Testimonial for Melissa F. Haley (they/them)
Oh my goodness, where to start?
For our first baby we knew we wanted a doula to guide us through this new and daunting (to us) experience. We went through a local doula service, interviewed a couple and settled on one. However, a few weeks before the birth, the doula we picked had to bow out and offered a replacement doula - Mel. We were a bit worried, going into our first birth, with a doula we had never met in person - it was enough to make an already anxiety-ridden situation worse. But we worried for no reason. Mel was the best part of that first birth (obviously besides meeting baby for the first time). They weathered through a 55 hour ordeal where I refused an epidural way too long and ended up having panic attacks for the last few hours of it. The whole time they managed to be there for myself AND my partner. Mel was a no-brainer choice for our second birth, which ended up not being quite as long as the first one, but still longer than we would have liked. Mel had snacks and energizing juice when my provider put me on a liquid diet for multiple days, created light moments during some very trying times, and took some very touching photos of me and my partner and us and our babies without making us feel watched. They were a fly on the wall when they needed to be, and a leader when the situation called for it. They led us in maneuvers to try to push labor forward, suggested position changes when it felt like things were stalling, and just overall knew when to speak up and when to stay silent in the moment. They worked flawlessly with our hospital providers, even when the moment was tense. I cannot say enough good things about Mel. From the materials they put together for review before birth, to the pre and post partum packages, Mel has thought of everything and you can tell that they are very in tune with labor and what it requires. My partner and I are quite sure we will not have a third, but if we did, Mel would be our first call! :D
-Amy
July 24, 2025
Melissa F. Haley (they/them)
M.Ed., CD, CBE @wyld_garden
Birth Fee: $1900 to $2300
Postpartum Rate: $45
