Kristy Hinz Doula Profile

When I started to look into having a unmediated birth, I realized that hiring a doula would be important. I needed to find someone my supportive but skeptical husband felt comfortable with and that could support me through one of the most important and private experiences of my life. So, I did some research and scheduled an interview with Kristy, with full intent to scheduling more interviews. After Kristy left our house, before she even got in her car, my husband and I looked at each other and said, ‘she’s the one!’ And my skeptical husband was not so skeptical anymore!
Kristy helped us find childbirth classes, lent us books and provided us with a lot of resources and information prior to and after the birth. By the time our prenatal visits were completed, we really felt comfortable with her. When I went into labor, I was in denial for quite some time. Kristy let me stay in that mindset, by being calm and just letting me be. I knew she would come over right away when I needed her, and she did. When we got to the hospital, she continued to help us stay calm and keep a sense of humor in the room. During the hard parts of labor and pushing, she helped us find positions to reduce the pain and helped us sort through some intervention decisions. I felt a lot better about agreeing to them with her support, which in the end allowed us to minimize the number interventions. During the hardest contractions, she knew just what to say to help me calm down and breathe. Although labor was hard (duh), I felt totally supported by my husband and Kristy, and never asked for pain medicine. In addition, my husband felt supported making it easier to support me. She was also important to our postpartum experience and helped us find wonderful lactation resources. We are so glad Kristy was part of our son’s birth and my pregnancy. She really helped us throughout the process and even managed to snap some great pictures in the process! THANK YOU Kristy!

Kristy set up a meeting to discuss what her services entailed & was very thorough. My husband the constant skeptic asked a lot of questions & she was able to keep the conversation light & answered them all. She was professional & helpful from the start. We hired her & she came over 2 more times before our due date. She was always flexible on times & topics of discussion. She helped us refine our birth plan which was very helpful. We have a very rambunctious dog. She was really good with the dog even though she didn't have to be. Showed how she is calm & collect in any environment & can easily interact with a variety of personalities. At labor time, my labor stalled out in the really early stages. I called Kristy, frustrated with how things were going, & asked for help. She suggested acupuncture to jump start my labor. I was so happy when 2 hours after treatment my labor was progressing. When she arrived she allowed me to do what I needed to do to get through contractions. When I was tired she made a pillow nest for me on the bed, & my water broke. We went to the hospital where she was communicated to my husband things he should be aware of. She also asked a nurse if they had a birthing ball to labor on, which I loved! Kristy, my husband & my mother-in-law all coached me through my contractions. It really helped me when Kristy would coach me, she always knew when the next contraction was coming & got me prepared for it. She helped us accomplish our goal of a natural & drug free birth. I could not have been happier to have such a great Doula by my side through the entire experience. Thank you Kristy!

Kristy was amazing!  I have very little to say outside of that.  Her follow up post pregnancy was amazing.  Kristy gave my wife every bit of support she needed during our birth.  Our birth plan was not an option to follow because of my wifes water breaking early, but Kristy was there to give us the support we needed and the process truly was enjoayble.  Our families loved her as she worked to keep them updated so we didn't have too!

I'd recommend Kristy to any couple, from a husbands point of view, she was perfect.  And i'd push any couple who want to truly enjoy this amazing experiance to use Kristy!

My husband and I hired Kristy Hinz as a labor doula for the birth of our first son.  Our contract for services with her was to include 2 prenatal visits and 1 post-partum visit, as well as arriving whenever we wanted her to on the delivery day.  We only had a chance to meet with Kristy once to begin discussing our birth plan and labor options, as my water broke early.   

Kristy came with us to the hospital when I was admitted, and visited and called often during my 10 days on bed rest in the hospital.  While the initial birth plan had been to labor at home naturally as long as possible, before moving to the hospital for delivery and possibly getting an epidural, Kristy helped us realize we had to come up with a new plan as I was to be induced.  She was very knowledgeable about the options we would have with the induction, and the difference in contractions I would experience on pitocin.  We asked Kristy to be with us the whole delivery day, so she stayed until an hour after the birth.  

Kristy recently stopped by for the post-partum visit, where we discussed questions I had about breast feeding and the baby in general.  After this visit, Kristy encouraged my husband and I to keep in touch, which we will definitely do.

While I wanted my husband for support during labor, we could not have made it through the day on our own.  It would have been a day filled with anxiety and worry, since we did not have that much contact with the nurse.  

If we have any more children, I would ask Kristy to be at their births without a moment's hesitation, and would recommend her to anyone looking for a highly skilled partner in your labor and delivery.  I think Kristy would be a great fit for first time parents who would like to research and be informed about all of their options (medications for mom and baby, etc) before arriving at the hospital.

Kristy was my doula twice for the delivery of my son in 2008 and my daughter in 2009.  She was invaluable and I can not say enough about her and the value of having a doula.  Kristy visited me several times before the birth of my child to talk with my husband and myself about our desires for the birth.  She was very encouraging of our wishes to attempt to use hypnobirthing and natural labor as much as possible.  She walked us through the process and the options that we would face. 

I had a very long labor with my son and spent almost a week in the hospital.  She was there for me when I needed her and even spent the night one night.  She supported me, was an advocate for me with the hospital and nurses, and even helped my husband to relax and just be the daddy.

After the birth, she visited the babies and myself, bringing a nice dinner and helped with post partum questions and nursing.

I would highly recommend her to anyone considering using a doula.

From the moment my husband and I met Kristy, we knew she was gong to be a great birth partner for us both! We wanted to find someone who was experienced and warm with a positive and calm demeanor without an "agenda." Kristy was all this and more! In our prenatal meetings, she helped us consider various options regarding circumscision and pain relief, as well as providing some wonderful insights into how David and I could use our marital strengths during the birthing process.

We planned for a natural, non-medicated birth and Kristy helped us acheive our goals even though the birth did not go exactly as planned ( my water broke at work-big surprise!) She was by our side through 36 hours of labor (24 hours of it in active labor with a midwife at Prentice--12 hours of non-medicated labor). When we had to make big decisions about some unplanned but necessary interventions, she helped us understand what we would be up against (i.e. Pitocin contractions vs. non-pitocin contractions) She was great with  all the staff and identified those nurses who further supported our goals.

She was a GREAT support to my husband and to me -- I have wondersul memories of getting a foot massage, of her asking my about my emotional state, and more than anything, her encouraging smile and cheers as Nolan was finally born via a vaginal birth. We were so pleased with Kristy and would refer her to anyone seeking a warm, expereinced and supportive birth partner. She was an integral part of our very positive birth experience!

 Kristy was such a great doula.  She visited my house several times and we hit it off right away.  She really made me feel confident and capable in the delivery room.  I labored roughly 7 - 8 hours, naturally.  Unfortunately, I had to get an emergency c-section at 10 cm because of complication but Kristy was with me every step of the way.  

After the baby was born she visited me one last time to make sure I was o.k. with my experience and coping well.  She also provided resources to seek help if I needed it in the future.  Since my beautiful baby boy was born 6 months ago Kristy has continued to stay in contact.  She is a warm spirit and I would recommend her services to any of my friends wanting a natural childbirth experience.  :)

Leslie