When we were looking for a Doula, we didn’t realize how important this person would be in this whole experience. Maria Elena is exceptional in what she does. She went above and beyond in all aspects. Right at the beginning of our initial meeting, we felt a connection and knew we were in good hands. Although we did not know her, she automatically felt like family. Her energy was so positive, making us feel we had nothing to worry about. For any question that we had, she had a professional answer. Leading up to the birth, we felt very confident and at ease knowing that she would be there with us during the whole time. She prepared us in different ways for the labor and birth experience. She educated us about the different scenarios, our rights in the delivery room, and how to prepare emotionally and physically. She was available for any questions 24/ 7 leading up to our birth and did numerous house visits beforehand. If you are lucky enough you might get one of her foot massages! I had to get induced; the process was arduous and lengthy. The hospital does not provide a nurse on your side the whole time - we could not have done the pre-labor surges (and the entire birth) without her support. We started with dancing bachata together to move to process along! I will never forget that! She also worked so well with our doctor and nurse - they were a fantastic team. I wanted to breastfeed, and I am lucky to do so. I give a lot of credit to Maria Elena for that. We went over how to start the process right after the birth, and even though I was delirious, I followed her instructions and had her by my side. She continued to support me postpartum as well. We were very fortunate to have had Maria Lena with us because she’s a sought-after Doula.
-Kathrin Schmidiger Torres
August 30, 2022
mariaelenadoula.com
Birth Fee: $2100 to $2500
Postpartum Rate: $55 to $65