--Choosing a doula for our birth was a big decision for me and my husband. He was afraid that he would be taken out of the picture if someone else was there to help me embrace the labor. Abby was an easy choice because we both felt a very comfortable connection with her when we first met. She was great in our visits and gave us alot of confidence in the last few months of our pregnancy. When the time finally came, it was so wonderful that she could come to my home even though it was 3AM!!! I loved having her there to offer so many pain coping techniques, tea, snacks and a chance for my husband to get some rest. Her relaxed attitude was very soothing and kept me very focused throughout the labor experience. She had so many tricks up her sleeve, from peppermint on face cloths for nausea to a great post-partum perineum rinse. My son had a hard time learning to latch on after birth and having Abby there at my house with her La Leche League experience was very comforting. I had such an amazing birthing experience with Abby. Having her there allowed my husband to focus all of his energy on my emotional needs because he didn't need to worry about trying to remember all the things we learned in pre-natal classes. I would want Abby present for the birth of any future children we have.
--We interviewed quite a few different Doulas, but as soon as we met Abby we knew we had found someone who was calming, knowledgeable and had a few tricks up her sleeve to help us get through the labour and delivery of our first child. For me as the partner, I was really looking for someone who would support me in supporting my wife. Abby was excellent at helping me understand what my wife needed when all around seemed like chaos. Throughout the birth, Abby was there for my wife, me and my mother in law, making sure we were fed and watered and saying all the right things. I can't imagine the birth of our baby boy without her as our doula.
