My experience with Amy!

Amy was my first mom that I doulaed for. I was a little nervous, because I didn't know if I would be able to help and had never been in any other labor and deliveries (except for my own). I was grateful that she was having baby #7! She knew what to expect and so that helped me. I was only with her for an hour total, but it was a great experience. I was surprised that I was still able to help her as much as I did. It was a great first time experience.

Here is Amy's experience with me in her own words:

"Even though this was my seventh birth I was so grateful to know that I would have another women who knew what I was going through there to support me. MaryBeth was great!
Her massage techniques really came in handy when I experienced extreme back labor. I really appreciated her calming effect and her words of support that helped to keep me going!
She never imposed her beliefs of how things should go on me, but sought to meet my goals and support me in what I wanted from my birth. I would recommend her services to anyone seeking for their ideal birth."

My experience with Kate!

My experience with Kate was great. She was a first time mom and was also a fellow Massage Therapist. I was able to give her massages throughout her pregnancy. Kate really wanted to have a good natural experience with her labor and delivery. She was a trooper. After getting induced she was only in labor for 7 hours and had a beautiful baby girl. She was able to stay focused and relaxed during contractions! It was such an amazing experience to be a part of this labor and delivery!

Here was Kate's experience in her own words:

"I have known MaryBeth for a few years now. A little over a year ago I had my first baby and chose to use MaryBeth as my doula. My husband, I must admit, was a little skeptical and didn't think it was necessary but, I was certain that having MaryBeth in the delivery room would ease my mind and hopefully my pain too. I lost my mom a few years before my daughter was born and to have the support from MaryBeth, an experienced mother and massage therapist, was very important to me. She has become such a terrific friend to me and my family and I am looking forward to having her by my side through the birth of our next child in September. After my daughter was born my husband and I both felt very fortunate to have had MaryBeth by our sides guiding us through difficult decisions and helping to ease the pain and uncertainties that go along with labor and delivery."

My own personal experience

All three of my pregnancies and deliveries were completely different from each other. I was able to have them all natural.

My first was sort of the "textbook" labor. I went into labor 10 days after my due date. My contractions started 10-15 minutes apart and progressively got closer together and more intense. I went to the hospital and was at 3 cm. 11 hours after my first contraction I was ready to push. A little over 2 hours later I was holding my beautiful little girl in my arms.

My next was quite different from that. On my due date, I had a doctor's appointment. I was 4 cm at the appointment and not in labor. My doctor told me to go to the hospital as soon as I had my first contraction. After my fourth contraction we were out the door. I arrived at the hospital, 5 minutes later my sister came in the room, 5 minutes after that the doctor came, and 5 minutes after that I was holding my little baby boy in my arms!

My third was again another different experience. I was 10 days early. I had 2 false alarms and was bleeding. When I went into labor I waited to make sure that I wasn't another false alarm. When I got to the hospital I was 7 cm. I was having major back labor. I tried changing positions and walking, but nothing changed. 3 hours after my first contraction I was holding boy #2 in my arms.

All three of my experiences were extremely different from each other but also all very rewarding. Because of my own personal experiences, I feel that I can understand what a laboring mom is going through and help her cope with the pains of Labor and Delivery. It is such a rewarding and amazing thing to be there when a new life has come into the world.

Why I became a Massage Therapist and Doula

I decided that I wanted to become a Massage Therapist because I wanted to help people. I am a very caring and sensitive person. I wanted to help improve people's lives. Being a Massage Therapist I have to take continued education courses. This is what lead me to becoming a Doula. I was able to get through having my own children through massage and relaxation. Because of my personality someone suggested that I would be good at being a Doula as well. I have enjoyed my experiences so far and look forward to many more to come. It is such an amazing and rewarding experience to be there for mom, dad, and baby to help them through these first steps of their new family.

My goal as a Doula is to help the mom feel prepared mentally for what to expect out of labor and delivery, give mom's coach the support that they need, provide information, provide love and support during the labor and delivery, and help mom feel like she has accomplished all that she wanted in her labor and delivery experience!