Testimonial for Yvonne Gatling
Yvonne is wonderful! Having her as my doula for my daughter's birth gave me some much-appreciated steadiness and confidence, as it was my first pregnancy and everything was so new.
Anyone who has ever met Yvonne knows that one of the striking things about her is her calming presence- exactly the kind of person I would want coaching me through one of the most difficult hours of my life. She is genuine and caring, and was really great about keeping me prepped and prepared throughout my pregnancy without overwhelming me. She regularly checked in, matching my curiosity with information and a peaceful energy. She never pressured me to choose one birth decision or experience over another, she simple kept me informed and let me call the shots.
My labor experience was about 21 hours in total, and Yvonne was there to coach me and my husband through each stage. Again, she gave helpful options, but everything was ultimately my call. Even when we went to the hospital much too early (and she knew it!) only to be sent back home, she left the decision to me. When I was eventually admitted and had labored to 7 cm, I was going back and forth about getting an epidural, as it was always on the table for me but I wasn't sure. I confessed to Yvonne that I felt like I would somehow let her down by getting it, but she cut off that thought process immediately. Maybe it sounds silly now, but the way she reassured me that whatever option I chose was the right one for me really gave me the confidence I needed to go ahead and get the epidural- and in hindsight I'm glad I did.
Throughout the whole labor/delivery/postpartum journey she showed me such deliberate care, for which I'm still so grateful. I could go on and on about Yvonne, but I'll just say that I'm so glad it was her who was with me during that experience, and should I be blessed to have more children she's the only one I'll call!
-Anna Settle
September 19, 2025
Birth Fee: Not specified
