Mary Smits Doula Profile

Mary was fantastic. Thanks to her and what she was able to teach my husband and me I was able to survive (lol) a natural birth. She supported my choice to go natural but was never pushy one way or the other, unlike some other doulas. If I had decided to get an epidural (I was thinking about it!) she would have supported me just the same. The same goes for matters of faith. If I wanted to be encouraged through Bible verses or prayer she was willing to do that but also never pushed it. I will definitely be going with Mary again for the next baby! Also, her knowledge and access to resources was the security I needed to be (mostly) worry-free during the birth process. I didn't have anxiety about whether I would have enough information to make the right decision should some complication arise during labor and after.

Working with Mary was wonderful!! She is very knowledgeable about natural birth as well as managed births.  Mary was always on my side and listened to me.  She helped me work through fears that I had during my birth and she helped me "process" my birth afterwards.  She made the birth environment calm and soothing.  She is GREAT at hip squeezes  to help ease the pain of back labor and she helped me focus on welcoming my new little life.  She was very attentive without being overpowering.  I knew she was there for my husband and I yet she remained in the background so that our birth was between my husband and me.  I had a home birth and after giving birth very early in the morning Mary made me pancakes!!  She took extraordinary photos of me during labor and birth(at my request) and  put them into a lovely scrapbook.  She makes herself unobtrusive during labor and birth yet she is right there to meet all my needs and offer suggestions as to what might be helpful(change of positions, bite to eat, foot rub, back rub,ect.)  I would HIGHLY encourage any woman to have Mary as their doula.  What a blessing to have her there!!

When I became pregnant, my sister-in-law , Mary Smits, asked if I would be interested in her services as a doula.   My husband and I decided we would feel more comfortable if it was just the two of us and declined.   Just days before my daughter was born, my husband was dealing with a health crisis and was hospitalized for ten days.   It became apparent that he may not be able to be there for the birth.   Mary stepped up to the plate immediately with wonderful advice and support as my doula.   She always emphasized that the choices made in regards to the birth were not always up to the doctor, that I was in control of my experience.   Mary encouraged me to ask questions and always supported me with whatever decisions I made.   She has so much knowledge and is ambitious in the pursuit of education to provide the best birth experience she can for each of her "mamas."   In the end, my husband was able to attend the birth, but I was so glad for Mary's advice and support during my delivery that I knew if I ever had another baby, I would never again think twice about having a doula.   She had a calming, quiet way about her that immediately eased my fears and anxiieties.  It was wonderful to have her experienced set of hands guiding me through the birth of my daughter, Aleya.    I will always be thankful to her for being there for me and my husband when we needed her the most.  

I am so thankful that I had the support of Mary for the birth of my second child. Her peaceful demeanor put me at ease the moment I met her and I knew she would be the perfect doula to attend my daughter's birth. She was always helpful with any questions I had during my pregnancy and was so supportive of all of my wishes for childbirth. When the big day finally came Mary was available from the moment I needed her. She was everything we needed her to be, not taking over my husbands part in the birth, but being there to support us both. I feel like having Mary there to support me during my labor helped give me the strength and belief in myself that I could achieve the natural birth I so desperately wanted.