To me, having a c-section took so much more away from me than just having my baby come out of my vagina. It took away my choices, freedom and power. Being told things had to be a certain way because its a surgery made me feel like I wasn’t giving birth at all.
Read MoreMy husband and I felt ill equipped for this goal working alone. I previously thought the idea of a doula sounded too hippy and weird for my husband to consider.
Read MoreAfter I’m not sure how long, my sweet baby made it into this world. Caleb looked at me, took a deep breath from crying and announced “It’s a boy!”
Read MoreYou're already 5cm they said. The baby will be here any day they said. That was at my 37 week checkup. I packed my bag and was ready for go time. Fast forward to 41 weeks and 3 days (the longest month of my life) and finally the little guy decided he was ready for the world.
Read MoreSurround yourself with nothing but positive thoughts and stories. Have faith in your body and your baby, they know how to handle birth, and remember your body is not a lemon!
Read MoreYOU CAN DO IT! You can have the birth you want. Believe in yourself. Voice your opinions and your fears. Allow someone to help you move past those emotions.
Read MoreAnother thing I realized for myself was something Ms. Rene' told me while I was still pregnant after I told her about my first birth: There is a difference between pain and suffering.
Read MoreOur experience with Birth Help’s classes empowered us to learn more than we thought possible about ourselves, each other, and the birth process. After having completed the Natural Childbirth Series and Comfort Measures, our actual birth story began almost a month before Eva’s due date.
Read MoreMy VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) was ultimately healing for me emotionally, but I still struggled because I didn’t have a natural VBAC and opted to get an epidural when I reached 7 cm dilation.
Read More“Next time we have a child, I’m not waiting for you to hire a doula. I’m hiring her first!”
Read MoreI’m still not a master negotiator or power player, but I did feel empowered with this experience in many ways, including improving communication with my doctor
Read MoreDespite everything stacking up against my desire for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) – previous big baby, ultrasound estimating an even bigger baby, being overdue and having gestational diabetes – I was ultimately successful and delivered my second daughter vaginally.
Read MoreAfter getting to 42 weeks and no progress in our baby coming, we had to be induced. Having her coach and support us through the delivery allowed us to have no regrets in our birth experience.
Read More"I learned that surrounding myself with loving, capable support was exactly what I needed to get me through the hardest parts and share in celebrating the beautiful parts. I found out how truly amazing my body is when I trust it to do what it was created to."
Read MoreI understand attending a natural birth class and hiring a doula may sound silly to most guys, because it sounded silly to me at first. I thought, what could she possibly do to make this birth go any better?
After the birth, telling our story to other people, I am surprised when people ask me, “What is a doula?” I tell them doula means angel.
Read MoreI think the most important thing that Birth Help classes and doula support gave me was a sense of empowerment with my birth. Having knowledge of what actually happens physically during birth made the thought of it less daunting. Catherine Wright
Your understanding of the birth process is impressive and empowering. The classes we took and your support was a game changer and gave both of us the confidence we needed throughout the process. We tell our story about you and our birth process to anyone and everyone who will listen. Thank you so much for everything. Dave Wright
Read MoreI know we did everything possible, and this time I have no regrets and less disappointment. I've learned to surrender, and I've learned my strength. Before having children, I was modest and timid. I am now a strong, determined mother of two children, with a strong marriage, and I see the world differently, for the better.
Read MoreFinally, after about an hour of pushing, Charlie FINALLY flipped. What a difference! I could finally feel contractions in my front and all of my back pain disappeared instantly. However, by this point, I was so tired that I didn't know if I could finish it. All the while, the team of nurses, René, Mike and Dr. Barrios provided nothing but support and in those "I can't do this" moments (of which I had quite a few), they looked deep into my eyes and reassured me that I could do this. I was doing this. Michelle Barton
René was a fantastic doula! Having René at the birth was a huge help for my wife and for myself. She did a great job of coaching my wife through the different stages of the process. She also did a great job of keeping me from getting overwhelmed and lost in the moment by giving me subtle hints or gentle instructions about things I could do to help. I was also extremely impressed with René's ability to work with the hospital staff. Mike Barton
Read MoreI remember very little exact detail, but what I do remember is René's voice in my ear, painting a visual of the beautiful sunset outside our window and telling me that I was a powerful birthing woman, exactly what I needed to hear to have the strength and confidence to keep going.
Read MoreThe most experienced group of Doulas in Louisiana.
