My experience was beautiful and Heather absolutely made this pregnancy and deliver a better experience as well as more comfortable and allowed me to be in more control of my body and my delivery.

[Hiring a Doula] it is definitely worth it!  It allows you to have a say in your medical care and someone to enforce your wishes as well as helping you prepare for a successful delivery.  It eased my mind and allowed me to focus on still living an active lifestyle and maintaining as much normalcy as I could during my pregnancy.

I chose to hire a doula because my pregnancy was diagnosed as high risk due to my age.  I was also told I would not be able to have a V-bac because my first pregnancy (10 years prior) was an emergency c-section and I had a tubal ligation 2 years before this last pregnancy, so my doctor was concerned about risks.  I really wanted an all-natural vaginal birth and needed a medical team that was on my side.  I was determined to allow my body to work the way it was designed to, so I began to pray and seek a new medical provider.  I happened to mention my concerns to Heather who then told me she was a doula.  After talking to Heather, I knew that was the option I wanted.  We immediately met to discuss my personalized needs.  This meeting included how many times we would meet, what my wishes were, what she was able to assist with and then we wrote my birth plan and she was very thorough.  We included all my specific requests from no pain medication to no c-section and everything in between.  We were able to include the father in some of the decisions, but it was MY choice, and MY plan and Heather supported my decisions.  She was also very knowledgeable and gave helpful input on my birth plan along the way.  She was also flexible so as things changed, she was willing to walk me through them and update the plan as needed.  The weekly visits were super helpful.  She provided me with exercises and stretches that I could do at home to help prepare my body for a natural birth experience.  She went with me to important doctor appointments to advocate for me when needed.  When the Braxton-hicks contractions started, she was there to guide me through them to ensure I was as comfortable as possible.  Once my water broke, she was by my side until I delivered.  We walked, we bathed, we stretched, we cried, we prayed and repeated for 36 hours until my son was safely delivered naturally.  She was able to explain things the medical staff was saying so I had a clear understanding and was able to make sound decisions.  The pain of natural birth can sometimes be very intense and she was able to help me remain calm and focus on the end goal....a natural delivery and a healthy baby boy.  I was so very appreciative of her knowledge, wisdom, dedication, compassion, faith, advocacy, prayers and friendship.  God knew exactly who I needed on my team, and I was extremely blessed that He gave me Heather.  I would absolutely do it again...if I could have more kids. lol.

Thank you to Heather for being obedient to her calling and for making such a huge impact in one of the biggest blessings of my life!  My experience would not have been the same without her.

-Makenya, 2019 Client