Testimonial for Abbie Alvey IBCLC, CD(DONA)
Abbie was everything I hoped a doula was going to be and so, so much more! I would recommend her a million times over.
She has such a wealth of knowledge and experience which seemed so natural to her. We had our prenatal appointments and each time she came both me and my husband felt more and more reassured. Having a doula was not just helpful to me, but also for my husband!
Our baby came 4 weeks early and it was a huge surprise to us. I called Abbie right away and she always remained calm and confident. She came to Alta Bates Berkeley and knew how to manage things from the start. My water broke and I wasn't getting any contractions yet. I was hoping to avoid being induced as much as I could, & Abbie helped buy us more time with the doctor.
Luckily, my contractions came naturally and quite fast! She helped coach me & my husband during the whole process and even gave great feedback to the nurses. We found different methods to "cope" with contractions and she helped relax me once they passed. Changing things up a lot and adjusting it to my needs without asking too many questions (because who can really talk or think too much during that time?) or inflicting her opinion too much. She was the perfect balance!
I am proud to say, I was able to have a natural and speedy birth. No epidural and from contraction to birth was about 5 hours (our doctor was amazed). I can also proudly say I couldn't have done it without Abbie's guidance, care & experience.
Things don't stop once the baby is born either. Since our son was 4 weeks early, one of the general concerns was that he wouldn't know how to nurse as efficiently. Abbie helped me learn how to position myself better and also how a good latch should look and feel like. She came to visit our place twice to help with lactation and was always accessible via text or phone call. With her advice and help, I was also able to breastfeed exclusively since the beginning.
-Angie Bui
March 12, 2018
Abbie Alvey IBCLC, CD(DONA)
Nurture Doula Services
Birth Fee: $2600
