Shelley Hallman

8/3/2023

We used Tina for a few months as our postpartum doula and she was an absolute angel. I was struggling with postpartum depression and Tina gave me the support, compassion, and comfort I needed. She was so sweet and caring with my daughter. I felt 100% confortable leaving my daughter in her capable hands. As a new mom she was also very patient and supportive with me. She answered my countless questions, helped with breastfeeding and the transition to bottle feeding, and really boosted my confidence as a mom. I truly can't think her enough for her support during those first few months. 10/10!

Grace Macdonald

7/10/2023

Tina, is an absolute gem! From taking her birth class(I will forever remember her warmth and how carefully she attended to our questions)to having her care for my children, she showed herself to be a person of generous spirit who is caring and conscientious beyond measure. After birth, overwhelmed by motherhood and trapped in my singular role as care-giver to my large blended family, I tearfully called for help. When Tina came, it was such a relief. Her gentle kindness showed in her loving care for my son, and I was able to relax worry-free. Working with Tina was easy. She perfectly fit with our family and the workings of our home, helping with chores and errands as needed. She was a wonderful resource in those earlier times of parenthood where I was uncertain and needing a cheerleader. Her reassurance and encouragement gave me the confidence I needed to trust in myself as a new mom. During this time, Tina was incredibly thoughtful about safety. For months she was the only one we allowed in our home because of Covid. Tina was ever watchful for symptoms, prioritizing our safety and that of her other clients. Sometimes this meant masking, testing and skipping workdays to quarantine. Tina stayed with us long-term, through the birth of my second son, until recently, when our needs changed and with much sadness, our time together ended. Her expertise in the immediate postpartum was invaluable. Recovering from a caesarean and feeling very vulnerable, adjusting to two little ones was not easy. Tina understood and fit into the new craziness seamlessly, always two steps ahead knowing just what was needed for the baby and me. I don’t know what I would have done without her!
I am incredibly grateful for everything she did for my family. I don’t think I will ever meet another care-giver who I trust more or who is instinctually so nurturing. I'd be happy to speak with anyone who has questions about my experience in the three+ years I’ve known her.

Jamie Erlemeier

7/2/2023

Tina saved our family during a dark postpartum period. My son was born and had open heart surgery. While that alone is stressful, he needed an NG tube for several weeks. I had to feed him by mouth for 20 minutes, then push whatever he didn’t take through his NG tube for 30 minutes, and then hold him up right for 30 minutes, every 3 hours! I was truly losing my mind. I wasn’t sleeping, I couldn’t concentrate, like I said a very dark time. My midwife recommended Tina and what a godsend that was! Tina came in and did the night shift several nights a week so that I could function again. She cleaned bottles, did dishes, tidied up the playroom. It was like having a fairy godmother. It’s so hard to trust someone with your baby especially postpartum with all the hormones but Tina made it easy to trust her! I highly recommend her!

Mandy D

10/5/2021

I was blessed to be able to have Tina by my side for the birth of my second child. She was a reassuring presence throughout the last few weeks of my pregnancy, with texts and emails as I had my appointments and minor concerns.  But she really shined during the labor and delivery process. She was able to feel the baby's position,  and used a rebozo scarf to get him in a better one. She applied counter pressure on my back as my contractions worsened,  kept me aware of where I was in the labor process, and encouraged me the whole way.  I was able to labor at home for a while before heading to the hospital,  and was already 6 -7 cm dilated upon arrival.  About 2 hours later, I held my baby.  Thanks to Tina's physical and emotional support,  I was able to forego pain meds.  Delivering my 2nd child was night and day difference from my first pregnancy, and I can't recommend Tina enough. Even the hospital staff sang her praises!

Mike

8/14/2021

Tina is an Expert Doula. She has decades of experience that shine through during the most important moments, and this helped my wife (and I) achieve our natural, and unmedicated, birth goals. Working with Tina was a huge success and we would like to recommend her services for future parents. 

In addition to doula services, Tina also offers  virtual or at home Bradley Method classes for an additional cost. We opted for the at home sessions which occurred once a week and lasted about 2-3 hours and covered various preparation exercises and laboring expectations for natural delivery. We also learned the pros and cons of different approaches, as well as the 'Why' explanations behind different practices. We learned topics step-by-step that gradually built our knowledge and confidence in time for the main event.

As the husband, this course informed me about how my secondary role would support my wife through her labor. I learned preparation best-practices, physical labor-massage techniques, as well as labor & delivery information that we would likely encounter at the hospital. This ensured my wife and I were adequately informed prior to consenting to today's common (necessary and unnecessary) practices surrounding labor and delivery. 

Tina made herself readily available, often at inconvenient times during her busy work and family schedules. She is a very warm and welcoming professional, and has quickly become a family friend.

Marla

8/14/2021

Tina is an incredible doula. I primarily wanted a doula to help me achieve my unmedicated natural (hospital) birth goals and i can honestly say that Tina's support and guidance played a pivotal role in my success.

From the beginning she was available via text to answer questions I had as a FTM and i was encouraged to send her pictures/details, no matter how "gross or embarrassing". And when I had a few scares she was there to reassure me that everything would be fine but also suggested that i call my midwife to be safe. 

During the labor, she came over and provided tips that really made a difference and provided much needed relief. She was both an empowering and calming presence during the toughest times of my labor. As a FTM, I went into labor 8 days early and arrived at the hospital at 9cm dilated. I can truly say that Tina helped me achieve my birth goals. She was also there for some of the hardest days postpartum and provided needed encouragement and guidance for breastfeeding. Her tips were game-changing and helped my baby and I gain momentum and progress with latching and feeding. She even provided pediatrician recommendations which better aligned with our natural approach.

Tina also offers Bradly Method courses which we paid for separately. I had heard great things about Bradley Method so the fact that Tina was an instructor was an added bonus that other doulas lacked. Although I felt like the course was a bit repetitive and outdated, there were certainly things that benefited us during the labor and delivery. The weekly in-home classes also gave us the opportunity to bond with Tina so that when I went into labor, my husband and I felt totally comfortable with her in our home and at the hospital.

I would 100% recommend Tina as a doula. She was such a wonderful addition to my birth team and will be a lifelong family friend.

Carol Jarvis

12/22/2020

I am an older woman (37) and had my first birth this year during the Covid pandemic who was looking for a way to avoid a hospital birth. I would highly recommend Tina to anyone doing a homebirth or even a natural birth in hospital who wants an overall calm and positive birth experience.  Tina offered classes to explain to me and my loved ones who were going to be there during the birth what to expect, how to communicate with each other when the time came, and really made me feel empowered.  That the birth was not something that was going to happen to me, but something that I was truly meant for, that my body is built to do.  I was able to go into and through labor, understanding the different stages, without fear.  Tina's help to coach my breathing, constant positive reinforcement, and some rather creative exercises to help labor progress, meant I was able to do an all natural home birth without the trauma I had been taught to expect growning up. I was the captain of my own ship, so to speak, which was amazing. Tina was the consumate professional, kind, caring and she listened to me, answered my questions and had my (and the baby's) best interest in mind, always.  After the birth she helped take care of everything - ladies those first few hours after the baby comes is a wild blur of hormones happiness and exhaustion and I'm so glad there was someone there who knew all of the things that needed to be taken care of and handled it.  If I am ever fortunate to have another baby, I hope Tina would be there again.

THE BEST.

Susie

12/7/2020

Let me start by saying that Tina is amazing!! My second and third birth experiences were fabulous because of Tina!! We had not used a doula for our first birth (a horrible experience). Induced unnecessarily with a bad midwife, 46 hours of pitocin and ending in a csection. We had completed a Bradley course, but felt alone and uncared for during labor.

Our second delivery, also induced, in July 2017, was a world of difference. We had hired a doula (Tina). She was supportive in the weeks leading up to birth and throughout the induction and labor. I was able to have an induced natural (no epidural) VBAC. It was 36 hours, but I felt much more safe and in control. Tina was great. She literally held the oxygen mask on my face for hours and hours. She helped talk me through contractions, helped me get it different positions and rubbed black pepper oil on my back to help with the pain. She gave my husband support and took care of me when he needed to eat or update our family.
For our third labor, we booked Tina right away. This labor happened on day 10 of the pandemic shutdown (March 2020). It was a super scary time as so much was unknown. I had countless conversations with Tina the few days leading up to my induction (I was terrified). Tina was flexible and accommodating. She helped me find peace so that I was ready. She ended up not being able to be at our birth (due to hospital restrictions), but she was on the phone with us for a majority of the time.  She knew exactly where I was in labor and when I was ready to push by the sounds that I was making. It was incredible. My third labor (also induced with Pitocin and a foli bulb this time) was also a successful natural VBAC (no epidural). Painful labor was only an hour and a half!!  Having Tina on the phone was invaluable. My husband and I highly recommend her! She was also helpful to be post pardum for my third baby, as I struggled with post pardum anxiety! Hire Tina! She's the best!! 

Neith

6/11/2020

Tina was my doula for the birth of my first child at the end of May, 2020. When the pandemic happened, I worried about how she would be able to provide us doula support. But it worked out really well, and Tina’s support was invaluable.

When I started having contractions in the wee hours of the morning we called her and she talked my husband and I through figuring out whether labor was truly starting. Then when we were ready for some extra help, she came to our home (wearing a mask) to help me labor at home for as long as possible. That had been my goal to begin with, and with the pandemic any reduction in time spent at the hospital seemed like a good idea.

Once she arrived, I was blown away with how helpful her support was. As a first-time mother, having someone with so much experience there to help was exactly what I needed. Tina was a well of calm. Whenever I didn’t know what to do, she had just the idea for something to try that I never would have thought of: from positions to try to move labor along to food and drink to try when I couldn’t keep anything down. Speaking of which, she was also unbelievably calm and professional about the embarrassing bodily functions that are part of labor.

After I had been in labor for almost 24 hours, she helped us consider our options. When we decided it was time to go to the hospital, she supported us without judgement. After we got to the hospital, she was available as much as we wanted via phone. By this point, I was so exhausted that I was having a lot of trouble understanding what the doctors were telling me, so having a knowledgeable person to through decisions with my husband and me helped me feel much more confident.

I would highly recommend Tina to anyone looking for a doula. She is experienced, calm, empathetic, non-judgemental, and an all-around rockstar when you need her most. I am so grateful that we had her there.

Jessica Durkee-Shock

4/24/2020

I cannot be more grateful for the role that Tina played in my birth experience. 

I had a stressful first pregnancy, and my delivery resulted in a healthy mom and baby, but was not the experience I had planned or desired - despite the efforts of my first doula. I chose Tina to be my doula for my second child. Tina could not have been kinder, more accomodating, or more knowledgeable as she guided us through our second pregnancy and childbirth. She did 2 one-on-one sessions with my husband and I to discuss my goals for my delivery, my concerns, and comfort measures for my labor. She even mapped out a plan in our home that we could use to maximize our space during my labor. When I developed viral gastroenteritis at 39 weeks, precipitating what turned out to be false labor, she worked with me through the discomfort and uncertainty both over the phone and in person. When labor finally arrived naturally, she was by my side throughout with suggestions, as well as physical, emotional, and psychological support. Furthermore, she was able to guide my husband so that he could be the best support person he could be. When I felt I couldn't labor naturally any more, it was her certainty in my ability to cope, and her confidence in my labor progression that allowed me to eventually deliver my son without any medical interventions. My unmedicated delivery was the most overwhelming, empowering, and incredible experience of my life, and it would not have been possible without her guidance and expertise. I could not be more grateful to have this incredible woman's help at this incredibly stressful time - made even more so by the fact that my son was delivered in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you for everything Tina! 

Katie Truschel

3/6/2019

It would be an understatement to say that Tina is an amazing doula.  My husband and I knew we wanted a doula to help with achieving our ideal birth and after our first Bradley class with Tina, we knew she was the one. She is a breath of fresh air amongst all the information that will be thrown at you. Tina went above and beyond with the amount of knowledge she has from her years of experience and research based information. Her calming, motherly disposition combined with her experience and familiarity puts your nerves at ease.  She treats you like close friends from the beginning and during labor, her true colors shine.  As a medical provider, I like to have all the facts and information prior to making any decision. Any questions we had, no matter how personal, or at any hour, she would rpromptly respond with a thorough response. She has such a graceful way of ensuring you are informed and receiving the best care without stepping on providers toes. She covers all the possibilities that can occur to makes sure you’re informed, which is substantially better than the unknown. She is a great advocate and makes you feel empowered, supported and informed. For example, our birth plan included laboring at home and without medications. She came over in the late evening/early morning to help with laboring including different positions, relaxation techniques, ensuring I was hydrated and nourished. She helped us make the decision of when to go to the hospital and spoke up to the nursing and hospital staff that we wanted the birthing tub to ensure we had the opportunity to try all non invasive techniques. Even though I decided on epidural, she provided great support in our decision.  She gives you great guidance in what questions to ask to ensure you are making a sound decision and never talks you ‘in’ or ‘out’ of any treatment. My husband and I felt more confident with Tina supporting us throughout our pregnancy. 

Neva Hurley

1/22/2019

I hired Tina because I knew I wanted a doula to try to help me have labor naturally. Originally I found her because she conducted Bradley method classes. As I talked to different people in my circle of care, I heard only good things about her from those who worked with her. As I neared the end of my pregnancy, issues surfaced about the possible large size of the baby. I was concerned as my care providers were mentioning c section, something I really didn’t want unless truly necessary. Tina kindly did research for me about likelihood of shoulder distocia with larger babies. Her research helped me move forward with decision to try vaginally. When the big day came at 2 am on a Friday morning, she was readily available by text and helped me through beginning stages of labor. The labor was intense and long. 35 hours total of back labor. A lot of it is foggy to me now, but I know that each person in that hospital room that day was essential for me to make it through it. Especially Tina. She would suggest new positions to try, ideas for pain management and just was there emotionally and physically to help. When I finally had to get an epidural at 7 cm with no change in sight after 24 hours of back labor, she supported me in that decision. Even though I went into it wanting a fully natural birth, I was humbled by the experience and realized that medicine is here to help us when our bodies and minds can’t do it anymore. After the vaginal birth, she checked up on me regularly as there were issues with my baby. He had to be taken to the Nicu for over a week. Her care and concern were comforting to me. She’s a gem. Definitely worth every cent and more of her price. I would hire her again if we had another one. Truly an intelligent, hard working, level headed, compassionate person that is a model of what a doula should be.

paf 2410

1/20/2019

From start to finish Tina was the advocate and support  my wife and I were hoping for!

We met Tina while attending a class on birthing and got a chance to know her ahead of the birth, which I think was a huge plus. Knowing we had a team in place for our baby’s birth felt empowering going into delivery. Once the day came Tina was there to help us through the information regarding labor and the associated complications as they came up. She reminded us to ask questions or check that, when possible, we were staying with our birth plan. Tina was able to calm my wife and soothe her without stepping on my toes. During labor she was able to reach my wife when I might have said the wrong thing or been less helpful. It was wonderful having Tina there, as a face we knew in the delivery room and helping us bring our baby safely into the world.

Tina is a knowledgeable doula who has a great wealth of experiences to draw on to help anyone through the birth process.  I know my wife and I cannot imagine having gone through it without her there by our side.

C Mikelson

1/16/2019

When I became pregnant, I knew I wanted a doula.  I felt nervous for what was to come and knew I'd need support.  Whenever I asked someone in town who they recommended as a doula, Tina's name always came up.  I'm so grateful we hired her and had her by our side.  We started by taking her Bradley Birth class.   I'm someone who likes information, so blindly walking into the birth wasn't an option.  Her class really helped us understand the birthing process, our options, and how to help ourselves get the best experience possible.  Her class also helped my husband prepare for his role, which made him feel informed and useful on thie big day and made me feel better supported.

When the day arrived, Tina made herself available to us as we needed her.  She has a very calm, reassuring manner.  She helped me be comfortable through early labor and to gague when it was time to head to the hospital.  Once there, it became clear how important it was to have her there.  The hospital threw some major curve balls at us.  With Tina there, we felt supported, informed and able to navigate the unexpected situations.  As a result, I think we ended up with a much better birth experience than what it could have possibly been.  She was also great at helping me to be more comfortable, to keep my labor moving, and also to keep up morale!

I would recommend Tina to anyone in a heartbeat.  With a simple labor, she'll be a calming, caring presence.  With more complicated situations (as we had), she will support you and help you navigate the situation to have the birth you want.  If we have another child, we will absolutely hire her again!!

Becky Tyler

6/4/2017

There is no possible way I would have gotten my natural vbac if it weren't for Tina! She was a rock throughout my labor, not only for me, but also for my husband. And by the time my daughter arrived, my midwife was also singing her praises and asking for her card to pass out to patients! Tina made me feel like a goddess during labor. She provided natural pain relief through different positions and other method, I never got the epidural.  She was just so knowledgeable about the whole process that I always felt very safe having her there. I am so thankful she was with me to help me achieve the birth I had been wanting! It was a life changing experience and I cannot recommend her services enough!

Valerie Brady

10/26/2016

We hired Tina for the birth of our third baby. My first baby was an induced, medicated, vaginal birth. My second was a completely natural vaginal birth. You'd think by baby number 3 we'd be ready to tackle childbirth as seasoned pros... Not the case!

Tina is a great person all around. She is very easy to talk to and even after meeting with her a few times it was like chatting with an old friend. She has such a gentle approach. She helped us make goals for our birth and helped us keep the birth on track in that direction.

In early labor she had me walking up and down stairs to help the baby descend. Let me tell you, I was thrilled to hear that idea but so glad later that she suggested it! I could tell it helped the baby drop, my labor picked up, I was energized and motivated. She stood with me on the stairs and we chatted the steps away.

Once labor got more intense, she was by my side helping me to find ways to stay comfortable. She knew what to say and when to say it. At one point during labor I glanced over and she wasn't there. I had a small panic attack to which my husband assured me she just took a quick bathroom break! Her presence was so calming and reassuring to me.

Another reason I hired Tina was extra eyes. She has been to so many births and has so much experience childbirth experience. I knew she would speak up if she was concerned for my health or the baby.

All of my childbirth experiences were very different but my natural childbirth with Tina was by far one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences of my life. She helped me stay in control, manage the pain, keep labor going, and birth a healthy 9.5 pound baby naturally!

I have the ability to birth a baby without a doula, but I know that if baby #4 is in our future, Tina will be one of the first people to hear the good news! We couldn't imagine another birthing experience without her! Many thanks and much love to you Tina!

Andrea Crouse

6/26/2016

Attending Bradley classes with Tina was the best decision my husband and I EVER made. EVER. Tina is a reservoir of pertinent and supported information regarding all aspects of pregnancy and birth. And, what information she didn’t know, she knew how to find. She made me feel confident, which allowed me to get excited about my birth without all the worry I had been having.
We were still concerned about the long drive to the closest birthing center, and hoped to have a home birth. After a few awkward interviews with midwives, I was feeling particularly frustrated, and loudly sighed, “UGH! Tina, why can’t you just come over and deliver our baby for us?” “I can!” she said. And, finally all was right with the world. (Tina is so humble, and so careful not to solicit during her classes; she had never even mentioned to us she could do so.) We immediately secured her services.
When I went into labor, Tina came over and swiftly took control. I had a difficult time because my son was head down, but not entirely turned to face my back, which was reducing the pressure on my cervix. I had to push for three hours, while Tina held my cervix out of the way for me, which she did readily and without concern. She continuously encouraged me and let me know what progress I was making. Tina made me feel strong and believe in myself, allowing me to persevere. Because of the long labor, our son needed some extra encouragement after he was born, and she worked quickly to ensure he perked right up, all the while remaining calm and in control.
Our birth was as beautiful and personal as we had hoped, thanks to Tina. My husband was able to support me without worrying, because we were in such good hands. Thanks to Tina, our little guy had a very sweet, calm, and natural entrance to our lives, in our very own home. We will never forget what she did for us, and be forever grateful for the love and strength she brought to the birth of our son.

Brooke Dobberstein

10/12/2015

Tina is a very special person in my life. She has filled the role as an educator, my doula, and a role model. Having Tina in my life has been a blessing. I met Tina in October 2014 at the time I was pregnant and Tina was our Bradley birthing class teacher. Right away I fell in love with Tina. I found her to be educated, authentic, and caring. As we (my husband and I) continued taking Tina's class, we knew we wanted her to be our doula. I think it is important to know that Tina never advertised herself to our class.

Tina was a fabulous doula! Seriously, she was a gift from God to us. During my pregnancy she was always there for me when I needed her. Tina was what I needed during the birth of my daughter. She rubbed my back, suggested more comfortable positions, motivated me, and comforted me. I felt very comfortable with Tina, almost like she was my mom. I'm not sure I could have done a natural birth without Tina, she was so helpful.

Tina continues to be a big part of my family's life. As a new mom I have many questions about my baby and though it has been 8 months since my baby was born, Tina still helps me out.

I promise you cannot go wrong with having Tina as your doula. She is amazing and you will be so happy to have her in your birthing journey.

Melanie Clark

3/31/2015

We have several friends who have hired Tina as a doula, and they couldn't say enough great things about her. When my husband and I found out we were going to have our first baby, we contacted Tina and signed up for childbirth classes and her doula services--we are SO GLAD that we did!

Tina was SO knowledgeable, kind, wise, encouraging, experienced, and amazingly patient--everything we wanted in a labor support person! I labored for nearly 3 days, and Tina came to our home as soon as we asked her to, staying by my side, offering advice and encouragement, physical and emotional support, and spreading calm with her soothing, gentle personality. We got to the hospital about 2.5 hours before our baby was born, and without Tina I know I would not have been able to spend so much of my labor in the comfort of my home.

I could NEVER have achieved the natural birth I desired without her!!! I can't imagine a better lady to have by your side when laboring and giving birth--Thank you, Tina!

Emilie Novak

11/25/2014

My husband and I are first time parents and from the moment we found out we were expecting we knew we wanted to have a natural birth. I knew from day one I wanted to hire a doula. My husband and I found Tina an invaluable member of our birth team. We were lucky enough to have a beautiful natural birth experience that we could NOT have accomplished without Tina. She anticipated my every need. She was an amazing birth partner! She helped keep me hydrated, offered counter pressure, massage, and encouragement through my 10.5 hour labor. Her knowledge of the birth process and experience with natural pain management measures made my active labor more tolerable. Tina provided emotional as well as physical birth support for both my husband and I. Tina’s commitment to my baby and I did not end after labor; she was also very helpful in helping my baby and I learn to breastfeed. Post-partum, Tina came to our home and worked with my baby and I for over 2 hours to establish a breastfeeding relationship. She is knowledgeable about ALL things baby. If we are blessed with another little one we will definitely being hiring Tina again! I couldn’t imagine embarking on another birth journey without her!

Emily Ashby

9/13/2014

i found Tina through a recommendation for Bradley classes.  My husband and I enrolled in her January 2007 class to prepare for our first son's birth.  The Bradley classes offered a wealth of information (and friendships!), and Tina and I remained close after my first birth.  When I found out I was expecting my second, my husband gave me a wonderful Mother's Day present and told me to hire her for our upcoming birth.  I'm so grateful she was there!

Tina was kind, compassionate and almost transparent as she worked with me in labor.  She just knew exactly what I needed (even before I knew what I needed), and was a rock of strength.  My husband was so extremely grateful for her presence and and we all worked together as a team.

Tina was also there with her expertise through two miscarriages;always able to calm and comfort whenever necessary during unexpected times of grief.

Tina has a gift that I believe few have.  She is passionate and caring about women.  She bears intuition and compassion.  And I am forever grateful for the support that she has given over the years.   What started as a birth class to ensure I would have information about natural childbirth has ended in a lifelong friend.

Amy Pramik

9/3/2014

My SIL recommended taking Bradley classes to prepare us for the birth of our first baby.  We checked out the website and gave Tina a call.  She was just starting a new session so we signed up and started in April/May 2003.  It was all overwhelming information (being first time parents) but Tina was very knowledgable and passionate about what she was teaching.  About halfway into the classes she started talking about Doulas and their important role at birth.  At first, my husband was not sold having another person with us during such an intimate time.  We will have a midwife, she is all we will need.  By the end of our class, luckily, someone came around ??.  Tina and I became close during the Bradley classes and in the weeks leading up to Zachary's birth.

Zach's birth was a long one....as most first time births are.  Tina was my rock, John's rock, I don't know how I would have made it thru without her.  John was there supporting me emotionally and physically, Tina was there for me physically (love those hip sqeezes!), mentally and emotionally.  Never once did she give up on me when I was so ready to give up on myself.  Tina was very calm when she was with me.  That's what I remember most, especially when labor was at its most intense and I was beside myself with emotion and fear.  John was there yes.  But knowing that another woman, that had gone through this same process, was there with me was such a comfort.   She knew when to push me, when to let up, let me surrender, coach me through tough contractions.  My perfect out of hospital birth that I had been planning for months ended in a C-section after 20 hours of labor.  Tina was the best decision we made.  She also attended the birth of our second child Lauren,my VBAC baby,as well. Zach just turned 11.  I thought Tina knew a lot about birthing babies then,she has that much more experience now!

Jo Grundy

9/2/2014

I honestly cannot say enough about Tina when it comes to Childbirth Education and Doula services.  I first corresponded with her during my first pregnancy when inquiring about Bradley classes. Unfortunately, the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage before I met her in person.  When she found out why I wouldn't be attending classes she offered an amazing level of support for someone I'd never met.   She was our Bradley Instructor for our second pregnancy and opened our eyes to the many options available for natural childbirth.  Mid-pregnacy, we decided to change our care from a hospital to birth center and hired her as our Doula.  It was a very long labor and she was instrumental in the positive outcome of our child's birth, knowing what to do in order to keep things progressing, and gently guiding us away from choices offered by others that would not be as effective.  We hired her again for the birth of our second child, but this time things went much quicker, and I believe it was due, in large part, to some suggested reading by Tina and a preparatory meeting with her at our home prior to labor and delivery.  I will always be grateful to her for instilling my belief and knowledge that childbirth is amazing.  This world is full of many gifts and Tina is one of them!

Joshua Neel

9/2/2014

I was initially skeptical at my wife's desire to have a natural childbirth.  However I agreed to take Bradley classes because I wanted to be supportive.  We took classes with Tina, and I am glad we did.  As first time parents, Tina helped us to understand the birth process and what to expect during natural labor.  We were so impressed with her that we decided to hire her as our doula.  My wife loved her OB but he only delivered in a hospital and we thought it would be good to have a doula on our side as we braved a natural childbirth in a hospital setting.  I thought I was pretty well prepared as a labor coach after taking the classes.  However, I admit in the heat of the moment, I wasn't as on top of it as I could have been.  Little things like making sure my wife was hydrated slipped my mind.  Tina did a phenomenal job of stepping in where help was needed without having to say a word.  Her experience and knowledge helped us to stay calm and focused through the entire process.

We had a wonderful natural birth experience although we were a little put off by all of the red tape and procedures that followed a hospital birth.  When we found out we were expecting our second child we decided to go to a birth center.  We hired Tina as our doula and it was reassuring to have her with us again even though we had switched birthing practices.  A couple of weeks prior to our second child being born, my wife went through false labor and Tina was right there to help her navigate through what was going on.  When real labor hit, my wife was feeling a little discouraged questioning if it was real.  However, Tina was able to use her experience to encourage her in ways that I could not have done alone.  Shortly after we began working seamlessly as team and had a beautiful birth experience.  If we are blessed with another child I will not hesitate to have Tina on our team again!

Jo Crawford

9/1/2014

Tina was my Doula and supported me through a vaginal homebirth after 2 cesareans. You could not ask for a better, wiser, more experienced doula than she is!

Shawna Sherrell

9/1/2014

My husband and I participated in Bradley classes with Tina in early 2011 in preparation for the birth of our first child in June 2011. It was a life-changing decision. Meeting Tina placed me on the path to getting the type of birth experiences that I wanted for my family. We hired her to be our doula for our first birth.

I completely credit Tina's classes with providing us with the education to make informed choices about where we would be giving birth, who would be on our support team, and our rights during childbirth. My first birth was an amazing and transcendent natural waterbirth due to Tina's classes and her unwavering, calming & supportive presence.

When the time came in 2014 to hire a doula for our second child's birth, it wasn't even a question - we knew that Tina would be in that room. My second birth was fast & intense, and Tina gave the best advice to help me get through it. For both labors, Tina's supportive presence, intuitive care, and calming touch were invaluable - it gave me the confidence and trust in my body to move forward. At my second birth, she saved my life by stopping a nurse who drew up a medication (twice!) that I am severely allergic to- despite the fact that it was written all over my chart that I could not have it.

Tina's wisdom and expertise are unparalleled- I recommend her all the time to my friends and acquaintances. As you're assembling the people who will be by your side during the birth of your child(ren), Tina needs to be on that list. She works well with other staff and nurses and she's an invaluable asset to have - whether your birth is only 2 hours long or over 24 - she is worth every penny and more.

Christine Brown

9/1/2014

Tina was my doula for the births of both of my children (my son in December 2011 and my daughter in July 2014).  I was able to have both of my children via waterbirth at Special Beginnings, and I don't think I could have done it either time without Tina there.  She was great at offering suggestions to help labor progress and she was able to help me stay calm during the process.  I was especially happy to have her around during my pregnancy with my daughter because I had more questions/concerns than I had with my first pregnancy.  She was able to clearly explain what was going on & make me feel better about things that were different this time around.  If I have any more children, I would definitely hire her again because I feel a lot safer with her helping bring my babies into the world.

kimberly pickett

8/26/2014

I was lucky enough to sign up for childbirth education classes with Tina. It is apparent from the moment you meet Tina that you have met a most amazing, compassionate and knowledgeable person. In her classes my husband and I learned so much, including the fact that having a Doula with you as you labor is a good way to make sure your birth plan goes as close to desired as possible. As we continued our classes I felt so comfortable with her that I knew I didn’t need to look further and asked if she would assist me. Tina was wonderful as I was nearing my due date, with fake labor alarms and keeping me calm over the phone. When I did go into real labor she told me she would come as soon as I wanted her to be there (which was pretty early along). She was AMAZING. She guided me through each stage, helping it progress with ease. She always had a good suggestion on what to do next once it had turned a corner – and those seven hours actually flew by with her and my husband by my side! Luckily I was able to stick with everything I wanted out of my birthing experience and I know that I look back fondly on that time in a large part because of her. I can honestly say I don’t know that you could find a better doula!

Amy Scott

8/26/2014

My husband and I took Bradley classes with Tina in 2008 and immediately hired her to be our doula for our September 2008 birth. We hired her again for our June 2010 birth. Tina is the perfect combination of knowledge, strength, integrity and heart. I wanted her by my side for both births because she has this incredibly calm energy and a gentle spirit. She's also very intuitive and took care of my needs even before I knew I needed something. I found myself asking, "how did you know I wanted that?" on several occasions! She is an awesome advocate and made sure to communicate everything to me clearly so that I could make the best decisions possible in my intense birthing experiences. I am forever grateful that she was a member of our birth team and highly recommend her to anyone having a home, birth center or hospital birth. You will be immensely grateful that you did!

Kelly Spicer

8/26/2014

I found Tina after my first birth experience, which was traumatic and ended in unnecessary cesarean. I was a young mom who had not grasped the concept that I may not be as strong as I had imagined during labor, and the doctor might not have my best interest at heart - a realization that set in after a 12 hour induction with a doctor who told me that "not every one was made to give birth vaginally" by phone, not even face to face. After that experience, I decided that I wanted to change the things I had control of with my next child. I searched for alternative birth education, birthing methods and facilities, and doulas, and found Tina.

Tina was a calm, wise, easy going person who made me feel more comfortable about my body and the birth of my child through her Bradley classes and through simple conversation. She welcomed a group of parents into her own home, made us feel welcome, and taught us the things that we'd need to feel more prepared and less at the mercy of medical staff and policies. With her help and support, I found the Baltimore Birth Center, midwives who treated me as an individual woman and a mother, and had Tina as my amazing doula during a four day prodronal labor and wonderful, peaceful VBAC waterbirth. I could not have had a better experience, and I credit much of it to Tina. I have had 3 successful VBAC's because of what I learned from her.

She has worked with masters in the childbirth field, and developed a respect and understanding of a woman's body and how different each labor can be. She has the tools and experience to help anyone arrive at a safe, healthy conclusion in any situation. I would recommend her to any woman who needs a doula with quiet strength, humor and over a decade of experience with families that trust her to help bring their children into the world.