Testimonial for Emma O'Brien from Rose

Testimonial for Emma O'Brien

From the beginning of our first meeting with Emma, it was clear she was an incredibly knowledgeable, capable, and compassionate person. I am a survivor of abuse, so it was really important for me to find a doula who had training/experience in that area; Emma made the discussions around that feel safe and comfortable, and she was an amazing resource and advocate in that regard. The two prenatal visits we had were very informative. Emma took her time with us and made sure to go over all of our concerns. She helped us develop a thorough but concise birth plan that the hospital implemented. Leading up to labor, she responded promptly to any questions we had over text. And when the time came, Emma was the main reason my extremely difficult birth experience ended up feeling empowering, rather than nightmarish. She was with us for nearly 36 hours during which she helped us navigate unmedicated labor, medicated labor that included 4 HOURS of pushing, and finally an unplanned c-section. During that time she supported both myself and my partner—she helped me figure out labor postions (baby was malpositioned), transition in and out of the birthing tub, stay hydrated, massage a muscle in my back that spasmed during labor, and most importantly, process really tough decisions about interventions we were hoping not to have. After I'd had my c-section and my baby and husband had left the OR, Emma stayed with me and comforted me as they finished up the surgery. She finally left only after she made sure all three of us were settled in post-op. In the days and weeks after having my daughter, Emma continued to support us by helping us troubleshoot breastfeeding and bottle feeding issues. She is one of the most generous and caring people I have ever met, and I feel so lucky to have had her as our doula. I cannot recommend her enough—I will absolutely be hiring her again if/when I get pregnant with a second child!

-Rose

September 20, 2019