Testimonial for Keelia Alder
Oh my goodness, Keelia is a godsend.
My partner Lauren and I (Joe) were well prepared. We like to think we were as well prepared as any new parents in their first pregnancy could be. We read several books, were in a few facebook groups and we devoured all we could find online. When Lauren suggested hiring a doula I agreed, thinking that everything helps, but not expecting a big difference. After all, we studied. We knew we'd have both of our mothers to help Lauren deliver, as well as a midwife, a nurse, ME...
When we met Keelia, though, I was moved. By her love of children, her concern for Lauren, and the ease, grace, and confidence with which she spoke about the process. She asked us all the right questions. Things I never thought to consider. I watched Lauren listen to her in a way that she couldn't hear me, or her mother.
Lauren's water broke in the middle of the night. We knew what to expect and rather than rush off to the birth center, we laid back down. Keelia told us at our meeting that the process could take so long that we'd be grateful for any sleep we could get while we could still get it. We called to tell her later that morning and she rushed right over. She would've come at 2am had we asked sooner, I'm sure of it.
Ava Jeanne was born 44 hours after Lauren's water broke. It was a long and difficult process that I can't imagine without Keelia there. Lauren had all she needed and Keelia even took care of me. At about the 40 hour mark Lauren kind of gave up. She said "C-section" out loud, which we knew was the last, last resort. Thanks to all that Keelia taught me, and her own interventions, we got Lauren through transition and Ava was born according to our original birth plan. No C-Section, no meds, not even stitches.
God bless Keelia, she will forever have my recommendation.
-Joe Palmieri
April 26, 2018
Keelia Alder
Full-Spectrum Doula
Postpartum Rate: Not specified
