Mollie Edwards

1/30/2025

Abby and I have been part of the same church for several years. I had always seen her as thoughtful and compassionate. She is calm, a great listener, and intentional in her words and actions. After I filled out an initial questionnaire, Abby and I met for a consult. This gave me a chance to share my past birth experiences and intentions for this birth. Abby came well-prepared and asked excellent questions, making me feel heard and understood. She also met with my husband and me at a later date, which made him feel comfortable and ensured we were on the same page about our roles - a conversation that Abby wisely initiated.

I chose to have a hospital birth. It was a huge blessing to have Abby there. She prayed with us, listened to and encouraged me, and helped me cope with my epidural and pain relief during pushing. Her presence was exactly what I had hoped for. I’m not someone who wants touch or aggressive coaching during labor; she remembered this and supported me accordingly.

I had experienced two births prior: one with an epidural and one without. I wanted to try to labor as long as possible without an epidural but would probably get one in the end. Abby was 100% respectful of my preferences and made sure she had a clear understanding of my thinking in order to support me. She also shared a helpful scale resource to help me identify where I was at in terms of pain management preferences. She naturally cultivated a respectful, trust-based partnership. 

We had a great follow-up visit a few weeks after birth and processed how things had gone, how it had differed from previous labors, and how things were going postpartum mentally, physically, and with my baby. We wholeheartedly recommend Abby if you are considering doula services for your pregnancy, birth, or postpartum experiences.