Haley W

8/21/2023

I knew that I wanted an unmedicated, physiological birth when I found out I was pregnant and started doing my research. As a first time mother, I was both incredibly excited and extremely nervous for the unknown. I quickly knew that I wanted a doula to walk through my pregnancy and birth with us. A doula friend from another state recommended Lauralen, so I scheduled a consult with her. From the first meeting, I felt comfortable talking to her, confident in her knowledge, and sure in my decision to hire her! She was a wealth of information and encouragement throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. Whether it was our prenatal and postpartum workouts, birth plan writing, or my plethora of random questions, Lauralen was always quick to respond with thorough information to allow me to make the best decision for my baby and myself. The day of labor, Laurelen was such an encouragement and motivator throughour my labor. When transition hit, I started to doubt myself but trusted in her instruction. I had a pesky cervical lip, and we spent a few hours of labor working to move it out of the way. Again, Lauralen was our guide - directing us on positions that could help, applying counter pressure, and ensuring a comfortable and relaxed environment. 

Admittedly, my husband was not so sure about hiring a stranger to be in the delivery room with us on such a special day. He agreed to hiring a doula but wasn't doing backflips at the thought quite like I was. The day our daughter was born, my husband told me how thankful he was to have Lauralen there with us. He hadn't been sure of what to expect before, but he was very glad we'd had her to walk with us!

I simply cannot recommend her enough!! With our next little one, Laurelen will likely know I'm pregnant before our family and friends!  

Anna Poe

7/10/2023

After meeting Laurelen for the first time, I knew I wanted her as part of my birth team. She exudes so much peace and calm as a doula. She empowers couples to be confident during labor and caters to each client's individual desires for their birth experience. While her presence during labor was incredibly helpful, I found that the encouragement she gave me in the final weeks of pregnancy where I experienced countless days of prodromal labor is something I'm the most grateful for. Laurelen is passionate about birth and I am thankful that she was a part of my birth team!

Lauren K

6/9/2022

Laurelen helped me with my second pregnancy so much. I suffered from trauma from my first pregnancy and birth that created uncontrollable fears. She guided me to find my way to a calm place. She empowered me to express what I needed. Laurelen helped me advocate for myself and to find clarity when I became stuck in the dark places that past trauma had created. I am so thankful she helped me see the difference between the traumatic experience and the new experiences I was living. The birth of my second son was a healing and joyful experience that I so desperately needed. I was able to see the positivity and joy in the individual moments. I know I would not have had this experience without working with Laurelen.

Haley Leach

2/16/2022

Hiring Laurelen as my doula was by far the best decision we made regarding my birth! When I found out I was going to be able to have a VBAC with my second child, I had the idea in mind that I wanted this very gentle natural birth in a hospital setting so hiring a doula was of top priority because I wanted that extra support and knowledge. We found Laurelen through DoulaMatch and after meeting with her via FaceTime, I knew she would be a perfect fit. Throughout my pregnancy she was constantly available for me to communicate with and supportive of my wants and needs. When we found out the baby was breech, she worked with me and gave me tons of advice on how to get the baby to flip naturally and thankfully it worked! She helped me created a birth plan that was geared towards everything I thought I wanted for my birth but eventually when the baby was 5 days past his due date I made the decision to go through with a gentle induction which was definitely not a part of my birth plan. That one decision was just the beginning of a list of things that would occur that were not a part of my birth plan, such a getting pitocin, an epidural, and an episiotomy BUT the entire time these choices were being made Laurelen never made me feel guilty or bad for moving away from my birth plan because she knew that ultimately the most important thing to me was being able to deliver a healthy baby vaginally. She made sure I was informed and empowered to make these choices on my own and not because someone was telling me I had to. She was a great source a support for me and my husband through everything and I couldn't be more grateful for her because in the end I was able to accomplish the VBAC I always wanted! Anyone would be lucky to have Laurelen as their doula!

Chelsey Nelson

2/1/2022

After my midwifery care was dropped near the third trimester, Laurelen really shined in how she came through for us. She checked on me consistently and helped me brainstorm how to move forward and fight for the birth experience I wanted. Never imposing opinions, Laurelen always used her wealth of knowledge and experience to help me evaluate my options and make my own informed decisions - basically everything you hear a Doula should do! I truly felt like she cared about me and my birth experience. Knowing she would be with us no matter how our birth plan might have to deviate was very comforting to me mentally while in labor. Her presence at my birth was calming, and exactly what we needed. Almost like a big sister looking out for me.  If you need a Doula, you need to hire Laurelen!

Kenzie

12/5/2021

My husband and I recently welcomed our daughter, Abigail, and had the privilege of working with Laurelen for a second time. Our first-born was delivered in May of 2020 and Laurelen supported us virtually during my labor and delivery. She was able to be physically present for Abigail’s birth. Her knowledge and expertise was invaluable and worth every penny of investment. She was understanding of our birth preferences and advocated on our behalf with hospital staff and providers. She allowed my husband and I to be fully present in our birth experience and gave us confidence in making informed choices. She was extremely helpful in offering labor positions while maintaining respect for my body’s own intrinsic ability to give birth. Her birth philosophy is beautiful and her passion for empowerment is contagious. We were able to achieve the intimate, peaceful birth experience that we wanted, in great part due to her guidance and support. We would absolutely recommend hiring Laurelen and we are thankful for her walking alongside us in welcoming both of our children into the world.

Madelyn Edge

9/1/2021

I can not recommend Laurelen enough. She is sensitive and caring, gentle and confident, knowledgeable   and eager to learn. Having her as our doula made us feel so much more at peace going into our birth. Our prenatal care was incredibly special; she really individualizes her conversations and was great at helping us to feel prepared emotionally and physically for the birth. She was essential in the birth process as well; she helped to bring a sense of calm amidst the intensity and out-of-control nature of labor. She was reassuring and confident while also being so compassionate to the pain I was experiencing. She was great at encouraging me to try different positions (and patient when I refused to move lol) and was knowledgeable about how to help me work with my body to progress more efficiently. She also prayed with me (we share our faith) when I needed extra strength to keep going, which was critical for me getting through labor. Highly recommend her to any expecting parents, and if I am still here for my next pregnancy will absolutely be hiring her as my doula again.

Andrea

8/12/2021

Laurelen is truly amazing! As first time parents, we had no idea what to expect with the arrival of our little girl. She helped both my husband and I become informed on the decisions we were able to make and helped us talk through what I wanted my birth plan to look like. Laurelen is a true advocate! She made sure the staff at the hospital were informed and talked me through every step. She make our birth experience a positive and intimate environment with my husband and I. She coached him on different ways he could help me through contractions and encouraged me in times I wanted to give up. She had great tips to help me through contractions. She also captured the birth of our daughter and the moments after, these are photos we are so thankful to have!! She went above and beyond and even ran to Hobby Lobby after to make a stamped portrait of my placenta. If your curious- google placenta tree of life, it's truly amazing! Thank you so much Laurelen for making our first experience a memorable one!  

Emily Slinkard

8/2/2021

My husband and I are so grateful to have hired Laurelen and had her with us up to the birth of our daughter. While things changed rapidly during my labor and the birth was far from what we expected, Laurelen was so knowledgeable every step of the way. I made tough decisions with confidence after talking them out with Laurelen. The time and care she took in coaching us through pregnancy and birth means so much to our family. Should we have another baby in the future, we would choose her again!

Laura Cook

6/10/2021

Hiring Laurelen was such a gift! I didn't hire her till third trimester because I didn't know about her and I had hired someone else who had to back down for family emergencies. It was meant to be because I loved having Laurelen as my doula! I loved having the option to meet with her weekly over Zoom during my pregnancy which really helped me build a relationship with her which is important to me. I think having someone you know and trust and are comfortable with during labor is so important. Keeping touch every week for most of my third trimester was a wonderful blessing especially during the pandemic when all my usual pregnancy classes and events that I did with my parents older daughter were not happening. 
I had a lot of "birth baggage" from my first birth and Laurelen was both super understanding and never annoyed with my incessant texting over worrying about things, ha! She was so helpful during my long early prodormal labor, came and supported me even in my early labor with acupressure and positioning help. it was ao great to have her help and support during that whole time, my poor husband would have been wiped if I didn't have her!  She was even really the only one during my labor who was observant enough to know I was pushing! She's amazing. 
My birth experience this time was so much better than my last and definitely Laurelen's support and her knowledge were a huge part of that. She's the best ??

Hailey

3/3/2021

I found Laurelin on Instagram. I hadn't even told my family yet when I reached out and told her I'd love to meet with her. From the jump I knew she would be my doula and support me the best. We had weekly calls that always ended in me feeling more confident and heard. Although I had an early c-section and we didn't get to experience a birth together, the support she gave me until that point was amazing and I know she would have been amazing. She gave me tools, tricks, and lent me books to help my pregnancy, and always answered a call or text. She is amazing and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a wonderful Louisville doula. ! 

Ashlee Rosa

3/1/2021

I would suggest Laurelen to anyone giving birth, especially if you’re wanting to go natural. My original birth plan was to not go natural, so I know she’d be great for that too. My husband and I really appreciated Laurelen’s services for many reasons. I was anemic in pregnancy so she helped me manage my iron intake naturally. Before giving birth, she helped me prepare physically for labor and also called me once a week to check on me and talk about my nutrition plan with me. She came to our home while I was in labor and helped me stay calm through contractions. She was super helpful for my husband in teaching him how to be and encouraging him to support me during labor. We also really appreciated her because she was always a text away to answer questions, she helped me feel prepared for labor, and she was super helpful during as well. Overall, we had a great experience with Laurelen and I will definitely use her for my next birth. 

Jessica

7/20/2020

We loved having Laurelen as our doula! Even though this was our third natural birth, working with midwives each time, having a doula has always been worth every penny. Laurelen did a wonderful job getting to know us during the pregnancy and being a source of encouragement during those last long weeks before labor. It was so helpful for me to be able to text her questions and have her calm and encouraging responses! During labor, she was so helpful reminding me to relax and to breath properly. The midwives and nurse were in and out during labor but having Laurelen there with us the entire time allowed my husband and I to just focus on the birth of our sweet boy. We are so grateful for her and would absolutely recommend her to anyone!

Kenzie

6/26/2020

My husband and I worked with Laurenlen in the spring of 2020 in preparation for the birth of our son. She took time to get to know our family and to genuinely understand our birth preferences and values. She is compassionate, kind, accessible, and professional. She provided helpful information throughout the pregnancy related to nutrition, fitness, and general preparedness for a natural birth. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 crisis, she was unable to be with us physically during labor and delivery; however, she was avaialble throughout the day and she video conferenced with us throughout the labor, coaching me through contractions, offering various laboring positions, and providing education about the birthing process. Following the birth of our son, Laurenlen met with us in our home and provided recommendations/insight regarding post-partum care for both mom and baby. Although her services were different than originally planned due to a global health crisis, she was creative in offering her support throughout pregnancy, labor/delivery, and post-partum. We would definitely recommend her services to other expecting families!

Brittany Miller

1/11/2020

As a first time mom-to-be, I had no idea what to expect during pregnancy and delivery. Laurelen made me feel at ease with her wealth of knowledge and genuine care for me and my baby! As new questions/concerns came about during pregnancy she was there to coach me and point me in the right direction. She made sure to include my husband as part of the process when we discussed our birth plan - he appreciated being a part of it and felt better prepared for the big day. I can't imagine experiencing my first pregnancy and delivery without Laurelen. Not to mention, she followed up with me after the birth and was such a help with postpartum questions I had. She is incredibly encouraging, thoughtful, reliable, and skilled at what she does. Forever grateful for her!!