Sonya

12/16/2019

Hiring Margaret as my doula was definitely one of the best decisions I made with my second pregnancy. Margaret was absolutely amazing. She was so knowledgeable throughout my pregnancy and gave me great advice that helped avoid induction and have a successful VBAC at 41 weeks. She was calm and reassuring during labor, and was a great resource for all of the questions that came up at the hospital. If you have the means to hire a doula, I highly recommend Margaret!!

Charlotte Rohling McCormick

8/1/2018

Margaret was amazing! We had a fairly complicated set of health concerns going into the birth of our second child and Margaret with her background as a midwife and just experience in general kept a calm demeanor throughout it all. This delivery for us was a VBAC and required an induction which was intense... so very much a first labor experience for us. We would have never made it through to the end without her help. She is the perfect mixture between knowing what you need just as you need it, knowing what comes next in the labor process and yet keeping a low key and calming/confident presence throughout. Highly highly recommend her to anyone needing support throughout the process.

Rebecca Innes

11/23/2017

When my husband and I set out to hire a doula, we could not have imagined we would find one we truly connected with like we did with Margaret. From the first conversation to months after birth, Margaret has been supportive and helpful with every little challenge. As first time parents, the transition was scary and exciting. Margaret used a judgement free approach, and helped us achieve the exact labor and birth we wanted. Margaret did not "take over" as my support person during birth. Instead, she was able to help my husband support me. He was skeptical about our need for a doula, and has now expressed that he doesn't know what we would have done without her! Her energy is warm and her intuition and birth knowledge are invaluable. We will absolutely hire her again for our next baby.

Brianna Biggers

11/9/2017

It was so great having the support of Margaret for the birth of our second son! She was so responsive to my endless amount of scatterbrained text and replied to me all night when I was having inconsistent contractions.

I loved that she brought lights and essential oils for the room. She was such an asset for us!

Katie Bockstedt

11/9/2017

We are so grateful to have found Margaret for the birth of our second child. I was able to have the natural birth I was hoping for because of her knowledge and leadership. I attempted to have a natural birth with our first; but did not have much support, and ended up with a prolonged induction and multiple medications.

Margaret was available for us throughout my pregnancy; answering all of our many questions over the phone and in person. While this support was great; what really mattered was her help when I went into labor. She answered our middle of the night call immediately and helped us figure out when it was time to head to the hospital. My labor went very quick; and we were grateful Margaret made it to the hospital to meet us at the front door (my OB wasnt able to make it in time to even deliver the baby).

It turned out the hospital staff on duty that night was not overly supportive or perhaps knowledgable about natural birth; and we were entirely reliant on Margaret to "take the reigns" and coach us through each step of labor and delivery.  Her calm and confident demeanor guided us through. I am confident that I would not have had a drug free, natural birth and would also have been coerced into more painful and less effective positions for labor and delivery if she had not been by our side the whole way.

We cant thank Margaret enough, and would not hesitate to use her again or recommend her to our friends and family.

Robert A. Cooper

11/3/2017

Margaret was (and continues to be) one of the most important resources and sources of support through our birth experience. From the time that we requested her services all the way through the birth and for weeks afterward, she was an invaluable source of information, support, and advice.

This was our first child and I cannot imagine having gone through our birth experience without Margaret. She was able to help us understand the process, our options, how my wife can manage her pain, and what to expect over the course of the next several hours, days, and weeks. Simply having a calming and supportive voice in the room meant everything to both of us. As our birth plans changed over the course of the process, she kept us calm and made sure that we were comfortable and prepared.

My wife and I would recommend Margaret unequivocally. If she is available to work with you, I could not recommend a better person to hire. I will be recommending her to any and all of my friends that are preparing for birth.

Iryna Shevchuk

10/23/2017

What a wonderful experience I had having Margaret as my doula! My baby didn't want to arrive until 41 weeks 5 days and Margaret was in touch during all this time for support and advice. My labor lasted 48 hours and was progressing very slow. Again Margaret provided all the support needed - suggested exercises, offered to come to my place to help, supported in the decision in going to the hospital earlier and staying there despite of my very slow progression. She has unique ability to feel what the best way to support you is and provide it.  For example, after two nights without sleep and 28 hours in labor I was very exhausted and she suggested to labor in a shower on a ball. It relaxed me so much and at the same time gave energy to move forward! She also help to communicate with the medical staff and understand all the medical options I had. Despite of such a long labor, I do think about the whole labor experience as something amazing and have just the best memories of the whole process! And I am sure that is because Margaret was by my side!

I would definitely recommend her to anyone who is looking for a great support person to be by your side during this trully unique experience !

Cindy Cordero-Stout

8/23/2017

Margaret’s holistic approach was right for me and my family. She understood our concerns and supported our decision to include our son in the birth experience at Atlanta Birth Center. She helped me prepare. Her info packet was practical and asked concrete questions about pain, coping skills and post-partum issues. I felt comfortable taking her homeopathic recommendations and herbal infusions (yummy Nora tea!) Critically, she was always available for checking in. It was easy to talk with her and I sought her advice about an ongoing problem I experienced with a particular midwife. (Since she both volunteers and gives massages at ABC, she's well-known there and familiar with its routines/rhythms. This put me at ease because I was a new client.) Margaret's post-partum assistance with tricky nursing issues proved to be invaluable.

Margaret’s a skilled licensed massage therapist who specializes in Arvigo Maya abdominal work. I was bigger this time around so the last trimester was tough. Having weekly massages in my last month was such a treat. Her massages were restorative, relieved me of the constant pain and worked to center me.

The birth of my 2nd son was highly unusual but through the expert knowledge and skills of Margaret and the rest of my birth team, I experienced a safe and empowered natural birth. My son was born at 10 lbs and face first, quite a rare and challenging presentation. His labor was long and slow (3 days). Once we learned his presentation, we required a transfer to the hospital. We all worked together as a team to make his birth go smoothly and safely. Throughout all of this Margaret remained calm, focused on my well-being, supportive of my decisions, patient, positive and helpful. I couldn't have had the beautiful birth that I did without the team that I had. Having Margaret as part of my birth team made for an overall positive pregnancy, birth and post-partum experience. I feel truly blessed. Thank you Margaret!

Heather Thaker

6/28/2017

Margaret was a god-send. I don't know how my husband and I could have gotten through our birth experience without her. From my many prenatal questions to early post-partum support, Margaret was a treasure throughout the entire birth experience. I could not have asked for a better duola for my first birth. She was respectful and compassionate of my and my husband's hopes and fears, and dealt well with the staff of the hospital we birthed at. I'd highly recommend her, and plan to use her again if/when we have a second baby.

Kim Guercio

6/20/2017

I can't imagine how I would have gotten through my labor without Margaret. Working with her was honestly the best decision I made during my pregnancy! She was such a calming presence throughout the labor process and I felt so cared for in her experienced hands. I spoke with 3 or 4 other doulas during my search, but 5 minutes into the conversation with Margaret, I knew she was the one! I would highly recommend her to anyone interested in a doula and will definitely be using her again if we have another baby. THANK YOU, Margaret!

Kris Leach

6/14/2017

We hired Margaret for the birth of our second child. I delivered our son 4 years earlier with our Midwife, my Husband and my Mother at my side.  I was well past my due date with him, and he came into the world at 9lbs 5oz and sunny-side up. Oh the back labor! I have to admit that I was humbled by how little I was able to draw on all the knowledged I had packed in during my pregnancy and I felt like I had asked my Mom and Husband to go far beyond their comfort zones.  When we found out we were pregnant with our second Skittle, I had had serveral years to process my experience and talk to a lot of other women about theirs. I knew I'd be looking for a Doula this time! We prepared for another natural childbirth with the same Midwife, but I am so glad that we decided to include a Doula in the process.  We started searching and were taken with Margaret's Bio, her years of experience, and most of all her open-minded attitude. She genuinely wanted to help us have the best birth experience we could. She was a constant source of solid information, but was always careful to let us make our own informed choices. She proved to be a much needed peaceful presence during another 42 week pregancy.  My labor progressed over 4 days and Phoebe was another big, beautiful baby. Having Margaret on our team gave my Husband the freedom to enjoy the birth of his daughter and focus on me. She carries herself with a great peace that gave me a lot of confidence during labor and delivery.  Phoebe came into the world without fear and was breastfeeding shortly after her arrival. I've come to know that every pregnancy is different and none of them are free from bumps and uncertainty.  Margaret's vast experience, wealth of knowledge, her obvious love for what she does, and her sincere heart made her a gift to our family. I am so grateful that she is a part of our birth story.

Angela Hickey

1/30/2017

So grateful for Margaret!
I did not have a doula for my first delivery, and while I was able to accomplish a natural birth, I found myself and my “labor team” (husband and sister) unprepared for what we would face in the hospital.

Six years later, with Baby #2, I made the decision to work with a doula, and was blessedly connected with Margaret. For me, her assistance in a few arenas was priceless.

She helped educate me about the hospital protocols I would need to be prepared to make decisions about, and this gave me much more confidence that I could navigate “the system” and still have the type of birth I wanted. I also knew that the pressure would be reduced on my husband and sister to help me through the process.

Her skill in massage was a tremendous gift! I had no idea how much well placed pressure in one’s back could help with the pain of contractions and in feeling like you were “getting somewhere” during each push. I do not plan to have another child, but if I did, I would work with Margaret again for this aspect alone.

The final piece was her calm and supportive comments during the delivery. Everyone was telling me I was “doing great” - and Margaret actually made me believe them, because she explained just what was working, and why. I some how knew that she would only tell me the truth, and that gave me tremendous peace of mind.

Margaret is knowledgable, practical, and skillful in helping through all stages of labor and delivery (even before it begins, to well after it is over), and I would absolutely recommend her to anyone - whether you are a first time mom or have already delivered a pack of babies.

Shawn Ling Ramirez

1/25/2017

Margaret was very calm and that was what we needed most. She made me and my husband feel completely at ease. Margaret knew what to do every step of the way. She made helpful recommendations during pregnancy to keep me healthy. She helped us through labor, giving me tips on how to cope at different stages — even helping us by phone at all hours of the night. She guided us every step of the way through delivery: her knowledge of when and how to breathe, move, stand, and push made things go more smoothly, and her massage techniques to put pressure in the right places made those last contractions much more comfortable. I’ll never forget that it was Margaret who knew to get the midwife because the baby was coming! I know it sounds strange, but we didn’t know! After the baby was born, Margaret was so sweet — my husband was exhausted, so Margaret fed me breakfast while I nursed and bonded with our new baby. She made sure that we were okay before she left, giving me tips on how to make sure that my recovery would progress well. Then about a week later she came by to see how we were doing. She spent some time with us, and gave us some help with burping and breastfeeding. She’s such a special person to us and in our baby’s life — we know our whole experience was happier and easier thanks to her! If we have another baby, we'll definitely be calling her again!

Catherine Powell

10/6/2016

"The best choice we made with our labor and delivery was hiring Margaret. We cannot say enough great things about her. As first time parents, we had no idea what we were about to go through. Margaret helped us so very much all along the way. We met with her a few times throughout my pregnancy and I treated myself to one of her prenatal massages. She was kind, thoughtful, and professional throughout. We connected in a very special way that made me feel more calm and excited about my birth experience. The prenatal massage was perfect, she knows exactly what pregnant women's bodies need to be soothed. Not only does Margaret have an awesome energy and she is so easy to get along with, but she has the experience and skills it takes to do her job well. She has so many births under her belt and it shows - she gave us all the right information at the right times. During our birth experience she was everything that we needed her to be. She was a calming presence when it was needed and a wisdom giver and a cheerleader. She helped us in every way. She gave advice and was there to listen and support AND she provided some very sweet details. She had essential oils that were calming and I love that she got the bath prepared and decorated the room with christmas lights and candles! We could not have asked for a better birth partner, she made the birth experience easier and sweeter for us. I don't believe I could have pushed our baby out without Margaret's help. She gave some CRITICAL advice that helped me get the job done. We are so thankful for Margaret and would HIGHLY recommend her to any parents and babies who are lucky enough to have her around for the most intense, joyful, and challenging moments of your lives. Thank you Margaret! You were invaluable to us and we cherish you!"

Misty Johnson

10/4/2016

We hired Margaret for birthing support but after it was all said and done we got way more then just birthing support. I hired her for my second birth. After my first experience with a training doula I knew I wanted somebody with more experience. I choose Margaret for her experience and price range match. As soon as I meet Margaret she has a calming and soothing persona. Soon after we hired her I was dianogaed with IUGR, in ureto growth restriction. Thankfully I was under Seebaby's care and they did a great job not freaking me out. Margaret did a great job keeping me calm and listening to my worries and supporting me. She sent me some great information about IUGR that was informative and not scienticfic. After 2 months of watching babys growth we were taken off of IUGR. Margaret did a great job helping me over the phone one night when I was having some anxiety and dehydration epsoide. She gave suggestions of what to do to relax and suggested I eat something and eventally I calm down and fell asleep.

Week forty came and went and I was into week 41 and Margaret was there for me via text or phone call. I was having contractions at night and then they would go away, Matgaret reassured me that my bidy was not failing and that my body was actually preparing for labor. It was Friday night at 2 am and the contractions were real and we drove to the hospital. Margaret meet us there and she was awesome. She knew most of the staff at DMC. She talked me through my contrations and kept me from getting any pain medications. She reassured me that this pain was going to change as baby started to trasition. As I started hard labor Margaret was there with cool wash clothes, water to drink, and fanning me. She allowed me and husband to focus on my pressure points and pain management. As I pushed with each contraction Margaret reminded me to follow my body and she

Erin Mihelic

9/18/2016

Being an older mom with a previous cesarean for my first birth, I knew I wanted less intervention and a natural birth for my second child. I had fears that this would not happen. I am grateful to have found Margaret, and probably would not have been able to have my birth plan come true without her. She understood my strengths and weaknesses, and helped me thru the entire process. She kept me focused and guided me with her knowledge. We have a healthy baby boy who had not one problem at all during my labor and birth, and I was able to achieve the most natural laboring experience I could have hoped for. I only wish I would have found Margaret for my first delivery!

Lauren Williams

9/14/2016

When my husband and I found out we were pregnant, we knew we wanted to hire a doula. We had no idea how thankful we would be for making that decision. I cannot imagine going through the birthing process without Margaret's support. After not going into labor on my own, I chose to induce at 42 weeks. I had no idea that an induction could last for days. Margaret was with us every step of the way. With the induction, we had a lot of decisions to make. Margaret was there for my husband and I to ask any questions about the different choices and help us make the best decisions for our birth. Margaret was as present as we wanted her to be during the four day induction. She even slept in her car at the hospital the night before our daughter was born. When we reached the final day of the induction, I was emotionally and physically drained. We made the choice that we were going to deliver our baby one way or another that day. Margaret refreshed the room by adding some christmas lights, helping me wash my face, giving me light massage, and giving me essential oils to create a positive birthing environment. This helped to give me the strength I needed to push our daughter out. Margaret encouraged and supported our choices throughout the whole birthing process. I do not think I would have been able to have a vaginal delivery after a four day induction without her help. We are forever grateful for Margaret helping to bring our beautiful baby girl into the world!

Julie Flores

3/29/2016

I will start this by saying that my husband and I were initially unsure whether working with a doula would be the right choice for us. However, as we prepared for the birth (my first) and I decided that I wanted to go through the process as naturally as possible, we knew it would be the right idea. Margaret was the first and last doula we spoke to during our search. Her calm and knowledgeable demeanor was immediately comforting and reassuring. Throughout the second half of my pregnancy, she was accessible and helpful at all times. As my "due date" came and went, she helped me stay calm and focused as my doctors pushed for an induction I didn't want.

Finally, I went into labor on my own! Margaret supported me as I labored at home for hours. Her pain management techniques and knowledge made the experience manageable. She accompanied us to the hospital, where things took a medical turn. Throughout the 40 hours between getting to the hospital and the arrival of my baby, Margaret was invaluable. I don't even know if I could explain how helpful she was. There was massage, there were comforting words, there were focusing and relaxation techniques, etc. All in all, she helped me get through one of the most challenging experiences of my life, and to come out feeling like I was strong despite making decisions I hadn't planned on. Having her in the delivery room was like having a friend, sister, mom, and cheerleader all at once. Margaret went above and beyond in her support of me during a stressful pregnancy and then an extremely long labor. I will always be grateful to her for helping to shape the experience into one that was overall positive, despite the challenges that arose.

I learned that you can never plan labor ahead of time, but you do want to control the factors that you can to make it the best possibe experience. If having Margaret there during birth is something you can control, I would highly recommend doing so!

Heather Kromer

3/19/2016

I felt comfortable with Margaret from our first interview.  Margaret is very knowledgable yet has such a calming presence.  The information that she provided us with in planning our labor and birth plan was invaluable.  This was our second birth and Margaret talked us through what went well and what we didn't like about our first birth experience (no doula).  From that discussion as well as Margaret's experience, my husband and I felt empowered going into the birth of our second child.

When labor started, Margaret was just a phone call away and gave us tips on how to labor at home to achieve the intervention free birth we had planned.  She greeted us at the hospital and was there to walk me in as my husband parked the car.  We are so thankful that Margaret was there as our labor and birth went extremely fast and Margaret was able to talk us through what was happening and make sure the hospital staff got us a room.  If it wasn't for her, I might have delivered in the hospital waiting room =)

Margaret was a wonderful addition to the delivery room, keeping that calm presence that I needed to push through the toughest parts of labor and delivery.  She even caught some priceless pictures of our son being born en caul.  We are so thankful that we found Margaret and that she helped us have a beautiful birth experience.

Ann Addicks

11/21/2014

Margaret was great!  She was willing to drive 35 miles north of AMC while I was in labor and did twice for our pre and post labor meetings. While I was in labor we communicated via text and she met me right at the front of AMC when we arrived.  She had the magic touch to help with my contractions and was assertive when needed.

I had a wonderful birth water birth experience with Margaret and afterwards she helped me latch my daughter onto both sides. She has years of experience and little tricks to help with the labor, birth, and postpartum process.

Jessica Vig

7/21/2014

My husband and I gave birth to our first baby in May 2014 and Margaret and Shari (Aizenman) were our doulas.  We cannot express enough gratitude to these two wonderful women for all the emotional and physical support they provided for both of us.

Margaret and Shari came to our house for an inital pre-natal appointment and set us at ease immediately.  They really listened to us, supported and encouraged our wishes.  In the following weeks, they were always available to answer questions, or to talk about any concerns that we had.  Additionally, they regularly emailed us articles with information about pregnancy, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, etc.--arming us with great information to assist in making decisions.

During our labor, Margaret and Shari knew all kinds of different comfort measures to try, suggesting them at just the right time.  Furthermore, having been involved with so many births at AMC, they knew exactly what to expect from the moment we arrived at the hospital, and helped us navigate that stage of our labor.  With their incredible support, we had a beautiful, memorable birth.

We highly recommend Margaret.  You will be lucky to have her as your doula!

Li Qi

6/13/2014

Margaret helped us with the birth of my second child.  She was exactly what we needed for the entire process.  Margaret was responsive to my inquires throughout the pregnancy and early labor stage.  She helped me determine when to go to the hospital.  During labor, her presence eased many of my anxieties.  She was the source of comfort I was looking for in the delivery room.  Margaret was also respectful to our wishes and preferences.  She also gave amazing massages! I will definitely recommend her for my friends.

Angela Jacobus Bergan

4/19/2014

Margaret is a saint! My husband and I cannot rave enough about her attentiveness, knowledge, and overall experience that she brought to our delivery day. Her calm demeanor was welcomed throughout my natural childbirth and she assisted to keep my birth plan as viable as possible. It was a tremendous help to have her input throughout the entire process and keep my mind open to different variables on everything from shots, hospital protocol, breastfeeding, ect.

We highly recommend Margaret Byrne and hope she can bless your birthing experience as she did for us.

Merrill Autry Baker

4/7/2014

It wasn’t until I became pregnant that I really even considered the idea of a natural childbirth. Unfortunately, this was not a common or popular choice with most of the women in my life, and their skepticism made me begin to doubt my choice. After researching online, I chose Shari Aizenman and her doula partner Margaret Byrne. From our very first meeting, my husband and I felt empowered and supported. They gave me the confidence that not only was I totally capable of having the birthing experience I wanted, but that it was the best thing for my baby.

Shari was wonderful in the time leading up to my birth. Whenever I had questions, she would send me great articles and research. She would offer opinions if I asked for them, but she never made me feel pressured to do things a certain way.

The day I went into labor, Shari and I stayed in close contact on the phone and via text. I wanted to stay at home as long as it was safe to do so, and these women made that possible for me. As things started to become more intense, Margaret and Shari came to my house. They knew exactly when it was time to make our way to the hospital, and after a memorable car ride, I arrived at the hospital already 7 centimeters dilated. In less than an hour and a half, and with no interventions, my baby girl was born.

Shari was unable to stay for the delivery because she had another client in labor, but Margaret was with us the whole time. She has a wonderful, calming nature that was a great fit for me and my husband. Even my OB was impressed by her! I can say without a doubt, that I could NOT have had a natural childbirth without the support of Margaret and Shari. First of all, I wouldn’t stayed at home for as long as I did without the comfort of knowing these women were there with me and would know when I needed to go to the hospital. Most importantly, they gave me confidence in myself and in my body’s ability. We would absolutely use them again!

Teresa Aaron

1/25/2014

I had the incredible opportunity to work with Shari Aizenman and Margaret Byrne as my birth team. I was trying to go into my birth with no expectations—I was considering a natural birth, but I didn't want to take an epidural off of the table. They seemed to think this was the correct way to approach laboring and birth. I had just asked them (per their suggestion) that if I requested an epidural, they would ask me to try to get through three more and see if I still wanted it.

On the day of my son's birth, I was incredibly calm and in tune with my body. My water broke early that morning but I didn't start labor until the afternoon. I kept Shari and Margaret in the loop throught the day, but it wasn't until my contractions started to get really intense around 7pm that I called them to say it's time. They were both at a pre natal appointment, so Shari met me at my house, where soon after arrival she declared it was time to head to the hospital. Margaret met us there. During the 2.5 hours in L&D, I remember how calming their presence was in the room with me—once the chaos of the doctors and nurses had left the room. At one point I did ask for the epidural, but they explained that by the time I got it I would be pushing anyway. It must have been then that I remember looking over at Margaret and feeling an amazing sense of calm looking at her. She was an incredible grounding force always one step ahead of me... with water to drink, and a calming voice with words of advice on how to get through each contraction.

In the end, because of this incredible team, I had my natural birth... something I really didn't think I could do. Margaret's calming presence is to thank. And I have some great pictures of my birth to boot! You'd be doing yourself a huge favor by inviting Margaret to be at your birth! I know my experience would have been completely different if I didn't have her and Shari by my side.

Yana Stowe

12/12/2013

This was my first pregnancy and I was completely clueless when it came to babies!  After watching the documentaries, "Pregnant in America" and "The Business of Being Born", I knew I wanted a natural birth, but I wasn't sure if I could do it on my own.  Not really knowing what a doula was, my husband and I did some research and decided that it was in our best interest to have a labor doula present during my labor to help me achieve the kind of birth that I wanted.  After reading Margaret's profile, I contacted her and scheduled a meet up.  Instantly, I felt at ease by her calming presence and her knowledge about natural birth, pain management/coping techniques and her background as a midwife.  She was such a huge support system to my husband and me, during the very first "cramp" that I felt, staying up with me all night while I labored at home, being with me during labor at the hospital and for the several hours she stayed with me after I delivered to make sure I and our baby boy were doing well with breastfeeding!  She was so encouranging, helpful and a complete blessing!  I ended up having the natural birth that I wanted and I know I could not have done it without Margaret!  My husband and I are completely grateful to have met Margaret and are blessed to have had her by my side during such an incredible, life changing event in our lives :)

Marissa Coleman

10/24/2013

Margaret was a calm and sweet spirit during my birthing experience!  She constantly recommended new techniques to help cope with my 36 hour long labor.  She was kind and compassionate when I felt like I could not endure my natural labor any longer.  I will never forget how she encouraged me in my darkest hour.  She shared that having an empowered birth is not about going natural vs medicated BUT it is about making informed decisions about my body and the birth of my baby.  When she shared this with my husband and I I felt so at peace that whatever decisions we made it was ok and I would not be a "failure" if we chose to have an epidural.  I can't say enough amazing things about Margaret!  I would absolutely hire her again as our doula and I give her my highest recommendation!  We love you, Margaret!

stephanie nadi olson

10/23/2013

I was fortunate enough to "inherit" Margaret as a second doula as she had just moved to Atlanta and was apprenticing with the wonderful Shari Aizenman. I remember the first time she came to my house. I was struck with her calm demeanor and was impressed with her background as a midwife. What fantastic experience for a doula to have! I got a great vibe from Margaret immediately and gave an enthusiastic "YES!" when Shari asked if she could join my birth. I am a little bit high strung, so was excited to have another person with a calm confidence in the room with me.

During my birth, Margaret was exactly the kind of support I needed- which was mostly to be left alone. I am so thankful that my care providers recognized that I needed to be alone to work through my birth. As my contractions approached their peak, Margaret quietly came over and rubbed my back. She knew what I needed before I did! She was delightful during and after birth, sticking around until the wee hours of the morning making sure my daughter was latched correctly. I will be forever grateful for the pictures she took of my birth as well! I was elated when she sent them over, as I didn't even realize she was taking them at the time. It's wonderful to have that documentation.

After my birth, I told me husband we would have to hire Shari AND Margaret next time around, but now I hear they are working as a pair. I couldn't recommend this team any more. They have such wonderful rapport together and are a wealth of love, knowledge and support.

Hilary Galt

10/17/2013

I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Margaret and what she means to our little family, now of three. We were blessed to have met Margaret in our 7th month of pregnancy!  We were all set with another doula but after meeting Margaret, we requested that she be our back up should our regular doula have to attend another birth.  When we got the call that our scheduled doula had to leave town for her own daughter's birth, we were able to remain perfectly calm knowing we were being left in wonderful, loving hands and were able to transition without skipping a beat!

Margaret was so wonderful and soothing to my husband and I both as labor stretched from a few hours into days (yes DAYS).  She came over to house and helped us with massage, pain coping techniques, and gentle direction. When I was finally ready to go the hospital, she was right there at check in.  She helped us create the environment in the room we wanted, aided us with communicating our birthplans to staff and helped us feel comfortable and set for a nautral labor, not exactly what the baby facory was used to seeing often.  When things went wrong (baby passed merconium in utero) she was our champion in helping us talk with the doctor to try and keep things on plan.  Our son would have certainly had his cord immeadiatly severed and been rushed across the room to a NICU team without her gentle suggestion to convince the doc to try bulb suctioning first with our son on my stomach.  When the doc demanded me flat on my back, Margaret was very respectfully able to suggest a position that would work for the doctor and allow me to push efficiently.  She single-handedly saved our birthplan from modern medicine thick-headedness!

Margaret's gentle, soothing demeanor and strong encouragement was exactly what we needed to get through an unexpectedly long labor in the manner we'd wanted.  I would highly recommend her to anyone!