Sigrid

11/5/2024

Working with Marcia was the best choice I made when planning for giving birth this April! She is knowledgeable, oh-so-kind, and really good at reading the mood of each moment of my birth experience. I had to have an emergency induction the day before my due date due to a late cholestasis diagnosis and Marcia was so wonderfully helpful throughout the labor that didn't start how I had envisioned.

From a physical perspective, she helped me with positions and movements to help baby move through my pelvis in good position and that helped me cope with labor. Her hip squeezes during contractions made a HUGE difference in my pain level! When labor stalled out or was slow going, she was great at suggesting different movements/positions/coping strategies and talking through my options (I considered having my water broken to speed labor, but by discussing how I was feeling and how that could affect things, I decided to wait and I was glad!). I ended up not getting an epidural (although I am not against them/was open to one if needed) and I know for a fact I would have gotten one without her support. It ended up being a good choice for me (I think it sped my delivery) – having her perspective on where I was in labor, how I was coping, and her encouragement, made not having an epidural feel right and manageable.

From an emotional standpoint, Marcia was nice to chat and laugh with through the lulls of my induction, and throughout labor gave me sincere affirmations that were very encouraging. During the pushing phase, Marcia gave me THE BEST coaching (I felt powerful and like I pushed very efficiently with her help) and in a notable moment as the baby was crowning, Marcia reminded my midwife of my preference to give birth on my side (there is a zero percent chance that I could have advocated for myself or that my husband could have remembered in the craziness of that moment). All-in-all I cannot reccommend Marcia enough! She is truly amazing!

Zara

8/1/2023

We loved working with Marcia for my pregnancy and the birth of our daughter. From the start, Marcia was a great resource and more than able to answer questions and provide information for anything that came up. Our prenatal appointments with Marcia were informative and helped us feel reassured and prepared as we approached birth and labor. During my labor, Marcia was invaluable. There are so many parts of birth that are unpredictable, and as first time parents, we would have felt lost without Marcia's knowledge and skill. Through every discomfort, Marcia was able to aid and assist, and through every decision, we felt supported and informed with Marcia working with us. I cannot recommend working with Marcia highly enough! 

Annie

6/22/2023

Marcia was the first doula we talked with, and her friendly, calm, and cool demeanor was a perfect match to what I was looking for my second birth. She’s like a the supportive best friend you’d want by your side. She got to know us during our initial meeting and was ready to help show exercises and send resources. During the birth, she knew what to do and be there for me with pressure massages, helpful suggestions, and communicate with the hospital staff my preferences. On top of that she fed me ice cream right after delivery and stayed until my husband could come. I would highly recommend her!

Jessica Oswald

4/24/2023

Marcia was wonderful to have by our side during the birth of our daughter. She met with us beforehand, learned about us and our preferences, and was always available for support. When the time came for Eloise to join the world, Marcia showed up in the perfect ways. This time around I felt more in control and my husband had the support he needed as well. Would definitely ask Marcia to be our doula again and will recommend her to family and friends.

Joann Oudekerk

3/21/2023

As first time parents, Marcia was crucial to having the successful and positive birthing experience that we had. Like many birth stories, our intial wants and preferences were unable to be met due to circumstances out of our control. Our baby was 3 1/2 weeks early, and we felt very overwhelmed. She walked us through what to do prior to her meeting us at the hospital shortly after. Going through labor for the first time, it was incredibly helpful and comforting to have Marcia to guide me through contractions, suggesting different positions and methods of coping with the pain. Her calm demeanor made such a fast paced, unknown experience more manageable mentally, which I know in turn helped me physically. Additionally, she was an invaluable source of information and reassurance for my husband, which then helped him know how to comfort and encourage me. Marcia also worked incredibly well with the hospital staff. There were several NICU nurses present in addition to the OB and the rest of the delivery staff, and I felt that Marcia was able to clearly provide insight to information given to us by the medical team which otherwise would have been very difficult to interperet in such a high stress situation. 

I've already recommended Marcia to other couples. When we began our process of finding a doula, I didn't feel like I knew exactly how we would know when we found the right one, or fully understand what kind of support they would provide. If I had to go through this entire experience again with the knowledge I have now, I would choose Marcia again in a heartbeat.

Marcia was wonderful in the ways of prepping us for the birth, being present for the delivery and following up and supporting us postpartum. The care and sincerity behind he work is purely heartfelt and professional. We cannot thank her enough. Our birth story was made complete with the help of Marcia.

Beth and James Rennee

1/13/2023

We walked away from our labor and birth experience empowered and excited and that is in large part due to Marcia.

Our biggest piece of advice for others now is “get a doula! email Marcia!”

Marcia could help with prep, positions, understood what was needed as support and could anticipate and act, was very respectful and responsive… was the greatest nonjudgmental presence and just what we needed!

When contractions were 5 mins long she helped instruct changes that moved baby and got things back to normal pace again! She fed me oatmeal when I was busy in labor! She stayed as a calm presence and advocate when in after care! We loved having her to our home to talk through pre and postpartum experiences and expectations!

We told Marcia as much too— but we couldn’t express in any amount of words how much we appreciate her!

Latisha

1/9/2023

As a first time mum my experience was great despite the fact that we connected aout 10 days before my guess date. Marcia's personality is great, she is very resourceful and informative. She answered any and all questions or concerns. If I were to go through the experience of having another kid I would definitely reach out because of how comfortable I felt with her. 

Beth

8/25/2022

It was an absolute pleasure working with Marcia before, during and after my delivery. Each visit she truly engaged with my partner and I and truly listened to our needs and wishes for our birth. During the delivery she was a calming presence and she anticipated all of my needs and supported me in a way that made me feel comfortable and empowered. She continues to be a resource as I recover from my delivery and welcome my new baby. I would highly recommend her as a doula. 

Jessie

7/14/2022

Working with Marcia was the best possible thing I could do for my birthing time - and the period before and after. Marcia is easy-going, funny, knowledgable, and very accessible. She took everything in stride and with so much grace it kept me and my partner calm throughout. When I worked with her, she was in the process of becoming certified with Hypnobabies and we were able to utilize her learnings and mine during my birthing time.

Marcia met with us twice before my guess date and once after the birth to talk through expectations, fears, hopes, postpartum expectations, tips, stretches, and more. She was always just a text or phone call away if I had questions and she stayed with us for the 24+ hours I had contractions. At home and in the birthing room, she provided a calm, quiet presence - or a friendly face to chat with - in addition to hands-on counter-pressure, words of encouragement, suggestions for positioning, advice, hypnosis cues, and more. I couldn't have asked for a better doula. My midwife was even raving about her to me and to her colleagues!

Nothing could have prepared me for the experience of childbirth, but having Marcia's guiding hand was the next best thing. I will be forever grateful to her.

Gina Brady

4/5/2022

Marcia was the perfect doula for our family!  From our very first conversion she demonstrated that she truly had our best interest at heart. She made sure to ask that we were also interviewing other doulas to ensure that we found the right fit. 

Marcia stayed true to how she described her practice as a Doula. She showed up and was exactly what she said she was. She gave me confidence and comfort from pain. She elevated the support my husband was able to provide. With Marcia I always felt respected and genuinely cared for. 

I know that Marcia played a critical role in the success of my VBAC. I will forever be thankful and celebrate the role she played in the birth of my son.

Janae Petersen

4/5/2022

Marcia was kind loving patient intellectual respectful courteous compassionate insightful caring and very aware of her clients needs she was an integral part in a lot of my birth decisions she helped me be informed and make properly informed decisions about my care and about things that I personally wanted or things that I personally needed to feel that my birth went successfully. She was a great bridge communicating with my baby before she was even born and she helped me recognize the signs of early labor so I went into the hospital and an appropriate time. I'm really happy because birth is something that worried me because it's something that I couldn't control and you know she helped teach me that it isn't a scary thing that needs to be controlled it isn't you know it's something that's natural so I'm very grateful and I think that she's a great doula and amazing doula and I hope that everybody and anybody that needs help asks because she is way more than I could ever ask for. Thank you marcia

Breana Harleen Davis

1/29/2022

I loved Marcia! She was so helpful, reassuring, calm, kind, sweet, understanding, encouraging, and overall one of the best Doulas I have ever had! My birth experience with Marcia was stress free and very calming. She knew exactly what to do when I was in pain  having contractions, she helped me get through the rough parts and helped me keep my energy for when it was time to pop baby out. She even did a postpartum check up visit after a few days out of the hospital with baby just to make sure baby and I were doing well. Marcia is down to earth and in the end of all of this since we got so close, I consider her as a very close friend. I even want to have another baby just to keep her presence around longer! Marcia my husband and I and baby are so thankful for you, this birthing process wouldn't have been so calm and comfortable if you weren't there! Blessings to you! And I hope we can stay in touch! Thank you again from the bottom of our  hearts! ???????? ????