My husband and I could not have been happier with Mary-Lou as our doula. She met and exceeded all of our expectations and seamlessly fit herself into our dynamic and supported both of us individually and as a team, both before and during the birth. From the first time we met Mary-Lou, we felt how she radiates calm, expertise, wisdom, and kindness. We liked her most out of all the doulas we interviewed and next came the educational visits she did at our house. We loved learning from the comfort of our own home all about birth, birth preferences, newborn care, postpartum care, and everything in between. She answered all of our questions, and even questions we didn't know we had! I had been reading up on many things and she was able to hone what I knew, as well as explain concepts and the many sides of different decisions and issues in a more general way to suit what my husband wanted to know. I found her intimate knowledge of birth culture in Calgary extremely valuable, especially as first time parents.
Mary-Lou was particularly valuable at the end of my pregnancy. As I went further and futher overdue, my anxiety peaked and my plans, hopes, and dreams of a homebirth slowly and then concretly poofed away. Mary-Lou was an emotional rock who said all the right things at the right time and kept me sane. When I was worried or anxious, she had the knowledge and the perfect thing to say to calm me down. Unfortunately complications last minute meant instead of having a homebirth, I went into the hospital to be induced and was transferred to the care of an OB instead of my midwife. Mary-Lou did not only provide help with what to expect in a completely different setting than I was expecting, but was immediately available and present to provide us with a loving and familiar face. She was amazing in labour and the perfect support. Her guidance during and after labour was the best part of my birth. Everyone should hire Mary-Lou!
-Anja Araujo
August 14, 2022
Since Forever Birth Services
Birth Fee: $1600
Postpartum Rate: $40 to $50