Ksenia C

3/27/2017

Being pregnant with my first baby and wanting a natural, unmedicated birth, I felt that I needed extra support on my birth team – a doula. A friend recommended Nancy and after interviewing a few doulas, I was certain that Nancy was the right person. Nancy’s warmth and personable nature made me and my husband feel at ease right away, but what made Nancy truly stand out was her emphasis on helping my husband support me in the birthing process.

My birth did not go quite as planned, making Nancy so much more indispensable during the process. I had to give birth earlier than the due date, which resulted in an induction. My plan was to go through with the induction as if it was a natural birth, relying on hypnosis techniques to manage discomfort. However, induction meant a number of other interventions, making it difficult to stay focused just with the tools I had prepared, especially during the final part of dilation which happened rapidly and was very intense. Nancy was by my side throughout the whole process, offering various tools and techniques to help me breathe through the contractions and keeping my husband reassured and involved. She suggested using TENS pads, followed by the laughing gas, and changing positons often to reduce my discomfort and to help my baby rotate, as her back was against my back. I was very tired following the intense dilation phase and relied fully on Nancy’s encouragement and reminders during the pushing phase. Nancy and my midwives worked together, helping me use different pushing positions to give birth to my daughter in under 2 hours.

While this was not the birth I had hoped for, I didn't get an epidural or have a C-section despite the induction and the various interventions. I am certain that this wonderful outcome would not have been possible without Nancy. We are so thankful to Nancy for her incredible support and making this a positive birth experience for my whole family.
Ksenia

Mariana Veiga

3/8/2017

Nancy is one of a kind! She was my doula for the home births of both my boys. Nancy’s presence brought a sense of tranquility to our birth space, her presence made me feel at ease. Nancy’s eyes are hypnotic, and by using the focus technique, she was able to guide me though each contraction by grasping my gaze. Nancy would remind me to embrace the contraction and relax my muscles, especially my perineum. She would breath with me when I needed it and guide me when my breathing needed to change. Nancy was a great coach during pushing. Nancy was very good at engaging with my family and birth team, everyone had a role and worked as a team. My husband felt very supported by Nancy and the two of them made an amazing labour support team!

Nancy provided tons of comfort techniques throughout my labour and I was able to use her TENS machine. Nancy also provided the mental/emotional support that I needed to get through the labour at times that I didn’t think I could cope any longer. Nancy is patient, charismatic, tranquil, wise, friendly and engaging!

I can’t imagine how my birth experiences would have been without Nancy. I recommend her 100%!

Chris Jones

9/25/2016

Nancy was a both a profound help and also an inspiration to my wife and me. During her first visit, at 8 months, she talked us through some difficult possibilities we had encountered and put our minds at ease. We both feel that she played a part in helping our baby achieve full term, if only by relaxing us and giving some perspective. The night of the birth she was willing to come well before the midwife, and communicated with everyone in a manner that was obviously based on deep knowledge and experience. The most amazing thing was the strength of her voice. It was her advice that made it through most clearly to my wife in the final stages. At a certain moment our Nancy and our midwife began to give the same advice in unison, so our midwife, who is very experienced and well known, instructed my partner to "listen to Nancy"; in that moment she had full confidence and could concentrate on the baby.

The birth of our daughter was a supremely glorious and special moment - as the birth of your child will be for you - and Nancy played a vital role in ours. She gave us some great advice in her postpartum visit as well. We couldn't recommend Nancy more highly. She was everything we hoped a doula would be.

Danna Zhu

11/23/2015

It was such a blessing for me and my husband to have Nancy as our Doula for our second baby. During Nancy's pre-birth visit, we "clicked" with her right away, as we could see that she is genuinely caring, not only experienced with but also passionate about what she is doing.

Honestly I was quite apprehensive about this birth, because my last labor with our first boy was long and challenging and I was told that this new baby was even bigger than the first one. But it turns out that this labor was so smooth that it was a natural birth without any stitches needed! Nancy's suggestions and support were instrumental in making this experience a smooth sail.

It would be a long list to show what Nancy has done to help us. The most important one to me was that she made me realize, when the pain was most intensive with only 2 minutes apart, to embrace the pain and welcome the new life to join us instead of fighting against the contractions.

In short, we would definitely not hesitate to recommend Nancy to other moms-to-be.

Rebecca Geneviève

7/25/2015

Nancy is a highly gifted Doula. Two weeks ago, she guided my husband and I through the birthing of our first child. We were committed to having a natural childbirth and she played an integral role in supporting that experience. She showed my husband how to push on my back to ease the discomfort of contractions, she allowed me use her TENS machine and she was always ready to step in when I needed her. She took care of us. Her being there allowed my husband to get a quick bite to eat and rest.

Nancy also helped create the birthing environment that I felt most comfortable in. She knew I was practicing Hypnobabies techniques and was careful to use the program's vocabulary ('discomfort' instead of 'pain' for example). She also encouraged nurses to do the same and discreetly asked them not to offer me pain medication because she and I had agreed on this in advance and I promised to let her know if I changed my mind during labour. She was an excellent coach during my three hours of pushing. She kept me focused and in the zone.

It was such a pleasure to see her again at our post-natal meeting. She showed us some very practical baby care tips which we greatly appreciate as first time parents.

Not only did she help us have the childbirth we wanted, she made the whole experience very memorable. She was such a calm, positive presence. I trust her 100%. I relied on her words a lot during the more challenging times of labour and often tuned out other voices to concentrate on hers. "Thank you" doesn't seem like enough. Her value is priceless. I cannot imagine giving birth without her.

Krystil Koethler

7/17/2015

I could thank Nancy Sherpa 1000 times for all of her help and support during my labor. Everything Nancy did and said was perfect, she made what was a really tough time a forever positive experience.

Nancy's reassurance throughout kept me going. I was initially doubtful I would make it, but every time Nancy said something it gave me stregth and calmed any anxiety.

Labor was a bit of a blur, but I remember Nancy fanning me when the sweat was pooring down. Her skills were evident as she guided me through each contraction. She knew exactly when to suggest the tens machine (SO good) and nitorgen gas; during a time when I was struggling with what to ask for. She made sure I stayed hydrated as the hours passed by. Pushing was a challenge, and everything Nancy said helped me learn what to do.

The pictures Nancy took turned out great! (Great angles!) I was surprised with how much I like them, I don't think we deleted any.

Both my spouse and I are so grateful Nancy was there. I highly recomend Nancy as a doula!

Krystil

Czar Villanueva

4/17/2015

Nancy is an amazing person and extremely skilled doula, which made the birth of our first child, a little girl, a wonderful experience and Nancy supported us safely through an unplanned home birth.

It was one of our best decisions to let Nancy support us through the very intense experienc of birthing. Nancy's ability to help us to trust our inner strength and to guide us through each stage of labour naturally was a truly unique experience for me and my husband.

Thank you so very much Nancy

C&C&T

Izabela Krekora

4/11/2015

I honestly don’t know what we would have done without Nancy. Originally our prime reason for hiring a doula was for someone to help during early labour. But wow did Nancy do more than that, yes she helped with early labour discomfort by providing great massages and information and guiding my husband to assist, however she did so much more than that, she was such an integral part of our birthing experience. She ran the show! Her knowledge, her energy and her techniques were unparalleled. Thank you Nancy for making us feel informed and safe during the birth of our first child.

Bonnie Lee

2/1/2015

Nancy is a very caring and supportive doula to our family. We are so happy with her service, friendship and professionalism. She gave us confience and a sense of security because she is very thorough in explaining things to us during the labour and she knows the hospital environment and procedures very well. She truly helped me through all the pain from the contractions which I am so grateful for! I wouldn't have the strength to endure so much without her encouragment and pain management techniques. I highly recommend Nancy if you are seeking an excellent doula. Her genuine and kind character makes her so easy to speak with and rely on. We are so comfortable with Nancy and that is one thing you should feel if you have a doula during the birth of your child. Nancy, thank you for everything!

Elisha Lonegren

10/25/2014

From our first meeting, Nancy was a pleasure to be around! Her relaxed nature and confidence in the birthing process allowed us to feel an immediate connection. She came to our side during early labour, and maintained a supportive and loving presence throughout our experience.

She gave me options for pain management and coached my breathing during the more intense surges of my labour. Nancy maintained trust in me, allowing me to trust myself throughout the process.

We had an amazing birth experience, and can say with confidence, that a large part of that is due to Nancy's presence with us.

Sincerely,

Elisha, Erik and baby Cohen

Charlotte Humphries

7/22/2014

Nancy is an amazing doula!  From the first phone call, to the home visit, in early labour and all the way to the pushing stage, Nancy provided the energy, support and reassurance my husband and I needed.  She is very skilled at reading people and understanding what they need in the moment.  In early labour, Nancy provided guidance and made herself available as we worked through contractions, but also provided the space for my husband and I to go through part of this experience in private.  Later, she stepped in and provided invaluable support, helping us stay calm as labour progressed relatively quickly.  At the hostpital, throughout the labour, I hung onto Nancy`s constant words and gentle touch.  She had something positive and reassuring to say, always.  I listened to every word and honestly probably would not have remembered to breathe had it not been for her!  My husband and I are immensely grateful to Nancy.  We feel that our son could not have been brought into this world in a more loving, positive way and Nancy had so much to do with this experience.

Lily Harned

4/10/2014

Nancy was my doula for the birth of both of my daughters. My original doula was unavailable at the time I went into labour with my first, and Nancy was her back-up. Although we were not able to meet in person before my labour began, I knew I was in good hands from the moment I heard her voice on the phone. Her natural warmth, confidence, patientence, professionalism and wealth of experience were evident immediatley. Nancy's support and guidance gave my husband and I great comfort during that long night of my first labour, and throughout the next day and night until I finally gave birth. Nancy is so easy to be around, that even after delivery, I never wanted her to leave! Lucky for me, I became pregnant again not long after and knew I wanted Nancy by my side again. Nancy played a strong and important role in bringing my babies into the world, and I will carry the memories of her in my heart forever. My fondest memories of Nancy are of her bringing me tea and toast in bed after each of my daughters was born.

Caroline Ngan

3/13/2014

I was fortunate to have two birth doulas at the birth of our son and Nancy was one of them.  Nancy was very knowledgeable and patient.  She provided great support as needed and kept an excellent record of events throughout my 40+ hours of labour followed by c-section!  She also visited us postpartum and gave us great tips on handling our new bundle of joy.

Sarah Olson

2/18/2014

I'm a family doctor specializing in maternity care and have worked with Nancy on many occasions. She's incredibly warm, consistent, skilled and respectful, even at 3 am! It is a pleasure to work with her and I'm always thrilled to meet her in the assessment or delivery suite. She excels at supporting families throughout the process of labour, and remains calm and kind even when things are intense or changing.  Any family would be lucky to have her as their birth doula!

Far & Vincent

1/28/2014

There are very few times, at least the ones that are the most personal and precious in your life, when enlisting the help of a complete stranger made any sense. Giving birth to our first child definitely counted as one of those times. We came across Nancy almost by chance, and from our first interview, we were pretty much convinced that she was the doula.

Nancy exudes positive and relaxed energy. Her words are genuine and sincere. She is perceptive, extremely knowledgeable and accommodating to our requests. We had no problems getting in touch with her prior to and after the baby was born.

Throughout the entire (very long) labor, Nancy impressed us with her quick thinking, and ability to problem solve and coach. She remained unruffled when the intensity increased ten fold. During the post-partum visit, she gave us valuable suggestions & advice for caring for our newborn. We attribute her abilities to her many years of experience and exposure to different cultures and parts of the world.

We are eternally grateful that Nancy was at our side during this exciting time of our lives. We would not hesitate to recommend Nancy to anyone thinking of hiring an experienced doula!

Hilary Cole

10/28/2013

I can't imagine having gone through the birth experience without a doula, and especially one as grounded, wise and experienced as Nancy. She helped me in some very concrete ways that I feel changed the course of my labour and delivery to one that was as smooth as it possibly could have been. The very gentle guidance she gave to my husband helped him to be an unbelievably confident and supportive birth partner. Our little girl had a gentle entrance into the world, thanks in large part to Nancy's calm presence.  On a practical note, having had a home birth, Nancy was completely instrumental in making it run smoothly and giving our midwives room to focus on medical care - from helping set up the birth pool to creating a space for us after delivery, and cleaning up ater it all - all this helped give us the time and space to be with out little newborn wonder without even thinking about the details. We have been so very fortunate to have found Nancy.

Geordie Aitken

9/29/2013

Nancy was a great gift to us. Her wisdom is incredible. My wife and I would wholeheartedly recommend Nancy's services to any expectant couple who want assistance making their birth experience smooth and empowering.

Patrick Diagou

8/4/2013

We were so fortunate to have Nancy as our doula. She was so kind, compassionate and very helpful. She guided us with confidence in what could have been very chaotic and stressful journey. She respected our choices and helped clarify some of the medical jargon when we felt lost. We stayed with Nancy for an entire day and her sweet and caring personality made her like family at the end of the day. When we will have our second child, we will definitely call Nancy. No doubt!

Tim Proudlove

7/23/2013

We don't know how we could have done the birth of our little daughter without Nancy. It was such a gift to have her there with us. She was knowledgable and experienced and calm, while at the same time being kind and gentle and flexible. We had a long birth, yet Nancy stayed with us every moment, supporting and encouraging and assisting. It was our first child, and we were a long way from any family who could help or support us, but with Nancy we felt looked after and cared for. We cannot recommend Nancy highly enough - her presence was probably the biggest factor in making the birth process a good one for us. We are very grateful to her.

Kate Moss

7/17/2013

Nancy attended the birth of my first child.  She was asked to attend with no notice when my doula was not able to.  Although Nancy had not had the benefit of meeting us or understanding our birth wishes she moved seamlessly into my ongoing labour and became a great support.

As a woman going through labour and delivery for the first time, Nancy's calm presence was a great source of strength.  My labour moved faster than I expected and Nancy was able to calmly move me through the process of getting from my home to the hospital and through delivery.  Nancy understood the hospital process which was critical as I was in no position to navigate this myself and this freed my husband to focus on my well being.

As she seamlessly entered our labour, Nancy also quietly and seemlessly left us to enjoy our new family once the birth was done.  She timed her stay perfectly such that she was there to provide me with the support I needed and then left when she felt I was ready.

One wonderful gift Nancy was able to leave with us was a recounting of my daughter's birth.  Neither my husband nor I were in any state to take notes on what was happening but afterwards Nancy was able to provide us with a recount of the events which were so momentous in our life.

Thank you Nancy

Carolyn Williams

7/16/2013

Nancy was incredible! She was such a calm presence and was by my side every step of the way. I had a long 36 hour labour followed by a c-section and couldn't imagine having to go through that experience without Nancy. Nancy gave unwavering support and her wealth of knowledge brought many difficult moments. Not only was she a great support for me, my husband wouldn't have known what to do without her.

Lutfiye Kilic Qureshi

7/16/2013

Nancy is extremely knowledgeable, professional, patient, and kind; and she was a tremendous help to my husband and me before, during, and after the birth. I could not be happier to have gotten Nancy as my doula. We met with Nancy ealier on the day of my daughter's birth and I am so glad that we did. She is so warm and friendly that it was so easy for me to talk to her as though I had known her forever.We also have great pictures of our first moments together with Esra thanks to Nancy.  If anyone I knew asked me for a doula I would definitely recommend Nancy in a heartbeat. She is sweet, thoughtful and really has a comforting and loving way about her. She was not only a doula to us, but a friend and we want to thank her for everything she did for our family!