Testimonial for Laura DePasquale, CD(DONA) from Erin Rossi

Testimonial for Laura DePasquale, CD(DONA)

Book Laura! Laura is the BEST evidenced by her credentials, the mass positive reviews, that she teaches new Doulas & given the highest recc'd by my midwives group.

I was skeptical I needed a Doula after hiring a midwifery group for my second pregnancy. I'd had a traumatic first birth with a male Dr. & I felt in much better hands with a midwife. At a friend’s urging of how helpful a Doula was to her natural birth, I began the search for a Doula in my 8th month of pregnancy as they were just approved to be in the hospital again amidst Covid times. My midwive’s group has 20+ Doulas listed on their website & I felt overwhelmed by the options. I asked one of the midwives if she had a specific favorite & without hesitating, she recommended Laura, saying how impressed she was by her & her skills. I'm so glad she did.

Laura helped a hesitant natural birther (after an epidural with my first) have a natural birth — in a tub at the hospital no less! I wanted a birth without an episiotomy & the use of vacuums & forceps, that which the chances are greatly reduced without an epidural. Without her, I wouldn't have made it through each contraction & to giving birth without drugs — something I thought I couldn’t do & greatly feared. However, along the way, Laura made it known that she would support me no matter what path I chose: epidural or not. She helped me get out of my head & focus on the times in between the contraction when I wasn’t in pain. She showed compassion, empathy, & care through every pain & every step of the way. Laura had techniques & tools that also helped manage the pain. I still can’t even believe I had a natural birth.

I said goodbye to Laura at our post birth meeting with tears in my eyes as she truly touched my heart. Thank you, Laura, for being an integral part of my positive birth story, I'll never forget you as long as I live.

-Erin Rossi

September 21, 2020