Testimonial for Marcia Mattern, CD (DONA)
1/2 I am so blessed to know Marcia and have had her experience at several of my births! Marcia is gifted in using her knowledge to gently support mamas toward having the birth they were imaging. She helps advocate for mom to successfully work her birth plan. When things get hard, Marcia offers practical and natural pain management techniques and provides emotional encouragement. And when things don’t quite go to plan, she is able to offer traditional techniques that birth workers have used for millennia to help mom and baby, as well navigate the risks vs benefits of medical interventions. I wish younger me had known that! Early in my child-birthing years, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I honestly and naively believed that the hospital nurses would provide the sort of care and support that I now understand is what a doula offers. At the first birth, I panicked and received an epidural followed by a lot of interventions, and I blamed THAT hospital for the poor experience. So I tried another the 2nd time, and another still the 3rd, all with disappointing outcomes. Finally on the 4th go-round, we went with a homebirth midwife assisted by a doula. It was hard, but it was magical! I was loved and supported and unafraid because I knew I was safe and in-charge. Our 5th baby, 2nd homebirth, I truly believe would have been an emergency cesarean in a hospital. I could feel the baby wasn’t descending and I felt defeated. I turned to my midwife and doula, who was Marcia, in tears just knowing we would load up and transfer to the hospital for a C-section. I will never forget the way that they loved and supported me in that moment. The midwife asked to check me and realized that the baby’s head with cocked to the side, presenting ear-facing, and preventing his ability to descend. But she and Marcia had a plan and tricks to correct things naturally!
-Jessica C
December 15, 2023
Marcia Mattern, CD (DONA)
Your Doula Marcia Mattern
Birth Fee: $1700
