Testimonial for Melissa Johnson VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON SUPPORT from Kaylee Stanwood

Testimonial for Melissa Johnson VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON SUPPORT

This being my first pregnancy, I researched a lot and previously watched my sister have 2 of her 3 babies, natural unmedicated births. I felt pretty prepared for my natural unmedicated birthing center birth. My husband and I attended a birthing class just weeks before my due date, where we met Melissa. I had heard how great doulas are, but again I thought I was prepared. Melissa offered to send me some natural births that she had been a part of just to help prepare my husband and I for what we were about to experience. When I looked her up on Facebook, I saw a post from a friend of mine who had also used Melissa's services and had many great things to say about her. In learning that a very important aspect in labor is to stay relaxed and allow your body to do what it's meant to do, and realizing when I go into labor, it would be whoever was on call at the birthing center, I realized that I would feel more calm/relaxed/confident if I knew at least one consistent person that was experienced and that I could trust to be there. We ended up hiring Melissa just two weeks before my due date. I can't emphasize enough how much her expertise, support, and calm encouragement brought such peace of mind through my birth experience. Which ended up being over 36 hours of labor, and resulted in us transferring to the hospital to get an epidural and rest so we could successfully birth my precious baby girl. What could have been a very scary experience was smooth, and peaceful, because of the support and experience that Melissa gave. She also made a beautiful birthing video and took precious photos throughout the whole process so I can look back on the experience with happy memories instead of dread or stress. I'm so very grateful for Melissa, her personalized care, her years of experience, her sense of humor, and I would hire her again in a heart beat. I HIGHLY recommend her to anyone who is contemplating using a doula. Melissa is the best!

-Kaylee Stanwood

February 11, 2020