Dianne Hamre Doula Profile

After going through her Birthing Journey workshop I knew that I wanted Dianne with me during my birthing experience. This was my 3rd birth but my first pain med free out of hospital birth and I wanted as much support as I could get.  Dianne was waiting for us at birthcenter as we arrived just short of 12:30 am even though she had a workshop early in the morning! Before I even got out of the car she was at my door supporting me through contractions.  For the first time my husband was actually able to be an active participant in my labor because of Dianne's help, and for that I am so grateful.  As a team they helped me through each contraction until my baby girl arrived.  She is an amazing woman and wonderful support person to have present for one of the most beautiful moments you'll ever experience. I feel extremely blessed to have had Dianne and all her services and would not hestitate to use her again in the future!

10 months ago I had no idea what a Doula was..... Well, I thank God that I was introduced to the profession. I did not have a full understanding of the amazing benefits of having a doula next to your bedside. In our situation it was even more important. We were transferred from our birthing center to the hospital. My wife was intent on having a natural drug free birth and I do not think that would have happened without Dianne by our side. The doctors started talking about inducing my wife and Diane held them at bay.....my wife started thinking about painkillers and Dianne coached her through each contraction. The birth was natural and beautiful. What an asset to have. I know we will be calling on Diane again when we bring another child into the world. God Bless you Dianne : )
Torrey & Kelly
 

From the moment I met with Dianne I knew I wanted her to be the one to help see me through my wish for a natural, unmedicated birth. I got my wish and so much more with Dianne! I texted her often with questions and concerns and always received a prompt response. When my water broke at 3:30 AM on a Saturday, I text Dianne and let her know and she responded immediately, nevermind that it was the middle of the night on a weekend! Dianne encouraged me to have some breakfast and walk the halls to get things started - and boy did things start! In an hour my contractions were 3 minutes apart. Dianne helped me focus on getting through each contraction and I no longer was thinking "how much longer?" instead listening to my body during each contraction and resting during what little reprieve I had between them. When I started to feel nauseous, Dianne had peppermint oil that helped alleviate the nausea. When I went into a panic scrambling to get out of the tub, Dianne was right there, calm as could be helping me out of the tub and making sure I was comfortable (well, as comfortable as one can possibly be while dilated to 10 cm) Dianne not only helped hold one of my legs back as I pushed, she somehow was able to snap some amazing photographs. My entire and labor and delivery ended up being less than 3 hours. I credit Dianne for the speediness of this. Yes, it was my body that did it, but Dianne helped me stay focused on listening to my body and just getting through each contraction. There were a few times when I started to cry and thought I couldn't do it anymore, but Dianne reminded me that this was what my body was made to do. I am really proud to say that I did it, and yes I do feel that I have bragging rights since I gave birth in a hospital with a 99 percent epidural rate! Dianne is an amazing doula who will be there for you before, during and after the birth of your baby and I highly recommend her!

I found Dianne Hamre through doulamatch.net. From the moment we met, I knew that she was the doula for me. There is something very special about Diane! I think part of it is that she really loves what she does and she truly has the gift of bonding with pregnant women. I was also able to connect more with Diane through the wonderful birthing class that she teaches, which in my opinion is much more valuable than any hospital birthing class could ever offer.
When the big day arrived I was totally confident I had someone that I could count on for support and assistance in getting me through one of the greatest, yet most challenging events in my life. Because of her help, my husband and I were able to draw closer during labor, since my husband didn’t have to focus on certain parts of my labor that Dianne assisted me with. And even though I ended up an emergency c-section, Dianne was there every step of the way! She was always by my side, showing me support while giving me the encouragement I needed to get me through the birth of our beautiful son.
As my husband puts it “Dianne is like a veteran quarterback who remains focus and calm even in the midst of severe pressure”.
After we came home with our baby, Dianne came to visit me and helped me with breastfeeding. She gave me all the instruction and support I needed to be able to get my baby to successfully “latch on”. Initially, I felt that I didn’t have what it took to be successful with breastfeeding, but I remember her saying “Grace, just give it one day…you can do one day”. All I needed was that encouragement and knowledge to get going and Diane provided that and much, much more. If you choose to hire Dianne you will not be disappointed! She brings all the love, care, knowledge, dedication and passion that a woman is looking for in a doula.
 

 My husband and I first met Dianne through her birth class, The Birth Journey, and really enjoyed it. We decided soon after to take advantage of her doula services. It was great for both of us to have her there - for me for help through my natural childbirth, and for my husband, to take off the pressure of figuring out how to help. She also took some excellent photos. She checked in with us a few days later and helped out with getting the little one to latch properly and was always available if I had questions or concerns. We were very pleased with her services and would definitely recommend!

 We knew we wanted an advocate on our side when it came to the stress of labor and delivery in the hospital setting.  We met with three Doula's and our first impression of Dianne was that she was knowledgeable and professional with a calm strength.  As we got to know her she has a kind, warm personality and sincerely cares about us and the experience we were hoping for.  In discussing our birth plan she asked us if we had considered a birthing center and we had told her were intrigued but not quite comfortable.  She shared some information about her experiences and encouraged us to look in to it.  We ended up using a birthing center (Babymoon Inn) and couldn't have been happier.   Dianne's approach is calm and confident.  During my short labor she was right there with encouraging words, doing hip squeezes, explaining our options, all the while discretely capturing the event with photo's and later writing a beautiful birth story.  After a few days at home, when my frustration with breastfeeding was peaking, she showed me some techniques and assured me that my son was doing okay.  She also provided me with information on local resources, a lactation consultant, mother support groups, and internet links to help me with breastfeeding.  I would highly recommend that you at least meet Dianne. You won't be disappointed!  

We were incredibly pleased and truly impressed with Dianne Hamre as our doula.  My husband and I were expecting our first child when we decided on hiring a doula. I was new to the area and wasn't sure how I felt about my doctor as she seemed to get defensive and a bit sarcastic  with me whenever I asked questions or expressed concerns.   Once we met with Dianne at the Starbucks, we were confident she was what we needed to help guide us through the pregnancy and childbirth.   She is so knowledgeable and wise in all areas of pregnancy, labor and childbirth.   She is also incredibly professional, warm and compassionate. 

Things with my pregnancy went in a very different direction than we expected.  I had a leak of amnniotic fluid that sent me to the hospital way earlier than I had hoped or expected to go. I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible but because I was GBS positive and had the leak I was at high risk for infection and so I was stuck at the hospital. I was scared and overwhelmed.   We called Dianne and she showed up right away and talked us through our options.  It was so comforting to have her there!  She spent hours and hours with us at the hospital. She kept us focused, explained to us all the options, and was our rock.  She let us know her thoughts and recommendations but it was always up to us what we wanted to do.   She is the kind of person you want on your team.  It seemed we got  more respect from the doctors and nurses when Dianne was there.  Also, we felt more comfortable in our decision making process with her presence.  Dianne does extremely well under pressure, she knows her stuff and is worth every single penny.   You will absolutely love her, we did! 

My husband and I met Dianne the night I went into labor and we felt a connection to her from the start. She has a very warm and friendly disposition. Our original doula had a conflict of schedule as she had another client getting induced that same night and needed to be there for her. Having Dianne be there as our backup doula was an amazing experience for us and we could not have gone through the entire experience without having her support and guidance. My son's birth did not go the way I planned at all and unfortunately was full of unforseeable interventions and led to a c-section. Dianne was there supporting us 100% and providing encouragement every step of the way. I am very grateful Dianne was there to provide physical support for me as well while I labored without medication for 16+ hours starting in my home, all the way to her pouring water over me while I labored in the tub at the hospital. She worked alongside my husband and having them both there for me meant everything. Dianne also provided me with much needed support after the birth of my son with her knowledge and encouragement on helping me establish breastfeeding. We highly recommend Dianne without reservation to anyone looking for a doula who is kind, loving and knowledgeable. She will always be a part of our son's birth story. Thank you Dianne! 

-Sokun, Tim & Silas

 Diane helped us throught the birth, she was crucial when it got really tough.  She helped comfort and distract my wife during the most painful periods of labor.  She was very supportive and we would recommend her if you would like a confident person in the room during your birth.

We were so impressed with Diane’s experience, knowledge & sweet demeanor from the moment we met her. We immediately could tell that she has a true passion for birth & her work as a Doula. Dianne provided a wealth of information & was always available when I had questions outside of our scheduled appointments. She taught us about interventions during the birth process & this was very helpful to us as there were a lot of interventions that we had never heard of and it prepared us for what to expect during the delivery. My husband was very involved  & Dianne was as much a support to him as she was to me. When I went into labor Dianne was only a phone call away & arrived at our home very quickly & then we went to the hospital when we felt it was time. Being our first child & not knowing what to expect we would have been terrified without Dianne there rubbing my back and telling me that the symptoms I was having were normal signs of labor. Consistent with our birth plan, I did not receive any pain medication and I never had the desire to ask for it. I can't say enough how much her support meant to me as I moved through labor. Dianne was right by my side reminding me to breathe, to bring oxygen to the baby & helped me move positions to be as comfortable as possible. All of her words and actions were exactly what I needed to keep me calm, relaxed and birth our beautiful baby boy. Her support didn't end with birth. She helped me with breastfeeding immediately after birth, came by the hospital the day after he was born and then visited our home when he was 5 days old. She helped adjust the way I was breastfeeding which made feeding much less painful. What Dianne does as a Doula is so vital that I can't imagine having another birth without her. She is genuinely dedicated to the wellbeing of her mothers and babies; I can't recommend her highly enough.

I had the gift of working with Dianne as my birth doula!  She was an amazing support person from the moment I first contacted her.   We interviewed 3 other birth doulas, but I knew from the beginning she was my top choice.  From the moment I met Dianne, I felt so comfortable with her.  I knew immediately I could tell Dianne all my hopes, fears, etc. about the birth experience.

Additionally, Dianne always got back to me promptly when I had questions about the birth experience, pregnancy, postpartum, etc.  She was very warm, yet also professional.  Honestly, I can't imagine not having had Dianne at my birth.  She helped me believe in myself.  With her help, I was able to have a 5 hour labor with no drugs.  I am so thankful I was able to have a natural birth.  I know that without Dianne that would have been a bigger challenge.  If we have more children, I would hire Dianne again in a heartbeat.  I would highly recommend her to anyone that is looking for a birth doula.  You can't go wrong with Dianne!

Thank goodness for doulas like Dianne. I had a home birth and my experience was far from text book. My labor began with non-progressing contractions to my water breaking to basically being in transition for the next 10 hours until our little Vivienne arrived. Also, when my midwife arrived and checked to see how far dilated I was, we found out that the baby was breech – butt first! This was very upsetting news but Dianne helped keep me calm. Throughout the labor she made sure I ate, drank and does a fabulous hip squeeze! I think Dianne did a hip squeeze on me for basically every contraction – I’m not sure how she kept up the strength but it really helped ease the pain (my husband just didn’t seem to do a hip squeeze as well as her!).

I’ve heard some women say, “Oh, I don’t need a doula, my best friend will be there” or “No, we’re not having a doula – why would I need a doula when I have my husband ?” If I could give any advice, it would be – get a doula like Dianne. Husbands and friends don’t have the slightest clue how to ease a woman’s mind or pain in labor. Not to mention, can they really think clearly when all they can think about is, “Is this normal? Is she going to be OK? Is the baby OK? How long is this going to last?!” Yes, they may be the rock you need or a source of great comfort but having a third party there who knows what to expect is a huge weight off of your husband or your friend’s shoulders. After the labor, my husband told me that almost every time he asked me to drink or eat I would refuse but every time Dianne put food or drink in front of me, I took it. I really felt like my husband calmed down once Dianne arrived at our home. My husband is so thankful we had Dianne as our doula and yours will be too. If you need a doula, go with Dianne!
 

Dianne was absolutly amazing to say the least. I am soo thankful we had her as our doula. We had a crazy, scary birth experience and she was the much need calm cool headed person. Dianne was instantly personable. We felt like family the first time we talked to her. We had a couple of different "difficult" situations in which Dianne turned out to be our savior. First of all my husband got very sick and was in the bathroom for most of my laboring. She was an awesome help and replacement. She managed to really take care of both of us and I am so thankful for her being there. Second of all, in my earlier labor she had a hunch our son was postier (face up making for horrible back labor and usually a more long and less productive labor). She knew just what to do. She had me in different positions on the floor and sure enough got him to flip the right way making my labor progress. We later found out at the hospital that Dianne was right he was indeed postier.Now the scariest part of our labor was that our son tried to be born on the freeway in the car. We had originally planned to have him in the hospital but things didn't go as planned. Dianne was the calm level headed rock in this situation. I remember her, as I was crowning in the car, calmly saying "its ok, if I have to catch this baby I will and everything will be fine." SO relieving! We had to take an ambulance to the hospital. She stayed with us the whole time. She was always there to answer any questions we and just seemed to genuinely care. I would recommend Dianne to anyone I talked to. If she could handle my crazy birth I have no doubt she can handle yours. You won't regret having her there for such a special event.

 She's awesome!  Dianne is so good at what she does!  We had a great home birth experience thanks to her expertise, skills, and patient, loving heart.  We were able to meet a few times prior to the birth, and her warmth just shines through.  She was amazing all throughout labor (quite a lengthy one, too, I might add).  She knew when to step in and help with things like pain relief for back labor (I swore she had magic hands!) and showed my husband these techniques as well.  My son has not yet forgotten the yummy cookies she brought ;)  She was there every step of the way, always helping.  When it came time to deliver, she gave me the most amazing gift by gently persuading my husband to switch places with her, so he could watch his son being born.  I will forever treasure those moments, and I only have her to thank.  She wrote a beautiful birth story and gave us all the pictures as well.  Dianne is priceless!

We were fortunate to have Dianne Hamre as our Doula. She was calm, friendly and reassuring throughout labor. She help set up our birthing tub and got things organized. She was the first one to arrive and instantly got things going in the right direction. As a husband, I was pleased to have her there so I could focus on my wife and not worry if I am forgetting anything. She worked very well with our midwife as well. Our birthing experience was as wonderful as we could ever imagine. Dianne was simply wonderful and played a major role with the success of the birth of our daughter. We highly recommend her for any family wanting a Doula.

My husband and I recently adopted a baby boy.  We were excited to learn the birthmother wanted to have a natural birth in water and chose a birthing center to bring our little one into the world.   We were even more excited when we met the doula she selected - Dianne Hamre.  From the first phone conversation to this day we have had a wonderful experience with Dianne.  She is a thoughtful, thorough professional with compassion and understanding.  Adoptions are very emotional, but Dianne understood the delicate balance between what the birthparents (and grandparents) were experiencing and what we as adoptive parents were going through.  She was a calm "middle person" between what was happening in the birthing room and the waiting room.  She took great pictures and put a birthing story together for both sides.  Dianne has kept in touch with our birthmother and made sure she was recovering well, physically and emotionally.  She also has checked in and met with us to see how we are coping with our first baby - so sweet!  Dianne has gone above and beyond what I ever would have expected from a doula.  I would highly recommend Dianne, and I have as a matter of fact!  Our entire adoption experience would not have been nearly as smooth and special if not for Dianne. 

The first time that I met Dianne could tell that she was a very passionate and knowledgeable about what she does. Her calm nature and experience made me feel very comfortable and I knew that I was making a smart choice by having her as my doula. My husband was a little unsure about having a doula but now after our great experience both him and I will recommend Dianne in a heartbeat. Just because God created us women to go through the experience of childbirth it does not mean that we have to go through it alone and Dianne is a great support person. She knew just what to do in all of the situations that were thrown at us, which way to move, where to push and what to do next. With Dianne’s help emotionally and physically I was able to have the labor and birth that I always wanted. Her help and support did not just stop after the baby was born. Her help and knowledge go way beyond just labor and delivery. It is nice to know that she is there for help when I needed her. With the birth of my second baby there was also a birth of a friendship that I see lasting longer then the memories of the pain of childbirth. Thank you Dianne I know that I could not have done it without you.

     Can't say enough great things about Dianne.  Having had a previous c-section, I was on the clock to go into labor or face a repeat c-section at 41 weeks, 3 days.  She told me how to stimulate labor naturally...and it worked!  Even after being up for 24 hours at another birth, she was absolutely on top of things throughout my VBAC labor, not only by making me comfortable and coaching my husband, but by helping me make informed decisions about my care, and mediating between me and hospital staff to make my labor a positive experience.  I never had to worry about fighting for my wishes/rights.

     On two occasions, I though I might lose my chance to VBAC (first for failure to progress, and then because my cervix was starting to swell and close) and Dianne was able to help me focus on my goal and position me so that my body could stop swelling and dilate, and my baby could move down with the least amount of intervention.  She knew just how to coach me to get me through the hardest part of my labor: keeping my body from pushing too soon.  I was able to give birth to my baby girl just the way I had dreamed, without surgery or epidural, and it was worth every moment of difficult labor!  We were able to leave the hospital 24 hours after my daughter's birth, and I'm feeling great! I honestly don't think I could have done it without Dianne in my corner.  

my experience with dianne was amazing.  she is just a great person, so sweet and kind.  she always called to check up on me and made sure i was doing ok.  she offered advice and told me about her experiences, which really helped.  she also researched birthing supplies for me so that i can save money...very thoughtful!  she's just so gentle and that's exactly what i needed because i was scared of having a home birth for the first time.  she's someone i would definitely recommend to my friends and family.  she made my experience a great one and even after birth, she offered a lot of advice on breastfeeding and even baby acne :)  she's awesome.  lastly, she really wanted to meet my needs and was so flexible in working out everything to make sure those needs were met.  she's someone i'd like to keep as a friend as well.  great doula, great person!

I can’t say enough good things about Dianne. She played such an essential role in helping me through 30 hours of labor naturally at my home after two c-sections. I really could not have made it without her kind words and physical support. She is very knowledgeable about the birthing processes and is very gently with the guidance she provides. She is behind you all the way supporting whatever path is best for you. She is a very empathetic and caring person and truly loves and treasures the work she does.

Dianne was a wonderful doula.  The thing I appreciated most about her was her gentle and kind spirit.  She was just so nice and understanding throughout my pregnancy and most of all, always made me feel at ease, even during labor!  She's so helpful in so many ways.  DIanne even helped me to save some money by looking for birthing supplies for me.  She called regualry to check up on me and made me feel cared for.  SHe's just a sweet person to have around for support and encouragement during pregnancy and birth.  I cannot imagine my experience without her, especially duing the most intense stage of my labor and delivery.  She was able to help not only me, but my husband and my midwife during the whole process.  Last, but not least, she inspired me because of her own story as a mother of 4.  She makes me feel like I can do it!  I will definitely stay in touch with her and also ask for her help for my next child....if my husband and I are brave enough to do so :)  

Dianne was absolutely essential during the epic adventure of our 48 hour labor.  Nothing seemed to be going according to our birth plan due to our little girl being in a very difficult position for natural delivery to progress.  Dianne helped us through all of the difficult decisions that we needed to make as the painful back labor went on and on throughout the weekend.  Dianne was a wealth of knowledge when it came to position changes, massage techniques, and later in the process, medications and interventions that became necessary for a safe delivery.  She was a wonderful support to my husband, showing him how to help me physically and emotionally, and keeping us focused on the goal of a safe delivery, however that may end up happening.  We were so impressed with her calm in the face of so much stress and her willingness to stay with us throughout the entire process.  Dianne advocated for us and helped us to advocate for ourselves as the labor process drifted farther from what we had hoped for, due to the baby's position.  Her presence and participation in the birth of our daughter helped us to feel confident about the decisions we needed to make and were greatly appreciated.  We would recommend her to everyone!

We met Dianne by happenstance as she stepped in for our doula, who was called away for a family emergency. Dianne met us at the hospital entrance and quickly got up-to-speed on my wife Heidi’s pregnancy and birth plan. We wanted a natural birth without epidural or the haze of pain medications. A 13-hour labor put this ambition to the test, as Heidi had severe back labor throughout (Dianne, Heidi’s mother and I rotated on back massage duty). Dianne remained a remarkable and confident advocate for us through labor. Her interpersonal skills kept us all clear and focused; her empathetic nature helped bring Heidi through delivery. She worked wonderfully with the midwife. Thirteen hours after meeting Dianne, she became a big part of bringing Micaela Rose into the world … and she’ll forever have a place in our hearts.

Dianne was all I could ask for in a doula and more! My labor required a lot of coaching and a lot of techniques to keep it progressing and she did a wonderful job of motivating me when I was discouraged. I was determined to have a natural birth and she was an essential part having that outcome. I am truly thankful that she was a part of my birth experience. I really feel that I couldn't have done it without her.

Working with Dianne was wonderful. She fallowed our birth plan to the T. She help me cope with the pain of natural child birth and help my husband to coach me, making him feel involved. It was a beautiful experience I'm glad to have had Dianne there with us at the birth of our forth child, Naomi.