Char Perkins Doula Profile

I would like to think that our experience was unique, but I think it serves as a good example of why Char Perkins is nothing short of a life saver for both individuals involved. As a husband I thought that I would be able to be there and support my wife in whatever happened and was against a Doula at first. Was it not for Char’s personality I never would have agreed, and I am here to tell you I am glad I did.

We spent three days in the hospital before we had our son. Durring two of them my wife was being induced. Char was there both days to help us stay on track, stay rested and have our son in the manner we intended. I can think of no one we would rather have had there with us to help us cope with the experiences we had.

It was asked of us by some friends, "What can you do to prepare for this experience?" Before we had our son I would have said just go to classes and read some books, but now I would have to say the best way to prepare for this experience is to surround yourself with experienced people. Char is an experienced person that we will always keep in our corner.
Jonathan and Brenda Frye

Char has been our doula for the birth of both of our children.  We met initially through a course through our hospital and could tell upfront she was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about babies and the delivery process.

Char was extremely helpful in the delivery room.  Both of our deliveries were natural births, without medications.  Our first labor was 10 hrs., the 2nd 4 1/2 hrs. Char was helpful at assisting with walking us around the hospital during contractions, using the excercise ball, the whirpool tub, and ultimately the birthing process as we progressed through the labor.  We could of not had a better delivery for our first born.

Our 2nd delivery went much faster- our contractions started at home and from Char's shared knowledge we stated at home the first hour before heading to the hospital.  My water broke upon reaching the ER, Char was contacted and came shortly to the hospital thereafter.  My contractions were much stronger and quicker  (and painful) with my second child and Char helped moniter and let me know they would be peaking.  She was crucial at reminding us to take one at a time.  Fortunatley I was able to get into the whirlpool tub which helps immensly with contractions and I was needing to push and deliver shortly thereafter. 

Char has been very supportive and we feel blessed to have had her help with our children. We would highly recommend Char and believe we couldn't have had a better labor/delivery with our little ones.

Jennifer and Matt Reif

 We decided to use Char to help us during our labor and delivery as a person that could make suggestions to make the process a little easier.  We thought it would be very helpful to have someone there to focus on us alone and not have to worry about paperwork and managing medications.  She was wonderful!  She reminded us of a lot of things that she went over during our childbirth preparation class.  She was so positive and encouraging during the entire labor and delivery.  When I decided it was time for an epidural, she was very supportive of this decision.  Char really helped to make sure my birth plan was carried out the way we wanted it.  We very highly recommend Char and would  have her there to help us through it again!

Char was a great help to my husband and myself before, during, and after my labor.  I don't know what I would have done without her. My husband is grossed out by many things and Char was there to help me when he wasn't, and she also helped tell my husband things he could do to help me that wouldn't gross him out. I will be using Char again with our next child and would recommend her to other people looking for a doula.

My husband and I had a great experience by having Char as our doula. This was our first baby and we we both wanted to have a natural birth and avoid using drugs or having an epidural, if at all possible. We were not planning on having a doula, but when we met Char in our Childbirth Preparedness class, and heard her talk about the kind of services she could offer, we decided we would like to give it a try.  Boy are we glad we did!  We let Char know our birth plan and she helped us stick to it. During labor Char helped talk my husband and I through what was going on and helped me focus to make the most of my contractions. She provided a great support for both my husband and I. She seems very good at getting a feel for her clients coping strategies, and adjusting her methods to fit your style. Char knew when to let me do what I was doing and exactly when I needed to change position to get through contractions and to make them as productive as possible. I ended up having a great labor and did not need to use any drugs or have an epidural and we owe a lot of that to Char. The support and assurance she offered my husband really helped him to stay relaxed and focused on helping me as well. He has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for having her there. Char is a great Doula and we feel blessed to have had her help and expertise through this experience. I'm sure I would not have done so well without her.

Char is an excellent choice for a birth doula because of her strong labor/delivery background, extensive medical knowledge and her years of teaching childbirth education. She is priceless with her ability to help you and your support people make split-second choices in labor when you are not always able to make an informed/logical choice. She listens & advocates furiously for your wishes while in the hospital. She has a kind, respectful and hardworking approach. Char was our best insurance policy, she was our "bulldog":) Char made us feel safe, protected and informed, and was our partner in the most important first step in raising our babies (our doula 3 times) the healthiest & happiest way possible.

Char was present for the birth of both our children. She is amazingly supportive and a great cheerleader. With the birth of my first son my husband was a little apprehensive, but was so relieved during delivery to have her help and expertise. When we discovered we were going to have another child she was one of the first calls we made because we couldn't imagine doing it without her. During my second pregnancy Char met with us privately for a "refresher" course which kept us up to date on hospital policies, helped explain our patient rights, and eased a lot of my fears. When I delivered my second child (delivered within 20 minutes of arrival) she was an excellent cheerleader, remembered and followed everything we discussed in my birthing plan, helped me and my husband relax, and discovered ways to make me more comfortable. If we are blessed enough to have a third child we will utilize Char's services again. We couldn't imagine doing it without her!

Char was our doula for the births of both of our children.  The first time I had to have a c-section due to my daughter's breech presentation. With our second, we planned a VBAC.  We wanted an all-natural birth.  We were able to follow our birth plan exactly!  Prior to admission I had been experiencing contractions and other signs of labor.  I was able to talk with Char and text her about what was happening.  She offered suggestions for managing the contractions, and reminded me what else I should be looking for as labor progressed.  Char was positive and encouraging from the beginning when she learned I wanted a VBAC and that continued until baby arrived.  Once I was admitted, the team that worked with me, including Char and the midwife, was positive, not once discussing the "risks" of a VBAC.  I was able to remain positive and focused on a successful vaginal birth.    

I felt it was my husband's job to comfort me.  He was better able to know what to do with suggestions from Char.  She helped me by offering suggestions for dealing with contractions.  She was supportive and encouraging throughout the process.  She was able to read my body language and know what was happening, as she had experienced it herself and had attended many births.  She normalized what I was experiencing.  She helped me  focus on each moment.  Char did some coaching when it was time to push which was helpful, because I would rather have rested and needed someone to tell me what to do!  After about 20 minutes of pushing, our son was born!  My husband helped deliver the baby, placed him on my chest and cut the cord a bit later.  We were grateful to have Char with us to provide her support and guidance.  

My husband & I weren’t planning on having a doula to assist our birth but that changed after our first night of a childbirth class with Char. Our personalities clicked with hers immediately! We loved the fact that she's an RN & we were confident in her medical knowledge & felt secure in all the advice that she would be able to give us.
Char brought a sense of calm to the room that wouldn’t have been there had it just been the two of us. We were literally shaking after my water broke & realized "this is it". I felt both my husband & I both relax when she got to the hospital.
Char was great about leading my husband in assisting me. She took care of his needs as well. When it was time to get some rest she covered my husband with a blanket & vigilantly watched over me while he got some rest.
As Char suggested different coping strategies she went with whatever I wanted & gave my husband tips on what he could do to help me get in different positions or support me in those positions. She had a big warm towel when I got out of the shower & the tub & had cold towels waiting for me when I got hot.
Char could tell that my body was ready to push & she told me that if I wanted to it was OK to push. I would never have thought to try until I heard a doctor say "It's time to push" like you see in the movies.
Char kept labor moving at a perfect pace, she knew what natural interventions to use throughout all stages of labor. As a first time mom I went from my water breaking to my daughter being born in exactly 13 hours!
We would recommend Char to anyone! We definitely would have Char as part of the process again. Thanks to her assistance we were able to have the natural birth that we had dreamed of. She helped me get past my fears & helped my husband be beyond super in his role as partner.

Char was absolutely critical in our achieving a VBAC birth with our second son.  The difference in our experience of labor and delivery from first to second child was due to the addition of Char as our doula.  Our first son was born via emergency c-section after approximately 20 hours of labor.  During that time, we felt at a loss for what to do to help our process along.  The hospital was very busy during the time we labored there, and we received little help from the overloaded nursing and midwife staff.  This time we knew we wanted things to be different, so we hired Char as a way to insure that we had a constant support to help us through.   Char's expert knowledge of the birthing process comes not only from her training as a doula, but also as an RN and birth educator.  Her skills and calming personal presence helped us by suggesting positions, natural pain relief such as massage, movement and breathing.  She also helped support us in deciding to use medical intervention like the epidural I received at 6 cms (we were wary about receiving an epidural, but it ended up being a decision that helped us avoid another C section when the interior of my cervix started swelling due to the way the baby was pressing against the cervix).  She also had the communication skills and expert knowledge to consult with midwives and doctors to ensure we could continue to progress towards a natural birth.  In other words, she went to bat for us to ensure that, difficult as it was, we could end up with our desired vaginal birth.  I can't say enough about the value of a doula for labor and delivery.  Char was well worth the nominal fee she charges.  We will be forever grateful to her for helping us achieve the kind of birth we were hoping for!

We first got to know Char through our birth classes. I wanted a drug-free labor and delivery, and I felt more confident that I could do this with Char’s support. Plus, two acquaintances had recommended Char. Hiring Char was the best decision we made in our birth plan!
When the big day came, Char was very accessible on the phone. I wanted to labor at home as long as possible, and Char was available to answer my questions, and also knowledgeable enough to know when I needed to get to the hospital. And Char was right. Upon arrival at the hospital, I was dilated to 6 cm! When Char looked at me and said, “Angie, you are already 2/3 of the way through this labor!”, it was encouraging to know how far I had already come!

Char was extremely reassuring during labor. I kept asking, “Is this normal?” when experiencing different pains or sensations. Because of Char’s experience, I knew I could trust her, and it definitely helped me to relax (well, between contractions at least!). When I complained about my husband’s bad breath, Char was the first to get him some gum and also the first to remind Dave that “her sense of smell is heightened”. Char 100% supports both mom and dad during delivery!

My favorite part about having Char as a doula is the reassurance she provides. She has been there, as a mom, and as a doula for many people before. She knows birth, and you just feel safe and taken care of when she is there in the room with you.

Abigail’s birth was the most wonderful experience of my life, and I know that I owe it to Char Perkins’ presence and support in that scary and uncertain time leading up to Abigail’s arrival. I am certain my husband and I would not have had nearly the positive experience without Char Perkins. I would recommend Char Perkins to anyone!
 

While I was only in labor for 4 hours (in the delivery room for 2 hours) Char was worth every penny. I could not imagine going through delivery without Char.

Char was so calming in an intense time. She gave beneficial direction to make each action I completed as productive as possible. She was extremely encouraging.

Having Char in the room gave my husband and I comfort with the delivery. My husband was able to be up by my side providing moral support that I needed from him.

When my husband and I first hired Char we stated that this was something we would only do for the first baby. The day of the delivery, my husband and I both looked at each other and said we will defiantly hire Char again for all future delivery’s.
 

The services Char provided to my husband and I throughout both our pregnancies surpass the expectations stated in DONA International’s definition. From the very beginning Char made it clear with her words and actions that we were her priority when she was with us. Char also took into consideration our family composition including our individual histories, our fears, our concerns, our questions, and most importantly, our hopes and desires for our pregnancies, labors, and deliveries. She builds a relationship on a foundation of trust with you and your partner. She does this is by meeting with you, answering any questions, and supporting you while you are pregnant. Char knows what the two of you want and goes above and beyond to do her best, with your cooperation, to realize your wishes. When you are actually in the hospital through your labor and delivery, there are times that neither you nor your partner are in a state of mind to speak up for yourselves. Part of the beauty of having hired Char is that she is what I call bilingual; she speaks “medical” and she speaks “lay person.” This skill is extremely helpful because there were times that the medical staff would say things to us or ask us questions and Char would be able to translate for us so that we could make informed decisions. Char is tremendously positive and encouraging of both you and your partner during labor and right after. She knows so many little tricks and techniques to help you get through the challenges of childbirth. My husband compares Char to a technical expert or consultant regarding the medical situations and he also never felt replaced by her. He appreciated the suggestions and ideas she offered him for helping me through labor and delivery. We have no doubt that our birth experiences were more relaxed, caring, and satisfying because Char was a part of them. Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions about our experiences with Char!

My husband and I had a great experience by having Char as our doula.  This is my first baby and I wanted to have a natural birth and avoid using drugs or having an epidural if at all possible.  We hired Char and let her know our birth plan and she helped us stick to it.  During labor Char helped talk me through what was going on and helped me change position to get through contractions.  I ended up having a great labor and did not need to use any drugs or have an epidural and we owe a lot of that to Char.  She is a great Doula and we feel blessed to have had her help and expertise through this experience. 

Its hard to explain an event such as the birth of your child but I think it is even more difficult to explain the help and support you receive during the delivery of your child.  Char has an extremely positive and motivating personality, and there was no question that we wanted her to help us through the labor/delivery of our son.  I made a commitment to go through delivery without any pain medication.  I conveyed my feelings to Char and she was very supportive of my decision.  Being the one going through the pain of labor/delivery, her support was invaluable and unwavering.  During labor/delivery, Char did everything should could to make me (as well as my husband) comfortable.  When we first decided to use Char, we thought we would only use her for the delivery of our first child as we were nervous to be going through this process for the first time.  Now that we have had our first delivery experience and plan to have another child in the future, there is no way we would go through another delivery without Char.  She holds a very special place in our hearts, and we will never forget her kindness and support as we became first time parents.  We would highly recommend Char to anyone looking for the support of a doula.  She is truly an amazing person.

As soon as my husband and I met Char in our Preparing for Birth Class, we knew that we wanted to use her as an additional labor support person for the birth of our daughter in 2007. Unfortunately, my daughter ended up being breech when we got to the hospital and had an immediate c-section.
After learning that we were expecting again in 2009, my goal for this birth was to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Even though this was my second pregnancy, it was my first birthing experience. I hadn’t even experienced true contractions with my first pregnancy. So, it was important for me to create a supportive team to help me with the journey.
In addition to having a midwife and my husband, it was an easy decision to call Char again. She was now a Certified Doula and we hired her immediately. We had a meeting to go over my past history and hopes for the delivery. At the end of the meeting, I felt so excited and motivated to have a great birthing experience.
When the time came to deliver, Char came to the hospital after active labor began and transitioned into the team of my husband, nurse and midwife.
Char helped me stay focused and guided my husband as to how he could help me best. I truly believe that the team that I had surrounding me helped my labor progress quickly and smoothly. Ultimately, I got my wish – I had a successful VBAC with the birth of our son.
My husband and I highly recommend hiring a doula and using Char Perkins for that role. It was an amazing experience and I will treasure it forever!
 

Having Char with us during the delivery of our first baby was very beneficial for my husband and me.  She helped communicate when contractions were coming to an end and also suggested new positions and ways to make me more comfortable.  She was very encouraging throughout my labor which kept me thinking positively.  I was able to make it through the entire labor naturally, which I don't think I would have been able to do without Char's encouragement.  She is willing to adapt based on your preferences.  Because of her experience, she was able to explain what was going on in different situations which helped relieve my fears. Char also helped take the pressure off of my husband--instead of having to worry about all the details he could just focus on comforting me. I would recommend Char to anyone looking for a doula.

We wanted to have a birth that would be as short and natural as possible.  While many people will tell you that you can't "plan" a birth, we were able to achieve exactly what we wanted and follow our birth plan because of Char Perkins.  My water broke before I went into labor, which often necessitates intervention, such as pitocin.  However, working with Char and following her techniques, we had our baby in 8 hours with no epidural.  Furthermore, Char has the right credentials to coach you through the process- she is a certified nurse and experienced doula.  In fact, her coaching  took a lot of pressure off of my husband so that he could make calls to the insurance company, communicate with relatives, and simply be my cheerleader.  Char also has a bubbly and flexible personality, so she is a joy to have around.  My husband and I wholeheartedly recommend Char as your doula.  It was the best money we spent preparing for our baby.

Char was a HUGE part of both of my birth experiences. She helped ease my fears with my first and supported me and my husband from the first contractions through it all. She was our advocate in the hospital and helped us stick to our birth plan. With my second delivery (twins) she was there, again, from beginning to end. She helped me live out my dream of a natural twin birth. Char is professional, but caring. She made my birth team complete and she gave my husband the encouragement he needed to feel confident that he was supporting me as best he could. (He was concerned that she would "take his place," but she did just the opposite.) She took care of the little things while he supported me. And when my husband rested, she stepped in and handled everything. I just can't speak more highly of Char. It's been three years since the birth of my first, but we still keep in touch. She'll forever be a part of our lives. I highly recommend her!

 While expecting our first born,  Henry,  I read every pregnancy, labor, birthing, and baby book I could get my hands on.   The yoga and postive affirmation practice was also very beneficial. During Henry's birth all of this came together, but the most important piece was having my loving husband meeting my every need. Rather impressive expectations were placed on his shoulders that day and all of the days leading up to Henry's arrival.

I decided that I wanted to find a doula for Jack's birth, someone to support not only me, but also support and guide, but not direct, my husband.

On the morning of Jack's birthday Char arrived with a smile on her face and her professional, but warm and comforting demeanor.

Char walked the halls with us, grabbed me a juice,  took Matt's spot by the tub, when he was due for a break, and so forth. When a contraction came on, Char let me breathe through it, offering positve feedback when she could tell I needed it. When I asked to have the tub filled, Char got it started, so my husband didn't have to leave my side. I certainly appreciated how well Char could sense when I needed to be distracted and when I needed peace and quiet. She just knows when to be present and when to fade into the wood work.

My birth experience with Char was, in some ways, like having a cup of coffee with a good friend. I felt so at ease with Char, so comfortable and relaxed.

I have encouraged all of my expectant friends to seek out Char as their doula and I encourage all mothers and fathers to-be to treat themselves and their baby to the wonderful gift of a doula.  A doula is there to support you and your significant other in ways that your midwife or physician may not be able to provide. I'm looking forward to the day that I can call on Char again and ask if she'll be our doula.