Hospital Birth: Mom Testimonials

“The best decision I made for my birth experience was choosing Niki Brown as my doula.

From the moment we connected, Niki brought a calm, supportive, and empowering presence into my journey. When the day finally came to welcome my beautiful daughter into the world, Niki was exactly who I needed by my side steady, nurturing, and full of wisdom.

She helped me navigate important decisions during labor, always reminding me to trust my instincts and stand firm in what I knew was best for myself and my baby. Her strength gave me strength. Whether it was managing through contractions, communicating with hospital staff, or holding space for my emotions, Niki was a grounding force through it all.

Looking back, I truly can’t imagine having anyone else, besides my partner, beside me during one of the most vulnerable and powerful moments of my life. Her presence was a gift, and I am forever grateful.

If you’re considering a doula, do yourself a favor and reach out to Niki. You will feel seen, supported, and deeply cared for every step of the way.”

-Brittnie

“Niki is the best of the best! We were so lucky to have her as our doula for the birth of our second daughter.

My husband and I had gone through a somewhat traumatic birth with our first baby, including a doula experience that ultimately felt disheartening. As we prepared for birth number two, we both assumed we would skip having a doula this time. My dear friend, who knew our first birth story intimately and who has now gone through two births with Niki herself, gently suggested we meet with Niki, just to see if she might offer something different. My husband and I thought there was no harm in having an intro meeting, even though we were already in our third trimester and thought we had our minds made up. Enter Niki.

From our first meeting we were impressed. Niki’s energy is unparalleled: she’s compassionate, kind, loving, and has a great sense of humor. On top of that, she is so knowledgeable on all things birth; a true expert in her field. We immediately clicked with her and suddenly it wasn’t about having a doula at our birth, it was about having Niki at our birth. It was scary to invite someone onto our birth team given our history, but I wholeheartedly believe that taking the leap with Niki was the single best decision we made in achieving the birth of our dreams.

Niki provided us with resources and support every step of the way, ensuring we felt confident, informed, and empowered. Even during one of her busiest months, she never spared her attention and somehow she made us feel like her only clients. During labor, Niki was incredibly gifted as intuiting what I both needed and wanted. When I reflect back on the moments before my daughter was born, I feel my husband’s hands in mine and I hear Niki’s voice, gently guiding me through every sensation. She and my husband worked in beautiful tandem to support me — her ability to jump in find how to partner with BOTH of us was just incredible.

I’m not being dramatic when I say our birth was better than I could have ever hoped for. Niki helped us redefine what birth could be and enabled us to have the most healing, empowering experience imaginable. Niki, thank you from the bottom of our hearts: you are so gifted at what you do and I wish every parent could have you by their side!”

Sophie & Alex

“I can’t imagine my pregnancy journey, my birth experience, or my postpartum recovery without Niki’s knowledge, wisdom, and expertise. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew absolutely nothing about pregnancy or birth. I felt overwhelmed with options and information and didn’t know where to start. At our very first meeting, Niki equipped us with a wealth of resources that we dove into, and that created such a beautiful, positive culture for the entire pregnancy. She took time to get to know us personally, so that her comfort measures and affirmations would be personalized just for us. By the time I was nine months in, I felt confident, informed and excited to experience birth. On the day of the birth, Niki’s presence in the room was absolute honey. Her encouragement, coaching, gentle reminders and strong, steady support during my labor were priceless, and helped shape what turned out to be a birth story that I cherish with pride.
I’m so happy that we chose to work with her, and couldn’t have asked for better advocate, coach and support to prepare me for the coolest adventure of my life.”

-Annie & Jake

“Niki was a wonderful leading up to the birth of our son and during. She is incredibly knowledgeable and supportive! Leading up to the birth our meetings gave me confidence. I ended up having a planned c-section because my baby was breech, she was helpful as we adjusted to this new plan and was an incredible asset during the c-section helping me stay calm.”

-Taiya

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Niki for both of my births. She is an incredible doula and I can’t imagine going through either experience without her. She is extremely knowledgeable and her education leading up to birth was very helpful and reassuring. I felt confident going into both of my births with her by my side. She also helps your partner to be very involved in labor and birth, which was very important to my husband and I. Childbirth is an amazing experience but also for me comes with a lot of fear and anxiety. Niki is so amazing at helping you recognize those feelings but not letting them get ahead of you. She helps you to focus on your breath and zone in on what’s taking place so that you and your baby are healthy and safe. She also takes the most incredible pictures during the entire experience, ones you will cherish forever. In my opinion, Niki is an absolute must when it comes to childbirth. She is a beautiful person and just a ray of light. I would hire her a million times over and I recommend her to every one I know.”

-Alanna

“To be honest, I was somewhat clueless about the role of a doula. Niki was recommended by my midwife and after our first meeting, we immediately clicked with her and knew this was something we wanted to do.

The internet is overloaded with conflicting birth information and I loved that Niki was able to deliver the pertinent pieces that aligned with our values. I found it so beneficial that she came over one morning to learn more about us and went through the birthing process and what to expect. I felt so informed and empowered after that visit.

When labor started, it escalated very quickly and Niki arrived right away. Her calming presence was exactly what we needed. She knew exactly what to say at the right time, whether that was coaching through pushing or positive affirmations, Niki helped me feel confident and reassured throughout the entire process.

Niki is so kind, calm, funny and resourceful. Not to mention, she is an expert in this field. I can honestly say my birth story wouldn’t have been the same without her and she will hopefully be by our side for the rest of our pregnancies/deliveries!”

-Kayla and Brian

“Having Niki at the birth of our fourth child was one of the best decisions we made. Her calm, grounded presence brought instant reassurance, and she supported not only me, but my husband as well—guiding him so he could be fully present.

When labor stalled and I started to spiral mentally, Niki gently brought me back to center. After her encouraging pep talk, progress resumed. I truly believe her intuition and steady support helped me avoid a cesarean.

Even though I faced serious complications after she left, I still look back on this birth with joy and empowerment—and that’s largely because of Niki. She made sure I felt seen, heard, and respected. She honored my voice and my wishes.

Her care left such a lasting impact that I’m writing this review two years later, still deeply grateful. If I had known about doulas sooner, I would have had her at every birth. She is worth every penny and I cannot recommend her enough.”

-Karinne

“Niki was truly wonderful to work with. About two months before our due date, our circumstances changed unexpectedly, and we had to be flown to Denver due to complications. Even from a distance, Niki remained incredibly supportive and accommodating through every twist and turn.

She provided us with helpful resources and materials for birth by mail, checked in regularly, and ensured we never felt alone during such a stressful time. When we needed her most, she even answered her phone at 1:30 AM, offering calm guidance and reassurance when we felt overwhelmed.

Although we weren’t able to experience the in-person birth and postpartum care that Niki provides, I have no doubt it would have been just as thoughtful, compassionate, and consistent as the support she gave throughout the rest of our journey.

From the beginning of my pregnancy, Niki was always just a text away—whether it was to offer encouragement, suggestions, or simply to check in. If we are fortunate enough to have a second pregnancy, she will be one of our first calls.”

-Morgann

“Niki was an incredible support throughout my entire birth experience. I always felt respected and never judged—whether navigating induction, considering pain management, or ultimately having an unmedicated birth. Nothing was pushed, and her calm presence helped me through the hardest parts of labor while empowering me to trust my own strength. She supported my husband beautifully without taking over. My birth experience would not have been as positive without her, and that I know for sure.”

-Natalie

“My partner and I were so lucky to have Niki as our Doula! She helped educate, guide, support, and gave us both the tools for pregnancy, birth, and beyond. We 100% agree that working with Niki was the best decision we could have ever made during this most transformative and major life event.

Niki is so kind, compassionate, knowledgeable, professional, and truly loves what she does and it absolutely shows. She always showed the utmost respect for your thoughts, concerns, and decisions as she is there to support you and your partner, never to “tell you” otherwise– I found that extremely powerful.

She helped me find my voice and I’m forever grateful for her to be a part of our beautiful birth of our daughter.

We highly recommend Niki– hands down!”

-Nicole

“Niki was such an important part of our pregnancy and labor journey. Her compassion, knowledge and professionalism were invaluable as we navigated the decision making that comes along with any labor. She was the perfect resource to make us feel empowered and comfortable at every step along the way. We are so grateful for her support and highly recommend her!”

-Kate & Rotem

“Niki made all the difference in our birth journey. Her professionalism paired with empathy was exactly what we needed to feel prepared and cared for during such an important new experience for both my partner and myself. Between the labor prep class and her support during labor, we had all the tools needed to successfully bring our little one into the world in a positive way. The photos and post labor touch base were an excellent bonus for cherishing and processing the experience. Thank you Niki for everything, we are so grateful for you!”

-Brittany & Logan

“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

We had a great experience with Niki as our doula, even through several twists and turns in our pregnancy! She was always quick to answer questions I had along the way, and when we were deemed high risk and told we needed to deliver in Denver, Niki had a session with us to empower us to handle labor and birth with her virtually. Lo and behold, our LO had other plans and came nearly 3 weeks early, and although we were communicating with Niki as labor started, we felt so empowered and prepared with her trainings that my husband and I got through labor and delivery so quickly and confidently, Niki didn’t see us until after birth! We learned so much from her sessions, I’m so glad we found her.

-Sarah Mayer

“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 made a HUGELY positive impact on my end-to-end labor and delivery experience. Before working with Niki, I was really fearful of labor and dreaded the process. But after my prep sessions with her, I felt confident and ready to take it on, in part because I had a much better understanding of the process and how I wanted to approach it, but also because I knew Niki would be there alongside me to guide me and my husband and help us make decisions along the way (side note — Niki is the type of person you fell at ease around instantly). I ended up having a 2.5 day induced labor. It was really hard, but I look back on it extremely positively, in large part because of Niki’s help in making so many different decisions along the way and because of her unwavering support and belief in me throughout the process. She also documented my labor so well and took amazing photos.

I highly recommend Niki to anyone in the Durango area looking for a birth doula!”
-Charlotte Hamm

“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.”

Genevieve Gross

“Niki is a professional doula which helps to build confidence, give right advises and guide through the whole process you and your partner. We had a great experience with her and I definitely can recommend Niki to every family waiting for their baby to come.
As a bonus Niki is a very talented photographer and we love our birth photos! She managed to show the process with all the important moments, some of the moments were hard to remember and I am so glad we have it captured.

Natali Ittenberg

“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 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

“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

“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

“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

“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 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

“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

“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

“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!

-Lindsay