Testimonial for Denise Bolds MSW, CD(DONA) CLC, CBE
Working with Denise was great. She has a wonderful, warm, pragmatic energy, which was evident from our first conversation. Her support, knowledge, and help were so welcome throughout the birth process and immediately after. My pregnancy went from healthy and low-risk to needing the baby out ASAP for medical reasons in a very fast few hours. Initially, I felt blindsided by these events that were completely outside my control, but having Denise there as an advocate and a support person made it feel manageable for both my partner and me. Denise worked alongside my OB and the other doctors and nurses, and I'd absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a doula who knows her way around the medical community (even my OB was impressed and actually said so). Also, as helpful as she was during the birth, Denise was almost more helpful afterwards. Despite our baby being >2 weeks early, she was born large even for an at-term baby and hungry, and my partner and I found the folks in the hospital fairly useless. They were regurgitating hospital policy about breastfeeding without assessing what our baby needed (yes we wanted to breastfeed, but right away, our larger than average baby needed supplemental formula in - surprise! - larger than average quantities). Denise's nondogmatic pragmatism was exactly what both my partner and I needed, because we just wanted a fed, satsified, and growing baby while my body caught up to having given birth so suddenly before it was ready. Also, Denise told us when a lactation consultant was the right person to help us out. We took her advice, and long story short, we're all on track. I'd definitely seek out Denise again and recommend her to anyone looking for a doula.
-M.
September 27, 2019
Denise Bolds MSW, CD(DONA) CLC, CBE
Bold Doula! Black Women Do VBAC, CLC, CBE
Birth Fee: $0 to $5000
Postpartum Rate: $40 to $60
