Yona Dembele

4/1/2022

When I met with Melinda, I immediately felt comfortable and heard when speaking with her. She asked me great questions that helped me understand what it was I was hoping to have in a doula and what I envisioned for my birth. Whenever I needed to get a hold of Melinda, she was very easy to contact and promptly returned my phone call or email.

I enjoyed working with Melinda because she is intuitive, experienced, calm and confident in aiding the birth journey and process. She was very open and thought of every option and Spinning Babies technique to help me move my baby down the birth canal. Melinda worked with me for 40 hours while I labored at home to help me try to have the natural, unmedicated vaginal birth that I wanted for my baby and myself. While I was not able to deliver at home or the birth center that I had planned, Melinda helped me find resolution and be okay with changing my birth plan which helped me stay calm during the transfer process to a new environment and new care providers at the hospital.

Overall I appreciated how resourceful, kind, dedicated and giving Melinda was in my experience with her. I was very lucky to work with her during my birth. I absolutely recommend Melinda for doula care. She followed up with me after birth to make sure the baby and I were thriving and offered breastfeeding support and helped me with advice on processing my birth and ways to heal postpartum. Melinda is a wonderful resource to the community for families, mothers and babies.

Danielle

12/6/2021

My first pregnancy ended in an induction, long labor, and unexpected cesarean. 

I really wanted to have a VBAC and natural induction with my second pregnancy. My husband and I strongly felt the support of a doula during labor and delivery could help us achieve those goals. Out of the four doulas we interviewed, Melinda and her co-doula had the most experience, were the most prepared for the interview and gave us a good feeling. My husband and I chose to hire them and it was a blessing throughout my pregnancy, during labor and delivery. Both Doulas helped me prepare for labor by familiarizing me with different push positions and encouraged me to use the spinning babies techniques. Melinda was with me in the hospital and gracefully led me through different stretches to help the baby lower through the birth canal.  After pushing for a few hours my doctor came in to talk about the possibility of the cesarean. Melinda gave my husband and I great advice on questions to ask the doctor to help us get the most information we could before making a choice. My husband and I both look back on that moment with gratitude. I felt heard and empowered to speak up for myself to medical staff during labor. I did have a successful VBAC. 

We enjoyed the monthly group zoom meetings Melinda and her co-doula held with their clients. 

I would highly recommend Melinda. Given the opportunity, I will not hesitate to hire Melinda again during a future pregnancy. 

Kai & Matt

11/9/2021

My husband and I loved working with Melinda!  Her and her partner Amber  were so responsive to our questions and concerns.  We especially loved the support that Melinda gave us for breastfeeding, it helped us get off to a great start with our son. 

If you are on the fence about hiring a doula, we strongly recommend it, and Melinda is fabulous to work with! 

Allison Rataezyk

6/5/2021

Melinda was a breath of fresh air during my pregnancy and postpartum period. I'll always remember our "learn to swaddle" session as she kept a great sense of humor with us as we tried and tried again. She was a great sounding board for me after our son was born, as I often needed to talk through all of the medical jargon we left each appointment with. We're so grateful for her support. 

Rebekah Shrestha

4/16/2021

Melinda and her partner Amber are extraordinary. They were there for me and my husband every step of the way from two very helpful pre-birth visits, to the birth, to post-partum appointments. They were a wealth of information, support, and confidence as we navigated first time parenthood.

My labor and delivery were long with many twists and turns and Melinda was by our side the whole way, helping with positions to turn the baby, comfort for me and my husband, ensuring that my husband ate, drank water, etc so he could best support me, etc. Neither of us could imagine this process without her. She made the whole experience so much more positive and manageable. I would strongly recommend working with Amber and Melinda; they are the best.

Lizbeth

1/11/2021

Melinda was a big part of my successful birth at a birth center. I first met her when I took her "Get that baby out" class which was so helpful to have my partner participate and learn different positions in preparation for birth. She was part of a doula team and she did 1 of 2 prenatal visits and 1 of 2 postpartum visits as well as was present for my son's birth. She was always available via phone or text with encouraging words or helpful information pre and post delivery. During the birth she kept me grounded, helped me with my breathing and kept me fed and hydrated. She also took pictures which I was so excited to have. Melinda and Amber are an amazing doula team and I would highly recommend them! 

Leila

12/30/2020

Melinda was our post-partum doula. She provided support when I needed it the most. I had been having trouble with breastfeeding and had not had the best experience with the lactation consultant at the hospital I had given birth at. I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Melinda was amazing at making me feel supported and sane again with her calming presence and kind words. 

Elizabeth

11/1/2020

Melinda was a rock during a surprisingly stressful birth. Things did not go according to plan, but she and her partner, Amber, kept us rolling with the punches. Thanks for holding our very nervous hands and answering every. Single. Question! 

Dan & Elyse

4/8/2020

 When we started the search for a Doula, we set up three interviews with three Doula's. From the first contact it was a different experience. The communication was better, the prompt return of messages to set up the time to meet, the overall professionalism that was present while still being comfortably friendly was without a doubt setting the bar pretty high for what to expect. The decision was easy after meeting with the others as they were not prepared, didn't have the experience or the personality of Melinda. The consultations were vital, especially after the birth of our child. Melinda was always available for questions and concerns. The questions you will have will be answered with good information, they wont make decisions for you, BUT WILL give you the information to make the right choice for YOU! There is no way I could have been enough support for my wife. Yes this review is from the husbands perspective! During labor Its not just the Mother-to-be that they are taking care of, they are also making sure the husband has everything he needs to be successful in supporting his wife! During labor the focus and experience is proven by the calm nature that is present when she is in the room during one of the most challenging experieces of your life. This is exactly the reason for hiring a Doula, to help you be prepared for the unkown. There is NO DOUBT should anyone bring up the question "do I need a Doula?" My answer is now YES, and it should be Melinda. 

Dan & Elyse

Amy Hatch

10/23/2018

Having Melinda as our birth doula was one of the best decisions we made in our journey into parenthood. Because of her, the birth of our daughter was as smooth and peaceful as it could have possibly been. Melinda really does know all the tips and tricks to cope with painful contractions (including back labor), and what to do to get labor progressing. Her calming presence really made a big difference for us!

Her visits before and after birth were equally valuable - as first time parents, she helped us know what we needed to do to be prepared for when the baby came, and assisted with the difficult transition into parenthood after our little one finally here. I would recommend Melinda to anyone looking for an encouraging and empowering experience in both birth and early parenthood.

Alankrita Anand

7/31/2018

Melinda from Calmandconfidentdoulacare impressed us from the time we met her with her calmness and confidence. Her knowledge, communication, vigour, and warmth convinced us that she'd be very supportive of our needs and we were proven right over and over again through our interaction with her. We felt heard at every step of the way, and she was invaluable during those hours of labour with her support, encouragement, and her techniques for pain management. At the hospital, she engaged with the nurses very well, and made sure that we were cared for every step of the way. Both my husband and I felt very confident throughout the labor process with her around us. All in all, we experienced a very smooth, normal pregnancy and post-partum thanks in a large part to her!

She is also sensitive to different cultures, and makes it a point to get the whole family involved and participate in the entire process. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anybody who is looking for a strong advocate during their pregnancy and post-partum periods. Thank you so much Melinda!

Kayce Bell

7/3/2018

We had a great experience with Melinda from Calm and Confident Doula Care. Melinda was very thorough in the interview to make sure I would have a doula that was a good match. We determined the Melinda was probably the best fit, and I have no doubt we were right. Melinda was very helpful on guiding us through the doula selection process and geniunely wanted us to find a doula that would be a good match. Melinda was great with communications and checking in. As first time parents, we had a lot of questions and were unsure of the entire birthing process. 

I ended up being induced and had many interventions, ultimately our baby was born via cesarean section. Melinda helped me to think through questions I had not thought of and worked to make sure I was invovled in the decision making process and was aware of the pros and cons of each step. The best part was Melinda reassuring me at every step of the way that I was doing well. When the decision had to be made about the cesarean section, Melinda's opinion eased my mind that it was the right thing to do. 

Melinda was there through the whole process and didn't leave until the baby had nursed. I had received a lot of IV fluids during labor and Melinda anticipated a somewhat large weight loss in the baby in the first few days. She was correct and armed me with the information I needed to make sure that medical staff didn't scare me about it. Because of the preparation she provided, we successfully dealt with the feeding necessary to get him gaining weight.

I am incredibly grateful for Melinda's support, from prenatal all the way through postpartum. She was there for me, my family waiting, and, crucially, she was there for my partner during labor and the cesarean section. 

I would definitely recommend Melinda and Calm and Confident Doula do anyone considering a doula. 

Ali Oliva

10/9/2017

The birth of my premie son was a whirlwind occurance--my husband and I had just scheduled our first prenatal meeting with Rebekah when my water broke. Rebekah was still able to make it to my birth and was a postive, enthusiastic, and encouraging presence. It was important to me to try to give birth without an epidural, and with Rebekah's help I was able to. It was also great having her there when my husband and son went to the NICU, so I wasn't left alone. 

We also hired Melinda for postpartum help we desperately needed--our baby came early and we weren't prepared, especially considering the extra feeding work a premie required. Melinda was absolutely indespinsable in those early, anxious, hectic, terrifying and exhausting days.

I highly recommend both Melinda and Rebekah and would not hesitate to work with Calm and Confident Doula Care again.

Natalie Seitz

5/16/2017

My husband and I would recommend Melinda from Calm and Confident Doula Care for post-partum doula care. We selected Melinda because of her expertise in post-partum care and her ability to help us with breastfeeding, swaddling, calming techniques, carriers, breast pumps and everything else a new parent may have questions about.

Throughout our time with Melinda she was able to provide helpful techniques and advice. I was impressed by her teaching ability, and focus on not just doing what was needed but helping us learn techniques to care for our new baby when she was away. She also provided a wealth of information to help us connect to new parent resources and groups.

Shawna Ragasa

1/15/2017

My husband and I were referred to Melinda from my sister who had used her 4 years ago for the birth of her son; and we are so thankful Melinda was there for our son's birth.  Due to low amniotic fluid I decided to induce and once the contractions started to build we knew it was time to call Melinda.  We had gone through a Lamaze class a couple months prior to his DD and by the time we were reaching the date my husband and I were worried  we had forgotten all the techniques to help get through the contractions.  Melinda was so helpful during the 48 hours in keeping me moving and battling the lower back labor.  It was so nice to have an experienced doula by our side it help lower our anxiety of the birthing process and finally through the cesarean section.  We highly recommend having Melinda by your side for your first birth experience.

Jessica Arnesen

12/31/2016

I can't say enough good things about working with Calm and Confident Doula Care during my post-partum period.  Bringing our first baby home right in the middle of the holiday season, only to find I was having pain and difficulty breast-feeding, left me exhausted and worried I was doing something wrong for myself and my baby.  Thanks to Melinda and her network, I quickly found out I had a baby with a tongue and lip-tie, which we were able to have remedied within the first week of bringing my son home thanks to their guidance and reccomendations.  I was so surprised when, the night before Thanksgiving, they reccommended I see a lactation consultant, and then immediately were able to schedule one to come to our home the morning after the Thanksgiving holiday to help diagnose my son's tongue tie. 

I've found Melinda's insights and network to be invaluable.  She taught me ways to soothe my fussy baby, helped us find a better and more effective sleep situation, and even gave me much-needed time to do those little things that become so hard with a new baby like showering and napping.  I will definitely be hiring Calm and Confident Doula Care to help with our second child someday, and I've already recommended Melinda and her team to a number of other pregnant and post-partum friends.

Tatiana Raterman

9/1/2016

Melinda was my birth doula for the birth of my daughter in June 2016 and she helped us post-partum as well. This was my and my husband’s first child, and Melinda did an outstanding job ensuring our labor and birth experience was smooth. I had a positive, in my opinion easy, un-medicated vaginal birth, and I credit the fact that my labor and delivery went as smoothly as it did to Melinda - I highly recommend Melinda as a doula.

The reasons I found Melinda’s support so important are:
(1) She radiates calmness and “I’ve been there and know how I can help” air. This was important to keep me calm and confident. I was not looking for ‘motherly’ support, I was looking for confidence that comes from experience, and I got that. This ensured I maintained a positive and confident attitude throughout.
(2) Melinda’s approach was analytical and proactive while being soft and respectful of my own pace and state of mind. At each stage of my labor she evaluated what worked and what did not and proactively suggested different poses, massage and other coping mechanisms to help and speed up the process. Each time her suggestions truly helped and made me feel/cope better. I credit Melinda’s support with my ability to cope with labor pain without any medication. While my husband and I attended the prep classes and I read a lot, it would not have prepared us to be able to cope with labor effectively, if Melinda were not there (in my opinion).
(3) Melinda found the right approach to support and engage my husband, who needed everything to be explained to him first, as he is not good with just “do what I say” approach. Melinda’s help was essential for him to be able to aid me (as he knew what to do and was confident doing it).

Aparna Kar

8/29/2016

I highly recommend Melinda. She exudes confidence, calm demeanor, and an open mind. She was a fanatistic source of information pre and post partum regarding pain management and breastfeeding also.

My labor was nothing how I expected. My water broke 2.5 weeks early and my contractions never took off on thier own despite 6 hours trying natural methods. I was then induced with pitocin, I labored without pain meds until 7 cm. I then got an epidural and after 2 hours delivered my healthy daughter vaginally after pushing for 20 minutes. In total I labored for 28 hours.

Melinda was incredibly composed and wonderfully supportive through the lengthy process. She worked very well with the hospital nursing staff and my ob/gyn. She had numerous suggestons for pain management. She directed and supported my husband fantastically.

My plan was to labor without pain meds for as long as possible. Melinda made that happen for significantly longer than I thought I could manage. She used massage, TENS device, and positional coaching to help. I am very happy with the outcome.

During post partum visits Melinda helped with any breastfeeding, pumping, and baby carrying questions I had. She was keen to make sure to talk to my husband about how he could help and support also. She had great suggestions on how figure out a better sleep schedule which was immensely helpful.

Holly Dollinger

2/26/2016

From our first meeting with Melinda I knew she was the calm voice that I wanted with me and my husband as we started our adventure into parenthood.  She had so much experience and so many ideas for resources that would be helpful and even more importantly ones that might not be as usefu to me as I found myself attempting to read every book available!  I was in a situation where I was working away from home for a couple weeks out of every month while I was pregnant and having Melinda available by phone or email was really comforting.  I knew that no matter where I was, she was just a phone call away.  I was also nervous about going to the hospital too soon and being there for an extended period before our baby was born.  Melinda came over during the day to suggest comfort measures.  Her voice of experience allowed us to stay in the comfort of our own home longer than I might have otherwise and she certainly was invaluable supporting my husband and assuring him that there was nothing to worry about as my labor progressed.

Melinda's support also allowed me to better reflect on what my goals were for birth and what choices would be best for our family.  I was reviewing our birth plan recently as we consider the possibility of a second child and I have nothing but wonderful memories of our experience with Melinda.  If we had not moved to another state I would request her support for our next pregnancy and birth; she really is a partner that will provide you with information, resources, and support for all your decisions throughout your birth process!

Carrie Schonwald

2/22/2016

I hired Melinda as a post partum doula with a strong recommendation from my birth doula.

I was looking for someone who had a lot of experience and could guide me through the overwhelming confusion of new parenthood.

Melinda was a tremendous help to me and my husband in the weeks after our delivery- she is knowledgeable, supportive, open and patient.

She did everything from accompany me to my lactation appointment so that she could support me in a way that aligned with other support I was getting, to show us how to most safely and efficiently bathe our baby.

I strongly recommend her as a post partum doula if you are looking for someone with a lot of wisdom, professionalism and flexibilty.

Lauren Fine

8/11/2015

I felt like Melinda was the reason that my birth went so well. I was very scared about giving birth, and during our initial meeting, I really got the sense that this was familiar territory for Melinda and I didn’t have to play down how terrified I was. She helped me get a handle on this before labor began and once I was in the middle of it, her confidence got me through. A few strange things happened during the birth (had a not-so-great labor nurse, my baby was born very quickly once crowning and the doctor who was supposed to be there actually missed the birth, some things were not set up properly in the delivery room, etc), but because Melinda was there supporting me, I barely noticed any of it. It seemed that she had a much bigger role in bringing my daughter into the world than any of the doctors or nurses. She was able to coach me through the best positions to be in during labor and delivery, helped me advocate for myself so I could avoid an epidural (I was scared to get one and scared not to) and other interventions, and provided wonderful support to my husband during the birth as well. Most importantly, Melinda’s gentle guidance helped me to trust my body to do its job during the birth – something I never thought I would be able to do. I was actually able to have the birth that I wanted.

A note about post partum: The night I came home from the hospital, I was having a lot of trouble with nursing. I called Melinda upset, and she was at my house half an hour later. She helped me calm down and get my baby fed, and then once we were settled, she helped me develop a plan for getting assistance with breastfeeding challenges. My husband and I will always be so grateful to Melinda for the unwavering confident support she provided.

Daryn Sirota

5/14/2015

We are so happy that we chose Melinda to be our birth doula. Her professionalism caused her to stand out from the other doulas we interviewed.She did not put a time limit on our interview.Melinda lit up when she spoke about her work, which she is so clearly passionate about, answered all of our questions and had questions of her own to ask. Even before we hired her, she took notes to keep track of our hopes and needs. She continued to take notes throughout our time together.Melinda touched base periodically over the course of my pregnancy and seemed to genuinely care. For the days leading up to my labor she was incredibly responsive and made us feel that she was eager to hear from us.I do not know if I could have lasted as long I did with an extended three-day prodromal labor if it weren’t for Melinda’s calm soothing guidance and support.Over the course of these days she offered to come over and help me through my contractions. She got me through what was probably the most physically challenging night of my life. I give her a great deal of the credit for getting me through, so when I finally checked into the hospital I was 4cm dilated. This could have very well been what allowed me the vaginal birth that I had hoped for.Melinda was also a great support to my husband. We both always felt that she had our backs. Melinda is no nonsense and serious about what she does. If you hire her you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Without passing judgment, she will help you to make important informed decisions. She has the perfect balance of being an advocate and supporting her clients without overstepping in a hospital environment.We were grateful for the 2 prenatal and 2 postpartum visits. Melinda gave us plenty of her time and expertise without ever making us feel rushed. Her rolling scale fee system is incredibly fair as you never know how challenging or long your labor will be. We highly recommend Melinda if you are searching for a Birth doula.

jane wong

4/16/2015

1 year ago today, I was eagerly waiting for my labor to begin. I contacted Melinda one month before my son was born. I had 3 doulasto interview, but I knew I wanted to hire Melinda when I met her. She was professional, calm and friendly. Most importantly, it just felt right. I know this sounds vague, but I believe its the first thing you consider who to hire as your doula - compatibility. One needs to feel safe during labor, and trusts the birthing team. Your instinct will tell you who is right for you, just like how falling in love on the first sight works.

Highing a doula was one of my best decisions for my pregnancy and birth. As our families were all very far away, I needed someone to support me and my husband during labor, someone with knowledge, and not emotionally attached like family does (my mom totally freaked out when we phoned her during my labor. That was not what I wanted. Giving birth is scary enough for new moms!)

Melinda is just like her business name says: calm and confident! The whold birth was a blur right after baby came out, but I can still remember her caring and encouraging smile every time I looked at her crystal clear. It calmed me down a notch instantly. Melinda is not a big person, but I was surprised how strong she was! For a long period time during my labor, I was standing and inclining on her with my whole pregnancy body weight! Even my husband couldn't stand it. I seeked for her support more than my husband's during that whole time. Not only she supported me, she supported my husband. She made sure that my husband have food and rest as needed. My husband said after my birth that we totally need her for our next baby, and I agree!

Melinda provided me with excellent postpartum service too. Every time I called, she replied right away. My emotions would be too much to handle without her help during that 1st month!

All in all, I highly recommand her! You will not be disappointed!

Jenni Ricker

1/12/2015

I couldn't be happier to have had Melinda as my doula. This was my second child and an at home birth after a hospital experience. The preparation meetings were thoughtfully done and helped settle some of my husbands concerns with an at home birth. When it came to the birth, the short 50 minutes didn't allow for the midwife to get to us in time so when Melinda came into the room and helped deliver the baby, we were all so glad to have her years of experience on hand. In the 20 minutes after the birth while we hung out, enjoying our new son and waiting for the midwife, Melinda was an expert and truly helped calm the  nerves of my mother and husband. Although she didn't have much opportunity to show off her labor skills, she was an expert during and after the birth and under pressure when it truly was needed.

Katherine Smith

9/5/2014

I knew as soon as I got pregnant that I wanted to hire a doula to assist me with my pregnancy, labor, and birth experience.  I had a high risk pregnancy - there were a lot of unknowns going into the pregnancy about how well my body would tolerate pregnancy and childbirth.  I knew I would need to be taking a handful of medications througout pregnancy, and I didn't want to add additional complications with an epidural or c-section.  I also knew that I wanted to hire someone who would work with my husband well, and who could communicate to him clearly and effectively too.  Melinda got a good read on him, and worked effectively with both of us.

We chose Melinda because her manner is direct, but respectful. We felt the most relaxed and calm working with her, as we knew we could trust her completely.  Given my situation, I wanted the best team possible assisting me  - Melinda was definitely a key part of that team.

Melinda's expertise played a critical role in helping me achieve the childbirth I wanted - and in helping me avoid the risky complications I was concerned about.  I felt that she had a complete understanding of my preferences and why they were in place.  During labor, I hit a temporary rough patch - Melinda understood precisely where I was and what I was struggling with - and advised me appropriately the entire time. Even if this meant advising me against my original preferences, Melinda's advice was always sound and respectful to my overall goal.

As far as return on investment is concerned: for us, Melinda was worth every. single. penny.  When hiring a doula, my husband was originaly wondering what a doula could do for us that would be worth the money.  After the birth, both my mother and husband were enthusiastic that Melinda was the right choice, and was absolutely essential to my success.

Sara Sharkey

4/19/2014

Melinda was the perfect choice for our family when giving birth to our first and second children. We couldn't have asked to have a doula be a better part of our team for both times. She was very thorough with us from the start, asking lots of questions, explaining the process she uses with clients, and setting up our meetings. She took in as many details as possible about what we envisioned for the births of our children so that we would be happy and have a great experience. She was very strong at helping my husband help me through the process, speaking with the nurse when needed and setting us up to deal with the task at hand. Before and after labor, she has checked in with us on numerous occasions and leaves her "door open" for any communication needed as becoming a parent has many challenges no matter how many times you do it! She is an awesome doula!

Claire Crouch

10/14/2012

Sean Patella-Buckley

4/4/2011

My wife and I could not be happier with our decision to have Melinda as our doula. The prenatal care she gave us helped us emotionally prepare ourselves for the birth and early days of parenthood.

At the birth itself, she was amazing. Because of her constant presence, words and actions, I was able to focus exclusively on helping my wife through every contraction, and after the birth on being with both my wife and newborn son. She worked seamlessly with the midwives, and made sure I was taken care of both physically ("Sean, make sure you eat something!") and emotionally ("Take a deep breath, dad").

The post-partum experience has been, if anything, even more essential. We know that we can call her whenever we need, whether it is for breastfeeding help (and oh boy has THAT been a huge help) to a kind word of encouragement to two sleep-deprived new parents. I can't tell you how invaluable it is to hear her say "yes, it's tough being a new parent, but you two are doing a great job and it WILL get better".

In short, if you're looking for a doula to provide you equal parts practical and emotional support, I have nothing but the highest recommendation for Melinda.

Sean, Mikayla, and little Atticus

Susan Stimpert

9/16/2010

Melinda was a wonderful part of birth experience with our third baby.  I had a second VBAC which was non-medicated.  My labor and delivery were both quick.  Every wish on my birth plan became a reality!  I give this credit to Melinda.  She has a peaceful, calm, reassuring demeanor.  I, of course benefited from this, but so did everyone else, ....hubby, nurses, midwife.  This makes all the difference in the world in getting that atmosphere you want at your birth.  

Melinda saw me through a change in care providers about five weeks before my due date.  The obgyn I was seeing had pre-scheduled a C-section "just in case".  This made me so nervous and I never saw this coming!  Melinda was immediately available to discuss things through and gave us a lot of information.  Because of her knowledge, my husband and I were able to make a decision to change providers.  The support Melinda gave us was awesome.  I felt very empowered and confident going into this birth.  What a JOY!  Thanks Melinda!

Susan     

Claire G.

8/9/2010

My labor and delivery were uncomplicated, so I figured postpartum would be the same, right? No. I was one of Melinda's "crisis moms." On day four or five of our daughter's life, my husband called around to several postpartum doulas in the area because we were out of our minds with exhaustion, and needed some serious guidance on how to proceed with the goal of keeping our sanity intact. Melinda came out to meet us that same night, a Sunday, and agreed to work with us starting the next day.  We worked with Melinda for a few weeks, and she helped us get back to a bit of reality, with a lot of practical suggestions and emotional support. We had family visiting for a couple of weeks after that, and I thought we wouldn't be needing to meet with Melinda after that. That wasn't the case.

By the time our daughter was about six weeks old, I had developed a serious case of postpartum depression, and we again called Melinda at a crisis point.  She came to visit us right away. Melinda, with her reassuring, caring, practical manner, helped me survive the four most difficult weeks of my life. I really don't know how I would have done it otherwise. She was the only person who was able to sit with me in my depression without being critical or questioning or uncomfortable with my discomfort. She offered many knowledgeable, practical suggestions, including the referral to a mental health provider, but the most valuable part of our time together was the fact that she simply spent time with me, and talked to me as if I was still a normal person. She gently but firmly guided me back into a functional place. Melinda's confidence gave me confidence. Just knowing that she had seen other women through postpartum depression helped me believe that I might be okay too.

I highly recommend her to anyone needing a little bit, or a lot of support. She is respectful and strong, and her strength helped me regain mine.

Rebekah Gruenig

5/14/2010

After interviewing about 5 doulas, we decided to hire Melinda.  We were so happy with the decision and the outcome of our birth.  She was the steadfast presence with valuable experience that my husband and I were looking for in a doula.  She attended the birth of our second child, which was an unmedicated VBAC at Swedish Medical Center, attended by an OB. 

She came to our home during labor and helped assess when to go to the hospital and helped keep us calm and relaxed.  Although this was our second child, our first was delivered via scheduled c-section due to breech presentation, without going into labor, so this was all new territory for us.  As labor progressed at the hospital, her calm face and gentle guidance was what kept me steady and focused and was key to me achieving the birth I desired.  She reminded us, at just the right times, about communicating our wishes with the hospital staff and also what was normal during the course of labor and delivery.

I would highly recommend Melinda as a birth doula - she was exactly what we were looking for!

Kathleen Schons

3/22/2010

I don't think I can explain how much Melinda has helped our family. She was my doula for both of my births.She helped me get through very long labors, make hard choices, and be content with the outcome. Melinda is the only reason I made it through my first birth. With her at my second birth I knew everything would turn out for the best. She is very gentle and kind. She never pushes you to pick one way over another. She is very knowledgeable and has many tricks up her sleeve to help you. Melinda is very selfless, I felt that I was the only one she cared about and she did everything in her power to help me. I can not  express how wonderful she is just with words. I will be forever indebted to her, for her kindness, attention and knowledge.

David and Melissa Pratt

3/9/2010

Originally we hadn't planned on having a doula; however, after receiving information regarding how helpful doula's can be, we decided to seek one out.  Melinda went above and beyond for us.  She really helped to prepare us not only for labor and delivery but for being parents as well.  She checked out our nursery and gave us tips on stuff we needed and didn't need.  She guided us in developing our birth plan and educated us on all of our options and possible labor scenarios.  During labor, she helped to keep David as the primary support person while supporting both of us in the process.  She even brought chocolate in case Melissa needed it to help get her through labor.  After the birth, she was there for us to answer questions and ease our minds regarding the trials of being new parents.  Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better labor and delivery and Melinda was a big reason for that.  You can tell that she is passionate about what she does and really desires to form a bond with her clients.  We look forward to working with her again for our next child and would definitely recommend her to everyone.

Patricia Kelley

11/30/2009

I spent most of my pregnancy expecting labor and delivery to be a miserable day or two that I would just have to get through in order to meet our baby. Having a number of friends and family who have had long unproductive labors, most of the information I was getting focused on the negative aspects of the process. Yet at the same time I was reading about the joy and wonder of a positive birthing experience. I began to realize I could and should expect more when it came to delivering our daughter and that a doula could help me get there. Melinda was recommended to us and we liked her immediately. She spent hours with us prior to my due date addressing our desires, fears, concerns and goals. She understood the birth experience I wanted and guided us through my labor with a perfect balance of encouragement and support. Melinda helped with general and specific decisions along the way including when to go to the hospital, tips for coping with pain, and the pros and cons of suggested interventions. She was with us throughout labor and completely involved with the birth, providing breaks for my husband and continued support for me. When my daughter was finally born I was elated. I was amazed at the joy of the entire experience and would not have had that without Melinda’s help. Her postpartum support was equally valuable, from follow up visits to check in calls to help with breastfeeding. Melinda made the difference for us and I highly recommend her services.

Skye Huffington

7/16/2009

We were very happy with Melinda's services. It would have been much harder going through labor without her support (and I may have ended up with IVs and pitocin and stuff, which I was avoiding) - she was very helpful in suggesting positions, and giving ideas to help keep labor moving (like accupressure). She gave my husband a break when he needed one. After the birth, she helped get us started with breastfeeding. The prenatal visits were helpful in preparing my  husband and me for the birth - he'd been working out of state, so he hadn't gotten the childbirth classes, and these helped getting him the information he needed. After we were home from the hospital, she was very helpful with suggestions about breastfeeding when my son was having trouble latching. I would definately recommend her to anyone looking at hiring a doula. We plan to come back to her when we have our next child.

Jill Wright

7/2/2009

I really feel that I would not have made it though labor without Melinda. Ok maybe I would have made it, but it would not have been as comfortable and I think I would have had more complications. My water broke two weeks early. She met us at the hospital and helped me to walk around and do a few things to start labor better. She helped my husband to be able to rest through the early part of the overnight labor. I never ended up needing pitocin, thanks to being able to start labor on it's own. She was very helpful in suggesting position changes and reading when I needed something, encouragement, a change, or my husband's encouragement. She was with us for the entire 20 hour labor. And helped us get started breast feeding. It was very helpful to have a consistent helpful person, since the nurse shifts change every 8 hours. Melinda personality worked perfectly with us, she suggested a variety of options with solid background information which allowed us to make informed choices. She supported every one of our choices. The per-natal and post-partum visits were extremely useful and informative. She had the perfect balance of professionalism and caring for us. I would recommend Melinda to any of my friends or any of you thinking about a doula.