PROMOTION:

2022 Main Line Parent Family Favorite Doula

Family Focus Media has been building community with Main Line Parent and Philadelphia Family since 2010 and our annual LOVE Awards celebrate the BEST local resources for families, thanks to thousands of nominations like this one:

Our first son was born in late 2014 and, even though we had taken childbirth classes, when the time came and I had to be induced, we felt woefully unprepared and, if I'm honest, we saw a nurse maybe every hour or so and of course no doctor until they came to check how I was progressing. After 26 hours of labor, I ended up having to have an emergency c-section. The whole experience was really demoralizing and traumatic, so when we found out I was pregnant with our second son, we decided to make two big changes. First, we changed hospitals and practices to a hospital and practice that staffed doctors, midwives, and nurses. Second, we interviewed and hired a doula. My goal was to be able to VBAC if possible. Cue Nicole. Of the doulas we interviewed, we immediately felt comfortable with her and clicked on so many levels, including music preference! She met with us several times before the birth. We created a birth plan, shared it with my doctors, went to a pelvic mechanics class she recommended, learned how to use a rebozo to alleviate my back pain, sciatica, etc. I went into labor on my own this time but suffered from back labor. From my first contraction to time of birth was approximately 38 hours and Nicole was there as soon as we got to the hospital around hour nine and stayed well past the birth. She coached me (and my husband) with so many ideas and methods we never would have known to try, including but not limited to different positions to progress labor, ways to manage pain, using the rain shower, etc. She even stayed awake while my husband and I took a short nap after I had a dose of pain meds to massage my back every time I contracted so I could rest. She interacted professionally with the midwives, doctors and nurses on staff and we felt so much more supported. After I gave birth, she visited us twice, helped me learn how to use a belly binder for support, brought me the most comfortable donut to help me sit. I really cannot say enough about how awesome she is. We give her our highest recommendation for best doula. She transformed our second birth experience. I never could have accomplished my goal without her, but I did it and am forever grateful.