Hi my name is Lauranda Hippeard. I am a overnight newborn care speacilist. I come to your home at night 3-5 nights a week. I will take care of the baby while you and your family gets much needed rest. I will feed, change and keep a night log for the morning for you to see the babbies sleep pattern and eating patterns. If you are breastfeeding I will bring the baby to you and when you are done I will put the baby to sleep. I have great references and testamonials from families. I'm with a family now two nights a week with twin preemies.I just ended with my full time postion there baby just turned three months and we have her sleeping through the night. My email is Lauranda31@yahoo.com or 540 479 9415 Thank you if you have any questions feel free to call me Lauranda Hippeard.

I love Cara Crowe. She works well with midwives at GW - who is your provider? sometimes it matters - whether the doula has worked with your provider before. Cara helped me with unmedicated second birth and was absolutely terrific. She also has a doctorate in Naturopathy. Does aromatherapy and uses homeopathy. All of those factors were important for me.

We loved Camilla Yrure.

What are you looking for because they have birth doulas and postpartum (after birth) doulas. I used a postpartum doula with my second child as I needed the extra help since I don't have family locally. She was great and very attentive to all my needs. Her name was Virginia and I found her at Mother and baby Matters. Its bad to say - but she was more helpful than my own mother She knew so much and helped with whatever I needed....used her for the first month w/my son.

I used Tara Voigt, she's out in Vienna. She was great -- I had to be induced and thought that meant I'd have to give up on my desire to have a non-epidural birth, but she helped me calm down and realize I could do it anyway. She also was helpful with breastfeeding. She own my husband over, too -- he hadn't seen the need for a doula at all starting out, but by the end he had totally changed his mind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waste

Two weeks before I went into labor, I learned that I couldn't have an epidural, because my platelet counts were very, very low. My options were to either tough it out and have no pain meds or be knocked out for a C-section. Could I have gotten through a non medicated birth without a doula? Yes. But she made me a hell of a lot more comfortable and confident than I would have been on my own. Hiring a doula was the best investment I could have made.

I thought epidural was a type of anesthesia? Why couldn't you have epidural but could have general anesthesia?

There was a significant risk that I'd have uncontrolled bleeding when the epidural was removed.

I had HELLP syndrome too . So glad you were able to have your vaginal birth. I ended up with an emergency c-section.

Bump - anyone else have additional recs?

Anonymous wrote:Hi- I really like Dawn of By Your Side Birth Services. I've gotten to know her professionally and she seems super responsive to her clients, she's very knowledgeable and has a gentle spirit that I would have gravitated towards, had I chosen to use a doula with my kids.

+1. I used Dawn for both my births and she was wonderful. Doulas are not a waste. I had an epidural with the first and went drug-free for the second. She was awesome in both cases. It is amazing the difference the gentle encouragement from a knowledgeable person makes. My DH was great, but he had never done this before either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waste

Two weeks before I went into labor, I learned that I couldn't have an epidural, because my platelet counts were very, very low. My options were to either tough it out and have no pain meds or be knocked out for a C-section. Could I have gotten through a non medicated birth without a doula? Yes. But she made me a hell of a lot more comfortable and confident than I would have been on my own. Hiring a doula was the best investment I could have made.

I thought epidural was a type of anesthesia? Why couldn't you have epidural but could have general anesthesia?

There was a significant risk that I'd have uncontrolled bleeding when the epidural was removed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waste

Two weeks before I went into labor, I learned that I couldn't have an epidural, because my platelet counts were very, very low. My options were to either tough it out and have no pain meds or be knocked out for a C-section. Could I have gotten through a non medicated birth without a doula? Yes. But she made me a hell of a lot more comfortable and confident than I would have been on my own. Hiring a doula was the best investment I could have made.

I thought epidural was a type of anesthesia? Why couldn't you have epidural but could have general anesthesia?

Anonymous wrote:Waste

Two weeks before I went into labor, I learned that I couldn't have an epidural, because my platelet counts were very, very low. My options were to either tough it out and have no pain meds or be knocked out for a C-section. Could I have gotten through a non medicated birth without a doula? Yes. But she made me a hell of a lot more comfortable and confident than I would have been on my own. Hiring a doula was the best investment I could have made.

Waste

Amy Ard. She used to be with a group called Gentle Waves, but now I think she's on her own. She was so calming and very respectful and supportive of the kind of birth I hoped to have. She provided some telephone support (via my husband) during the early stages of labor. She's just down to earth, confident and has a sense of humor. She's the kind of person I'd like to have as a friend!

Hi- I really like Dawn of By Your Side Birth Services. I've gotten to know her professionally and she seems super responsive to her clients, she's very knowledgeable and has a gentle spirit that I would have gravitated towards, had I chosen to use a doula with my kids.

Any recommendation pls? And can you tell why you like your recommendation, or what you liked about the experience with her.

You can also tell me bad experiences and doulas to be avoided.