Testimonial for Shelly Paskowitz
When I got pregnant with my first child, I was very unsure whether a doula would be right for my partner and me. In the end, hiring Shelly was undeniably the best decision we made-- entirely worth the added cost. Having another teammate who could provide affirmations and encouragement from pregnancy through birth and postpartum was invaluable. I didn't anticipate how important it would be to have someone with experience around to say "this is normal." Shelly was extremely responsive and knowledgeable whenever we had questions during my pregnancy and post-partum. She shared numerous resources which I now recommend to friends who are having children. Shelly helped me draft my birth plan and grieve it properly when things didn't go as planned. I was hoping for a natural childbirth and when I was diagnosed with oligo and brought in for induction, I ended up having a 6-hour rapid labor complete with epidural, hemorage, and retained placenta with cervical sweeps. The whole experience was extremely rapid, intense, and not at all what i'd hoped for. However, I feel extremely confident & grateful that I made decisions according to my own volition, values, and ultimately I am so happy to be healthy and to have a healthy baby boy. With each shock during my labor, Shelly was there to help me understand what was going on, weigh my options, and validate my choices. She was patient, kind, and confident. She did all of this while still protecting the bond between my partner and I. She was truly the best. After birth, I had several challenges initiating breast feeding. Shelly was extremely knowledgeable, and her confidence in my ability to perservere was integral in my ability to do so. She answered all of my questions and came to our home to help when we were desperate. Ultimately, I credit Shelly's support with my ability to feed my baby without nipple shields or supplementation. I would recommend Shelly to anyone without hesitation or reservation.
-Mallory Feldman
October 17, 2025
Birth Fee: $1800
