Amanda McLure Doula Profile

I greatly appreciated the services of a post-natal doula after the birth of my first child. The first few weeks after bringing the baby home from the hospital were filled with excitement and change. As my husband and I adjusted to our new life with baby it was great to have the support that Amanda provided. Having a post-natal doula gave us peace of mind in that there was always someone available to help, and only a phone call away. Amanda was a knowledgeable, encouraging and comforting presence in our home. I appreciated her company and often used her visits to catch up on some precious sleep! Amanda always tried to answer our questions in a kind and unbiased manner - she was also able to point us in the direction of other pertinent information and local community support. We really appreciated her knowledge of breastfeeding; as a La Leche League leader she provided valuable expertise. Amanda also provided us with nutritious, hearty and delicious meals – enough food to take care of supper and a couple lunches. Having this support was one less thing we needed to worry about as we got to know our new baby. I would recommend the services of a post-natal doula. Amanda was someone we could depend on during those first few weeks, and the months to follow. We relied on her for information, reassurance and just about anything else we needed to make our transition to parenthood that much smoother.

It is very hard to put into words how grateful I am to have had Amanda by my side when I gave birth. Being a first time mom I was very worried about what to expect and how to handle labor, Amanda was there to listen to my fears and answered the questions I had. She seemed to understand my needs and knew how to satisfy them. My labor was everything I didn’t expect. My water broke without contractions, I went to the hospital instead of laboring at home and I wasn’t able to have the epidural that I thought I wanted. Amanda gave me the confidence to make the decisions that were the best for me. She was extremely helpful in finding ways to help me deal with the pain from the contractions; she also was very helpful in involving my husband with this. She was there to hold my hand and was my own personal cheerleader when I really needed it. I know that my birth experience wouldn’t have been the positive experience I had if she wasn’t a part of it, I couldn’t image doing it again without her. She will always have a special place in our family.

I feel very fortunate to have met Amanda. I was a new mom without close family nearby, and I was instantly able to relate to Amanda as she moved to Saint John under the same circumstances. She was a great comfort for me as I learned my new role; listening to my concerns and offering suggestions. She showed me ways to relieve my baby’s gas pains, taught me how to breastfeed lying down, helped with the laundry and dishes, and even held the baby while I took a much needed and appreciated nap. She urged me to call her at any time if I was overwhelmed, and I knew she was sincere in her offer. She truly cares. She was a positive presence in our household as she and (baby) Joseph clicked immediately and my husband looked forward to her homemade meals! Words can’t express how thankful I am to have met Amanda, and although Joseph and I will see her from time to time, we will miss our weekly visits. Thank you, Amanda!

We are very fortunate to have access to Sue and Amanda, to provide their doula services during and after the pregnancy of Rebecca and Keaton. Amanda and Sue were able to provide us a lot of information and help us consider all of the options we had during the pregnancy. As a husband, it was so helpful to have their support and experience during the pregnancy and birth, and it made me feel like I was better able to fill my role as husband, father and support person. I have talked to other fathers who have had Sue and Amanda provide doula services during their partners pregnancy, and from the male perspective, there is nothing better you can do for the family than have a doula. On top of the ongoing support, before and after the birth, which made such a big difference in our levels of anxiety and comfort, Amanda McLure and baby Keaton have a special bond. When Rebecca went into labor, we were taking our time getting ready, expecting 12 hrs of work. While I was making coffee, Rebecca was in the bathroom trying to get comfortable (and screaming like a banshee), and I had called Amanda to let her know that she should come over and join the party. Shortly afterward, Rebecca yelled for me, and I see her in the bathroom with the baby's head visible, asking me to help her. I was just washing my hands, and rolling up my sleeves when Amanda walked in the door and jumped in to help out ( rescue me might be more accurate ). She did a great job of turning this surprising and slightly scary turn of events into a very happy and special moment for our family, and we were able to spend some precious time at home with our new addition before going into the hospital.