Testimonial for Jo Ann Bishop CD/PCD(DONA) Body Ready Method Pro from Emily

Testimonial for Jo Ann Bishop CD/PCD(DONA) Body Ready Method Pro

It is with pleasure that my husband and I recommend the services of Jo Ann Bishop as a birth doula. Because of some stressful past experiences inside the medical care wheelhouse, we knew that we wanted someone to help us navigate the process of being a pregnant person in and outside the hospital setting. From the beginning of our time together Jo Ann was extremely supportive, validating, and resourceful. She attended to our questions with care and consideration and never had a personal agenda for our birthing journey. The prenatal education sessions she conducted were informative and straightforward, and the library of pre and postpartum resources she gave us access to was invaluable. I still reference the library for information that will aid me as a new parent.

In my 37th week of pregnancy we found out that our baby was in the breech position. We decided to schedule an ECV procedure in my 38th week in hopes of flipping the baby. During the whole week leading up to the procedure at the instruction of Jo Ann, Shawn and I facilitated a regimen of maneuvers to help our baby get in a good position to turn. Because of Jo Ann’s guidance and suggestions, all of the work we did to help loosen up my hips and align the baby paid off and the ECV was successful. Our experience was much less scary and intimidating because of the encouragement and support from Jo Ann, and we are so thankful that our baby got to decide when they wanted to spontaneously be born.

If you are curious if having a doula is right for you, just know that the support you’ll receive from Jo Ann surpassed any trepidations we had about inviting “a stranger” into our birthing journey. Having a third party was so helpful. Despite the well-meaning suggestions from family and friends, it was a relief to have someone who was outside our personal bubble give objective advice.

-Emily

May 08, 2023