Gabriell Garner Birth & Postpartum Doula in Baltimore, MD

We can't thank Gabrielle and Dale enough for the care we received during one of the most important moments of our lives. From the very first call, Gabrielle went above and beyond, she reached out to us personally and, even on short notice, made sure we were matched with a doula in time for our son's birth. That kind of responsiveness and care told us right away we were in good hands. We were paired with Dale, and we truly don't know what we would have done without her. Dale brings decades of experience, and it shows in every piece of advice she gives practical, brutally honest, and exactly what two nervous first-time parents needed to hear. She stayed with my wife through long overnight hours of labor, and when things shifted to a C-section, she was right there with us in the room, just as we'd hoped and planned. Having her steady presence in that moment meant more to us than words can capture. What really set Dale apart, though, was how she showed up for us even after our son was born. In the days that followed, she kept checking in on us and sending along newborn care videos from trusted specialists, little things that made a huge difference as we found our footing as new parents. She also took the time to capture photos of us during the whole process and those very first moments with our son, gifts we'll treasure forever. We will never forget the time we spent with Dale, and we're endlessly grateful to Gabrielle for connecting us with her. If you're looking for a doula practice that truly cares about your family, look no further.

— Ian Chisongela

Gabby taught my spouse and I so much—I am so glad that I made the decision to make her part of the team in my firstborn’s care. This practice truly creates the conditions for parents to become the best they can be. I’ve gone from thinking that these services were a luxury to thinking that they’re a basic human right that every family deserves and I haven’t stopped telling everyone I know about my excellent experience with Flourishing Mama Co. Gabby has curated a team of professionals who provided me with a sense of safety, built up mine and my partner’s skills and confidence as parents, and adapted to my family’s unique situations in a judgement-free manner. Here’s how: - Gabby met us at home on the night baby and I were discharged from the hospital. Our house was in disarray and we had no idea where to start plus we were exhausted. Gabby helped us set things up quickly (ideally this would happen beforehand and this practice offers that service but I was delivered early or else I would’ve been soooooooooo much more ready for day 1 with baby at home). Gabby swaddled him up, set up our bottle washer, washed my pump parts (I hadn’t even opened it), taught us how to assemble our bottles, went over what a feeding and pumping schedule typically looks like, and she started various systems for us to manage chores. My partner and I have taken what we learned and grown it into systems that we’ve been able to maintain to this day. - While things are going to be different for everyone, we were blessed in that our NICU baby surpassed his birth weight in the first week of being home which made us and the pediatrician very happy—we did that together! - I felt especially safe and confident that my baby was in good hands since the first night. We eventually talked about how she and others in her practice have to take periodic refresher trainings and stay up to date with the latest guidance on newborn care etc. –I'm sure this is part of the reason my insurance covers these high-quality services. - Gabby listened and was a great sounding board for when my partner and I were sifting through childcare options - Gabby, and Portia as her sub when needed, provided our family with overnight postpartum services. o Portia seamlessly subbed for Gabby on occasion—she’s super easy to talk to, patient, funny, and knowledgeable. Portia taught us how to baby wear and had great tips for pacing the baby’s bottle feeding. She was also patient in showing us how best to burp the baby because he’s super gassy. - I got some sleep in the early days so that I could be present and appreciate the time with my child during his first weeks with us. - When Gabby noticed that I was in some pain when my baby latched so she set up a time to meet with the lactation consultant on the team, Amy. Amy met with us in person and provided detailed answers to all of my questions, she didn’t just help me size my equipment and check the baby’s latch—she walked through my typical day (now and when I go back to work) then did some troubleshooting. She also weighed the baby before and after I fed him to ease my nerves about how much I was able to feed him. Amy has honed her craft by staying up to date with lactation guidance and with her years of experience with several families. Gabby and her team have made a positive difference in our lives.

— Andy

Gabby is great! She was amazing with our 4 week old baby and also gave us some great advice! Would highly recommend her!

— maarten scheepens