Esther Spindler

8/19/2024

We had a fantastic experience with Carolyn and highly recommend her doula services (as well as District Doulas) to any and all parents out there. This was our second birth and it turned out to be longer and somewhat more unpredictable than our first one. Through it all, Carolyn was by our side -- providing physical and emotional support to both my husband and I. It was clear with her interactions with the doctors, midwives and nurses that she was well known and respected by the providers who attended our birth. Her rapport with the staff, coupled with her expertise about labor and delivery, made her an invaluable part of our birth and post-partum experience!

Ankita Patnaik

7/29/2024

We have had a fantastic doula experience with Carolyn, and with her group (District Doulas) from start to finish. 

We vibed with them because of: (1) their emphasis on evidence-based practices and (2) their supportive attitudes around many things, including being non-judgemental about breastfeeding vs. formula.

The District Doulas package includes a bunch of educational classes, including access to online recordings of past classes. We found these classes to be SUPER helpful to gain an understanding of what to realistically expect so we could prepare ourselves appropriately. They also helped my husband feel more involved in the pregnancy process. We enjoyed the in-person classes where we got to meet other couples and get hands-on practice with things such as exercises to help with early labor.

I ended up going past my due date and being induced. While this had the potential to be a complicated experience, things went quite smoothly and the doulas offered helpful advice at various decision points. Carolyn was present at my birth, arriving around when I was in active labor and staying the night in the hospital room until it was time to push. At the pushing stage, she provided me with encouragement and helpful guidance, working perfectly in tandem with my nurse and finding ways for my husband to be included and helpful as well. She played a significant role in making this part seem easy and not scary at all. Once my son was born, she took some lovely photos of our first few moments together as a family. Carolyn stayed for an hour or two, helping us with our first breastfeed, and left when we were transitioned to the postpartum hospital room. She also followed up with a visit at home about 8 days later to check in on us, where she provided some helpful tips on newborn soothing and breastfeeding.

I can't recommend District Doulas more highly. 

Caroline L

4/3/2024

We had a really terrific experience with Carolyn who helped us navigate decisions related to the birth of our child and achieve our labor goals. She was very informed, providing us with information to make key decisions and always supporting whatever we decided. She was a calming force in the delivery room and provided hands on comfort to help me through my contractions and ensure I achieved my desire to have an unmedicated birth. Her words of comfort gave me strength and confidence, and my husband was reassured by her presence and coaching as well. Following the birth of our child, Carolyn stayed with us to ensure we were doing well and had everything we needed. She also checked in on us regularly via text in addition to the postpartum visit. Working with Carolyn was a very positive experience for both me and my husband, who initially questioned whether we needed a doula again for our second child. He was especially grateful to have her assistance and support. I highly recommend Carolyn to others who are looking for a compassionate, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and attentive doula. 

Caroline

4/3/2024

We had a really terrific experience with Carolyn who helped us navigate decisions related to the birth of our child and achieve our labor goals. She was very informed, providing us with information to make key decisions and always supporting whatever we decided. She was a calming force in the delivery room and provided hands on comfort to help me through my contractions and ensure I achieved my desire to have an unmedicated birth. Her words of comfort gave me strength and confidence, and my husband was reassured by her presence and coaching as well. Following the birth of our child, Carolyn stayed with us to ensure we were doing well and had everything we needed. She also checked in on us regularly via text in addition to the postpartum visit. Working with Carolyn was a very positive experience for both me and my husband, who initially questioned whether we needed a doula again for our second child. He was especially grateful to have her assistance and support. I highly recommend Carolyn to others who are looking for a compassionate, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and attentive doula. 

Talley Diggs

3/9/2024

I could not be more grateful that Carolyn was my doula and supported me through the birth of my first child. Carolyn's calming energy and knowledge about childbirth made me feel safe and confident in both my decision making and in my ability to have the birth I wanted. Carolyn was extremely mindful of my comfort and was able to anticipate my needs throughout labor. She knew before I did that I needed a back rub, a hand to hold, or more liquids to stay hydrated. She supported my partner and gave him little nudges to do things that would comfort me without ever overstepping. She was intentional to step out of the room from time to time or give us space to have private moments and made sure my partner was always positioned in a front row spot to support me. I wanted to have an epidural but also wanted to remain as active as possible during labor. Carolyn kept me moving in the bed and rotating positions after I received my epidural which was really important to keep my labor from stalling. She was super comforting during contractions and pushing by offering constant words of encouragement to cheer me on. Her warm presence contributed to me having a joyous and empowering birth experience. She was really aware of my birth plan and made sure the midwives and nurses stuck to it. At one point when it seemed that my contractions were stalling after getting my epidural, she explained that I might soon be faced with decisions to either break my water or receive pitocin. She walked me through these options which gave me time to process the information before being pushed by medical professionals to decide. Carolyn helped my birthing dreams come true and was a major factor in easing any anxiety I had around childbirth. I am eternally grateful and cannot recommend her enough!

Julia B

2/2/2024

I am so grateful that Carolyn was our doula at our son's birth! The entire experience working with District Doulas was great - we loved the option of having virtual, interactive educational sessions and also a wealth of resources on the Google drive. I loved being able to text or call them 24/7 even with small questions and I always got a response quickly. Their model is excellent because we got to know all three doulas before our baby came so we would be comfortable with whomever.
It turned out that I was induced on 12/30 and Carolyn joined us at the hospital the evening of New Years Eve! Things weren't progressing quickly and I was exhausted and frustrated by the experience at the hospital with monitors and lack of sleep. Carolyn validated our choice to have an elective c-section, even though that was not my initial wish or intention, and she was so supportive as we awaiting surgery (as the clock ticked down!), getting me ice chips and advocating for me to be hydrated despite hospital policy. I was really anxious and she was seriously so calming, reassuring, and helped to provide information as well as offer a positive, uplifting distraction and just make conversation to pass the time. Though the hospital did not allow Carolyn to be in the OR, she joined us immediately in recovery and helped our baby to latch and do his first feeding. She stayed with us into the wee hours of New Year's Day, providing such a calming presence and gentle advice. She was a wonderful guide for my husband and helped ease a lot of our anxiety about the procedure and recovery. I highly recommend hiring District Doulas and Carolyn no matter what kind of birth you are planning. I can't imagine our experience going any better and Carolyn is a big reason why I have such a positive association. 

Aaron Killian

11/6/2023

"Thank God for Carolyn!" When it was all said and done, we were in agreement. After a prolonged induction, difficult labor (34 hours), and - ultimately - an unexpected caesarean section, my wife Molly was completely exhausted. Reflecting on what she'd been through, Molly said she couldn’t have done it without Carolyn’s help.

That makes two of us. 

Carolyn's presence was reassuring. She was serene and collected throughout, which helped to steady us during the inevitable times of uncertainty - like seasick cruise passengers looking toward the horizon for stability. Carolyn was that constant horizon. 

She was also a wellspring of information. Carolyn always had an answer at hand, or an anecdote to share. My wife Molly believes that acquiring knowledge is the best way to prepare for any big life event, so having Carolyn alongside her was the perfect match. Furthermore, Carolyn was a great help to me as the birth partner. I wanted to make sure that during the ordeal of labor, I didn’t just stand there looking helpless. Carolyn gave me the tools to be active & engaged throughout. 

Physically, Carolyn was a great coach. During the fiercest contractions, Carolyn put Molly & me in optimal positions to help my wife mitigate the pain and promote healthy outcomes for the baby. The same was true during the stage of labor when we physically encouraged our baby to descend. Carolyn was hands-on and employed a variety of poses and configurations to help Molly, and our child. 

Finally, she continued to help us during postpartum. The day after we arrived home, there was a stressful 24 hour stretch when our newborn was dehydrated and (potentially) in need of a trip to the ER. Carolyn rearranged her day to help us in person. Ultimately, baby got the nutrition he needed, we avoided a hospital visit, and we managed to get some rest while Carolyn looked after our boy. She's the best. 

Anna McCormally

6/16/2023

My husband and I could not be more happy that we chose District Doulas to support our birth, including preparations and planning. Jackie, Michelle, and Carolyn's professional expertise and calming positivity helped us feel confident and ready both for creating a birth plan we felt good about and a decision making framework for if/when things went differently from what we planned. They made us feel at ease from our first meeting and the schedule of childbirth preparation workshops they offered meant we felt comfortable with each of them in advance of birth day. They were responsive over text, phone call, for questions big and small both leading up to the birth and after we brought our baby home.

Carolyn was the team member who supported us in person during the birth. When my labor became complicated and went differently than I expected in a few ways, she helped me cope with labor at home and got me to a place where I could feel clear about the decision to go to the hospital. Then,  she stayed with us in the hospital until we were all stable, supporting us as we navigated overwhelming feelings and decisions including big deviations from the birth I imagined.

I highly recommend Carolyn and District Doulas to anyone looking to be supported through childbirth, including learning more about birth and the different ways it can look, becoming educated about different forms of interventions, and figuring out how to articulate their priorities and values around their care.

Leah Kaplan

5/10/2023

Hiring District Doulas and having Carolyn at the birth of my daughter was the best decision I made for my birth plan.  District Doulas provide so much support in many different ways, and even though I started working with them later in my pregnancy, I was able to take advantage of their weekly sessions and pre-recorded videos which provided a tremendous amount of information that I would never have had on my own.  They are also always available to answer questions or put my mind at ease through texts and phone calls, which I took advantage of.  But most importantly, Carolyn was absolutely fantastic at my birth.  She provided comfort during the most painful periods and was light hearted and fun during the times I wanted to enjoy the birthing process.  I would have most certainly ended up with a C-Section if I had not taken the advice of the Doulas early on and then again on my delivery day.  Having her with me as a guide and resource was invaluable and allowed me to have a really beautiful birth experience.  I cannot recommend Carolyn and the other doula's enough.

Kelly Inman

4/30/2023

Just hire her already! Carolyn is the best Doula in the Tri-State area. Carolyn is warm, caring, and incredibly knowledgeable. She provides you with the education you need especially as a first time mother/birthing person. I had access to multiple live birthing classes with information on everything from comfort measures to postpartum care. She answered all of our questions from the most basic to the most complicated without making anyone feel silly. I had text and phone support throughout the entire pregnancy. I never had to wait for a response as there’s always someone “on call”. As we got closer to my due date, Carolyn helped me formulate a birth plan. On the evening I went into labor (after midnight) Carolyn arrived in the highest of spirits and proceeded to blow our minds with her attention, care and expertise. She helped me labor at home and guided us as to when to head to the hospital, rode with us (at my request) and never left my side even hours after my baby headed to NICU for a short but scary stay. Carolyn coached me through the entire labor - over 20 hours. I had decided to forgo the epidural or any pain medication, something I felt very passionate about, and I can guarantee I would have needed them without Carolyn’s presence. She helped me get through the toughest of contractions and reminded me that I can do hard things. She coached me into new positions and movements that I frankly could have never remembered during such an intense experience on my own. She set the tone of the hospital room - keeping everything quiet, comfortable, and lights out just the way I’d wanted. Even at our postpartum meeting a few days later she continued to help me with lactation support and reminisced with me about the birth, making sure I remembered all that had happened in those 20 hours. It felt like the perfect end cap. Then she celebrated with me. There’s really nothing like a good doula. They are with their weight in gold.

Shannon Potter

2/7/2023

We couldn't have asked for a better doula experience than we had with Carolyn, and I truly don't know how we would have managed without her! As first time parents, we had a ton of anxiety about labor and delivery. Carolyn's deep knowledge and experience, coupled with her calm and reassuring demeanor, helped us feel safe and prepared for the process. We had a challenging and complicated delivery, but having Carolyn there to help us understand what was happening and what our options were was enormously beneficial. In addition, she gave my husband the tools he needed to best support me at every stage. We would recommend Carolyn 1000%!

Lovi

12/24/2022

Carolyn was an amazing Doula. I highly recommend her. I was induced and had some complications and my partner and I were stressed enough. Carolyn was there to help with communication with the  Midwives and help remember the details. I am so grateful to Carolyn for everything she did during a very stressful process. And when it came time to push she was an excellent coach helping me through the movements and keeping me informed of the position of the baby. I can’t say enough great things about Carolyn and the rest of her team.

Dorota

12/6/2022

Carolyn was just the right person to attend the birth of our second child. Our first child's birth was challenging in many ways, and Carolyn was compassionate, reassuring, and very understanding as we discussed that experience and prepared for another birth. She helped us identify what was most important and provided in-the-moment coaching and wisdom while in the hospital, particularly as we navigated the unfamiliarity of an induction. Her kindness, experience, good humor, and intuition were gifts to us made our positive and joyous birth even more special. We can’t recommend Carolyn highly enough. She’s a gem.

Caitlin Jacobs

11/4/2022

Carolyn came to the hospital for our birth and was a wonderful part of our birth team. She is warm and easygoing, so even though we hadn't been able to meet in person beforehand due to covid-19, it didn't feel like having a stranger in the room at all. She was a great pushing coach and helped us understand what was going on, offering information proactively throughout our experience. She worked well with the hospital staff and doctor, and they responded well to her presence.

We also greatly appreciated the postpartum visit, not only to talk through the birth experience to help us process it but also to give some in-person tips on breastfeeding. (It's been a steep learning curve!)

Carolyn treated us and our choices/preferences with respect and zero judgment, and we felt like we could ask her and the rest of the District Doulas anything, no matter how small or silly the question seemed.

As first-time parents, we can't understate how much we valued District Doulas' evidence-based approach to birth and postpartum, as well as the wealth of education and resources offered leading up to our birth. I highly recommend them to anyone, but especially those who approach/cope with the unknown by gathering as much information as possible.

Kate

10/11/2022

Having Carolyn as our doula was one of the best decisions we made all pregnancy.  I had a vaginal birth with epidural and augmented labor, but I'm not sure it would have been a vaginal birth without Carolyn's calm presence and support.  While no birth plan goes completely to plan, it enabled us to feel empowered and give us a sense of control, when the entire process can feel like swimming in unfamiliar currents.  We had chosen this doula practice because of the immense amount of support offered in advance, which we tried to take full advantage of.   Carolyn's practice offers classes on comfort measures, birth 101, birth interventions and others that clients can take advantage of.   

For example, when asked certain questions, Carolyn facilited confident decision-making,  The decision-making also helped the relationships between the medical professionals and us - all first time parents have the potential to feel awkward with far more expert medical professionals, and Carolyn was particularly good at working collaboratively, yet really assisting us the parents, making for an exceptionally positive experience despite giving birth with a doctor I'd only met twice, and a nurse I'd never met before. Carolyn helped me achieve a my birth preferences as much as possible.  

Unlike some, we actually needed Carolyn postpartum a little more than others - as I had a few unexpected complications. Carolyn being an IBCLC came in handy when our infant lost 10% of body weight by day 4 and we faced worry about breastfeeding.  The texting and call access is really great - again we didn't take advantage too much pre-birth but certainly did post-birth - we also got recommendations for medical professionals to deal with atypical complications for me the birth mother.  I would recommend Carolyn's doula practice to anyone who wants and informed and empowered birth -regardless of the type of birth. 

Jessica

6/25/2022

I can't begin to express how thankful I am that I found District Doulas and Carolyn to support me throughout my pregnancy and labor and delivery. Carolyn ended up joining us at the hospital at the very end of my labor and was kind and supportive from the minute she arrived. My husband and I were very grateful for her support as we navigated an emergency c-section. Once we left the hospital, Carolyn continued to be an amazing resource for us. Her postpartum visit with us was very helpful - not just in helping me reflect on my labor & delivery experience but also in providing super helpful postpartum tips around breastfeeding and helping me practice different positions in my own home. 

Carolyn is super knowledgeable but also very kind and never made me feel uncomfortable about any question I asked. I highly recommend Carolyn as a doula!

Rebecca

6/17/2022

Working with Carolyn was wonderful. Her expertise and caring nature really made a difference in how labor and delivery went. Being able to text the team during early labor put out minds at ease and now just the right time to head to the hospital. Carolyn was a step ahead of our needs and always found ways to make us calm, comfortable and confident in the birth of our little one. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!

Mely

5/14/2022

Carolyn is a fantastic Doula - she helped prepare me to advocate for the birth I wanted, ask questions when things started going a bit sideways, and was present and actively encouraging me through a long labor. Carolyn especially shined as a calming presence in the birthing room that allowed my spouse to take a breather and not feel like he had to be "on" the whole time. And thanks to her, during golden hour I was able to get my son latched and hand expressed a bit of colostrum to help ensure my supply later. At multiple points during the pregnancy when my spouse and I attended the District Doula prep classes and birth hour discussions, we were struck with the wealth of information offered by Carolyn and her colleagues. In her followup home visit, she took the time to make sure I debriefed and felt comfortable with my birth, and helped with breastfeeding positions and latching, and gave solid advice to help with recovery in the stressful early days. I heartily recommend District Doulas to anyone looking for a supportive team in their corner.

Rachel

5/4/2022

I’m incredibly happy we used District Doulas. Throughout the entire process—pregnancy, labor and learning how to take care of our little guy—they offered solid support and advice and gave me a lot of peace of mind. They have been very quick to respond to any questions from when the doctor scared me with a consultation on shoulder dystopia to recommendations for prenatal massages in the area.

Carolyn was an important part of our birth experience. First and foremost as nurses and doctors come in and out, it was nice to have someone by our side throughout the experience. During my labor, there was a part where the baby wasn’t isn’t a great position and not responding well to the contractions. I think the nurses would have moved me side to side continuously, but Carolyn guided me through a series and then a variety of different positions. It was both physically and mentally helpful. The baby ended up in a great position for delivery, and I only pushed for 17 minutes! There were many ups and downs during my labor experience, and Carolyn was thoughtful to understand when I needed more support and when I just needed a moment to close my eyes and focus internally. We’ve also appreciated the postnatal visit with her. We hit her up with a long list of new parent questions! And it’s comforting to know they’re here for our family as new questions pop up.

Julia Greenspan

4/17/2022

We hired District Doulas in preparation for our March 2022 baby. Before I went into labor, we had a prenatal call where we were able to talk in more detail about our birth plan, which was very helpful. We also had access to recordings that covered a wide variety of topics.  When I went into labor, my husband reached out to the doulas and Carolyn met us at the hospital. Over the next ~30 hours, she was an incredible resource and support for us. My labor was long and stalled out at points, but Carolyn explained everything to us and helped to keep us informed. It was a marathon but she suggested new positions and helped to encourage me throughout the process. Despite taking multiple classes, my husband has commented multiple times about how hiring a doula was the best thing we did for labor and delivery. Carolyn not only supported me, but also helped advise my husband of how he could best help. After our baby was born, she made sure everyone was healthy and happy.

I knew I wanted to hire a doula and I couldn't be happier with how Carolyn and the District Doula team supported me. 

Katie

4/10/2022

Carolyn was an extremely helpful doula. After a lot of pre-birth consultation, I opted to go with an elective c-section for a variety of reasons, and she wasn't able to be at the hospital with us due to covid restrictions (though she attempted to get in). She then pivoted to offer us in-home support after the birth, and came over multiple times as we settled in at home and struggled to figure out breastfeeding. She spent a lot of time working with us, and I appreciated her generosity, patience, flexibility, and thoughtfulness! 

Elle

2/19/2022

My partner and I had an excellent experience working with the District Doulas and they helped us ease into the process of becoming first-time parents with their series of workshops and availability for on-call questions. Carolyn met us at the hospital and she immediately knew how to make me more comfortable as I got ready for delivery - through massage, grabbing warm broth and a warm blanket as I shivered with the rush of hormones, and even brought peppermint oil and christmas lights to create good vibes in the room. She knew how to organize the delivery room to make us feel more at ease, was able instruct my partner on how to help me, and was an absolute saint as she communicated with the nurses and midwives team, who don't always explain things clearly, and translate and advocate for our best interests. As a first timer, I had the most ideal delivery experience that felt empowering and even magical as I felt completely in control of the process - and I attribute so much of that to what I learned through DD and having Carolyn there with us. We would absolutely recommend working with District Doulas to anyone who wants to feel empowered by the entire process of pregnancy, becoming a parent, and giving birth without fear. 

Jessica

2/15/2022

Carolyn was wonderful to have at our birth! She was calm, kind, knowldegable, and always encouraging. She joined us at our house and helped me progress during active labor and again at the hospital overnight until the birth of our baby in the morning! The tools, positivity, and support she brought helped make my birth experience everything I could ask for! 

Laura Petrillo-Groh

11/12/2021

Carolyn was the most amazing and supportive doula one could ask for. She was with my husband and I for the birth of both our girls. Each time, the support was different, and tailored perfectly to the experience. For a first time mom, Carolyn helped the birthing process go so smoothly. She met with us in advance to discuss the entire process and to work with us to best understand the possibilities of birthing. Having spent the time preparing was incredibly helpful to me on delivery day. Things don’t go as planned, but having run through scenarios and practiced asking questions correctly, gave me the tools I needed for a birth I felt in control of. Carolyn was easy to communicate with. She plans carefully to ensure that your birth is the priority.

Having had such a great experience with Carolyn during the birth of my first, I immediately called her when we got pregnant with our second. The preparation was easier, but the birth got complicated. Immediately after delivery I was transferred to the OR. Carolyn accompanied me at my request so my husband could stay with our newborn. Having a hand to hold and someone trusted with me kept me calm during a very uncertain time.

Carolyn is warm, so educated, very communicative, and completely calm and professional. We could not recommend Carolyn more highly.

April

11/2/2021

We found the birth workshops from District Doulas to be a helpful preparation for labor. Carolyn was really helpful to us answering questions in advance of delivery and was a tremendous support at the hospital during the delivery of our baby girl. I felt much more prepared and supported with Carolyn's help and had we been on our own, despite strong nurses and doctors at the hospital. I would highly recommend working with Carolyn or any of her colleagues at District Doulas.

Anne Marie

10/17/2021

It is my pleasure to write a review for Carolyn, as I have sung her praises to my friends and family. She had a calming, but confident personality when we initially spoke via zoom. Carolyn was extremely patient while we reviewed my birth plan and discussed my hesitation to be induced. She has been responsived to my postpartum issues with my baby not latching. Her postpartum visit to my home was very helpful. I am a first time mom and was confused about conflicting advice re: baby sleep schedule. 

The most important part of my relationship with Carolyn was my child's labor and delivery, which did not go as planned. During this time, Carolyn was available via telephone to speak with my midwives and me. She stopped by the hospital to check in during my protracted induction. Once it appeared that I was going to need assistance with pain management, Carolyn arrived at the hospital without delay. Ultimately, she was with me for much longer than we anticipated, as my induction and labor took over four days before having to move forward with a csection.

While surgery was best for the health of my baby, it was challenging to accept I was not going to deliver vaginally. Carolyn was an excellent advocate for me at my most vulnerable. She requested that I be given space to process. She explained what would happen from the time they took me to the OR until I returned to my room. I am a single mother and Carolyn worked with the midwives to ensure that my mother had clearance to stay overnight with me post-delivery. She called my mother to share the news and details of my daughter's birth when I was too tired to relay the information or answer questions.

 In addition to her exceptional bedside manner, Carolyn and her colleagues offer zooms on important birthing/postpartum issues throughout your pregnancy. I found the information to be invaluable and watched several videos multiple times. I highly recommend Carolyn as a doula. 

Liz

10/12/2021

Carolyn was fabulous--she gave us exactly the support we needed, when we needed it, throughout our delivery. Highly recommend her. 

Mary Rivers

8/9/2021

Having Carolyn as our doula was absolutely the best decision we could have made. I was able to achieve my goal of a vbac, and without her tireless help I would not have been able to reach that goal for a healing birth experience. Carolyn is compassionate, goes above and beyond, and her passion for what she does is incredible. I can't recommend her enough!

Anne

6/25/2021

I highly recommend Carolyn from District Doulas! We hired their team to assist in an attempt to have a VBAC with our second child, and I'm confident that there's no way I would have gotten the VBAC birth I wanted without Carolyn there. Carolyn and the rest of the team were a great support before the birth, encouraging me to advocate for myself and ask smart questions at my doctor's visits (even though I only hired them at week 37 because we wanted to wait and make sure this baby wasn't breech like our first was).

During our delivery, Carolyn was incredibly helpful, providing a calm but supportive and encouraging presence, working in tandem with the nurses and doctor, and was able to suggest and facilitate Spinning Babies positions to get our son into the correct position so that our VBAC attempts were successful. 

Can't recommend their team enough! 

Anne Dreazen

6/28/2016

Carolyn was absolutely wonderful to work with, I would recommend her services without any reservations! I was looking for a Doula who could help me  achieve a VBAC for the birth of my second child, and I was interested in Carolyn particularly because of her personal  and professional experience with VBACs. The prenatal sessions with Carolyn  were phenomenal – she instantly struck up a great rapport with me and my husband, answered all of our questions really well, and sent me additional resources that I needed. She also lent me a TENS  unit that was essential during early labor.  When I went into labor, Carolyn came to our home and stayed with me for a few hours as my contractions were starting. When it became clear that my early labor could go on for days, Carolyn remained reachable over phone and email as my labor progressed.   She then joined me and my husband in the hospital, and was with us there for over 24 hours until I gave birth. Despite being an expert in natural birth herself, Caroline was totally supportive of my desire for an epidural, and helped me move around in the hospital bed after it was administered. She also gave amazing massages, coached us through contractions, and was fantastic at anticipating and helping with whatever else was needed. Following the birth, Carolyn helped out a great deal  with breast-feeding and also provided a beautiful write up of my daughter's labor and birth story.  You will not be sorry if you use Carolyn as your Doula!

Laura Petrillo

6/20/2016

My husband Alec and I had an amazing experience with Carolyn! From the first meeting, she was professional, extremely personable, and very knowledgeable about all things birth and babies. Through two prenatal visits, she helped us prepare for labor and delivery. Carolyn was there every step of the way and was a positive and calming presence. It was so wonderful to have Carolyn support us for the birth of our beautiful baby girl.

Carolyn typed up an entire timeline of the labor and delivery which she brought during the postpartum visit. It was such a delightful surprise to relive the experience!! We highly recommend Carolyn! She was just amazing!

Allana Strong

3/2/2016

Carolyn is a wonderful doula and made such a difference during my birth. She was calm, confident, and an excellent advocate throughout, but frankly what I appreciated the most was her amazing endurance helping me get through back labor pains. For hours she dug her arms and hands into my lower back during and after each contraction, helping to prevent me from seizing up and allowing me to relax and recover in the little time I had between surges. Taking care of this one problem area allowed my husband to focus entirely on the emotional support I still very much needed, helping me through the breathing and visualization techniques we had practiced together ahead of time.

As a first time mom hoping to deliver without meds, I'm absolutely certain that having Carolyn there made my labor easier both mentally and physically (though it was by no means a cake walk). Carolyn supports all types of births and birth choices, but knowing that she has both the attitude and technical skills needed to support unmedicated labor should be a real comfort to anyone looking to have their baby "au naturel" like I did.

Also, it's worth mentioning that she was attending another client's birth when I called to tell her I had gone into labor (I was 1 week late and the other client was 2 weeks early, it happens!) yet magically she was by my side as soon as her other client was settled, and you would never have known she'd been working a double shift. She was just as energized and encouraging as she'd been in our prenatal meetings, and stayed long after my daughter was born to help us nurse and make sure all our needs were met.

Any parent would be lucky to have Carolyn as their doula, my husband and I surely were.

Monica Keller

5/13/2015

Carolyn is a supportive, positive and amazing doula! She changed my perspective on how first time and second time mothers can benefit tremendously by having a doula. It had been almost 12 years since my daughter was born but I was confident that I did not need a doula as I had been following the GW Midwifery exercise and diet guidelines. At my 37 week prenatal appointment one of my midwives highly recommended getting a doula for two reasons: 1) this was my husband John’s first pregnancy/child and 2) it was important for John and I to have a natural and drug-free labor and child birth.

We found Carolyn through a GW doula referral. She replied to our email promptly with a short bio informing us why she became a doula and what her services entailed. Carolyn came to our house a couple of days later well prepared with a contract, a sample birthing plan and post recovery resources. After John and I discussed our birthing plan with her, we decided she was a perfect fit for us.

During my labor Carolyn’s presence was so calm and comforting that I often found myself making eye contact with her, seeking words of wisdom or holding onto her for reassurance. I felt appreciated by my husband and Carolyn during my entire labor. Carolyn’s direction for me to drink water and breathe were easy tasks for me to follow but they were extremely helpful and made my labor more comfortable.

The best part about Carolyn’s services was the labor notes she took during the my labor. Carolyn shared her labor notes with us during the post delivery appointment at our home; they enabled me to relive the extraordinary experience of my son’s birth. John and I also shared them with our parents. Carolyn is a wonderful doula for first time parents or repeat parents who are seeking comfort during childbirth, who would like support to power through the rough moments of labor and someone who will become part of their labor and delivery family.

Bethany Pepper

3/12/2015

I'm so glad we decided to work with Carolyn! As first time parents, we knew we wanted extra support especially since I wanted an unmedicated and natural delivery.

Carolyn met with us for two prenatal visits to discuss our priorities, labor positions, fears, and everything related to labor. I initially took Hypnobirthing classes and she was very supportive of this approach. She came to the hospital right away and helped create a calm and relaxed environment in the room. I ended up having a difficult time focusing on the hypnobirthing and breathing techniques, but she was very good at encouraging me to relax and breathe correctly. My labor eventually stalled and then I had to push for what seemed like forever (sunnyside-up baby). She was so supportive the entire time and encouraged me to try new positions, keep drinking water, and to focus. I also had terrible back labor and she helped deep massage my back while taking turns with my husband to give him a break.

We also lucked out because she took pictures of the actual delivery (my husband forgot to turn the video camera on and this was really important to me!) so I'm glad she was there to think of that when things were very hectic at the end.

Carolyn came by a week after the birth to check up on us, give me more resources, and to discuss my birth experience. I'm so thankful that I had the birth that I wanted and that she was there for it. We highly recommend her!

Ashley Waldroup

2/27/2015

My husband and I were both very grateful for Carolyn's presence at the birth of our son. She is a fantastic resource, and she really helped establish a calm environment throughout my labor. Throughout the long labor process, Carolyn spoke softly, gently reminding me of important coping techniques and helping me refocus. She was also completely supportive of my decisions every step of the way.

Carolyn is very professional and personable - she came to our first meeting well prepared with lots of information, and she exuded a warm, kind spirit. She also didn't mind that we called her at 3:00 in the morning a few weeks later when labor really got going. :-)

We definitely recommend Carolyn as a doula!