Embraced Doula Services

Rayna is the best! She came highly recommended by another care provider and did not disappoint. We were on the fence about hiring a doula due to the expense but she was worth every penny and then some. She supported my husband and me physically, emotionally, and practically (with specific tools and resources) during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I had a 38 hour labor and she went strong throughout and still visited us the next day. I call her a doula goddess but she could easily be doula warrior… she has such a great balance of fierceness, tenderness, and incredible stamina. I recommend her to anyone seeking a kind, genuine, committed, experienced, skilled, badass doula!

If you are looking for a doula to support you in a more natural birth, I can give the highest recommendation possible to Rayna! She helped my wife from a Friday night labor start until Sunday afternoon delivery. Every contraction she was there, massaging her and giving her support. Rayna’s experience, knowledge and strength got her through a difficult birth… we don’t think we could have done it without her!

Rayna was my doula for my second birth. My first birth experience, I had terrible back labor and when I found our I was pregnant with my second, I knew I really needed someone to help me manage the pain and give me the extra support to have the natural birth I wanted. I interviewed many doulas with massage experiences and when I met Rayna the first time, I was immediately struck by her energy and spirit. She knew the body so well and got me started right away on posture and stretches to help me during my pregnancy discomforts and to help get baby in the right position to prevent back labor. She also has the perfect balance in being encouraging and vocal without being pushy or annoying. I was so happy to have her on my team for the birth of my second child!
When I went into labor, Rayna came and met me at my home. She immediately jumped in and worked on my back during my very painful contractions. She quickly assessed that I needed to be at the hospital immediately and we left as soon as I was able to walk between contractions. At the hospital, she came in and had no trouble putting herself where I needed her without getting in the nurses or doctors’ way. She went right on massaging my back and helping me breathe through the pain. She communicated with the nurses to try to give me the birth experience she knew I wanted. She asked for oil for tearing, for a push bar, etc. In the end, the baby came so fast (15 min. after checking into L&D) that there wasn’t time for that but I knew she was advocating for me and that was a weight off my shoulders. After baby came, Rayna made arrangements to take my placenta for encapsulation and she stuck around until the wee hours of the morning, completely unobtrusively, just making sure I didn’t need anything else.
Rayna also gave me amazing pre and post-​partum massages, which were just what I needed during the stressful time. She is truly a gifted doula and massage therapist. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any mama!

Rayna was my birth doula. I ended up being in back labor, and she literally massaged me for about 9 hours. She is unbelievably energetic, strong, and most importantly, kind-​hearted. Rayna has also given me wonderful prenatal and postpartum massages. Without reservation, my husband and I recommend her as a birth doula and massage therapist!

We always think of Rayna as our birth angel, I can’t begin to write just how valuable of a role she played with the birth of our daughter! I met her before I was pregnant and she gave me several relaxing, healing and mind numbing massages. She has some really great breathing and relaxing tips as well that were helpful during the massage! When I got pregnant I knew I wanted her as our birth doula, she just radiates with love and relaxation. She met with me several times to review my birth plan, after birth plan, breathing techiniques and went over positions for my husband and I to practice. She met us WAY more than required going above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable during the preganancy. After my husband and I took a birth class we realized everything we learned from the class we had already heard from Rayna! Rayna helped get my nursery ready, and get our house ready for when we brought the baby home, even going over check lists with me! Rayna always said I could call her anytime, even if it was at 3am to talk about fears or excitement. When I had a question she couldn’t answer she quickly found the answers from other midwives, doulas and nurses that knew and got back to me.
When I went into labor, Rayna was with me breathing, massaging, dancing with me, at our house, on the phone, riding in the car with us to the hospital at midnight and then again at 8 am. She was our rock. I had an awesome birth experience, delivered at Alta Bates with no medication, didn’t need it because I had Rayna:) Rayna continued to help us during postpartum, I was very anxious and nervous the first couple months after the baby was born and Rayna never made me feel like I was crazy or out of place, (though now that I look back, I was definitely was off) She prepared my placenta which was awesome for postpartum!
I could go on and on about how amazing she is. She is flexible, reliable, calm and just has a positive sweet spirit about her. I can’t recommend her enough!