Founder of the Brooklyn Bump recounts her decision to choose a doula (specifically Janel) to support her birth.
Janel had been my prenatal yoga teacher since about 12 weeks into my pregnancy. I liked her from the very first class. In fact, I would go home and often talk about what a soothing, kind spirit she was and how her class was making such a difference in how I was feeling in the second trimester. One day I brought my best friend to class with me. I introduced her to Janel at the end and while saying "hello", Janel let us both know that she had recently become a certified doula. In that moment I knew she was our gal - the "right" person.
My birth "plan" was to do it as unmedicated as possible and through a couple of meetings, several conversations and numerous supportive texts, I knew that Janel would help get me there the best that she could.
From the day I told her we'd like to use her services up until now (6 weeks postpartum) she has been nothing but a trusted support person, confidant and friend. She was by my side emotionally and physically through the early unknowing stages of labor right up until that precious skin-to-skin hour post labor. She even documented our son's first few seconds of life - a video and gift that we will cherish forever.
She was there for not only me, but also my husband and my mother throughout a 22.5 hour labor and even in the end, when we were all exhausted, she wouldn't leave without me insisting she go get some rest. And even though at hour 17 I had fought all I could fight and ended up taking the meds, I knew that getting there would have been a very different, more stressful path, had I not had Janel constantly by my side. For that, I will always be grateful.
All in all, I will look back on my first birthing experience with love and I know for a fact, that Janel had a huge role in making it that way. I highly recommend that anyone considering a doula during birth, find themselves the "right" one!
“To be honest, when I first became pregnant I wasn’t sure I wanted (or needed) a doula. It was a service my husband and I discussed, both agreeing that it would be nice but maybe not necessary - unless we found the “right” person.
Then we met Janel.”