Birth Doula Support in Pittsburgh

We understand that birth can feel BIG, and we are here to walk alongside you every step of the way. 

As birth doulas, we love accompanying our clients through labor, birth, and the first 1-2 hours of bonding with your new baby. We support parents who give birth in local Pittsburgh area hospitals, The Midwife Center (TMC), and at home. (And if you’re looking for virtual doula services outside of the Pittsburgh area, we’ve got you covered!)

We’re here to help you have the most positive birth experience possible… whatever that looks like for YOU. From tips and tricks to help with labor progress, to comfort measures and staying in a coping mindset for labors without pain medication, to physical and emotional support while laboring with an epidural, to companionship during a cesarean birth… we are here with compassionate support for each moment of your birth experience - whatever it may look like, and whatever changes the road may bring.

Our goal is to help you get the information, resources, and support you need to make the choices that are right for you and your family. During our time together during pregnancy, we can help you find resources and research to help you make informed decisions in a way that feels comfortable for you and your family. We are always happy to share from our many years of experience as birth workers as well! Once you have gathered the resources you need, we are here to support you in working through any decisions that might come up and communicating your choices with the rest of your team.

No matter what decisions you make for your birth, we will support you with compassion (and without judgment!) so you’ll always have someone in your corner.

If you know ahead of time that your baby (or babies!) may be born by cesarean, it might seem counterintuitive to consider working with a doula. But there are many facets of doula support that translate beautifully to c-sections!

We offer two different packages for planned cesarean birth support. Learn more about your options here.

Can I pay for your services with an HSA or FSA?
Absolutely! You can either use the debit card from your health savings account/flexible spending account, or you can pay us directly and get reimbursed. Just give us a heads up that you’ll be using your FSA/HSA for reimbursement and we’ll get you a specialized receipt after each payment.

Can I use Carrot to pay for your services?
Yep! We’ll fill out the “doula attestation form” and provide the documentation you need to send in for reimbursement. For clients who have a larger budget with Carrot, we’ve also been able to put together really lovely packages that include all the classes and prenatal support we offer, plus a great combination of additional postpartum services. This benefit can be a huge help in setting yourself up for a supported birth and postpartum experience!

Can I text you if I have questions during pregnancy?
Please do! Once you’ve hired us, you officially have doulas and you can reach out to us anytime, even in between our appointments. We’re happy to text, email, or talk by phone if you have questions or concerns during pregnancy or in your baby’s first weeks. We can often offer reassurance, additional resources, or questions you can ask your care team.

What happens during prenatal visits? Do I need to prepare anything?
No need to prepare anything specific! We primarily use the time to touch base, answer your questions, understand any new plans for your birth, and get to know your family’s values and goals for your birth experience. We’ll also review how and when to contact us when you think you might be in labor so you feel comfortable with our game plan as a team.

Can I opt out of the classes included in this package?
We’ve found over the years that our clients who’ve taken classes with us have more positive birth experiences with lower incidences of trauma. Setting aside time to prepare for this experience together with our clients gives us a shared language that tends to be VERY helpful as we communicate during labor. We feel so strongly about the positive difference this makes that we now include our 2 most popular classes in all of our doula packages.

Our classes are private and customizable, so if you have any concerns about taking the classes please let us know and we’ll make a plan that feels right comfortable for you.

If you are expecting a subsequent baby and have taken a comprehensive birth class in the past, let us know and we’ll discuss your situation - a custom package may be in order.

How do hospitals usually react to your presence during labor?
This really depends on the hospital and the individual staff members involved, but overall very positively! We like to say that the way a hospital staff member reacts to having a doula present reflects much more on them than on the specific doula or client. When providers are collaborative and respect their patients’ autonomy, they tend to be thrilled to have a doula in the room.

When do you go on call for my birth?
We are on call for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week beginning at 38 weeks of pregnancy until your baby arrives. If for any reason neither of us are available, we will have arrangements with a back-up doula who can support you. (Since 2014 we’ve never had to call in a back-up! *knocks on wood*)

Is there a time limit for how long you will be with me during labor?
Nope! We usually arrive once labor is established (“active labor”) and leave once you’re settled in after birth. We’ve been at births for 2 hours and for 48 hours, and everything in between. Working as a doula team allows us to relieve each other to make sure you always have someone fresh with you!

How long will you stay with me after birth?
It depends on what you need and how things are going. Some families feel pretty good and are ready to part ways around 30 minutes after birth, and sometimes it’s more like 2 hours if additional support is needed. 2 hours is generally our maximum but we can be flexible if there were complications and you aren’t feeling settled in yet at the 2-hour mark. We never want our clients to feel like we are watching the clock!

What kind of postpartum support do you offer if I need some help?
We offer comprehensive postpartum support for families who want access to Marlee’s compassionate guidance and expertise throughout their baby’s first 3 months of life. You can also work with Marlee for extra lactation/feeding support or sleep counseling a la carte.

What tools do you bring to my labor?
Check out this blog post to learn what goes in our doula bags!

I’m interested in using a certain birthing method. Can you support me?
Absolutely! We have experience supporting parents who are using many different techniques, including Birthing From Within, The Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing, Hypnobabies, and more. Our approach is fully supportive of your choice of coping tools in birth.

While our classes don’t focus on all of these different methods, we are certainly glad to support your use of any of these tools during labor if you choose to use them. When it comes to coping with the intensity of birth, our philosophy is, “Whatever works for you works for us!”

Do I have to make a birth plan?
Definitely not! But so many of our clients have found the [M]otherboard birth plan tool helpful that we include it in your package for free. To learn more about what a birth plan represents, check out this blog post.

I’ve heard that doulas are really just for people who want a home birth or a natural birth. Can I still have a doula if I want to give birth in a hospital, or if I think I might want an epidural?

This is a common myth about doulas, and one that we are happy to bust! Over 90% of our clients give birth in hospitals, and about half plan to use pain medication during labor.

A doula is a wonderful addition to any birth team, no matter what kind of birth you desire. If you are planning to give birth in a hospital, we will help you navigate that environment and advocate for the care you need to feel comfortable and safe. This is actually one of our specialties! (You can read more about this here.) We are honored to support births of all kinds, including:

• Out-of-hospital births

• Unmedicated hospital births

• Hospital births with epidurals and/or other pain medication

• Inductions in a hospital

• Planned cesarean births

No matter how you envision giving birth, we offer emotional, physical, and educational support to help you have a positive experience each step of the way.

At what locations do you attend births?

• UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital

• AHN West Penn Hospital

• AHN Jefferson Hospital

• AHN Wexford Hospital

• AHN Forbes Hospital

• The Midwife Center

• Home births in the greater Pittsburgh area

What if I can’t afford your services?
We feel strongly that doula support should be available to folks who want it regardless of ability to pay (especially for members of oppressed groups). If you are having trouble meeting your basic needs financially and/or if you qualify for Medicaid, SNAP benefits, WIC, or TANF, let us know. We reserve a limited number of scholarship spots on our calendar each year and will be happy to discuss sliding scale options, or refer you to another doula who may be able to assist you.

Want to learn more about how this all works?
Read our blog post The Practical Guide to Working with a Doula!

“We quite literally cannot say enough wonderful things about Megan and Marlee. My husband and I had never really considered hiring a doula (let alone two!) but when the pandemic started and I was five months pregnant with my first baby, no family nearby, some concerning prenatal test results, and all in-person support groups and classes suddenly cancelled, we started to think we might like some extra support on this journey. I am so glad we decided to pare down our baby shopping list considerably (shout-out to the $80 Ikea crib!) and reallocate our baby budget to hiring these two kind and brilliant people. I cannot recommend highly enough that anyone on the fence about hiring them do the same.

I really valued their prenatal check-ins and wealth of knowledge about the choices we would need to make and the research surrounding them, and I was so glad to be able to call them when my water broke before labor started to work through my options about when to go in to the hospital -- especially as I was due during what ended up being the first peak of the pandemic and very much did not want to spend any more time in the hospital than necessary. They kept in touch with us throughout that day, even stopping by our front porch, masked and 12 feet away, to talk to us through the open window about what to expect and when to leave the house. My labor was short and pretty easy (pitocin notwithstanding) but I also am certain it felt that way because we -- and especially my husband -- were so well prepared and supported by the two of them before and during the process. I didn't end up having an epidural, but they had made so, so clear that they would support me in any choice I made regarding medication that this did not feel like the fraught decision I know it can be. Had things gone differently or taken longer, I know they would have been there (via phone/Zoom) to help us work through it.

While their prenatal and labor support was fabulous, it was during our first weeks home with our daughter that M&M's support was absolutely essential to our surviving and thriving. Our daughter was jaundiced, very sleepy, and not pooping, and the pediatrician we saw for her first check-up told us to immediately start a grueling regimen of formula, breastfeeding, and pumping every two hours around the clock. After two days of nearly losing our minds with this schedule, Marlee put us in touch with a lovely lactation consultant colleague who had us back to exclusively breastfeeding within a couple days. Along the way, Marlee and Megan repeatedly encouraged us to trust our (wobbly but sound!) new parent instincts and answered dozens (maybe more .... probably more ... I'm horrified to go back and look ...) of texts and calls with the patience and calm that were in somewhat short supply in our house.

Over the next couple weeks, it became clear that our daughter -- while a charmingly cheerful baby -- is not A Good Sleeper, and Marlee once more made herself exceptionally available to our calls and texts. She never once pushed us to do any form of developmentally inappropriate sleep training, was understanding of our preference not to bed-share with a tiny baby (but would have been equally supportive of us choosing to do so safely), and offered us concrete suggestions that may or may not have helped her sleep a little better on the margin, but were likely more valuable to us as two tired, sleep-deprived parents, trying to balance working from home and caring for a newborn, with no outside support (thanks, pandemic, please wear a mask).

Let me conclude by saying M&M are gifts to their community and we could not be more grateful to them.”

- Erin

“Marlee and Megan are fantastic! My wife and I could not be happier with all the support and advice we received from these two wonderful people.

We opted to take all four of the classes they offer and we are so glad we did! Each class was the perfect mix of reflection, information, and time for questions. They stay up to date with new researchers in various fields and had tons of invaluable information and insight. This was our first pregnancy and birth, so we had tons of questions. It was so nice to talk out our hopes and fears with them, I definitely felt more at ease after the classes.

At our birth, we ended up working with both Megan and Marlee (my labor was a bit long). After the birth, I was struggling with breastfeeding. Marlee was able to provide excellent advice and help us stick with it!

Both of them are amazing and have wonderful tools and bedside manner. All the tips and tricks they recommend really do work! If you are looking for kind, open minded, knowledgeable, and passionate doulas - and especially if you’re queer - look no further!”

- Samantha

“Marlee and Megan are the best! Grateful to have had them as our doulas! It made the birth experience so much better and gave me peace as a mama knowing I had their help and expertise with me in the hospital room!

During my first birth experience a couple years earlier I didn’t have a doula and it was pretty traumatic. I trusted the doctors and the hospital to make decisions that were in my best interest but was pressured into procedures that I was not informed about and were very painful. I was emotionally scarred from the experience. So for my second birth hiring a doula was a must for me because I wanted to have a good birth experience. I’m so glad I did!

I was induced and Marlee and Megan were able to help me with the check in process and communicating my trauma history to the nursing staff. I feel that because they were there I received much better care and treatment in the hospital than I did with my first birth. This birth was such a smooth process and I was so glad to have them by my side.

If you’re looking for a doula look no more! Hire Marlee and Megan - you couldn’t have a more caring team by your side!”

- Kara

“When all of my mom friends urged us to work with a doula for the pregnancy and birth of our first baby, I could never have imagined the support -- technical and emotional -- that we would find with Megan and Marlee. I ended up having quite a difficult labor experience, finding out upon being admitted to the hospital  that, in addition to being a week past my due date, having had 12 hours of painful prodromal labor two days before, and the baby's head pushing against my spine, that I also had the flu. The extra pain produced by the fever, back labor and high doses of pitocin became unbearable and I am not sure we could have made it through without Marlee's incredible coaching.

The physical pain of that portion of the labor, however, was nothing at all in comparison with the emotional anguish of being told that, because I was still feverish, I would have to be separated from my baby for an undetermined amount of time after birth. This separation was accompanied by a utter lack of compassion and incompetency by the hospital mother-baby unit staff. Again, if were not for Marlee's beautiful emotional support and advocacy for me, my husband, and my baby, the separation would have been that much more painful and most likely more prolonged. Her support was so unconditional that shortly after going home after my long birth, she turned around and came right back (it was her birthday, by the way) to teach me how to manually express colostrum to get to my newborn. She helped us advocate for our family, as the nurses were going to give my son formula without my permission (and continued to commit a cacophony of errors about which I would have to write an essay-length piece to get into the details).

As any first-time parent knows, there is nothing more frightening than those first few days out of the hospital (and I imagine far beyond that, but we haven't gotten there yet), when you return home to suddenly find yourself responsible for a delicate human life. Marlee and Megan have been uncompromising in their willingness to answer all our questions, big and small, at all hours of the day -- about everything from breastfeeding to safe sleeping to postpartum depression. At our first postnatal visit Marlee spent two hours with us going over the details of various breastfeeding techniques, car seat safety, and so much more. We created a WhatsApp group with me, my husband, Marlee, and Megan through which they have made themselves available day and night to answer all our questions with zero judgment, only evidence-based answers, and a degree of patience and compassion to which  I can only aspire. They keep telling me to not apologize for bombarding them with question after question, but I keep doing it because I can't find a sufficient way to show to them just how grateful I am that they have become part of this equal parts terrifying and beautiful experience. The comfort their support has afforded us in these anxiety-ridden days is simply invaluable. 

My husband and I are both PhD students and make very little money. Honestly, working with a doula was an expense that was somewhat out of our budget but we went forward with it because of the insistence of my friends with children. We interviewed several doulas, but the second Marlee and Megan left our house after our introductory meeting my husband and I didn't even have to say a word to communicate to each other that we knew they were the ones. We will never regret passing over the $800 stroller for a second-hand one, but we would have deeply regretted not having Megan and Marlee in our lives. Working with them has simply been the best thing we could have done for ourselves and our baby, and in a time of such insecurity and doubt it is one decision of which we are entirely sure. We will forever be grateful to Megan and Marlee for making the birth of our son the most wonderful experience of our lives.”

- Elizabeth

“We LOVED working with Megan & Marlee! My husband was super supportive through everything and he was on board for us to get a doula, but I think he didn't exactly know what it all entailed. I just knew we would need the extra support during the pregnancy and labor/delivery.

Pros: 

• You get TWO people who love birth, babies and this whole world

• They get back to you quickly if you have concerns, and always respond with really detailed answered and explanations

• Really great at explaining things so anyone (especially someone who hasn't been pregnant before) can understand

• Their classes are hands-on and helpful to just think/talk through the different aspects of pregnancy, labor & postpartum

• Contract and payment is all online and easy

• It was awesome to have someone to talk through about different decisions before labor and DURING labor (when you're not always able to think through things)

• They give both sides of an issue, idea, process to help you make the best decision for you

• No judgments on whatever you decide to do

Cons: Really can't think of anything (and I usually can...)

It’s great to have two awesome people on your side to help you figure out what is best for you, your family and situation. Just super supportive and so great to work with!”

- Jayne

“We were pregnant with our first baby and we didn't know what to expect. BUT we knew what we didn't want: to have birth trauma, to feel unheard in the labor process, to feel uneducated about medical decisions we had to make, and to have no support at the hospital.

We interviewed with multiple doulas, but decided to go with Megan and Marlee because they catered to what we needed and had room for flexibility. When we met Marlee and Megan, the first thing they asked us was, ‘What is it that you want for your labor/birthing process?’ With the fact that that was their first question, we knew that what we wanted would be a priority.

When my water broke, the first people we called was our doula team and they helped us remember what our options were (although all this had been covered in the classes, but as new parents - you understand). I felt confident knowing our doulas were only a text or phone call away.

I feel that our doula team prepared not only me, but my husband as far as what to expect during labor. They heard what we wanted in our birthing process, but also chimed in with their professional suggestions (which we greatly valued), and always educated us about what our options were so that we could make our decision while seeing the big picture. I also loved that they advocated for us at the hospital multiple times which made the difference between me having a C-section or vaginal birth (which I wanted).

Although some of our family didn't understand why we were spending money for doula services, by the time we had my son, they were believers and were in awe as to what a huge difference our doulas had made in our birthing process. I think many people do not understand the rights we have in the hospital/birthing center and are shocked what a knowledgeable and professional doula can do to help accomplish as close to possible what you want in your birthing process.

If you are thinking about hiring Marlee and Megan, do not even think about it! Just do it - you will not regret it, and you will also agree that you would be willing to pay them a million dollars after seeing everything they do for you and your partner during the labor process.”

- Yary

"TLDR: HIRE THEM. They are worth every penny.

Megan and Marlee were my doulas for my first birth. I wasn't exceptionally nervous for my birth but I really wanted a doula present to provide support for me and my husband. I met with a few other doulas before settling on them. Marlee and Megan aren't judgmental about what kind of birth you want. Some doulas are biased toward unmedicated birth and if you go any other route they aren't really open to it. Megan and Marlee are not like that at all. They really listen to what YOU want, and work to help you achieve that. They don't have an agenda.

My birth experience was really intense. I ended up having to be induced, and then couldn't get an epidural because my platelets were mysteriously low, AND I had back labor. So I was in excruciating awful pain that never stopped. Megan was there for the first chunk of my labor when I was in a bad place mentally. She really helped me work through the pain and soldier through it. Marlee came in to help too. They both had so many tricks up their sleeves of different things to try to help me cope with the pain. 

They were also so helpful for my husband because he understandably was upset seeing me suffer so much and not being able to help. Because Megan and Marlee were there, he was able to step out of the room for breathers and to eat meals. Once the back labor kicked in and it was clear how painful it would be, he got very overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. It was really great having Megan and Marlee there to suggest different things he could do to help me.

Marlee came to my home post birth and helped me with breastfeeding, which was really helpful as well. I peppered them with a bazillion questions the first few weeks after birth and they always gave me great information. 

I will be calling them the minute I get pregnant again to lock them down for my next birth."

- Nichole

“I cannot say enough good things about Marlee and Megan. As this was the birth of our first child, we felt that hiring a doula would give us the tools and strategies needed to labor at home as long as possible and give my husband more confidence in his role as support person. We got this and so much more from Marlee and Megan!

From our first consultation meeting to postpartum help, Marlee and Megan have always been available to answer any and all questions. They provided and continue to provide us with needed resources and references.

We felt so much more confident in deciding many of our preferences for birth and parenting, as they helped us recognize what was really important to us. I would recommend them to anyone and everyone having a baby! They are amazing and hiring them was truly one of the best decisions we ever made.”

- Renae

“Megan and Marlee are such a blessing. I really can't imagine what I would have done without them during the pregnancy and birth of my second child. They are so compassionate, knowledgeable, caring, funny, just all around amazing. 

My first delivery was a very traumatic experience and since my husband was out of town for work I decided to hire a doula. Wow, I can't believe how lucky I was to find these lovely people! It's not just one doula, it's two! They have soooooo many bits of advice and tricks up their sleeves it's not even funny. 

Although my second delivery did not turn out *exactly* as planned (I was trying for a VBAC), I really had a wonderful experience with Marlee and Megan from start to finish. I feel that going into labor and laboring with them really made me feel 1,000 times better post partum, despite the circumstances of my own labor. I am also so relieved to have post partum support.  I love love love love Megan and Marlee. Just hire them - you will not be disappointed. These wonderful humans are top notch. 

Are you trying for an unmediated birth? Hire them. I did try for unmedicated and I labored for several hours in so much pain but was able to get through with their help.

Are you going to be medicated? Hire them. Are you going to have a c-section? Hire them for the awesome prenatal and post partum support! They don't judge at all, that's what's so awesome about them. Your birth experience is your own and every birth is different. 

On a side note: my OBGYN who doesn't even really like doulas told me days after delivery that she really really liked Megan and Marlee and if anyone asked her for a doula she would be recommending them. I can't agree more. They are just great!!!”

- Lydia

“Megan and Marlee are my birth doula dream team!

I had a 3-day labor and was losing my mind as the pain started to become unbearable. Megan and Marlee were there to support me and provide guidance to me and my husband. They somehow managed to give me a little bit of courage whenever I felt like I couldn't go on handling the pain anymore.

Megan and Marlee are both extremely caring and thoughtful, they went above and beyond to make sure I was as comfortable as I could be. I would recommend them to any soon-to-be parents!”

- Annie

"Megan and Marlee’s birth services were absolutely invaluable. Not only were they in our home providing advice and care before the arrival of our son, but they stayed the entire 24 hours or more that I was in labor. They were either massaging me, hanging out with our parents and answering their questions, helping me breathe through contractions, or supporting my husband both days we were in the hospital. It was so nice not having to give our family constant updates when I was in such pain - Megan and Marlee handled our families with such care and understanding.

Megan and Marlee helped me make rational decisions when I was in pain and reminded me of my birth plan. It felt like they were part of my family that was protecting us during this intense hospital experience.

It was such peace of mind having people at the hospital to help me ask questions I felt too embarrassed to ask my doctor or nurse. Most of all, it really helped my husband to feel calmer so that he was able to be “in the moment” rather than stressed and panicky.

Megan and Marlee are so thoughtful and caring and still answer any questions I have (5 months postpartum!). They always had tips and tricks for life with a newborn. They are such personable and caring people!

Hiring Megan and Marlee as doulas was a very worthwhile expense. Before the birth I often wondered if doulas were even necessary - what if I ended up having a cesarean? Well, I did end up with a c-section, and I still wouldn’t have had it any other way! They made me feel stronger and happier while giving birth, and I felt like a tough person that could accomplish this wonderful but trying task!"

- Vanessa

"Megan and Marlee brought me calmness, peace, a sense of not feeling alone, and understood that what I was feeling was ok. I so appreciated their encouragement and reliability, and that they gave me options for what I could do next during labor.

Before working with Megan and Marlee, I feared that hiring a doula would be a waste of time since my husband could be a ‘doula’ for me. It was not a waste at all! Having a doula that hasn’t known me for years gave great perspective and encouragement that helped me in a way my husband couldn’t.

What stands out most about my experience with Marlee and Megan is their friendliness and kindness! They are warm and inviting, and didn’t make me feel pressured into doing anything.

I wish I had Megan and Marlee there during my first birth because I know my experience would have been so much better. There can be so many negative emotions and thoughts with pregnancy and labor because a lot can happen differently than planned… having Megan and Marlee helped my self-esteem. Even though I ended up having a c-section due to unexpected issues, I’m glad they were always there for me. I don’t have any regrets about my birth experience this time around."

- Charlene

“Megan and Marlee were our wonderful doulas for the birth of our son Milo. We could not recommend them more!

Marlee was fantastic in supporting me through a fairly quick but painful labor. She helped us make informed decisions along the way and advocated for us during a couple of chaotic moments. My husband in particular was grateful to have Marlee with us as it truly helped him being there for me in the most effective way. 

Megan and Marlee also supported us before and after the birth, and one of the things I truly appreciated is that they were always responsive via text, email or phone calls. They truly care about the families they work with!”

- Viviana