Donna Rigert (CD)DONA - DoulaDonna

When it was time to look for a Doula I did a thorough search on who we wanted to help us through this amazing process. Since our due date was close to Christmas our first Doula had backed out because she didn’t want to miss Christmas with her family. We were very let down and dreaded having to go through the whole process again of finding another one. We found a few we wanted to interview and no one compared to Donna. Her energy was different from the others and even our first choice. She had a zest for learning new things and was open to everything and anything. Her kind heart had show right away and nothing scared her…not even the possibility of missing Christmas with her family. She had given us a wonderful gift on her interview and I knew right then she was the one. No one had that same spunk or personality that she did. As the day approached Donna was with me every single step of the way. Her high energy had helped us through the daunting contractions. She always had a joke to crack to help lift our spirits. She worked very well with my husband and taught him how to be supportive to me. She was a true joy to work with and when the time came to deliver our baby girl on Christmas Eve she stood by our side and slept the night. We knew she was a real trooper when she was ok with sleeping on a chair just to be there for us. We are truly grateful for our experience with Donna and her being so committed to us every step of the way. Nothing scared her and she was not worried about missing the holidays! She has a true heart for being a Doula and is a great partner for such a great experience.

Posted 3/15/2013

My sister recommended Donna as soon as I told her I was pregnant, and we are so glad she did! My husband and I were very nervous about the labor process, due to this being our first child. We weren't sure what to expect and no matter how many books we read, we still didn't feel prepared. We met Donna at a coffee shop for the first time and she was so warm and friendly. We immediately felt at ease. A month or so later she came to our home and spoke with us about our fears, expectations and gave me exercises I could do to prepare for labor. At the hospital she was nothing but supportive and helpful. She used massage, relaxing music and positive thoughts to calm my nerves. She assisted the nurses by suggesting effective pushing techniques and when our son Nathan finally arrived after 20 hours of labor, she took wonderful pictures of our family and guided me through my first nursing experience. She made the birth of our son such a positive experience and we highly recommend her as a doula!

Posted 3/2/2013

I decided to obtain a doula well into my pregnancy.  From the start, I knew Donna was the one!  She was warm, lighthearted, and eager to share in the joys of both my pregnancy and delivery.  The day we met, she greeted us with an adorable receiving blanket for our little guy!  My pregnancy became difficult around 36 weeks when prodromal labor. started.  No matter the time of day, Donna would answer my calls eagerly and walk me through each of these false alarms (though it wasn't false labor!).  As frustrating as it became, I always felt reassured after we spoke.  At 39 weeks, the labor became intense, and Donna was sure that it was time!  She made the drive to my home and stayed with me the whole night, sleeping on my couch as I progressed.  The next day, we went to the hospital, only to find out that it wasn't time.  We all went home, only for her to come back the next day.  60 hours of labor later, I delivered my baby.  While I had wanted a natural water birth, I was completely exhausted after about 50 hours and considered an epidural.  Donna assured me that this was okay if I needed it.  It turns out that she probably saved me from a c-section as I hadn't slept in 2 days and wouldn't have been able to push.  After the epidural, she even convinced my midwife and the OB to do a happy dance! It totally lifted my spirits.   Through every hour, she was by my side in one way or another, helping guide me through this brand new life experience.  A few weeks later, Donna came to visit us and even brought my family a delicious dinner!  Even two months later, Donna checks in to see how we are doing.  She is my doula extraordinaire!  I highly recommend her for her amazing level of knowledge, passion, and remarkable ability to intuitively know exactly what you need at any point in your labor, whether it be a good laugh or a serene calm. 

Posted 2/3/2013

I became interested in having a doula after doing research while pregnant with my second child. I decided to go for a VBAC and learned having a doula would greatly increase my chances. My husband and I interviewed Donna and knew immediately we wanted her to help us. She was like a best friend and mom to me during the entire experience. Donna visited me several times during my pregnancy and offered many tips to help me be more comfortable. She encouraged and believed in me, we were both determined I would get my wish of a vaginal birth. After several false labors the real thing began on my due date. I called Donna to give her the heads up that I thought I was in labor, she called me an hour later and said she would be right over. I labored at home with her rubbing my back and encouraging me until she said we needed to go to the hospital, I was reluctant but she knew it was time. She was so right, I was 7-8 cm when I got there! Within an hour I was at 10 cm, we were all excited and slightly surprised since I wasn't planning a natural birth. With Donna and my husband's encouragement, I went for it and an hour later my beautiful 9 lb 3 oz son was born naturally! I was beyond thrilled. The two birth experiences I have had were completely different, there is no question in my mind that Donna was a big reason for my successful VBAC. It was the best experience of my life. Donna will always be a friend to me and a special person to my family.

Posted 1/13/2013

My husband, Nathan, and I had such a great experience with Donna.  I wanted to have a doula at my birth for the added comfort, support, experience and expertise.  Having a natural child birth was very important to me and statistically people that have doula are more successful giving birth naturally.  My husband and I interviewed Donna while I was in my second trimester.  She had such a positive energy and light that we knew she would be a fantastic addition to our birth experience!  We clicked with her immediately. She is also very enthusiastic and you can tell she loves what she does!! We met with her 2 times prior to the birth and she also accompanied us to an appointment with my midwife. She went over all of our wishes for the birth and wrote a birth plan for us. In the meetings she also went over relaxation techniques for labor. The week leading up to giving birth we had several false labor alarms. She was there to talk to on the phone every time. She also came out to our home when I had contractions 6 minutes apart at 5am. Unfortunately, once she arrived the contractions stopped but we made the best of it. We went for a long walk to get things moving again. She also accompanied us to my midwives appointment that morning. Twelve hours later I finally went into labor and Donna came directly from another birth, showing truly how dedicated she is to her clients! Donna was there during my labor to take care of me emotionally and physically. She was also a great support for my husband who needed the occasional break from the excitement! She massaged my back the whole time I was pushing while giving me encouragement. She also made sure that I was able to breastfeed before she left. Donna made our son's birth a positive experience!

Posted 11/11/2012

AI knew Donna was The One instantly! She made us both feel so comfortable and at ease! She has a knack for that! She encouraged me and offered an ear when I needed to vent! The next day she texted me suggesting I walk some stairs to see if that would help, and boy did it! I took to the stairs every chance I got that day and by the time I was in the car on the way home from work the contractions had begun! Donna came to my house later that evening to help me progress through the labor as far as we could before going to the hospital. She came with a bag of tricks that we quickly put to use, as I was having back labor. When my contractions were 5/1/1, we all shoved a quick meal down and loaded the caravan up to the hospital. My mom and sister had made it in town by then and Donna just felt like one of the family! By the time we got to the hospital they were 3 min apart, but i was not dilated enough to be taken into L&D. I was instructed to walk for two hours and was becoming very frustrated by this time b/c the pain was getting worse. Donna helped us all to stay calm and ask the right questions. Finally, we were ready to go up! I labored for 4 more hours before transition began and Donna was there encouraging and massaging along with my husband and family every step of the way! Finally it was time to push and after only 40 minutes I delivered a beautiful baby girl all natural! I was so proud of myself, I could not believe that I had truly done it! My husband and I are so very thankful that we had Donna there to help us get through it all with her encouragement, kindness, and skills to help me power through the worst of it, even when I didn't want to do it anymore! She has visited us since the birth with a nice meal and always been available and full of resources to help me with any questions or problems! Thank you Donna!

Posted 8/23/2012

I highly recommend Donna Rigert as a doula. She is caring, thoughtful, and skilled. I was hoping for a natural childbirth with my second child. After researching doula services, reading testimonials, calling and emailing various doulas and midwives, Donna was referred to me. She responded promptly to my inquiry for information. We talked for awhile over the phone, and I immediately felt a connection with her. We set up an interview to see if we were a good fit for each other. Upon meeting, I instantly liked her and felt at ease with her. I had my list of questions, and she took time to answer them all. Over the next few months, Donna called, emailed, and met with me. She provided me with exercise and food options, information about natural pain relief among other things, and helped create a personalized plan. She listened to my past birth experience, my desires for this pregnancy and delivery, and typed up a one-page summary of my birth wishes (short & complete!). She even came over a couple of weeks before my delivery to practice natural pain relief techniques. The morning I went into labor, I felt at peace and excited. When Donna arrived at my home, she immediately got to work helping me labor until my water broke (less than 2 hours later). She kept me calm, helped me change positions, and encouraged me through each contraction. She was respectful of my desire not to arrive at the hospital too early and helped me decide when we needed to leave. My baby boy was born within 40 minutes of arriving at the hospital. It was an amazing experience. I felt in control and empowered with Donna and my friend by my side. Donna helped me achieve the birth experience for which I had been praying. She came and visited me a number of times after the birth. She gave me advice on nursing, checked how I was feeling both emotionally and physically, and even brought a delicious meal for my family. I'm so thankful for the service and care that Donna provided.

Posted 6/14/2012

I would highly recommend Donna if you are looking to hire a doula to enhance one of the most special days of your life, the birth of your child.  Be aware that once you speak with her it will not seem as if you are hiring her at all.  She is very knowledgable in her craft, but I think anyone can gain knowledge. Her talent as a doula is her canning ability to make you feel as if you have been old friends for many years.  She draws from her own life experiences to connect, really connect, with you.  I felt that we had another family member caring for our well being every step along the way.

Initally I wasn't planning on hiring a doula.  I read all the books and had the support of an amazing husband so I didn't think I needed one.  Once I fully committed to my birth plan of the least medical interventions possible I realized that a doula would give me the added support I might need to stick to my plan. Needless to say things didn't go according to my plan exactly but Donna supported my husband and I to stay as close as possible to the course she knew we wanted.  

Donna was there checking on me leading up to the weeks to my due date, she comforted me the 2.5 weeks past my due date and also supported me post partum.  As I mentioned you are not hiring a woman to get you through labor, you are inviting a beautiful soul into your life to enrich it.

Best wishes on your doula search and the new addition to your life,

Jennifer 

Posted 4/16/2012

From the moment I met Donna, I had such an incredibly good feeling and I knew in my heart and gut that this was a great doula match for us. She is a warm, caring and also practical and sensible person, as well as having a calming influence. This is a great balance especially for me as I have a tendency to worry and think ahead of the hypotheticals sometimes. From the lead up time to my due date and also the days after my due date when I was just waiting to go into labor, Donna was available and supportive to lend an ear and to help keep me calm. The evening I went into labor and from the time she arrived at the hospital she was so present and in the moment and I know both my partner and my mother found her to be a great and positive influence in the room. We thought of her as our birth cheerleader. I honestly can say that we found her to be an incredible person to share our most intimate and special moments with. It felt natural and comfortable to have her there as though she was part of the family and as though we knew her for years. She is definitely a kindred spirit. She had great techniques and tips to help with contractions and labor and she also worked well with the hospital and midwife staff. I think Donna would be a great doula especially for a first time mother.

Posted 4/6/2012

We decided to use a doula at the last minute.  We knew from the moment Donna walked in the delivery room that her presence was only going to enhance our birth experience.  She was very caring, light hearted and friendly.  She provided so much support and encouragement, I don't know what I would have done without her.  Donna was so nice and even called us a few weeks later to check up on us and see how we were doing.  I will forever remember Donna and the special role she played during the birth of our daughter.  We can't wait for Donna to be our doula again!!!

Posted 4/1/2012

We went to the hospital at 3am and our Doula (Donna Rigert) soon arrived at our side. As first time parents, the birth experience can be overwhelming. The process was long and more difficult than anticipated, taking nearly 24 hours. Having Donna’s constant support in the room was invaluable since our midwife had to attend other births.

When we met Donna, she felt instantly like an old friend. She was genuinely interested in the well being of our family. To have a stranger join you for your most intimate moment is a big deal. But Donna always made us feel at ease with her warm smile and outgoing personality. She helped my wife believe in herself during the labor and inspired her to maintain her strength. Donna kept the mood light-hearted with her humor, wonderful smile and magnetic personality. She was supportive of our natural birth plan and wanted to help us stay focused, calm, and relaxed. She quickly established a bond with us and a high level of trust.

My wife had major back labor/pain the entire time. Donna helped her through the excruciating back contractions without medication. Her skill set was vital for comforting and relieving pain. She suggested helpful positions, techniques, and mental imagery, making us feel relaxed and confident that our daughter would come safely. Her encouraging words were essential during difficult moments. Her knowledge and confidence saved us from worry and discomfort.

Though we had to stray from our intended birth plan, we still experienced a vaginal birth. As delivery neared, the spirit of teamwork was apparent as Donna held one leg, and I the other as my wife pushed out our beautiful daughter. This was life-changing! We were so fortunate to have had Donna as our guide. She was truly amazing, and we can never thank her enough!

Posted 3/29/2012

My experience with Donna began with a referral from a trusted friend.  I wanted a doula to help me with the birth of my second baby because I was having a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caeseran).  I needed an advocate and someone in my court that would give me the confidence to have my baby as naturally as possible.  I spoke with Donna over the phone a few times before deciding to hire her and each time I spoke with her I felt more and more comfortable with her being apart of the birthing process.  Donna gave me references which solidified my confidence in her.  She also gave me lots of resources, ie: websites, videos, and reading material to help me get more familiar with VBACs and the birthing process itself.  She helped me to understand that I might be pushed to do a c-section, but that I could push back and take charge of my birth as long as there wasn't any danger.  I can tell you that when I got admitted to Central Dupage Hospital that my nurse was not completely on board with my desire to have a VBAC, but having Donna there gave me courage.  I was admitted on a Thursday and Donna quickly came to the hospital and began to give me help me with my contractions by showing me exercises and having me go into different positions.   During the hardest part of my labor, Donna encouraged me and was in tune with what I needed. I was so glad that she was there and I am proud to say that I was able to have the VBAC and gave birth to my daughter 24 hrs later.  Even after the birth, Donna stayed in the hospital for another hour.  She took pics and held my precious daughter.  Two weeks after the birth, she even came by with a meal and gift for my daughter.  She will forever be a special part of our lives. 

Posted 3/27/2012

My experience with Donna began with a referral from a trusted friend.  I wanted a doula to help me with the birth of my second baby because I was having a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caeseran).  I needed an advocate and someone in my court that would give me the confidence to have my baby as naturally as possible.  I spoke with Donna over the phone a few times before deciding to hire her and each time I spoke with her I felt more and more comfortable with her being apart of the birthing process.  Donna gave me references which solidified my confidence in her.  She also gave me lots of resources, ie: websites, videos, and reading material to help me get more familiar with VBACs and the birthing process itself.  She helped me to understand that I might be pushed to do a c-section, but that I could push back and take charge of my birth as long as there wasn't any danger.  I can tell you that when I got admitted to Central Dupage Hospital that my nurse was not completely on board with my desire to have a VBAC, but having Donna there gave me courage.  I was admitted on a Thursday and Donna quickly came to the hospital and began to give me help me with my contractions by showing me exercises and having me go into different positions.   During the hardest part of my labor, Donna encouraged me and was in tune with what I needed. I was so glad that she was there and I am proud to say that I was able to have the VBAC and gave birth to my daughter 24 hrs later.  Even after the birth, Donna stayed in the hospital for another hour.  She took pics and held my precious daughter.  Two weeks after the birth, she even came by with a meal and gift for my daughter.  She will forever be a special part of our lives. 

Posted 3/27/2012