Words cannot describe how happy I am that we decided to hire Kim as our doula and how grateful I was and am to have had her support during the birth of our son. Really, being so helpful through such a vulnerable, transformative, occasionally frightening, and certainly very intense experience, Kim became family.
My husband and I went back and forth about whether to hire a doula, but everyone I spoke with who had one highly recommended making the investment, and I am so very grateful that we did. My birth was by far the most crazy and intense experience of my life. The pain was excruciating (I wanted to have a medication free/natural birth) and I was disoriented and vulnerable in a way I never have been before. However, I can honestly say that it was also the best experience of my life-so transformative, empowering, and completely beautiful. Having Kim there was a huge part of my birth being such a positive experience, for myself, my husband, and my mother, who along with Kim were my birth team.
I was unsure what I was looking for in a doula and I met with several. While their offerings were similar (2 meetings before birth, presence at the birth, and a meeting afterwards), Kim was the perfect mix of power, honesty, sweetness, and confidence that I had subconsciously imagined and we knew right away that we have found our doula. Kim was organized, punctual, open, knowledgeable, fun, incredibly kind, easy to chat with, friendly, and professional. We learned so much in the two pre-birth meetings and I went into my birth more confident knowing that she would be there through it all to support us.
The day of my birth, my labor slowed down (a common occurrence that I had not learned about, despite reading many books and chatting with girlfriends, doctors, etc.) and Kim knew just what to do to get my labor going again so I wouldn't get too tired. Without her support I would have labored for much longer and/or gone to the doctor when I was less dilated. I labored for only 4 hours at the hospital before giving birth, and during that time Kim helped keep the room very calm and comfortable, and had crucial suggestions for positions I and my husband could get into to help move the baby down and connect. She also helped massage and apply pressure to my back through each contraction, which helped ease the pain. Her presence during the birth was so helpful and reassuring to me. Without her support I know my husband would have been less comfortable, I would have labored longer, and the chances of me opting for pain medication would have been much higher. I know that her support was a huge reason for my birth being so smooth and empowering.
My husband and I truly cannot recommend Kim enough.
~Natalie S.