I cannot say enough good about Tara Olson or the experience of working with her as our doula.
Tara is extremely knowledgeable, and her expertise made my wife and me feel much more confident as we headed towards our due date. Tara recommended valuable resources that were succinct enough that we actually used them, so we ourselves were well-educated. Then, in our meetings during the months before the due date, she answered our remaining questions clearly and elaborated on the most important ways we could prepare for a healthy labor.
During the delivery, Tara gave so much comfort to my wife. Tara seemed to know exactly how to aid her through difficult contractions. The physical aids she provided, including Tara's direct touch, plus some birthing accessories, were strong but not painfully strong--because my wife has a pain disorder, that's a vital and difficult balance to strike. She also talked my wife through contractions beautifully, offering encouragement and strength while acknowledging how difficult things were.
But it was Tara's personality, just as much as her knowledge and technical competence, that made our experience with her a special one. Tara has an unaffected openness that lets her "be herself"--warm, interested, fun, grateful--in a way that prompts everyone nearby to feel comfortable being themselves too. That was certainly the case for my wife and me during our pre-birth meetings with Tara. Also, during slack times on the day of the delivery, Tara engaged each of our family members in friendly discussion. That is, Tara gave some of herself to everyone in the family, and everyone's day was happier for it.
Tara will prioritize you, not a political agenda, on question of how much a labor should be "medicalized"...and she's likely to be among very few people in your life who do so. As with other political issues, some people seemed primarily interested in promoting their viewpoint when the question of epidurals, induction, and abdominal birth came up during my wife's pregnancy. Most people in our lives, too savvy or polite to overtly advocate, just sat quietly, tolerating the idea that someone in the room might disagree with them but unable to mask their strong preference on how my wife should deliver. Indeed, now that the birth is done, most people in our lives can't help but convey their wish that it had been either more or less medicalized.
Only Tara was really, genuinely, unwaveringly supportive of how my wife proceeded through issues of medicalization. To be sure, she was able to provide facts and explain options to help guide my wife's choices. But Tara is open and confident enough that she can prioritize you, not a preexisting agenda.
In addition to providing knowledge and comfort on the day of the birth, Tara took many photographs that we totally treasure. They're not artificially bright or saccharine like many wedding or baby photos, nor are they awkwardly posed like many family portraits. They're spontaneous, often serious, sometimes joyful--all beautifully authentic, uncomplicatedly moving.
So I recommend Tara's doula services, but what I especially recommend is Tara herself. I'm not just glad Tara was able to help make the birth experience a positive one for my wife. I'm glad my daughter was born into a room made warm by Tara's depth of humanity. read more
