Carol Horrocks AAHCC, CD[DONA], PCD(DONA) Doula Profile

I was very nervous during my pregnancy because I wanted a natural birth and I wasn't sure my wishes would be respected at the hospital.  I felt much more confident about my birth as soon an I hired Carol.  I knew going into that I would have an experienced advocate for when I was vulnerable.  Carol kept in contact with me every few days as I neared my due date with suggestions on how I could encourage labor.  When I went into labor we spoke several times on the phone and she came to my house in the middle of the night when my labor started to pick up.  She helped me decide when it was time to go to my doctor's office.  Thanks to her help I had the natural birth that I wanted.  It was well worth the fee to have someone with you that you can count on for an informed opinion. 

 Our son Everett James Regnier was born 2 weeks before his due date on March 14 2012 at 10:14 PM. This is our first child and as we are originally from Michigan, here so my wife can attend a graduate program at Duke, we are away from our normal support group and while we have made great friends here in NC we were feeling pretty isolated when we found out we were pregnant. A good friend of ours suggested we enlist the services of a Doula and by the virtue of my wifes incomparable reseach skills came upon Carol Horrocks. Our first meeting with Carol set us immediately at ease and we knew we didn't need to look any further. On the day of our sons birth Carol proved to be a calming presence in the birthing room especially since my wife was being induced due to preclampsia. Both physically and emotionally Carol provided support while also bringing her vast experience to bare when questions of interventions were concerned. In the end my wife did elect for an epidural; at that point she had labored almost 20 hours and simply needed to rest though Carol knew Colleen was much closer to giving birth than even the doctor estimated. In the end my wife gave birth vaginally to our very healthy little man but we would not want to go through the process without Carol and we are forever grateful for her presence, empathy and deep knowledge. Hopefully she will fly up to Michigan for the birth of our next child. Sincerely The Regniers

My husband and I had a wonderful experience with Carol -- she is nothing short of fabulous! Before the birth, we met and she was able to answer all of our questions and help with our birth plan. Although my labor progressed way faster than any of us thought it would, if I wouldn't have had Carol during those contractions that were less than 3 minutes apart and lasting longer than a minute, I don't know if I would have made it. What I remember is calling her back over to me right before every contraction -- she was able to calm me by touching my arm gently and speaking softly right into my ear to coach me, reminding me to relax. It really worked!!! My husband said after the birth that he thought maybe she was speaking too softly and thought maybe I couldn't hear her, but to me it was just right, absolutely perfect. She took all the right pictures and gave us a cd of them a few days after the birth. After the birth, she came over and gave us some advice on breastfeeding and, in general, eased some of my new-mom concerns. I recommend Carol to anyone looking for a doula. She was wonderful and I will never forget the experience.

Carol is the eye in a hurricane!  During labor and delivery, she offers experienced suggestions and helpful reminders, especially about relaxing and breathing through contractions.  She brings both years of experience and her relational personality to the table.  She knows her stuff!!!  She also brings creative tools to help labor to be as comfortable as possible.  She is gentle, but not afraid to speak up, to guide and direct and to take a back seat if needed.  We highly recommend her, especially if you are desiring to have a natural birth with no unindicated medical intervention. 

What an experience! Carol helped us throughout the pregnancy. We saw her once a week for our classes where we learned A LOT! She lent us dvd's and books and answered all the questions we had. When my water broke I called Carol right away. She was in touch with us until we felt we needed to meet at the hospital. She helped me feel relaxed and as our birth progressed she was amazingly supportive, calm, and gentle. I could not imagine her not being a part of bringing our daughter into the world. Having a doula for your birth is a must. Having Carol as that doula is a choice I would recommend time and time again. - Heidi

Carol was a wonderful doula. She helped me and my husband as we brought our first child into this world. I contacted her at the last minute as I was about 35-36 weeks pregnant. Carol was calming and nuturing throughout the process. She showed my husband various soothing techniques and allowed him to comfort me during the labor process. She did not take over the experience, but rather, she guided us through the labor and delivery. Both my husband and I agreed that we could not have done it alone and her assistance was vital to allow me to have the natural birth that I so wanted.

 We were so lucky to find Carol and have her as our doula during the birth of our first child.  She is very knowledgeable about local doctors and hospitals which was very helpful since we were new to the area at 30 weeks pregnant.  She was available for all those early new mom false alarm labor scares to post partum concerns with breastfeeding.  My labor was very long and Carol stood by us the entire time with very little food or breaks!  She was a lifesaver to keep us all calm and focused on our goal of a natural childbirth.  I'm not sure if I would have made it through 30+ hours of drug-free labor and the delivery of a 9lbs 3oz baby without her by our side.  My husband definitely agrees with me that it was one of the best decisions we made.  I would most definitely recommend her as a doula. 

I loved having Carol as my doula and would hire her again.  She helped me feel more relaxed before and during the birth process.  She was always looking out for me and supporting my husband in participation as well.  Although I did end up using pain drugs at the hospital, Carol helped me get as far along in delivery as I possibly could without them.  She didn't make me feel bad at all about not sticking to the all natural birth plan I had hoped for.  Carol has alot of experience being a doula and I would recommend her to anyone looking for a doula.  Happy Birthing!

We are so pleased that we had Carol's help during the birth of our second child. For our first childbirth experience, we did everything the doctor suggested- pitocin from the onset of labor, epidural, vacuum assisted delivery, etc. I felt like I was in the way during the whole process instead of empowered to ask questions and make decisions. We wantedd a doula to help avoid a repeat of that experience, and Carol was just what we were looking for! She helped us decide when to go to the hospital, and she met us there as soon as we got there. When contractions got very painful,  she helped me find a comfortable position, guided me through each contraction, and reminded me that natural childbirth was so important to me. The outcome was a short, easy labor ending with the delivery of a beautiful baby boy with no interventions. I would recommend Carol to anyone with no reservations.

One of the things I loved about Carol as a doula was her many years of experience! We felt confident that she had seen just about everything and would be able to guide us through no matter what happened. When the big day came, we were able to achieve the natural childbirth we had hoped for...the baby came very quickly for a first-timer. Carol was there to talk me calmly through transition at home and made sure we got to the hospital quickly when it came time for pushing. Even with a doula, my husband was an awesome support at my side through the whole process; Carol filled in everything we needed around the edges to help us remain calm and make decisions as labor progressed. She took awesome care of us after the baby was born in the hospital, staying with us until we were out of the delivery room and bringing us the best Chick-Fil-A I've ever tasted. She has a lot of wisdom to offer about doctors and hospitals in the area and she can help you plan for a positive experience whether you are delivering at the birthing center or a hospital and whether you are using a midwife or OB.

My husband and I had a wonderful birth experience with our doula, Carol Horrocks.  She was with us during our labor at home and at UNC hospital.  She stayed with us for the entire 14 hours of labor and delivery at UNC.  We were able to have a natural birth with Carol's help.  This was in our birth plan to have a natural birth and Carol made sure that this happened!  We did not have an epidural and the experience was so awesome!  We are so thankful for Carol's encouragement and help with our birth.  She even took lots of great photos of our labor and delivery to make a most memorable birth experience.  We truly appreciate Carol and would recommend her services to other mothers-to-be who are searching for a doula to have a natural birth. 

Carol is perfect for the women who want to have a natural unmedicated birth, but let's say, don't feel the movement of the universe in their uterus and talk to the trees and wind :)  She's great for the free-spirited mother's out there too...but I always appreciated that she seemed, well...so normal.  Carol is down to earth, relatebale and fun. This is how I look at it. Your husband, partner, baby daddy or whom ever is there supporting you while in labor,  is there for emotional support. Carol is there for logisitical support. She will keep you on track and make sure you are comfortable during the laboring process with lighting, music, helping with positions changes to make you comfortable and encourage food and drink, which most hospitals frown upon...even without the drugs.  She is there to make sure you meet your goal. She is there for the non laboring parent to help them support you the way you need to be. She becomes part of the "team" and after that day, she will become part of your family.  Carol has been there for the birth of both my children and all three of my sister's kids! Like I said, she becomes part of the family.

Carol was absolutely great!  We were immediately drawn to her calm, serene personality during our interview; when I went into labor, she was there for us every step of the way.  She was very supportive, with lots of ideas for helping my early labor to progress, and once we were in the hospital, her experience proved invaluable in helping us to navigate the ins and outs of the system.  I don't know what we would have done without her...she was just fantastic.

I highly recommend Carol as a doula. My husband and I took her Bradley course (which I would also recommend) and decided that we wanted to have her as our doula as well. Carol was very available throughout my pregnancy, both by phone and e-mail, to answer all sorts of questions. And between my husband and me, we had a lot of questions. She had plenty of helpful suggestions when we encountered a few pregnancy complications. For example, my baby was breech up until week 37, and Carol hooked us up with a massage therapist who helped turn the little one head-down. When I had some problems nursing, she knew a good lactation consultant who helped us out.

For the actual delivery date, we were on the phone with her on and off throughout the day, and she was very encouraging and had good suggestions for dealing the the contractions.

But it was at the hospital that she was the best help. I liked that Carol is really calm and low key, I found her voice very soothing whenever she encouraged me. I liked that she gave my husband suggestions for helping me during labor -- she worked with both of us together, not just me. Her moral support helped me so much; it was really nice to have someone there in the delivery room who I knew was on my side. And she was super-prepared, she brought things that I wouldn't have thought to put in my bag, but was glad to have (like mouthwash). I definitely think having Carol as a doula improved my birth experience.

Carol was our Bradley instructor for our first pregnancy and our doula for our second pregnancy. Carol came to the hospital bright-eyed and wide awake as soon as we called her around 3am. Labor was fast and intense and she calmly helped me to remember to breathe and accept the contractions as they came. During contractions she helped me relax with a soothing voice and gentle massage. She had a great way of being present and involved, without interfering with the special moments of delivery. Luckily, she also thought to bring a camera as the baby came so fast we did not have time to get our things from the car! If she had not been prepared we wouldn't have had any pictures of the birth! She held my hand when I was pushing during delivery and gave feedback so I could tell how to push productively. She stayed with us for a couple hours after delivery reminding me to drink water and helping me recover. Carol is energized by pregnancy and birth and her positivity is warming and comforting during labor. She is knowledgeable and experienced. I am happy to recommend her services!

Carol was truly amazing! Having her around for my birth was one of the best decisions I’ve made for the birth of my first child. I was able to have a positive birth experience thanks to Carol, who was wonderful and supportive all the way. I don’t think I could have gotten through the pitocin-induced contractions without pain medication if she weren’t there to hold my hand and constantly provide encouraging words. Carol’s breadth of experience and knowledge was so helpful to answer our questions during prenatal and postpartum visits, and my husband and I were able to trust her fully for the birth. Thank you Carol – we are so glad you were an essential part of our important family event!

We had an excellent experience with Carol Horrocks as our doula. Her experience, calm presence and compassion carried us through what was a very long labor. My husband wanted to support me during the birth, but he was concerned he would not know how. Carol showed him techniques for pain management before and during childbirth, and he was able to confidently care for me. I had back labor that lasted for many hours, and there is no way that I would have been able to continue without medication if it weren't for Carol's support and advice. She knew exactly when to step back and when I needed her to step in and be hands on. I have many special memories of her presence at the birth of our daughter, and I hope to work with her again someday!

Carol is not only extremely knowledgeable, but has a great deal of compassion and understanding. We loved working with her and I cherished guidance. Hiring a Carol will help you acheive your goals in childbirth, but it may also be exactly what you need if things don't work out the way you planned. This was how I needed Carol, to help me try to acheive my VBA3C, but when things went "wrong".. she was there providing priceless support.

We had such a pleasant experience with our Carol.  She was there when I needed her most and pulled me through what was one of the most challenging days of my life. Thanks Carol! You're the best!!! ~K

Carol was our doula for the birth of both of my children, and if we should have another child, we would absolutely want her to be with us again.  From the beginning, she helped provide us with information and resources during the pregnancy that helped us to make decisions about our birth plan and preparations leading up to the birth.  During the birth itself, she was the person who brought the most comfort and reassurance to both myself and my husband.  She helped me find the most comfortable positions during labor and was constantly ready with a warm wash cloth, a cold drink, or whatever I needed.  I cannot possibly say how greatful I was to have her there for that alone.  Beyond the comfort measures, Carol acted as my advocate and reminded the medical team about details of my birth plan that had been overlooked.  From my husband's perspective, he found great reassurance and piece of mind knowing that Carol was bringing such a deep knowledge and experience with childbirth and that she would remain with us throught the birth.  During her postpartum visit with us, Carol gave us several tips and suggestions for taking care of both the new baby and myself.  I feel that Carol has been an integral part of my birth experiences, and has helped to make them such positive experiences.  I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a doula.

Carol was my Bradley birth instructor during my first pregnancy.  She served as my doula during and after my second pregnancy.  She was a calming and reassuring support to me during my labor and delivery, giving me confidence to have a natural, drug-free delievery in a hospital setting.  Her familiarity with local hospitals, staff, and doctors was a definite plus as well.  After the birth of my second child, she provided wonderful postpartum assistance, including a home visit, housecleaning, assistance caring for my first child, and a much-needed listening ear.  I would highly recomment her as both a childbirth instructor and as a doula!