Ashley Latham

5/3/2020

Carissa is extremely passionate about her role as a doula. She's personable, friendly, professional and very knowledgable in the realm of childbirth. She made me feel comfortable and supported throughout the end of my pregnancy and during labor and delivery. My birthing experience didn't fully go as I envisioned since my water broke first and I didn't go into labor on my own. The midwife wanted me to use pitocin 6 hours after my water broke since I hadn't started contractions. Although I did end up doing this because I was concerned about infection, Carissa gently reminded me that I didn't have to do that at that point if I didn't want to, that there was still time to wait safely to see if I'd go into labor on my own. The pitocin was way more intense and painful than I anticipated and while I really wanted to have my birthing experiece be intervention-free like with my first, I also felt so overwhelmed by the pain. I felt stressed being hooked up to all the machines and felt guilty for wanting (and eventually choosing) an epidural, and while Carissa reminded me that I was strong enough to go without one, she also made sure I knew I did not need to feel guilty. I was concerned about side effects and she assured me that plenty of women choose epidurals and their deliveries go safely and their babies are healthy. She helped me see that it is ok to change your mind when things don't go as planned. It was comforting to have her presence and help during the pain of the pitocin and contractions, and her reassurance and support when I chose an epidural. All in all, I'm grateful I was still able to deliver vaginally and that everything else went mostly smoothly for me and my baby girl. And I'm thankful to have had Carissa there by our side during the hiccups and amidst the unexpected. 

Crista

7/21/2019

I used Cj as my doula for the birth of my second child after a not so great labor a delivery with my first. I went in to be induced and had my water broken CJ arrived shortly after, she helped suggest ways to help labor progress and differant ways to cope with the contractions. She also had my fiance involved and I was able to get through labor and delivery without an epidural and I don't think I'd have been able to accomplish that without her help. 

Angel Gonzales

12/28/2018

Carissa was my main support throughout my entire first pregnancy from January - September 2014.  When I went into labor, she arrived at the hospital shortly after I did and helped guide me through delivery.  I did have some complications as my son's heartrate kept decelerating from having no breaks between contractions so I was given medication to slow down the contractions.  Unfortunately, this also stalled my labor. Carissa was with me the entire time, feeding me ice chips, encouraging me, and engaging with the doctors and nursing staff on my behalf.  She even talked with my husband who was out of town and trying to fly back home to give him the right information so he could make it in time for our son's birth!

At one point, the anesthesiologist came in and shocked us all by telling me I was going to have a c-section (this was a first-heard)! When my OB-GYN finally came in, he said he'd been monitoring me from the OR (where he was with another patient) and he thought I would need a c-section since my son's heart rate was decelerating.  Carissa intervened on my behalf as I was weak and scared at that point and protested the need for a c-section since everything at that point was fairly calm.  The doctor acquiesced and allowed us to wait until I dilated to 10cm and tried to delivery vaginally before resorting to a c-section.

My husband finally arrived later that evening and I eventually dilated to 10cm.  I pushed for about 15 minutes, but my son's heartrate kept decelerating every time I had a contraction and more so when I pushed.  Carissa was with me the entire time, holding my hand and encouraging me through it all.

Unfortunately, my son couldn't descend and his heartrate kept decelerating so we went into an emergency c-section and Carissa waited outside the OR until my son was born. I'm so happy she was there that day. I don't know what I would have done without her!