Testimonial for Danelle Willemse
If you have a chance to hire Danelle as a post-partum doula, jump at the opportunity. It is impossible to describe how wonderful a caregiver she is (especially for twins!) & how phenomenal she is at her profession. At the newborn stage, Danelle had every skill set on the post-partum doula wishlist that we could want while recovering from a difficult birth. Her warmth, gentleness, & ability to juggle the feeding/soothing of fussy newborns was unparalleled. With the twins born premature, she had an amazing knowledge base to reassure us of a 'normal' range of behaviors (yet also observe things we might want to check-in with our pediatrician about). She had non-obtrusive tips on "mom care" -- breastfeeding, post c-section care, pumping, etc. – as she was well-versed in the many aspects of the post-partum journey. Most importantly, she excelled at sweeping in & taking over so we could get much-needed rest. It is a rare to find someone who almost instinctively, from the moment they walk in, seems to know exactly what you need in childcare, who you trust to immediately scoop up the responsibilities & genuinely care for your children. Our twins also thrived developmentally with her - our physical therapist was so impressed with Danelle’s developmental observations/play strategies that they asked if she had any background in their profession. This is an example of why Danelle is so remarkable: she is already an undisputably first-rate childcare professional, but is still committed to improving her skills even more. She would often casually mention childcare articles/books she was reading that had strategies she thought might be helpful, as well as online coursework & classes she had taken or was planning to take. While the expense of a doula is often daunting, her help was priceless - we are only half-joking when we say she was like Mary Poppins - she swept in for a time like magic & gave us a marvelous start with our twins!
-Liza T.
September 28, 2024
Postpartum Rate: $45 to $55
