Testimonial for Noliko (Noriko) Utsuzawa
Noliko was so valuable to me for my birth planning, labor and delivery experience, and my husband and I are incredibly thankful for her help. She is a calm, patient person who is clearly experienced, but made me feel very comfortable about making my own informed decisions after explaining the pros and cons of different options. Before I had my baby, Noliko explained to me what to expect and options that I had, as well as labor relief techniques, many of which I never knew about. She also arranged a backup doula in case Noliko had an emergency, which made me feel comfortable. I personally wanted a more "go-with-the-flow" birth plan, which Noliko completely supported. Some doulas have a whole template to fill out for a birth plan and I'm glad Noliko did not require this because it would just feel like homework!
As for the birth process itself, Noliko was very committed to being there whenever I needed I her. She was happy to be there for any part, even though there was not much she needed to do at the beginning of my induction. In the middle of the night when my contractions became strong, she came right back to the hospital when my husband called her and helped me go through labor with her massage techniques, which were a big help. She massaged me so much when I was going through labor, I'm not sure how she found the stamina! During the long pushing phase, she and my husband physically helped move my legs whenever I pushed, as I had an epidural. She must have been so tired but she kept encouraging me the entire time.
After the birth, she stayed around to make sure my husband and I were settled and comfortable before leaving after a very long day.
Noliko was a big reason why I had a positive birth experience. I highly recommend her to anyone.
-Catherine Szeto
March 12, 2023
Noliko (Noriko) Utsuzawa
Southwest Massage and Doula
Birth Fee: $800 to $1000
