These are some of the kind words from clients over the years...

It was an absolute pleasure working with Jessica. We loved the care we received, from the prenatal visits to the delivery room to checking in with us postpartum! Jessica is a lovely human being and the best person to have as part of your birth team. I felt so loved and cared for.

-Shannon & Jordan

My original intention was to have an unmedicated birth at a birth center, but my pregnancy went beyond the 42 week cut off. As I neared my due date and went fairly far beyond it, Jessica was there every step of the way to check in on us. Labor ended up looking significantly different than what I had originally hoped, but throughout it, Jess was such a rock and kept me grounded. She knew what I needed at different points and offered me options in the most supportive and calm way. After birth, we had my placenta encapsulated and had an amazing postpartum visit where she was able to answer some of our new parent questions. Jessica is a great person to have in your corner, and her own experiences provide such a breadth of understanding that I found so helpful during our daughter’s birth.

​-Catalina

My husband and I agreed that having Jessica at the birth of our first child was so valuable. She helped me get into more comfortable laboring positions and guided my husband on how to best support me. The placenta capsules helped me recover and stay emotionally balanced postpartum. She even held my leg up while I pushed out our baby!

-Bonnie & Russell

We met Jessica through her birth education class at Birth Roots in Portland. When the doula we had originally chosen was no longer available for our due date window, we immediately knew we wanted Jessica to support us.
We were close to our due date, so we were impressed with how Jessica jumped right in—getting to know us quickly, setting up an in-person visit, and making herself available for any questions we had. We loved her teaching style and felt confident she would be a great fit for our labor.
During labor, Jessica was everything we could have hoped for in a doula. She was kind, calm, and supportive—offering information about medical options without any pressure, and standing by whatever decisions I made. She knew when to jump in with support and when to sit back and allow my husband and me to connect. After birth, she continued to check in on us via text, and we had a lovely postpartum visit with her.
We feel so lucky to have crossed paths with Jessica and to be forever connected to her through our birth experience! Couldn't recommend her more!

​-Emily & Connor

We’re so grateful to have had Jessica and Rooted in Birth be part of our birth experience. Jessica was professional, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable—making us feel at ease and well cared for every step of the way.
Her placenta encapsulation service was seamless, timely, and handled with such care and intention. She kept us updated throughout the process, and the packaging and presentation of everything was beautiful and respectful. Most importantly, the capsules have been a valuable part of my wife’s postpartum recovery, helping her feel more supported, energized, and balanced during these early weeks.
We can’t recommend Rooted in Birth enough to other growing families.
​Thank you, Jessica, for the care and support—you played a meaningful role in a really special time in our lives.

-Liam B.

We found Jessica on the DONA International website. This was our first pregnancy and we knew we wanted the support of a Birth Doula. Her credentials stood out to us, and after reading more about her on her website, I knew I wanted to meet her in person. What stood out the most to us was her story about how she stepped into this line of work. As a mother herself, Jess has personal experience with giving birth and after having two radically different birth experiences, she deep dove into being a childbirth educator and doula so that she could better educate and support her clients. She brings a wealth of knowledge into her work and it’s very clear she’s passionate about working with others on this journey. She was responsive, professional, grounding, and nurturing throughout our time working with her. We were beyond grateful to have her as part of our birth team! We also utilized her placenta encapsulation services after delivery, which she hand delivered promptly with clear instructions. Anyone who has the opportunity to work with Jessica would be held with loving support during such a magical time.

​-Courtney & Josh

​Jessica was wonderful to work with! I reached out about placenta encapsulation, and she responded right away. When my baby arrived, she picked up the placenta within a few hours and delivered my capsules right when we got home from the hospital. She saw I was struggling trying to figure out my pump, and she stayed and helped me, and I couldn’t be more grateful!

-Sarah L.

My triplet babies were born in April at 32 weeks, and they are my first children. We hired Jessica as our postpartum doula because we knew we would need a lot of help, as not only first time parents but also having triplets. My babies were in the NICU for 5, 6, and 7 weeks. Jessica checked in with me every week that they were in the hospital to see how we were doing. We waited to start our sessions until all the babies were home, and Jessica was an incredible help to us. She would get so much done for us around the house and shared a lot of her experiences as a mother and doula, which made me feel comfortable. Her support and encouragement built me up. I always felt relief at how much better shape we were in after her visits. We rehired Jessica multiple times until our babies were 6 months old. I highly recommend her!

​-Sam C.

​I recently used Rooted In Birth for placenta encapsulation, and I couldn't be more impressed with Jessica! From start to finish, the process was professional, seamless, and handled with the utmost care. She went miles outside her designated service area for me, and I’m so glad she did. She also went out of her way to continually check in on me even after the encapsulation.
The encapsulation itself was done incredibly fast, and the packaging was clean and beautifully presented. I am a testament that placenta encapsulation is worth it. I lost my home to a fire 9 days after giving birth, but my placenta pills made it. I continued to take them and immediately noticed a boost in my energy levels, and it prevented PPD as it boosted my overall mood after taking the capsules. I also loved the added touch of receiving a cord keepsake.
I would highly recommend this service and Jessica to any new mom considering placenta encapsulation or any other service offered. This has been so beneficial for my postpartum journey!

-Lacey H.​

I do not have enough words to describe the experience we shared with Jessica during our pregnancy, through our birth, and into the postpartum period. Being new to Maine ourselves and becoming pregnant was an exciting time but quite nerve-racking as a first-time mother. Jess provided my partner and me with ample information and resources during our childbirth education classes. We felt more prepared and much more at ease with her by our side through the entire process. Jess was consistently available for any questions that came up and always provided us with educational tools and contacts for services we could use to alleviate pregnancy symptoms. Jess was not only physically supportive at our birth but also provided ample comfort measures, reassuring words, and was truly a “hand to hold” the entire time we were at the hospital. Jess encapsulated our placenta and returned our pills within 24 hours of arriving home. She was present for us in the postpartum period, which greatly assisted our needs as new parents and again provided us with a comfort and support system we would not have received from any family or friends. I cannot recommend her enough! I would absolutely choose to work with Jess again in the future!
We are so grateful for her being and commitment to her doula career!

With lots of love and gratitude,
-Desiree, Chris and baby Elias

​Hiring Jessica as our doula was the BEST investment that we made in our pregnancy/birth journey. I really can't say enough great things about her and the support we received. My fiancé was so skeptical at first and by the end agreed it was the best thing we did and said multiple times that he trusted her in many ways more than the doctors.
We wanted to have the most natural birth possible while still being in a hospital for our first. It was important to me to have an empowered birth and to fully understand all of our options. Although my birth ended in induction and at 41 +5 weeks, which I really didn’t want, Jessica was there to guide us every step of the way and helped us understand and make empowered decisions on all options instead of feeling like everything was just happening to us.
Her support before, during, and after birth truly made the transition into motherhood so smooth and beautiful. If you are looking for the support of a doula to help you have the empowered birth you desire, then don’t think twice about hiring Jessica - we will absolutely be back for our next birth!! Thank you so, so much, Jessica!

-Kat C.

Jessica was amazing. We had a Zoom meeting prior to her taking my placenta for encapsulation. She answered all of my questions and went over the entire process. My son was born 3 weeks early, and she was still able to accommodate and quickly came to the hospital to get my placenta. The encapsulation process was very quick and came in a professional jar with easy-to-follow directions. She even continued to check in after delivering the capsules. I would highly recommend working with her; she’s great!

​-Bri G.

​I cannot imagine having labored, birthed, and gotten through the first weeks after birth without Jess's support. It was immediately obvious how experienced and attentive she was, and that lifted so much worry and stress off of my first-time birth experience. Jess took into account not just my needs as the birthing person, but also my partner's needs. Meeting with us one-on-one and as a family throughout the journey, she curated information that was useful to prepare us both mentally as well as physically. It was really important to us how she helped inform us of all options (for the many choices faced along the journey) without judgement about our decisions. I felt fully supported and empowered with Jess as my doula.

-Krista P.

Working with Jessica was such a great experience. She was so kind, caring, attentive, and knowledgeable. She met with us multiple times before the birth and after the birth, and of course was at the hospital for the entire birth itself. 
We couldn't have gotten through the birth without her. It was a very long birth, and she was constantly there for my wife, coaching her through contractions and offering support when she needed it, but I needed a break. She also talked with me as well through the entire thing, which kept me awake and helped me be more supportive for my wife.
Before and after, she always checked in via text message to see how we were doing and answer all of our (many) questions.

- Adam G.

​My husband and I are so happy that Jess was part of our birth team! As first-time parents, we weren't sure how labor or birth would unfold, and Jess helped guide us through emotionally, mentally, and physically. Our home birth ended up turning into an emergency hospital transfer with unexpected complications after birth - Jess was there through it all to support us.
We're so grateful for Jess and the work she does.

-Leila S.

​I was a little late to the concept of having a doula at the birth of my daughter. I was more than eight months pregnant, in fact, when I met Jessica. I felt the connection to her was instant. Jessica’s authenticity and empathy created a supportive space for my husband and me to share our fears and hopes about the birth of our rainbow baby. Knowing we did not have much time to prepare for a natural birth, Jessica met with us as often as needed to ensure we felt safe, our needs were met, and we were empowered for this life-altering experience. She stayed late with us and answered all our questions. Her knowledge and passion for breastfeeding and natural birth continued to demonstrate that Hubs and I made the right choice in having her join us. The day I went into labor, Jessica was the grounding force. She honored both my desires for a natural birth and my fears about birthing my rainbow. She arrived immediately when asked, and immediately began skillfully integrating herself into the medical environment I chose to deliver in. Jessica advocated when needed, as well as encouraged me to use my inner strength. She never hesitated to help or provide unbiased, nonjudgmental feedback. When my daughter arrived, Jessica stayed until my daughter latched. Always patient and always understanding, Jessica made me feel like you are the strongest, most capable mother to ever deliver a child. Jessica came to our house after my daughter’s birth and continued to guide us in our breastfeeding journey and postnatal care. It marks nine months this week that I have breastfed my daughter. When I say this, people often ask, “What keeps me going?” I share that I had a doula who encouraged and inspired me. She normalized breastfeeding and was honest about the joy and hardships. The journey to meet my rainbow baby and our breastfeeding journey have been beautifully shaped by the guidance of Jessica. Thank you. Thank you.  

-Heather S.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I knew the day was coming when I would have to squeeze something the size of a small pumpkin or watermelon out of me. How was I going to accomplish this? I was scared to death. Crazy enough, though, after some research, I had decided I wanted to deliver my baby intervention-free and non-medicated. I believe if it were not for Jessica, I would not have been able to achieve this. She was always there to answer any questions I had throughout my pregnancy (and after) and provided me with the resources and tools I needed to achieve my goal. Because of Jessica, I felt ready for my baby’s arrival and was no longer scared of giving birth. The support she had given throughout the pregnancy and during labor and delivery had put us so much at ease that the L&D nurse had commented on how laid-back I had seemed for a first-time mom. I will definitely reach out to Jessica again if we have any future pregnancies. 

-Nicole C.​

Jessica was great! Super helpful throughout the entire process, not just l&d. answered all my questions and offered resources in order for me to get more information when needed.   She is a very positive person and knows how to make you feel the same way. Empowering me through each step. During L&D, she helped me stay on track with my birth plan, even when things didn't go as "planned". She reminded me of my strength and was very calm & encouraging. She also checked in with me once Baby was born and helped me with lactation questions & techniques. I'd recommend her services over & over!!

-Claudia C.

Jessica was the best thing for me and my daughter!! Without her, we wouldn't have been able to breastfeed! Jessica would call and make sure we were doing well, text, and even came back just to make sure we were good!! This went a long way for me, because the LC (Lactation Consultant) in the hospital couldn't have been any harsher, and if it weren't for Jessica, I would have given up and missed this beautiful chance to bond with my little girl!!!

-Valeen M.

Jessica came to our house when our baby was just under a week old. I reached out to her at the last minute, and she was very accommodating. She helped me with the baby's latch as well as finding more comfortable nursing positions. She's incredibly sweet and down-to-earth, and I'd definitely use her again for lactation services in the future, and would even use her as a doula for baby #2!

-Cameron L.

There are truly no words for how valuable having Jessica as part of my pregnancy, L&D, and postpartum experience has been. My partner and I recognized our need for support with our first child when I learned how few options I had for labor due to allergies and medical considerations unique to me. We began to look for a doula and instantly connected with Jessica because of her warmth, knowledge, passion, and relatable personality. Our preliminary sessions helped us prepare a birth plan, understand options for l&d based on my needs, and learn comfort measures that could ​help us achieve the natural birth we hoped for. I ended up needing to be induced 3 weeks early and very unexpectedly, and Jessica was there by phone and text every step of the way to help us understand what was happening, why, and what our options were (and this was a process that lasted 3 days in the hospital!). With active labor, Jessica was right by our side. She provided many options for comfort measures (massage, positioning, etc.) and helped keep me calm and focused, and my partner calm and involved in every step. Many things diverged from my birth plan, but Jessica was there to help me understand all my options fully at every turn so that I felt comfortable no matter what I was presented with. She stayed all afternoon, night, and the next day for active labor and was right there with my partner and me while my son was delivered. She helped me advocate for immediate skin-to-skin, helped with lactation support, and made sure I was taken care of and understood my options for postpartum care (for me and my boy) after delivery. My partner and I had such a terrific L&D experience because of Jessica's support. We have also benefited from her postpartum and lactation support tremendously. I look forward to continued work with her, and if I ever have another child, she'll be the second, after my partner, to know! If you're considering working with Jessica, my advice is to do it! 

-Morgan S.

Jessica was a great resource throughout my pregnancy. She was always available to answer any questions and to alleviate the nerves that come with being a first-timer.  I especially appreciated her follow-ups once the baby was here. 

-Kathy Q.

I cannot recommend Jessica highly enough! My husband and I wanted a doula for my first birth, but didn't know any in the area and found Jessica online. We met with Jessica for the first time and immediately connected. We were impressed by her warmth, respectfulness, and knowledge. She emphasized how important it is to feel like it's a good match, as the doula will be there for such an important and intimate day! After we left our meeting, my husband and I already had our minds made up to work with Jessica. And I am so very glad we did. Jessica was a huge support throughout the pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. She was incredibly respectful, informative, and empowering. She lent me resources and was available 24/7 to us. It was refreshing to be able to ask her my every question instead of having to call my OB or to search Google! My labor and delivery did not go as I had hoped, and Jessica helped me and my husband make informed decisions along the way. I really don't know how we would have done it without her. After I delivered, my husband was especially grateful that Jessica could stay by my side so he could stay with the baby (who needed to be checked out). I had a difficult time processing the whirlwind of that day and everything that happened, and Jessica's postpartum visit was life-giving. It was so impactful for me to be able to process that day with someone other than my husband/mom. If you are on the fence about hiring a doula, regardless of what kind of birth you hope to have, do yourself a favor and schedule the first meeting. Doing that with Jessica was one of the best decisions my husband and I made throughout the pregnancy. Thank you, Jessica! We look forward to working with you again one day.

-Brittany M.

Jessica was amazing. Meeting her and getting to know her before the birth was great. She was reassuring and encouraging, and it was exciting talking with her about the impending birth of our baby!  At the birth, she was so relaxing and encouraging to be around. The delivery happened very quickly, but because of her, I was able to fully relax between contractions - I was nearly asleep. I appreciated her presence very much.  Her visits after the birth were so helpful as well. It was great to talk through the experience and process it with her. And she brought my older son a wonderful book that is one of his favorites!
Jessica was a kind and empowering doula that I would (and do!) recommend, and I look back fondly on her role in the wonderful delivery of our second child.
Thanks, Jessica!

-Lauren A.

I can honestly look back at my labor and delivery experience with immense satisfaction and joy, largely in part to Jessica's wonderful demeanor and radiant presence. She has such a sweet, calm but empowering aura surrounding her.  She always made herself available for my many questions, concerns, and anxieties.
She offered amazing resources before and after labor. She also was a wonderful support when I first began breastfeeding. I had many breastfeeding obstacles, but her kind words and encouragement helped me remain diligent.
Simply put, without Jessica, I couldn't have met my personal goals for my birthing experience. Words cannot describe how terrific she is, and anyone would be extremely fortunate to have her as a part of their labor support team.

-Sharee H.

Jessica is very easy to love. I am a first-time mom; therefore, I had a lot of questions, and my labor was long. No matter when I texted or what question I asked, Jessica was always calm and patient with me. She was AWESOME during my labor and birth. Very attentive. Without her, my mom and I would have been in trouble. She's always very professional and never judgmental; she will always be my doula whenever I'm expecting. She did a wonderful job to ensure I had the birth I desired.

-Danni S.

I had a wonderful experience with Jessica! She was always available by phone or text during my pregnancy and labor. I am a Doula myself and knew I wanted her to be my Doula before I was even pregnant. I had a very fast labor, and I was pushing when Jess walked through our kitchen door and heard me yelling from my bathtub. All I remember was her holding my hand (my eyes were glued shut from yelling) and her telling me to take a deep breath because I was going to meet my baby today!! Even though my husband was fantastic, having Jess there was another level of comfort that I needed. 
She takes being a Doula very seriously, and I highly recommend her!

-Abby W.

​I first used Jessica in 2015 for the birth of my first child and then again in 2018 for the birth of my second. I am grateful to have had Jessica by my side, always a text or phone call away - quick to answer my “is this normal?” questions during pregnancy, walking the halls with me during labor, and coaching me through the delivery of my girls. Her guidance did not end at birth, and I know I can reach out postpartum when needed. Doulas are not only for those who desire unmedicated births - Jessica never advocated for or against any procedure, but talked through the options with me and led me to feel secure in my decisions. She’ll be on speed dial for a third if we ever need it!

-Kathy

​Jessica was so amazing. She took the time to truly get to know my wife & I, to ensure we were getting the birth experience we were looking for - several visits before and after birth, as well as a long birth experience right by our sides. Speaking from the partner’s perspective, I was so happy to have Jess with us to show me different positions to support my wife, and to truly be a team during the birth of our son. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our birth plan went out the window, and Jess was able to help us remember that even though it wasn't the experience my wife was hoping for, it didn’t mean the birth was any less special. She helped us stay informed and ask the right questions to the caregivers so we felt comfortable with all our decisions. We couldn’t recommend her more highly!! 

-Steph C.
​

​I just had a birth with Jessica, and she was absolutely amazing. I felt as though she could read my body language and my mood during labor; she knew exactly what I needed without me having to say a thing. She was so supportive, loving, nurturing, and incredibly strong... I was a 200+ pregnant woman, and she supported much of my weight during my labor without complaints! I wholeheartedly recommend Jessica without hesitation; she is a wonderful and very genuine person who listens to your needs and provides excellent care.

-Clarissa C.

​Jessica is a caring and knowledgeable Doula. After our pre-birth meetings, I felt extremely informed in all areas of childbirth (cesarean, natural, and drug-assisted). From the moment I met Jessica for a one-on-one introductory meeting, I knew she was the calming personality that I would need throughout my birth experience. She made me and my husband feel important, confident, and prepared for any and all possible scenarios.
I would highly recommend Jessica and truly believe she was the reason I felt great going into my first birth and why I look forward to the next one. 

-Amie M.