Teresa McGuiness Doula Profile

I decided to have Teresa as my doula for child #3, after a traumatic birth experience with the first one and a hypnobirthed second child. For the third child, I wanted to work hard at being present in the moment and dealing with my fears on a conscious level. I knew I needed someone who had an instinctive empathy and ability to enter into that space with me. Teresa did just that.

Until the moment of intense labor pains, I wanted her to be a soothing anti-anxiety force next to me. Using touch and the proper amount of distance (at the same time!), she kept me focused on my body's natural ability to birth the child. When the pains became unbearable for me, I knew I was no longer able to keep control. My primordial self needed God next to me in a very real and present way.  Teresa began praying a short prayer while holding my hand. This prayer became my lifeline. Every time she said it, I became focused on God being in control, even though I no longer was.

Teresa was able to shift her role as a physical, soothing presence to an active and audible reminder of God's hand caring for me. Her instinct and ability to empathize with the entire range of human emotion is truly incredible. It is a gift she can carry into any birth room, no matter the mother's particular needs. The birth of my third child will not be remembered by its pain, but by my complete awareness of God's control over the situation when I had lost my control. I credit Teresa with giving me this experience.

(On a side note, her presence and hand-holding through the entire labor allowed my husband to get the sleep he needed so he was able to care for me very well after the birth. This was invaluable and, having done it twice before without such help, wish we'd have had the same kind of care for the other two!).  

Teresa and I met when I was about five months pregnant.  We met several times prior to the delivery of our second daughter.  She shared her warm and caring ways with my husband, my three year old and myself  from the very start of the relationship.  She listened intently to our past experiences and our hopes for this preganancy, delivery and afterward.  She was very interested and focused on finding out our specific needs and how she could be most helpful and supportive to us.  She was always available to answer questions or listen to concerns and she was willing to find answers to questions she was unsure of.  She checked in on us frequently but also was very respectful of our privacy.  She came immediately when her presence was requested the day I went into labor.   She offered ideas and suggestions according to what we had written in our birth plan and was very observative and responsive to what I was needing during the labor and delivery.  It is very apparent that Teresa has a passion and love of being a doula.  Her gentle and caring ways toward me and my newborn baby relfected that deeply.  She offered support to me during the postpartum period as well.  She was readily available when I needed help with breastfeeding and went out of her way to help me be successful with it.  She was flexible and supportive with our decisions the entire time.  After my experiences with her I know that if I have any more children I would most definetly want her again to be part of the experience.   Teresa has shown us how important and helpful the support of a doula can be.  I would recommend her services to anyone who is looking for the gentle, caring, suportive touch of a woman who is clearly passionate about being a doula and assisting women during this tender time in their lives.