Are you looking for a Birth & Postpartum Doula Services in Utica & Central New York?
Welcome
We have just the right Doula for your needs
You deserve to feel confident, supported, and cared for during one of life’s most transformative seasons. Our team of professional doulas walks beside Central New York families through pregnancy, birth, and the tender weeks that follow — with the clinical expertise and heart-first care you deserve.
We proudly serve families across Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Otsego, and Onondaga counties, supporting births at Wynn Hospital, Crouse, St. Joseph’s, Bassett, Oneida Health, Rome Health, Upstate Family Birth Center — and in the comfort of home.
How can we support you?
Birth Doula Support
Continuous, professional support through pregnancy, labor, and birth — hospital, birth center, or home. Two prenatal visits, unwavering presence at your birth, a postpartum debrief, and unlimited text support along the way.
Explore birth doula support →
VBAC Support
Hoping for a vaginal birth after cesarean? This is work we hold especially close. Led by lived experience and a deep knowledge of truly VBAC-supportive local care. Your body didn’t fail you, and your story isn’t finished.
Explore VBAC support →
Postpartum & Overnight Care
Rest while we hold down the fort. Overnight newborn care, feeding support, sibling care, nourishing meals, and honest reassurance — daytime or overnight, as much or as little as you need.
Explore postpartum care →
Meet our Doulas
Click to learn more about them
Erica Ciccone
Birth Doula & Certified Lactation Counselor. A VBAC mama three times over, Erica brings hard-won wisdom and fierce, gentle advocacy to every birth.
Brittney Watkins
Birth Doula & Certified Lactation Counselor. From home births to twins, Brittney is the calm in the room — and wants to bring back the village
Brittney Watkins
Birth & Postpartum Doula. Steady, nurturing support through birth and the first weeks home.
Anastasiia Starukhina
Birth & Postpartum Doula and Medicaid-enrolled provider. Birth support, newborn and postpartum care brought to you with warmth, skill, and calm.
Behind every doula stands our whole practice: an IBCLC-led team of nurses, lactation counselors, and doulas who work together, so your care never falls through the cracks.
If you are a birth or postpartum Doula interested in joining our team, please email us at an**@*******************on.com
Every family deserves a doula
We believe cost should never be the reason a family goes without support. Our doula Anastasiia is now a Medicaid-enrolled provider and can accept Medicaid and Fidelis clients directly for prenatal, birth, and select postpartum visits
And the rest of our team is in the process of becoming enrolled. In the meantime, we offer a sliding scale for families experiencing financial hardship. Just ask — the conversation is always judgment-free.
What our clients say about care they received
Brittney was my birth doula and I could not have done it without her! With a very long induction there were many hard decisions that Brittney helped my husband and I make. She provided unbiased information about pros and cons and supported whatever decision we made.
Once I was in active labor Brittney became my voice and advocated for me with hospital staff communicating with them on my goals so I could focus on labor.
She also provided me with multiple different pain management techniques that helped me through so many contractions as well as being one of the biggest cheerleaders in the room giving me the confidence boost I needed as a first time mom!
Brittney is so knowledgeable, kind, and compassionate!”
Kallie
I was matched with Brit through a doula program offered by our county, at first I was skeptical figuring she would be less experienced than what I was looking for considering I was pregnant with twins and really needed someone in my corner to help me achieve the natural birth I was looking for, but upon meeting her for the first time I felt very at ease and confident that she was the doula for me.
Through the whole process she was supportive and excited as I navigated the waters to have a home birth and even agreed to travel a longer distance for the birth so that I could have the midwife that I chose. When the time came for my twins to arrive she was a comforting presence, took some amazing photos, and helped both my girls to latch instantly!
It was an epic experience for all involved! After she supported me through breastfeeding and gave me confidence when I was struggling by suggesting different positions and just ensuring me that I was doing a great job by her encouraging words. She is a tender and loving soul and if I were to have another child I would 110% want to have Britt by my side again.
Natasha
When my primary doula was unable to attend my birth, Britt filled in. My labor was the first time we had met, but I couldn’t imagine my birth without her.
She was so calm, warm, comforting and encouraging. Not only did she support me, but she also looked out for my husband’s wellbeing. Her presence truly helped me feel more calm, and as someone who struggles with anxiety, I’m so grateful that I had her support.
Britt validated that everything I was going through as I moved through the stages of labor was completely normal and okay. Her experience as a lactation counselor was also great to have as a first time breastfeeding mother who needed help with the initial latch and feed. I already know I’ll be turning to her for support in any future pregnancies and births.”
— Nicole
Erica has been so wonderful and supportive on my breastfeeding and new mom journey! Our little ones are only a month apart and she was able to understand what I’m going through and offer excellent guidance and reassurance. She came over to do an individualized session with me and afterwards I felt much more confident I was doing right by my new baby. She was a wealth of new information and so sweet with my son who was just post frenectomy. Her commitment to lactation is so admirable and she has always been quick to share she is just a text away. 
Allison
I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to expressing my gratitude. Before I met Erica, I honestly never believed a VBAC could be part of my story.
Her passion, knowledge, and unwavering belief in women’s strength changed everything for me. Through her guidance and encouragement, I found the confidence to trust my body, my intuition, and the birth process in a way I never had before.
She held space for me with such compassion – reminding me that birth can be empowering, not fearful. Because of her inspiration, I went into my second birth not just prepared, but truly believing in myself. And that belief made all the difference.
My VBAC was successful, but more than that. it was healing and I owe so much of that to her heart and dedication. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me see what was possible. I will forever be grateful for your presence on this journey.
-Lex
I couldn’t recommend Brittney enough to anyone searching for a doula to support them. I found Brittney late in my pregnancy and am so grateful I reached out.
She was everything I didn’t know I would need during my VBAC home birth! I instantly felt calmed and supported by her and feel she was an instrumental part in making my birth experience everything I hoped it’d be.
You can tell this is her calling! I’m forever grateful!
Jordyn
I’d like to share my amazing experience with Erica as my support doula through my VBAC and her breastfeeding support after.
Erica provided me so much education on my options for induction and really helped me to advocate for myself. She reminded me the power I have in my choices for the birth of my baby.
I don’t think I would’ve been as confident and comfortable with my choices if I didn’t have Erica as support.
Erica continued to support me as a lactation specialist, giving me tips and tricks, and assuring me it was okay to keep trying. We went from supplementing with formula multiple times a day to barely at all now within only a couple weeks.
I am beyond grateful for Erica, for her knowledge, her support and encouragement through my entire journey. I highly recommend her for any momma needing that support or even just someone to reassure them that they’re doing a great job.
Bekah
Frequently asked questions
Q: What does a birth doula actually do?
A: For as long as women have been giving birth, mothers have been surrounded by experienced women who guided and supported them. A doula carries that tradition forward with professional training: continuous physical, emotional, and informational support through pregnancy, labor, and birth. We support ALL births — medicated, unmedicated, cesarean, VBAC, and everything in between. Your birth, your choices, our support. Research links continuous labor support to more positive birth experiences — and you deserve support. Period.
Q: I have a supportive partner. Do I still need a doula?
A: Doulas don’t replace partners — we support them too. Your partner knows you; we know birth. We help partners feel confident and involved, so you both feel prepared and connected. Many partners tell us afterward that having a doula let them be fully present instead of trying to remember everything from class.
Q: How much does a doula cost in Central New York?
A: Our Comprehensive Birth Doula Package is $1,250 and includes prenatal visits, continuous birth support, backup coverage, a postpartum visit, and unlimited text support. Postpartum and overnight care is offered per shift, with package savings when you book multiple shifts — see current rates on our postpartum care page. We provide superbills, as some insurance plans reimburse doula services, and a sliding scale is available — please ask.
Q: Does insurance or Medicaid cover doula services?I’m not sure if I want to breastfeed. Is this workshop still right for me?
A: Yes — New York Medicaid now covers doula care, and our doula Anastasiia is a Medicaid-enrolled provider accepting Medicaid and Fidelis clients now for prenatal, birth, and select postpartum visits. The rest of our team is in the process of enrolling — check with us for the latest! We also provide superbills for private insurance reimbursement and itemized receipts for HSA/FSA funds.
Q: When should I hire a doula?
A: Whenever you find us! Many families book in the second trimester, which allows relaxed prenatal visits — but we’ve supported families who found us weeks before birth, too. If you’re pregnant, it’s not too early or too late to reach out. Our free breastfeeding classes and childbirth workshops are also a lovely, low-pressure way to meet us early in your pregnancy.
Q: Which hospitals do you support births at?
A: We regularly support families at Wynn Hospital in Utica, Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph’s Birthplace, Upstate Family Birth Center, Oneida Health, Rome Health, and Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown — and we absolutely love home births and birth center deliveries.
Q: Can I have a doula for a VBAC? What about a home birth VBAC?
A: Yes — VBAC support is one of our specialties. We support hospital VBACs and home birth VBACs, and we can help you find genuinely VBAC-supportive local providers. Learn more about our VBAC support →
Q: What happens if my doula can’t make it to my birth?
A: We work as a team, and backup coverage is built into our birth packages — your backup is someone from our own practice, not a stranger. We’re also always honest with families: birth can be beautifully unpredictable, and in rare cases of very rapid labor, even the most devoted doula may not arrive in time. Exactly how our coverage works is spelled out clearly in your agreement, so there are never surprises — just honest support you can count on.
Q: What areas do you serve?
A:
We serve families throughout Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, including Utica, New Hartford, Rome, Clinton, Herkimer, Oneida, Syracuse, and Cooperstown — across Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Otsego, and Onondaga counties.
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