Julia Kondratowicz

5/11/2026

My husband and I were on the fence about having a doula at first, not really understanding everything one could offer, but at the suggestion of my midwives, we decided to hire one. I contacted Marissa through a moms, doulas, and midwives FB group at 31 weeks pregnant and my only regret is that I hadn't done it sooner. From our first meeting, Marissa was respectful, informed, attentive, and most importantly to me, calm and grounded. But it wasn't until my labor and birth that I fully appreciated having Marissa by my side. My labor was exceptionally long (44 hours) and veered from my birth plan at almost every step. Rather quickly I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Marissa didn't leave my side for the entirety of my labor. Her calm and constant presence was enough to keep me from spiraling but she further supported me with affirming words and strong counter pressure through every contraction. Knowing I had someone knowledgeable and grounded always in my corner was exactly what I needed in an otherwise uncertain and overwhelming experience. Even once we were home, Marissa would often reach out to see how we were doing and visited us, willing to help with anything we needed. When the time comes for another family addition, I will definitely be reaching out to Marissa again!