Testimonial for Martha Girard
I was initially on the fence about whether or not to spend the money on hiring a doula. It was my first pregnancy, and I envisioned having a mediction-free and intervention-free birth. Since my insurance didn't cover a homebirth with a midwife or a birthing center, I opted for a hospital birth. I found Martha on one of the doula websites, and after reading all of the positive testimonials we decided to meet with her. Martha is very experienced in attending births, and despite all of the research I had done on my own regarding the birth experience I wanted, she was able to bring some things to my attention that I wasn't aware of and could look into more. It is also very apparent that Martha loves what she does, and she does not do it for the money. With hospital births, you typically will end up with a doctor of midwife who you have never met before. It was very comforting having Martha there, someone I knew and trusted, who was also familiar with the labor and delivery experience. I had my birth plan, but it put me at ease knowing that I had discussed it extensively with Martha ahead of time, and knew that she would help inform me if hospital staff was about to do something against my wishes. My birth plan consisted of declining most of the hospital protocols/interventions, as I wanted the most primal type of birthing experience as possible despite the hospital setting. Family and friends thought my husband and I were a bit crazy for declining many of these things, but Martha made me feel empowered, strong, and in control of my birthing experience. She helped me to trust my body and the birthing experience more than I already had on my own. With Martha present at my home prior to leaving for the hospital, I was able to labor at home much longer than I would have without her there. I am so glad that I opted to hire a doula, and that Martha was the one who was with me during the process. If we have a second child, I won't hesitate to hire Martha again.
-Kaylin
August 04, 2019
Martha Girard
Motherwit Ways
Birth Fee: $2900 to $3250
Postpartum Rate: Not specified
