Kym Benner Birth Doula in Oceanside, CA

I hired Kym as my doula for the birth of my first child, which was an incredibly important experience for me—especially as I don’t have maternal support within my own family. During our initial conversations, I felt led to believe that emotional support during labor at home would be a core part of her role. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect that. While Kym may feel she fulfilled the terms of her contract, I did not feel adequately supported during labor, particularly in the way that had been discussed and that I needed in that moment. After the birth, I shared my concerns and requested a partial refund to reflect the gap between expectations and the service provided. This request was declined. Given how significant this experience is, I would strongly encourage anyone considering working with Kym to get very clear, detailed expectations in writing—especially regarding the level of emotional support provided during labor.

— Kaitlyn M.

My experience with Kym completely exceeded my expectations. It was my first birth, so I was not entirely sure what to expect from a doula, and every interaction with Kym affirmed my decision to work with her. I felt supported by her throughout my journey. There's no way I would've gone as far as I did naturally if Kym had not been present. She was also an incredible support to my partner during the birth experience, and she kept encouraging him to take care of himself as well. One of my favorite aspects of my experience with Kym was the check-ins she provided postpartum. Every day I received a text from Kym asking how I was doing and telling me I was amazing. I felt I could share exactly how I was feeling with her and any worries I had; she met them without any judgment just care and concern. The birth process is incredibly hard, and postpartum in many ways is harder, so I was deeply grateful to have Kym's continued support. I would highly recommend Kym to anyone who is seeking a supportive, knowledgeable cheerleader in their birth journey.

— Claire H.

Working with Kym is what made my first pregnancy, delivery and postpartum experience so much smoother than I ever could have imagined! I don’t know what I would have done without Kym when I was in the hospital. She kept me company, providing support, advocated for me, and ensured that my birth plan was followed as closely as possible. As a first time mom, labor and delivery were my biggest concerns. Kym made sure to walk me through each step of labor, provide me with pain relief techniques, movement during labor, entertainment and so much more. My husband and I are so grateful for everything Kym provided us during pregnancy and labor. Even during postpartum, Kym checked in with me daily for weeks to ensure I was healing (mentally and physically,) discussed topics of concern regarding my baby, provided advice and overall support during a huge transitional time in my life. I can not say enough good things about my experience with Kym. I am so glad we decided to work with her during such a special season.

— Annie C.