Client Testimonials:
Meredith, Calvin, Charlie + Baby Myles
April 2022:
My first interaction with Hunter, back in 2017, was actually not pregnancy related. I had a wedding dress appointment at Urban Set Bride (the best in Richmond!) and Hunter was patiently assisting me into a number of dresses all while fielding the various opinions of my bridal crew (including two mothers). More to come on how this relates to pregnancy and birth...
Fast forward two years, my husband and I find out we are pregnant with our first child and around that same time I saw Urban Set Bride post a profile on Hunter saying she offers Doula services. There are people in each of our lives who we trust but then a select few that we not only trust but who we feel we need to have with us through life's most sacred moments, this is Hunter. Even from our brief interaction at Urban Set Bride, I knew she was this type of person.
With our first child, Hunter answered (what felt like) a million questions with thoughtful, thorough responses. I was scared, this was unchartered territory for me, and I wanted to have a low intervention, non medicated birth. She encouraged us to take a childbirth education class, which we did through A Brighter Birth, and suggested readings that aligned with my preferred birth plan. She helped us think through a postpartum plan and how we would handle things like breastfeeding, family visiting, and nutrition. I remember Hunter asking "What is your dream birth scenario?" and I laid out this perfect, spontaneous labor-at-home scenario, lots of time spent resting with my husband, handling contractions while in the tub, only arriving at the hospital when it was really time; immediate chest to chest, delayed cord clamping, the works. My daughter had other plans, which started with being induced at 39 weeks. I cried, couldn't wrap my head around it, called Hunter. She listened, acknowledged my concerns, encouraged me to mourn that perfect birth plan and helped us craft a new one. At the end of it, she asked how I felt about the new plan and I said with total confidence, "I feel great about it actually." This is an invaluable strength of a wonderful Doula such as Hunter. They are a trusted advisor throughout pregnancy, they honor your hopes and wishes, but they can also pivot at the drop of a dime when it's time to pivot, help you understand that you still have choices and ensure you feel good about your options.
I had a fairly straightforward induction which started at night in the hospital. Hunter was available over the phone through the night as things came up and joined us in the morning when labor really started to pick up. She navigated us through positions to keep labor moving along and was a constant person of encouragement. When my daughter emerged, she was not breathing the way they would like her to and they had to cut the cord and rush her over to be suctioned. This was yet another hit to my "perfect" birth plan but one that Hunter handled with the most grace, normalizing the situation for myself and my husband. A good Doula is a pillar of not only maternal strength, but normalizing the birth process; this was another invaluable part of having a Doula to me. Hunter stayed with us to help initiate breastfeeding and didn't rush out after our baby was born. She helped field the new grandparents waiting in the waiting room and cleaned up our space so we could just enjoy holding our sweet baby girl. At our postpartum visit the focus was on me, my mental and physical health, and a little bit of baby snuggles. But I think this part of the Doula process is often overlooked, how valuable having this trusted person is postpartum. I struggled with baby blues and again, Hunter helped me to normalize this part of my journey and gave me some tips and tricks to make the most of that time.
In 2021, we found out we were pregnant with our second and before I even thought to share the news with our family and friends I reached out to Hunter to see if she was available to be our Doula again! I had a lot of people ask me after my first birth if I would use a Doula again (over and over again the answer is YES) and then when I was pregnant with my second "why would you use a Doula if you already know what you're doing?" Every birth experience is different. My second birth experience was wildly different; I went 40 weeks + 1 day, I took the castor oil concoction to better my chances of spontaneous labor happening before my blood pressure creeped up, and from first contraction to baby on my chest (yes my son was able to go straight to my chest!) it was maybe four hours. It happened so quick that I was psyching myself out of my abilities, saying no way this was happening this quick. Hunter was my constant encouragement to bring that baby boy earthside. You hire a contractor to do work on your house, a mechanic to fix your car, you trust a pilot to get you from point A to point B in the sky, why would this be any different? You hire a Doula, choose the health care provider that aligns with your birth preferences, and have your partner (if applicable) with you to ensure the best possible experience.
Patience, a great listener, helping field opinions, providing options based on preferences. This is why what I saw in Hunter as a bridal assistant translated over into my hopes to have her be our Doula. A final note on Hunter and the benefits of a Doula. My birth experiences were so different, and I can think of many moments where if I had picked one path vs the other I might have a very different lens on those experiences. Hunter helped us to think through our options with both pregnancies and births and I am forever grateful for her guidance and support; she will forever be one of our most treasured people. She made those experiences so wonderful that she inspired me to seek my own Doula certification in hopes that I can be that support person to others on this journey. If I am half (or even a quarter) as good of a Doula as Hunter is, I will be happy.
Elise & Jenny with Baby Elliot
January 2022:
Hunter is an amazing doula! Navigating a COVID pregnancy was at times very stressful, so my wife and I were always grateful for Hunter and her gentle and caring conversations. During my pregnancy we experienced the tragic loss of our nephews, twin boys at 38 weeks gestation. This drastically changed our approach to pregnancy, labor and postpartum care. Hunter came to us during this time and offered constant reassurance and kindness. This was perhaps the most tender time in our entire lives, and Hunter was truly a bright beacon of hope. She was always available to answer random pregnancy questions and offer encouragement whenever our confidence wavered.
After a few weeks of daytime contractions, one night became ‘the night.’ Hunter drove to us in the wee hours amid a little snow flurry. She guided me through escalating contractions and directed my partner in how to best support and maintain a peaceful environment. Having Hunter allowed us both to stay present in the moment and not have to worry about the symptoms of various labor stages or timing contractions. She is experienced and calm, I trusted her in the most complete way.
At the hospital Hunter set the vibe in the birthing room, getting the tub ready and setting up twinkle lights. There were several other birthing people that night, so Hunter advocated for us along the way to ensure that a nurse or midwife was present when we needed them. The long long night eventually ended and our baby boy was finally in our arms. Hunter stuck around for a bit as we were all a bit dazed and in a love bubble. She continued to check in during the first few weeks and made a home visit to touch base and see us all in person.
Hunter is just great! I would recommend her services to any birthing person and if we decide to grow our family again, I know that she will be one of our first calls.
The Farmer Family
August 2021
Hunter has basically been inducted as a member of our family as she helped us welcome Baby #3 in 2019 and Baby #4 in 2021. We connected with her instantly and felt extremely supported along the way. She was always available for advice and provided research-based information to any questions we had.
During both labors, she was the absolute best emotional and physical support and helped me focus my energy to get through our perfect, natural births. Her voice, words, & touch were more comforting than I can express and her presence in the delivery room gave an unfailing sense of repose. She also helped my husband feel comfortable with what was happening, which is a HUGE testament to her skill set. She keeps the atmosphere calm, nurturing, and supportive, and I highly recommend her to everyone preparing for a baby.
Foltz Family & Baby Bennett
January 2020:
Where to start?! I sought out Hunter after I had a difficult birth with my first born. I felt so unprepared for labor and felt like none of the doctors or nurses communicated clearly or often enough with me. I ended up having a c-section. When I was pregnant with my second child, I knew I wanted to do it differently. I met with Hunter and immediately felt at ease. She was so easy to talk to and I felt like she really understood my concerns. She was also completely supportive of my choice to do a VBAC and her positivity gave me confidence.
In the final weeks before birth, it was so great to have someone I could text when I was tired/frustrated/worried or any other emotion! Hunter was there for all of it. When I went into labor, she came to my house and helped me through the contractions. It was so great to have someone else worry about when we should go to the hospital and what to do next. Not having to make those decisions on our own was huge! Hunter was with us from 9:30PM until 7:30AM. She was there and attentive the whole time - all through the night! She was also a huge help to my husband when he was tired or getting worried about me - she was there to say, this is normal and all is going well. Again - huge!
I got the VBAC I wanted and I truly don't think that would have been possible without Hunter. Contacting her was the best decision and I highly encourage all moms-to-be to use a doula!
Brantingham Family Welcomes Baby Gramercy
January 2020:
Hunter came highly recommended by two of my colleagues and from the moment we met her, I knew I had found a true friend and birth mentor. One of the most important parts of my most recent pregnancy with our third baby was my desire to do it "all natural" in a hospital setting. I knew that having an amazing doula would be a big part of whether I was able to do this or not. I am still amazed (and constantly rave) about how much I learned from Hunter about pregnancy and birth, that I didn't know during my first two pregnancies. I wish more women and their partners knew how having a birth coach is important, no matter how many times you've been pregnant before, whether you're having a planned c-section, or are determined to have an epidural. Hunter will be your support and guide no matter what your birth plan is. Her belief system and knowledge will make sure you are educated and feel empowered to make the best decisions for your body and your baby. These qualities were crucial to me during this time and I couldn't imagine a better pregnancy and birth, or not having her there through all of it. She fit right into the plans my husband and I already had. We had as close to a perfect birth experience as I could have wanted and her presence for the birth of our daughter was like having a big sister with me the whole time.
Amanda, Doug, Haidyn & Baby Connor
December 2019:
Working with Hunter as our doula was one of the best things we did to prepare for the birth of our son. Hunter was recommended to us by a friend and from our very first meeting my husband and I both felt confident that her warm, personable support would help us meet our goals for an unmedicated, low intervention birth. As second time parents hoping for a more positive birth experience, Hunter made sure to consider and recognize the emotions and experiences from our first birth and answer all of our questions and concerns in preparation for our second baby.
At 16 weeks I was extremely disappointed to find out I would very likely be induced again due to chronic hypertension. Despite this news that made me feel like I wouldn’t be able to achieve my goals after all, Hunter remained super positive and optimistic, sending me encouraging words, support and resources to help me mentally prepare. As I entered my 3rd trimester and my health was still fine, she encouraged me to discuss all of my options with my midwives, to ask every question I could think of and to advocate for myself within safe boundaries. I’m so grateful for Hunter’s encouragement because it empowered me to have very informed conversations with my midwifes and together come up with a plan that felt safe but also respected my wishes and options. As we neared my due date, I knew that my birth was going to be much more positive, induction or not.
At 39+2 my water broke and within an hour my labor came in fast and furious. Hunter communicated with us over the phone for about an hour, giving lots of great strategies to help me comfortably labor at home before joining us to continue her support. She was encouraging to both my husband and I as I continued to labor and quickly progress at home. When I decided I needed to go to the hospital soon after, she trusted me. When I realized there was no way I could get in the car and make it to the hospital, she trusted me. Hunter was calm and poised and knew just what to do to support us in that unexpected moment. She continued to coach both my husband and me, and I truly felt safe in her hands during the scariest moments of my life. Thanks to Hunter, our baby boy was born healthy and safe at home. Once the paramedics arrived and we finally made it to the hospital, Hunter continued to advocate our birth wishes despite all of the chaos. We are eternally grateful to Hunter for her confidence, knowledge and support. We will continue to recommend her to any birthing family we meet!
Alexa, Braxton & Baby Theo
August 2019:
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Hunter! Deciding to have a doula and finding Hunter were some of the best decisions that we made during our pregnancy. Since this was our first birth experience, my husband and I felt so much more at ease knowing that someone who knew what was going on would be there to guide us through the process. I seriously feel like we would not have had such a smooth, positive experience without her! Hunter’s calm, confident presence was exactly what we needed to help us have to birth that we wanted!
Sabrina, Dan & Baby Luke
December 2018:
We don't even know where to begin. We met Hunter in the Childbirth Education class. We loved right away how caring she was. She took her time to talk to everyone and she always made sure that everyone felt heard and safe, that all questions got answered and most importantly that we felt ready for childbirth. Talking to her took my fear away and we felt so prepared.
We called her after my water broke in the morning and just her calm self made us relax and just take one step at a time. Since my labor progressed pretty fast, she didn't spend much time at our house but just having her there, helping me get dressed for the hospital and making sure we had all we needed was everything.
When we arrived at the hospital, she made sure we felt comfortable and safe. I personally really enjoyed her calm vibes as I progressed really fast and was a little freaked out. She helped me relax and take one breath at a time.
We are first time parents and having a Doula was the best thing we could've invested in. We didn't know what to expect. The classes can only prepare you so much and having Hunter be there for us, every step of the way, made us stay so much calmer during labor.
We HIGHLY recommend Hunter. We absolutely loved her. We truly believe the birth of our son would've been different without her. AND I will cherish the photos she took for us forever.
Amy, Jeff & Baby Sonny
September 2018:
Hunter was the best decision we made after deciding to start a family. She was more to us than a birth doula, from telling me what foods would be best early on, to curating my registry, to normalizing everything about pregnancy that feels completely abnormal, to helping us mentally prepare in the weeks leading up, to working around our limited schedule when my husband moved to Raleigh, to finding someone who would do personal classes in my home because of my crazy schedule, to cutting off the valet line at VCU hospital so she wouldn’t leave our side, to advocating for us to get a room with a tub when they were out of rooms when we got to the hospital, to decorating that room with twinkle lights before I even got in there, to talking my husband off a ledge countless times the day Sonny was born, to taking beautiful photos of our family the minute Sonny was brought into the world, to calling me when I inevitably had that new mom breakdown about breastfeeding within the first week... and coming to my home and holding my hand for the one I had the next week... and all the little moments in between when she provided peace of mind. I had the most textbook awesome birth story, and I know some of that must be luck, but I believe much of it has to do with Hunter’s support, preparation and presence. Before she got to my house I was ready to leave for the hospital, but when she got there she helped me labor for 2 additional hours there and that helped significantly by the time I got to the hospital. She made me feel comfortable when I was put in a triage room with no doctors and getting sick all over the place. Her magic peppermint cotton balls helped tremendously. And she wasn’t disappointed when I yelled for an epidural at 8 cm after I tried the tub, and held me when the epidural didn’t go as planned and I gave birth naturally anyway. It was perfect and I have Hunter to thank 100%. Hire Hunter. You won’t regret it.
Lauren, Seth & Baby Emmy
April 2018:
Hunter is the most incredible doula (and person!). My husband and I look back on the birth of our daughter with such gratefulness that Hunter was with us. She spoke gentle and encouraging words, gave clear advice, helped me to do things to keep labor progressing, and always took into account how I was feeling emotionally. Because of Hunter, we didn't have to be as concerned with googling what things meant, hours of timing contractions, when to leave for the hospital, or a million other questions... because, Hunter knew! We also so appreciated her help once we got to the hospital; there were several other births going on as well that night, so a nurse wasn't always in the room. Hunter took care of me and anything we needed, and was there to help me know what I could/should be doing at any point. She created a peaceful environment for us, knew what was happening with me every step of the way, and could help explain things as they progressed. She completely supported us and our decisions, and patiently walked with us through something she understands well and has been through. Just having her there and having her support brought so much peace into our experience; I can't imagine how much harder it would have been without her! Even after labor, Hunter continued to check in and care for us on everything from my emotions, to baby care, to breastfeeding. She was amazing, and I can't recommend her highly enough!
Robyn, Joey & Baby Noah
February 2018:
My husband and I knew we wanted as natural a birth as possible. The midwives we were working with suggested we work with a doula to enhance our experience and follow our birth plan. Enter Hunter - the most amazing and caring person one would want to have by their side during the birthing process. She has a quiet strength about her that instantly put us at ease. Hunter offered us gentle guidance and advice before, during, and after we delivered our son. She met with us to solidify our birth plan, recommend birthing classes and explained the process to us. During delivery Hunter was with us offering support to my husband as he helped me through labor, and guiding me as well. We ended up having a c-section and Hunter even accompanied us into the operating room. Her presence was so welcome during an exhausting and exhilarating time. A few days later Hunter came to visit to check on us and helped me with some breastfeeding questions. Even now I know I can text or call her for support. We are so happy we made the decision to have Hunter with us during this journey.
Courtney, Phil & Baby Quinn
January 2018:
When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, we started to research options for support during birth. We were both hesitant about using a doula and wondered if it was really necessary until we met Hunter. She guided us through every detail of what the birth process would look like and helped me to develop a manageable and comfortable plan for labor and delivery. To say my husband and I were clueless when we started this process is putting it mildly. Hunter educated us on everything we needed to know and when the big day came to have our baby, Hunter was by our side for almost 30 hours. She offered endless support throughout the process and calmed our anxieties as we journeyed through labor. Hunter is warm, kind, and welcoming. I felt immediately comfortable with her and I’m not sure I would have had such a positive birth experience without her. For anyone on the fence about using a doula - especially for your first birth - take it from us and use Hunter. You won’t regret it.
Erin, Jason & Baby Cash
October 2017:
When my husband and I first started talking about our birth plan, I realized a third party might be a good idea. I needed to talk about all things pregnancy all the time (the internet research, all the registry options, sift through the hospital classes, and discuss my cervix, etc) and Hunter was always available to chat. Having a doula kept me informed and grounded while we prepared for the baby and Hunter was a friend to me throughout the whole process. As much as I appreciated her reliability and kindness during pregnancy, I was most grateful to her during my labor and the delivery of our son. As soon as my water broke we were on the phone talking about my options and how I felt about each outcome. She was a perfect addition to our team and I believe the medical team was also grateful for her calm and supportive demeanor in the delivery room. She tended to me when I was in pain and even held my leg when I brought my baby into the world! I would recommend every woman to have a doula and Hunter is at the top of the list!
Parnie, Brad & Baby Violet
June 2017
My interactions with Hunter were always warm, supportive, & informative during my pregnancy. I didn't fully realize how truly PRICELESS she was until I was in the middle of (a long and exhausting) labor. She is the #1 reason I was able to reflect on such on arduous process and say that it was overall a positive experience. Because of her, I was able to have the birth outcomes I wanted, and that has really helped things go smoothly postpartum for me and baby.
Hunter stayed with me for two long days of active labor. She was attentive, yet mellow and comforting. When I was struggling through long, intense contractions and hours of pushing, Hunter had the exact vocabulary to help me make them as manageable and productive as possible. I didn't realize there would be so many times when there was no nurse or doctor in the room and Hunter was the one there to do basic bedside support things like keep me hydrated, adjust my bed/pillows, monitor our vitals, talk me through what was happening and what was about to happen, and even keep me cleaned up through 4 rounds of getting sick. There were times when we were on the cusp of major medical decisions when my OB wasn't there and my husband and I were so exhausted that we couldn't even remember what we'd read about or what we thought we wanted. Hunter was there to help remind us of the pros/cons that the hospitalist wouldn't have.
When I was in a negative space and my poor husband was exhausted, she had the positive words to keep us going without being annoying about it! My husband appreciated her as well because she helped him know exactly what to do and when in order to be most helpful to me when neither of us was really sure where we were in the process. Her postpartum visit also helped me process the sequence of events in the hospital and ask the lingering questions after I'd had some time to reflect on my experience.
Heather, Mark &
Baby Nash
April 2017
Where do I even begin?! Hunter was truly incredible in more ways than my husband and I could have ever imagined! After our first meeting, Hunter blew us away with her knowledge, strength, compassion and commitment to being a doula and she made me believe I could do whatever I wanted and that I had options. From the moment I met Hunter, she was friendly, warm and supportive. She made me feel 100% comfortable as if she and I had been known her for years, which truly helped me throughout the entire process.
When my labor started, Hunter was in touch with me often (without being overwhelming) and she was ready to come over whenever I needed her. We called her in the middle of the night and she came right over to relieve my husband so he could rest and she stayed by my side comforting me physically & emotionally, putting heat on my hips and back, keeping me hydrated & timing my contractions until it was time to go to the hospital.
She helped keep me calm & positive and was supportive and encouraging for my already amazing husband. Somehow we had forgotten everything we learned in our birthing class and she was able to bridge the gap in communication between us and the doctors/nurses and she explained exactly what was happening at each step of the way. She helped us make some really crucial decisions in the moment which ultimately helped me have a smooth labor.
In the early days postpartum, Hunter checked in with us and came to visit. She answered our laundry-list of questions and gave us tips and tricks to make our lives a little easier. She reassured us that we were doing a great job as new parents! Hunter was patient, calm, informative, empowering, thoughtful, encouraging, funny and so much more. She played an essential role in our positive birthing experience and we truly could not have done it without her. We are forever thankful for Hunter and are so proud to call her our doula, and new friend.
Laura + Pippa with
Baby Sienna
November 2016
Where do I even begin with Hunter?! First of all Hunter is amazing! She is one of those people you meet that you instantly feel like is your friend. She is extremely warm and easy to talk to. You can also immediately tell she makes no judgments, which for me was crucial through the birth experience. With my first daughter I had very little support from my husband, I don’t think he knew the first way in which he could help me. With the 2nd birth I knew that I wanted someone that could understand me and be there for me in the delivery room and leading up with questions. I also love that Hunter is a mother herself and has her own birth story which is what really influenced her to be a doula.
Hunter came to our home where we went through a long discussion of our history with my prior labor and what I was really looking for in a doula. She immediately made me feel comfortable which is super important. What I really loved about Hunter is that she follows your lead. When we first met she said a doula is there for you through the process, they are there for whatever you need. Hunter completely took my lead as far as my needs and wants in the delivery room.
In the end I feel like Hunter is part of our family, I cannot wait to introduce her to our daughter when she gets older and tell her that she helped mommy through the birth process. Birth and labor is an incredible experience and it was amazing to have Hunter by my side. She has a natural gift for what’s she’s doing and I know she will make a lot of women incredibly thankful for her support and empathy through the process.
Christine, Lenny &
Baby Ellis
July 2016:
As a wedding planner, I knew the importance of having a partner to guide me through a new/emotionally-charged situation. It's the same advice I give my clients while they plan expensive weddings, so I thought I'd take my own advice and hire someone to guide me through the birthing process.
Hunter sat down at my home with my husband + I when we were 3 months along. We were both equal parts excited and nervous and having someone who had just had a baby was helpful. She asked us questions we had never really discussed like what kind of birth experience we wanted, what we were afraid of, what we were excited about, and what kind of birthing partner I wanted/he wanted to be. It ignited a great conversation and we all left feeling like we were a real team.
At 6 months, the three of us attended a birthing class together. There we learned about the stages of labor, how to progress calmly through each, what to expect in each stage and how both of them would support me through each of them. We walked away feeling confident, educated and supported. We had a list of snacks to buy, supplies to acquire and a real game plan.
By the time my water broke, all 3 of us knew the game plan and what role each of us played. There was no fear, doubt or frustration. My husband is not very assertive, so it was nice to know that we had already discussed his role would be to support and soothe me, while Hunter would handle encouragement and logistics.
It took alot of the doubt and stress off of my husband and I. He had his job and she had hers. He was able to just be my husband and be present for the birth of our son. She held me accountable when I wanted to give in during the tough parts of labor, held my legs as I pushed and partnered beautifully with my midwife at VCU Medical Center to bring my baby boy into the world.
Having a calm, patient, wise, funny doula by your side is well worth your money. Hunter was perfect.