Reviews and Recommendations

“I would recommend McRae to any new family adjusting to a new baby.” - Rachael Hagglund

“I have never fully trusted anyone (outside of family) with my babies, the only exception being McRae."

I don’t really think I could have ever said thank you enough for the help, time, companionship, and love McRae brought into our home. I am an extremely private person and I have never had anyone outside of close friends and family in my home and around my children, but with a husband overseas, commuting from DC to be home on weekends, and no family close to help on the regular, I knew I would need someone after bringing our second son “earthside.” I met McRae online in a Richmond moms’ group and knew immediately that I valued her thoughts and recommendations about delivering in Virginia (we had just moved from Florida and I delivered our first son in Florida). After finding out my husband would be leaving for overseas a few weeks after my due date, I reached out to McRae. The first time she entered our home, my heart knew she would fit perfectly bringing a peaceful, calming, and loving feeling with her. I find the immediate postpartum exhausting and often times lonely. In this case, having McRae pick up where I left off was incredibly helpful. I loved reading all of her articles and posts online, she would cook food I had prepped, finish laundry I had started, wear the baby and let him nap in the process while I got to spend some wonderful one-on-one time with my oldest in the driveway or eating dinner or playing in his room. Our oldest son adored her and always asked if “A-Crae” was coming today. She made me feel like I had a backup and a person to help when I felt most alone. In addition, her help with bedtime was indispensable! She talked me through hard times with breastfeeding and how grateful I am to be passing six months of it and pushing on through my goal of one year. For me, bringing someone into my home was scary and not something I do lightly. I have never fully trusted anyone (outside of family) with my babies, the only exception being McRae. I could praise on and on for pages and yet thank you will never be enough.

– Brittany Blakely

“She gave me peace of mind & excellent care!”

McRae was incredibly helpful to my family during our post-partum period with baby #2. The transition from 1 to 2 with no local family would have been tough but she made it much smoother by ensuring a successful breastfeeding relationship, keeping me constantly hydrated, providing naps for the whole family, & performing light chores. She gave me peace of mind & excellent care!

– Shannon Carroll

“I would have probably had postpartum depression or a burnout without her help.”

McRae is amazing! I would have probably had postpartum depression or a burnout without her help. She helped with chores and making sure I was well fed and hydrated so I could focus on my baby. She got me through the first 3 months feeling like a confident mother. She is so knowledgeable on everything baby-related that I still trust her advice over anything I Google. She's my hero! :)
– Jessica Colteaux

“McRae came to the rescue”

I am grateful to McRae for her knowledge and support, especially as I started with a different doula who was not at all helpful. McRae came to the rescue and has such an easygoing demeanor. She was there to answer my questions, and of course to let me sleep. I trust her implicitly with my baby and highly recommend her!

– Kim Cressy

“Any new mom who works with her is absolutely so lucky!!”

We contacted McRae during my third trimester. My husband works a lot of nights, so I anticipated needing help in the evenings, and since this was our first baby, we had no idea what to expect. I'm really glad we hired her before our birth, because she was incredibly helpful helping us prepare for the arrival of our son. I knew I could always ask her, "Do we need xyz?" and this guidance helped us put together a useful and thoughtful baby registry.

When he ended up being born by emergency C-section, my confidence was shaky. I had spent so much time preparing for a natural homebirth, that when the plan ended up turning upside down I felt kind of lost. McRae helped me learn to listen to myself, and most importantly to listen to my baby. She was a wonderful comfort to have around the house and brightened the day (or evening) whenever she came for a visit. Not to mention, I was able to take a shower or bath while she wore my baby and tidied up the house.

I would recommend McRae to any new family adjusting to a new baby. She is a wealth of knowledge about the precious postpartum time and new baby care. My family completely loves her and I think any new mom who works with her is absolutely so lucky!!

– Rachel Hagglund

"A valuable resource of knowledge and support"

McRae was a great help to me the first five weeks postpartum. She was very supportive of me in many ways. She helped me with a few minor issues I was having with breast-feeding and swaddling. She was great with just helping me feel some sort of normalcy while I was trying to adjust to my body changes and the dynamics of having a newborn. She provided me with "real time" help but also sent me great links to articles and videos based on questions I had for her. She was great with holding my son while I got a nap in. I loved that she'd wear him so that even while I slept he had human contact. And this, I believe, gave him and me feeling of security. She was great with helping me stay on top of the little chores – keeping dishes out of the sink, keeping up with laundry. Personally I’m not a neat freak. In fact, admittedly I'm quite messy. But with a toddler and newborn some things I felt I needed to stay above water on. Again she was great just helping me maintain. Overall McRae is easygoing.

She’s willing to physically help me, but also to just be available for support. She was very flexible, reliable and most importantly to me a valuable resource of knowledge and support. I would highly recommend McRae to assist any new mom and family in those first few weeks/months where everything is new, intimidating yet exciting, and just the time for extra support.
– Angi Bragaw Hamer

“She cared for my baby as if she were her own”

I was referred to McRae by my lactation consultant. McRae came highly recommended, and she certainly lived up to her reputation! I feel very grateful for the opportunity to work with McRae.
McRae has provided excellent doula services to me and my family as we adjust to life with a new baby. These have included assistance with childcare, car seat safety checks (she is certified by the Virginia Department of Health to boot!), car seat recommendations, new mom group referrals, emotional support, and nanny recommendations. She cared for my baby as if she were her own and ensured that my daughter was properly strapped into her car seat. When I had concerns about the safety of a new model of my car seat, she even brought the issue up with other car seat technicians and provided recommendations for contacting the car seat manufacturer regarding a potential recall. McRae leads a new mom group and encouraged me to attend and make some mom friends. She helped me to get out of my new mom "rut." Additionally, she put me in contact with my current nanny. When my nanny was sick, she helped schedule backup coverage through her doula network and even filled in herself several days.
Overall, McRae is extremely accessible and ready at a moment's notice to assist in any way she can. She is very resourceful and has connected me with a wide range of resources. She is friendly, has a warm personality, and makes you feel comfortable around her.
– Caitlin Hosmer

“She is so wonderful with our baby”

McRae has really been a godsend. We had another postpartum doula lined up before meeting McRae, but thankfully the original doula fell through, because McRae has exceeded all our expectations. She is so wonderful with our baby, incredibly knowledgeable and a very patient and non-judgmental resource. We trust her completely with our baby and being in our home. She is very flexible -- we have used her mornings, afternoons, and most often overnights. She's been a huge help, feeding the baby, entertaining him, helping bathe and dress him, changing diapers, staying up to keep an eye on him overnight, washing bottles and pump parts, washing his clothes, washing our clothes, and teaching us how to use our mountain of baby gear. She's very easygoing, encouraging, and happy which we've found to be really helpful in trying and sleep-deprived days.

– Beth Jamerson

“A wonderful resource to help you through the trials and tribulations of new motherhood.”

McRae is an amazing postpartum doula, providing educational, emotional and physical support during a very vulnerable time. She was my part-time companion for over 2 months after the C-section birth of my son and helped me figure out motherhood from breastfeeding to nutritional needs for myself. McRae encouraged baby-wearing techniques and shared her wisdom regarding baby products and services. All in all, a wonderful resource and an incredible spirit to help you through the trials and tribulations of new motherhood. 10 star recommendation.
– Ailsa Long

“You can trust her to take care of your most precious thing...your children.”

I have had the pleasure of McRae helping with my newborn baby girl. She was a lifesaver. She knows her stuff and works with you to come up with strategies that work for your family. You can trust her level of knowledge and you can trust her to take care of your most precious thing...your children. She is always willing to help, even off the clock. My daughter is 14 months old now and she is still helping me. Call her. You won't regret it.
– Melinda Martin

“Any family would be lucky to have her as a postpartum doula.”

McRae helped our family after the birth of my second child. She is so naturally gifted and warm with newborn babies and children. Both her experience and natural ability made me feel completely at ease right away, and my son absolutely adored her. As many of us know, the weeks following the birth can be overwhelming, tiresome and stressful. I was so grateful to have someone as wonderful as her to help and support us through the post-birth process. Because of her it was a much smoother transition and I felt like I had a lot more time to enjoy bonding with my newborn. She offered great advice, stepped in whenever I asked her to, and was always respectful of my parenting style. She bent over backwards to make herself available to us in the middle of winter and was there rain or shine (or snow!). If you plan to breastfeed you should also know that McRae is a breastfeeding Guru! I learned so much from her in this process and any family would be lucky to have her as a postpartum doula.
– Caroline McCormack

“The best decision for me, my baby and my husband.”

I had my first child in 2012 via C-section and had every complication known to man. I got pregnant again and delivered my second child in June of 2014, also via C-section. I knew in advance that I wanted to find someone who could help me and my baby the second time around in case history repeated itself! I chose McRae to be my postpartum doula. It was the best decision for me, my baby and my husband. I wish I’d known about her during my first pregnancy but glad that my second pregnancy went smoother and McRae was there to help. She is a wonderful resource and excellent with postpartum care of both the mother and child. I highly recommend her! If you are fortunate to work with McRae it will be the best money ever spent! Good luck to you but with McRae by your side it is much easier :)
– Amanda Curto McDonough

“She KNOWS newborns.”

McRae saved my life. That may seem dramatic, but it’s true. It started during my pregnancy, when I developed several issues. I sent an email to update her and she immediately replied with several helpful and practical suggestions. She continued to check up on me every few weeks, which was a great support. McRae is flexible. She understands that families often don't know what they need until they need it. She was able to work with me on a week-by-week basis to provide me with support. She did her best to meet my needs and when she personally wasn't available she pulled from her team of postpartum doulas to help. McRae is careful to only work with reliable, caring and talented people. McRae is intelligent and intuitive. She KNOWS newborns. I was amazed at how easily I handed over my precious newborn without a doubt that she’d be just fine. She is able to be a part of your life when you are most vulnerable and make you wish she would never leave your house. She has a comforting demeanor, she is supportive and will provide help/suggestions if you want them. I was so glad to see her each night because I knew I would get some much needed sleep and starting the next day would be a lot easier with a clean kitchen, folded laundry and a picked-up house. McRae is a knowledgeable business owner and the logistics of payment and communication were flawless. She is extremely reliable and hardworking. McRae is dedicated to helping women, babies and families. I heard her tell many stories of how she went out of her way to help a mom in need. She is passionate about her work. And once your time with her is done (like Mary Poppins) she is still available for support or advice. I am so grateful for McRae. I cannot recommend her highly enough!
– Elizabeth “Betsy” Miller

“Oh my goodness, McRae saved my sanity.”

Oh my goodness, McRae saved my sanity. In those early weeks of new parenthood, she taught us the right ways of doing things and gave us confidence. She brought so much good energy into the house and gave me the promise of at least one good night’s sleep per week. I could never express how grateful I am that she does the important work she does because new parents are scared, tired and emotionally overwhelmed. When my prenatal doula suggested I reach out to McRae, I felt a little offended, like I can do this. I don’t need help. It was a humbling experience to realize just how much help I needed and I learned it truly does take a village. I just wish McRae could come longer than 12 weeks because the nights she came to see us made my week!
– Courtney Jones Neal

“Someone to turn to during those tough first months”

McRae and her team were lifesavers for us during the first three months of our son's life. Having experienced postpartum anxiety and delayed postpartum depression with our first child, I was extremely nervous about my mental and emotional stability going into round 2, but thanks to the support we received, I felt like I had resources and someone to turn to during those tough first months. They constantly checked in, allowed us to get full nights of sleep a couple times a week, and even folded laundry, not to mention all the helpful (yet non-intrusive/pushy!) advice. I can't say enough good things about McRae, and would highly recommend her and her team to any parents-to-be.
– Lauren Palmer

“We'll never forget the difference she made”

We found McRae through our birth doula, who recommended her to us after we spent several days in the hospital with our 2-week-old son. Arriving home, we were exhausted, scared, and a bit shell-shocked from the experience. Thankfully, our son was completely healthy and happy, but we needed sleep and I really needed someone to help build my confidence up after the experience. McRae was a godsend. She did all those things and more.
Within a day of us contacting her, she had contacted us and figured out how to take care of us – even though it was short notice. On the nights she came, our baby slept the most he's ever slept and we slept soundly knowing he was in good hands. She would let me know when he woke up and talk to me while I fed him. As a new mom, that was incredibly helpful at 2AM. Then she'd take care of putting him back down while I went back to sleep.

She taught us about baby carriers and helped build my confidence enough to get out of the house with him. She helped me clean and sterilize breast pump parts, taught me tricks of the trade about breastfeeding and pumping, and just stopped by to check in. She just made such a huge difference in getting me to the best possible place to care for my son and she allowed me to enjoy my maternity leave with him more. It's hard to put into words what an impact she had. I had always thought "night nurses" or postpartum doulas were for the incredibly wealthy to use for months and months after their child was born - but I realized you can also just have them come 1-2x per week to help you get some shut-eye and make you feel sane.
She is calm, she knows her stuff and if for some reason she doesn't know the answer to a question you ask her, she will ask around until she finds the best solution. Her network is incredible. We'll never forget the difference she made and we will definitely be using her again if we are lucky enough to have another child.
– Joanna Papalios

“McRae was a lifesaver.”

McRae was a lifesaver. I didn't even know about postpartum doulas with the birth of my first child, but during my second pregnancy I was having serious back problems. I had to get a steroid injection and my husband had to go to work, so I hired McRae literally just to hold the baby and bring her to me to nurse because I could not lift her. Little did I know what McRae could do!! She put my week-old in a sling and proceeded to do the laundry, the dishes, and anything else she could find around the house (with particular thought to those things that would be hard on my back). When my three-year-old came home from school, she even played with her and the baby, giving my husband and I a few minutes to talk to each other! After that, I hired her to come 3-4 times per week to help with the house while I continued my back recovery. Not only was she amazing at that, but she also had all sorts of information that I wish I had had with my first baby. Her tips on nursing and all sorts of baby care were incredibly helpful. I recommend McRae to any new mom, especially new moms who are interested in nursing (because that can be difficult the first, or even second, time).
– Sonya Ravindaranth

“I not only hired the best doula in Richmond, but made a lifelong friend along the way.”

I made the decision to hire a postpartum doula, and I am so glad that I did. McRae came recommended to me by a couple of friends so I knew I was in good hands. Having her there for support got me through those first few challenging weeks. She taught me so much about breastfeeding, baby-wearing and parenting. I think what makes McRae such a wonderful doula is her ability to intuitively respond to the mother and the baby. She was incredibly kind and non-judgmental, which goes a long way especially to a hormonal, exhausted new mom. I not only hired the best doula in Richmond, but made a lifelong friend along the way. Thank you McRae!
– Jeannie Chung Reinick

“She helps with everything”

Where to start with McRae? She comes in with the goal of helping a new mom and her family through a very tumultuous and intense time. But to say she is simply a helper doesn’t come close to describing her value. She prides herself in researching what a new mom needs or might need. She helps with everything from how to use a baby carrier, what to register for, to breastfeeding and nighttime routines. And she provides the basic stuff too: someone to talk to in late night feeding or pumping sessions, and help with basic chores. She was a godsend. We jokingly say that I will call her if I'm even thinking about having unprotected sex to get on her calendar for next time - only I'm not really joking. The only bad thing to say about McRae is that eventually she will move on to her next client.
– Kristin Carleton

“Someone you can really trust”

McRae is simply the best. I am not sure how we would have survived early parenthood without her, frankly. She mostly helped us overnight from about 10pm-6am.
We had a lot of trouble breastfeeding at first. My milk took an entire week to come in and then we struggled to get a good latch. McRae was our rock through all of this -- providing encouragement, advice, referrals to lactation specialists, etc. she got me through a few tearful nights at 3am. Now I’m happy to report that feeding my baby is a breeze!
Not only did McRae take wonderful care of baby (and mom!) but she also helped keep our lives together by doing laundry, putting together baby equipment and even making a smoothie for the morning. (Sometimes it’s hard, as a new mom, to find time to eat!)
McRae is very up on all the latest car seat and baby safety knowledge. I felt like I could always ask her questions and if she didn't have the answer, she would find it for me.
McRae is someone you can really trust who believes in a true standard of excellence. This lady ain't sleeping on the job! She is a machine. Truly one of the best out there. Invaluable.
– Alexandra Saunders

“We had a wonderful experience with her”

I would highly recommend hiring McRae as a postpartum doula. We had a wonderful experience with her after the birth of our second son. I had a C-section, he was a preemie and recovery was rough. The night he came home from the hospital McRae was there. My husband and I were able to get much-needed sleep at night so we could function during the day to care for our newborn son & our 3-year-old. Her calm and cheerful personality and evidence-based recommendations when we had questions were wonderful.
– Kathryn Shewey

“I can't say enough about how much she helped our family”

McRae is amazing and I can't say enough about how much she helped our family during the newborn phase. My grandmother gave us the gift of a night doula, but we would not hesitate to pay for McRae ourselves if we have more children. McRae was a calm and consistent presence for our family amidst the chaos of the first few weeks with a baby, which really made us more confident and relaxed new parents. Sleep is a precious luxury with a new baby, and knowing I would be able to hand my daughter off to capable, loving hands at night was such a relief. McRae's ability to always stay calm and roll with the punches really decreased my stress level even when she wasn't there to help.
McRae was great with our daughter and very flexible as her sleeping needs and routines changed. She was willing to try any number of tactics to get her to go to sleep – multiple swaddle strategies, bouncing on an exercise ball, wearing her in a Moby wrap – you name it! Not to mention her help with dishes and laundry! Whenever people came over to meet our baby, they couldn't believe our house was so clean and we looked so well rested - this was almost all thanks to McRae.
Before hiring McRae I didn't really understand the benefits of a night doula, especially for breastfeeding moms. But it is completely worth the money to be able to wake up, feed your baby, and go right back to bed. Having someone there to ask all your questions as a new parent is also extremely helpful. I also worried I was "cheating" as a mom by not being up with my baby all night, but you are a much better parent during the day if you can get some sleep at night.
After a couple weeks of being "on our own" with the baby, my husband turned to me and said "I miss McRae!" - not just for her help with the baby, but we had gotten so used to her jovial personality and wealth of information every night at 10:00pm.
– Tory Sprehe

“I say she's a miracle worker!”

McRae was the best gift I have ever received! As a first time mom of twins, my in-laws wanted to give us a "night nurse" so we could sleep and not run on fumes...enter McRae! She is a plethora of information on all things baby, breastfeeding, and more! She made me and my husband feel comfortable, and any time I had a concern or question she would always follow it up with some research or article waiting in my email for me the next morning. Not to mention, she always sent me an email the next morning about what went on with my babies through the night (diapers, bottles, etc.). We had McRae with us for about 2 months and it was literally the best thing for our family. She would bring the twins to me to nurse at night then she would take them and get them back down to sleep. I never even had to get out of bed! The days were hard but it was such a relief to know that McRae was coming each night. My twins fed 2x a night for the first month, and then they weaned down to one feeding a night by 2 months. As McRae put it, she “followed their natural patterns," but I say she's a miracle worker! If you do anything while pregnant, save your money, or ask your friends and family to chip in and get you a postpartum doula. It is life changing and I feel like it made me a better mom!
– Lauren Theobald

“I honestly don't know what we would have done without her.”

McRae has been so amazing. As a first-time mother of twins, I honestly don't know what we would have done without her. Not only did she help us during nights so we could get some sleep, she also helped around the house – doing the boys’ laundry, washing bottles, etc. Without being asked. She gave wonderful advice and helped with so many things that it is hard to list. Perhaps the best part was having someone I could ask questions of who was knowledgeable and who made me feel comfortable asking even the most obvious things. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful she is and how much I would recommend her to anyone!
– Kimberly Towne

“A HUGE help to me as mom support”

McRae is, quite simply, amazing. I hired her about two weeks after my daughter was born, when the visitors had left and the enormity of motherhood really set in. I cried during our first meeting - partially due to hormones, but also relief. She wasn't fazed at all, and over the following weeks, continued to be totally unflappable and completely helpful.
I think everyone's experience with a postpartum doula will be different, so I can only speak for myself when I say that not only was McRae a help to me with the baby - offering tips on when to use diaper cream, how to not freak out during bath time, showing me how to wear her - she was a HUGE help to me as mom support. She made sure I ate, drank and rested, helped me combat some of the loneliness that came from being alone in the house all day with a teeny baby, and reassured me and gave me confidence that I was doing a great job. She also connected me with other great resources when I needed them - a lactation consultant, for example - and talked me through a clogged duct, the discovery that my daughter was allergic to my dairy intake and my daughter's first day of daycare. Even now that my daughter is six months old, I check in with her - I value her advice and appreciate her insight.
Overall, McRae is a great person...who also happens to be an amazing support to new families. I cried on the day that she assured me that I could do this mom thing without her, but couldn't be more grateful to have her in our family's life, and recommend her highly to any new parents.
– Marcail Moran Waksom

“I felt 1,000 percent comfortable leaving our babies in her care.”

My husband and I had boy/girl twins in December 2017, and I am not sure we would have survived without McRae and her team! McRae came by the hospital and helped us navigate through breastfeeding, circumcision, and other firsts, and then stayed with us on our first night home from the hospital - despite the fact that it was CHRISTMAS DAY. McRae insisted that we were going to need her, and she was right! I cannot imagine the first few months of my babies' life without McRae. Not only did her visits allow us to get a much-needed full night of sleep and restore our sanity, but her advice - particularly for a first-time mom - was invaluable. McRae helped us put our babies on a schedule (life changing!), transition them to their nursery, taught me how to pump, showed us how to use a sling, recommended doctors and twin products, and did a million other things to make our lives easier. On top of it all, she is a delightful human being, and I felt 1,000 percent comfortable leaving our babies in her care. I cannot recommend McRae and her team highly enough!
– Lauren Wood

“An amazing job at supporting me and my family”

McRae did an amazing job at supporting our family and me through the birth of our second child. I don't know what we would have done without her care and hard work. She treated me and my children with love and respect. I would not hesitate to use her again or recommend her to friends and family.
– Rebecca D.

"We were very pleased with her efficiency and work ethic.”

I got introduced to McRae through my doula to help me during the immediate postpartum period. She helped us get settled in the house and routine when I came back from the hospital. She took special care of my first child during this transition and made sure that our house was very clean and organized. She was very fast and productive and constantly worked on keeping me and the newborn very comfortable. She shared a wealth of information concerning breastfeeding, postpartum diet and pumping methods. We enjoyed working with her and were very pleased with her efficiency and work ethic. We will definitely recommend her if you are looking for a postpartum service.
– Aruna F.

“Invaluable in assisting me with the babies and household chores”

Our family has had the great fortune to have McRae work for us part-time as a postpartum doula for more than 3 months. As a new mom to twins McRae has been invaluable in assisting me with the babies and household chores. McRae brings a lot of experience, knowledge and expertise in taking care of multiples. Moreover, McRae has the unique ability to lighten up our day with her laughter, care and love. Further, McRae is highly reliable and professional – she has never missed a shift and she tries her hardest to accommodate me whenever I need her. I highly recommend McRae and will happily serve as her reference.

– Birgitte D.

“If you’re looking for someone to care for and love your baby like you would, you should choose McRae.”

Wow!!! McRae was wonderful! I have been so pleased with the work, coordination, planning, and communication that I have had with McRae. She has been so thoughtful and very communicative. Even though she was our doula for baby number three, I learned so much from her. She is so informed on current baby trends, and any question I had that she didn't know she found out within 24 hours, and e-mailed me before she came back the next day. She did overnights for our family, and I was very comfortable with her in our home. She always kept our baby calm, in clean clothes, and she can swaddle like nobody's business! If you are looking for someone to care for and love your baby like you would, then you should choose McRae.
– Alexandra M.