I set out to become a birth doula over 25 years ago after becoming a massage therapist, but I put this career goal on hold until my children became adults. I finally achieved my goal and became certified as a birth doula this year. As a seasoned massage therapist, I offer a broad understanding of a person's physical and emotional needs, especially during this special time as you prepare your body for the birth of your baby.
BS in Business Administration - SUNY Buffalo (1979)
Birth Doula Certification, DONA International (2021)
Licenced Massage Therapist - Swedish Institute, NY (1993)
DONA International
ABMP - Association of Massage & Bodywork Professionals
English
• Phone and email support as needed throughout the pregnancy/birth • On-call availability, 24/7 (2) weeks before due date & until you deliver • Up to two 60-minute prenatal visits • Continuous support during labor and delivery • Immediate postpartum care for up to two hours at the place of birth • One 60-minute postpartum visit • Guaranteed backup doula
Elyse was an incredible birth doula for us as first-time parents. She is extremely knowledgeable about the delivery process and our hospital’s protocols, which truly helped calm our nerves—especially knowing she is DONA certified. I didn’t have much time to research how to prepare for birth, so Elyse made sure we covered all the essential information during our first prenatal session, and her Google Drive was full of helpful resources as well. Although we didn’t get to have our second prenatal session because I went into labor two weeks early, Elyse seamlessly guided us in the delivery room. She suggested different stretches and positions to help the baby progress through the pelvis and did an excellent job supporting us while allowing the doctors and nurses to do their work. At the same time, she made sure I was informed of my rights as a patient, which I deeply appreciated. After the birth, Elyse provided a detailed timeline of events that allowed us to reflect on our birthing journey, and our postpartum visit was incredibly helpful for reviewing the experience and asking follow-up questions. We would absolutely work with Elyse again in the future—especially since our insurance fully covered her services!
- Tina K.
I had such an amazing birth experience with Elyse! My first labor and delivery were really tough, it was traumatic and ended in a C-section. It actually took me years to even think about having another baby because I was so afraid of going through that again. Multiple doctors told me I’d probably need another C-section, that because I pushed for so long the first time, a vaginal birth wasn’t likely. It left me feeling broken and like my body just couldn’t do it. When I finally decided I wanted to try for a VBAC, I knew I needed extra support and that’s when I found Elyse. She was the first doula I interviewed, and honestly, after that first conversation, I knew she was the one. She really listened to my story and my fears, and right away she helped me believe that my body wasn’t broken and that a vaginal birth was possible for me. Throughout my pregnancy, Elyse was amazing. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and always made me feel calm and supported. She answered all my questions, showed me exercises to prepare for labor, and constantly reminded me that I was capable and strong. When I went into labor, she was there for me right away. She helped set such a peaceful, calming vibe in the hospital room with music, lights, diffuser, etc. She massaged me, helped me get into different positions, advocated for me, and reminded me to take my time and make decisions that felt right for me. She supported me without judgment and kept me grounded the whole time. Because of Elyse, I had the redemptive birth experience I’d been dreaming of, a successful VBAC! She also made sure my husband felt included and confident throughout the whole process. Even after birth, she checked in on me and connected me with great postpartum resources. I seriously can’t thank her enough. She’s knowledgeable, calming, and truly cares about her clients. I wouldn’t have had my dream birth without her!
- Elissa C.
I honestly can’t say enough good things about Elyse. From the very first time we spoke, I knew she was the right doula for me. I decided to have a baby on my own through IUI, and I wanted someone by my side who had real experience and a calm, comforting energy — not just a family member. Elyse was actually the first and only doula I interviewed because I just knew she was a perfect fit. She took the time to clearly explain what she does, what to expect, and answered every question I had with such patience. She was easy to reach any time, day or night, and made everything feel like a friendly connection rather than a formal arrangement. She sent me so much helpful information — both in person and through endless, thoughtful emails — that I could go through at my own pace. When it came time for labor, she let me make the call about when to go in and supported every decision without question. She was gentle, kind, and encouraging, and she advocated for me the entire time. She stayed by my side through it all — even long after she needed to — and continued checking in on me and the baby afterward while we were still in the hospital. We’d planned for her to come by for a home visit, but I completely forgot about the appointment. She patiently waited in her car for 45 minutes before reaching me, and instead of being upset, she left me a sweet gift and suggested we meet another time. When the baby and I came over to her house, she welcomed us so warmly it felt like visiting a friend. We talked about the birth, life, everything — and even went for a walk together. Elyse is professional, knowledgeable, and truly one of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet. She has this warmth that makes you feel like you’ve known her forever. I would never consider another doula — and I’d recommend her to anyone in a heartbeat. Everyone deserves to experience her magic.
- Megan B.
We are so thankful to have had Elyse as our Doula. She is a wealth of knowledge and is incredibly passionate about the birthing process. Elyse did a great job helping us craft our birth plan. Ultimately my birth story didn’t unfold as I had envisioned and ultimately I had to have a c-section delivery. Elyse helped to guide us through the changes and was in person support for me both before and after the surgery. She was instrumental in helping me breastfeed my daughter for the first time as well as collecting additional colostrum. I have had a very successful experience breastfeeding since my daughter’s birth and I attribute that in great part to Elyse. We highly recommend her!
- Lizzy C.
When I realized I was pregnant with my second baby, I was sure of at least one thing: I was going to hire a doula again, and that doula could only be Elyse. I knew I needed as much support as I could get as I headed into two-under-two territory. After my wonderful experience as her client last year, I wanted confidence that I could again achieve another positive birth, which for me meant an unmedicated natural birth. She provided a plethora of prenatal resources that I was able to access anytime on Gdrive. As my Ob-Gyn appointments at the time seemed to be capped at five minutes with the doctor, long enough to ask one question, having evidence-based resources to go through on my own time was invaluable. She is there for her clients, both in person during her informational and demonstrative home visits, and also, easily accessible via text & phone. As time went on, I grew quite frustrated and mistrusting of my ob-gyn group, and had to make the difficult decision to switch to a midwifery group at 38 weeks. Elyse was supportive of my choices, which helped me move forward in what turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. My labor and delivery went incredibly smoothly. During labor, I was able to tune out and listen to what my body needed, and she knew exactly how to support that. She even gave me a foot rub to comfort me during contractions, and got my husband to join in on the massaging too! This more than comforted me, it touched my heart. Do yourself a favor and hire Elyse as your Doula. I feel blessed to say that if I could relive my birth experience, I would, without changing a single thing. Elyse was part of that for me.
- Diana C.
Working with Elyse was the best decision I made for myself and family during my pregnancy! From day one it was clear that Elyse has a vast knowledge base and is a caring, passionate doula. Elyse listened to all our preferences and concerns along the way, and tailored each session to meet our goals for the birth of our son. Every pre-natal and post-partum visit was filled with helpful information and discussions that allowed my husband and I to become more comfortable and feel prepared for this new experience. Elyse went above and beyond every step of the way and I felt lucky to have her be a part of my birth team. I truly feel that without her expertise and guidance I would not have been able to accomplish the successful, natural birth that I had hoped for. Working with Elyse was such a great experience, and I would highly recommend her to all first-time moms or anyone looking for support throughout their pregnancy and birth.
- Kristen H.
What I was looking for in my doula search was someone with confidence in her knowledge of any type of birthing process, had a plethora of information and resources to share, no judgement on the decisions made through the birthing process, was caring and led with grace, and had a personality that matched mine. I found all of that through Elyse. She provided endless assets and materials from credible sources before and after birth. I ended up needing to be induced and she walked me through the entire process, my options, and how to advocate for myself based on the decisions I had to make in the moment. She ultimately made me feel like whatever decision I made was the correct one for me and gave me the confidence to move forward with what ended up being a pretty difficult birthing experience. She was available leading up to my birth and during my birth whenever I needed her. I would highly recommend her to anyone searching for a doula regardless of of the birthing experience you are looking for!
- Killian D.
As a first-time mom, I was extremely nervous about the birthing experience – specifically, I wanted to ensure my preferences were respected while in the hospital. Elyse made sure that my husband and I were comfortable, informed, and that our voices were heard throughout labor and delivery. She also went above and beyond, massaging my back and providing coaching on different positions while I was pushing! She even helped the hospital staff find a specific type of inflatable for me to use while pushing that made the experience more effective and comfortable. Overall, working with Elyse gave us the confidence that we were doing all the right things to prepare for our first baby. I would recommend Elyse to any mom who is interested in building her knowledge and confidence as she prepares for baby!
- Erin F.
Only two weeks shy of my expected due date, I decided to try and find a doula to help my husband and me achieve a natural birth for our first baby. I was so lucky to have come across Elyse as one of the first recommended doula's in my area just in time. Following her prompt response to my inquiry, she made herself readily available to go over her services and answer any questions over the phone. Being that my due date was around the corner, she was flexible in reworking her offering to fit within a shorter and immediate timeframe. I went with my gut and trusted Elyse, ending my doula search after our first chat. Thankfully so! My baby came earlier than expected, just two days after our in-person session where she shared a ton of information. During labor, she was most invaluable. I had completed a hypnobirthing course and was under the care of a midwifery group during my pregnancy, but still-- I was not prepared for how little the midwife would be present during my labor. That didn't matter so much as having her as the doula present made all the difference. She helped me get comfortable, recommended labor moves, and assisted me with every single facet of the labor process. She came prepared with resources for managing my discomfort. As I was laboring overnight, she even brought her own small sleeping mattress! This made me feel at ease as I was resting, that she was resting near me. Labor was exhausting but with Elyse's encouragement, I moved around enough and tried the positions to help my baby progress. In the end, I achieved the natural birth I had aspired for. It was an incredible experience that I am proud of, but know that my husband and I couldn't have done it on our own. I am forever grateful to Elyse for her role as our doula and highly recommend her.
- Diana C.
As first time parents, my husband and I sought the support of a doula for pregnancy, labor & delivery, and postpartum. After interviewing about 8 doulas, we decided to go with Elyse. Her services did not disappoint, as she provided us with extensive prenatal information such as exercises and webinars on birth, parenting, postpartum care & more! During labor she supported us with positions that helped speed things up, accompanied us to the birth center, advised me on what to ask my care provider, provided comfort measures such as massage, and coached me along with my care team. She supported my husband and included him every step of the way. Elyse also will follow up postpartum and sincerely answer any questions with well-researched information, or she will find the answer. She will also work to connect you with the right support people in her extensive network. My husband are so glad we met Elyse and highly recommend her to others seeking a caring, knowledgeable, and dedicated doula.
- Jess C.
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