Testimonial for Emerald Ortiz
Words can't express how grateful I am to have found Emerald! Halfway through my pregnancy, my partner and I moved to Rhode Island to be closer to family during the pandemic. We had been planning a homebirth in L.A with an excellent birthteam, so I was initially discouraged when I had to start my doula search all over again, in a state I was wholely unfamiliar with. As a woman of color, I was hoping to work with a doula who was aware and informed about the black maternal health crisis in America, and who could support me in feeling safe and empowered throughout pregnancy/labor. As soon as we spoke I knew Emerald, with her warm and grounded confidence, was the doula for me.
Emerald had extensive familiarity with each hospital and the various care providers in Rhode Island and immediately got me up to speed with the best options available to me. When I expressed apprehensions about whether or not I would need to be transfered to the hospital during my homebirth, Emerald invited me to vocalize my fears and concerns but also helped remind me of my capacity to have the birth I truly wanted. By the end of my pregnancy I felt empowered, informed and confident that I could get through labor without hospital intervention.
Emerald was keen to involve my partner in the entire process and went out of her way to ensure we all felt adequately-acquainted before labor. Emerald is equipped with so many resources, techniques and perspectives to approach labor; we couldn't have felt more supported and ready. When I went into labor, Emerald showed up and instantly put me at ease. She and the midwife worked seemlessly together to support me in delivering our child. It was absolute magic. I look back at my birth and postpartum experience and am so proud and touched by the care I received; a type of care everyone is deserving of. I highly recommend Emerald to anyone seeking an informed and empowered birth experience; she is a gift to the world of birthwork.
-Akua
March 17, 2021
Emerald Ortiz
Sacred Wombanhood Birth Support Services
Birth Fee: $1700 to $2000
Postpartum Rate: $35 to $45
