My husband and I wanted a natural birth and a doula to support us in the process. In our initial meeting, it was clear that Rachael shared our birth philosophy and deeply appreciated the challenges and beauty of natural birth. We also liked that she is a yoga teacher and has a strong knowledge of prenatal exercises and labor positions. Above all, she exuded warmth, gentleness, and a quiet confidence.
One benefit of working with Rachael was the chance to attend her prenatal yoga class, which also let me get to know her in the months leading up to delivery. Rachael was always interested in how my pregnancy was going. She was a fantastic resource for pregnancy/birth information, and passed along websites, books, and other materials.
Our baby arrived 10 days late and in a whirlwind fashion. Rachael had a very calming presence during an intense and rapid labor. She offered several comfort/coping tools, such as essential oils and cool washcloths. Because labor was progressing very quickly, the experience was rather confusing—we had expected a much longer and gradual labor. It was very helpful to have Rachael present and to have her guidance. We arrived at the hospital just in time—I was fully dilated and ready to push. Pushing took over an hour, and Rachael reminded me to drink water and offered encouragement throughout the difficult work. She anticipated my needs and worked as a great support to my husband—they made a wonderful coaching team. We were able to have the natural birth experience that we had hoped for.
We highly recommend Rachael as a birth doula. She has strong experience and training in the natural birth process, and an innate gentleness, calmness, and warmth. She strikes an ideal balance between professionalism and a personal touch, and exhibits a great sense of humor, attention to detail, and dedication. We could not be happier to have had her play such an important role in our daughter’s birth story.
