Testimonials

From The Husband’s Perspective:

“Husbands: this review is for you.

I am a warrior; a protector; preserver of the precious and tender. As such, my wife is my most cherished blessing. My most important stewardship is loving her, guarding her as a shield, and performing as her sword. If this proclamation rings true in your ears, welcome brother—read on.

Initially, the idea of having someone enter into such an intimate moment, and creating a reliance and dependence on a near stranger was anathema to me. How could I trust them to honor and support my wife?

If your heart is for your wife, then Niki is the Doula your bride deserves; her affection, dedication, and outpouring of love towards my wife was all I had asked the Lord Jesus for, and much more. Her ministry for supporting women in their births is evident and clearly her calling.

She will be our doula for every child; and you would be wise to invite her into your home as well.”

Philip

“Before we met with Niki I didn’t even know what a doula was! I was a little skeptical; and thought the price was a little steep. But your birth prep sessions were so beneficial that we both agree you earned your money before we ever even went into labor! Now I question HOW ANYONE does it without a doula!!”

Evan

“Niki was a true godsend for my wife and I. I couldn’t possibly say enough good things. I would recommend her service for anyone even somewhat considering options for support. She was informative and practical in her approach and provided the emotional coaching support and veteran knowledge that proved to be invaluable. From early education, and long hours during the birth, to postpartum care, she was such an incredible resource. She went out of her way to get us in touch with prior clients who had dealt with a similar scenario to what we had with our little guys complications post birth. Again, Niki rocks at what she does and is so worth the small investment it takes to acquire her services. Best of luck to all future parents out there, and I hope this review finds you well.”

Jon

“Game changer for dads! So grateful for your support through a extremely stressful time. Hard to imagine it without you.”

Matt Miller

“Niki was a last-minute stand-in doula for our original doula, who had to attend another birth. We could not have been happier to have Niki’s help and presence. Niki had a wonderful approach: helpful in matters that would not have even occurred to us in the moment, while also not inserting herself too much in ways that might have felt odd. I confess that before the birth I was always slightly apprehensive of having a doula present since this felt invasive of my wife’s and my privacy in a highly personal moment. I need not have worried! Our daughter had a somewhat complicated birth and had to spend three days in the NICU. Having Niki on hand allowed me to feel so much better about being in the NICU with our daughter while my wife recovered from her C-section with Niki. I’m truly thankful for her help and the compassion she showed. Final tidbit: she took amazing photos and a video of the moment we brought our daughter to her mother post-op. I highly recommend Niki to anyone!”

Collin Rydell

“My husband and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support and preparation Niki gave us! We will always have her by our side for all our babies births! She made us feel confident and prepared for any situation and having her coach me through the hardest thing I’ve ever done was essential to getting our ideal birth. She pushed me when I didn’t think I could go any further and she helped my husband be the encouragement that I needed. Niki has the most calming spirit and makes you feel prepared to bring a beautiful new life into the world! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Lexi & Hunter

“Our journey into pregnancy was beautiful but challenging in the ways of fertility and pregnancy loss. When we were pregnant with our rainbow baby, I did my research and decided to hire Niki as our doula. My husband was skeptical, but was supportive of my decision. He later stated, that hiring Niki was the best decision we made.

I desperately wanted to be prepared for the labor & delivery of our son. Niki provided the resources I was searching for. These allowed us to make educated and informed decisions about our birth plan. Niki was supportive through our pregnancy and I enjoyed getting to know her more as our due date was approaching.

As our due date came and went, Niki continued her unwavering support. Almost two weeks late, I was to be induced due to low amniotic fluids. Niki stayed in close communication with my husband and arrived to the birth center when my I was needing the extra support.

When Niki entered our room, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. She has an incredible, strong yet calming presence. My words will never be able to articulate this feeling. Niki went to work quickly to help guide my husband and alleviate some of the painful sensations I was having.

As labor began to progress (or rather didn’t), and complications arose, Niki’s continued support and strength were what my husband and I both needed to help get us through that 48 hours. Regardless of the challenges we welcomed our son into a world full of love. He was beautiful, healthy and strong.

We were blessed to have Niki as our doula, she is the labor and delivery angel we all need.”

Josh & Amanda

“After a traumatic birth with my first child, I knew I wanted some extra support with labor and birth this time around. I had been following Niki online for quite some time and everyone raved about her doula work and their experiences with her. As soon as I met Niki that first time and shared our hearts over coffee, I knew I needed her in that hospital room when my daughter was ready to come earthside. During our birth prep sessions with Niki, my husband and I were able to connect on another level and ask very open questions about all things labor and delivery, which was so helpful. Niki taught and guided us through absolutely everything from massage techniques to affirmations to how my husband could best support me during those intense surges. We truly bonded with Niki during our sessions and fell in love with her work! My labor ended up going a lot faster very suddenly, and we made the call to Niki a little too late so unfortunately she wasn’t able to join us for labor and birth until right after our babygirl came into this world, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. This birth was the most redeeming and healing experience and Niki played a big part in that due to her expertise in preparing us perfectly to do it on our own! We owe it to Niki for laying the foundation so that I could intimately and confidently labor alongside my husband and he got to deliver our sweet girl. Niki‘s expertise, personality, and just who she is as a human is exactly what every woman and couple need in their journey to parenthood. I got the dream birth experience I was wanting and more and I wouldn’t have been able to achieve that without Niki completely preparing my hubby and me for it all. Not to mention the beautiful and stunning birth photography included and she captured some of the most magical moments that I get to treasure forever now. She is one of a kind, and she is considered a part of our family. If you were questioning getting a doula, now you don’t have to because you need her support and energy! 10/10 recommend.”

Emma & Tanner

“We were not sure if we wanted or needed to hire a doula but we are so glad that we did. Niki was amazing and she was an essential part of our birth team! We felt a connection with her immediately and knew that she would be able to help us have the birth that we wanted. During our prenatal visits she made us feel very comfortable and fully supported. She provided the necessary tools and techniques for both me and my wife to be prepared for labor. Niki was intuitively connected to the progression of the labor from beginning to end. We are so happy that we chose Niki and we highly recommend her to anyone thinking about hiring a doula!”

Brian

“Niki is a must have for your birth team. My wife and I were first time parents when we looked into hiring a doula. We took a thorough birth class, read as many books as we could, and did a lot of preparation work for the birth of our daughter. I felt fairly confident going into the birth, but once that day came I’m so thankful we had Niki there. There’s no substitute for having someone with Niki’s knowledge and experience there to support mom (and dad too). My daughter’s natural birth went very smoothly, and my wife and I couldn’t be happier with our experience.
When I look back and think about what the experience would have been like without Niki, I know I would have been overwhelmed being there alone with my wife. Nurses and the midwife came and went, but Niki was always there as calming, supportive presence. She and I worked in tandem to assist my wife with comfort measures, different positions, making sure she was fed and hydrated, and guiding her through the different phases of birth. I was also able to step out of the room to run to my car knowing my wife was in good hands with someone I trusted to advocate for her in my absence if necessary.
We are also incredibly grateful for all of the pictures and birth notes she shared. My wife, daughter, and I can’t recommend Niki enough.”

Matt Myer

My fiancé and I were so happy with not only making the choice to have a doula, but choosing Niki . She was truly the icing on the cake. She is kind, gentle, joyful and full of love. I was able to experience the birth of my dreams because of her experience and advocacy all along the way. I highly recommend Niki and her amazing services and support.

Jaime & Brian

“When considering hiring a doula, I was a little hesitant because I thought we would be able to prepare and handle the birth experience ourselves. And as the partner, I was a little concerned that I would be sidelined in my role during the birth. But after meeting with Niki, I understood how much more support she could provide us – things I hadn’t even considered. The preparation, information, and sense of comfort she provided us leading up to the birth was so incredibly valuable. On the big day, she provided flexible and personalized support even for our unique situation. And the pictures she took at the birth are priceless – there was no way that I was going to be able to get those in the flurry of the moment! In the days following the birth, she stayed in touch to see how we were doing and continued to offer advice when we needed it. Niki is absolutely wonderful to work with and amazingly good at what she does!”

Marty Pool

Niki was fantastic! She really helped with bringing a calm, soothing presence to the room and helped us talk through some of the issues we were having with the birth of our son. Because I had never heard of a doula before, I was skeptical, but now that I know I wouldn’t want it any other way. Thank you again Niki for being there for us and bringing your talent, training and experience to the table. God bless.

Ryan

“As first time parents, we couldn’t imagine doing this without Niki’s calm wisdom. Niki gave us confidence and empowered us to follow our birth plan. Her guidance was invaluable, not only supporting mama and baby, but also helping dad know how to be a supportive partner. She was so professional, her training really shines through as a trained doula.

Nikki is family now! We can’t thank her enough!”

Jeremy Womack

I sought out a Doula to help us through the birthing process – to help my wife achieve her desires associated with a natural child birth and to aid me in being a more effective partner during birth. What we got in return was exceedingly compassionate and informed help. From our pre-birth meetings through day-of and after, Niki always helped us through issues and broke down what seemed like serious and complex ideas/tasks/treatments/etc…into terms my simple mind can understand and then apply. Niki is exceptionally approachable and always maintained an atmosphere where the Mrs and Myself particularly, could speak in honest ways about our situation/fears/anxieties/hopes thoughout the entire process. Even if our three meetings before birth were all that Niki’s services were I would have been satisfied with her fee as she provided us with so much info and hands-on care so as to feel way more confident when labor shows up . Suffice it to say that this level of compassion carries on into the delivery room and Niki provides on-point Doula services to help mothers (and partners) through a stressful and beautiful time. Niki is right up in the mix if you so desire (we did) and provides physical/mental/emotional support for the parents to be through what turned out for us to be a pretty long labor. Could we have done it without her? sure, I guess – but I know for an absolute fact that my wife and I were able to work as a team and see our relationship take a huge leap in maturity as a result of having a Doula participate. Not to mention, she took some incredible photos during the labor/delivery process that we will treasure until the end of time. Guys – if your nervous, feeling inadequate or ill-prepared to the task ahead, or overall just want a seriously positive influence for you and your partner – Niki’s your gal.

Kevin Lindner

We just went through our 2nd experience with Nikki. From a father’s perspective I wouldn’t go through this without her. I believe since she has kids she knows what is going on with the birth experience and is in tune with each step the mother is going through. We were glad to have her involved and would recommend her if you are looking for a doula. She should get 6 stars.

Wesley

“Niki has been our Doula for the birth of 2 of our children, and she has been beyond amazing both times. She was able to coach me in pain management techniques and other ways to support my wife during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I really wanted to be there for my wife during labor and support her the best I could, but it was a bit overwhelming as I didn’t feel qualified or prepared to be her only support person. It was a huge relief to have Niki and her expertise in the room with us. I felt like I had the freedom to be there for my wife emotionally while Niki focused on helping manage the pain and coach throughout the labor. 10 out of 10, highly recommended Niki at Durango Doula!!”

Clay Kyser

“If you are looking for a doula, then look no further. Niki is second to none. From the minute we first met it was clear that she was knowledgeable and dedicated to her job. Her kind heart and enthusiasm immediately made us feel comfortable. As a husband, I felt more confident and involved in the birthing process because of Niki. Her knowledge and support empowered both myself and my wife. I would absolutely recommend Niki to anyone considering a doula!”

Ryan

“Prior to my wife being pregnant I had never even heard of a Doula. I was a little skeptical of the importance of having a Doula, but Niki was very kind and we needed all the help we could get. Now looking back on the birth, I think the single most important thing or person was Niki. Her constant support and guidance throughout the labor was invaluable, especially to me as the husband. I just cannot stress how highly we recommend Niki.

Nate Andrews

“I really appreciated Niki’s help and support during my wife’s recent pregnancy and delivery. Two things really stuck out to me:
1. Her humility. As a doula, I’m confident that she has taken many classes, read extensively, researched many topics, etc. When you are supposed to be the “expert” in a situation, it is all too easy (and all too common) for the expert to take control, lecture, give unsolicited advice, and generally attempt to dominate (often in a well-meaning way) the situation. That doesn’t seem to be Niki’s default approach. Instead, she asked questions of us. She wanted to know our preferences, our expectations, our vision. I respect that she was available as a resource with much knowledge and experience, but she had the humility to want to use her expertise to serve my wife and meet her expressed needs.
2. Her confidence. Again, when everyone is looking to you to be the expert, it can be tempting to remain a constant presence–almost as if you wouldn’t want your client to think they weren’t “getting their money’s worth.” Niki, however, had the self confidence to know that there were times during my wife’s (long-ish) labor experience when it was appropriate for her to fade into the background. She knew enough about the status of the situation to know when to grab a quick cat nap or step out of the room for a coffee. It wasn’t that she couldn’t have hovered over us 24/7 (and we enjoyed her presence). Rather, she knew when my wife needed a break or when her presence was not immediately necessary. I appreciated that she had that confidence to know when she was needed and when she was not.
We had a very positive experience working with Niki, and I could not recommend her enough.”

Ashley Powell

“As a husband, I was confident in my ability to support my wife emotionally through the birth of our second child but unsure of my ability to provide the coaching and guidance I knew she needed during an all-natural childbirth. Niki was able to use her expertise to coach Bailey through different breathing and pain management techniques while I devoted my time and energy to being emotionally supportive. We worked as a team to be a support system for Bailey and I am so grateful that she was there to help.

Clay

From the Momma’s Perspective:

“My husband and I hired Niki immediately after meeting with her for the first time. We could tell right away that she was the kind of presence we wanted next to us during the birth of our child: calm, soothing, steady, and knowledgeable. We’re so glad we did. I cannot recommend Niki highly enough to any parents looking to hire a doula in Durango. Niki brings a sense of reassurance and calm to the birthing space. You can tell she is a well respected advocate for her clients amongst the hospital and birth center staff as well, which is such a comfort when you want someone who is there for you and also not going to bring tension to the birthing space; many times during my labor I remember the nurse or midwife remarking to us what a good team Niki, my husband and I made. Niki helped me to feel calmer when I started to doubt myself or my ability, or fear started to creep in—Niki was right there with a soft touch and solid eye contact reassuring me that all was well and I could do this (and I did!). And best of all, she helped my husband to be the best birth partner possible which meant so much for the birth of our child but also for the growth and strengthening of my husband’s and my relationship too. There’s nothing quite like seeing your partner be there for you in all the right ways during childbirth and having Niki there to guide us made that better than I could have ever imagined.”

Amber Reimondo

“Phenomenal person, phenomenal doula. Cannot speak highly enough of Niki – her guidance and support were massively instrumental in having the beautiful and natural birth we were hoping for on our round two. Between the resources she guided us to to prepare, the tools and emotional support she provided during delivery, and the beautiful delivery room photography, Niki is worth her weight in gold, would recommend her to any momma to be.”

Christine Farley

“One of the best decisions we made was hiring a doula/asking Niki to be a part of our birthing journey. My birth experience is one of the the most incredible and empowering experiences of my life. Though it was also the hardest, Niki gave us amazing tools and techniques so we felt very prepared for the birth. She was an amazing advocate for us in the hospital to make sure we had all of our preferences met. Finally, she showed me great ways to handle any discomfort and channel all my energy and focus in the last couple of hours or labor.
Niki is so kind and gentle, and is so amazing at making one feel relaxed and comfortable in any situation. She quickly became a friend and confidant and now even feels like part of the family! If we have another child, we will absolutely be getting a doula again and I want Niki by my side to create my best birthing team!

Megan Bednarz

“Niki was our saving grace! In our third trimester we had to shift our plans from a home birth to cesarean and our doula stepped away for personal reasons. We were both a little lost but rolled with the flow. After meeting with several doulas we were confident that Niki was perfect for what we needed. About a month before our due date, our plans changed again and we were cleared for a vaginal birth. She swooped right in to get us mentally and physically prepared. We both would have been lost without Niki’s support and knowledge, we are forever grateful for everything that Niki did for our family.”

Adam & Genevieve Gross

“Niki has been my doula for all three of my home births and it’s difficult to put into words how much she means to me. I absolutely love my husband (and appreciate his role and I’ve also loved each of my midwives, however, if I had to choose only one person to labor with me, I’d choose Niki without question.

I would consider myself pretty high maintenance when it comes to labor and Niki has always met my needs – guiding me through each contraction, speaking my birth affirmations over me, encouraging me, and helping redirect my thoughts when I felt like I couldn’t keep going.

I’ve experienced different pains throughout each of my labors and Niki always had a suggestion for how to reduce the pain. When I needed physical support, she helped guide my husband on how to give me relief as I preferred his physical touch during labor. Following my third birth, I had a very serious complication which brought me an immense amount of physical pain, and while my husband held our thirty minute old baby, Niki laid next to me, held my hand and sang to me through my ear piercing screams.

I didn’t know Niki personally before she was my doula but I immediately felt comfortable with her. She was, and always will be, a safe place and the calm in the storm of overwhelming pain and emotion. To say I deeply value her is truly an understatement. She is a necessary piece to my birth team and one I could never replace. I feel so fortunate to have connected with her when I did and to have had her by my side through the most difficult and most beautiful moments of my life.”

Racquel Larkin

“Niki was so helpful for my husband and I as we had our first baby. She is very knowledgeable and patient and was calm through every twist and turn in our delivery journey. So thankful for her and her care for our family!”

Virgina Wisda

“Niki was incredible. For background, this was my 3rd baby and 2nd home birth. I started looking into photographer/doulas early in my pregnancy and found Niki. I met with her and immediately knew I wanted her at my birth. I could tell she was so passionate, knowledgeable, and she had such a calming demeanor.

A few weeks before my due date, I met with Niki and we went through my birth plan. She asked me questions that I’d never thought about – how I liked to be supported and what I needed to focus during my birth and how I wanted my husband to support me. She knew exactly what to ask so she was prepared for my birth too. Niki asked about how I handle when things don’t go according to plan and we talked through different situations, which helped me to be prepared emotionally beforehand and defined my limits in case things changed quickly.

Niki also did a home visit at 38 weeks. She went through the stages of birth and even as a 3rd time mom, I learned a lot! It was great for my husband too. She went through rebozo techniques and acupressure points we could use when labor started.

My baby was 6 days late and we were all anxiously waiting for it. When labor started, I kept Niki updated until I knew baby was close. She got here quickly and she came in quietly and calmly. She knew what to offer when I needed it (water, essential oils, cold washcloths) and she repeated affirmations in such a calm and reassuring way. It was support that even my husband couldn’t give. He was also focused on counter-pressure on my lower back and Niki guided him to best support me too. At one point, I told her I couldn’t do it anymore, but she knew how to calm me and baby was almost here!

I didn’t notice her taking photos and she videoed the birth. It’s so amazing to have those moments captured.

In the days after my birth, she checked in on us and how we were doing emotionally, not just physically. We did a postpartum visit back at my home and recapped my birth, which was helpful in processing and a joy for both my husband and I to share and remember everything since we’d both been wrapped up in having a newborn.

I cannot recommend having Niki as your doula enough! Her presence made everything peaceful and she knew exactly how to handle each phase of labor. My husband agreed that we could not have done the birth without her! Having a doula is one of the best things you can do for your birth. And having the right doula changes everything for the better! Niki was the perfect doula for us and we’re so incredibly grateful for her!

Elizabeth & Ian

Niki was our doula for the birth of our son and I am SO glad we had her with us. From the moment she stepped into our home and my space, where I was laboring, she brought with her an amazing sense of peace and empathy. I’ll never forget how she knelt down next to me, noticed my current state and wiped the tear from my eye.

She was with me the whole time until my son was born and I really could not have labored so well without her. One thing I love about her is that she really allowed for myself and my husband to feel empowered before and during our home birth. My husband and I have never felt so connected and part of this was due to the meetings and trainings that Niki offered. We highly recommend her services, it felt like having a really great, sweet friend by our side.

She also captured some great photos of the special moments between my husband and I and the birth as well. SO grateful and thankful for her.

Sharayah

“I had Niki as my doula for my second C-section! It was such a good decision for me and my husband. Niki really helped us advocate for our wants and the hospital staff loved her as well so there was no awkward friction, just support! I had a great experience and I believe a lot of that is due to Niki. I felt like I received very helpful education and felt very prepared and in a great place mentally by the time my c section date came. When I had a bit of a tough time afterwards, Niki was there with ice cream and a sympathetic ear. My husband really liked having her support as well and Niki is also a wonderful photographer and we got some great family photos!”

Natalia

“Niki was absolutely amazing! This was my first child and I had no idea what to expect. I wanted to hire a doula to help support me but my husband was skeptical. After meeting Niki we were both sold!
My labor progressed quickly and I was at 9 cm when we arrived at the hospital. It seemed like Niki was there just a few minutes later! All of the education she provided and the techniques she used helped me have the unmedicated labor I had hoped for.
I can’t imagine what it would have been like without her help, it would have been a very different and much more difficult experience. I could not be more grateful! And she took amazing photos to document the whole thing. My memory is spotty but I’ll always have these pictures to cherish bringing my baby into the world.
Highly recommend!”

Markleigh & Tom

“Hiring Niki as our Doula was the best decision we made in preparing to bring our baby girl into the world, and in all honesty I’m lucky she let us hire her! When I called Niki, I was due in about 1 month! She let me know she already had a few clients that were near my new date, and after some further discussion and consideration, she took me on with the plan to have a back up doula on call! To my luck, everything worked out, and Niki was there to guide me through the unmedicated birth I was looking for!

Niki is thorough and gets to know your individual needs, when she becomes your doula, it’s not a stranger in the room, it’s a genuine friend and loving support for every person involved! I loved the books Niki recommended as well as the meetings we had together before the big day, they really helped both my husband and I prepare and feel confident!

Niki arrived on the night of my labor and helped me labor out of the bed with some great techniques she had up her sleeve for about 30 minutes, and with no further cervical checks, her gut told her to get the tub ready, and thank goodness she did! After about another 30 minutes laboring in the tub, my daughter was born! The nurses and my midwife barely made it back to the room in time, and although I’m grateful they did, I believe we would have been ok if they hadn’t, because I had such a calming support! On top of her impeccable timing and instinct, in the midst of it all she was able to capture some beautiful photos that I am more thankful to have than I originally thought I would be!

My first birth with my son was medicated, I didn’t have a doula and I wasn’t educated or prepared enough to feel I could get through labor without intervention and medication. Having the two opposite experiences, I whole heartedly can advocate for trying to go as natural as you can, with the support of a doula like Niki by your side, and although it’s important to remember things don’t always go as planned, whatever the outcome may be, the support Niki can provide through any situation is invaluable!”

Kelsey

“As a former midwife, the decision to hire a doula as a first time parent was a no-brainer. This turned into one of the best decisions we could have made, as circumstances arose that took my husband and I from our Plan A to Plan Z and every step in between. Niki was there to offer us encouragement while helping us process and cope, both in the moment and after the dust had settled. She was integral in helping us make smart and safe decisions that led to my husband and I feeling completely at peace with our experience. Niki held space for us to grieve while not losing sight of the happiness that awaited us on the other side of birth. I recommend Niki not because we had our “dream birth” but because through her support we were able to find joy and strength while navigating an unexpected and challenging experience.”

Alyssa

“I don’t know how people go through birth without a doula!!

Niki made all the difference in my labor and birth! As a first time mama I didn’t know what to expect, but with Niki covering everything before birth and explaining her role in supporting me, I felt so confident going into labor. Throughout labor Niki provided counter pressure during contractions, cooled me down with a cold towel, walked the halls with me, helped me decide the best next move to progress with labor, and reminded me of the birth affirmations I had written down. She was by my side through my whole birth, which both my husband and I were so grateful for, and when it got hard she continued to encourage me with gentleness and a calm presence. I had an incredible, not too painful, unmedicated birth experience and I don’t think that would have been the case without Niki. I cannot recommend Niki enough and hope she stays in the business for many many years so that all my babies can be born with her by my side!”

Shanelle & Finn

“We all have our perfect birth story in mind. We dream about it for months before the baby is born. When things don’t go as planned it seems the world is turned upside down. There are so many questions, rationalizing, pleading, and anger. I felt every single one of these and I am so thankful that I had Nikki in my corner the whole time. When we found out our baby was breech and we would need a c-section Nikki had resources for every need that came up. She knew the best chiropractor, pelvic floor physical therapist, and acupuncturist. Her unwavering support from beginning to end was priceless.

With Nikki by our side we felt supported, valued, and content with the decisions we made. From kind words of encouragement, hugs, giant mocha lattes, and cinnamon rolls, Nikki provided everything that we needed. She helped me to surrender and embrace our situation and helped my husband to be supportive and anticipate my needs. I can’t imagine going through this without her. From both my husband and myself, we can’t thanks Nikki enough or emphasize how valuable her services were to us. Lifelong friendships have been forged and we consider her family!”

Sarah & Matt

“Childbirth is one of the most vulnerable times in a birthing person’s life. Having a doula creates a sacred space in which the birth partner is free to actively participate in the birth without having to know everything. The support person is also able to take breaks while the person giving birth has continuous support.

In the months leading up to my estimated due date, Niki provided resources for self education as well as providing a personalized birth education session. In this time, she also got to know me personally and my husband and me as a couple. Using all of this, Niki assisted me in preparing a well educated and carefully written birth plan.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, my ideal birth plan had to be dismissed. And then my alternate plan went out the window. As I grieved the loss of the birth plan my heart desired, Niki didn’t falter in supporting me. As I surrendered to the birth that unfolded, I felt empowered, strong, and safe.

The included birth photography and postpartum session were a wonderful way to process my birth. I look back on what could have been a scary and traumatic experience as one of courage and healing.

Niki’s support as my doula made the birth of my second child an empowering experience and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone who wants a professional support person who can provide unwavering and personalized support.”

Courtney & Josh

“Niki was a game changer and a quintessential part of our team for the birth of our first baby. Her energy matched exactly what we needed in every stage of labor despite going into the wee hours of the night/morning. She worked seamlessly with the midwife on call and gave us the water birth I’ve always wanted. She even took beautiful photos during the entire process that I will cherish forever: Anyone would be lucky to have her on their team, no matter their birthing goals.”

Lauren & David

“Niki assisted me and my husband through our first birth. Needless to say we wouldn’t have been able to do it without her! Well, technically, we could have but we wouldn’t have been as prepared, in lock step and as calm without her support. Niki helped me stay on top of my breathing and contractions, the highs and lows, and coached me according to our birth plan. We learned a lot from the meetings and trainings she provided ahead of time and together created a flexible vision of what we wanted our labor to be.”

Lauren & Andrew

“Having Niki as our doula as first time parents was invaluable. Her prenatal visits gave us a better understanding of what to expect and allowed us to really get to know each other on a personal level. The educational resources she provided were well thought out and in line with our birth preferences. Thanks to Niki I was able to have an unmedicated water birth, my dream birth and my plan A. There is absolutely no way I would have been able to make it through without her incredible coaching, encouragement and skills. The level of comfort and peace she provided to my husband was crucial in allowing him to play such an active and participating role in the birth process. In addition to the support Niki will take the most incredible photos of your birth. Being able to look back at these photos has allowed us to reminisce on the best day of our lives and remember the experience in such a positive light. If you’re on the fence about hiring a doula, know that hiring Niki is the best thing you can do to accomplish your birthing goals.”

Julia & Grady

“Niki is absolutely amazing and such an incredible energy to have during your pregnancy and birthing journey. Our experience would not have been the same without her. She really helped us be stronger advocates for ourselves and her calming presence was such an comforting necessity for labor. We would recommend her to anyone and everyone. We love Niki!!”

Amanda & Chris

“Niki was our doula for the birth of our first baby, and I knew I wanted her by our side for our second as well. She was one of the first people we told and we wanted to make sure we booked her right away. My second birth and pregnancy experience, though different from my first, was just as empowering and amazing and that was due in large part to Niki’s wisdom and encouragement through all parts of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. My goal was to have unmedicated, low intervention births and I’ve now had that twice with her loving support. As I neared the end of my pregnancy and had episodes of false labor, she was always there and never made me feel crazy as I wondered when the baby would arrive. Her presence is such a calming and strong one, and knowing she was on standby somehow instills a quiet confidence that things will be ok. Once she arrived at the hospital when I was in labor, I was able to relax and surrender and our baby was born just a few short hours later. I cannot recommend her enough and if you are questioning whether or not to hire a doula, DO IT and call Niki!”

Carly & Blake

“We are not your typical client as I am a physician and I had planned on doing an epidural and some more traditional Western Medicine treatments, however we loved having Niki help us through our birth process. She is open to all treatment modalities and is very thorough in preparing you for the steps of labor, pain reducing technique, initial lactation consult, and overall mental support. I would highly recommend her services!”

Morgan & Edwin

“We are so happy that we chose Niki to be our doula! From the moment we met we felt so comfortable and excited to work with her. Being first time parents with no family close by, we hoped for guidance and support and she has given us exactly that! Her knowledge and passionate approach is unmatched and we truly would have been lost without her. You can tell she really loves what she does! Most importantly, Niki helped us navigate the unexpected twists and turns we experienced throughout pregnancy and birth with confidence. Thank you for helping us bring our little girl into the world!”

Lauren

“Niki is all that I could have asked for a Doula to be, I can not imagine my birth experience without her. The information and childbirth education session she provided us with set us up to be totally confident and comfortable with what was ahead for us. Her experience and wisdom set us up on a path for success. During birth she played a gentle and supportive roll, guiding us with affirmations and massage when needed. She has such a warm positive energy, and is so open minded and understanding. Truly such a blessing to have her help to bring our baby into the world <3”

Bailey

“Having a positive birthing experience was incredibly important to my husband and I. As numerous studies have demonstrated, a professional doula can greatly improve birth outcomes and the birth experience, which is why we deiced to hire Niki. This was hands down one of the best decisions we made for the birth of our first child!

Niki provided continuous physical and emotional support before, during, and after the birth of our son. She also provided reassurance and guidance during one of the most challenging and beautiful experiences of our lives. Her grounding and calming presence alone brought a tremendous amount of relief and peace of mind to both of us. Perhaps of greatest importance, Niki demonstrated genuine care and interest in our desired birth experience, and truly advocated for us to have that experience. I feel that Niki was there to support us every step of the way because she had taken the time to really get to know us as a couple, and as individual people. We ended up having a very long and difficult birth, and although it did not go exactly as we had hoped, in the end we both felt heard, loved, and supported. There is no way we could have done it without Niki’s support and services! I highly recommend hiring Niki to support you through this incredibly transformative experience of bringing new life into the world!”

Ame & Chris

“My fiancé and I were so happy with not only making the choice to have a doula, but choosing Niki . She was truly the icing on the cake. She is kind, gentle, joyful and full of love. I was able to experience the birth of my dreams because of her experience and advocacy all along the way. I highly recommend Niki and her amazing services and support.”

Jaime & Brian

“We worked with Niki for the birth of our second child.

In our meetings with her leading up to the birth, I felt like she really listened to me; I felt supported and heard. Niki respected my decisions and i knew she would support me in whatever way I needed. It was incredibly reassuring to have someone both knowledgeable and empathetic on my team.

You don’t always know who will be your provider during the birth (in terms of nurses, doctor, or midwife) but knowing that Niki would be with me brought me a lot of reassurance leading up to my delivery, and although my labor was short and (relatively) easy, Niki’s presence brought me so much relief.

We have had the privilege of being able to work with doulas for the birth of both of our children, but Niki really stands out as someone special. I highly recommend her services.”

Anna

“As a first time mom I knew I wanted a doula as a part of my birth team and Niki was the perfect person for the job. From our first meeting we felt comfortable with Niki. She has a calm, caring personality and is clearly passionate about her work as a doula. She really made the effort to get to know my husband and me as well as our personal preferences and goals for our birth. We were both put at ease knowing that we had someone with Niki’s experience and expertise to help us prepare ahead of time and be with us during labor and delivery. Niki brought a quiet and calming presence to our birthing room and she and my husband worked together complementing each other to provide both physical and emotional support. Niki helped prepare us with the tools and confidence that led to an extremely empowering hospital birth experience. We are also so thankful for the amazing photos she took which most of the time we didn’t even notice her doing. I can’t recommend Niki enough and wish that all expecting parents had the amazing support and guidance she provided us!”

Leslie & Matt

“I knew I wanted to a Doula for the birth of our second child, as I missed the opportunity with our first. I found Niki by doing a simple search and researching her website before contacting her. I was immediately put at ease and excited after our first initial conversation. Niki’s warm, open and caring demeanor was inviting and comforting. My husband was unaware of what a Doula was or the skills performed, but after our initial visit, he felt complete comfort and he knew understood the important role she would play in the birth of our child. Her extensive knowledge, passion and devotion of not only the birth/labor process, but our local hospital system (especially COVID protocols) provided my husband and I the tools needed to make informed decisions. Niki supported my every step and was happy to answer questions I had. She not only supported me, but supported my husband on his journey. I truly cannot express the amount of gratitude and adoration we both have for Niki and her expertise. If you are wanting a Doula as part of your birth team, I HIGHLY recommend Niki, the Durango Doula.”

Emily & Matt

“After having medical births with my first two children, I knew that avoiding a third one meant doing things very differently. One of the first courses of action I took when I found out I was pregnant with baby number three was hiring a doula. A good friend had told me about this amazing friend of hers who served as an unofficial doula before she even began her journey of becoming one. She said having her there made all the difference in her birth. This friend was Niki Schemanski. After hearing such high praise from a trusted source, I made an appointment to meet Niki. From the first meeting, two things were very clear about her. Niki is a wonderful, loving person who makes you feel heard and cared for. She also loves birth! I knew that if I wanted my third attempt at a natural birth to be successful, I needed her support and expertise.
At different points during my pregnancy, Niki was available to listen and encourage me. We discussed the vision I had for this birth, my hopes and fears and what Niki could do to help me get through labor. By the time labor came, I felt so comforted and confident knowing Niki would be there to help me through this deeply personal moment.
Niki was there for the entirety of my labor and birth at home. She applied pain reducing techniques, massaged my hands, feet and head, spoke encouraging words, used essential oils, put cold compresses on my head and neck and just cared for me constantly. She was this amazing combination of coach and mother. When I broke down in fear and exhaustion, she met those things with her own confidence in the process and energy to keep being my biggest support. I finally had the birth of my dreams and I know one of the biggest reasons for my success was Niki.
Hiring a doula is really not a luxury, it is a necessity! And I would say the same thing about hiring Niki as your doula. She will bless your experience with all she has to offer.”

Mallory & Sean

“Niki is such a genuine and loving person. We could not have asked for a more wonderful person to have had at our birth. Her support was indispensable. We felt so at ease with her. She knew just when to jump in and support us without ever being overbearing or controlling. Her calming presence, knowledge, and pain relieving tools made laboring so much easier. She showed confidence in us and we felt supported by her for months before to months after the birth. I loved that she took time to get to know us and talk to us about our fears, hopes, past, personalities, and strengths. These discussions helped give us self awareness and feel more prepared for such a big life event. It was also so helpful for my husband and I to work with her before hand to learn and practice pain reducing techniques and laboring positions. After the birth, it was so healing and encouraging to process the birth with her. We have such fond memories and positive feelings towards our birth day, even though it took some unexpected turns, and we attribute that in large part to the support we received from Niki. We love her and are so grateful to have been blessed by her care. Thank you so much Niki!!

Tatiana & Daxton

As first time parents, we couldn’t imagine doing this without Niki’s calm wisdom. Niki gave us confidence and empowered us to follow our birth plan. Her guidance was invaluable, not only supporting mama and baby, but also helping dad know how to be a supportive partner. She was so professional, her training really shines through as a trained doula.

Nikki is family now! We can’t thank her enough!

McKinley & Jeremy

“Niki was such a gift to us to have before and during my labor. Being first time parents there is a lot of worry because of the unknown. Niki was able educate us and put our minds at ease in a way that no book could do. She’s tender hearted and genuinely there to help you through the most amazing experience of your life. That’s a pretty special job that takes a special person to trust to be there with you through your birth. Forever grateful, thank you, Niki! ~We love you~”

Nikki

I found Niki, and from the moment we e-mailed back and forth and then met in person at 7 weeks pregnant, I was totally enamored with her. She is kind, gentle, and above all genuinely invested in the wellness and experience that her clients have while in her care. Her passion for guiding couples through their pregnancy and birth journey was overwhelmingly evident. It is more than a job to her, it is a calling—and one we are so glad she answered. From beginning to end, my husband and I were blown away by our experience with Niki. She never overstepped, and is so conscientious of her clients wants and needs. Whatever your delivery method or birth preferences, she is supportive of it all. I think one of the most impressive things about her services is the training and support she gives to birth partners. My husband went from not knowing much about labor and delivery or what to do to support a woman in labor to being the most amazing birth partner. She instilled in him the confidence to be that amazing birth partner! She was instrumental in helping us achieve our dream birth and has provided excellent follow-up postpartum, ensuring that nothing was left “unprocessed” from our experience. I was hoping for a safe and empowering birth and I got that and so much more. We would hire her again in a heartbeat and I do not hesitate in recommending her to anyone who inquires about a doula.

Carly & Blake

“Hiring Niki as a doula was one of the best things we could have done for our birth experience. She provided so much support. Being a first time mom I did not know what to expect going into birth and her calm nature and experience helped me so much. As soon as she arrived at the hospital I was relieved to know she was there to help my husband and I. I can’t say enough good things about her services as a doula and would refer her to any and everyone. Thank you for helping in bringing our little man into the world!!”

Rachel & Kevin

Niki is an AMAZING doula! I could not recommend her enough (and I was a doula previously in a different city). She not only has the training and skills that a doula needs, but she naturally just emanates love and compassion. From the first moment I met her I just knew that she would be the perfect fit to help us navigate labor and birth. As soon as she arrived at our home for our homebirth, she immediately put me at ease. Her faith in God and the natural process of labor was a calming reminder that I could get through each contraction. When my contractions got very intense near the end she was a steady presence that not only helped me but also my husband. When our daughter was crowning, Niki was right there for me to hold on to and helped coach me to try and have the least amount of injury… and this allowed my husband to catch and delivery our baby girl (with the guidance of our midwife). In our postpartum visit, I really was able to marvel at the special doula and person Niki is. She had wonderful notes and beautiful pictures for us to hold on to and remember our once in a lifetime experience forever. She also had very poignant questions and discussions that helped us to really process the birth in a healthy way. We are so grateful to have found her! My husband and I cannot imagine walking this path without her!

Dr. Hailee, ND

“Niki attended both of our kiddos birth and both my husband and I swear that we would never birth a kiddo without her in the room. She was supportive, caring, anticipated needs, took beautiful pictures and left me feeling safe and empowered! HIGHLY recommend if you’re considering hiring a Doula!”

Amber

“If you’re looking for a doula that is knowledgeable, fun, easy going, and thoroughly enjoys their job, then you’re looking in the right place. Niki is an experienced doula, who provides hands on training, and is constantly available. 
I could go on and on about Niki, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. 

Every time I was concerned about something, Niki was there talking me through it! She was always there loving on my husband and I and supporting us. And one night when I was especially concerned, she drove all the way to my house just to check up on us and it was 10 o’clock at night! What an angel! 

By the time I was going into labor, Niki was on the phone and asked if we needed anything, she even stopped at the grocery store for us. Things were progressing so quickly with her. She made my husband feel confident in his ability to help and strengthened our connection through the whole thing. 

Niki, is an all around wonderful person in every way and it definitely shines through her work. She truly cares for her clients and her authenticity provides such a tranquil environment. I love Niki so much and am so glad that my husband and I have had the privilege to work with her.”

Brooke

“I want to give a very special thank you to my Doula Niki Schemanski who educated me on natural child birth, and then coached me through a 100% natural labor, so my baby could be delivered naturally. It wasn’t easy, but Niki made it possible.💜 Also last but not least captured wonderful photographs of our first moments that were very thankful to have.
We appreciate your help you give us so very much, thank you Niki!💖💕

Gabrielle & Cody

“Hiring Niki was the best decision I made in my pregnancy. We struggled 13 years to get pregnant. During that time I had this idea and dream of a perfect birth and pregnancy. However, everything that could go wrong went wrong. Niki was so supportive and empathic. When we were taken for an emergency c-section Niki was there to help and support my husband and I. She took pictures that I can cherish always. She helped me process my emotions and feelings towards my birth which was so incredibly healing and helpful. I can’t imagine not having her with us. I am so thankful for everything she did for us and continues to do. Without a doubt if I go through another birth I will have Niki there again!”

Calia

“After having worked as a Doula myself I understand the importance of having a strong yet soft, and consistent presence during the precious journey of pregnancy and childbirth. The support that Niki offered my birth partners and I completed our team in a way that it is hard to imagine anyone else executing so seamlessly. Her tenacity and strength through a very long labor is a gift I will never forget! I highly recommend hiring a Doula for labor support and if you do, you cannot go wrong with Durango Doula. She is a shining example of someone who is in the exact right profession. She is a gifted practitioner.”

Melissa, doula and first-time mom

“I cannot say enough great things about Niki! She has a beautiful, calm presence and an abundance of kindness. Throughout our time with her, she made us feel as though we were her only clients, although we knew that wasn’t the case!

While my husband supported my decision for a doula, he became completely convinced with my choice after our first meeting with Niki. She instilled confidence and excitement in both of us for the upcoming birth, moving us beyond our fear of the unknown and showing my husband how he could support me as well. She was beyond generous with her time and care for us, and helped me navigate some very difficult decisions in my birth plan. She offered extensive knowledge while remaining objective, allowing us to make decisions that were best for us, and supporting us 100% in every decision. I cannot imagine what my experience would have been like without her; she was THE reason that my labor and the birth of our son was a positive and empowering experience. I highly recommend Niki for your doula support- it was hands-down the best investment we made in our birth experience!

Madia

“Niki far exceeded our expectations! Through a long labor she was there for every step. She helped us make hard decisions and her knowledge of the birth process was so helpful. She not only supported me in labor, but also my husband. She guided him to be the best birth partner I could imagine. She gave him breaks when he needed them and helped him know exactly what I needed. She ultimately helped me achieve the natural birth I wanted. When a medical emergency arose, she was amazing at helping me stay calm through it. I believe she helped me avoid some serious mental trauma by being there for me through the hardest part. When I was taken to surgery she stayed with my husband and supported him. She stayed calm and steady the whole time. Niki works to create a deep meaningful relationship with her clients so that we were totally comfortable spending hours with her! I know she will always be a part of our lives.”

Amber

“I knew right away when I found out I was pregnant that I wanted a doula – someone who would stay by my side and support me no matter what, especially if my husband needed to step away and catch his breath. When I met Niki I knew she was the one to help me achieve my natural birth wish. When birth day came, I could not have done it without Niki. Before she arrived I was talking about throwing in the towel and getting an epidural. However, with Niki’s calming, positive guidance I was able to have the natural birth that I wanted. I would recommend Niki to anyone looking for doula support and will certainly be calling her again when we are ready for baby #2.”

Kelly

If you’re on the fence and wondering,
“Do I really need a doula?” Then please by all means schedule a consultation with Niki from Durango Doula and see what having a doula is all about! Niki brings so much care, expertise, and advocacy to your birthing experience to make it be the best experience it can be! Whether at the hospital or at home, you will feel better prepared and cared for. And Niki is the sweetest person you’ll find!”

Jen

“Niki exceeded my expectations as a doula and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing an advocate, support person, or calming presence in the delivery room. As a NICU nurse I’ve been a part of hundreds of deliveries, yet I had never been a part of such a positive and empowering birth experience until the labor and delivery of my second child. This was our first experience with a birth coach and I am so thankful we chose Niki Schemanski for the role. Niki conveyed such a peace and professionalism that I felt so confident in our choice as our doula for the birth of my son.”

Bailey

“During my pregnancy I spent a lot of time thinking through how I was going to remain calm and as composed as possible during labor. I realized the best way of making that happen would be to have someone there with the sole purpose of helping me. I could see the kind of qualities in Niki that I would want beside me during labor. My expectations of her ability to coach me successfully were accurate.:) I am beyond grateful she was there with me. Her presence was a major stress reliever. She had good ideas of positions to try, helped reduce discomfort with massage, was very reassuring the entire time, and spoke with confidence but not overbearing. Whenever I felt like I could no longer make it, she was amazingly helpful in bringing me back into focus with breathing and relaxing. This was my third birth and it was by far the smoothest – and I give much credit to Niki for her help!”

Kayla

“Niki was an invaluable asset to our birth team. My labor and birth experience ended up being extremely long (two full nights and an entire day) yet despite the lengthy labor Niki was able to provide continuous support. She was present throughout the multiple days at the hospital and able to provide wisdom during that time: making sure I rested when needed, stop and consider all the options possible when faced with a decision, did everything we could to try and naturally get my body to get labor moving. After having to get induced because of a medical necessity Niki was able to help me maintain a positive outlook and stay strong and calm and have an unmedicated positive birth experience even after having a very long labor and pitocin induction. We can’t thank Niki enough!”

Melissa

“Niki was sweet and kind, understanding and helpful, through my 14+ hour labor. My husband and I both swear we will never have another kid without her there. ❤️ can’t recommend her enough!”

Amber

“Our family was so grateful for Niki Schemanski’s help with the birth of our daughter! She was so calming and helped advocate for me in the midst of the chaos of labor. Thank you!

Lindsey

“I’ll tell you all what, if I had the chance for Niki to be my doula I would have jumped at the chance. she has an incredibly sweet, joyful spirit. Trust me, you want this lady in your life.”

Jody