Colleen McDonald Birth Doula in Richmond, VA

I always knew that hiring a doula would be a key part of my pregnancy, and after meeting with several I felt an instant connection to Colleen. She's so laid back, down to earth, and real while also being extremely knowledgeable. I wanted someone I clicked with that I could see myself trusting at my most vulnerable moment, and who could also make me laugh during the thick of things. From the moment we hired her Colleen provided us with amazing support. Informative emails throughout pregnancy, being super responsive whenever I had a question, simply wanted to vent about a pregnancy symptom, or needed some emotional support and validation. She was always in our corner! She worked with us to ensure our birth preferences were planned out and was an amazing advocate of those in the hospital. She arrived to support us on the big day after I'd labored at home for several hours, and I was past the point of conversing. She immediately jumped into action, wordlessly taking place by my side and was magically always right there with anything I needed. Her simply being there was also such a powerful and calming presence. During the rest of my labor and delivery she provided amazing support to myself and my husband. Her help allowed him more confidence in taking an active role in the birth of our daughter, and having both of them to support me physically and emotionally was how I was able to achieve my dream of an unmedicated, low intervention birth. I can't recommend her enough, and I feel so lucky that we now can call her a friend!

— Cassie P.

Colleen was an incredible support throughout the entire process, helping me feel informed and empowered to advocate for myself every step of the way. She provided education beforehand. During the hospital stay, she ensured I was comfortable and anticipated my needs. She even guided me into different positions for pushing despite having an epidural. After the birth, she continued to support me, making the transition into parenthood feel much smoother.

— Meera V.

Colleen is one of the most patient and accommodating Doulas I know. Her expertise made me feel so much more reassured during a stressful situation. Her passion for this work is so evident in everything she does and I highly recommend working with her.

— Mikayla O.

I had a great experience with goldenrod for encapsulation of my placenta. They were quick to pick it up, have the process completed and delivered to my house. The capsules helped a lot with the hormone shifts. Very grateful for this business! 10/10

— Sara McGeorge

We can’t imagine our birth experience without Colleen. She stepped in as a backup doula, and looking back, we can’t believe how lucky we were — aside from my wife, she was the single biggest reason our long, three-day labor was a positive experience. From the start, Colleen was fully available to us, guiding us through every stage of labor. She came to our home as things progressed, then followed us to the hospital and stayed by our side the entire time. When hospital staff seemed stretched thin and focused on logistics, Colleen was the steady, compassionate presence we needed — advocating for us, keeping us calm, and ensuring Chelsea was as comfortable and supported as possible. From mom’s perspective: Colleen offered encouragement when I needed it most, helped me find confidence through the hardest contractions, and continuously checked in on my comfort and mindset. During pregnancy, she provided resources, education, and reassurance that helped me feel prepared and informed every step of the way, from prenatal questions to postpartum recovery. From dad’s perspective: I quickly realized that hospital staff are there to manage procedures, not to personally guide the birthing process. Colleen filled that gap entirely. She unpacked our bags, filled water bottles, set up our space, and coached me on how to best support Chelsea through each phase. She helped me feel grounded and useful instead of helpless and panicked. At our request, she even took photos and videos of the delivery that we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives. Doulas are an incredible resource, and Colleen is exceptional. We truly can’t imagine going through labor without her guidance, presence, and care. We highly recommend hiring a doula, and specifically Colleen, as you make your birthing plans.

— Cameron & Chelsea Vaile

I highly recommend Colleen as a doula! We started working with her early in my pregnancy, and she was so supportive through all of it. She is a comforting, straightforward, calm, kind person, and I felt so reassured to have her with me through the pregnancy and birth process. During my pregnancy, she gave me more useful advice on pelvic floor pain than my doctors, and shared resources on anxiety management that helped me prepare for the birth. During the birth, Colleen was with me at every step - I had a complicated labor that ended up in an unplanned c-section, and they let her go into the prep room for my c-section, so I was never alone at any point during the surgery. She also supported my partner and guided him on how to best support me. Colleen explained everything that was going on and made me feel confident that we were making the right choices throughout my pregnancy and birth experience. She also took photos during the birth that I will treasure forever, and our post-birth meeting felt like a therapy session I didn't know I needed. 10/10 recommend working with Colleen if you are looking for a doula that has lots of experience and knowledge, opts for science over spirituality, and is very, very tall. I am so grateful to have gone through this experience with her!

— Brittany Jezouit

Wonderful to work with! Thank you!!

— Lucy Midelfort

Was HIGHLY impressed by the entire process. I have struggled with ppd with my older 2 and decided to do this with advice from my functional doctor. I reached out to Colleen last min and was happily surprised that she said “of course”. The care and effort she made for us to encapsulate my placenta is something I will always recommend.

— Taylor Trenz

Colleen was knowledgeable of the TCM process, answered my questions about Strep B, super easy communication before and after our birth, and great results. Loved the cord art! Highly recommend to birthing people wanting to encapsulate their placenta.

— Cristina

I highly recommend Colleen for a positive birth experience! Her knowledge and experience helped my husband and I feel at ease. We decided to look for a doula fairly late into my pregnancy but I'm happy we did since we were an anxious mess before the birth. Colleen helped us navigate my gestational diabetes and breeched baby position. She also gave us all the information to decide on the type of birth we wanted. It really helped with the mental load and gave us clarity. I am forever grateful for the empowerment and confidence Colleen gave me during this time.

— Christina Petitfils

Colleen was exactly what we needed! She was a great resource for questions before the birth and even just someone to talk to when I was worried about things (like impending snowstorms). She had experience and useful knowledge of all the local hospitals and was clearly at home in the one we chose (HDH). I can't say enough about what a relief it is to have someone there advocating just for you who is also very experienced in childbirth. Her heating pad and breathing helped with contraction pain. She had my hypno babies tracks ready. I'm not thinking of everything but in general I felt perfectly taken care of. As a bonus, Colleen took photos we will cherish forever.

— Kelli

With Colleen and MyBirth I had the birth I wanted and felt as prepared as I could have been. Colleen answered all my questions throughout pregnancy and postpartum. She was super helpful, approachable, and quick to respond. If it wasn't for Colleen and her support during labor and before, I think I would have given in to the pain, gone to the hospital sooner and gotten the epidural. Really glad we had Colleen to support early labor at home, and then at the hospital! So happy and lucky to have the birth experience I wanted.

— Laura Flood

We worked with Colleen to help us navigate having our first baby and it was one of the best decisions we made. In an environment with endless information and few experts available at your finger tips, having Colleen as a resource was invaluable. She was always quick with an answer to our questions and trusted sources to reference. She supported my husband with books, articles and videos as well to ensure he felt as prepared as possible and a part of the team once little man was ready to make his arrival. We got regular emails and check in and met several times leading up to delivery. When the big day came she was on the phone with my husband coaching him through early labor and came to the house quickly once we determined things were heating up. Once we made it to the hospital she was immediately advocating for my preferences and setting the scene for a beautiful and peaceful labor experience. I attribute her involvement to the ideal delivery experience I had andvI know my husband felt empowered and supported by her as well. Afterward she continued checking in and sent us photos she captured (with our consent) of the whole experience. We wrapped up our experience with a home visit to close the loop and provide assurance to us that we were doing all the right thing. I can't recommend Colleen enough and I'll forever be grateful to her for guiding us through such a transformational experience.

— Austin

Colleen is a wonderful doula and I am so grateful to have had her support. I so appreciate Colleen for her sense of humor and ability to bring some lightness into any situation. She has a tell it like it is, no BS attitude. Whenever I had questions or feelings about something going on or said to me by my provider- she had her own honest take that was deeply informed by both her personal experience and her experience as a doula. I knew she would always be honest with me. She intuitively knew what to say when and had many words of wisdom to share. She also sent me a couple mediations to help support my mental and emotional state. My baby was born at home and the labor went quickly. Colleen made sure I had a cold washcloth on my forehead and offered her hands on support as well. She was there holding space for us as I was extremely not having any fun and making sure everyone knew. I felt comfortable showing my emotions around her and my provider. She spoke up to ask if I wanted to move, remembering my preferences. She took beautiful photos and a video of my baby being born which is invaluable to me. I am so grateful to have a video of that moment! I have video of both my babies being born and they are literally the most valuable digital items I possess. And the Polaroids of us as a family afterwords- I love instant film so much. It's so special to have that. After the birth she was available to chat with me and answer more questions. She acknowledged that even though things went according to plan on paper- my experience was more difficult than I had anticipated and it was natural for me to have feelings and questions about that. She reminded me of the things that went right and that even though it was hard work- it also was a beautiful birth. It really was! Thank you Colleen for everything!

— Dana T

Colleen was very quick to respond to my request to encapsulate my placenta with only a week’s notice. My capsules were returned in a prompt timeframe considering it was the Christmas holiday. She included a card and keepsake of my umbilical cord. I am very pleased with Colleen’s quick service and would recommend her to anyone! Thank you so much Colleen!

— Amanda Munrayos

Colleen was so kind and attentive. She came to the hospital to retrieve my placenta in a timely manner and brought it back encapsulated before we went home with our baby!

— Savannah Willis

Colleen was amazing to work with! She checked in on me constantly throughout my pregnancy and provided me resources and readings at key points. I felt like she really helped my mental health through it all. At my birth, she gave us tips and tricks for getting to the hospital and parked which was one of my biggest anxieties. She met me at the door and walked with me to L&D and got me all settled in. Throughout my labor, she got me up and moving and really helped in pain management. She took beautiful pictures of us as a new family as well! Recommend her so so much!

— Madison Gongaware

We had planned a home birth originally, but due to me being at 42 weeks and still no signs or labor we decided it was best to be induced at the hospital. Colleen has been so incredible through the whole process before and after. She's such a great support person to have at your side through this. When at the hospital she was constantly making sure I had everything I needed and made our birth space at the hospital extra cozy/magical with mood lighting/ essential oils in a diffuser. After having our baby, she's been great with being a person I can text with any questions or extra support. I would 100% recommend Colleen for anyone looking to hire a doula!

— Olivia Bunn

Colleen was fantastic - she regularly checked in with us throughout the pregnancy, and when I had an unexpected diagnosis of gestational hypertension, Colleen helped to talk through the diagnosis and think of questions to ask our midwives. She set up a great ambience for my induction, and despite a quicker than expected labor, made it to document the birth and help us get situated post birth. We appreciated her support so much throughout the process, especially as a first time mom!

— Melinda Yang

We hired Colleen at around 12 weeks as I wanted support early on in the pregnancy. Colleen's calmness and humor connected us right away. It was so helpful to have her as an advocate as I decided on an elective C-section. Colleen was 100% supportive of my decision and made me feel empowered to advocate for myself. Since we went the unconventional route, she didn't hesitate to reach out to other doulas to support us during the pregnancy. She checked in with both my husband and I regularly. We had a scheduled C-section and Colleen had the labor / recovery room set up according to our birth plan - dim lights, candles, and my music playlist. All of this and her calm presence eased my anxiety. She came to the OR with us and made sure I was never alone. She captured our son's birth beautifully and had a whole birth album for us. She spoke up about our birth preferences to the medical team including wanting to see and have an imprint of the placenta. Post partum, Colleen has continued to be there and support us. I got a clogged duct overnight and Colleen provided advice and resources for me to work through it. I could go on and on about how wonderful Colleen has been, I would 1000% hire her again if we decided to go through this journey again.

— Kathleen Warne

Amazing experience! Still taking my capsules and it makes such a huge difference postpartum! Felt supported and cared for!

— Sara Parker

Colleen did an amazing job, she was so quick to respond to any and all questions I had and you can tell she genuinely cares about her clients. I was able to trust her completely with such an intimate part of my postpartum care by encapsulating my placenta for me.

— Julia Coffey

Colleen is incredible!! Exceeded all expectations! Process was simple and everything was fantastic - quick, professional, and extremely thoughtful!! 10/10 recommend. I could not have had a better experience! ❤️

— molly minnix

Colleen aided my wife and I with placenta encapsulation. She was extremely prompt for aid even when I gave her little notice of expectation and was very kind in the short time she spent with us. Thank you for the pictures you took of us. The wait time and delivery of the final encapsulated Placenta was very quick and convenient. A cord keepsake was included and was very cool. We would recommend her services to friends, family and strangers.

— Cameron Cram

As a first-time mom, having Colleen as our doula/birth worker was one of the best decisions we made. We interviewed and hired Colleen early in my second trimester and immediately resonated with her person-centered approach. Throughout my pregnancy, she checked in often to see how I was doing and what resources she could provide. Once I went into labor, Colleen called every hour to check in, listen to my contractions, and give guidance on a few things to try. When active labor started, I felt overwhelmed and she was quick to meet us at our home. She joined us in the bedroom and set up lights, aromatherapy, gave our dog the attention he was asking for, and kept our water bottles full. She empowered my partner to be my primary support person but also stepped in when needed to coach me through a few movements. When I felt it was time to get to my birth location, she helped us strategize around the hospital drive and arrival. Once we were in the Labor and Delivery unit, Colleen continued to facilitate the vibes of the space and put me/my partner in positions to lead the experience. I also struggle with a blood phobia and Colleen made sure my hospital care team was aware of and followed my preferences around that. I delivered my baby in very close alignment to my preferences/plans. I believe Colleen played an instrumental role in helping me, my partner, and my baby make it to the other side in a way that we envisioned. Colleen’s support didn’t stop after delivery. We had two postpartum visits which were opportunities to reflect on the birth experience and chat about all things newborn. She also proactively texted to check in and give guidance around those first few days with our baby. There were many times that Colleen something at the exact moment it was needed to be said. She was extremely intuitive to our needs and helped me feel grounded and affirmed. I couldn’t recommend her enough!

— Fionnuala Bradley

Colleen was wonderful to work with and made it a special experience. I went with capsules and I really think they have helped my postpartum experience.

— Maggie Sheffield

We loved working with Colleen for the birth of our first daughter. We hired her very early in my pregnancy - around 12 weeks so she was with us throughout the whole journey. She was always available to talk or text if I had a question or concern. I didn't have the easiest pregnancy or delivery but Colleen was there every single step of the way. We ended up being induced at 40 weeks and having an emergency c section after laboring for two days and pushing for four hours. Colleen was such a calming presence for me and my partner and helped us focus on the good when everything seemed so dark and scary. I truly don't know what I would have done without her. I can't thank her enought for her kindness and support.

— Tamara South

We loved having Colleen as our doula! I thought our personalities matched well from the beginning which made us feel at ease. She was always available for questions pre- and postpartum via phone and text and she provided great advice without pushing a particular decision. She helped me ask the right questions of my provider and provided helpful suggestions and resources when it was clear my OB and I were not a good fit. She was also great advocating for me during the birth with hospital staff and kept me focused on my goals. If we have a second kid we would definitely hire Colleen again!

— Kelsey

As a first time mom and someone who loves to make an informed decision, Colleen was the exact support I needed. She had researched and two sided resources for literally every question I had along the way. She made me feel comfortable saying ‘I don’t know’, which is invaluable in my opinion. Forward to my labor and it was anything but straightforward. Colleen was by my side every time I asked over 48 hours. Our room was set up like a spa with flameless candles, the coolest lights, aromatherapy, and music/white noise. When it came to deviating from my desired birth plan I never felt like I was giving up. We ended up having a c-section. Colleen stayed with me while my husband went to the NICU. Since birth she has continued to be a support and truly a friend. If I have more kids, she will be there.

— Kathleen Eaton

Everything about our experience reinforced our decision to use a doula and Colleen was a perfect match. I am a first-time mom and she was thorough in answering all of our questions ahead of the birth to help me feel comfortable as the time approached. At the hospital, she went to great lengths to create a calm and comfortable environment and built immediate rapport with the nurses and doctor, which made us feel like we had a cohesive team on our side. She understood my birth plan and with her help we were able to stick to it. I look back at my birth and feel positively and empowered and a large part of that is because of Colleen. We highly recommend Colleen!

— Jen

Our overall experince with Colleen McDonald as our doula was beyond amazing! She did an incredible job getting us prepared for the big day with classes, reading material, and house visits. And as for the big day (50 hours to be exact), I'm not sure we would've gotten thru it without her insight, advice, kindness, selflessness, and overall calming nature. There were countless times with the process that she was able to rationalize, empathize, and calm down my wife with everything going on, and at times me as well. We strongly recommend Colleen to any expecting couple, and we would definetly choose her again!

— Trevor Schuster

We had a very eventful birth and we are very grateful Colleen was our doula to help manage through the whole ordeal. I had two days of prodromal labor which Colleen gave us many suggestions for positions, acupuncture, massages, curbstepping and showers to help cope and move the labor along. She was very responsive and always gave us options without forcing them onto us. She would give us the positives and negatives so we could make informed decisions and weigh in if we needed an opinion or more personal insight but she always let us be empowered to make the best decisions for ourselves. Once we got into early labor and then active labor at the hospital Colleen set up our room and made it awesome with lights, aroma therapy and we had a playlist. Unfortunately things did not go to plan but that is why we are so glad Colleen was there to help navigate the unexpected. I was in labor for over 24 hours at the hospital, pushed for 2.5 hours and had to get an unplanned c-section. It was the hardest decision I had to make but now after the fact I think it was the right one and Colleen helped us along the entire way. She also supported my husband when I was getting ready in the operating room and he was alone waiting in the hallway. I highly recommend having a doula and if you want one that is no bs and will support you and your choices as well as being well informed about pregnancy and birth, then Colleen would be great for you!

— Gabrielle Clapman

I had such a great experience with Goldenrod Birth and Placenta. Colleen was very communicative and helpful. The process for placenta encapsulation was seamless and I couldn't be happier with the product and with working directly with Colleen.

— Dorathy Ourednik Lay

Colleen was extremely easy to work with from the first email inquiry to the final exchange when I got my placenta capsules. She was responsive and communicative; she was professional and also kind. The whole process was seamless and I was very impressed that it took about 2 (or so) days to get the capsules. I would highly recommend working with Colleen and her placenta encapsulation services!

— Dorathy Lay

I can not say enough good things about having Colleen as our doula. I am a first time mom so the pregnancy journey was new to me and I was extremely anxious about an unmedicated labor and delivery. Colleen was great, she had a very relaxed chill vibe that meshed well with my husband and I. Colleen was great pre-labor at setting my mind at ease and reminding me that instincts would kick in and take over during labor. She was great to remind me of things to practice like visualization and my mantra or positive affirmations. I have never been big on meditation, music, essential oils, and their ability to heal/relax. I was wrong. Everything Colleen prepared in the birthing room made a difference! From the mood lighting and music, to the scents she changed up during labor, everything helped my subconscious relax and ride out the contractions. I was surprised at how much of that came through and made a difference when in the primal state of labor. I do not think I would have made it though the back labor contractions without the counter pressure and heating pads on my back. Colleen brought heating pads and shared the load providing counter pressure with my husband. Some other items in the goodie bag that I was extremely grateful for were the hot/cold compresses; the warm/hot ones helped comfort and soothe during my earlier contractions and as I was pushing I needed the cold on my arms, face, and chest. She also had olive oil to ease the baby out and warm compresses for my perineum to help with discomfort and reduce likelihood of tearing. Colleen was in tune with the midwife who delivered my baby and kept me in the loop with my progress. Another bonus after labor was the herbal peri-bottle water Colleen prepared for me! Although I had an uncomplicated pregnancy and labor, it was wonderful to have an advocate for my birthing journey. I was thankful for all of the things Colleen brought to my labor. Not to mention the gentle reminders during labor.

— Tina-Rose McGuire

Colleen was great! Communication prompt and clear. On time. Excellent service and would highly recommend to the naturally-minded birthing community in the RVA area!

— Ruth Been

Colleen made placenta encapsulation such an easy process and added special touches like artwork and a personalized card to make the experience extra memorable. She picked up my placenta from the hospital and it was ready the same day I got home just a couple days later. She was so kind and helpful throughout the process and I could not recommend her more highly!

— Caron Sinnenberg

Colleen was so professional and put so much love and care into her work. She carries the type of energy you want with someone handling your placenta. From our email correspondence to her picking it up at the hospital and dropping it off at my house, it was a smooth and professional process. Highly recommend!

— Nicole

Colleen was an incredible doula for us. I had a difficult time getting pregnant, which heightened the anxiety of pregnancy and birth. I'm so glad we had Colleen with us for the second and third trimester. She was invaluable in helping us think through our medical options and in advocating for us with medical professionals. She also offered a ton useful information and moral support along the way. When my birth plan had to change radically at the last minute because of pregnancy complications she made sure that we continued to feel a sense of empowerment around the whole experience. I can't recommend her highly enough.

— Adin

I used Colleen's placenta encapsulation service and it was amazing. She promptly showed up to the hospital to pick up the placenta and by the next day the capsules were ready for me to start taking. I was very happy with how easy the process was from start to finish and how she facilitated the transportation of the placenta and the drop off of the capsules to my house. Thank you Colleen!!

— Vanessa F

Colleen was my doula at my home birth for my youngest. I liked that she had experience in mental health so I felt comfortable sharing things about my previous struggles with PPA and miscarriages. My labor was long and she never left my side and took pictures that still make me cry. Everyone deserves a doula and everyone deserves to find their own Colleen.

— Samantha

Colleen helped us with sibling doula services and we can’t say enough positive things. She was very Responsive, extremely professional, and so supportive. She created the space for us to feel comfortable bringing our baby into the world knowing our first baby was in compassionate and understanding hands. Her knowledge on the birthing process and related emotions and circumstances was so helpful. So grateful for her support.

— Callie Y

When looking for a birth doula I wanted someone I could joke around with but at the same time feel completely heard and safe. Colleen fit this box, and exceeded my expectations. I was worried how my husbands role would be during my natural labor. I was able to focus on him while she worked in the background and I did it with no epidural!! Colleen is a natural and will be a great addition to your team.

— Dana L.