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Here is a testimonial about the doula service
I provided from a client. She was gracious in allowing me to put it on my website.
"I gave birth to my first child, a beautiful daughter, Sophia Bella, in April of 2007 in Asheville,
NC.
I had a vaginal birth. My water broke at 10:00pm on 4/13/07. My husband called Kelly, and by the time
we arrived at the hospital, she was there from Charlotte. I still think that she has wings - she got here so fast.
We delivered a healthy wonderful baby at 10:00am on 4/14/07.
Our experience was simply amazing. Kelly was wonderful.
I don't know what we would have done without her. She is a comforting doula. She respected our choices and supported our
decisions every step of the way. My birth experience was wonderful. My husband and I had attended child birth
classes together. The combination of our training and Kelly made a world of difference. I had some complications
with my post-birth experience. I experienced postpartum hemorraging and required a blood transfusion. Kelly was
with us every step of the way. The hemorraging happened very quickly and it became an emergency situation for my husband and
I. Kelly was there to ease the crisis, comfort/calm us down, and assist us with taking care our baby.
I was
unable to go with Bella for the post-birth testing/follow up that they do, so Kelly went with the baby and my husband.
I felt so relieved knowing she was there to help us. Another wondreful thing she did, that was above and beyond, was
going out to purchase me high-iron foods (red meat, spinach, molasses, etc.)The physicians stated that they were monitioring
my iron to determine the need for another blood transfusion, but the hospital was not providing me any iron supplements or
high-iron foods. For dinner I was given Speggitti so Kelly went to the grocery store and came back with a smorgasboard
of high iron yummy food for me. It really made a
differnece.
I believe that her actions and KNOWLEDGE
greatly impacted my medical recovery . It was above and beyond...
Additionally, Kelly stayed in Asheville
an extra day to be with us during the blood transfusion and assist us with the baby. My husband and I were quite exhausted.
I also want to mention that Kelly is a wonderful breast feeding advocate. She is knowlegable and supportive.
Breastfeeding is very important to me and I am happy to report that Bella (Bella is a year old) and I are still breastfeeding
and it is a wonderful experience!
In regards to services that Kelly provided, she supported me in the laboring
techniques my husband and I chose: breathing, massage, imagery, laboring on the birthing ball and other labor positions, etc.
She assisted me with breastfeeding and getting Bella to the breast as soon as she was born. She went to the grocery
store for us, brought food in, provided relief for my husband, assisted me with personal hygenine. We also hired her
to take photographs for us. She is an amazing photographer.
Making the deision to share our birth experience
with Kelly was a wonderful decision. We could not have been happier with the whole experience.
For all the new
mommy's out there - best wishes on your new mommy journey!"
-
Billie G 2007
  
  "The prenatal visits with Kelly helped her
gain important information about what we wanted in our birth. It also was useful in helping us all get to know one another.
She was able to get a good feel of our personalities which proved helpful later. Kelly provided a great deal of information
about our options and the process that was ahead. Understanding the various potential problems, interventions, and coping
techniques beforehand allowed us to careful consider our choices.
I had been in pre-labor for days during which
Kelly kept in touch and was ready to go anytime. I called her after we were admitted to the hospital to let her know it was
finally time. This was around 4:30 am and Kelly was at the hospital within about half an hour. She brought a wonderful relaxing
ocean sounds CD that helped me relax throughout labor. She brought the sock filled with rice and kept it warm to help relieve
lower back pain and pressure that I experienced. Upon arrival she immediately sought out items from the hospital staff that
would be helpful during labor. She brought a birth ball in case all of the balls that the hospital provides were in use. She
was able to locate extra pillows and towels that were useful in trying various positions. During delivery she had the hospital
staff locate the squatting bar.
Taking care of those things was very helpful and something I was in no position
to do and that my husband had no idea to acquire. However, she did so much more than simply locate and provide tools for labor
and delivery. She herself was the greatest tool. She was there to offer various suggestions for positions to help the baby
rotate and move labor along. She was excellent at adapting to my needs. Although I had some idea of the positions and soothing
tools that I would like to try before labor, once labor began I had to adapt to the things that worked for me at the time.
If one position didn't work we could quickly change to something that provided more relief. I didn't expect to want
to be touched during labor but I found that during contractions, I wanted constant touch to know that I wasn't alone.
She held my hand and stroked my arm. She and my husband did this together at times and she was there for me while he took
a much needed nap.
Kelly was a great comfort to both me and my husband. I spoke little during labor and Kelly was
there to provide support to my husband when I couldn't. She explained the pros and cons of any intervention that we might
be considering. When I finally had my water broken by the doctor, she helped prepare my husband for the increase in pain that
would accompany contractions. This advance warning helped him handle the change in my labor with support instead of concern.
Kelly had a great sense of when to step in and help but never interfering with my husband's role of support. My husband
had been concerned that a doula would replace him during labor. He soon realized that the process was much longer than he
anticipated. Kelly helped remind him of the techniques and tools that he learned about in childbirth preparation class. He
now raves about doulas and recommends them to all of his friends who are expecting. Kelly was a great compliment to having
my husband as a support partner.
Each birth is different and while it is possible to prepare, I wasn't able
to know exactly how things would be until it happened. Having Kelly there helped me have the birth experience that I wanted.
Sure, I would have loved for things to have gone quicker but the fact that it wasn't quick made it even more crucial to
have Kelly's assistance. When things felt most difficult she offered encouragement and provided the information that I
needed to deal with where I was. I had planned to walk, use the birthing ball, and squat more. However, due to the back pain
I simply wanted to stay seated with heat and pressure applied to my lower back. When it became necessary to help the baby
rotate Kelly gave me the encouragement I needed to get out of bed. I was able to avoid the use of medications and had no intervention
other than the breaking of my water. I know that I wouldn't have succeeded in having that type of birth if I wasn't
prepared. Kelly was a huge part of that preparation and the most important tool to help with the process.
The pictures
that Kelly takes were an amazing bonus. At the time, I wasn't as concerned about photos as I was about having help with
the labor and delivery. Now, I love having those images. My husband and I were both so focused on the moment, as we should
have been. Now we have these wonderful images of our son as he was first born and the three of us as we met and became a family.
Thanks again for everything! You were amazing!"
Angie N 2008
Kelly
stayed till after 1:00am. I was so grateful she was there. She kept saying that she barely did anything because
I went so fast. But I have to whole heartily disagree. Because she was there when she was, from the moment she arrived at
the house, I felt I was going to be all right. She knew what was happening and was able to help Kev and I stay focused and
not freak out. She also saved me from myself when the nurse asked if I wanted an epidural. Although it may be debated if there
was really any time for one, Kelly helped me take step back from the pain and rethink what I had promised my self. I think
both her and I knew in the back of our minds if I waited till I was 8 cm there really wasn't going to be time for an epidural.
I kind of forced my own hand, taking away the option for an epidural without having to make that promise to anyone else. I
was hoping I could do it with out drugs. While in the labor room I remember Kelly talking to Kevin, telling him I was in transition and that I was
OK. He must have been getting nervous because I was in allot of pain at that point. I am sure he wished I had gotten the epidural
because I was pretty loud and that must have scared him. She also had her mini fan blowing on me, which felt wonderful because
I was so hot and sweaty. I do not remember much of what was said while I was pushing, no one had to count for me to push,
my body was doing what it needed and I had no control at that point anyway so I just went with it. I know I had the birth of my dreams
because I worked so hard for it to come true. Of course Mother Nature could have changed those plans at anytime. It may be
naive of me to think that I had that much control over what happened but it really did feel like I did. From being able to
labor at home for so long and feel so strong and in control, to knowing what to expect during labor and delivery, I felt prepared
and safe. Having a doula was one of the first decisions I made after finding out I was pregnant and I couldn't be more
pleased that I had Kelly there. During my pregnancy I have gotten to know her and become friends with her. I think that being
surrounded with the people that mean the most to me, my husband and my Mom, gave me the power to let me my body run the show.
Having Kelly there was the perfect addition to my labor team. Without her expertise and sole concentration on my labor and
me, I would have felt scared and out of control. She encouraged me when I felt the contractions
taking over and I got scared. She supported every decision I made and reinforced why I had made those decisions. She educated
me on hospital births and the choices I had, and boy there were allot. Her service as a doula was such an integral part of
my birth and her friendship is a sweet bonus.
Kathryn
M 2008
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