Cassie Pringle Doula Profile

I cannot speak highly enough about Cassie and we were so thrilled to have her as our doula (for the birth of our first child). From the moment that I met Cassie, I was impressed with her professionalism and knowledge of natural birth and felt an instant connection with her. Not only is she incredibly kind, but also very easy going and calm. She seemed like the perfect person to guide my husband and I through having a natural birth. She met with my husband and me and came to one of my midwife appointments and then attended to my birth guiding us through a long and challenging labor for over 20 hours. She went above and beyond what was expected of her and was a calming force as she helped us understand what was going on and advised us as we made decisions along the way. It was wonderful to see her a week after the birth to look back on the experience and get advice on the post-partum period. Cassie will definitely be my first choice with future kiddos and I count her as a friend now after all went through during my labor!

I moved to Maryland when I was almost seven months pregnant in 2010. I had used a doula for my first pregnancy, and since I had such a positive experience, I knew I would engage the services of a doula for my second baby as well. I contacted DONA and I got a list of doulas in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area.

I interviewed a few doulas but Cassie was the one I felt most comfortable with. My daughter took to her instantly and I felt that was surely a sign that the doula-patient relationship would work out. She met with me many times before my baby was born and would even go with me on my prenatal visits with my OB. I had a false alarm a few days before the baby was born and she stayed with me for the entire time. She did not leave until the nurses released me and she even came home with me to make sure I was all right.

When the real labor did start, I kept her updated about my contractions and at 3:00 a.m., she came to get me and take me to the hospital. My labor was almost seamless because Cassie was there coaching me through my breathing and relaxation exercises. And after the baby was born she checked on me constantly to make sure I did not have issues with nursing and/or any other post partum complications.
Cassie is an amazing doula who is patient, caring, and compassionate, and has a genuine love for what she does.
 

Cassie was our Sibling Doula when we had our second child at home.  She came to our house twice before the birth to get to know our 3 year old daughter, and stayed with our daughter during the labor and birth.  Cassie is a warm, wonderful, caring person whom our daughter adored.  We have never met anyone else who was able to give our daughter the level of engagement that she needs to be happy without the attention of either me or her dad.  I was nervous because I'd heard that a laboring mom can have a longer labor if she has to care for an older sibling and can't go within to focus on giving birth.  After the first time Cassie came over and just played with our daughter for an hour, we felt so relieved that we had found someone who was so emotionally present, responsive, and focused on our daughter.  

And during the birth Cassie was amazing.  Our daughter was so excited and happy playing with Cassie that I could trust that she was well cared for and I could focus completely on the birth.  When our daughter heard me making some louder noises and got scared, Cassie took her to the other floor of our house to have some quiet time.  I really wanted our daughter to be in the room when the baby was born, and Cassie brought her back and held her calmly while I pushed the baby out.  Since the birth, our daughter has talked a lot about what happened and seems completely comfortable with everything she experienced.  Our baby's birthday was something that we will all remember forever and I will always be grateful to Cassie for making it such a positive experience for our daughter and for all of us.  I couldn't recommend her more highly.  She was always accessible by email and phone, reliable and on time and willing to work with our schedules to set up visits, and most importantly by far, a calming and kind presence during our birth.