Rina Crane Doula Profile

Rina is in one word: amazing!  From the first phone conversation I had with her she just has a very calming force.  As soon as we met her in person it was an easy decision!  We also had a couple of great visits with her before the birth of our first child and each visit calmed our nerves!  She walked us through things we should think about, what choices we wanted to make in terms of the pain management and gave us some great things to think about before delivery.  I ended up having to be induced for my delivery and had my husband with me.  But when Rina walked in the hospital room we both smiled!  Right away she made us feel so much more at ease!  She talked me through my contractions and was just so amazing!  She made me feel like a rock star getting through each contraction.  When my little girl was delivered she was not crying right away and once she did you could see that Rina was just as emotional about the experience as we were!  Rina was also willing to take photos for us when our little girl was born and we treasure those now!  She also did a post partum visit about 5 days after the birth of our daughter to go through the delivery and answer any questions we had.  I should also mention that she took phone calls from me (at random times) throughout my pregnancy to answer any questions and she also helped me after the birth with some breast feeding questions.  I would not think to have a baby without Rina there!!!!

I knew Rina would be my doula when I first met her two years before my planned homebirth. I immediately felt comfortable around her and made a mental note of asking her when the time came.

Choosing Rina was the best decision I could have made other than having a homebirth, for my second baby. She is very knowledgeable and has been the doula at many homebirths, so I knew I was in good hands from the beginning.

When I informed my midwife that Rina would be my doula, she happily said how she was in her top list of best ones. Coming from an experienced midwife, this meant a lot to me.

My homebirth moved quicker than I could have imagined. By the time Rina arrived, I was just minutes away from pushing. However, she walked in during the most needed moment. As I laid in bed, I could hear her voice at my front door. It was the most reassuring sound I could have heard at that moment.

I recall her entering my bedroom and calmly saying that I looked ready to have my baby. Those words were empowering and gave me the boost I needed to keep going. She patted my forehead with a cool towel, which felt amazing after being hot and tired. Frankly, anything she did or said, made me feel comforted and ready to have my baby.

One of the highlights of my birth was that my daughter was welcomed by Rina’s hands. My midwife was running late and I could not delay the urge to push. My daughter could have not been welcomed into more loving or capable hands.

Rina stayed hours after my daughter’s birth, making sure I was comfortable and hydrated, as I cuddled with my baby. She has also kept in touch the days and weeks after the the birth to see how we were doing.

Rina, I will be forever grateful for your role in my homebirth. You embody the definition of a exceptional doula.

 I didn't want a doula and reluctantly accepted the gift from friends who offered to pay for one.  When I met Rina, she wasn't pushy and even recommended that I interview other doulas too.  None of the doulas I met could compare to her, though.  Prenatally, Rina helped us get all the information we needed to make our birth choices.  Once labor started, Rina was the best thing I had!  She was really amazing.  Even when she wasn't doing anything, knowing she was there made me feel comfortable and secure.  She created the perfect birth atmosphere too.  After my baby was born, she was the only one who could help him latch on.  She says I did it all myself, but I really wonder what I would have done without her.  

Rina is the best doula you can ask for. From the moment we met her, we know that she is loving, caring and very experienced. She believed in me and said just the right encouragements at the right time during my labor. She seems to know exactly what to do at different times, making my husband and I feel like we are in very capable hands and I could just concentrate on staying relaxed. Rina has lots of tricks up her sleeves to help me through my labor. She also used some tough love on me the moment I needed it, something that would have been ineffective coming from my husband. I don't think I could have had a natural birth without Rina's help. 

From the moment I met Rina, I felt comforted that she would be part of my labor team for my home birth. She has an energy about her that is very positive, warm, reassuring and calming. Both my husband and my midwife, whom she met on separate occasions, noted the same thing about her. They both specifically noted her "great energy." I think it is a very special person who can affect others on such a physical level.

I cannot say enough about my experience with Rina, from the beginning when I was interviewing prospective doulas to the wonderful labor support she was to me at my home birth. First and foremost, Rina is extremely professional and prompt. Her promptness and timeliness at the initial consultation and at both prenatal visits was incredibly helpful; any pregnant mom (who ultimately just wants to nap away the afternoon/evening) will understand.

I felt that Rina was deeply open to finding out about my family and me in order to best figure out her role in my home birth. At the initial consultation, I felt like I was talking to someone I had known for a long time.  I also appreciated how levelheaded her responses were in dealing with any concerns that I had. Although she has a level of expertise about the birth experience in her capacity as a doula, I felt that she helped me find answers to concerns I had on my own, rather than feed me any expert answers.

At the actual birth, Rina was a godsend. I felt that throughout the experience, she was very present with me. She said all the right things that were very comforting and at the right times. She worked seamlessly with my husband and midwives to ensure that all my needs were met (especially hydration—she makes a great tea for hydration during labor!)

I highly recommend Rina—she is a wonderful doula and a wonderful soul on top of that!
 

From the moment I met Rina, I felt comforted that she would be part of my labor team for my home birth.  She has an energy about her that is very positive, warm, reassuring and calming.  Both my husband and my midwife, whom she met on separate occasions, noted the same thing about her.  They both specifically noted her "great energy."  I think it is a very special person who can affect others on such a physical level.

I cannot say enough about my experience with Rina, from the beginning when I was interviewing prospective doulas to the wonderful labor support she was to me at my home birth.  First and foremost, Rina is extremely professional and prompt.  Her promptness and timeliness at the initial consultation and at both prenatal visits was incredibly helpful as any pregnant mom (who ultimately just wants to nap away the afternoon/evening) will understand. 

I felt that Rina was deeply open to finding out about me and my family in order to best figure out her role in my home birth.  At the initial consutlation, I felt like I was talking to someone I had known for a long time.  Rina

My husband and I could not be happier with our decision to have Rina be part of our homebirth team. She stood by us way before labor even started as a knowledgeable support and educator and when the labor was in progress she maintained her strong, yet soft presence through each breath of the journey. Now I understand how valuable it is to have the constant support of a woman who has already experienced childbirth herself. It added a level of safety that I might not have had with a lesser experienced Doula. I would recommend Rina to anyone.

Fantastic Doula!!! Having Rina on our birth team was the best decision we made. Her energy was very calming and peaceful. For me (the mom), it felt like she was the "tour guide" for our birth, she knew exactly when I needed encouragement and when it was time to get moving. Because of her experience, she also knew just the right moment to call the midwife based on my labor progression. My husband and I studied the Bradley Method and even took several classes so we were very well prepared, and it was still so great for us to have an experienced support person for the labor. Thanks to Rina and my birth team, we had a beautiful birth.

Before working with Rina, I didn't know anything about what a doula's role is. My husband and I knew only that we wanted a doula because we were planning a home birth and wanted the extra support. We got that and so much more! Rina came the minute I wanted her and stayed through the labor and delivery, taking care of me, my husband and our home. I call her the good tea fairy. I didn't know how parched I'd be during labor, but the minute I needed a drink, Rina would appear in front of me with the most wonderful teas. She was calm, quiet, efficient and incredibly comforting for my husband and me while I labored before my midwife arrived. Because of Rina's help with myriad things from providing sustenance for me to helping my husband with a thousand things to cleaning up after the birth, my husband was able to devote all of his attention to me, which is exactly what I needed. We couldn't have done it without Rina. She made our home birth experience so incredibly wonderful and peaceful. I will definitely call her when we're ready to have another baby.

I had a homebirth with doularina in 2008 and really believe I couldn't have done it without her.  She was the perfect doula from our first telephone conversation.  When we met, we had an instant connection and the services she provided were always just what my family needed.  Everyone should have a doula and they should all be like Rina Crane.