Testimonial for Tia Dowling-Ketant, CD, CLC
My partner and I worked with Tia in preparation for the July 2019 birth of our baby. We met Tia during a "meet the doulas" event and were excited about her energy and approach. I felt calm in her presence, confident in her experience, and appreciated her commitment to advancing racial justice through her maternal health work. My partner particularly enjoyed an exercise we did during a prenatal visit where we visualized and drew what we imagined for the birth. Despite hoping for a vaginal birth (which I pictured Tia to be an active support during), I ended up having a planned cesarean after finding out our baby was breech. While this was a big change in plans, Tia helped me adjust my expectations, reframe the experience, and was ultimately a big part of the day. The hopsital wouldn't allow Tia to be in the operating room during the actual birth, but she met us at the hospital in the morning and spent the whole day with us, reassuring us, giving me a relaxing leg massage, and then assisting us in the recovery room to get breastfeeding started. I had challenges nursing my daughter and Tia came to my home at my request on the day we returned home from the hospital. It was a chaotic and emotional day (on top of being one of the hottest days of the summer) and Tia spent the entire afternoon with us. She was the one who knew how to set up and sterilize my pump (I hadn't thought I would need it so soon!), gave us all a much needed pep talk, loved on the baby, and came back repatedly over the next few days to make sure things were going ok. Having a doula is a big commitment financially but I felt incredibly well cared for by Tia. Even though I didn't get to have her with me during labor like I pictured, I still feel like we benefited immensely from having her be a part of our pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. Tia's flexibility, creativity, and warmth are just some of her many strengths and I would recommend her highly to people considering a doula.
-Hannah E.
October 01, 2019
Tia Dowling-Ketant, CD, CLC
Metoodoula Services
Birth Fee: Not specified
Postpartum Rate: $55 to $65
