Testimonial for Denise Bolds MSW, CD(DONA) CLC, CBE
My husband and I wholeheartedly recommend Denise as a doula.
When we first hired her, we could not have predicted all of the challenges that would lie ahead in what had otherwise been a healthy pregnancy. A couple of weeks before my due date, I started experiencing severe flank pain, which as a first time mom, I thought were the beginning of contractions. When the pain became so bad that I could not stand or keep anything down, the doctor recommended that I come in as they believed that I had kidney stones. The next few days were an agonizing blur as the doctors debated whether or not to induce me. By the time they settled on inducement, I was still in severe pain and had spent several days on strong painkillers. The doctors were also still suggesting increasingly invasive procedures based on the kidney stone theory. Needless to say, my husband (who is also a doctor) and I were exhausted both physically and mentally from weighing all the possibilities and trying to make the best decisions to protect both myself and the baby.
By the time I started labor, the heaviness of all that we had just been through and all that potentially lay ahead was palpable in the room. When Denise arrived, I believe that it was around midnight, but the whole energy of the room changed. She was bright and positive with just the right amount of assertiveness. She had helpful suggestions that I believe progressed the labor more quickly. In the end, I only pushed for under half an hour and I gave birth to a nearly 9 pound healthy baby girl! My husband and I believe that Denise's presence was a game changer not only because of her expertise, but also because of the vibrancy that she brought to the situation.
I never did pass a kidney stone and thankfully, the mystery kidney pain disappeared after delivery. But, I think that having a doula as an advocate, and especially Denise, made all the difference in the outcome for myself and my family.
-Shakima & Jason
May 11, 2021
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
