Elisa S

6/24/2020

Second time mom trying for a VBAC and we are sooooooo happy Kimberly was our doula. My husband especially was really thankful he had someone there to help me cope with labour especially since my mom was at home with our toddler. I had a very difficult labour, birth and postpartum experience with my first and although I did not necessarily get the birth I wanted this time around, everything else fell into place thanks to Kimberly. During labour (which was very long in my case), she massaged me through every contraction, helped me switch positions, made recommendations, even tied my hair! The morning after I delivered my daughter, first thing my husband said was "thank god for Kimberly!". She has made my second experience at pregnancy, birth and postpartum an amazing one. Throughout my pregnancy she answered all my redundant questions and gave me all the information I needed to prepare for birth and to birth to the best of my ability. This, in turn, translated into a positive postpartum experience because I have no regrets. My family and I thank you with all our hearts!

Catherine

6/24/2020

We had a great experience. We hired Kimberly before the pandemic started, we therefore quickly had to adjust and Kimberly accompanied us through all the prenatal classes via videoconference. Even if we were not able to have her at the hospital due to the new protocols, we were able to communicate via phone and it was very reassuring to know we had someone on our side the whole time. Finally, covering breastfeeding before birth was definitively a good idea which Kimberly had planned! Great experience.

Claudia

6/14/2020

Part 2 of 2

I sincerely believe that if it hadn’t been for Kimberly, my experience could have led to more undesired interventions. I managed to have the natural birth I wished for without an epidural and to maintain my ability to move and push in my desired position. Her presence afforded us the calming reassurance that everything that was happening was normal, that the duration was normal and that I was doing a good job. She offered reminders of what soothing techniques to use and were available, she reminded me to change positions, and she and my partner participated jointly in massages. She was my ally and helped me understand when the interventions the medical team proposed were necessary and when I had the option to wait a bit longer. Her presence was empowering!

She also helped reassure my family by sending texts when I and my partner were incapable. It aided greatly to have a person present at my birth that had experienced many births and who had the ability to help put my own experience into perspective. Every experience is different and to have someone to accompany you who has seen it firsthand many times is truly a gift.

I must also mention that Kimberly is extremely dedicated… this fact was demonstrated to us by how she stayed by our side during a very long labour, one of the longest she had experienced! We will be forever grateful!

Claudia

6/14/2020

Part 1 of 2

First time parents here and we are so thankful that Kimberly was our doula for the birth of our son. My partner only speaks Spanish and I was very anxious about having to be the intermediary all the while going through the childbirth experience. On top of the emotional support I knew I would need, I needed a support person who could speak to me and my partner in our mother tongues. Kimberly offered just that!

She was an excellent intermediary for my partner; explaining what was happening every step of the way which allowed him to be a full participant in the experience. My partner felt comfortable, included and supported throughout.

I wished for a natural birth with the least possible interventions; however the situation led us to an induction where a certain level of intervention was necessary such as rupturing of the membranes and pitocin induction. Kimberly was there for us every step of the way. Although her physical presence was not possible at our ‘surprise’ induction announced at our 41w1d check-up ultrasound, she was just a phone call away even if it was 2am. As soon as it was possible, she was by our side.

Joanna Marsden

8/4/2018

Excellent!

I am so grateful to have had Kim's support when my first daughter arrived.

She helped us so much during the whole process, particularly during the stressful first weeks with her. Kim answered a lot of questions my partner and I had before her delivery, so I felt calm during the delivery.

Kim is empathetic, knowledgable, patient, positive and kind. I feel so much more confident with her guidance and expertise. 3 months later, we are both healthy and feeling energetic. I highly recommend working with her!

Alya Simin Gürsu

6/8/2018

After hiring Kimberly as my doula, we were in touch a lot via e-mail during my early pregnancy, she answered each of my e-mails kindly and in detail. Subsequently our pre-natal meetings were quite enjoyable and inspiring. Since it was my first birth, she put me at ease with information on labour, birth and breastfeeding. I ended up going past my due date and had an induction (with cervidil), but I had difficulty perceiving when labour had started. I called her to the hospital unfortunately 13 hours later, even after my water broke. I suffered in pain for 13 hours futilely as labour did not progress, just as I was about to be taken in the operating theatre for a C-section, we asked the doctor and his team to give us 10 minutes. Just then Kimberly came, smiled and the clouds dissipated, the sun came out.

First, she performed reflexology with her miracle hands and wonderful smelling oils and relaxed me completely. I could not walk since I had received an epidural but with her special techniques she got my cervix to open within minutes as I lay on my back. The physician and his team arrived in 10 minutes, were in shock and said the birth could proceed in the normal way. Everything was now in Kimberly’s control. Everything was simplified during birth with breathing techniques. Pain and stress were replaced with hope and joy. Within a brief 4 and a half hours after Kimberly came, my son was in my arms and she helped me breastfeed him immediately. She saved my family's life as well as mine.

During the postpartum she cooked nice meals and brought me wonderful organic tasty snacks. She also helped us in every area. She is absolutely specialized and professional in her field. Watch out, you will have tears flowing out of your eyes when parting. More than just a doula, she became my son’s aunt and our friend.

My husband, I and our son are grateful to Kimberly.

KLERA

4/19/2018

I am very grateful to Kimberly for helping with my first birth! Our prenatal meetings prepared me for natural birth, which Kimberly helped me achieve thanks to relaxation and breathing techniques and massage during labor. She got to my house as soon as I started having regular contractions, and helped me all throughout my 15 hour labour without taking a break! I could physically feel relief from the pain of contractions thanks to her massage with essential oils, applying counterpressure, and helping me breathe and change positions. Kimberly worked great in the team with my husband who was also there to ease the pain of my contractions. She trained him in advance in several techniques at one of our prenatal meetings. As soon as my baby was born, Kimberly helped me establish breastfeeding, and later visited us at home to make sure it's going well. All the meetings and visits were extremely helpful and unrushed. I highly recommend Kimberly, especially if you are hoping and preparing yourself for the natural umedicated birth, and breastfeeding your baby. She will provide immense help and support! She is also such a wonderful, pleasant, kind person, who you will instantly connect with and bond.

hannah harder

4/13/2018

I am just so thankful that kimberly was there to help me with my delivery. I’m a first time mom and I never attended any classes to prep me for the delivery, but thanks to kimberly who have been very patint and helpful in answering my questionS. She made things seem easier. My whole delivery was such a great experience because of her.

Gozde Gozde

11/15/2017

(Here is the 3rd part of 3)

After the birth, we couldn’t get a proper latch with my baby and since there was a risk of hypoglycaemia, doctor suggested to give him formula and thus he had to be followed up in hospital’s nursery room during our first night after born. After our check-out from the hospital, we still couldn’t get a latch no matter how hard we tried. Kimberly offered me a home visit bringing me my favourite motivator; Nutella. ? She came to our house, waited for my baby till he was awake, helped me to latch him many times. She spent quite a lot of time waiting, waiting… for baby’s or my needs. Every time, she had at least one different feeding method (most of which I had never heard about! Even at the hospital, they didn’t give us such info. They only gave bottles!) and other tools with her.

She met me at my CLSC appointments, she helped me explain my history to the health professionals (I was very very tired…). She was like a bridge between me and the healthcare system. She took me to buy nipple shields, and she brought me food! Since my husband had to be out of town on business just one week after the birth, I had no one to help me. Considering I didn’t even have time to slice, all food was in bite sized pieces! Everything was amazingly delicious. She even brewed me fenugreek tea to increase my milk!

I may have forgotten to mention some of the things that she did for me and for my baby. But me, my baby and my husband will never forget her and her precious personality. At nearly 6-months of age my baby is on breast due to her help. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I hadn’t met her. She was more than a doula, she was like a sister to me and an aunt to my baby boy.

I can not thank her enough…

God bless you Kimberly…

Gozde Gozde

11/15/2017

(Here is the 2nd part of 3)

After our approximately one-hour-long phone call, a miracle happened; me and my husband took a deep breath, looked at each other and said “this is it!” She had answers to all of our questions, she was very warm and calm, she provided us many useful recommendations…She also provided her mobile number and her own home’s and husband’s numbers in case we couldn’t reach her on her mobile!

On the delivery date she was obviously on time and met us at the hospital. She was very well organised and fully ready to help. But our baby boy surprised us again and was in a transverse position! She helped me with various positions to try and correct this, waiting and holding me with fabric for about 45 minutes! (Believe me, i was quite heavy!) While we were trying to do our last attempts, doctors came and performed a cephalic version. It was successful, so our baby was on the right way, again! ?

They started the induction, but nearly 9 hours later, after my third dose of medication, something about my baby’s heartbeats started to get worse. Doctor and the staff came and tried some different laying positions in order to see if something getting better. But there was no improvement. Than the doctor suggested us to have a c-section to avoid any fetal risks. So, my giving birth adventure ended with emergency c-section operation!

(Please also see part 3)

Gozde Gozde

11/15/2017

(Due to character limits, i have posted in 3 parts. Here is the 1st part of 3)

Kimberly was my birth and postpartum doula. My pregnancy was mostly healthy but I had gestational diabetes. After the diagnosis, I had to take insulin 4 times a day and follow a very strict diet. My baby boy was a real surpriser, he was turning inside my womb a lot, changing his position almost every week during my last trimester.

I always wanted to have my baby in a normal way, at the due date and without any interventions. But what was happening around me was quite different than my expectations! Due to my diabetic condition, my doctor wanted me to give birth by 38 weeks. He planned a c-section because the baby was breech. But in my regular check-up, 3 days before the planned day, my baby was in normal position. So the doctor cancelled the c-section but said he was going to do induction using oxytocin. This undesired intervention idea made me really scared and I felt like I needed someone experienced to be with me for the delivery. I had a feeling that I definitely NEED a DOULA. I was worried that it was really short notice, and I wouldn’t be able to find a doula.

I can not forget how I got a prompt answer when I contacted Kimberly “Don't worry! I will be with you!!” My first impressions from her e-mail were that she was really kind and careful. We arranged a phone call but despite my good first impressions about her, I had many questions in my mind again; Most importantly “How can I trust this person for her presence during my most sensitive and vulnerable times in my life? What if I need some privacy?...” I was pretty sure that I couldn’t trust someone that I had never seen before! (I would have liked to meet her, but there just wasn’t time.)

(Please also see part 2 and part 3)

Pats Hayes

8/2/2017

Kimberly visited me at my home 3 times. She first visited a few days after I gave birth at La maison des naissances. We had not previously met, but upon her arrival, her empathetic presence inspired my confidence, and we connected quickly in the course of our conversation. In the first days following the birth I had been experiencing intense nipple pain during breastfeeding. She gave me advice during this first visit, which helped me improve the position of the baby, and reduce the pain I was experiencing. She also helped prepare my lunch.

During subsequent visits, she helped out by washing my accumulating dishes and provided me with a delicious lentil soup and other nutritive snacks. Her presence also allowed my partner to give more attention to our 2 1/2 year old. Kimberly was very good at asking appropriate questions to ensure that my body was healing well, and that the baby was also doing well. Fortunately I didn’t have any other complications, and the ajustements I made to the babies position during latching, resulted in alleviating and eventually eliminating the intense pain I had been experiencing.

I very much appreciated Kimberly’s support, and I highly recommend hiring her as a post-partum doula. It is especially recommended if, like us, you don’t have family around to help you during this intense period of adaptation and recovery.