Client Testimonials

"I cannot say enough about our wonderful experience with Tonya during the recent birth of our first baby (but I'll try). Tonya is the perfect combination of strength and softness. Her knowledge and confidence are evident as soon as you meet her but she is also a great listener and helps you feel empowered to navigate your own ship through your experience. She's easy to connect with & in general, just a cool person. She is also easy to trust and lean on (literally) - I'm typically not the most touchy feely person but I'll never forget holding Tonya's hand and leaning my head on her shoulder for strength and comfort through difficult contractions when my husband needed to step away for a spell. My husband and I had done a lot to prepare ourselves for labor - books, classes, etc. but when the moment arrived there was nothing like having the support of someone as experienced and calm as Tonya. She provided an array of different coping techniques, emotional and physical support, and helped us evaluate decisions as they arose in the hospital. In the end, after a long labor, Tonya was there to take pictures (as requested) as we welcomed our sweet baby girl. I wouldn't change a thing about our birth or our experience with Tonya. I highly recommend her!"
-Katy (1st time mommy)

​
"Tonya is an incredible birth doula! We met with her a few times before labor, and she was always very personable, professional, and prepared. She had great insight from her experience that helped us prepare for labor, delivery, and postpartum. She was always very easy to get a hold of. My early labor lasted for a few days, and we were in constant communication the whole time. She was available at any time to meet us. Once my contractions became 5 minutes apart for 1 hour, I was ready to have her meet us! We let her know we were going to the hospital and she met us there immediately. (It was midnight on a holiday weekend.) Having Tonya there for emotional support, for both my husband and I, was essential. She so encouraging, calming, and knew how to help me relax as much as I possibly could. There is no way I would have made it through the contractions without her coaching & constant support. My active labor lasted for 14.5 hours, and Tonya stayed by our side until the very end. None of us slept that night, but she powered through it all without a problem, and was truly an all star. She remained cheerful and empathetic, and was so patient and warm with me always. She was the one who guided me best when it came time to push. Tonya is very knowledgeable, and was helpful in explaining to us what is normal during the labor. She helped my husband and I to make good decisions for my care.  We couldn’t have got through labor and delivery without her, and would definitely use her again!
No matter what your birth plan is, we would highly recommend having Tonya there as your birth doula!"
-Tammy (1st time mommy)


"We couldn't be more happy with our experience having Tonya as our birth doula. From our first meeting both my husband and I felt comfortable with her expert knowledge in natural birthing and we knew that she would be the right fit for us. She checked in with me consistently throughout my pregnancy and when my labor began, she immediately starting helping me from the moment she arrived at our home. I ended up sticking with my birth plan and had my beautiful baby girl naturally at our hospital's birth center but there is no way I could have done it without Tonya. She was always right there the second I needed her during labor and she and my husband were the perfect tag team. From massaging my back, using essential oils, reminding me so slow down my breathing, holding my leg while I pushed (for 3 1/2 hours!) and her constant reassurance, support and encouraging words, I really cannot say enough good things about her. If we have more children we will for sure be asking her to once again be our doula! Thank you again for everything Tonya!"
-Victoria (1st time mommy)

​
​"Tonya never left my side. she coached and motivated me through every painful contraction. She encouraged me to get out of bed & walk. She was the voice of reason when I was exhausted & ready to give up. She cheered me on as I pushed for 2 1/2 hours. Thank goodness she prepared us just in case of a cesarean, because after 27 hours of labor, I ended up having an emergency cesarean. Scott & I can't imagine reliving our first birthing experience with out Tonya. We will definitely have Tonya as our doula in the near future." 
-Tristan (1st time mommy)



"What can I say about Tonya? She's an awesome woman and mother. You'll be in great hands! Tonya made me feel so at ease. She explained everything as it was happening and answered all my questions. She was a great coach and support system through our 27 hours of labor. I will definitely ask Tonya to be our Doula when my wife and I have our second child."
-Scott (1st time daddy)



"Tonya was there for us throughout my 20 plus hours of labor. She did a great job reassuring me and cheering me on & helped me through the excruciating back labor and pain of being induced. She helped me get into different birthing positions to help me be more comfortable, & rubbed my back tirelessly. I know with out her there I would have never made it as long as I did with out getting an epidural. I look forward to having her at the birth of our second child."
-Monika (1st time mommy)



"Tonya was always very attentive, would ask how I was feeling & would encourage & motivate me to stay focused on trusting my body to do what it was made to do with out depending on pain medication. What I remember most in the delivery room was when Tonya said to me, 'You are one contraction/breath closer to meeting your baby' I will never forget those words. That really helped me to relax and know that my baby girl was on her way." 
-Sabreen (3rd time mommy)



​"Tonya was absolutely phenomenal. I can't imagine getting through a natural birth without her. She helped coach and motivate me from the very beginning before labor even began. From the first signs of early labor she was by my side. My labor progressed really fast and she didn't skip a beat. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone. She was extremely knowledgable of every stage of labor, including the emotional needs through the entire process. She had many helpful tricks for pain, as well as accessing what should be done to best help me and what I desired."
-Avalon (2nd time mommy)



"Tonya was AMAZING!  My VBAC water birth at South Coast Midwifery (from which I obtained Tonya's contact information) was perfect and I attribute much of that to Tonya being by my side. Having never used the services of a doula before, and being in the midst of antepartum depression when I contacted her, I didn't know what to expect, particularly, how someone who would be little more than a stranger at the time of the birth would be able to help me.  From the initial phone call, meeting, and even attending what ended up being my last prenatal appointment the day before I went into labor and comforting me when I was told that some additional measures may be needed since I wasn't progressing as much as I had hoped, Tonya was there to support me and I'm convinced that her calming nature helped reduce my stress so that my body could invite labor to begin the next day. Tonya had amazing intuition regarding how to alleviate the pain through my contractions.  I called her at 7am (after realizing that I had been in early labor all night).  She arrived shortly thereafter and stayed with me until we packed up to leave the birth center at 3am the next day.  Tonya kept my husband informed at work, checked in regularly with the midwife, took me to lunch / shopping as a distraction (pulling out her tennis balls to massage my lower back as I leaned against walls during contractions - I'm sure it was quite amusing / concerning for passers by, but she was calm, cool, and collected), and even helped me with the final touches of preparing the baby's area in our room. She thoroughly convinced me of the value a doula provides.  I highly recommend Tonya Pearson without any reservations. She's wonderful!!"
​-Greta (2nd time mommy/successful VBAC)



"Tonya was an incredible help to us at the birth of our second son. Throughout my pregnancy she was available for in-person meetings and phone and text conversations, and her positive attitude and can-do spirit encouraged my husband and me tremendously. When I was in active labor, she joined us first at our house and then at the birth center where she used acupressure, a tennis ball on my lower back, sips of juice and water, and constant verbal encouragement to help us achieve the natural birth we wanted. Tonya is a gift - she respected our hopes, wishes, and plans throughout, and helped us bring our son into the world in a loving, peaceful, and joyful way. If we get pregnant again someday, Tonya will be our first doula call! She was and is amazing, and you'd be lucky to have her at your birth!" 
-Courtney (2nd time mommy)



"I had the privilege of meeting Tonya Pearson in my search for a Birth Doula in January 2016. I was planning a natural birth at South Coast Midwifery and I knew my husband and I needed the extra support that only a Doula could provide. She was open, honest, kind, and passionate about birth and children. She checked up on me regularly and as I got closer to my due date she made sure she was available for me to ask questions and express concerns. I let her know I was in labor around midnight on May 5th, and asked her to come over around 3am. She showed up with a bag of tricks and a smile, I don’t think I could have been happier to see anyone at that moment. I had a very challenging labor & back labor that lasted 26 hours. She was there for all of it and supported me through every single contraction, physically and emotionally. Every single word and facial expression was positive & reassuring, it was exactly the support I needed. She also was a huge support to my husband, reminding him that I was ok, making sure he was eating and resting. Because of her I was able to have the natural water birth I wanted. She was truly a huge part of this journey for our family and we couldn’t be more grateful."
-Katie (1st time mommy)

​

"I absolutely loved my experience with Tonya as my birth doula! She was the only doula that would come to my home (which was pretty far away) and be with me during my labor before heading to the birth center.  My husband and I felt like we needed someone with us to help us navigate labor before actually being in the hands of medical professionals, especially since this was our first baby.  She was extremely hands on, and showed my husband how to support me through labor as well.  She was right by my side the entire time, I would call her name every time I was having a contraction and she was immediately right next to me doing my favorite back massage or hip squeeze. She also took some amazing birth photos that I will cherish for the rest of my life! Thank you Tonya, you are a gift to the birthing community!"
-Samantha (1st time mommy)



"Tonya came highly recommend by friend and lived up to every expectation! She provided a steady peaceful presence with her coaching and support and was available anytime via phone/text or email leading up to our birth. Giving birth at a hospital can be so overwhelming, and decisions are made so fast... it's incredibly comforting to have somebody by your side who's seen it all and knows how to navigate the system. She was realistic and supportive that the delivery could happen a number of ways- all which would be successful. Without her massage techniques and her constant encouragement I don’t think I could’ve got through my contractions and labor. It was a great comfort to me that she is also a mother and could relate directly to the experience of birthing and the postpartum process. My husband repeatedly commented on how grateful he was for Tonya’s presence and how we couldn’t have done it without her!"
-Katiann (1st time mommy)



​"Tonya was awesome!  She worked with my wife and I leading up to the birth of our first child.  Nobody can really prepare you for childbirth and watching the one you love go through such an experience can really stun you.  We were incredibly thankful to have Tonya in the room with us, I would’ve been lost without her!"
-Jason (1st time daddy)



​"Tonya was an amazing doula. I have nothing but great things to say about her. She is a great person inside and out. She stood by me the whole time during my labor and knew what to do and say to ease my mind while going through hard labor. I couldn't of done it without her!  Thanks again Tonya!"
-Jeni (2nd time mommy)


*all pictures posted with permission*