Kind Words

“I truly believe I wouldn't have had the birth experience I wanted without Ari's support. After an undesirable first birth, all we wanted was a "calm" experience the second time around. Ari helped create the calm we needed. Having her in the room to help communicate with the hospital staff so I could focus on labor was a relief. I always knew she was looking out for me and setting a presentence to whoever entered the room that me working through a contraction came before and questions or disruptions. I trusted her to communicate my birth plan and make sure my wishes were respected.

When we originally made it to the hospital I wasn't far enough along to be checked into a room and was almost sent home, where I didn't want to be. I'll never forget her collecting a few details about the baby's position from the nurse and knowing exactly what positions to have me try so I could progress. I went from 4 cm to over 6 cm in less than an hour after working through positions together. There's a special set of knowledge and experience Ari has that I am so thankful for.

Heading into an unmedicated labor and birth, there's so many unknowns. She never stopped working at creating an atmosphere where I felt safe and relaxed. She was hands on when I needed and hands off when I wanted my space. Having met prior to my birth-day she got to know me on a personal level, and knew what type of energy I was looking for. Towards the end of my labor, I remember her asking me "What are you feeling?". It seems like a silly, simple question but at that moment I was able to talk out the thoughts stuck in my head, and she was able to explain the process my body was going through. She knew the exact balance/mix of education and encouragement that made me feel safe until the end. There's nothing about my birth I would look back and change.

No matter what type of birth you are planning for a doula will change your experience for the better, but Ari is who you want by your side. I promise.”

— Keylee

“Ariana was a literal lifesaver during our son's sleep battles. She was supportive, empathetic, proactive, calming....the list goes on and on. She gave us multiple nights of good sleep that kept us going throughout the week, and even helped us with our sleep training! She was incredibly kind and helpful, and went above and beyond to try and help us with whatever changes our son was going through. As a first time mom with post-partum depression and anxiety (as well as insomnia), I cannot express enough how much I appreciated Ariana's support. She was so good with our son, and did a few daytime support sessions for me after rough nights, which gave me enough sanity to make it through to the weekend. She checked in with me regularly, gave me reassurance that what I was going through was normal for PPD/A, and helped me get through the worst of it. I wish that all new mothers had the opportunity to receive the help that I received, as it made it possible for me to be a functioning human again. Having a baby is hard, having a baby when you have PPD/A is hard, having a baby with sleeping and eating issues is hard, but all of this was made more bearable with the amazing support that Ariana gave us.”

— Sierra

“Ariana was a an absolute blessing for our family and we will forever be grateful for the service and support that she provided during the beginning months of Leo's arrival. As seasoned parents, we were expecting our little guy to have adapted to life with no worries, just as his siblings had done. However, a middle of the night ambulance ride to the ER at three weeks old, turned our world upside down. The best decision we could have made was to hire Ariana for overnight services. She took Leo into her arms with such ease and allowed us to regain the confidence that our baby would be okay. That sleep was okay. For the next few months, Ariana dedicated her knowledge and time to help our family navigate our way through the challenges we faced for this first phase of Leo's life. We will be forever grateful for Ariana. Leo is thriving and sleeping and growing and it's amazing to watch him go!”

— Kate

“I truly wish that everyone expecting a child could work with Ariana and Lunation Full Circle Care. From start to finish we were blown away with the level of care that was provided for our family. Welcoming a child, especially during a pandemic is scary. Ariana helped to ease our minds. First by preparing us as to what will happen/what could happen. Then by supporting us through early labor, labor, and even after our baby arrived. Ariana helped us to feel educated, advocated for, empowered, and supported. I cannot imagine going through pregnancy and the birthing process without here there. When we tell our friends and family the story of how our little one came to be Ariana is a glowing part of this story - and I sincerely do not know how we would have made it through without her.

As I mentioned before, education was a key piece to the support offered. We had to alter our birth plan the day of and thankfully we felt truly prepared for what that would look like. Ariana talked us through hospital options and interventions well before the birth so nothing was a shock or surprise. This is key while you are in the moment. The more control you have, the better. And we felt in control the entire way through.

After our little one was born Ariana stayed with my partner (the birthing parent) and I was able to go focus on our baby. Knowing that she was there with my partner meant everything. The entire birth was like this, I don't think she ever left our side. We truly were a team of 3 (and later 4). It's best team I have ever been on. We also booked Ariana for an overnight and it was amazing. Still the best night of sleep that I have had in months thanks to her. If you have the opportunity to work with Ariana take it. You will be cared for, heard, and in truly stellar hands. She has so much knowledge and skill. There isn't a better doula out there.”

— Gina

“Ariana’s steady, caring, and connected presence was truly vital through the wild events that brought my child into the world. In our prenatal meetings, Ariana helped me find physical comfort in the last weeks of pregnancy, and helped my spouse and I begin important discussions as we planned to welcome a second child into our home. Time with Ariana were highly personalized to us, and gave us space to focus on our upcoming birth and family transition. When my baby was ready to come into the world and nothing went as planned, Ariana’s confident presence, experience, and knowledge of birth allowed me to take the space and time I needed to make the best decisions for my baby and myself. Ariana was a source of strength and belief in myself in moments of doubt. Having Ariana be there for a birth that didn’t unfold as I had planned and hoped meant that I had a foundation of support and understanding, an anchor and someone who truly saw what my spouse and I were going through. I got to feel celebrated and acknowledged, and when I tell the story of my baby’s birth I know Ariana is a huge part of why I can see the beauty and strength there.”

— Emma

“Ariana worked with my family to prepare for the birth of our first child and they supported us during the birth. I am so thankful that Ariana was part of our experience! Ariana was knowledgeable and reassuring, providing us with information about the birth process which gave me so much confidence going into labor. With Ariana’s help, I was able to advocate for myself during the birthing process. Ariana suggested approaches to keep me comfortable and focused. And they worked seamlessly with the hospital staff to foster a calm, collaborative environment. Ariana was a big part of making my labor an empowering experience that I feel so good about. And when we had a hellish cluster feeding situation during the first week, Ariana hooked us up with resources. I cannot recommend working with them enough.”

— LLFC Birth Client

“I'm incredibly grateful for Ariana's presence and guidance before, during and after the birth of my first baby. He was unexpectedly early and came fast, so needless to say I was not mentally prepared yet. I'm so grateful that she was able to act quickly (at our house within 60 minutes of our phone call) and help me make decisions for myself and my spouse in the moment in between fast labor and contractions. I had no expectations for labor and no real "birth plan", as I generally trusted that I'd figure out what I needed as I went along. What I didn't expect was the grounding effect she had on myself and my spouse during the intensity - both of us in the whirlwind and anxiety that sometimes comes with a first childbirth. She didn't have to actually say or do anything, but having her beside me reassured me that everything was going to be OK and to continue trusting my body. I'm sure there were a lot of logistics and communication with the nursing staff that I didn't have to actually think about because she was there ready to convey the situation at hand (baby was coming FAST) and it's quite possible she knew what I needed more than I did. Sometimes you just need that when it's your first rodeo. There are some personal touches that I'm incredibly grateful for - like capturing special moments that we could not (I scroll back and watch those moments at least once a month... *sheds tear*). Or how she taught me the ONLY swaddle that my babe couldn't break out of. It was a LIFESAVER. Ariana is like a fairy godmother - but a cool one, with tattoos!”

— Jessica

“Ariana was one of the best parts of our birth experience. We first met with her when I was about 32 weeks pregnant. During that meeting, she taught us all about what to expect during the labor and delivery and how to best prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally. She also educated me and my husband all about the various medical interventions that the hospital might use, most of which we knew nothing about. Rather than telling us which interventions we “should” or “shouldn’t” use, Ariana merely gave us the information to make our own decisions and was truly supportive of anything we decided. When I was 39 weeks pregnant, Ariana checked in on me regularly via text, so when I started having contractions, she was available to us immediately. Because of Ariana’s support and advice, we were able to stay at home for a large portion of the beginning of labor which was far more comfortable than the hospital. Having Ariana at the hospital when it was go time was helpful not only because she was able to get me through several hours of painful contractions with minimal medical intervention, but she was also supportive of my husband and ensured he was eating and drinking water to keep his energy up as well.

If we did not have Ariana’s help, I truly think I would’ve been so much more nervous throughout my labor and delivery journey. I was fortunate enough to suffer very few complications during the process and I attribute at least some of that to her help getting me prepared and making me feel comfortable and confident in my body’s ability to deliver our beautiful baby!”

— Christine

“Ariana was truly amazing! I am not sure what we would have done without her. I had a long, intense crazy birth that did not go to plan and she was there every step of the way guiding me, advocating for me, helping my husband, and doing whatever she could to make me feel comfortable. She even made sure she could be with us during my unplanned csection and helped us to feel safe during a scary time. Before this she was great at preparing us for what was to come and listened to our needs. She also made sure to check on us all after and gave me a lot of great resources and guidance to help with my recovery. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her!”

— Tassie

“Ariana was an incredible support during our birth. She stayed in constant contact during my early contractions, and was so helpful when she arrived to the house - knowing exactly when to head to the hospital. At the hospital I don't know what we would have done without her - the staff were very hands off so I think we would have been pretty clueless and concerned. How would we have known what to be waiting for - what feelings were normal and which ones weren't? Overall I had a trauma-free birth, which is what I was hoping for, with my only plan being to stay calm and take all the time I needed to make decisions. Ariana was able to create space for that - and was incredible with the physical support I needed during big contractions and when my husband and I were both exhausted. She was also a great support post-partum when I was feeling so weepy and in pain. It was great to have her come by and offer advice for my husband as well during that time.

I absolutely recommend working with Ariana. She knows what you need - she isn't too much of a presence during this huge moment - or too little... just perfect.”

— Dorsey

“Ariana is a caring, capable and well-prepared doula. I knew we made the right decision to hire her for the birth our our first child when I called her the night my water broke... 5 weeks early! Ariana dropped everything and came straight to our home to help me pack a hospital bag and gather my wits. She was a calming influence from the minute she stepped in the door, which my husband and I needed desperately in that scary moment. Ariana supported with us throughout my labour which lasted into the early hours of the next day, and ended in an emergency C-section due to breach positioning. As my birth plan fell apart in the ER, several times over, Ariana kept her composure and led us through the experience with a clear head. I would highly recommend Ariana as a doula. Her passion and professionalism are paralleled by her intuition and warmth, which make her a joy to work with.”

-Lauren

“I first met Ariana while preparing for my birth in 2021. She was absolutely integral to my birthing experience. My labor and birth went in an unexpected direction and would likely have felt more traumatic if I didn’t have Ariana. She played relaxing music, provided consistent encouragement, used positioning techniques to progress labor, implemented pain management techniques that saved me, and sat with me in the OR as I welcomed my son. I felt cared for and held the entire time. I will always hold a place in my heart for Ariana. She is an angel with a true gift and I would not hesitate to hire her again.”

— Michelle