Jen Ballew

Birth & Postpartum Doula

Brooklyn, New York

11 years of experience

5.0

About
Services
Reviews (2)
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About me

I'm Jen Ballew, a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator and pediatric sleep coach and the founder of The Parenthood Project USA. For over a decade I've helped exhausted families find real, sustainable rest, supporting more than 250 families along the way. My approach to sleep is warm, biology-first, and led by your child's nervous system, never cry-it-out or leaving a baby to cry alone. I work with everything from newborn sleep shaping in the early weeks to responsive coaching for older babies and toddlers, always building rhythms that fit your family rather than forcing a rigid method or anything not developmentally appropriate. My practice began in Southern California, where I spent ten years supporting local families through birth, postpartum, and sleep. Today the work is nationwide and fully virtual, and I'm expanding in person into New York City as I put down roots in Brooklyn. Wherever you are, my care can meet you there. My offerings reach across the whole journey into parenthood. Alongside sleep, I offer birth preparation through my program The Threshold, blending somatic practice, evidence-based education, and nervous system support, with a specialty in VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). My postpartum care supports recovery and the tender early weeks, including nourishing meal prep with healing foods rooted in traditional care, placenta encapsulation, and gentle postnatal bodywork. At the heart of it all, I believe bringing new life into the world is a profound rite of passage that deserves reverence, preparation, and care. I hold each family's path with deep respect, and I would be honored to walk alongside yours.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice (2005)

Certification and training

Birth Doula Certification, International Doula Institute (2018)

Birth Doula Certification, Madriella (2025)

Mama Moon Postpartum Healing Program - Traditional Chinese Medicine Postpartum Healing Program (2020)

Postpartum Doula Certification, Madriella (2025)

Ecstatic Birth Practitioner Program (2021)

Sleep Savvy Sleep Professional - Sleep Counseling Institute (2022)

Specialties

Advanced Maternal Age Baby and Toddler Sleep Coach Belly Binding Birth and Lactation Birth Doula Birth Support Birth Trauma Bodywork Breastfeeding Support Building Healthy Communication Cesarean Scar Tissue Remedial Massage Childbirth Education Doula Trainer Early Parenting Educator Evidence-Based Care Exclusive Pumping/Bottle Feeding Family Consultation Herbal Postpartum Care Home Birth Hospital Birth Infant Care Labor Doula Maternal Fetal Positioning Mindfulness Multiples Natural Birth Natural Childbirth Newborn Care Newborn Prep Overnight Newborn Care Parenting Parenting Support Placenta Encapsulation Postpartum Adjustment Postpartum Care Postpartum Chef Postpartum Doula Care Postpartum Life Preconception Prenatal Care Prenatal Lactation Education Prenatal Life Relaxation Techniques Returning to work (pumping, breastmilk storage, etc) Self-Actualization Self-Compassion Self-Integration Sleep Consultant Somatic Techniques Spirituality Stress Management Support during Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Trauma Recovery Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Vaginal Steam Water birth Well-Woman Care

Languages

English

Service introduction

I'm a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator and pediatric sleep coach serving Brooklyn families, with 10+ years of experience and 250+ families supported. I help exhausted parents find real, sustainable rest with a warm, biology-first approach that never relies on cry-it-out, from newborn sleep shaping to responsive coaching for older babies and toddlers. I also offer birth preparation with a VBAC specialty and postpartum recovery: nourishing meal prep, placenta encapsulation, and gentle bodywork. Virtual and in-person options available.

Packages

Birth Support

In-person birth doula care with prenatal preparation and on-call attendance from 37 weeks through your birth, plus an early postpartum visit. Starting at $4,000

$4,000.00

USD Flat rate

Birth + Postpartum Recovery

Everything in birth support, deepened. Additional prenatal sessions, weekly planning, classes for you and your partner, meals in the early weeks, and hands-on in-home recovery care. Starting at $6,500

$6,500.00

USD Flat rate

Comprehensive Birth & Fourth Trimester Care

Full-spectrum support from preparation through twelve weeks of recovery. Weekly in-home care, nourishment, guided rebuilding, and overnight support placed where it matters most. Starting at $10,000

$10,000.00

USD Flat rate

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Ratings and reviews

Average

5.0

# of Reviews

5.0

December 4, 2025

Jen was the most incredible experience of my birth, no exaggeration. Her guidance, support, understanding and kindness rooted the foundation of my birth experience in love. Despite my birth not going the way I envisioned, Jen stood by me as my advocate and partner. I'm so grateful for her and I can't speak highly enough about her professionalism and dedication to birth and motherhood.

- Jessica G.

5.0

May 13, 2025

Jen was my doula for the birth of my second child. I was determined to do a hospital VBAC with minimal intervention and Jen was instrumental in helping me design and realize my birth plan. I was immediately drawn to her confident and down-to-earth energy; I knew she was strong enough for me to lean on, but would not overpower my voice. I appreciated that she was was supportive of my evidence-based values but also challenged me to consider some of my choices in a different way. For example, she helped me get connected to more supportive midwife care at HOAG when I was experiencing some pushback from my original OBGYN group on my VBAC plans. During the birth, Jen felt like a stable pillar of support. I felt more confident in my own ability to have a low-intervention birth knowing she was there by our side. There was a point when I wanted to give up, but Jen held my hand through the pain and helped me find that confidence in myself again. I know my husband was also grateful for her steady leadership and guidance. Jen taught us some critical counter-pressure techniques and helped me advocate for things that made my birth experience more comfortable in the hospital setting (inflatable tub, laughing gas, etc.). Overall, I had a really wonderful birth experience with Jen by my side. I wish I had her with me for the birth of my firstborn.

- Nicolette Z.