Kimm Bernardin

9/22/2009

My husband and I hired Caroline to help us out as a postpartum doula after we found out we were expecting twins.  The thought of being first time parents AND having two babies at once sent me to the internet to search out doulas once I got past the initial shock.  After researching, we chose to work with Caroline not only because of her extensive experience and education, but because after meeting with her, we liked her a lot.  And the experience was great.  She was available both in person and by telephone to answer questions and talk me through the various issues that popped up, and of course, to help with the babies.  She even relieved me for a few nights so I could get some sleep!  After the babies were about 2 months old, we had Caroline come back to train us on how to get the kids to sleep through the night when they were ready.  It worked great.  Our daughter started sleeping through the night (9:30pm to 7am) at about 10 weeks, and our son followed about a week or two after that.  I highly recommend Caroline to anyone looking for a birth or postpartum doula!

Becky Reno

8/31/2009

Caroline was our doula for our son's birth (our first) in October 2007. I cannot say enough good things about her- she was such an amazing resource every step of the way- from pregnancy, to childbirth and what to expect in the hospital, to my recovery and even how to take care of our newborn. I cannot imagine going through this process without her. Both my husband and I chalk up our amazing experience every step of the way to her knowledge, professionalism, sense of humor and nurturing personality. She is amazing at what she does and would be an asset to any pregnant woman or couple.

Leigh Ann Kopans

8/31/2009

I hired Caroline for my second birth, as I was moving from an area with lots of birth support to Columbus, where your average professional is less concerned with womens' knowledge of choices and control in their births. 

Caroline was phenomenal.  She was the first birth professional who ever took the time to hear my story and my concerns.  I had suffered a loss before this baby, and so my anxiety level was high.  Caroline worked with me to listen to my fears and to work with me to create a birth plan that offered me the greatest feeling of security and control during a time that was terrifying for me.

She was my advocate throughout my entire labor, from start to finish.  She sat with me through the long admissions process and articulated my concerns to the nurses when I was focusing on contractions.  She made sure that I was informed about every medication added to my IV and simplified terms the doctors and nurses were using so that I understood what was going on even through the pain of labor.  She hugged my shoulders during my epidural.  Most importantly, when it was almost time for me to give birth to my sweet baby boy, she spoke words that centered me in the moment and helped me to realize and internalize the significance of what was about to happen.

I know she hates it when clients say this, but I really, really could not have done it without her.  I plan on hiring her for all future births.  Thanks Caroline!

Tara O'Dowd

8/29/2009

My partner and I hired Caroline to help with the birth of our first child. We were thrilled when I became pregnant! Early in my pregnancy, I determined that it was important to me to have as natural a birth as possible, especially to avoid an unnecessary c-section or an epidural. My partner and I decided to use hypnobirthing techniques to help us achieve a natural and peaceful birth in a hospital setting. We debated whether or not a doula would be helpful for a long time.

At 34 weeks of pregnancy, I lost confidence in one of my two OBs. This doctor disagreed with much of my birth plan! So my partner and I interviewed a couple of doulas and hired Caroline. What a great decision! Immediately, Caroline helped me evaluate the problems with the doctor, and gave me confidence about the possibility of having the kind of birth I wanted in a hospital setting without changing doctors. Caroline also helped me anticipate additional problems with this doctor, so that I would be prepared to address them. 

My birth was absolutely wonderful! It started late in the evening two days before my due date, and was so mild that I was not sure I was in labor. In fact, my partner and I didn't really realize what was going on until I was in transition! We called Caroline, who made sure that we got to the hospital immediately. I only wish we would have known to call Caroline earlier! Caroline met us there, and helped both my partner and I calm down and get back to the peaceful birth we wanted. In the hospital, Caroline directed the pushing, so that I was interacting with her and my partner, not with nurses or a doctor whom I did not know. I got to touch my baby's head as soon as it was out, and felt calm and happiness as I pushed my baby out without medication. Neither my partner nor I had to worry about hospital staff trying to push us into interventions we didn't want. Truly the best experience of my life, and Caroline was a huge part of that!

Annie Stephens

8/26/2009

 As a massage therapist, I have always believed in the power of the body and I wanted to be sure our first child had every opportunity to birth naturally. I knew the odds would be in our favor if we had a doula present. I knew we'd benefit from her advocacy, knowledge, experience, support and encouragement. 

Throughout the pregnancy, Caroline was always helpful and I was excited for our birth. I was confident in my body and my baby and was comforted to know that there would be someone there for me who had been there a hundred times.

I understood that I couldn't plan our birth like a party and that what I'd envisioned might not be possible so when circumstances at the hospital turned medical and ultimately surgical Caroline maintained her assurance that we would have an empowered, beautiful experience. She joined us in  the operating room during the c-section. She took photos and kept us involved in what could have been a very passive and cold disappointment. Our birth was amazing. It was sacred.  it was our family's perfect beginning and Caroline's presence was one of the blessings of that day.

Angela Bowser

7/22/2009

I hired Caroline for my second birth.  My first had been a bit rough and I thought a little extra support would go a long way.  Not long after hiring Caroline, we'd barely had time to get to know each other, everything hit the fan with my pregnancy. At 33weeks I was in the hospital and incredibly ill.  I had a servere form of pre-eclampsia known as HELLP Syndrome.

I knew relatively what it was and that it was bad...but my husband was left confused, upset, worried, and trying to figure out why they were delivering the baby so early and what was wrong.  Caroline helped him understand everything that was going on, and still managed to help me cope with all the medical things.  Everything had gone so very wrong compared to what I had imagined that birth to be.  Caroline was a great comfort to us as.  Through all the craziness, she was wonderful and supportive and all we could have hoped for.

Now we are expecting a third little one and we have hired Caroline again.  I can't imagine this journey without the support Caroline offers.  She really does have experience with high risk, prematurity, cesarean, and bedrest...and she is AMAZING.