My husband and I are beyond grateful for the incredible support Leigh provided throughout the journey of welcoming our first child.  We found Leigh a little late in my pregnancy, but after meeting with several doulas, we knew within a few minutes of meeting her that she was the one.   She brought a calm, reassuring presence that helped us feel more confident and prepared for the birth experience. She was always available to answer questions, provide resources, and offer emotional support.  Her knowledge and kindness made us feel truly cared for every step of the way. During labor and birth, she was a steady and grounding presence. Her guidance, encouragement, and hands-on support helped us stay focused and calm through one of the most intense and transformative experiences of our lives and we can’t imagine having gone through this without her.  I am now 4.5 months postpartum and I look back on the birth of our son and feel nothing but joy and gratitude and feel that Leigh was a huge part of making this a positive and empowering experience. We wholeheartedly recommend her to any expecting family—she is truly exceptional.
Annie Riley

I have had the pleasure of working with Leigh for both of my daughters' births. She coached me and my husband through a medication-free labor, all the way through the pushing stage, before we had to go in for a cesarean. This birth did not go as planned, and Leigh was there to guide us through the many obstacles along the way. We truly would have been so lost without her, and though it did not end the way I had wanted (vaginal birth), I believe Leigh did everything in her power to help advocate for me with hospital staff that had another agenda. We chose to hire Leigh for my second birth as well, knowing that going for a VBAC would make her that much more useful. She was a big help, even from the beginning, recommending hospitals and midwives that would take TOLAC patients. After being induced at 38 weeks, I was even more grateful to have her with us, because I knew for sure this would be a very difficult birth. She was ready to come to the hospital the minute I asked her to, even though it seemed a bit too early, but I wanted her there to help us with tough decisions we were discussing with the midwife team. She has such a calming presence and really makes you trust her right away. She doesn't push any option, and waits for your lead, but if you want her honest opinion on what she would do, she's happy to give it. This birth was wild in so many ways, and I'm so happy she was there to guide us through it.  I'm proud to say that with her help, I was able to have a successful VBAC, and get my golden hour that I didn't get the first time around.
Jen Vail

We had the BEST experience with Jordyn as our birth and postpartum doula. She met with us beforehand to help create a birth plan and answer so many of our questions as first-time parents. She was a resource to us leading up to the birth, and was with us every step of the way. It was so comforting to have her with us at the hospital to coach us, support both me and my husband, and be a sounding board for any decisions that came up. Postpartum she supported me with breast feeding and gave both me and my husband some much needed rest during several night shifts with us. Having Jordyn as a doula was a game changer for us - leaving us feeling so supported and confident as we stepped into this new season of parenting.
Melanie Mumford

Working with Leigh McBride for my labor was the best decision. She is incredibly supportive, energetic, compassionate, and knowledgeable. I truly appreciate how she looked after both me and my partner throughout the process and advocated for me at the hospital. My labor was fairly difficult and long, but Leigh remained graceful and stood by me the entire time. I don't think I would have had the strength to get through it without her support.
Harrison Sherwin

Shannon is an amazing doula. She genuinely loves babies and did a wonderful job taking care of my little girl. She was always on time, detail oriented, shared thorough notes and even helped sleep train our daughter. Highly recommend her!
Sharanya Rajagopal

My wife and I extremely appreciate Expecting Joy, its founder Vanessa and Rose, our postpartum doula, and would highly recommend them! We had originally planned on taking care of our newborn son on our own, but due to post-birth complications that plan was not realistic. We contacted Vanessa on Sunday early afternoon, and she immediately started reaching out to her network, and Rose reached out to us Sunday evening, we arranged a call on Monday and Rose started with us on Tuesday, with one day delay being caused by us. This is for a service that typically people book months in advance. Rose has not only been taking great care of our son during her nights, but also giving us great advice both how to take care of him and practical advice how to integrate taking care of him into our lives. We couldn't have gotten through our first month without her!
Jakub Kaplan

We highly recommend Rose! She was our postpartum night doula for our son. Having Rose in our home was such a blessing - her supportive nature and kind demeanor made us feel completely at ease leaving our newborn in her care. Rose was not only incredibly helpful with the baby but also an amazing cook who often prepared nutritious meals for our family. Her gentle guidance and wealth of knowledge were invaluable during those challenging early months of parenthood. She always kept us informed about our baby's patterns and development. What truly set Rose apart was her genuine kindness and dedication to our family's wellbeing. She adapted seamlessly to our changing needs and was always ready with encouraging words when we felt overwhelmed. As an added bonus, her culinary skills meant we always had healthy, delicious meals ready - something we deeply appreciated during those busy newborn days. Rose clearly has a gift for nurturing both babies and new parents. We're so grateful to have had Rose's support during this special time in our lives.
Sara Hajjar

We worked with Jordyn as a postpartum doula, she was amazing! She met with us before our daughter was born and walked us through how to prepare and what to expect. After our baby girl was born, Jordyn helped create a nurturing environment for our little one and helped coach me in my nursing journey. She was such an encouragement to me as a new mother! We would recommend her to anyone looking for a postpartum doula!
Bree Oldham

We hired Expecting Joy for both our birth doula, and our postpartum doula. Leigh walked us through pregnancy with so much kindness & encouragement, it really felt like we had a new friend by the time we got to labor. We loved working with her and would definitely recommend her to anyone we know!!
We also hired Jordyn for our postpartum doula, and it was a lifesaver to get some extra hours of sleep the first few weeks with baby. She helped us keep the house tidy at night, gave us tips and tricks for baby to get him to sleep more & checked in on us often throughout the week. She's the best!
Allison Brandner

We highly recommend Yani Molina! She was our postpartum doula for the first 5 months of our daughter's life, taking both overnight and daytime shifts. We felt extremely comfortable leaving our daughter in Yani's capable and loving hands. Yani was very communicative and offered great advice when asked. She always let us know if she noticed anything that we might want to ask our pediatrician about (such as increased spit up, gas, etc.) and gave us support and encouragement as we navigated the difficult first few months as new parents. She was also very understanding and flexible when unforeseen scheduling or medical issues came up and we had to make adjustments. She clearly loves supporting parents and caring for babies and our daughter loved her. We will miss her and plan to keep her updated as our daughter grows.
Amber Moore

I can’t recommend Expecting Joy enough! Throughout the entire process, they were a joy to work with, and made our lives as new parents much easier!
Ted Samore

Jessica was such a calm and confident energy in our birthing journey. Leading up to delivery day she stayed connected, offered information and encouragement as I navigated induction and even flipping baby techniques. During delivery, she stayed by my side, offering comfort and support through labor as Riley’s delivery stalled at one point. His heart rate kept dropping to alarm levels during contractions and she was there to support me as I processed the information and emotions around that experience. After baby, she touched based to help me process my birth experience and see how we were doing postpartum. I am so glad I decided to add a doula to our experience and was very pleased with Jessica’s work ethic and presence. It allowed my partner to rest as well as have additional support through labor and delivery.
Michelle Whitaker

We cannot recommend Shannon from Expecting Joy highly enough! From the moment she joined us on this journey, her warmth, expertise, and unwavering support made all the difference. During the birth, Shannon was a calming and motivating presence for everyone in the room—always one step ahead, anticipating needs, and ensuring that the entire experience was as smooth and stress-free as possible.
She has an incredible way of balancing professionalism with deep compassion, making us feel truly cared for every step of the way. Shannon empowered us with her knowledge, helped us stay grounded, and created an environment where we felt safe, confident, and even joyful.
It’s hard to imagine this experience without her, and we’re so grateful to have had her by our side. If you're considering working with a doula, do yourself a favor and choose Shannon—you’ll be in the best hands possible!
Andrew Levy

My husband and I were initially hesitant about hiring a doula for the birth of our first baby, but choosing Vanessa and Alli from Expecting Joy was one of the best decisions we made. Vanessa was instrumental in helping me execute my birth plan, which included giving birth unmedicated and in a pool. She met me exactly where I was and respected my wishes every step of the way. Her support allowed me to labor safely at home until it was time to head to the birth center, which was so important to me.
Vanessa guided me through an incredibly intense labor and birth, providing exactly the encouragement I needed. Alli joined us toward the end and brought the perfect energy to help me find the strength for the final push. The compassion and care I received from Expecting Joy during the most challenging and vulnerable (and Joyful!) experience of my life were nothing short of extraordinary.
Because of this experience, I know I will never give birth again without the support of a doula. Having Vanessa and Alli by my side made all the difference, and I’m forever grateful to them.
Elisenda Llauradó Vilà

Maddie is an exceptional caregiver - she helped create a supportive and nurturing postpartum environment that helped me heal after both of my c-section deliveries. She’s terrific at answering all Qs about feeding and sleep and has been a wonderful resource to our family over the years. We wholeheartedly recommend her and Expecting Joy to any family seeking a doula in the Seattle area.
Gena Dakos

I am absolutely ecstatic to share my experience with Shannon as my doula. From the moment I connected with my doula, I felt an overwhelming sense of support and reassurance that made a significant difference in my birthing journey -Especially this being my first baby.
Having Shannon by my side was like having a personal advocate and cheerleader throughout the entire process. Her extensive knowledge about childbirth and the various stages of labor helped me feel more informed and empowered. She provided evidence-based information and was always ready to answer my questions, which eased my anxiety leading up to the big day.
During labor, Shannon was a calming presence, offering comfort measures like breathing techniques, massage, and encouraging words that helped me move through my birthing journey, I felt completely supported and understood, which allowed me to focus on the experience rather than getting caught up in fear or uncertainty.
What truly stood out to me was my doula's ability to create a nurturing environment. She respected my birth plan while also being flexible and adapting to the situation as needed. Her constant reassurance and skillful guidance made me feel like I could truly trust my body and the process.
Overall, I cannot recommend Shannon and her services enough, especially for first-time parents. The support I received was invaluable, and I felt empowered and cherished throughout my birthing experience. If you’re considering having a doula, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so—you won’t regret it! Shannon was a god send for us and we can’t wait to call her when we are having our second !
Jessica Zhelanov

Jordyn was helpful. As the first time parents, we were so stressed out and nervous. Jordyn helped us through the first 2 nights after returning home from the hospital. Thanks to her help, we were able to get some sleep and to recover quickly.
Ely Tran

Leigh McBride was our doula for the birth of our first child and we couldn't have asked for a better doula!! Leigh has an incredible range of experience to draw from and does an excellent job of understanding the parents' goals and desires and building a plan for that. She met with us before and after the pregnancy to help understand our needs and answer questions, and she stayed with us through the entire labor process which was 24+ hours long! Leigh was an incredible help to us in navigating the medical team's input, and suggestions, and allowing us the space we needed. We strongly believe she helped us avoid a C-section and also feel very positive about the interventions we did chose to use. 10/10 would highly recommend to anyone looking for a doula. Thanks, Leigh!!
Caleb Johnston

Maddie and Jordan are amazing night doulas, the babies loved them, theu answered all of my silly questions, always on time, always so kind, patient, and gentle. I could go on and on. You would be lucky to have either one!!!
Serafima Golembo

Having Leigh McBride in my labor team was a great decision. She is extremely knowledgable and went above and beyond to help me manage the discomforts of labor, i had a very long labor and she was tirelessly there for me every step of the way, she is also very personable, making it enjoyable to spend time with her during the many many hours at the hospital. I am a first time mom and had a lot of questions and Leigh was there to ease my concerns at any time of day (or night) and quickly responded to me on text or phone to put my mind at ease. When my labor was not progressing for multiple days, she came to my house and gave me exercises and advice to help me, and was also a great emotional support for me. She also recently became a mom, and shared a lot of her learnings with me post partum which was great since she recently went through the same experience. I highly recommend Leigh for anyone looking for a doula that is knowledgable, dedicated, and also personable.
Armaghan Blair Javidan

Hiring Jordyn was a great decision for our postpartum period. She was knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. Her expertise in newborn care and breastfeeding was invaluable, and she always made us feel comfortable and at ease. She provided practical assistance with tasks like diaper changes and feeding as well as validation and emotional support. We are grateful for her help and would highly recommend her to any new parents.
Brittany Bevis

We used Addy Heyn for our birth and had a wonderful experience. She was great at helping us getting prepared beforehand and provided the support we needed throughout the birthing experience. Expecting Joy Doula Services was very easy to communicate with and helpful in getting me all the right documents for insurance purposes. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a doula!
Kaja Muaka

We worked with Maddie from Expecting Joy and she is incredible! She provided the best care for our little girl and great support for us as well. I cannot say enough wonderful things!
Claire Wickstrom

I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Alli Torino from Expecting Joy. Her support and guidance during my labor and delivery were exceptional. From the start, her warm and welcoming presence made me feel completely at ease and she was instrumental in helping us work through our fears and make decisions that felt right for us. Her seamless integration into our birth team and her ability to jump in when needed were truly impressive! I’m incredibly grateful for her help and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and compassionate doula.
Britta Farr

Shannon was beyond exceptional as my doula! I had a complicated situation as my baby has a heart defect and from birth til postpartum Shannon has been intentive of mine and my families unique needs! Having her on my birth team was such a gift.
Brek Mettra

Our birth doula, Alli, was amazing! She walked us through each part of birth process with confidence and poise. We could not have done it without her! Our night doula Jordyn was professional, helpful and knowledgeable. We so enjoyed having her as a support for us as first time parents. My husband and I were also so grateful to have gotten a few much needed nights of rest after our first newborn arrived! I can confidently recommend Expecting Joy doula services.
Ululani Miller

Yani was really wonderful as our doula. This was our first delivery and meeting ahead of time with Yani really put my mind at ease. She walked us through our birth plan options and ways to prepare mentally and physically. My birthing experience didn’t go exactly as planned (ended up needing an unplanned c-section), but Yani was there every step of the way to provide the support and care that I needed.
Jessica Rubenacker

I had the pleasure of meeting Brittany through another doula I was matched with via the postpartum doula services at Expecting Joy. Initially, she was meant to fill in during times when our main doula was unavailable, but after getting to know her, she quickly became our primary support. Both of them were amazing, but Brittany has a wonderfully uplifting personality that truly shines. She embraced every challenge and task with enthusiasm, providing invaluable support for my newborn, toddler, and me as I recovered from my C-section. She took on our evening schedule, and my toddler would often ask if Brittany was coming over, which speaks volumes about the connection they formed.
With great care, Brittany tended to our little one, helping with naps, baths, holding/calming her, cooking meals for me, managing laundry, and ensuring our toddler felt loved and engaged through playtime. Our time with Brittany was nothing short of amazing, and she will always hold a special place in our memories as a vital part of my postpartum journey.
I wholeheartedly recommend Brittany to any moms or moms-to-be. As a mother herself, she brings a level of understanding and trust that is invaluable in a postpartum doula.
Bruna SPC

If you are lucky enough to work with Yani, you will quickly realize that she is one of the most exceptional people you will ever meet. I first learned about post partum doulas during an internet search at 3am as I was holding my 4 week old and significantly struggling to keep it together. I needed help.
Yani is a true lifeline.
She intuitively knows what to do and how to help. I could never thank her enough for the invaluable support she provided me and my son - especially during a time of profound vulnerability and despair. Three months ago, I didn’t know how I would handle life with a child; let alone think about going back to work. I was living in 2 hour increments and everything was a struggle.
We quickly realized we needed Yani more than just a couple days here and there. Yani’s support not only meant that I could get rest, walk my dog or take a shower, but it gave me confidence in caring for my newborn. By watching and talking with Yani, I learned so much. I was better able to swaddle my son (Yani’s swaddle is just so on point!), give him the rest he needed by identifying when he was tired, console him better, play, etc.
We will dearly miss not seeing Yani every week, but we take comfort in knowing that her professionalism, kindness, confidence and skill have left a lasting impact on me and my son. She is the reason my son and I are thriving today.
Anyone is truly lucky to work with Yani.
Anelga Doumanian

Alli was our doula for the delivery of our first child on 6/1/24 and it couldn’t have been a better fit! Working with Alli in the weeks leading up to delivery gave us confidence in our birth preferences, labor prep, and nursery set up. She supported and advised all of our decisions from our first conversation through our post-delivery meeting. On delivery day, she was an absolute rock - responsive, available, resourceful, comforting, stabilizing and so helpful. She literally helped my husband hold me up in various positions, coached me through hours of labor both at home and in hospital, worked so seamlessly with our hospital team, and even ran home for us when we forgot our bag in the rush to leave for the hospital! We had an empowering, ideal delivery where we felt like we made informed decisions at each step of the way thanks to Alli’s prep and guidance. Husband & I would recommend Alli to any expecting parents, but especially first time parents - she was the key to a supportive and empowering birth experience! We will absolutely seek her support again for any future children. 11/10.
Keara Flynn

Having Shelby as my doula made my birth experience the best it could be. She supported me from start to finish and helped me feel more comfortable. Shelby was very knowledgeable about different positions to stand in or lay in to help the contractions move along. She has a calming presence and I know I would not have had as great of an experience without her.
Keann White

Shelby was so incredibly helpful, attentive, kind, and warm. She prioritized my wife’s wellbeing and her needs and used her wealth of expertise to make the labor and birthing process incredibly smooth and peaceful. We will absolutely be using Expecting Joy again and would highly recommend working with Shelby.
Julian Dayton

Shannon was truly amazing, and everything I needed in a doula! From the first time we talked I felt such a warm connection and could tell she is doing what she loves being a doula. She anticipated my needs and helped me think through decisions of labor. I went into labor at 12:30am on Mother’s Day (sorry Shannon) and she had no problem staying with me all of Mother’s Day instead of being with her family while I had my beautiful baby girl. I would recommend Shannon to anyone!
Anna Dorati

Leigh McBride was fantastic to work with, and I would highly recommend adding her to your birth team! She made herself available for any questions we had leading up to the birth, and after the birth, and was always so quick and knowledgeable in her response.  Her relaxed, calm, comforting and personable personality was a great fit for my husband and I.  During my son's birth I felt very supported and well coached.  She advocated for my original birth preferences when I was too tired to do so - and I'm so thankful for this in the end!
Katie Tarlow

Leigh has been my doula during two births. I wouldn't have wanted to do it without her, she was an excellent support and kept me calm as labor progressed. She is a great advocate and very knowledgeable.
Shannon Forster

My doula from this company, Addy, was absolutely amazing. She provided such personal care every step of the way and was so intuitive in knowing my needs, especially during labor. I would highly recommend her! I shall forever be grateful that she got to be a part of the birth of our son.
Hannah Burke

Wow! My wife and I are SO pleased with Leigh – we just can't imagine our birth experience without her. She was so supportive, personable, compassionate, and knowledgeable! She stuck with us through a long induction process; she was a pleasure to hang out with for hours on end. She was very responsive via text, and she helped us talk through every option along the way so we could make the best decisions for our family. We would highly recommend Leigh to ANYONE who is looking for a doula!
Brad Walker

Shannon has known me since I was 8 years old and it was so special to have her help me bring my first baby into the world. She was diligent in checking in with me pre and post birth. She encouraged me to listen to my body and follow my instincts throughout the birthing process and postpartum. I would recommend her to anyone I know looking for a doula. She is an asset you want in your corner! -Casey T.

Shannon would be a wonderful addition to any birth team. She is intuitive, flexible, and adaptive. She brings a wealth of personal wisdom to a birth space and honors what a birthing mom may need in each specific moment. Shannon has assisted me now in two of my births (one hospital, and one birth center) and I couldn’t imagine doing it without her. She was a steady support for my husband and I in each individual birth setting. She offered words of encouragement, touch and massage, and hydration and snacks when needed. And most importantly she was a wonderful buffer between the staff and us so we could focus on what was most important- bringing our children into the world! -Morgan L.

Amazing experience with Expecting Joy- specifically Jessica! Honestly, I was originally torn on whether or not I needed to get a doula. But wow, I am so happy that we had Jessica with us for labor and delivery! Jessica was supportive of my goals for a natural, unmedicated birth. My labor was long and Jessica really helped me with what positions to do and was very encouraging throughout. She also sought to understand my husband’s goals for birth and empowered him to coach me throughout labor. It was great to meet with her before birth and then again after I delivered to debrief about the experience. I delivered at a hospital but beforehand I was nervous on whether they would push for unnecessary medical intervention. Because I had such a great team (Jessica and my husband) coaching me, I feel like the nurses and hospital staff trusted us to go through labor without getting too involved. When decisions about my care came up, Jessica talked with my husband and I to ensure we understood the options and reminded us of our goals. Again, labor was very tough and exhausting. I honestly feel like I would not have been able to meet my goals if it wasn’t for Jessica. I really appreciated her calm and reassuring demeanor during labor. I truly was thanking God for Jessica after delivering my first daughter and I am eternally grateful to her for her support. I will remember her forever as a beautiful part of the birth story. Hire her! You will not regret it!
‍Karesa Espinosa

With this second child, we weren't sure whether we wanted to use a doula again, as we did with our first. But, we went for it, since it was so helpful the first time. And, it was the best decision we could have made. Monica Croonquist was such a supportive and essential presence ahead of, during, and after the birth. She made not only my experience, but also my husband's, so much more joyful and so much less stressful. We're so happy that we found Expecting Joy so we could have Monica as our doula.
Anne Petty

We had the pleasure of working with Alli at Expecting Joy for the birth of my first baby and I cannot recommend her enough! I would not have been able to do birth in the way I desired without her. She is so attentive, responsive, sweet, encouraging, knowledgable and calming. She has a real gift of making you feel at ease and like you have been friends forever upon first meeting her. She truly cares about you and your baby, gets along with the rest of the delivery team so well, and helps the non birthing partner be involved. I felt so supported and empowered in my birth experience and I credit it to Alli. We will definitely work with her again for our future babies.
‍Natalie Miller

I highly recommend Expecting Joy! Our doula, Alli Torino, was amazing. She is very knowledgeable and was a huge support leading up to and in the delivery room. Her presence during the delivery was invaluable and I can't speak enough to her positive and upbeat personality. I would recommend Alli to anyone looking for a birth doula.
I would also recommend Expecting Joy's birthing classes with Christian Fillingame if you would like to get into the details around birth and postpartum.
Veronica Ahern

Having Jessica at my delivery was an unexpected blessing! My baby came 4 weeks early & my mom couldn't attend as planned, so Jessica volunteered to help me instead. She showed up for me with no qualms or delays. She came with a blanket of calmness and support that did not compromise her efficiency in the slightest. It being my first delivery, I needed someone to let me know that it was alright to do things differently than what the nurses were saying, or to help me understand the pros and cons of certain choices I was being asked to make (epidural, for instance). Jessica's clear and unbiased answers are much appreciated in a time when making decisions is already fraught. She helped me turn as needed, massaged me to help ease my pains, held my hand through it all and even cut the cord! She was even waiting to help me after an emergency surgery to remove my retained placenta. She only left once she was satisfied that my LO & i were settled in with no issues and comfortable. As I said at the beginning, Jessica's presence was an unexpected but much appreciated blessing at my delivery!
‍Brynell D'Souza

After having my firstborn 3 weeks ago, my husband and I have been telling everyone about how our doula, Alli, made the biggest impact in the birth! Her support and knowledge of tools available to us at the hospital allowed me to have peace during and after labor. Her bright and bubbly attitude was a hit among hospital staff and made the mood in our room upbeat and positive. We ended up having to make some tough decisions in the moment and Alli helped us talk through the options so we could make the best decision for us. Having a doula like Alli is soo worth the cost and I can’t imagine what we would have done without her!!
‍Lauren Terry

Monica was our postpartum doula for the first 11 weeks of our son's life, and our time with her was so precious. She took such loving care of our baby while we caught up on much needed sleep. Overall, she made our transition into new parenthood so much smoother, and is just a lovely person to boot. We miss her a bunch, and still send updates from time to time.Expecting Joy made the whole process very smooth by matching us with Monica, and providing a simple way to pay and keep track of invoices. All in all it was a terrific experience. Our little family highly recommends them 🙂
‍Samantha Muscat-Scherr

Wow, what an amazing team of caring, compassionate doulas who really respect and support families! I had the privilege of working with three women: Kira assisted me during birth and Monica and Alli provided postpartum care. They all listened to what our needs were, advocated for us, and offered suggestions for how to make life easier during this often-exhausting time. We still keep in touch almost a year after my baby was born. I cannot recommend them enough!
Vitoria Lin

We've reached out to Expecting Joy when we were looking for a sibling doula to watch our almost 5 year old child while we would be at the hospital delivering our second baby. We were looking for a guarantee that someone will be with our oldest son, day or night, for as long as it would be necessary (through labor, delivery and first hours postpartum until my husband would be able to go back home). Expecting Joy did not formally offer sibling doula services but they didn't deny my request and promised to circulate it around their doulas to see if anyone would be interested to work with us. That's how we connected with Monica, and she's been a lifesaver for us. She came out to meet our son almost 2 months ahead of our due date. She have checked in with us regularly and offered support and encouragement in every communication. Our delivery was scheduled as an induction and leaving Monica with our oldest went very smoothly. In our absence she's kept our son's routine and supported him through this transition. She brought him a short book about becoming a big brother and helped him feel calm and at ease. That night was difficult for him and he cried for quite a while (our son has anxiety) and she stayed by his side reassuring him that everything would be okay. The delivery went well but unfortunately there were complications afterwards and my husband had to stay with me and the baby at the hospital through the next day and the following night, while Monica took our son to his preschool and then picked him back up at the end of the day and continued taking care of him. At such a stressful time Monica was a lifesaver giving us a peace of mind that there was someone caring and trustworthy to take care of our oldest son. She also helped prepare our son to our return with the baby, showed him baby's pictures and set the right expectations. When we got back I was exhausted and didn't shower in 3 days, Monica offered to look after the baby while I took a few minutes for myself and could settle in back home. Since then Monica has come out to our home again a few weeks later to take care of both the older son and the baby for a few hours and she was great with both of them (she had easily handled baby's feeding, changing and settling him for a nap). Monica is a very kind, caring and nurturing person, and she's been very supportive throughout our entire journey. I would strongly recommend her to anyone looking for a postpartum doula.
‍Nadia Tkach

Having my first baby was both a beautiful and daunting experience. From all the conflicting opinions of different doctors, different belief systems and all the information available on the internet at your fingertips, it can be hard to know what’s right for you and your baby in any given situation. Monica was instrumental in the success of my pregnancy and the birth of my son. From just being her kind, thoughtful, and encouraging self when I had doubts or questions, to really stepping up as my advocate in the delivery room when things were moving quickly (and even when they weren’t, as it so often happens with inductions), I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through without her experience and knowledge to help me make the best, most educated decisions I could for my baby.
We are now expecting our second child, and I am so grateful to have Monica as a resource and guide this time around as well. 10/10 would recommend!
‍Rachel Royal

Monica is fantastic! She is knowledgeable, thoughtful, communicative. She helped us with overnights in those early newborn weeks when sleep feels almost unattainable.
‍Ellen Pepin-Cato

Alli Torino was our doula. She was absolutely incredible! I wanted to give birth naturally, without an epidural, and I know I could not have done it without her. She knew exactly what to do, and had amazing expertise from a nursing background. She was encouraging, kind, and went above and beyond to help me deliver my 9 lbs. 5 oz. baby girl. She was an absolute blessing, and we are so grateful that we hired her! Highly recommend Alli, Vanessa, and Expecting Joy!
‍Christine Russell

Alli is the friend you NEED during your pregnancy and postpartum! We worked with her for the delivery of our first child and she could not have been more knowledgeable, helpful, responsive and kind. She's not just a source of strength and support for the birthing parent but an amazing partner and guide for the their partner.
Meeting her for the first time during the last weeks of pregnancy was such a well timed breath of fresh air. We were overwhelmed with all the education material out there and she helped guide us with evidence based coaching. She came extremely well prepared for our prenatals visits coaching us through the third trimester with helpful guidance about how to manage the weeks up to the delivery and labor better. She is a great listener and answered all our questions patiently. By the end of the first session, we had a thorough plan set in place for us.
In the following weeks, she diligently kept in touch, checking in but always giving us space as we needed it. Our baby was due on Christmas Eve and she could not have been more accommodating with her time.
When it time (right on time on Christmas Eve day), she came to the delivery room well prepped and brought that familiar energy and warmth with her. I cannot tell you how happy I and my husband were to see her there. She was a familiar, trustworthy face in the chaos that is the delivery room! She immediately established a great rapport with all our nurses (she's a former nurse herself!!). Our nurses LOVED her! They told us later that she's one of the best birth doulas they've ever worked with and we're lucky to work with her. She guided us throughout the labor, bringing in so much expertise regarding exercises to move labor along as well as being a voice of reason when helping us interact with our cargivers. She would take time to explain to us what's going on, when we can ask questions and clarify options for us. When the magical moment came, she took a backseat and let me and my husband have a wonderful bonding with our newborn (while clicking some memorable pics which we'd asked her to do).
At the time of writing this review, we have not yet asked for her help in the postpartum phase but have no doubt that she will be amazing! She's been such an asset to us! We cannot thank her enough and cannot recommend her to anyone looking! ALLI you're awesome!!
Anjali Belani

We loved working with Expecting Joy - we interviewed 3 potential birth doulas and felt all would have been a terrific addition to our birth experience. The billing and admin support was great too, I was able to use my FSA card to pay for the services with ease. Alli was a rockstar/angel/game-changer during labor and delivery! We loved getting to know her during our prenatal check-ins, she was pivotal in our laboring process and when our son was ultimately delivered via c-section, Alli photographed his birth, kept us calm and informed and helped initiate successful breastfeeding. My husband and I were stronger and more confident with Alli’s support. You’re in the best hands with Expecting Joy!
Katie Bryn Cagle

We used Alli as both a birth Doula and a postpartum Doula.  She was absolutely wonderful, and we can’t imagine what our experience would be like without her! Several members of the hospital staff commented after the birth that Alli was the best doula they’ve ever worked with.  If we could give higher than 5-stars we would. Thanks for everything Alli!
‍Patrick Schuppert

Alli is excellent! She responded to my questions quickly during my pregnancy. And I don’t know how I could go through labor without her. She is also very helpful postpartum. I feel that I didn’t just hire a doula, I also made a friend, who is a crucial part of my support network.
‍Eunice Liou

Simply put, Kira was the right choice for us. She gave us a beautiful birth experience for our first baby, and her deep knowledge and experience normalized the sometimes scary and intimidating labor process. Her communication felt effortless and her depth of knowledge, empathy, and tactful advocacy at just the right time was more than we could have asked for. Kira is an amazing person who has found her calling, and her joy, optimism, and passion for providing support through the birth experience and welcoming human beings into this world is apparent. She even provided excellent postpartum support, advice, and help a week after the birth of our baby. Without hesitation, we would ask Kira to be our doula if we have baby number two.

I had a wonderful birthing experience with Leigh. I had plenty of family crisis so my family was not able to be in Seattle to support me so last minute I searched for a Doula and found her. She was the answer to my prayer. Not once did I feel unsupported and I labored for 24 hours. I don't know how she did it but together we were stronger. This was my first child and I really didn't know what to expect or what my labor would be like but I knew I wasn't alone. She went above and beyond and even though I had just met her about two weeks prior she kinda felt like family in that labor room. I have no negative feedback and I would use her again and refer her to other people. She is genuine, kind and super sweet. She listens and is respectful.

We cannot speak more highly of our time with Leigh. She joined us around 30 weeks and helped us get our birth goals organized to present to our midwives. She took our vision into consideration and helped create a plan that really exemplified peace, serenity, and clarity. Our baby was stuck in the breech position, but fortunately, Leigh provided numerous resources and helped us practice many techniques from Spinning Babies. Sadly, we were unable to turn the baby; however, Leigh stepped right in and helped us adjust our birth goals to include the new cesarean delivery. She kept our heads up and our hopes high as we went into the operating room, and she stayed with us until our new baby latched for the first time, making sure he had a secure, proper, and healthy start to breastfeeding. We would recommend Leigh to any expecting parents looking for support from an experienced, caring, positive doula.

Being first-time parents, it was comforting to have someone there who had experience & knew what questions to ask and when. Looking back, I know the experience would have been much different without her, and my wife and I would have been less of a team and much more stressed. Having to have a C-Section made things even more tricky, and I was so thankful to have someone to stay with my wife while I went with our daughter to the NICU. Leigh felt like family and never told us what to do. But she did give us valuable information to make the best-informed decision at the moment. I cannot recommend Leigh enough.

My experience with Expecting Joy was exactly what I had been hoping for -- affordable emotional support for my first birth center birth. I am so grateful for Leigh getting me through transition and reminding me that I could do it!

Working with Leigh was incredible. So thankful we ended up working with her! She knew just how to help us through each contraction. We were so thankful to have her by our side the entire labor. She gave us the best coaching and was so encouraging the entire process. We were able to have a natural and non medicated labor because of her help. We will definitely have her at all our future births!

Kira was my doula and she was absolutely fabulous! I highly, highly recommend her. This was my second baby and I was trying for a TOLAC/VBAC. Kira is knowledgeable and confident and provided comfort and reassurance before and during labor. She had a variety of techniques during labor that was very helpful (and has strong hands that provided great massage!) and provided detailed instructions to me on how to push. She has such a gentle calming presence and I am so appreciative she was my doula. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of anyone's control, I had some medical complications and Kira was so great in supporting my husband and holding my baby during this time. She works well with medical professionals and taught my L and D nurses some of her techniques. I am really happy that I chose to work with Kira during my birth, and I highly recommend her.

We found Leigh through Expecting Joy Doulas, and we could not be happier with our experience. We went into our third trimester, not knowing fully about what services doulas provided and whether it was something that was right for us. Leigh was patient, calming, and very knowledgeable that by the end of our first meeting, we were convinced that we needed a doula and that we wanted to work with her. During the labor process, she was available at all hours of the day and coached us through early labor and help us navigate when we should go to the hospital. I believe that my birth experience was an overall good experience because she was by our side and helped us through the really tough times of labor. We are so thankful that we found Leigh and that she was a part of our birthing experience.

Vanessa went above and beyond for my delivery. She brought so much comfort and help during my labor. My husband already said he would fly Vanessa to be with us from anywhere in the world for our next child. She made the entire experience wonderful. I absolutely loved having her there!

My experience with Kira made me convinced that no woman should go without a doula no matter how great their partner is. She was not only an asset but to me seemed like a necessity. So incredible. She was calm, positive, supportive, knowledgeable and listened to my wants, needs, and questions. She was 100% dedicated to me. After getting to know each other, she was able to help guide me to make decisions throughout labor and delivery that were right for me. I also had Kira for a month for my postpartum doula. She was dedicated to my emotional well-being and that of my baby. She helped me around the house with so many things that are hard to do right after giving birth, giving me time to rest or take care of other needs! Kira was an integral part of what made my birth experience a wonderful one. - Katie W.

Kira has a calm, loving demeanor and is incredibly knowledgeable about the birth process. She truly loves what she does and I couldn't have found a better person for extra support. After the birth, Kira follows up and makes sure the transition with a newborn is going ok--she's willing to help out with whatever might be needed. I can't say enough good things about Kira. She's kind and lighthearted, willing to work hard to keep everyone comfortable and do what needs to be done to give her clients a fabulous birth experience, no matter how the baby comes into the world. - Stacy B.