Nicole Siswick - Sweet Song Doula

 Nicole was an excellent fit for me and my husband during my pregnancy, labor, and post labor. We knew when we met her that she would bring a good balance of experience and respect for what we wanted to get out of the labor. Nicole was helpful and responsive leading up to my labor. She answered questions by phone and email and made me feel secure in my choices by offering great advice and resources. When I went into labor Nicole was there for support and guidance both for me and, almost more importantly, for my husband. Even ending up with a c-section after a long labor, Nicole was an invaluable support for me so that my husband could go with our new baby to the nursery. I highly recommend her services!

Posted 9/4/2012

Nicole was a tremendously strong advocate and a wonderful communicator. She was knowledgable, friendly, and was incredibly committed to our birth plan, which helped during times when important decisions needed to be made. As a 38-year-old mother attempting a "high-risk" VBAC with early ruptured membranes and fluctuaing blood pressure, there was a lot of pressure on me along the way to "move things along," and she helped facilitate some turns of events that we are very happy with. She paid close attention to some underlying issues that needed to be addressed so that the process could move forward in a positive way, and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. Her confidence in me was unwavering, which gave me the strength I needed in the midst of some very challenging circumstances. I can't thank her enough, and would recommend her highly to anyone needing someone "in their corner" to help facilitate a positive and joyful birth experience in any setting.

Posted 8/19/2012

We had not initially planned to have a doula at the birth of our second son, but when we thought about our first birth experience and talked about what we were wishing for the second time around, we realized that having a doula there might help us with the natural birth we were hoping to have. Nicole came to us through a recommendation, and after meeting with her once, we felt convinced that we had made a wonderful choice. She put us immediately at ease and empowered us to think about childbirth in a new way. After listening to our concerns, she sent us tailored reading material addressing our specific questions. When our son decided to make his appearance three weeks early, we felt much more open and ready for the incredible experience of his birth. Nicole's presence was a comfort when things got very intense; she was the extra set of hands we needed, and sometimes just the quiet voice that made the contractions more bearable. Our birth experience was truly magical, and I am grateful to Nicole for being part of that incredible moment in our lives.

Posted 10/26/2011

My wife and I wanted to work with a doula to help us achieve our desired birth experience and, after much searching, we found Nicole Siswick of Sweet Song Doula. We felt an immediate bond with her: she is incredibly knowledgeable and approachable, diligent in finding answers and multiple perspectives to questions we had, has a laid back and ‘comforting’ personality and a great sense of humor (to name but a few of her professional and personal traits that we found appealing). During my labor (I was induced at almost 41 weeks and went non-medicated) Nicole was not simply supportive, she was essential. I wanted Nicole to be very hands on: helping me with positional changes, guiding me through my discomfort and pain, giving advice to my wife on ways to help me, supporting us both emotionally –Nicole was an integral part of our birthing team. With her help and calming presence I was able to have the birth experience I was hoping for. I want to bring one particular moment to light: I had a complication post-delivery, a retained placenta for which I needed to have a manual removal and lost a very significant amount of blood. This was an incredibly scary and painful moment for my wife and I. Nicole’s presence, help and comfort made all the difference in helping us through. She held and comforted our daughter whiles the doctor’s, and my wife, tended to me. It was reassuring to know that we were handing our new child to a woman we trusted and cared for. She went above and beyond, staying with me through the entire ‘episode’ and not leaving until the doctors gave me the all clear. I highly recommend Nicole. She performs her role of doula superbly and is a truly caring and comforting presence. She has an innate sense of when to help and when to step back, when to listen and when to speak. She really was simply amazing to work with. Should I decide to have more children in the future I will definitely seek her assistance again!

Posted 9/10/2011

Nicole is a wonderful doula.  During my pregnancy and birth she was professional, timely with responses to my questions, friendly and honest, open to all of our needs and ideas about our birth, and available when we needed her.  Nicole clearly loves being a doula and makes sure to provide her clients with information that can make their pregnancy and birth experience more intentional and informed.  Nicole would send me articles or book recommendations even without asking (and would seek answers to questions when I did ask).  During our birth, she was fully present to meet my needs and provided a real support for me during active labor and ultimately the birth itself.  My postpartum visit with Nicole was helpful too, as we could debrief the birth experience (and I could hear details that I may have missed while birthing) and I could ask her questions about breastfeeding and sleeping.  I highly recommend working with Nicole and certainly look forward to doing so again should we have another baby.

Posted 8/8/2011

I really wanted an unmedicated birth but was nervous about being able to do that, my hubby and I are very anxious people! Having Nicole there as my doula made my husband and I both feel safe and relaxed so we could focus on our task! She was there from start to finish. She knew when it was time to go to the hospital and how to help me focus on my breathing, she even gives the most amazing foot rubs! I can't say enough about how much it meant to both my husband and I to have Nicole there. With her help, I was able to give birth with out pain medication! She has such a warm presence about her that makes you feel safe and confident . The hospital staff (my midwife and the nurses) actually raved about her and said they wish she could work there because she was so awesome! Anyway, I could go on and on... I highly recommend Nicole as a doula. I feel every woman giving birth deserves someone to focus on them one hundred percent and that's exactly what Nicole did!

Posted 6/14/2011

I can’t say enough wonderful things about having Nicole as my doula. We met with Nicole a couple of times before the birth and were in contact with her often via email. She knew our plans for having a natural childbirth and she helped us formulate how we would talk about our birth plan to our doctor. The real test began when my water broke – I didn’t know what it was! Rather than calling our doctor, my husband and I called Nicole! She talked us through what to do and helped us relax and calm down my nerves! She was there with us every step during my time in the hospital and was by my side throughout my non-medicated labor. Despite my intention to have a natural birth, my baby flipped her head up and it was impossible to push her out. Plus I came down with a fever, which meant I was facing my worst fear – a C-section. Having Nicole by my side helped us through what could have been a traumatic birth experience and transformed it into something beautiful and memorable. Not only was she supportive throughout my hours and hours of labor, she was by my side throughout the surgery. When my husband stayed with the baby after the birth, Nicole was there right up until the moment I was in recovery. The worst part about my birth experience was saying goodbye to Nicole – she felt like part of our family. I highly recommend Nicole’s doula services – she is resourceful and flexible and is there to support you no matter what happens.

Posted 6/7/2011