Amara Minnis Doula Profile

My mother passed away two weeks after I found out that I was pregnant.  I knew that I needed the support of a woman who had been through natural childbirth.  I am so grateful that Amara was recommended to me!  She was there for me from the moment we decided to work together.  From her lending library to her just being there by phone, e-mail, or text, I instantly had an experienced resource and friend.  My husband and I were so happy to have Amara's support.  She was so helpful during my labor reminding me to just get to the peak of the contraction and it will pass.  She was so wonderful reminding me that my body knew exactly what it was doing and the purpose of the contractions was to help my daughter come into this world.  Giving birth is such a special experience and I will be forever bonded with Amara having shared it with her.

I would definitely recommend using Amara as your Doula...she is fabulous!!

Amara was our doula for the birth of both of our daughters. In 2009, I contacted her because I was transferring my care at around 30 weeks from a free-standing birth center in San Diego to the Midwifery Center at Depaul in Va Beach. In the short time we had to get to know each other, Amara answered all of our questions and truly helped us become more prepared for our first birth. While I felt very much ready for my first delivery, Amara really guided us through the difficult parts of that labor. Both my husband and I felt afterward that she really made our first daughter’s birth possible - that without her it would have been a completely different, and much less lovely, experience.

The first person I contacted when we found out we were pregnant with our second daughter was Amara. My husband had to be deployed for seven months of my pregnancy, and in many ways, Amara sort of stood in for him by supporting me completely throughout the pregnancy. I contacted her more times than I can count, and she was always receptive and encouraging. I also took her Birthworks class during that pregnancy, and in comparison to the class I had taken during my first pregnancy from a doula at the free-standing birth center in San Diego, Amara’s class was more thorough and seemed to approach birth and the female body in a more organic way than most birth classes. Plus, Amara makes it fun :)

I could write paragraph after paragraph about Amara - about how she helped me deal with my insecurities with both of my births, about how without her knowledge combined with her presence there, I would probably still be questioning myself. Amara has more empathy and respect for emotions than anyone I have ever met, and I feel so lucky that her amazing presence has been an integral part of my childbearing - and delivering -experiences. 

Amara was originally recommended to me through a friend as I am realitively new to the area...   Much to my delight she proved to be a vaulable assest throughout my (first) pregnancy.   Her knowledge, calm nature, and genuine caring all contribute to a sense of confidence in yourself and your body.  I have no reservations in saying that I would recommend her to my closest friends as a reliable resource and friend during such an intimate and somewhat intimidating time in your life!   

Thank you Amara!  Marie, Tim, and baby Hudson

I met Amara through a mutual photographer friend halfway into my pregnancy. I was not getting the care that I wanted and I felt something was missing from my pregnancy at that time. I decided to change my plans and have a natural water birth for my 4th baby. That is the time when I contacted Amara for her services. My husband was deployed and  I had no real support at home because of this. Amara was always a phone call away & even stopped by the house a couple of times to talk about our plan for the big day. She also supplied me with tons of information to educate me on my goal of a natural birth.

When the big day arrived, she was there for me giving me the support and encouragement that I needed. Amara has such a kind and gentle voice that is soothing to hear. Paired with her wisdom and passion for birth, Amara is truly a blessing to the Doula community. I would have her by my side again if we are blessed with another baby.

When I first met Amara, her presence was so calming and maternal that I knew she was the perfect match for us. She is so knowledgeable and trusting in the birth process. By the time we were in labor, it felt so natural to have her there - like having an older sister beside me. My natural birth was so fulfilling and I feel strongly that Amara's support was priceless.

My experience in the Birthworks Class far exceeded my expectations. As a first time pregnant Mommy I did not know what to expect walking into the class. Of course, I had been reading the normal first time pregnancy books, What to Expect When your Expecting, Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy, and more. The books provided me with a good foundation, but were lacking in a ton of areas. Amara and Birthworks built my confidence and made me realize having a baby was a natural thing and not something to fear. I now feel empowered and informed on the birthing process. I am looking forward to January 15th or somewhere near that date to meet our Baby Girl, Madelyn Rose.

More about the Class...
Amara is a passionate teacher and a Doula. She brought with her real life stories and supplemental information to each class. If we asked a question she did not know the answer to she found out and provided resources. It was a safe place for us to discuss what we were feeling and share our beliefs about bringing a baby into the world. Some of the areas we focused on were feelings, making healthy choices, choosing the right caregiver for you and your family, stages of labor, comfortable positions during all labor phases, breastfeeding, and much more. Husbands were encouraged to participate in the class and in the end I know Roger enjoyed his time there. It gave us a time to be together and opened the door up to more discussions about what we wanted for our birth experience and parenting. I highly recommend Amara's Birthworks Class to all pregnant woman out there. We could not be happier with our decision to take the class and can't wait for our big day.
Katy Lorince
 

  Professional, Compassionate, Understanding, Knowledgeable, Flexible, and Reliable is what comes to mind when describing Amara. My husband and I have been lucky enough to have Amara work with us through not only one, but two pregnancies/births. After having her with us through the first there was no way in the world I was going to go through labor again without her.  The experience working with Amara and having her by your side every step of the way is  truly unexplainable. She brought a sense of protection, calm and organization to what would have been a scary and crazy time in our lives. She was there every step of the way (34 hours the first time and 18 hours the second) with what seemed to be everything we (my husband included) needed. Amara arrived to both labors within what seemed like minutes of our call and stayed until she knew we were comfortable with our new baby and all was well. During labor she provided me with basically everything I needed and my husband with comforting suggestions and break times....... I think he looked to her as much as I did during the labor and it was amazing how she provided us with exactly what we needed at the very moment we needed it.

If you are looking for a doula who will be with you and your family every step of the way with compassion and professionalism then do not look any further. I am currently pregnant with child number three and heart broken that Amara will not be able to be with us (we have since moved 3000 miles away). However, I do know that she is only a phone call away if we need her. 

(Trevor, September 2008) (Parker, May 2010)

My review of Amara comes not as a client, but as a nurse. I have been a Labor & Delivery nurse for 19 years. In my past I have known doulas who were pushy, overbearing and demanding/insisting-- This made my job as a nurse harder and made it more difficult to provide care for the mom in labor. I met Amara about 2 years ago and my opinion of doulas changed completely. She has the ability to support the laboring woman and family while working WITH the providers. Her calm presence, pleasant attitude and effective communication makes her a perfect bridge between birth family and birth provider. It has been my pleasure to work with Amara many times and witness her skills first hand. Words that come to mind-- Amazing. Dedicated. She supports with touch, with word and sometimes simply with her presence. She has helped families realize their birth hopes. She understands that sometimes plans change- She is not judgemental. She is an advocate who has knowledge and passion. Her abilities and gifts are priceless! Any family who invites Amara to share in their birth will come away with a more positive experience-  Thank you for letting me share just a little about what a wonderful doula Amara is.

 From the moment my husband and I met Amara we knew she was a compassionate, honest, and loving person who loves her job. I went through my pregnancy with very little apprehension about natural labor because she provided me with the knowledge to be prepared for our child's birth. She shared her own personal knowledge and shared her endless library of books and dvd's that helped to support me and my husband.
When I went into labor I remember Amara walking in my front door and feeling complete happiness because I knew that we were in good hands. Amara gracefully coached my husband and I through each contraction. She reassured us each step of the way even during the most painful times that everything would be all right. Once Amara helped to bring our dear son into the world she helped me to begin nursing him. She was so calm and helpful. Amara also wrote the BEST birth story to our son that we absolutely cherish. She didn't miss a beat of the entire process from start to finish. Amara is simply an amazing person and an amazing and knowledgeable doula. This was our first birth, and we would do it all over again because we know we would have her by our sides. We love you Amara, and we feel blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you!

 Amara was so compassionate and appropriate during my labor and birth. It was such an amazing and healing experience. We will hire Amara again to be our Doula for our next child if we're in the area! Amara provided excellent support and communication for weeks before I went into labor. She helped me progress labor through positioning techniques, and helped relax and calm me during active labor and transition. She didn't overstay her welcome after our bundle of joy arrived. My husband felt included and supported by Amara. Everything was perfect and I can't wait to do it all again! :)

 I kept thinking that I NEEDED doula support if my second child was going to be born without drugs, intervention or complete fear. I felt I should at least call around... I wanted this natural birth so badly. Little did I know, that once I spoke with Amara on the phone, this would be our first contact into a relationship that would last a lifetime and a birth that was more amazing than I could have ever imagined!

On a Saturday, I took a walk to calm down, meditate and pray. That morning I had a peace beyond understanding. I walked home sensing that this would be the day. It was the night! We arrived at the birthing center and did not realize that I was already 10 centimeters! I was ready to push! Amara got there about half way through as the hardest moments for me began. So, in reality she wasnot with us so long for the birth, but OH how we needed her. She was quiet, calm and very assertive to my needs. She would tell me how to focus and to remember this, that and the other things we spoke about in the past few weeks. She was there mostly AFTER the birth, and again, this was a huge help. We were so THRILLED to have had such a quick and problem-free birth that we forgot the pictures... Amara didn ot forget! She took pictures for us, calmed me in the after pains and witnessed are new family of four! She stayed for about an hour after teh birth, and for this we are grateful.
After the birth, Amara was attentive to write a beautiful birth story. It was creative, well though out and very consistent with the time line of the birth. She visited us and shared in the memories. It is like she is my sister! 

Finally, I wish to point out that Amara has an extensive library.The videos and books changed my thinking on natural childbirth and how I truly wanted this birth to be blessed. The fact that I could borrow these materials and not have to buy them was very helpful in our time of tight budgeting.
 

When the anesthesiologist came into the room, Amara suggested that my nurse check me one last time to see if there was improvement within the last 15 minutes and the nurse refused because I was checked not long ago.but once again, Amara had the right words and was able to have the doctor check me. With this, I was saved because I was at 10 cm and ready to welcome my baby girl. If she would not have asked, I would have failed with my original birth plan, and for that I am so thankful. She assisted me in breastfeeding right after the birth and stayed around a little bit until me, my husband and our baby girl were settled.

She was very encouraging and stayed positive to get me through all the pain. My husband was very impressed and said she was so helpful in showing him ways to help make me feel comfortable. We have good memories from this experience and can one day share it with our daughter in details as Amara wrote our birthing story to reflect what occurred that day. I am so blessed to have met Amara and was in the best care with her and my husband at my side. We will definitely have her as our doula again. I believe that all pregnant women should have a doula, but especially Amara because she is so positive, comforting and wants to help you stick with your birth plan in the best ways possible. I highly recommend Amara as your doula as you will be in the best of care!
 

I chose Amara as my doula for many reasons. She had attended close to 100 births w/ 4 children of her own! I knew she was experienced. In talking w/ her over the phone & in person, she was kind &caring.Thankfully, my pregnancy was easy. I felt confident in my ability to give birth without the help of medication. I have low blood pressure & an irregular heart beat (at times)& I knew that the less medication in my system, the better . Up until the week before I was due, I was confident that I read the right books, took a birthing class, was giving birth at a birthing center.However, the week before I went into labor I started to get scared! I thought, there’s no way I’m going to be able to do this, I can see why people choose medication. I knew that me asking for medication, even though it wasn’t part of my birth plan, might be a reality.  I had intellectualized the birthing process & I was afraid of the potential pain. I called Amara, crying. She was very calm &reassuring.

I went into labor on a Sat. night. Amara was my Sherpa mountain guide, my big sister & Earth angel. Through her guidance,I never once considered deviating from my birth plan, although she would have supported any choice I made. The thought of medication never even came into my mind because I was so in the moment.
I was on my knees &rested my head and arms in her lap during contractions. Is labor a picnic? No. Was it manageable? Yes. And Amara helped to give my husband & I comfort and security. I was in the moment &the breaks between the contractions provided relief.  Amara helped me to have the birth experience that I wanted. I would recommend that every woman in labor have a doula &I would certainly recommend Amara! If we have another baby down the road, we will call on Amara again to be our mountain guide!
 

I don’t know what we would have done without Amara. She was an integral part of my birthing experience from pregnancy to post partum she was a constant figure.  She was always there via phone, text, or e-mail to answer any of my many questions and was certainly there at 4 am when my water broke unexpectedly at the 35 weeks.

Because my water broke early, I was unable to birth at the midwifery center, which was my original birth plan. I was devastated by the news but Amara assured me that all would be fine in labor and delivery. She met my husband and I at the hospital just in time as I had to be induced and the contractions were coming on fast and hard. When Amara arrived, she brought a wave of calmness to the room and gave me the confidence I needed to know everything was going to be all right.

Even though my husband and I were not able to complete our birthing class due to our unexpected early arrival, Amara was there by our side talking us through the necessary steps of the birthing process. Having a preemie for your first birthing experience can be quite nerve racking and Amara stood right by our sides as the nurses whisked our child away and placed her in an incubator hooked to IVs, a heart monitor, and oxygen. Amara was our rock during this stressful time and I can’t thank her enough for helping us “keep it together.”

After the delivery, Amara called to check on us the following day and followed up with a phone call the day my child was discharged home. A week later she came to the home with the well-anticipated birth story. This alone is worth her services. I’m so glad we have that day for those precious hours documented forever. I loved my birth story and I can’t believe how much time and detail she puts into it. Amara truly makes the birthing experience special and I look forward to her services in the future, when that time comes;)
 

Amara was a wonderful doula, and I’m really not sure I could have done it without her! She came to our home when I was in early labor to give me tips on positions to use, how my husband could help me, and ways to try to speed up the labor. She allowed my husband to get some needed rest while I labored, and was available by phone or e-mail when we needed her (but wasn’t in the way either, going back home when my labor stalled out for over 12 hours). We met her at the hospital and she coached me when I was pushing. I really needed it, as I was in “the zone” and didn’t hear a word the midwife or nurse said. Amara was a calm, steady presence, and was very knowledgable and helpful to me and my husband. I’d definitely use her services again for another baby!

From my husband (who is much more eloquent than I am!): Amara Minnis is one of the most caring, compassionate individuals you could ever hope to have while journeying through this process. She is kind, soft-spoken, and extremely attentive to the mother and significant other as the pregnancy progresses to the labor and birthing process. Her assertiveness combined with her own experience as a mother position her as an ideal guide during the critical stages of labor and delivery. Amara is a conscientious listener, one who will remain carefully sensitive to the wishes of the birthing team. Of equal importance, she genuinely cares about the special role a doula plays and sincerely believes in the positive impacts on the partners and the baby. Her passion reflects in everything she does. For anyone seriously considering the prospect of a birthing doula to assist in this wonderful experience, I would provide my highest recommendation for her as she will provide you with an unparalleled, quality experience.

I chose Amara as my doula because she made me feel calm when I was around her (she still does, almost a year later!). I knew she would have the experience of what I was capable and would help me make informed decisions throughout the labor.

When I realized I was a "high risk" pregnancy (type 1 diabetes) but wanted an intervention-free labor, I knew I would need a doula to help me. My husband is very nervous about my safety and our baby's so I knew he would be susceptible to hospital staff. And since I hate hospitals, I wanted someone there to help us stay in control and mellow.

My labor was 49 hours and Amara was a champ! She texted back and forth with me in the early hours while I was still roaming around doing errands. She came to the house when things picked up speed and she soldiered through the 26 hours we spent at the hospital before my beautiful son was born. I got the vaginal delivery I wanted, I knew what was going on the entire time and was in control and I felt safe always. I am convinced I would have had a c-section were it not for Amara!

I also appreciated that Amara took copious notes during the entire labor process. She also does a birth story afterward and it was one of the reasons I chose her! I'm a writer and it's priceless for me to have accounts of everything going on. It's something I hope my son will also appreciate one day.

I pushed for three hours before delivering and Amara was right there holding one leg (with my husband holding the other). At one point I wheezed out that I was running out of steam and Amara told me very firmly that I could do this and I was going to push this baby out because I was strong. It was EXACTLY what I needed when I was ready to give up and not long after my 8 lb 12oz boy entered the world!

Amara is calm, supportive, reliable, knowledgeable, and great!   You cannot go wrong with getting support and labor services from Amara.   She met with us at least twice to answer questions, lend materials, and go over our forms and questions.  She is excellent support and stayed with us through labor and delivery, and worked seamlessly with our midwives.  She encourages husband participation, and serves in whatever capacity with which you feel comfortable.  She has a soothing, calming influence in a very stressful and uncertain time.  She followed up with us a couple times, and is always there for on-going information and access to mothers' support groups etc.  John Paul is now 10 months, and we were so glad she's the one who helped welcome him! 

Amara was a fantastic support not only during my labor with my 10 pound baby girl, but before and after her delivery.  All of her experience shines through when she's in action.  I was particularly impressed with the fact that during my cesarean section she waited for THREE HOURS to see me.  I had no idea she had waited as I assumed my birth team would have gone home with the decision of surgery made.  She continues to be a supportive friend and I am really thankful I went with my gut and hired her.  Every woman needs a doula during labor, in my opinion. 

Amara was a true blessing to have as our doula! She stayed in contstant communication with us before the birth and was always avaliable thruogh phone or email to answer any concerns or questions we had before our baby arrived. She gave us very good insight and tips throughout the early labor process at home. Once we arrived at the hospital she joined us and stayed up all night and all day (about 20 hours!) to provide me with support and encouragement as I progressed through active labor and delivery. She helped me to stay focused and relaxed, as well as encourage me when I got frustrated or discouraged. She also did little tasks to make the experience easier for me like getting me water, ice, popcycles, and cool washclothes, etc. After our baby was born, she stayed a while to help make sure our baby was breast feeding. Amara was always very positive, encouraging, and supoprtive of our choices. I could not have made it through my first labor and delivery without her support and encouragement! She also provided a lovely typed birth story that we will have to cherish for years to come. I would highly reccommend her to anyone in the Hampton Roads area who is looking for a doula! 

This is our second time using Amara as our doula. We loved working with her for the birth of our second child so much, we knew that we wanted her to be our doula for the birth of our third child. From the time we told her we were expecting right up until the birth, Amara was always very accessible and willing to answer any questions or concerns we had. Our baby was 10 days past due and through it all Amara was in contact with us, keeping updated on any progress we were making. She was such a great encouragement not only to me as the mom but to my husband as well. My hubby likes to refer to Amara as "his doula". Throughout our labour and delivery Amara was an invaluable part of our birth team. We couldn't have done it without her. We would highly recommend Amara to anyone seeking to have a doula at their next birth.

I am a Navy wife and when my husband & I found out I was pregnant we knew that there was a better than average chance he would not be home for the birth of our first child.  A friend & fellow Navy wife told me about "her" doula, Amara, and I decided to look into doula services as I did not want to birth my child alone.  My husband & I met with Amara and were both immediately comfortable with her.  Throughout my pregnancy, she was available by phone or email for my questions and always made a point to get back to me as quickly as possible.  Her easygoing personality and wealth of knowledge helped to make my husband & I comfortable throughout the process.  As it turned out, my husband was present for the birth.  Amara turned out to be an even bigger bonus for him during the prolonged labor.  She encouraged my husband to take breaks for himself, which was good for both of us.  Our confidence & trust in Amara really helped us through the whole experience and I can't imagine not having her there.

Amara proved a valuable asset even before we officially hired her. A tour of our planned hospital around 29 weeks, had my husband and I frantically looking at our options. Even though we hadn't yet hired her, Amara came to our rescue by providing us valuable information including direct contact with a couple of her previous clients who went through the same situation. By the end of the week, we had switched from Tricare Prime to Standard (yes, its totally an option and costs VERY little!), changed hospitals, and best of all, hired Amara as our Doula. Amara continued to prove a great asset as she used her experience to walk us through concerns and encouraged us to learn all we could by lending us books, DVD's and even a birthing ball. When the time finally came and my water broke, she kept in close contact until she was needed and then stayed with us until a couple hours after delivery. It sounds funny, but my husband even got a chance to take a much needed cat nap during early labor because he knew Amara was there for me. And that nap was the breath of fresh air he needed to be fully alert for me for the remainder of labor and the birth of our first baby. Throughout the night, Amara's constant support and ideas, were instrumental in our maintaining a natural birth, as we had hoped. We would absolutely recommend her to anyone wanting a great birth experience. 

With so many decisions to make as we prepared for the birth of our first child the best choice we made by far was to have Amara as our doula. We moved to Norfolk when I was 28 weeks pregnant and decided that we would like to have a drug-free birth experience for our baby at the Midwifery Center at DePaul. We were new to the world of midwives, doulas, and natural delivery and as we worked to better educate ourselves we were so glad to find Amara as a wonderful partner in the education process. My husband and I can not say enough about how well prepared, educated, intuitive, thoughtful, and kind Amara is. She is one of those rare individuals who has truly found her calling in her life work. Being a doula suits her so well and those who have her as their doula really benefit from that. With Amara's calm and reassuring guidance my husband and I were able to have the drug-free experience we desired and we welcomed our daughter into this world in a peaceful, loving environment. My husband and Amara were the perfect birth team for me- my husband was my rock to keep me calm and strong and Amara was the gentle wave- calmly pushing me on and guiding the way.

During my pregnancy, Amara was always available to answer questions and to reassure me if I ever doubted myself or my pregnancy's progress. She is extremely knowledgeable, and she was always very helpful.

My daughter's birth happened right after [and in the same birthing center] as another birth which Amara attended, yet she was still super energetic and amazing for the birth of my daughter. Both my fiance and myself feel like Amara not only attended my birth but she really made the birth possible in that, without her, I know in my heart it would have been a much more difficult and longer experience.  From the minute she arrived in the birthing room, I felt sort of renewed and ready for the rest of our daughter's birth. The ideas that she offered during the birthing experience were always helpful,  she is a very open listener, and she is a very comfortable person to be around, which is what makes her a wonderful doula. Even after the birth, Amara was available to answer some of my questions and to reassure me about the wellbeing of my baby and my abilities as a mother.

I couldn't have asked for a better doula: Amara is amazing, and I really feel that I cannot say enough good things about her. She is a fantastic individual and she is really very good at her job. I would recommend that anyone, whatever your situation or experience, meet with her and consider hiring her for your birth experience. I know that she really facilitated the entrance of our daughter into the world in a way that cannot be replaced.

Amara was a great support to me and my husband during the birth of our first child. She came to our home in the middle of the night when my labor started, provided emotional support to me and my husband during labor, and was a calming physical presence to us both. I did wind-up needing a c-section, and Amara was very supportive and stayed until I was through recovery and back in my room. She was also available to me during my pregnancy and after the birth for any questions I had. I highly recommend her!

If you have been searching for a doula to work with your search is over. I honestly do not feel I can put into words how wonderful it was working with Amara!!
This was our first child so of course my husband and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into ~ so we felt working with a doula would be best. After searching and interviewing and searching again we found Amara. Upon meeting her we knew she was going to be the perfect fit for us. She immediately made us feel calm and safe, almost as if we had known her for years. This is exactly what we looked so hard for. She was willing to work with us, she respected the goals we had for our delivery, and she supported us every step of the way. She was only ever a phone call or email away and when my husband called her to come to the hospital she was there immediately!
After a complicated pregnancy, a need for an early induction, and a 34 hour labor (which did not go even close to what we hoped for) Amara was still there!! She kept my husband and myself grounded and focused on our main goal and was a fabulous patient advocate!
We now have a healthy baby boy and a new dear friend! (Trevor, born September 2008).

When I discovered I was pregnant in September 2008, I knew immediately that I wanted to have a doula during my labor and delivery. So, I began the search for my to-be labor coach and I ran across Amara’s website. I stopped searching for a doula, because once I met her in person, I knew she was “the one.” My significant other traveled during the majority of my pregnancy, and it was “iffy” if he would even be able to attend the birth of our child. So as the d-day drew closer, I was in constant contact with Amara and she was always quick to respond back to me, no matter how silly my questions were. She is always so reassuring and encouraging. She helped me build my confidence up with labor and breastfeeding, two of my huge concerns. One of my favorite things that she does as part of her services is the birth story she wrote up, and I still get tears in my eyes whenever I read it. Amara is truly a gifted doula, and I am so thankful to have her part of my pregnancy.

Amara is the #1 best decision I made for my birth. She was always just a call or email away whenever I had any concerns or questions throughout my pregnancy. And when I called her at 4AM in labor, she was ready to be by my side at a moments notice. I credit her for giving me the strength to stick with my plan of an unmedicated birth. Her calm nature during the labor helped me focus and get through it drug free!

When making decisions about how our second child would be born, my husband and I decided that we would like to try to have a natural childbirth. One of the most important decisions we made was asking Amara to serve as our doula. I found her using the DONA website and immediately after reading her website and receiving her response e-mail, I knew she was right for us. After our first telephone conversation lasted over a half an hour, I was convinced! Amara lent me books to read in preparation, was always there with advice, and overall was a knowledgeable resource and calming influence. When I went past my due date, Amara was positive and hopeful. I ended up with a completely unmedicated birth at 40 weeks and 3 days! She definitely made my experience easier and helped to make both my husband and I comfortable. My son's birth was exactly as I had hoped - and Amara's support was unmatched before and during the birth. I would recommend Amara's doula services 100%!