Leda was a tremendous asset to me and my husband before, during and after the long labor that led to the birth of our daughter at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital.  She was finely attuned to our different coping styles and needs during labor, and able to offer light-hearted and sensitive support at critical junctures in what ended up to be a process with lots of unexpected twists and turns.  Leda’s guidance helped my husband to effectively encourage me stick to my birth plan in the difficult early stage of labor, and her constant attentive support and knowledge of alternatives were invaluable during all of the many hard decisions about intervention that we had to make in the later stages. At the very end, when an episiotomy was recommended, Leda was there to encourage me to try one more time to push before consenting to being cut…and in the next few minutes, out came Charlotte, 7 pounds, 11 ounces! When Charlotte was one week old, Leda gave us a great tutorial on cloth diapering that got us off to a successful start. We highly recommend Leda; she is a very gifted doula and all-around fun person to have at a birth. -K.M., March 2011, New York, NY

Thank you so much for your loving and attentive support during our son's birth! I am sure that the universe sent you to us and I am so grateful. You were an incredible addition to our team and I can't imagine doing it without you. Our son's birth was more beautiful than we had imagined it would be... what an amazing gift. -L.T., July 2010, New York, NY

We look back at our birth and can't imagine getting through it without your support. You are an exceptional person and you do exceptional work.  We are so grateful! -J.H., June 2010, Brooklyn, NY

Words cannot express how grateful we are for your help, your strength, and your kindness. Thank you for everything you have done for us and for everything you do. -M.K, April 2010, New York, NY

Thank you so much for assisting with the birth of our beautiful son.  It was an amazing experience and I'm so grateful for your support and care.  -M.B., February 2010, New York, NY

Thank you so very much for all of your incredible work, energy, and support.  There are no words to describe how much your skill, passion, and dedication made the birth of our first baby girl such an amazing experience.  You made us feel so very calm and confident during all of those "laborious" hours.  You will forever be in our hearts and minds. -G.C., October 2009, New York, NY 

Leda worked with me on delivering my twin boys.  She was warm and compassionate.  She was down to earth, and would be comfortable with totally natural births, and she was also comfortable with the medical management necessary, sometimes, with twin births. -M.M., October 2009, New York, NY

I recently had baby and worked with Leda. I strongly recommend her. Much of my labor was at home with my husband and Leda. Not only was she a calming and compassionate presence for me, assisting me both mentally and physically, she also gave my husband a needed break. She was so respectful of our wishes and they were each able to help me in different ways. Having both of them there was just so reassuring. While we learned some pain relieving techniques in class, I don't think we could have replicated how Leda helped me through the contractions.

It was also helpful to have Leda with us while we traveled to the hospital. I had her complete attention, she kept me within the "birth bubble" as she put it. She and I were both focused on me, while my husband attended to the logistics - the car service, money, the bags, making sure the door was locked, stove off, etc. I didn't have to worry about any of that stuff - no unnecessary distractions - just be present.  -L.Z., October 2009, Brooklyn, NY

Leda was a phenomenal doula—kind, supportive, consistent, and caring. We’re so grateful to have worked with her. She provided me and my husband with what I'd describe as continuous and selfless support. I highly recommend her services.

In the weeks leading up to my birth, Leda truly took the time to get to know our growing family. She was a great listener and asked us very thoughtful questions in order to assist us in authoring a very specific and comprehensive birth plan. Leda made herself highly accessible to us for all sorts of pre-labor questions and fears. Like a dear friend, she was there for our family, throughout our all of our exciting yet anxiety-ridden pre-labor experiences.

When I went into labor, Leda was calm, level-headed and extremely sensitive to the process. Together with my husband, she provided gentle encouragement, suggestions regarding birth positions, and heavenly massages. Thanks to her efforts, I was calmer, more confident and more empowered. Even after the birth of our daughter, Leda stayed some additional hours to assist our family in welcoming its newest addition. If I am blessed to be able to give birth again in the future, I would most assuredly want to hire Leda once again.

Leda was an invaluable source of support to our family and is an absolutely wonderful woman and doula, who I can't recommend highly enough. Something tells me that those who hire her in the future will be similarly blessed. – A.T., August 2009, New York, NY

I’m so glad Leda was there.  When my contractions began (and I wasn’t entirely certain that’s what they were at first) Leda was there to walk me through it.  She let me know everything was normal and was there for me from the very beginning. She offered suggestions on positions that might be more comfortable for me and assisted in relaxation activities to take my mind off things.  She was so supportive and helped coach my husband in the ways that he could assist my labor progression.

Leda helped time my contractions, offered advice to my husband, coached us both through each contraction and reassured us that things were normal even when I was freaking out.  When my contractions continued late into the night Leda got up with me and worked through my pain and let my husband get some rest.  At the hospital, Leda stayed up with me, listened to the doctors and nurses, helped me ask questions and get important answers, took pictures and videos when my husband was too busy supporting me, and reassured me that I had made the best decision for myself and my baby when I decided last minute to get an epidural.

After my son’s birth Leda was there to offer support and advice in the postpartum arena.  She offered assistance with breastfeeding, pain management, dietary concerns and my emotional wellbeing.

Having a doula at my son’s birth was one of the best things about his delivery.  I was in very good hands to begin with but Leda’s help was important and truly made the experience more comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable.  I’m so glad she was there for us. –L.H., September, 2009, Berkeley, CA