are so grateful for Brana and Dawn! Finding out we needed a C-section was a difficult and emotional moment, and they supported us every step of the way. They came to our home, gave us personalized attention, recommended invaluable resources, and were always just a call or text away through the highs and lows. Their kindness, expertise, and care made the postpartum period with our baby girl so much smoother. We truly felt supported, and so lucky that we chose them to go on this most intimate journey with us. Any family would be lucky to have Brana and Dawn by their side!
— Emily Phillips
My partner and I chose Brana and Dawn because they immediately put us at ease with their knowledge and kindness. As a collective, we knew there was no doubt that one of them would be there for us on the day, and honestly, either one would have felt like fortune. But let's start with the community they have built around their practice. The birthing event can feel so isolating, regardless of how many people you know who have gone through it. They offer an educational component, an emotional component, practice to ready you for what's ahead, and a wonderful community of people who gather regularly to celebrate the transformation they have shared separately. It's wonderful to have this wave of supportive shoulders available well before you feel the first kick. Attend at least one of the meetups in the prenatal period, it's quite encouraging to see so many thriving babies and children Dawn and Brana have helped introduce to the world.
We had what we thought at the time was a difficult birth, certainly traumatic in retrospect, but sadly not unique. Having Dawn there was crucial, without going into details, it wasn't simply having her support, or advocating for us, navigating the difficult landscape of hospital staff, but Dawn's intuition in the moment, translating what was happening, asking powerful and thought-provoking questions in our staid. In short Dawn was simply fighting to ensure my partner got the best, most conscientious, responsible, and safe care available regardless of where we were. Dawn showed up for us in the postpartum period as well, made us both feel like even though the event was over, we were not alone. If we were in a dark alley, I could see Dawn or Brana stepping in to negotiate with whoever waited in the shadows. We felt so lucky to have found such a strong support system of two individuals truely passionate about the birthing experience. And honestly, I guarantee you will too.
— The support is everything. The advocacy is even more.
No need to look any further on your doula search - both Brana and Dawn are the best around!!! ♥? so knowledgeable, so warm and caring, so so so necessary and helpful for the entire pregnancy and birth experience. Both of them held space expertly, any question or potential issue that arose prior to, during, and after our birth was met with reverence and patience and compassion and empathy. We will be choosing them as our doulas for every birth we experience, should we decide to do it all again!!!!!
— Mackenzie Richmond
I am so deeply grateful for the support, care, wisdom, and humor that Brana and Dawn of Deep Well Doulas brought to our prenatal, labor, and postpartum experience. This was my second pregnancy, and we were aiming for a VBAC. I could not have asked for a better team to guide me through. Their classes made me feel prepared but not overwhelmed, and I found that key ideas popped up in my mind during labor (sign of a great teacher!). I was able to have much more confident discussions with my doctor about what I wanted to do with their support.
Dawn was with us during the labor and birth of our daughter. My experience was truly better than I could have reasonably hoped for - I went into labor after a membrane sweep, got to the hospital and gave birth 90 minutes later without an epidural (didn't want one and didn't feel like I needed it). Dawn helped us recognize when active labor had started, and I credit her gentle encouragement to do a Miles circuit inversion after a few hours of regular contractions as the key to getting our daughter to turn. That was the point at which we knew things were really moving. She was by my side during the birth and her calm and clear voice helped anchor me and remind me that I could breathe and take my time with pushing, which I believe was the reason I had no major tearing. I know we also had some plain old dumb luck in the process, but I would not have felt as confident and empowered at each turn without Dawn.
Dawn also came over for a postpartum visit and helped us work through some sleep issues (and gave us a chance to go out for a lunch on our own!). I love being a part of the group chats and video calls they organize because they have created a lovely community and made us all feel like family. If you are looking for a doula team, they are excellent at what they do and it is obvious that they genuinely love doing it. I can't recommend them highly enough!
— Nadia
I could not have asked for a better experience than the one we had with Brana and Dawn. From the beginning they were kind, informed and incredibily supportive. I never felt pressured to go through the experience a certain way and instead felt empowered with all the knowledge they provided. They pull from the latest research while also focusing on your emotional experience as a pregnant person. My baby came almost three weeks early but I felt prepared because of them and they helped me have a wonderful labor (something I didn't know was possible!). I knew I would need some extra support having lost my mom recently, and they stepped in and guided us through it all from practical tips to emotional insight. If you are looking for a doula, look no further!
— Allison Raskin
I always tell people the best decision my husband and I made during my first pregnancy was getting on board with this doula collective and aligning ourselves with Brana and Dawn. Brana and Dawn bring such warmth, compassion, joy, and expertise as they guide you through what to expect during birth, the breastfeeding journey, and postpartum life with a newborn. The classes they provided were indispensable and empowering. One of their main lessons that has stuck with me is placing emphasis on my own bodily autonomy and agency, a crucial component of birth (and beyond!). We would seek them out in a heartbeat for any future pregnancies!
This next portion of the review is for Dawn, specifically. She was the doula present for the labor and birth of my daughter. All I can say, and having had a full year of reflection, I had a dream labor and birth, and I owe it all to Dawn (and my incredible husband, too). She was there by my side for every single contraction during the full day of labor at my home. She has a magical way about her that made me feel comfortable, supported and seen, even at my most vulnerable. I was able to labor comfortably at home long enough that by the time we got to the birth center, I was already 10 cm dilated and ready to start pushing. She was my Dawn of a New Era as I transformed from maiden to mother!
— Cleo M.
My husband and I were so happy to find Brana and Dawn. We struggled for years to grow our family, and I was so frustrated with the medical community and how little empathy and compassion we were shown. When I finally became pregnant, I wanted to make sure that our journey—and bringing our daughter into this world—felt supported, seen, and heard.
Hiring Brana and Dawn gave us all of that and so much more. They helped me heal from the trauma I carried from my infertility journey. Their pre-birth classes were incredibly informative, and Dawn was always so patient and kind, answering every question we had, no matter how small. The birth plan we did with Dawn was a great tool and really made me feel like I had a voice in my labor. The games she had us play were fun too and helped me to realize how anything can happen in birth.
The day I went into labor was intense, but I truly could not have done it without Brana by my side. She advocated for me when I was too tired and overwhelmed to advocate for myself. After birth, I was so emotional about breastfeeding—something I never imagined would affect me so deeply—and Brana supported me through every feeling, helping me understand that everything I was experiencing was normal.
I love that, even a year later, we still keep in touch, and they continue to help me when I feel unsure or need guidance. Brana and Dawn are not just doulas; they truly feel like extended family. I can’t say enough wonderful things about my experience with them and how much they supported not just me, but my husband too.
Thank you both for the incredible work you do!
— Danielle Kingsley
My wife and I are incredibly grateful for Brana and Dawn. After years of struggling to start our family, we wanted support we could really trust once she became pregnant. Working with them gave us exactly that.
Their classes were clear and helpful, and they were always patient with our questions. Dawn helped us create a birth plan that made us feel prepared, and the exercises she walked us through really opened our eyes to how unpredictable birth can be.
When my wife went into labor, Brana was unbelievable. She supported her every step and spoke up for her when she was too exhausted to do it herself. After our daughter was born, Brana helped us through those tough, emotional early breastfeeding days, which meant more to us than we can say.
A year later, they still check in and offer guidance. They didn’t just support my wife—they supported both of us. Brana and Dawn truly feel like family, and we can’t thank them enough.
— Joe
I had a wonderful experience with our doulas! They were incredibly attuned to my needs and provided such empathetic care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Their knowledge and calm presence made me feel truly capable and confident every step of the way. I love the way they taught me how to trust our body’s inherit wisdom. Not only did they support me, but they were just as supportive with my husband. They made him feel confident and informed on the entire process, as well. They supported and informed him so that he could support me and keep us connected. I can’t imagine going through the experience without them and my husband. They were steady, compassionate guides through it all. Highly recommend their services!
— Brandy Chainani
I knew going into my first pregnancy that I wanted support throughout the entire journey. We were lucky to find Brana & Dawn through their doula services. We were assigned Brana, with Dawn as a backup doula. We loved the birth classes, Baby 101, and lactation classes in their doula package. These were essential for preparing us for pregnancy and birth. Brana & Dawn stayed in close contact via email, text, and phone. It felt like having fairy godmothers guiding us.
We were also interested in placenta pills, which Brana makes herself if you're interested! Through their service, we became part of a supportive community of parents on the same journey, which was comforting and intimate. If you're considering a birth doula, Brana is highly recommended! When I started early labor, Brana was in constant communication and met us at the hospital when we were ready. Although I had an unplanned cesarean due to an unforeseen situation, Brana was there for me, my husband, and our newborn. She made sure the nurses followed our birth plan, respected our preferences for our baby, and advocated for us in the delivery room.
Even though my birth didn't go as planned, I felt prepared because of them. Sometimes things don't go as expected medically, and that's okay. I have no regrets because I was able to try for the birth I wanted with Brana's love and support. We also sought postpartum doula help, and thanks to Brana and Dawn's recommendations, we found the perfect support during the challenging newborn phase as first-time parents. My husband and I highly reccommend Brana and Dawn for your pregnancy and birth journey!
— Christina Raygoza
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Brana and Dawn. They have an incredible depth of knowledge, an intuitive understanding of their clients, and fantastic recommendations for specialists, bodyworkers, etc. During our interview, I immediately felt they understood me, my needs, and my desires for my birth. I felt so heard and so seen – I’m so glad I found them! Brana and Dawn made themselves very available; I never felt I was a burden or annoyance when I had questions or concerns. And I loved working with a team! Brana and Dawn complement each other and I never felt I was missing out when working with one or the other. When I thought my water might have broken early, Brana was a source of calm and helped us determine whether that was actually the case and how to proceed. While she talked us through options and offered a lot of helpful information, it was always clear that the decision was ultimately ours to make and that Brana would support however we chose to move forward. When my labor actually started, Dawn was the doula on call. It doesn’t feel like hyperbole to say that she transformed my experience. My contractions were very inconsistent and, even though I was still in early labor, Dawn came over and helped get the baby in a better position for birth. And because she’d gotten to know me so well, and so thoroughly understood my intentions for this birth, she knew exactly when to push me and when to encourage me to rest. I’m so incredibly grateful that I had her by my side. I’m so sad I’m no longer pregnant – I’d have four more babies just to keep working with Brana and Dawn!
— Kirsten & Adam
Brana and Dawn of Deep Well Doulas have been such a critical part of my prenatal, labor and postpartum experience, offering our family consistent support and care throughout the entire journey with our son. In addition to being experienced and well respected doulas in their own right, Brana & Dawn work incredibly well as a team in providing holistic education, labor support, and postpartum care. Their guidance really allowed me to tap into my own intuition, needs and preferences and pursue the birthing experience that I was hoping for. Despite the unpredictable nature of birth, I felt at ease knowing that Brana and Dawn would be there to support us through labor and beyond. If you’re looking for a community of care to help navigate the transition into parenthood, they offer regular postpartum gatherings and multiple ways to connect with their other clients which I’ve found to be extremely beneficial. Highly recommend Deep Well Doulas!
— Emma Heffernan
Our family cannot recommend Deep Well Doulas enough! Dawn and Brana were absolute angels during our entire birthing process from early pregnancy to postpartum. They made both my husband and I feel so safe, heard and protected from beginning to end. Both Dawn and Brana are highly empathetic individuals who have a gift for guiding new parents and we cannot imagine our process without them. They are trauma informed and were my biggest advocates at the hospital and beyond. While certain circumstances made my labor challenging, we came into the process feeling as informed as possible to make decisions that made sense for us. And as someone who felt intense anxiety about labor and birth, Dawn and Brana were consistently reassuring and equipped us with knowledge and confidence. We felt so taken care of knowing they were always a call away for any questions or reassurance we needed. They have continued to be a part of our lives even after the birth offering so much wisdom, guidance and support. They truly love their work and care for their clients. I can’t recommend them enough and our family feels so grateful to have them in our lives beyond the birth.
— Satya Fuentes
