Testimonial for Mariah Falin, CD(PALS), PPD, PES
I was on the fence about hiring a doula. I am a labor and delivery nurse and thought "well I already know more or less what to expect and won't that just be a lot of people in the room - the midwife, the nurse, my partner...those hospital rooms aren't that big!". However I wanted to attempt an unmedicated vaginal delivery and knew that not only was a doula valuable in my experience with patients but that research actually supports that your likelihood of having an unmedicated vaginal delivery usually increases 1) the longer you labor at home and 2) with continuous labor support in the form of a doula. My husband - bless his soul - is not in the medical field, and although we took birth classes together, has said that there was no way he could have possibly prepared for the experience of labor and that having the doula there was hands down the best decision we could have made and that he considers it a necessity for any future births. It felt invaluable to him to have someone that knew the screaming/ pain/ uncomfortableness was normal and to remain calm. The birth of my beautiful baby boy was a very intense and crazy 13 hour ride, and I don't want to think about what it would have been like without Mariah there. She labored with me at home, and very shortly after she arrived palce the TENS unit on my back which helped me a lot, if for no other reason than giving me something to do/ feeling like I could control some sensation on my body. After about 9 hours of labor at home, we decided to go to the hospital where I was found to be 7-8cm along! That was a great and validating moment for me. The immediate moments after birth were not what I expected, as trasition had really put my mind on a roller coaster; however Mariah, Ildi, and the midwife helped me process what happened in the days after the birth. I am so grateful to have had these ladies by my side leading up to birth, during labor, and throughout early postpartum. I would hire them again in a heartbeat!
-Alyssa Reeb
January 24, 2018
Mariah Falin, CD(PALS), PPD, PES
Birth Matters NW
Birth Fee: $3600
Postpartum Rate: $60 to $65
