TESTIMONIALS

Nicole was my first experience with a doula. I wanted a Natural birth and knew the best way to go that course was to have labor support. When I met Nicole I felt very comfortable with her and reassured by her experience that I would be in good hands. She was able to answer my questions and assure me I'd get through it. In the weeks leading up to the birth she checked on me frequently and advised she could meet me at any time during the birth. She was on call for me. I was 11 days late when my water broke. My midwife advised me to wait 12 hours before coming to the hospital if I did not go into labor naturally. I didn't go into labor at home in those 12 hours so I had Nicole meet me at the Hospital for an induction. Nicole met me at the hospital with her infuser and as I received the pitocin she began to massage my feet and help me to relax. In the subsequent hours the pitocin induced contractions were very close together, one after another, and things seemed to go slow. She helped advocate on my Husband and I's behalf to dial down the pitocin and "give me a break" from the back to back contractions, which did give me some temporary relief. I was without an epidural and experiencing, truly, the worst pain in my life. Nicole and my Husband took turns for about 10 hours rubbing my back and hips, performing hip compressions, and putting me into different and more comfortable positions. She talked me down from more than one near panic attack as I struggled to keep it together without pain medication. Just when I thought I couldn't go epidural free any longer, the midwife checked my dilation and I was at 9 CM. Twenty minutes later, I began to push. I was so exhuasted from the pain I endured over the last 10 hours, I didn't know how I could push out this baby. But Nicole cheered me on and assured me that the baby was almost here. An hour of pushing and he came, 8.6 lbs of perfection. Thanks Nicole, we did it!  -Alma