Testimonial for Odile Penet, CD(DONA), LCCE, PES
Odile was integral to our wonderful labor and delivery. What makes me love Odile so much is that she respects your beliefs, does not try to infringe her beliefs upon you, and supports your beliefs every way she can.
Although I was in labor for a full 24 hours, she did not wane and was fully there and supportive, and her presence did not detract from the intimacy of the occasion for my husband and I. Given that I had so much work-related travel during my pregnancy, I wasn't at home enough sequential weeks for my husband and I to take a birthing class together. She coached us through a natural birth, and she had many techniques to deal with pain, to create a soothing ambience in the hospital suite, made sure I kept hydrated, and helped us to remember and sort through all the information that was coming at us in that 24-hour span. I'm very pleased to have had the type of birth experience that was aligned with my beliefs, and I can imagine the outcome being quite different if Odile wasn't there for us.
Prior to meeting with Odile in person, my husband was skeptical about us getting a doula because he thought that we could do it on our own, together. However, after the labor and delivery process, he was extremely appreciative of her presence with us and he felt that she was there for him as well. He asked her questions through the process, and Odile would provide my husband with guidance; she also would make she he was eating and staying hydrated, and taking rests himself! Her emotional support to both of us was tremendous, especially since emotions went high and low throughout our day of labor.
I didn't reach out to her until my eighth month (I recommend finding a doula sooner if you can!), but luckily she wasn't booked. She visited with us during the last month of pregnancy, we were in contact frequently via email/text/phone (she works with whatever works best for you), and then she visited and checked in with us post-partum.
-Anya Castillo
August 05, 2014
Odile Penet, CD(DONA), LCCE, PES
My Birth Companion, LLC
Birth Fee: Not specified
