From the minute I met Lisa I instantly felt comfortable with her. Right away I knew I was making a good decision in hiring her and she was the first and only doula I met with. Through my entire pregnancy she was there for me in a way no one else could be. She was an outsider, passing no judgement and holding no bias. She looked at me and treated me like a pregnant woman needing companionship and support, and she had the knowledge to back up that role. My fiance was there for me, and he was amazing, but Lisa provided me with something he couldn't. And she provided him with something I couldn't. She supported my decisions and helped me be sure I was educated in the way I needed to be in making those decisions. She was there for me and only me and made me feel like someone understood, because being pregnant there were times I felt like nobody understood what I was feeling and going through, but she did. And I could not begin to explain how much that helped me during my pregnancy. Lisa was there for everything I needed and always checked in on me and asked how I was doing. I thought that when the time came for me to have my daughter i'd be uncomfortable with a stranger being there for something so intimate and personal. But by the time I went into labor she was not a stranger anymore. She no longer felt like somone I had hired. It felt like she was a million different things- a friend, a mother, a sister, a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, and my rock to help me through. I called Lisa to come over at around 1 am, and I was so scared and in a lot of pain when she showed up. But once I saw her it was like my strength all came back to me. Everything I had known that the fear and pain made me forget came back to me. A wave of comfort came over me because I knew she was there for me and I knew she'd help me through it. The courage and faith she had given me was remarkable. She believed in me and my fiance in a way no one else did. It was like we had our own personal cheerleader. Aside from her knowing the tricks and tips to make me more comfortable and to help ease the pain, she was there for me emotionally as well. When I got scared she reassured me. When I lost concentration she helped me get back my focus. When I was in pain she comforted me. And the way she was there for and helped my fiance was so amazing as well. Instead of feeling helpless he felt empowered by her presence. Instead of watching my pain and not knowing what to do he was educated and able to help me and be there for me. He had so much knowledge, and in comparison to most expectant fathers he seemed like a genius. I can't thank Lisa enough for what she had done for him. Because of her he knew what was going on, what questions to ask, how to help me through my contractions. And that helped me so much more as well. It was like we were one big family. I didn't feel uncomfortable at all, even with all the "embarassing" things people describe about labor and delivery. I didn't feel embarassed at all. Nothing was embarassing about childbirth. I felt strong and dignified, proud and empowered, and just completely wonderful even with the pain. It was so remarkable and life-changing I don't even know where to begin on how to describe it. And Lisa also took some of the most beautiful pictures of the birth. My daughter's birth was the most amazing, perfect experience of our lives. Everything went perfectly. Exactly how we'd wanted it to go... I delivered my beautiful 7 lb 11 oz daughter awake, alert, and drug free. And my fiance got to "catch" her. She was brought into this world by her Father's own hands. It was so amazing. And we have Lisa to thank for it all. If I could hope for just one thing for every pregnant woman it would be to have a doula as wonderful and amazing as Lisa was for us.
Michele - Mikayla's Mom
