Pampered Pregnancy – Blissful Birth

Cary met us at the hospital shortly after my water broke, around 1:45 AM. She was very helpful and encouraging throughout labor. From providing gentle encouragement with each contraction to keeping us hydrated and suggesting different labor positions, everything she did was a great addition to our labor experience. During the restful moments between contractions she was thoughtful and engaging and helped to keep the mood light. After Finn was born she helped with his first breastfeeding and she also acted as an advocate for us to allow the baby to stay with us for an extended period of time before he was taken to the nursery. We would have been lost without her.–Ruth, mom to Finn (born 8/22/12)

We called Yaara when we found out I was being induced the night of Sept. 28, 2012. She helped us get into a relaxed frame of mind and told us to call whenever we needed her. We decided to call when I started having contractions. We called her in the morning when the contractions started and she came to the hospital right away. Because it was such a fast labor (2.5 hours), when she came, I was pretty much at the transition stage. It was a scary time, but Yaara helped calm the situation and took charge. She directed my husband to press on my hips, she gave me massages, she breathed with me, and gave hot and cold compresses. She spoke positively and encouraged us. She took pictures and reminded my husband to take them as well. It was interesting to look through the pictures afterwards because it went by so quickly in real time.

We had a great experience with Yaara. We would definitely recommend her doula services. She helped us have a beautiful birth after an inducement, and her presence greatly reduced our anxiety. Yaara is a natural leader and nuturer, just what you want in the delivery room.–Acacia, mom to Olive (born 9/29/12)

Yaara joined me at my home when I was reaching a point where I wasn’t able to handle the labor myself. She came over around 3 in the morning. She guided me and gave me a great confidence and endurance for pain. We developed a rhythm and the way she gave me a massage and responding to my body and needs was ineffable! I gained confidence and she was so much in sync with me. Though my labor didn’t go the way I wanted . . . I could not have definitely progressed so good without the support of her. She knew exactly what to do at every point of labor. however much the hubby is trying to support, the doula knows much better about the specific needs of a woman during labor. She was so dedicated and spent almost 24 hours with me concentrating only on me, and the labor. I felt so blessed to have doula support for my labor.–Rahini, mom to Dyhana (born 9/15/12)

Amy N was my doula and her support was awesome! Her guidance and reassurance when I called at 2:15am with contractions about 4 minutes apart was key in managing my labor pain. Although her advice to take a warm bath was not what I had expected to hear or necessarily felt like doing at the time, I’m glad I listened! After a 45-minute soak, my water broke at 4am and Amy met my husband and I at the hospital. I’m not sure what made me trust Amy (since part of my brain was telling me to get to the hospital before it was “too late”!), but her expertise paid off. After arriving at the hospital, I learned that I was already fully dialated and ready to push my baby out! Our son was delivered only a little over an hour after being admitted – I couldn’t have planned it any better! Although her actual time with us was short due to my brief in-hospital labor, Amy was everything I had hoped for in a doula – attentive to my needs, calm and reassuring, an advocate for me and my baby, and best of all – I achieved my goal of having an unmedicated birth, something that I’m certain I would not have had the resources or confidence to do without Amy’s support–Shannon, mom to Chance (born 9/1/12)

Ame and De’Andrea were the most amazing doulas ever. They were very supportive during my difficult and long labour which ended up in a c-section. My husband and I are eternally grateful with the way they helped us through everything. I sing their praises to anyone who has ears!!!!–Grace, mom to Bukachi (born Oct. 2012)

Amy Nevland was WONDERFUL! I can’t say enough good things about her. She was great about staying in touch and checking in with me before labor started. I called her at 4 am, and she came over right away. It was a LONG labor/delivery…over 40 hours. She never complained and was ‘on’ the whole time. She was excellent at offering suggestions and advice when needed. But she also supported what I wanted/needed, even if it would not have been her first choice. It’s SOOOO personal and intimate, but Amy made me feel comfortable the whole time. She was great at working w/ Chris (hubby) too. She never cut him out of the experience, but rather helped him know what to do and what I needed to be more involved. I like the spiritual side of Amy (it was one of the reasons I choose her in the 1st place). She was worth her fee in massages! She knew what I needed, when i needed, w/ the perfect touch to make me as comfortable as possible. Like I said, she was wonderful!–Tausha, mom to Cade (born 11/7/12)

Our labor support was fabulous!  Cary was really incredible. She guided us through different postures (thank you so much for the birth ball!) and she really helped me to remain focused and calm and work on my breathing. I was trying to maintain a slow, deep breathing and Cary helped me keep up it controlled, low, and relaxed. When I would finish a deep exhale she would say “good,” which sounds so simple but it did two important things for me: it reminded me that low sounds were productive and it helped me keep up a rhythm to my breathing which kept me from feeling out of control.

Cary helped my husband know what to do and neither of us every felt that she was in any way trying to replace his important role.
When it time to go to the hospital I honestly don’t think I would have made it there without Cary in the backseat squeezing my hips!
Things got harry at the hospital and I always felt like Cary had my back. First with a lousy anesthesiologist that I really wanted to leave, Cary helped me to stand up for my right to have more time. Then she helped guide me through that time, trying different positions to help get labor going. When things got harry again I always felt like we had Cary as a sounding board. When at last I needed an emergency C-section I had no doubt that it was justified as Cary expressed no hesitation in moving forward in this way. Then in the recovery room, Cary was there to take pictures (which I now treasure!) and to help facilitate skin-to-skin and breastfeeding.
Since then Cary has been a continuous support to me. She visited me again in the hospital and checked up on my breastfeeding progress. She visited me later at home and checked up on my pediatrician visit. And several times by email she has offered me support on breastfeeding, dealing with the C-section, and general emotional support. I feel like I have an ally that I can turn to any time with any question. It is amazing. I mean really, such an amazing support. I feel so lucky to have her!

The whole Get Babied team has been truly incredible. They have all made me and Hutch feel so welcome. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all of you and I thank you so much for your support. I’m so glad to have met everyone and would be happy to do anything I can to spread the word about your amazing services.–Susanna, mom to Beatrix (born 11/20/12)

As I neared the end of my pregnancy, I called frequently for advice on managing an overdue birth and my impending labor. Amy offered great advice and helped to calm my fears and anxieties.
My husband and I also took the Get Hyp! class to prepare for birth, which was packed with amazing resources. We learned a lot about birth and wish that we had taken a class on infant care too!

Cary was amazing! We called her multiple times during a very slow induction, and she offered advice and support as we managed the surprise beginning of my labor. When I was started on pitocin she headed to the hospital. She showed up and got down to business! She helped me manage contractions through massage, helping my husband with coaching, sitting on a yoga ball, aromatherapy, and other ways I can’t remember. She even talked us through the interventions and made me feel comfortable with the choices that we had to make. She was there all the way through pushing and beyond. It was more than just the physical support that she offered, it was also the emotional support through the process. I truly believe I wouldn’t have felt as satisfied and fulfilled with my labor and delivery if she hadn’t been there!

I don’t know what I would have done without the support of Get Babied! Not only was Cary supportive of me physically during the birth but also mentally and emotionally postpartum.–Sarah, mother of June (born 1/9/13)

“De’Andrea’s support during labor was absolutely invaluable. Throughout nearly 24 hours of labor, she was by my side (or, mostly at my lower back!), providing not only physical but also mental and emotional support. I honestly do not know how a person would attempt a natural birth without the support of a skilled doula like De’Andrea. Without her, I can honestly say I would not have achieved my goal. When things turned rocky, she remained calm and urged me to continue along the beaten path. She recognized intuitively what I needed even when I didn’t know myself… she was there every step of the way and saw me through to the end: a beautiful baby girl, born straight out of my body without any artificial assistance. How totally awesome.”-Laura, Mother of Nora born 3/15/13

“Thank you so much for the birthday wishes for Ambrose and I. A year later and the details you recounted are priceless. May you continue to empower women, put husbands minds at ease and welcome beautiful babes into this world!” Annabell, Mother of Ambrose-a message from his first Birthday, born 3/25/12

“A million stars!   I can’t imagine having a baby without a doula.  Tif was a superhero and helped me and my husband not totally freak out through a super fast labor and crazy midnight car ride to the hospital at 9.5cm.  Tanya was super helpful with breastfeeding.  Jenny’s BF class was great.  De’Andrea’s birthing class was great.  Amy gave me baby boy clothes from her son.  Cary came to my house and helped us make our birth plan.  Everyone was super nice and chill.  This was the best $500 I ever spent in my life.” - S.K. – 2/8/2013

“Best money ever spent!  First, I’m not a hippie.  I work a corporate job and live in a suburb.  I wasn’t interested in an all-natural med free birth.  My situation was that I had no family living in Austin, my husband hates hospitals & blood, and I knew I was going to need help in order to have the birth I wanted.  I signed up for the apprentice doula plan, and got De’Andrea Jones (who is no longer an apprentice).  She was AWESOME!  I had never met her before, but she stayed with me for about 12 hours at the hospital, and helped me get to 5 cm naturally before I asked for the epidural, which I know helped keep me from having a CS.  The best part was that she talked to me the whole time.  I’m a chatty person, and she kept me in good spirits while my husband sat in the corner.  She also helped me remember my birth plan to breastfeed right away before baby clean up, as well as refusing some of the other standard hospital procedures I wasn’t comfortable with.  After being awake for about 48 hours of pro-dromal labor my mind was toast.  So even if you aren’t looking for the all natural experience, a Doula can still add a lot of value to your birth and be an advocate for you in a hospital.  Oh, and they even hooked me up with a free pre-natal massage at a local massage school ” – Elizabeth T. – 12/12/2012

“My husband and I were certain that we wanted to have natural childbirth, with my longtime OB, at the hospital. Our OB and hospital (Women Partners in Health and Seton Central – both worth 5 stars as well) are both very supportive of natural childbirth, but knowing how things can go we decided to hire a doula to help us meet our goals.
Unfortunately, nothing went as planned: we had unanticipated and unpreventable complications with our delivery and ended up having an unscheduled C-section after a long labor. Had Megan – our doula – not been there, our daughter’s birth might have felt like a difficult, traumatic experience. With her support throughout the process, we were able to be detached from our expectations and remain calm, and to celebrate the fact that we have a beautiful, healthy baby.
The entire Get Babied staff really feels like a family or a community, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.” – R.G.  3/2/2012

“Jenni was amazing. She knew exactly what to say and do to keep me
going and focused. She also provided invaluable support to my husband.
Her mere presence made us both feel safe and confident in the birthing
process. We would not have been able to have a pain med free birth
without her. She worked seamlessly with my Dr and the nurses and was
the foundational constant of our birth team.  While everyone can benefit from hiring a doula, I especailly recommend anyone who is considering a natural / pain med-free birth hire a doula. No matter how much you prepare for the birth there is no substitute for a doula’s experience and support.” - Stephanie L., mom to Madeline born 7/12/12

“Tanya was great, she was so encouraging and positive, and definitely had my best interests and needs at the forefront. My birth plan included the option of using an epidural, and I feel that Tanya was very supportive in not pushing me one way or the other in this decision. I ended up getting an epidural, but Tanya’s guidance was still extremely important throughout the remainder of my labor, especially once I needed to begin pushing. Tanya stayed with us after the baby was born to ensure that I was able to nurse and that mom and baby were doing great.  This was my 3rd childbirth experience, and I didn’t have a doula with my 2 prior deliveries. I wish I had explored the idea of a doula with those pregnancies, as having a doula this time around made a huge difference in my feeling of empowerment and that I had choices in how my baby would be born. I definitely recommend a doula to all moms-to-be, even if you are planning on delivery at a hospital and using pain meds such as an epidural. Having a person whose sole goal is to support you in your labor is an amazing experience.” Luciana M., mom to Alexander born 7/5/12

“Amy was absolutely instrumental in the whole birth process. She came
to my house at 2am and helped me labor for as long as possible at home
while my husband was able to get some rest. She helped us navigate the
halls of the hospital the next morning and then continued to be a huge
support for the next 12 hours (she was with me for 17 of the 22 hours
I was in labor). She brought the ball, coconut water, peppermint oil,
etc and spent the whole time helping me reposition, cleaning up my
vomit, getting me warm or cold washcloths, filling up the tub,
massaging and applying counter pressure, encouraging me, helping my
husband get involved and support me as well, and just being a hero in
general.  My husband agrees – how or why anyone would go through labor
without a doula is a mystery.” – Marie M., mom to Henry born 7/17/12

“I could not have gotten through my unmedicated labor without Brittany.
She took turns with my husband, massaging me through the painful back
labor. I needed A LOT of massaging, so that was a tall order for both
of them! She suggested helpful poses to keep the labor progressing,
but also noticed when I needed to take a rest to maintain my strength
for pushing at the end.  Mark and I were so happy to have her there with us; we felt immediately relief the moment she walked into the room. We really appreciated her knowledge about optional procedures (such as being hooked up to fluids—I opted to just keep drinking water and keep my mobility) and her encouragement throughout the 10+ hours that she
stayed with us at the hospital. She stayed for a while after Temma
was born, and I finally had to tell her to go home and sleep!  We will definitely recommend Get Babied! for anyone considering a doula for her birth. We were very satisfied with and proud of our birthing experience, and Get Babied! (Brittany!) played a big part in that.” – Katie P., mom to Temma born 7/15/12

“Amy was essential to us to have there, I don’t know a better way to say it. She focused on me and what was going on, and guided me through that difficult time when I didn’t think I could do it. The delivery of the baby was a little fast and pretty intense, and I had a doctor that I was unfamiliar with and was very overwhelmed. My husband was wonderful through it all, but this was his first experience with this as well. Having Amy there to help guide us through was exactly what we needed. After the baby was born, there were some issues with the afterbirth. I was having a hard time understanding what was going on, and Amy was so helpful in asking the doctor questions and helping to convey our options. She was a clearheaded advocate for us, knowing our wishes.  Honestly, throughout the pregnancy we had gone back and forth on hiring a doula for the birth, and didn’t make the decision until about a month before our due date. But I can say now, it was one of the best decisions that we made for the birth of our daughter.” - Casey M., mom to Stella born 7/7/12

“Yaara was absolutely WONDERFUL! She was a huge support to me as well
as my husband. She was great at suggesting different positions, helped
communicate with the nurses, and keeping me focused. I was able to
successfully VBAC because Yarra was there. I had a long labor and she
stayed there by our side for over 20 hours with very little sleep.
Yaara IS the reason I had such a positive birth experience after
having such a horrible first birth experience 3 years ago.  I would suggest Yaara to any VBAC client or anyone who is looking for a positive birth experience. Having Yaara there was THE BEST money weever spent… Worth every penny and then some!!”  -Delaine K., mom to Abbott born 6/22/12

“I feel confident that I was informed and aware of the options and Yaara was an important part in this. Chris still tells his friends that the best thing we could do was to hire a doula. He really loved having Yaara with us; I knew I was going to like having a doula but I never expected Chris to tell me he is calling Yaara back to help us with our next baby!” - Karen C., mom to Annika born 6/17/12

“What I found  invaluable was email support in the last few days of pregnancy.  When I was told that all the doulas read emails sent out to the group, I thought that’s nice…little did I know how true that was.  All the emails I received back were awesome, full of great information and references. It helped me get the right info to push back on my doctor regarding the induction he was insisting I needed.  Jenni had great positive words to keep me going – from contractions into birth.  …in short, she is fabulous.  Even all the hospital staff, doctor included, thought so.  We all raved about her later that night. ”  Amy D., mom to June born 6/8/12

” I found the yoga classes to be great prep for labor.  Vocalizing, breathing, non focused awareness, lots of the techniques and positions in class were helpful during delivery.   It helped prepare me emotionally as well.  Megan was amazing! I couldn’t imagine a better outcome.  Having her attend and assist with our birth was magical. ” -Katie C., mom to Coriander born 5/5/2012

“It relieved a lot of anxiety to know that doulas were only an email or phone call away. Even though I am a typically anxious person, their support made me feel completely comfortable to labor at home for a long time instead of in the hospital. Our time with the doula in and the birth itself was very fast and “unusually easy” as I am told, but having the doula present removed a major layer of stress that someone was looking out for us when everything happened so quickly. I feel so grateful to have had DeAndrea’s calm yet energizing presence guiding us through the birth of our son.” – Johanna K., mom to Kota born 4/29/12

“I was unsure if I would really need the extra support but I honestly don’t know how I would have done it without her!  Yaara wasn’t overbearing at all and simply provided the support I needed, when I needed it.  I am so greatful for this  service…thank you!” -Amanda T., mom to Calvin born 4/20/2012

“Yaara was wonderful from the get-go and we felt an immediate connection with her once she arrived. She was compassionate, caring, thorough, professional, and warm. Yaara was with us from about 2:30am Friday morning until 5:00am Saturday – 26.5 hours!  One of the nurses even told Yaara that when she has her baby one day, she’ll be  contacting her! What a compliment coming from a nurse who delivers babies as an occupation!” -Y-Ling B., mom to Madeline born 4/28/12

“The birth exceeded my expectations I can’t say enough about Amy and how wonderful she is. We are so fortunate and blessed that she was there with us. My only regret is that we didn’t find out about Get Babied sooner; it would’ve been awesome to have this amazing network of support during the pregnancy. Highly recommended and definitely worth the investment!” -Yari T., mom to Annabelle born 3/25/2012

“Jenni was incredibly supportive and hands on during labor, squeezing my hips with all her might for hours and running back to the waiting room to keep our family informed…it was a long (29 hour) labor time in the hospital and she was tireless!” Kallie Kirkland, mom to Hawthorn born 4/5/12

“Of course, my birth was WAY different from what we were expecting- having popped this baby out in my car!  We are very grateful that we had De’Andrea with us the day Julia was born. I really felt so supported, and it made me feel stronger, if that makes sense. Choosing Get Babied was the best thing we could have done!” Lucila P., mom to Julia born 2/10/2012

“De’Andrea has a wonderful gift of making you believe in yourself more than you can ever imagine.  She had me in such a focused zone  She is the person who kept me going and made me confident in myself so that I did not want to quit.” – Annabelle T., mom to Ambrose born 3/25/2012

“The services and support I received have been wonderful. I think one of the nicest aspects has been a complete focus on helping and  supporting me, regardless of compensation. I think because so many services these days focus on time/money, we all get wrapped up in
that. I was so worried that my labor was taking too long and taking too much of Jenni’s time but she never made me feel that way. She was very supportive and didn’t make me feel rushed. She offered to come to my house before I was even sure I was in labor and she hung around for a bit after my daughter was born – despite being there already for over 15 hours.  I also emailed Jenni about lactation questions before I officially hired her to come to the house and she gave me great advice, continually checked in with me and provided support without any compensation. She made me feel important and supported. That has been the best part of this whole experience – feeling truly supported. Thank you!” -Lori M., mom to Zoe born 2/25/2012

“We received the most amazing help from Tanya at our birth! We could not have imagined surviving the 29 hour experience without her.  Tanya knows her shit.” Kimberly H., mom to Anders born 2/8/12

“WOW….yes, birth was amazing…Jenni was amazing…..We feel that she was the missing piece to our VBAC….the crucial piece we were missing before. We have nothing but the utmost respect and grattitude for how you all helped us through that journey to bring us Camila.” -Karen H., mom to Camila born 3/10/2012

“Holy Sausages, I can’t believe how amazing our doulas were!  Holy Sausages, we never would have survived without them!  Holy Sausages, we would recommend them to anyone, anytime!  Holy Sausages, this was money well invested!”  That’s what it means and these quotes (and many more) have spewed from our mouths like so much poop from Mazie’s bottom over the past week…” Ben O., dad to Mazie born 3/3/2012

“I’ve been told that no one has regretted hiring a doula and I believe that is true, I do not regret hiring my doula and I’ll do it again for my next pregnancy. At first, I wasn’t able to afford the price but getting an apprentice doula helped reduce the cost.”  Wiaping L., mom to Kaiwah born 3/7/2012

“Becca was a breath of fresh air and energy exactly when we needed it.  Her calm  energy helped us to stay upbeat and energized through delivery.”  Cory W., mom to Beverly born 2/27/2012

“Amy’s creativity in working through various birthing positions undoubtedly helped me move through labor faster, achieving the natural birth that we had so dearly hoped for.  We sincerely believe that without her help our experience would have been far more stressful and may have even ended in a c-section.” -Crystal D., mom to Evelyn born 1/31/2012

“Without Megan present, the whole experience would have been really scary, but because we had her support we’re truly able to feel detached from the fact that our birth didn’t go as planned, and are able to just feel joy at the birth of our daughter.  We’re so glad that we heard about Get Babied and that we had a doula present for our delivery. We really can’t imagine how we would have been able to handle everything on our own.” -Rachel G, mom to Lotus born 1/13/12

“I would give Get Babied 75 stars if I could…my highest rating.  I don’t even know where to start in singing their praises.  Get Babied was worth every cent.  In fact, they could’ve charged double and I still would have said it was worth more than that.”  -Natalia B., mom to Claire born 1/1/2012

“Exceeded my expectations for the doula’s role” -Beth G., mom to Lucas born 1/7/2012

“Amy helped me breathe and ignored me every single time I said I couldn’t do it.  I believe if she wasn’t there I would have gotten an epidural which probably would have resulted in a c-section. I could not have done it without her!” -Nicole V., mom to Hazel born 12/25/2011

“Cary was the perfect labor doula for us. I’m so happy she was on call the day our baby was born – she has a calm and composed, warm and open personality which worked so well with me and my husband – the perfect fit to our team!” -Navvab T., mom to Leo born 11/23/11

“Without Amy’s help we would not have been able to have the birth we wanted - her calm but firm support really made a difference for us.  Every time I met with a Get Babied doula in a class or Meet the Doulas Night or during labor, I left feeling empowered and excited.  The work you do is so awesome and I will be forever grateful for the role you played in bringing my daughter into the world.” -Christina B., mom to Marlowe born 10/30/11

“We did all of your classes (more or less) and were 110% satisfied – I’m actually sad that I’m not pregnant anymore because having you guys as a resource generally, in regards to all things “children” has been so useful, as I implicitly trust your experience and knowledge.  I look back on the labor and delivery and feel like a warrior, and am so proud of myself. But I could not have done it without Get Babied!” – Allison L, mom to Gabriel born 7/16/2011

“I appreciated having a person who is aware of many different options and perspectives for pregnancy and birth. It helped me to have someone to discuss various situations as they arose. Ame usually has evidence and research to back up her answers to questions, and I appreciated having her as a resource as there were a few bumps in the road during our pregnancy”. - Roslyn, mom the second time around on 8/3/2011

“Stephanie was an amazing help and and an intrinsic part of a great birth experience.  We were so very happy to have her there.  One of our concerns about hiring a doula was that we might not feel like sharing the space with someone we didn’t know well.  In fact, there were times where we wanted the birthing room to ourselves, and Stephanie graciously gave us that space.  She was right there when we needed her to jump back in when we needed her.” -Michelle S., mom to Ella born 8/9/11.

“Awesomeness.  Paul’s comment was that he felt like he didn’t know what to do or how to help but felt that Ame was able to fill that bill and allow him to

help me in other ways.  Ame was awesome in her ability to just guess at what i needed and then respond based upon it.  It felt like she knew what I needed before I did.  She was very intuitive in how she responded to me, picking up on subtle signs or cues to figure out how to adjust to my needs.  In those moments it felt like I was aware just enough of what was going on but not connected enough to reality to communicate well or accurately.  Having a doula was like having a bridge between labor-land and reality!” -Sarah, mom to Jacob, born 6/30/2011

 

 

“Tanya was at times my mother, my sister, my best friend or the strength of every woman who has ever given birth. Most times I just had to look into her eyes and I knew I could do it” – Molly, mom to Quinn 4/22/2011

“The doula’s knowledge enabled her to go “toe-to-toe” with my doctor without me feeling that I had to become an expert on birth practices. I just had to show up, focus, and have the baby!  I told my husband later that when they were asking me to push it felt like they were asking me to move a wall with my mind. As hard as I tried, nothing was happening. I honestly thought it was impossible. It became possible with the doulas.” -Dana, mom to Drake born 4/15/2011    Drakes Birth Stories – Mom’s POV & Doula’s POV

“Tough as nails Tanya”

“We are so happy we chose Get Babied – it made the birth a less scary and more manageable event. I’d recommend Get Babied to all of my pregnant friends.” – Stephanie, mom to Maxwell born 3/1/2011

Erica’s baby-daddy Dave and cutie Lillian

“The massage with Steph was  amazing and one of the best I’ve ever had!  Amy was really encouraging the entire time. She’ll always be special to us since she helped me bring Lillian into the world!  I think I would have stopped breastfeeding long ago if I hadn’t gotten help via email from some of you guys and so much help from the on-call lactation consultant.  We have plans to have more kids and hope to use a Get Babied doula again.” -Erica, Mom to Lillian born 8/2010

“Michelle really helped me bear down and find my birth goddess!” -Hailey, Mom to Vivyana born 2/14/2011

“Margaret supported me by talking about my fears around labor, birth and parenting.  Often, simply talking about them would make them disappear, so it was fantastic to have an objective, experienced, non-judgmental person with whom to share my thoughts.” – Justine, Mom to Fox born 10/30/2010

 

“We are so happy to be home with our beautiful son and very happy with our birthing experience, even though it was so different from our original plan. Ame, you were absolutely amazing and your presence during our 2 days of labor was invaluable, not only to me but to Craig and my family.  I am completely impressed with your entire team at Get Babied and will not only continue to recommend you, but will insist on having you at my second birth a couple of years from now.” – Regan, Mom to TJ born 10/3/2010

 

 

“I just wanted to articulate how very wonderful our experience with you guys has been and how grateful we feel that you all were part of our birth journey. Thank you for being so generous. You all made me feel like I was surrounded by wise, knowledgeable women friends during my pregnancy and postpartum time the way women should be and have been throughout time…. in a way that’s hard to find in modern times when family lives in other cities and when our own experience (and that of our peers) is still pretty limited.” – Laura, mom to Lucy born June 29, 2010

Laura & Lucy

“Our birth did not go as expected, but both my husband and I feel very good about the experience. Both of us feel that having Ame with us for our labor and birth is what led to our feeling so positive about our birth experience. I was dreading giving birth due to past negative health care experiences and I am so, so glad that our birth was instead a very positive and empowering experience.” -Neil & Roslyn (their birth story here)

Read Sarah’s birth story!

“It was so very tolerable that before Dr Mingea checked me and told me I was 9cm, I kept this suspicion that my labor was possibly going to go on and on for hours. I didn’t feel like I was doing truly ‘hard work’ until the very end. Compared to delivering Stella with pitocin and no epidural, where I screamed and begged and was terrified, it all seemed too good to be true. I actually felt like Andy was doing the most work.

Alistair, Sarah, Stella, Angus, & Andy

I can’t imagine the birth any other way.  I got exactly the birth experience I had hoped for, except that it was even better than I would have thought possible. The ball, your suggestions for positions, your massaging and encourgement, the cold peppermint cloths at the end!  It all made for a completely different delivery than my first two children. The hands and knees position at the end was a god-send and I especially appreciate your expertise, because I would have thought that position would send him back up, rather than help him descend.

I am already so in love and grateful to Angus for providing me with a truly healing birth experience and a completely different idea of the birth process.  Steph’s presence and skills were beyond integral to getting the birth experience I hoped for!

Now, I have a deep desire to see more women empowered with knowledge about how much they can impact their own birth experience in a positive way.

Oh and thank y’all for being with me in the weeks leading up to his delivery. It was so helpful to have your input when labor felt so very immenant early on and then when I started to get to the ‘maybe I should induce’ stage.

Hooray!!!” -Sarah Sharp, jazz diva and mom to Stella, Alistair, and baby Angus (born 8/2/2010)

“I really do wish I had a doula for the births of my two children. Having someone with experience may have helped me make different choices in the delivery process as well as prepare a birth plan.  I would have liked to have had someone with this special knowledge through such an important process.  And having a doula does not mean you have to have a “natural birth” but it opens you up to ideas that may make the birth a more empowering and enjoyable experience.  The Get Babied! doulas all seem very caring and genuine.”  Susan C. King MD, Board Certified Family Physician

“Stephanie was not only a comfort to have around while I was in labor, but she was also knowledgeable about what was going on. When my water broke and contractions did not follow, the doctors wanted me to take pitocin to induce labor since there was a risk of an infection. I had heard that pitocin could make the labor more painful. Since I wanted to have a natural childbirth, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle the pain enough to avoid the epidural. Stephanie had suggestions for getting the labor going without pitocin. She walked the hospital aisles with me for hours. In between breaks, I used a breast pump. These tactics did bring on labor, but it proved not to be strong enough to significantly cause dilation. In the end had to take the pitocin. After taking the pitocin, the contractions became intense and almost unbearable. Stephanie helped me manage the pain by massaging my lower back. Thanks to her support, I was able to give birth to our daughter without an epidural.

Elise

My husband, Tom, was also glad we chose to have a doula. When my water broke late at night, Tom contacted Ame, the doula on call, who told us what to expect when we went to the hospital. Her experience helped us to make the decision to wait until the morning to go to the hospital. The next day at the hospital, Tom was grateful to have Stephanie at my side while he was busy arranging to have friends watch our toddler and pick my mother up from the airport.

Thank you Stephanie and Ame for helping us feel more empowered for the birth of our second child, Elise”. – Angela mom to Isaac (2 years) and Elise (born 5/19/2010)

“I wish that I had met Margaret before the birth of my first child. I certainly learned that childbirth is unpredictable and can be overwhelming when it’s time to make important decisions.  She carefully reviewed our birth plan and was graceful with her recommendations and advice.  Margaret was flexible and adaptable with our needs. Our birth was in a hospital, and Margaret made the experience personal and comforting.  Having Margaret with us during the birth of our second child, helped our overall confidence. Margaret is a nurturing advisor that educates and assists beautifully with the birthing experience.” Kim Scoulios

“Ame did a great job – a great vibe in the delivery room.” -Devin Garza, MD Renaissance Women’s Group

Devin Garza, MD

I used a doula, Ame from Get Babied!, and she was amazing!  My husband was concerned at first about the whole “backseat” thing, but once he met Ame he felt a ton better; and after our birth experience he was soooo happy we had a doula and he raves about her too!  For my husband the big thing was that Ame helped him, help me.   Seriously the two of them were such a team together, hubby held my hands and talked / breathed with me and Ame did some hip pressing / massage during the contractions.  It’s hard to describe but really it was so wonderful having a doula and it was a great experience for my husband as well.  For a personal comparison, I didn’t have a doula with my first and my husband was much less involved that time. – Michelle – mom to Megan (2 years) and Ryan (6 months)

Please know Dave & I were/are so impressed with all of your love and support Ame – we’ve been pro-doula speaking to all of our expecting friends – hoping at least one of them will call and request your services!  You guys are incredible and we’re truly grateful! PS – every doula needs a rock star pose for her album! (Jill & Dave – parents to Dominic 6 months)

“We hired the doulas at GetBabied for the birth of our second baby.  Our first labor and delivery were very long and hard and we promised ourselves that having a doula would be high-priority for our next experience.

When I went into labor this time, our Get Babied! doula was on call and met us at the hospital within an hour of our arrival.  She was like a relaxing breath of fresh air when she arrived and continued to be a huge source of support throughout our natural labor and delivery.  She used aromatherapy, accupressure, massage, breathing and relaxation techniques to help me stay calm and focused.  At some point during active labor, my contractions slowed way down while I was lying on my side.  My doula massaged my calves and feet and I felt like it was a spa retreat right there in the middle of labor.

Her presence also allowed my husband to take breaks, eat as needed, and feel reassured throughout the process.  She had clearly had experience with what was available and helpful in the hospital (like squatting bars, telemetry for monitoring, showers, etc) and suggested those as we needed them.  Overall, our Get Babied! doula was an incredibly valuable, confident, and calm presence.  She kept us feeling good about our ability to have the natural birth we wanted and we could not have done it without her.

I also had the incredibly fabulous experience of a prenatal massage from Stephanie Scott.  What a wonderful treat!  Stephanie knows exactly how to make a pregnant woman feel pampered.

We highly recommend the doulas at Get Babied to everyone who asks about our birth experience.  If we find ourselves pregnant again, we look forward to having one of the Get Babied ladies there for us again!”- Annie — mommy to Luke (2 yrs) and Kate (2 days)”

“I decided very late in my pregnancy to attempt natural childbirth and knew I needed support in trying to obtain my goal. I had not met any of the doulas with Get Babied before going to the hospital. My Get Babied! doula arrived within the hour of being called even though it was the middle of the night.  She  was everything I was hoping to find in a doula.  She had a calming and reassuring presence about her.  She had several suggestions and tools to help me be more comfortable (massage, counter pressure, birthing ball, fan, scented oils, position suggestions, encouragement).  Perhaps the most invaluable part of her service was how she was able to guide my husband and help him find useful ways to be involved.  I’m very glad I contacted Get Babied!  Birthing naturally has been the most empowering thing I’ve ever done.  I’m certain I wouldn’t have reached my goal without my doula’s help!”- Bethany, mom to Violet (3) and Archer (2 weeks)