Testimonial for Caroline Gatsch
My partner and I hired Caroline to help with the birth of our first child. We were thrilled when I became pregnant! Early in my pregnancy, I determined that it was important to me to have as natural a birth as possible, especially to avoid an unnecessary c-section or an epidural. My partner and I decided to use hypnobirthing techniques to help us achieve a natural and peaceful birth in a hospital setting. We debated whether or not a doula would be helpful for a long time.
At 34 weeks of pregnancy, I lost confidence in one of my two OBs. This doctor disagreed with much of my birth plan! So my partner and I interviewed a couple of doulas and hired Caroline. What a great decision! Immediately, Caroline helped me evaluate the problems with the doctor, and gave me confidence about the possibility of having the kind of birth I wanted in a hospital setting without changing doctors. Caroline also helped me anticipate additional problems with this doctor, so that I would be prepared to address them.
My birth was absolutely wonderful! It started late in the evening two days before my due date, and was so mild that I was not sure I was in labor. In fact, my partner and I didn't really realize what was going on until I was in transition! We called Caroline, who made sure that we got to the hospital immediately. I only wish we would have known to call Caroline earlier! Caroline met us there, and helped both my partner and I calm down and get back to the peaceful birth we wanted. In the hospital, Caroline directed the pushing, so that I was interacting with her and my partner, not with nurses or a doctor whom I did not know. I got to touch my baby's head as soon as it was out, and felt calm and happiness as I pushed my baby out without medication. Neither my partner nor I had to worry about hospital staff trying to push us into interventions we didn't want. Truly the best experience of my life, and Caroline was a huge part of that!
-Tara O'Dowd
August 29, 2009
Caroline Gatsch
Hopewell Doulas (...formerly The "Columbus Doula")
Birth Fee: $0 to $1000
