Colleen Rice

1/23/2022

 Jessica is a dear friend of mine for 20 years. My situation was not straight forward or emotionally easy, as the father left us shortly after finding out - right when the first lockdown began. 
  Jessica took on the dual role of being my cheering section and doula. She walked with me (literally and figuratively) through my Covid lockdown pregnancy, shared in my excitement at all the crazy milestones - like feeling those first sweet kicks on my belly.     
  Because she holds sacred a person’s right to have the birth that they want and need, Jessica is able to tactfully campaign for her clients to orchestrate the best possible outcome, and give them a sense of control when they need it the most. 
  She’s the one you want in your corner. 
  As long as I’ve known Jessica, she has been an outspoken advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves. I knew I would need that while in labor.
 With Jessica as my doula, I was given peace of mind about the “what-if’s”.  I knew that I couldn’t predict all the different scenarios that could pop up when it came time to give birth. Luckily, preparing for unpredictable situations is where Jessica’s brain is brilliant. Always a few steps ahead of the game.
  Around 3am the night I went into labor with my daughter, I started to panic because I realized I couldn’t pee, and hadn’t gone in over 12 hours. Jessica was at my house right away with her toddler’s squatty potty and helped me onto it keeping me calm. She delegated a friend to shovel the sidewalk for me, and drove me to the birth center where she helped me stay calm and comforted me which gave me all the mental space I needed in order to get that baby out!
  I’m so lucky she was the one to cut the cord and release my sweet little Ember into the world.

Jessica Hassler

1/22/2022

I met Jessica when I was pregnant with my second child. I was experiencing a lot of neck and back pain. I found Spiral Dance Bodywork online and decided to go in for a 60-minute massage. Before I even got undressed Jessica asked me about my pregnancy and my previous birth experience.

Honestly, my first birth was difficult. My labor started with my water breaking, but then it stalled out. Almost a day later I went into the hospital to be induced. My kiddo's heart rate kept plummeting when I moved, so I basically had to lie perfectly still. After 24 hours I got an epidural and after another 12 hours or so, they suggested that since I was stalled at 9 cm I should consider a c-section. My midwife and nurses were very supportive of this decision. It looked like I was in the 10% of people that really needed surgical intervention and I felt at peace with that decision. However, my doula was very unsupportive and really made me feel bad about my choice, especially in her postpartum visits to my home.

Anyway, Jessica listened patiently and asked thoughtful questions before ever touching my body. She offered me affirming words and then eventually a healing touch (I was there well over 2 hours). I went back to see her several times during the course of my pregnancy. I had planned on not getting a doula again at that point, but during the course of my massage visits I came to trust her and value her ability to calm my body and mind.

My second kiddo came into the world in a much different fashion than my first. He thundered in shortly after Jessica arrived, but I was grateful for her presence nonetheless. She knew where to find things in the hospital room and because she knew my history it was so healing to debrief with her after my VBAC. 

Four years later, I still sometimes see her around and she is like a sister who will always have a special place in my heart. I am so grateful for her service and I wholeheartedly recommend her.

Katie Larson

1/18/2022

I was pregnant with my third child and I knew I wanted this delivery to be different than my previous two (hospital births with epidurals, my 2nd was induced at 41 weeks). My friends always recommended a Doula but I never really understood why I needed one so I never got one. I trusted that the nurses would help me. I was very mistaken. I was referred to Jessica by a mutual friend and saw her regularly for a prenatal massages and in the process we got to know each other very well! When the time came and I was in labor she met us at the birth center and began working her magic in coaching me through an experience that I was initially really scared to have - an unmedicated water birth. Jessica expertly took me through each surge by triggering  pressure points and using massage to relax me and bring me comfort, as well as reassuring me, affirming me, and encouraging me. My partner was so grateful she was there too! A couple hours later I had a successful completely unmedicated water birth;  a very healing birth, and I'm eternally grateful for Jessica and guiding me through that. I one hundred percent recommend Jessica as your Doula!

samantha hayes

1/8/2013

 Jessie was an amazing doula! I had a very lengthy and difficult birth, and an especially difficult labor nurse.  Having a natural delivery was extremely important to me, and Jessie was able to keep me focused through the many hours of  transition and pushing.  She was a calming and nuturing presence for both me and my husband.   We are both so grateful to her for helping us bring our daughter into the world...we couldn't have done it without Jessie.   I love being able to look back on the birth and remember Jessie's role in it.  I cannot recommend her more highly as a doula, and a friend!

Jeni O'Keefe

10/23/2012

 Jessi is an amazing doula! I found her shortly after my family relocated to Minneapolis from Chicago.  I was 32 weeks pregnant, hoping for a VBAC, and had no idea how to plan for that in a new city with new care providers.  Jessi was a wonderful source of calm and strength from our first meeting.  At that point, I had yet to select a doctor or hospital.  Jessi patiently listened to me as I sorted out the pros and cons of each possibility.  She offered her thoughts but made it clear the decision was mine and that she would be there no matter what.  I appreciated her honesty, her attentiveness, and her unwavering support once I chose a doctor and hospital. She also provided numerous resources, books, and  websites to explore that offered lots of information about VBACs.

The day of my daughter's birth arrived.  My husband and I are both convinced that had Jessi not been there, the birth may have been a completely different experience. Jessi was with me the whole time, offering a variety of breathing techniques and positions to encourage a natural birth.  Her quiet yet rock solid strength helped me focus during each contraction.  Her easy going personality and friendliness made it easy to relax and enjoy the whole experience.  She worked with the nursing staff and my doctor, serving as an advocate for me and the baby.  I felt so much more at ease with her knowing she wanted me to have a VBAC just as much as I did! In the end, our healthy baby girl was born and I am so grateful that jessi was there!

Melissa Williams

10/19/2012

Our planned home birth went awry when, 11 days post-due date, we were referred to a hospital because of potential  meconium concerns. Facing a much more medicalized, induced birth with an unknown doctor (our midwife didn't have hospital privileges), we were pretty freaked out. Our midwife put out a request to the Minnesota Childbirth Collective, and Jessi responded first. Our initial phone call immediately put me at ease; Jessi had been through a similar experience and was calm, friendly, informative, and honest. It got better from there! My labor spanned 48 hours and included Jessi helping us find a way to talk the nurse into stopping the pitocin drip the second night so I could get some much-needed rest (she never pushed or otherwise overstepped her role; we asked, and she gave us her thoughts). She was so thoughtful, bringing coffee for my partner, making sure we ate, stepping in or backing away intuitively, and always staying attentive to my needs. My favorite thing? This petite, strong woman (who is also an aerialist) was able to support my rather substantial weight, contorting her body to hold my leg for hours or applying counter pressure when it was downright awkward. And she was still breast feeding her six-month-old and pumping through all this...and I didn't even notice because she chose her timing so well! We have since become friends, and I'm impressed by her ability to both advocate/educate and remain respectful of ALL choices made by birth parents. We were so fortunate to have Jessi as part of our birth story. She was the difference between a potentially scary situation and the truly wonderful way we ended up meeting our son.