Welcome to the testimonials page!
Here you can read reviews from past clients.
They are posted in the exact form they are received, no editing of any kind has been done.
If you'd like to read even more testimonials, go to Mali's doulamatch.net profile to read MANY more!



Mali is so wonderful!! She is well-versed and completely understands all stages of pregnancy and the birthing process. Mali is a kind-hearted, compassionate, empathic, very knowledgeable and talented doula. The only disappointment on my end is the fact that I didn't know her for my first child's birth. If I ever have another child, Mali would be among the very first I called to notify. If it weren't for her I would have had a very difficult time making it through natural childbirth with such ease!! Mali comes with the absolute highest recommendation from me!

~Nicole Gulmi



Mali is an INCREDIBLE doula! She helped keep my experience calm and cool (as much as possible during labor). My birth was on Christmas, and she went out of her way to find me the lime popsicles on my birth plan list, when nothing was open. She knew how to read my signals - when to stay quiet, when I wanted a washcloth on my forehead, everything. I cannot recommend a doula more highly than Mali!

~Melissa Enger



For my first child in 2003, I was a teen pregnancy. Let me tell you, nurses and doctors treat teenagers like dirt. Even my family was not very supportive. Mali was pretty much the only person who treated me like a human being or with any respect during my first birth. She did it for free because I had no money. My dad didn’t even know what a doula was. Mali stayed with me the whole labor and never left my side. She held my hand and helped me sit up to push and talked me through everything. She made sure the nurses handed me my son before they took him to be apgared and measured and whatever even though the nurses were really snotty about it. She also helped me insist that my son be roomed-in with me instead of in the hospital nursery. I think they might have thought she was my mom, because my mom did not show up. She came over a bunch of times after the birth to help me with breastfeeding. She showed me how to change a diaper! I hadn’t done it before!

I am now married and when I got pregnant with my second child in 2008, Mali was the first person I told (after my husband of course). My second birth couldn’t have been more different than the first. It was in a birth center and while it was nice to be surrounded by supportive people instead of bitchy nurses, I was so glad to have Mali there again. (I was also glad to be able to pay her that time!) She did a lot more physical support the second time around, so my husband could hang out and cuddle our son. After the birth my son kept telling everyone that Mali “doodahed” him as well. It was so cute. My whole family is so lucky to have had Mali in our lives! If we ever have another child I hope our son and daughter with tell everyone how Mali “doodahed” them again!

~Roberta Cook-Smith



Mali is an amazing dula! She is kind, thoughtful, generous, and truly is there 100%. Although due to complications during my pregnancy which caused me to have a c-section and thus Mali was unable to whitness the birth, she was present with all my questions and concerns before and after the birth of my son. When my son didn't latch on to my breast, Mali helped me try different positions that made easier for both my son and me. Mali's total dedication to me, my son and my husband made me feel safe and secure. I will definately have her around when I have my second child. Thank you Mali!

~Serai Batoelin



I think I must have been Mali’s most annoying client. I had awful dreams for the last month of my pregnancy and Mali would stay on the phone with me and was never grumpy or snappy that I was wakeing her up in the middle of the night. She was very patient and even helped me with some self-hypnosis techniques to get over my fears.

I was very worried about possibly having to be induced because most women in my family go very late and I didn’t think my doctor would let me go past one week. Mali not only helped me talk to my doctor about wanting to just wait and see, but she also helped by telling me about self-induction techniques. (My husband really liked that she suggested having sex!) I went into labor naturally at 41.5 weeks and ended up having a drug-free birth! I couldn’t have done it without Mali!

~Anna Hamiez



If you’re doing a homebirth, you should definitly pick Mali as your doula! She has a calm presense that will really help you out. I can’t say enough good things about her. She came over and baked bread with me while I was in the early stages of labor and loaned me her birth-ball for the last few weeks on my pregnancy.She spent a lot of time kneeling on the floor rubbing my back and head while I was in labor. She encouraged me to do everything my way. She also did some post-partum work for me when I was exhausted afterwards. She would come over and watch the baby while I would nap and she gave me these index cards that we’d have the neighbors and pushy family “pick a card” with a chore on it before they could see the baby. Thank god for those cards and those naps! She even did my dishes once. Thanks Mali!

~Petra



Mali was my doula for both my children.

My son was my first baby and I had planned a homebirth with a midwife. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I really had to go poo. When I went into the bathroom and sat down, I reach down and felt his HEAD!!!! My husband was out of town - horrible timing for him! I called Mali and the Midwife and Mali showed up about ten minutes later - just in time to calm me down and catch Aidan as he made his appearance! By the time the midwife got there, there was not really anything for her to do.

My daughter's birth wasn't as dramatic. I knew I was in labor and Mali came over first with a birthball, some hotpacks and just hung out, helped me breath, helped me change positions. Once labor got going the midwife really didn't do that much. Mali really helped my husband be the "doula" for my second birth. For about two weeks after the birth, she stopped by nearly every day. Sometimes she helped me with some breastfeeding issues I was having, other times she just did dishes and cleaned my house so my husband and I could take naps.

One thing I really love about Mali is that it was clear she was there for ME. I have had other friends with other doulas say the doula seemed more interested in taking pictures of the birth or were really more interested in the baby after it was born, but Mali really stuck by ME and made sure I was doing okay.

If I ever have another kid, Mali will be the person I hire.

If you hire her you won't be disappointed!

Feel free to email me if you want a reference!

~Shelley Andersen



I met Mali in line at the grocery store while I was complaining about acid reflux. We started talking and just clicked right away. She was wonderful and very supportive. She really helped me sort out a birth plan and helped me figure out what breathing and other things would help me deal with labor, back labor, pain, etc. Mali was very supportive when I decided to switch from hospital birth to a birth center birth as well. Mali will definitely be my doula for any more children I have.

~Connie Lopez