Bunky Bambino - Vancouver Birth and Postpartum Doulas

I want to start by saying the star rating is not a reflection of the service provided by the postpartum doula. She is great and when she was able to make it I was very happy with how gentle she was with our baby.

If you are looking to hire for Postpartum support, I would suggest looking for a more reliable company to do so. I mainly wanted this service for the first 2 weeks after giving birth, my appointments were cancelled 3-4 times due to the doula having to a attend a birth, day of.

I understand that is their priority but it really leaves us without the support/coverage we were hoping for. Today, the doula had to leave halfway through her shift as a client was heading to the hospital. She was very apologetic, and of course we understood again that was a priority.
When you plan your day counting on the support, wanting to go for a short walk which is what we had planned it really is disappointing not to be able to do that. Even worse, going on that walk and having to return quickly, or if one has an appointment etc.

We had shifts scheduled as of beginning of January and so far have had 1.5 shifts actually happen.

Maybe we got incredibly unlucky but next time I would probably look for a postpartum doula service that is exclusively postpartum oriented, so I can get the support I was so excited and hopeful to get!

Every part of working with Bunky Bambino was great! From organizing what postpartum help I would need, finding the right doula for us, and easily changing dates needed as my birth planned inevitably changed- everything was done easily and with care.

Vanessa was our doula and she was absolutely wonderful! This was our first baby and she passed along many sleeping and care tips our way while allowing me to properly sleep with no worry while she was here. Her caring demeanour is exactly the type of person you want looking after your baby. She was also amazing with our Bernese Mountain Dog which really made a difference for us. She always spent time fussing over her when she arrived
Would highly recommend both Bunky Bambino and Vanessa!

Our doula took a nap after only being with us for a few hours, so I was laboring alone. During that time I experienced obstetrical violence and had no one to advocate for me. She did not tell me I could decline unwanted interventions. Terrible birth experience.

Incidentally, their version of "resolving" our humiliating, traumatic, ruined birth experience was an anemic non-apology, stating "we're sorry you felt that way. "

I wish I could go back in time and choose a different doula, but since I can't, I want to share my experience in order to caution others about choosing Bunky Bambino.

My wife and I want to give a big shout out to Emma M!

Having postpartum night support was an absolute game-changer for those first few weeks (especially because this is our second child and it's a lot of work juggling a toddler and a newborn!).

Not only were we able to actually get some rest, but we also picked up some excellent tips from Emma that really helped us hit the ground running soothing our son. If we ever have another child, we would 100% love to work with Emma again.

Thanks Emma!

Our doula took a nap after only being with us for a few hours, so I was laboring alone. During that time I experienced obstetrical violence and had no one to advocate for me. She did not tell me I could decline unwanted interventions. Terrible birth experience.

Incidentally, their version of "resolving" our traumatic, ruined birth experience was an anemic non-apology, stating "we're sorry you felt that way. "

We welcomed our babygirl to the world with the help of Bunky Bambino's Alana. She was absolutely fantastic and such a beautiful presence to have around during such a chaotic 18 hours. My waters broke at 12am and she was there, ready for us whenever we wanted her to be. While we were a "covid couple" with only one person allowed in the room, it was a shame my mother couldn't be there, but at least I was able to have Alana as an extra pair of hands and support during birth! When she arrived, my anxiety shifted. She helped my husband with everything from pushing on my hips so he could hold my hands during contractions, to just getting me comfortable and making sure I was getting all the care I needed from doctors and nurses.

If we're so blessed to be able to have another one, I can't wait to have Alana by our side again. Thank you Bunky and Alana!

Emma was an absolute joy and took incredible care of our kiddos during their first few months. The best gift a new parent could possibly give themselves is time to sleep - and Emma’s magic meant everyone in the house had a solid night’s rest.

We are so grateful to have Karli as our postpartum doula. She was always helpful to take care of our baby and completely earned her affection. We really appreciate her support during this special period.

It was a pleasure to work with Alana as birth doula and postpartum doula for night shifts, and Karli as postpartum doula for my twin baby girls.

Alana is such a gentle soul. She has a mother touch on whatever she does. I remember she was relaxing me with her massage when I was finger feeding my babies to teach sealing for getting them back to breast and preparing fruit platter when I needed it most. Many many thanks.

Both Emma and Alana gave me the tender support and generational wisdom I desperately needed after giving birth during the pandemic. They were reassuring, kind and so encouraging. I can’t wait to use their services (and see them again!) when I have my next baby. 1000% recommend! Love you guys.

We used Bunky for our 4th baby's post partum period. As it was going to be my 2nd csection, and previously suffering from post partum depression, I knew I would need the help. We were placed with Alana, who was very kind and nurturing. She had a very calm aura and the whole family enjoyed her. It truly made things so smooth for what could have been a rough postpartum (I ended up having gallstone attacks during my early weeks) We also ended up using Rachel for the following weeks as Alana had an early birth and postpartum client. Alana informed her of my family's needs and Rachel swooped in and made the transition as easy as possible. Rachel was able to help with my newborn and also play with my older children, she had a natural talent of keeping them entertained. We also used Bunky for placenta encapsulation. They were easy to work with and my pills were dropped off at my house. I didn't get post partum depression and noticed my mood was better while I took them compared to when I didnt. But I also had the additional help that I didn't have previously.
All in all, I would definitely recommend Bunky for your post partum needs.

The deepest thanks to Alana Ludington who was our birth doula.

As a first time birther, I felt supported, held and aware of what could happen during the birth experience. The pressure of knowing what to do was non existent because of Alana's knowledge, support and attention. Alana's grounding energy provided so much care and love for both my partner and I. We had meetings before and after babe arrived and several phone/text check ins. I would highly recommend the support of a doula whether its your first birth or tenth! To have another to support, hold and nurture you is the best gift you can give yourself in this massive life experience. Many, many thanks.

We contact Bunky Bambino because we wanted a bit more support during the nights and some days, and the team put us in touch with Emma M. She was great and helped support my partner and I during the early month struggles. She answered our questions and was extremely patient with our newborn.

We were very happy with the service we received from the Bunky team. Our postpartum doula, Emma Mutch, was absolutely fantastic. At our pre-planning meeting she asked all the right questions and made us feel reassured and cared for. Our situation was unique in that we needed sibling doula care for our 2-year-old while we went to the hospital to give birth as our family couldn't travel due to the COVID-19 situation. Emma connected really well with our daughter and we felt completely confident having her there for a day and a half while we were at BC Women's. She was very proactive in helping out in myriad ways when we returned from the hospital, and really helped my wife out in the early days of troubleshooting breastfeeding. I would highly recommend Emma and Bunky for postpartum doula care!

I cannot thank Tamara enough for her care and support during such an intense time of transition - especially as a first time mom (of twins) and after having a very difficult pregnancy. She really made me feel validated and heard.

Tamara was our post-partum doula; we hired her through Bunky Bambino when our twins were 2 months. My husband was returning to work and we realized I would need some additional hands while I was on my own.

Tamara is an amazing doula and I felt very grateful and fortunate to have her care for me and our babies. I remember on her first day she made me breakfast and snacks throughout the day- it was really nice to have someone take care of me while I was adjusting to two babies. She was so gentle and nurturing with our babies too, we felt that we were in excellent hands.

We really appreciated Tamara’s ability to anticipate needs and help come up with solutions; if she didn’t know she was great at engaging her network to help. She was very efficient at getting things done (e.g, helping bathe babies, laundry, meal prep, giving me time to rest while she would put babies to sleep), while still being respectful, empathetic and kind!

We miss her and can’t recommend her enough!

Thank you Emma and wonderful team (Josie and Arti who we also highly recommend) for your support, I’m always recommending Bunky when I hear friends are pregnant ;)

Carola and Marko

We had Hayaat come to our place for some night support at first, then daytime support. She was amazing- caring, professional, knowledgeable and made mom’s sleep a priority. We’d highly recommend Bunky Bambino to anyone with a new baby. They are fantastic.

I cannot speak highly enough of the amazing team at Bunky Bambino. Emma D and her team came into our lives when our family was on a bit of an unexpected rollercoaster due to COVID-19, my partner leaving to work overseas and me single handedly planning a move overseas alone while simultaneously caring for our three month old daughter. As soon as Carissa walked through the door with her easygoing personality, sense of calm and endless warmth and compassion, we were at ease and knew we were in wonderful hands. Our travel adventure and move to New Zealand was a success and we are so grateful for the postpartum care we received.

~ Baby Emma, Jenn, Jon & our pup Professor Khaos

Bunky Bambino provided me with post partum care at three different intervals over the past year. I recommend Bunky on a consistent basis to everyone who asks me about doulas!

Emma, the owner is exceptionally organized and responsive. I trust her whole heartedly and her operation and practices. She has coordinated support for me whenever and however possible.

My initial doula after my baby was born was Dayna. She was full of love and care and what I’ll never forget is she would meet every shrieking new born sound with a sweet little giggle and promptly figure out the baby’s needs with ease and joy.

Then Arti came to us during the Covid lockdown as I desperately tried to watch over a 5 month old and a 5 year old and a depleted milk supply on no sleep. Arti was full of knowledge, advice, experience, expertise and a goddess in the kitchen.

Then came Tamara, again much needed help during Covid times. Her holistic approach, knowledge and passion nourished us yet again. Her enthusiasm to support and her gentle, kind, loving, energetic and organizational approach will be with me forever.

All of these women, their nuances are now apart of our story, they are apart of our family and I will be forever grateful to them for their love, care and support of my children. I wish them all the very best in their journeys and they are welcome in our home always.

We were privileged to have Tamara as our birth doula. She was born to do this work. She is gentle, warm, joyful, extremely knowledgeable, an impressive listener, and the hands you need doing the work you didn't even realize would be there. We simply could not have birthed our girl without her guidance, support, and care. She did a phenomenal job preparing us for the big day and never hesitated to be with us when we needed her either virtually and physically present. Do yourself a favor and procure her services for your important day!

Alana was an amazing doula to work with over the weeks before and after the birth of our son. She brought a warm, gentle and confident energy that allowed my husband and I to give her our full faith in her ability to be our advocate in the hospital, and she managed to juggle unforeseen circumstances during the birth with grace. She was also very helpful and responsive postpartum, and I appreciated her wise words and quick answers immensely. I highly recommend working with Bunky Bambino to any expectant mums out there considering hiring a doula!

Bunky Bambino was a big help. Our Doula was a huge load off of our shoulders every day we had her.

A big thank you to Bunky Bambino’s Emma for her amazing support and expertise during our first experience as parents to a newborn baby (who surprised us by arriving early during the first wave of Covid lockdown madness in March 2020). When all of our supports that we had lined up fell through because of the pandemic, Emma was there and provided amazing care and wisdom to our family during delivery and the postpartum stage. We would highly recommend Bunky Bambino to any families considering doula care!

The Bunky Bambino team were essential during the early months with our twins. With my husband away out of town on many nights for work, it was the overnight post partum support from Emma and Bri that gave me some extra time for.another pump session (or two!) and also could allow me some more solid sleep so I could be ready for the next day ahead.
Immediately when I met both Emma and Bri, I knew my babies were in safe, caring and experienced hands. Both possess a positive and warm energy that make a new mom feel confident and encouraged (particularly this first time mom!). I appreciated how they made sure I was also well taken care of, in addition to their heartfelt, professional attention to the babies. Bri is a total sweetheart and Emma is full of drive and passion as a care provider.
They will forever be remembered as a part of the village that got us through those first months of twin life!

Emma was our doula when we welcomed our baby girl in April 2020. At the time, we were not sure whether we needed a doula-we had the support of a great midwife team, and we had lined up help from family for after the baby was born. Looking back, I can't imagine how we would have survived without her! Because of the pandemic, our family was not able to visit, and Emma was our only support during labour and the postpartum period. Her presence was grounding and reassuring during an especially stressful time.

Emma was with us throughout labour and delivery and came to visit a few times a week for several weeks after the birth. She was also available by text at all hours during those first few weeks to help with all our anxious new-parent questions. Thank you, Emma!

Emma surpassed our expectations as the doula supporting the birth of our first child.

Her extensive experience, knowledge, and calm demeanour helped to boost our confidence and comfort level going into such an important life event.

We met with Emma multiple times during the prenatal stage to set expectations and create our birth plan for the big day. She attended the birth of our child and helped to make sure that experience went as smoothly as possible. Finally, during the 4th trimester Emma was available to answer our questions, give us helpful tips and tricks, and guide our transition as new parents.

Our family worked with Arti when our twins came home from the NICU. She has such a gentle approach and a calming presence that really worked well for our personalities. Our babies also loved spending time with her, she had a very intuitive way of knowing exactly what they needed. We didn’t work directly with Emma, but she was always available and very responsive when we had questions. Felt genuinely supported and cared for by our team, would absolutely recommend to all first time and twin parents!

Where do I start? Emma was amazing during my pregnancy and birth. She was so down to earth and calming during the entire labour. I couldn't imagine not having her by my side during the birth, especially during COVID. I felt so well supported and heard during my birth experience because Emma was there for us. For postpartum, Emma went the extra effort again to check in on us to see how we were doing. We also had Shania as our postpartum doula. She was also fantastic! She was there for night support and helped immensely with breastfeeding, provided ample reassurance and guidance about my concerns, and made sure we were well rested. I am so happy that we decided to have doula support from Bunky Bambino during pregnancy and postpartum! Best investment ever!

Emma and Bunky Bambino came so highly recommended by friends, I basically couldn't say no. We knew we were going to have a c-section and wanted some postpartum support. I had no idea how much I would need Emma until my baby was born - you just have no idea how insane it is until you're IN it. From mental health support and check-ins, to night shifts and sleep support, to making sure my baby could eat (and making sure I was eating too), she helped us with it ALL. I had issues with breastfeeding and Emma was there to help me figure out what we needed to do to make it happen. It took 10 weeks total before we were breastfeeding without support, and if she hadn't been there I would have given up. There is nothing more important than the mental health and wellbeing of the ENTIRE family unit. She easily navigates issues with openness and positivity, comes to solutions quickly and is a truly gifted Doula. We also shared in the joys of a new baby and parenthood with her because we wanted to and she felt like a part of our family. I could go on and on, but please just hurry up and BOOK HER.

We hired Tamara from Bunky Bambino for the homebirth of our first baby. Being a midwife myself and coming from a country where doulas are not very common, I first was skeptical if hiring a doula is really necessary. But my midwives at Westside Midwives strongly recommended me to hire a doula and so I did. The 3 prenatal visits from Tamara were very helpful and gave me trust in a new system in a new country. My homebirth was more than I ever expected and absolutely beautiful. Although I didn't needed Tamara directly to support me during labour, she quickly set up the birthpool and so she enabled me to have my desired water birth. She also created a wonderful atmosphere and made sure that every little detail was perfect. The cooperation between the midwives and Tamara was very nice and we all were really glad to have Tamara at our birth. I definitely recommend hiring a doula for your birth in Vancouver, it can make a huge difference, especially when you are planning a home birth!

We hired Bunky Bambino for our postpartum care. For the entire first postpartum month, we had four doulas taking shifts looking after my baby and me day and night. While they were all excellent doulas, I was particularly fond of Tamara Starcevi. Tamara was outstanding. She was caring and gentle with me and the baby. More importantly, she was also very detail-oriented, courteous and diligent. Her genuine desire to help women, especially new moms is heart-warming, which shows in the quality of her service. Tamara is also a curious learner. She is constantly learning how to improve her knowledge and skills to provide outstanding service to her clients.  For a new mom who was nervous about looking after a newborn, Tamara made me feel secure and reassured. I was able to place so much trust in her that I left my 3-week-old baby with her to look after when I had to go to a work meeting for two hours. In fact, I liked Tamara so much that I retained her service again when my baby was 4 months old for a week when I had to work. I highly recommend Tamara. She made my postpartum experience pleasant and less stressful.

Emma was quick to offer assistance and extremely professional throughout the planning process of finding us someone who would fit our family.
We had the privilege of Annie (our night Doula) coming to help us during the early weeks of our daughter's life. Annie was encouraging, resourceful, kind, compassionate and patient during a time that felt like the Wild West. Our daughter also adored her, which made us feel extremely comfortable.
Thank you Bunky Bambino!

Emma helped us with our first pregnancy, birth and early days of postpartum before the Covid lockdown - she was incredibly supportive and had so many resources easily accessible to us! We had a big change of plans on what our birth was going to look like and she was a major part of helping us transition without too much grief.

We feel so grateful to have had Emma's steady support before and after our daughter was born. From our first meeting with Emma we knew she was what we needed to help get us through our first birth - and boy did we ever need her! A week or labour and a long journey at the hospital ending in an emergency C-section, Emma was by our side. Her continued remote check ins and then in person support during active labour and right through into the wee hours of the morning was incredible. We would recommend any new parents hire a doula and find the one that fits for you - Emma was definitely that one for us!

Emma and Marlo are a wealth of knowledge. Their passion and years of experience is incomparable. My birth went completely opposite to how it was planned. When I started to hit a wall of exhaustion during labour, Emma arrived with her TENS and strong support. My husband and I had to make quick decisions in the hospital regarding medications and eventually, a cesarean and Emma was there - with her unbiased outlook - to quickly discuss pros and cons for the best way to deliver our baby safely. She is a rock and has a true gift in calming the intensity both labour and birth can bring. We’d recommend both Emma and Marlo and the Bunky Bambino family to anyone who wants a strong, compassionate, experienced Doula.

We booked Bunky Bambino last minute for an out of town birth. Each person that came to watch our newborn was warm kind and adored our baby. We couldn’t have been more happy with them. We would highly recommend Bunky Bambino to anyone who asked us.

The BEST INVESTMENT we ever made was hiring our amazing doulas - Julia, Arti and Brooklyn - for postpartum support! In addition to giving us the much needed rest and help, they have been our rock and guiding light throughout our fourth trimester. We have learned so much from our doulas and they enabled us to feel confident as first time parents. I especially appreciate how every doula has their own specialty, whether it be reflexology, breastfeeding support, or infant massage. They truly encompass holistic care for new mamas and babies. Hiring a postpartum doula is a must for every new parent!

Marlo and Emma are amazing people! After reading great reviews online, I met up with them to discuss birth plan etc for our second baby. They were warm, compassionate, caring and empathetic right from the start. I knew immediately they were the perfect fit! We had Marlo for our birth. I couldn't have imagined our special day (and night) to go any other way! I don't think - in fact I know - we wouldn't have had the same experience and outcome without Marlo's expertise and experience. She was more than I could have ever hoped for.
The after care has been remarkable. This duo is outstanding! I would highly recommend Bunky Bambino to anyone wanting to have a great birth and postpartum experience! These ladies are super special! Can't thank them enough!

How do people give birth without BunkyBambino? Such wonderful support, I truly don't know how we would have done it without Emma's unwavering calm and kind reassurance. Emma and Marlo bring a wealth of knowledge, that sets your mind at ease from the very first meeting. Thank you Bunky Bambino.

Marlo and Emma are the absolute epitome of birth and baby dream team! Caring and compassionate, they are a wealth of knowledge and support. They both intuitively knew exactly where to be when we needed them. Beyond the birth itself, their support extended into our postpartum journey and truly impacted us in more ways than I can count. When I think back to all the times they helped us along the way, I can’t imagine our birth and postpartum experience without these two miracle workers! Our gratitude for both Marlo and Emma goes beyond measure. Thank you so much for being such an important and impactful part of our story!

We can not say enough amazing things about Emma and Marlo. They are so experienced and knowledgable. The at home visits were incredibly helpful and really aided my husband and I in preparing.

Marlo was with us on birth day for over 24 hours, and we can’t imagine it without her. We were both so well supported both physically and emotionally. Truly could not have done it with out her.

We would 100% recommend Bunky Bambino to anyone looking for support throughout their pregnancy and birth.

Very happy to have had Savannah and Aimee at our place to help with our newborn daughter. Warm and caring attention to my newborn, entertaining my 2 year old, plus helping around the house too! Made the first 2 months with our new baby that much more manageable and enjoyable:) Thanks again Marlo and the Bunky Bambino crew.

The ladies with Bunky Bambino (Marlo & Emma) were so incredible throughout our entire pregnancy, labour and into postpartum. Their experience speaks volumes and really helped us understand the entire process and what to expect, especially during labour where things can get very intense and overwhelming. They were there for us day and night when we needed it the most and we couldn't be happier to have had them with us along the way. We would 100% recommend Bunky Bambino to anyone looking for support throughout pregnancy. If you're not too sure, make sure to at minimum meet with them for a coffee to talk things over and ask questions to make your own decision. A huge thank you ladies of Bunky Bambino for all that you did for us. We are so appreciative and forever grateful.)

When I found out I was pregnant with triplets I was excited, but also completely terrified. One of the first things I thought of was how would I ever sleep again! I immediately went on a search to see where I could find the best overnight help. From the first email and phone call with Marlo I felt confident I had found the team I needed to help me get through the first few months. Marlo is wonderful and organized a rockstar team to help us survive at home. Arti, Savannah and Aimee have all been absolutely amazing! I felt immediate trust in each of them to watch, feed, and cuddle my babies so I could get a few hours of much needed rest. They are all so caring, warm and knowledgeable. In the moments I started to feel overwhelmed I knew I could count on them to listen to my frustrations and fears and help me navigate caring for 3 babies. They each brought with them wonderful experience and always had answers to my many questions. Now as I venture more on my own I feel so lucky to have had their support and guidance over the last few months.

Couldn’t imagine what my birth experience would be if I didn’t have Marlo there. She made me and all my family so comfortable and made this experience extra special. Would recommend their services to anyone. So appreciative and thankful of Marlo’s services.

Me and my partner had engaged Marlo/Emma as our birth doulas, and Marlo was the one on call when I went into labor. We had the pleasure of having Marlo's warm, knowledgeable, non-judgmental and empathetic support and guidance through our long and difficult labor (30+ hours), full of twists and turns. Her support extended to post-partum days, and greatly helped us navigate the journey to parenthood. I was nervous at first to have a 'stranger in the delivery room', but Marlo masterfully made it feel like she was an old friend, putting both me and my partner immediately at ease. We can't imagine having to go through it all without her by our side. If we were to go through another pregnancy, we would definitely want her support. Many thanks also to Emma for prenatal guidance and postpartum help.

From the moment we met Marlo and Emma we felt immediately supported on our birth journey.they are both incredibly knowledgeable, and resourceful and always offered the most practical solutions, keeping our birthing intentions in mind. Marlo attended our birth: while we "planned" for a home birth, our gorgeous daughter had other plans and we ended up with a c-section. Marlo did everything she could to make sure that elements from our home birth were included in the surgery. I have no doubt that the peace I felt had a lot to do with her. Plus she gives the best foot massages and bakes the most delicious pies.cannot recommend bunky bambino enough - we feel grateful and blessed that our daughter entered this world under Marlo's care.

We reached out to Marlo and Bunky Bambino when our daughter was born and we were looking for some postpartum support. We were hooked up with Savannah, who was fantastic! She helped around the house, and most importantly, let me take some much needed naps in the early weeks. Having the support of a postpartum doula was incredible- I recommend it to everyone!