Testimonial for Madison Herrera
Maddie was chosen to be our backup doula when our original doula was busy assisting with another birth. When my husband and I arrived at the hospital, I was already in active labor and dilated to a 7. I was in overwhelming agony due to some intense back labor. As soon as Maddie stepped through the door, she introduced herself and immediately jumped into action by performing a hip squeezes, as I sat on a birthing ball. I was flooded with instant relief. Once I shared that I was experiencing so much back pain, she whipped out her Tens unit, which provided so much relief. She was very involved throughout every excruciating contraction. She was never more than an arm's length away. All I had to do was look at her, and she just KNEW how to intervene to minimize some of my contraction pain. The hip squeezes she performed were the best.
Throughout my entire labor, she was right but my side, providing words of affirmation, encouragement, and reassurance. Her calming voice and strong presence helped guide me in making various decisions that arose when my previously planned unmedicated birth reached a point where interventions became necessary. The last thing I wanted was an epidural, but after laboring unmedicated for 14 hours, pushing for 2 hours, and ultimately being unable to fully push my baby through the birthing canal, Maddie reassured me that if I felt an epidural would help, then it was the right decision. Ultimately, my birth story ended in a c-section, and doulas are not allowed in the OR. Nonetheless, Maddie waited in our L&D room during surgery and was overjoyed when we returned with our baby boy. She went above and beyond to provide the best and most consistent care from start to finish.
Overall, I literally could not have done it without her! She was a true Godsend. She was and is a huge blessing, and we know that it was no mistake that she was assigned to be by our sides the day we brought our son into this world.
-Bethany
October 05, 2023
Madison Herrera
Lotus Bloom Birth Services
Birth Fee: Not specified
Postpartum Rate: Not specified
