Testimonial for Laura Martin
Laura is the 2nd doula I've worked with for my 3rd unmedicated birth and she is excellent at what she does. From the beginning she was lovely to work with. Had a great initial consult - she asked questions about my previous labors, working to understand what I needed in terms of support. After I hired her we had a great meeting during which she put my wife and I at ease + even spent time talking to my son who was home with us that day. It felt like I'd known her for a long time which helped me feel comfortable with her...which is vital when it comes to something as vulnerable as birth. The week leading up to the birth she checked in and helped me process the possibility of induction (sharing her own and other positive stories) while offering me techniques to safely encourage labor (all tips were cosigned by my doctor which was reassuring!) On the big day she kept in close contact & joined us just as my induction was progressing & she kept me moving all night in different positions to encourage progress. She never pressured me, was always respectful of my needs but she also balanced that with encouragement to try things that I didn't always want to initially but found helpful afterward. She offered support, comfort, skill in navigating pain/ positions, & she deftly navigated interactions with the hospital staff - many of whom she knew which made it even easier at times. Additionally: I was a gestational carrier (surrogate) and Laura provided support and guidance to baby's parents (also an LGBTQ couple), meeting with them separately ahead of the birth to understand their desires and helping to align them with mine & even helping educate the hospital staff on terminology so that we all felt comfortable. Hands down the MVP of our birth experienxe. She helped me get baby out safely, while supporting me, my spouse, and baby's parents. AND she even took great photos...not sure how she did all of that...she had some kind of magic, for sure!
-Jenn
January 16, 2025
Laura Martin
Princeton Doulas, LLC
Birth Fee: $2000 to $2800
Postpartum Rate: $60
