My experience with Cara was simply superb. I would recommend her to anyone.
Cara offered excellent preparatory materials and consultations, including a visit to our house. As a direct result, we felt going into the delivery as if we knew and understood our preferences, rights and had a plan that made sense and felt good for us. She checked on me often, offering support and tips, such as a great acupuncturist who helped induce labor naturally 5 days after my due date. When my contractions started, I felt strongly that I wanted to labor at home as long as possible, and Cara was on the phone with me and my husband, gauging my progress and giving us helpful ideas of how to proceed. She was in the car on the phone with us when my labor activated quickly, and we agreed to meet at the hospital rather than at home.
Once at the hospital, Cara was a godsend. She was a calming influence, arriving with essential oils and putting me at ease. She knew our preferences for a natural birth and when the hospital staff started to hook up an IV, she reminded my somewhat flustered husband our decision to try just the entry point hook-up instead. Knowing that I had been laboring at home mainly in a forward facing position on the birthing ball, she suggested that I continue in that position - but on the bed - in the hospital. It was just right -- and I progressed from 4cm to 8cm dillation in under 30 minutes. Cara than cheered me on helpfully alongside my husband and the doctor, and based on her education, advice and guidance I ended up giving birth for the first time under 2 hours after hospital arrival. Ideal.
Cara maintained helpful follow-up contact int he week or so following the birth, checking on baby and my well-being on all fronts. She offered great emotional support as well as expert tips on breastfeeding and sleeping especially. I offer my highest recommendation for Cara's doula services.
-Caroline Savage
January 17, 2014
Cara Crowe LLC
Birth Fee: $1500 to $2000
Postpartum Rate: $50 to $55