Testimonial for Erin Stertz-Follett, Hypnobirthing Educator & Doula
It was a pleasure working with Erin and I highly recommend her. I sought out a doula becuase I wanted to have a drug-free labor and delivery, and I had read that having a doula makes this goal more likely to be acheived. In hindsight, I know that I could not have accomplished my goal without Erin as part of my birth team. But more than that, Erin went above and beyond my expectations during my pregnancy. She recommended other service providers to help with problems I was having during pregnancy. She quickly answered any question or concern I had via text, email, or phone. The following story illustrates how much Erin helped me. I was over a week past my estimated due date and my midwife was beginning to push for an induction. I wanted to avoid having an induction becuase it would make other interventions more likely. When I asked my midwife if there was anything I could do to help "get things going" she said no. I asked Erin and she not only had suggestion for different things to try, but came over to my house and helped me do them. She also connected me with an accupunturist and chiroprator and went to appointments with me when I thought labor may have been starting.
I ended up having a very long labor and Erin was there every step of the way. When I thought there was no way I would have the energy to carry on, she helped me find the strength within myself with a combination of encouragement and tough love. When I told her I wanted an epidural, she reminded me why I had said I didn't want one and helped me find other ways to cope with the pain. When I puked (repeatedly) she was there holding the bag.
She also helped support my husband and I in ways I didn't even know I would have needed. Making sure that a dinner order was placed before the kitchen closed and a breakfast order was placed as soon as it opened. Laughing with me about a nurse with some distrinctive character traits.
In short, I highly recommend Erin.
-Rena Zuidema Cummings
June 26, 2013
Birth Fee: $1800
