Jennifer Melo

3/11/2016

My pregnancy was unplanned.  So I was not ready for all the planning and decisions that were to be made rather quickly.  I had a pretty uneventful pregnancy.  I worked full time right up until my due date.  Money was tight.  So I kept going back and forth about whether I wanted to have a doula.  I took my prenatal classes with a volunteer doula group.  They offered a sliding scale and were so amazing.  I decided super late that I did want a doula.  So they were not very open to the option of setting me up with someone.  They then offered me the possibilty of sending a random person the day of labor.  This sounded horrible to me.  I lamented to Stefanie about this.  She then offered to be my doula.  This is seriously one of the best things that has ever happened to me.  I would not have survived labor.  This is not because labor is impossible, but rather because I've never navigated labor before.  I felt infinitly more comfortable having her around.  It meant my partner did not have to stress out.  He said he survived my labor because of her too.  That is a huge compliment.  He usually likes to take credit for his successes.  Stefanie was so patient, so knowledgable, and so prepared.  She has the amazing ability to be present while not being invasive.  I should add that she was 8 months pregnant at the time.  She still rocked my socks off.  She was such a comfort to me.  She will be for you too.  Her laugh will heal you.  She will put your mind at ease while advocating for your best labor.  If I decide to have another baby, I will definitely use Stefanie again.