I'll start by saying that we were originally skeptical of getting a doula, but our sister in law talked us into giving it a try. Best. Decision. We. Ever. Made. We met with Tiffany and she was even able to win over my skeptical husband with her knowledge and professionalism. The fact that she ran an evidence based birth class was an added benefit that helped influence our decision to choose Tiffany as our doula. The class was fantastic! Not only was it informative and go more in-depth then most, but she also taught us how to find sound sources for information regarding various topics, procedures, and other concerns, so that we could make the best decisions for us and our situation. In short, the class was extremely empowering, particularly for first time parents.
Now, when it came to her as a doula, she was a life saver! We had just moved to the area and had not met many people yet. Getting to know Tiffany and talking with her about the pregnancy, hopes, and fears helped make us considerably more comfortable with everything. And then Covid-19 hit in earnest and the lock down went into place. Pregnancy and birth are already full of unknowns and anxiety as is, with that, it skyrocketed. Tiffany, however, kept on top of everything, even with hospital and doctor's policies changing on a daily basis. With each and every change she would reach out to us to find a way to work with and around it. She even went above and beyond trying to work directly with the hospitals themselves to insure her ability to be present during the birth.
In the end, she did get to be there for my birth. I ended up suddenly and unexpectedly giving birth at home (we had planned a hospital birth). Somehow she managed to arrive just as the paramedics did. I won't lie, I was terrified. Seeing her face in the middle of all that chaos did wonders for me, helping me relax and focus on what needed to be done. She jumped right in and worked with the paramedics as if they had all been a birth team for years. Everything ended up going even more smoothly then could be expected under the circumstances, and I'm convinced it was because of her presence. I am now firmly of the belief that if you are pregnant, you should have a doula, whether it's your first or fifth. Somehow she becomes that trusted friend, a surrogate mother, and experienced professional who's solidly in your corner. We are so thankful that Tiffany was in ours. read more
