Testimonial for Christina Carino CD(DONA)
I'm an involved father of a great 6yo boy, who was born via "coerced" C-section in a large assembly-line style hospital. Until my wife had joined and spent time in ICAN, I had never heard the word "midwife" or "doula" before in my life. As we did not have either the first time around, I had some concerns about what my role and involvement would be. Would the doula be in charge? Would I have any say?
I met Christina while my wife was in her second trimester. She's a lovely person, very helpful and knowledgeable about birth. She encouraged me to read a book on being a birth partner. She included me in conversations and treated me with respect.
You'd think that is the norm. Unfortunately, in today's birth world, Dads don't have a specific say or role in birth. However, with Christina, I quickly realized that I could not only play a big role, but that my role would not conflict with hers.
We were dead set on having a VBAC with our second child. When we got the call from our practice on our due date, telling us the sonogram review necessitated a rush to the hospital for another C-section, my wife was inconsolable. Christina stayed on the phone with her throughout the drive, arrived soon after we did and was an extremely calming force in the midst of what had become decidedly not "our plan".
She stayed and spoke with the doctors. I went to the OR, stayed through the procedure and got to touch my new baby daughter. I went back to the recovery room ahead of my wife, and Christina stayed with me while i went skin-to-skin with my baby. She took pictures, videos and preserved this precious time and I was able to share them back with my wife when she arrived in the recovery room.
She stayed with us until we couldn't think of anything we needed from her (trust me, that took a while!) She also drove to our house and brought our 6 year old to the hospital to meet his sister.
She did what we needed. And I'm grateful for her.
-Tom Drapeau
August 16, 2013
Christina Carino CD(DONA)
Belly to Birth
Birth Fee: $1800 to $2600
Postpartum Rate: $40 to $60
