Testimonial for Tina Bilodeau CD(DONA) from Nicole Clark

Testimonial for Tina Bilodeau CD(DONA)

My contractions started around 2am; I text Tina at 3 and told her that I was contacting and going to lay back down, I received a quick text back to say OK text me in the morning. She came over at 9 AM and start working on spinning baby exercises, walking, sitting on her birthing chair, massaging me and did other exercises to prepare me for labor. I had an appt scheduled at my OB that morning, Tina and I went together to that. When my doctor checked me I was at 2cm, contracting every 15-20 minutes. We decided we would come home and let let my labor naturally progress in the comfort of my home. We headed to the hospital around 6 PM and was 4 cm. My contractions were sporadic but getting much stronger. Tina continued to offer different labor positions to work through my contractions. I found out 2 weeks before my due date that my OB was not supportive of my birth plan (even though she was fully aware I planned a natural birth) from the beginning. Tina kept reminding me of my rights and that although my doctor suggested breaking my water around 7pm, that we did not have to do that and it was safe to continue laboring naturally. That was one of the biggest at benefits Tina provided; reminding us of our options and the choices we made on our birth plan when I was being pressured to deviate from what I had planned. At 11 pm I felt as though I was reaching for my breaking point- I was 8 cm and exhausted. Tina reminded me that we were almost there and that I could do this. By 1 am, I was ready to push.I delivered my daughter at 1:53 am.

Tina is very knowledgeable and suppportive and was a huge asset to my natural birth. But I thank Tina the most in the fact that because she kept us on track with our birth plan, my husband and I have a stronger bond than ever from experiencing the birth of our daughter together. I will forever be grateful to her, for that.

-Nicole Clark

April 20, 2019