Kerry Reynolds Doula Profile

I originally sought out Kerry as the birth of my first child was during a time my husband was to be deployed. Kerry's presence was calming and positive, exactly what I wanted and needed before the birth of our Jack. My husband was not deployed, so our birth plan changed and Kerry was wonderful in her flexibility and she just went with it. I went in to labor 10 days early and called Kerry the evening that my contractions began. She was supportive and directive. The next day we called her when I decided to go to the hospital. Kerry met us there, I labored until I was 8 cm without drugs during which time Kerry was supportive and helped with focus, breathing and keeping me comfortable. Throughout the labor time she was enouraging and helpful. I had an uncomplicated birth which was wonderful, a healthy baby boy. Kerry's support continued as she immediately got to work feeding me and ensuring that I built up my strength for breastfeeding and the nights ahead. The nurses commented how helpful she was and how thoughtful in all the ways that she assisted me with ice, water, food, etc... It was so comforting to me that when the baby was born and everyone is focused on the babe, Kerry was focused on me the mom and ensuring that everthing with me was ok. It was wonderful to have her there and I can't recommend her enough. We'll be calling her when we want baby #2!

I was wishing for a hyponobirthing birth and decided to go with a doula. We liked Kerry the first time we met her. She was very friendly and nice, optimistic and knowledgeable. When Lucas was overdue, I talked to Kerry several times on the phone, panicing. She managed to find the right words to reassure me everything would be ok. Finally, 8 days overdue, my first contractions started at night. I spoke to Kerry several times that night, again, finding her words very reassuring. Kerry arrived to the hospital a few minutes after us, and stayed with me throughout the whole 30+hours journey. When she found out that my labor is progressing, but slowely, she encouraged me to walk. We walked several miles that day. There is no chance I would have done it without Kerry. She even climbed steps with me to promote the dialation. When I wanted to rest, she let me do that. When I wanted to be alone wtih my partner, she always left without me even asking her. When I needed her there, she was always there, encouraging me to work through my not-so-easy labor (my baby was face up). She never pushed me, but she always gave me suggestions, information, advice - and that is what I needed. When I finally (after 3 hours of pitocin) decided to get an epidural, she was on my side, while my partner needed some convincing.  Kerry, with her wise words, managed to convince him that it was for the best. And it indeed was - may baby was born after I was able to sleep with the help of epidural. I pushed for long 3 hours, and again - Kerry was there, putting cold washcloth over my forehead, holding my arms/legs and counting to help me push. Kerry, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We would have never been able to do it without you. You are an amasing person, and I am glad that you had a call to become a doula.

 Galina and Daniel

Kerry was our doula for a VBAC in December 2010.   I could not be happier with the service that Kerry provided during our time together, and the resulting outcome.  Kerry provided the emotional support I needed to manage the challenges of labor productively.  She was neutral and nonjudgmental in her approach and provided the balanced perspective that my husband and I were seeking.  She was a cheerleader for me when I needed it most and constantly reassured me that I was making good choices and that I was progressing in a normal way.  Kerry promptly responded to our inquiries and always provided useful suggestions both prior to and during labor.  It was a relief to have her stay with me while my husband went with our child to be examined in the nursery after birth.  I would encourage anyone considering Kerry to give her a call - her help was worth every last penny to us and more!  Thanks Kerry!

 We we so lucky to find Kerry to be our doula for the birth of our daughter in July of 09.  She was very understanding, compassionate, and organized!  She says that she supports the partner/husband so that they can support the mom and it's quite true.  Her guidance allowed my husband to support me during birth and meant that he didn't have to "problem solve" right on the spot.  I truly believe that Kerry's guidance kept my daughter's birth intervention-free.  I only wish I had found her sooner during my pregnancy!

An aside - I should have sprung for her photo package!  My husband took pictures, but there's so much to do after the baby is born that, in retrospect, it would have been nice to have another set of eyes.

We are so grateful that we found Kerry to assist with the birth of our first son.   From the first time I met Kerry,  our relationship felt immediately close, like old friends.  Kerry has a generous, loving spirit.  She is always very positive and upbeat and has tremendous energy.

As first time parents, my husband and I took a lot of comfort in her experience and knowledge. She inspired confidence in me, put me at ease, and quelled fear during the most difficult times. All of her advice and suggestions before, during, and after his birth have been extremely helpful.

Kerry was extremely supportive of my desire to have a natural childbirth and did everything she could to help me have the experience I wanted.  But, when it turned out that I had to have a c-section, she was especially adept at supporting me through the change in our birth plan.  Even a week after the birth, when I expressed a few doubts about the c-section and questioned if there were other things we could have tried, Kerry was very reassuring and helped me to put those doubts aside.

Kerry was right by my side the entire time: through 12 hours of labor, through the decision to move forward with a c-section, in the operating room during the surgery, and afterwards in the recovery room to assist with initial breast feeding.  I can't imagine what my childbirth experience would have been like without her.  She was my anchor and she consistently supported me exactly the way I needed to be supported.  My husband was a wonderful birth partner as well, but he couldn't have given me what Kerry was able to give.

For my next child, I absolutely want Kerry by my side, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for support during their childbirth.

After interviewing a number of doulas, my husband and I chose Kerry because of her calm, caring presence and the fact that she put us completely at ease. We couldn’t be happier with our choice. I honestly don’t think we would have made it through without her, especially when things got a bit more complicated than anticipated!

From our first meeting, Kerry answered all of our questions (even silly first-time parent concerns) articulately and without judgment. She referred us to helpful resources when appropriate, and acted as a sounding board when we simply needed to run things by someone far more knowledgeable than us.

While we’d planned to have a natural birth, a different outcome was in the cards. At my 40 week appointment, I had high blood pressure and a number of other symptoms indicating preeclampsia and was admitted to the hospital for an induction. Things progressed rapidly and in a direction that wasn’t desirable. Through it all, Kerry’s constant support and soothing influence helped both my husband and I remain relaxed and calm. In addition, she worked well as a team with my midwife and labor and delivery nurses. It was clear that they trusted and respected her.

We simply can’t thank Kerry enough for the part that she played in bringing our daughter into the world, and recommend her highly to others looking for a kind, warm person to help guide them through pregnancy and childbirth. She’s a gem!
 

We were looking for a doula to help us with our desire for a non-medicated Hypnobirth.  Our Hypnobirthing instructor recommended Kerry, and as soon as we met her, we were instantly comfortable with her and confident in her abilities.   Our meetings with her were relaxed and informative.  She was able to answer all of our 'first-timer' questions, and she really put us at ease.  

During early labor, Kerry was a calming influence, and was full of great suggestions to help Josh and I manage labor.  She made sure that I was hydrated and was eating snacks, all the while keeping an eye on my contractions.  When we went to the hospital and in active labor she was a huge help. She suggested laboring positions that were very helpful; got me to move around and get to the restroom regularly.  She was full of encouragement and affirmation, which was hugely needed, as I was on a pitocin drip due to stalled labor.    

After delivery, Kerry was a huge help in established breastfeeding, and I'm happy to say that it is still going well :)

Kerry was an incredible help to Josh and I during the long labor and delivery!  I don't think we could have done it pain-med free without her. She was an amazing member of a team that included my husband, my mom, and little Nora!  We all worked together to have a successful birth.   It was such a wonderful experience, and I can't recommend Kerry highly enough.

We couldn't have asked for better support during my pregnancy or the birth of our daughter.  Towards the end of my pregnancy, I would email her after each of my OB appointments to update her on my progress and it was helpful to have someone objective to vent to and to receive her encouraging responses was invaluable.  She showed me how to turn the baby from her 'sunny side up' position into the preferred facedown presentation - and celebrated with us when the ultrasound showed her techniques had worked!

Our stubborn little girl decided she was far too comfortable to come into the world on her own and I was induced about 10 days past my due date.  Kerry was with us from the beginning - always giving us confidence and calm.  Helping us to articulate the questions we needed answers for and explaining to us what was happening with me and the baby as labor progresses. 

Most importantly, she was there for my husband and she showed HIM how to support me.  How to hold me and encourage me and help bring his little girl into the world.  It was comforting to me knowing that she was taking care of him too.

 My husband being the military we are far away from family and thought we could handle our birth experience on our own.  But, the closer to the due date the more concerned I became that we needed the extra support to have a natural childbirth and someone to look after our best interest at the hospital.  So, I started looking for a doula and I was so blessed to meet Kerry.  She came over to our house to talk with us about our birth plan and right away my husband and I knew that she would fit right in with our family.  The day of the birth, 27 Oct 2009, Kerry was there to support us 100%.  Eighteen hours of active labor at the hospital and many more hours before that at home my husband welcomed the break to get something to eat while Kerry helped me through contractions.  Life happens, we didn't have the natural childbirth we expected but it was such a blessing to have Kerry there to explain the pluses and the minuses of each procedure and in the end a c-section.  She looked after everything while they wheeled me away she packed up our room and moved our belongings to the room I would recover in allowing my husband to be with me as long as possible.  When I came out she was a welcoming face.  Right away helping learn to breast feed my new baby boy.  Kerry will always be apart of our family.  She has such a gift.  

After interviewing a dozen Doulas, I decided Kerry was the best fit to support my husband and I during labor and birth. Our decision to have Kerry by our side was among the smartest choices of our pregnancy. With our beautiful daughter now 11 days old, we are still singing Kerry's praises, often commenting "we could not have fulfilled the natural birth we did without Kerry." Even with a few uncontrollable circumstances (being induced with pitocin), Kerry was a PARAMOUNT aspect of birthing our daughter with a truly beautiful birth. When self doubt surprised me by showing up in active labor, it was Kerry's reassurance to me and my husband that we were in fact doing this - - - not that "I couldn't do it" as I began to fear. My husband and I agree whole-heartedly, Kerry is the best investment we made as parents prior to birth. We recommend Kerry to any expecting parents without hesitation. We cannot imagine expanding our future family without her support. Thank you, Kerry!

Kerry was our wonderful doula for the birth of our daughter. She did an outstanding job of getting to know us and our birth wishes before the big day.  Although things didn't go exactly as planned (our daughter was breech and we had a cesarean birth), Kerry's sweet and supportive spirit was right there encouraging us.  She helped us focus on those birth wishes we could still have!  When my husband went with our daughter to the nursery, Kerry stayed with me in recovery.  She also helped us have an amazing start to breastfeeding. I will use Kerry for as many births as I can convince my husband to have! 

Kerry was our doula for our son's birth in April 2009.  She was wonderful to work with and met with us in our home several times before the birth.  Our son was breech, so she worked with us on optimal fetal positioning and ways to get him to turn, such as recommending we go to an accupuncturist and chiropractor.  She was very positive and supportive.  He did not turn, so my husband and I decided to have our OB try a version, which did not work and resulted in a c-section.  Because of our preparation with Kerry in developing a Wish List for Birth, the nurses and doctors were able to know and honor those of our wishes that were still feasible with a c-section (dad announcing the sex of the baby, keeping the baby with us in the OR instead of sending dad and baby to the nursery, breastfeeding with Kerry's help immediately afterwards in the recovery room, etc).  Kerry's knowledge and expertise also helped us to remain calm as I was being prepped for surgery.  She explained what procedures were going to happen and was a very calm presence for us.  She is a great doula.  We were looking forward to working with her for a natural birth, but when that didn't happen, we were grateful to have her be there and support us in making our c-section birth as family-centered as possible.  She also took beautiful pictures of us and our son bonding in the recovery room, pictures that we would not have had without her!