Client Experiences

Lauren’s Experience

Choosing to have a hospital birth with the hope of minimal interventions made having a doula a no brainer. Understanding OBs, midwives, and nurses have the best intent when working with you, you also never know who you are going to get working with you during your labor/delivery. Hiring Emma ensured I had someone on my team, knowing my goals, and could advocate for me and my husband when needed so I could take my mind off controlling the medical environment and just focus on delivering my baby safely.

Why Emma- my husband and I decided to hire Emma because we felt at ease with her personality, and her experience. I had originally seen Emma on social media, and then got to know her much better during our WDH birth classes. Choosing someone who’s personality you identify with is important- you will spend a lot of time with them and also need to have trust in them.

During labor Emma supported me by communicating with the staff, most importantly. The midwife I was going to work with through the majority of my labor/delivery was one of the few midwives I was hoping to not have (due to personality only, not due to general skill set). Emma understood this concern, and delicately communicated the importance of “the hope to maintain the energy in the room”. This midwife approached me completely differently than she had in my prenatal appointments. I had to make important decisions on how to progress in my labor with this midwife and felt completely confident in doing so- because of Emma’s input. Had Emma not have been there I think things could have transpired very differently.

Sonya’s Experience

When we first found out I was pregnant, I wasn't even sure what a doula was. After talking to a coworker, she had highly recommended using a doula to us and wow, am I forever grateful that we did. I never could have anticipated how helpful it was going to be to have a doula in the delivery room with us. Emma was right there, every step of the way with me. Encouraging, calming, and informing me. She really made me feel like I could take control of my fear, instead of having my fear control me. Looking back, both me and my partner agree that she was a vital reason why we had such an amazing experience with the birth of our daughter. It is such an incredible feeling being able to actually have the birth experience that you hoped for and I cannot thank Emma enough for making that come true for us. Thank you Emma for everything! If we decide to have anymore kids, I wouldn't want to have anyone else by my side.

Maude’s Experience

Within a half hour of meeting Emma, she knew exactly which resources to recommend to prepare me for birth. The books and podcasts she suggested deeply resonated with me (and my husband) — I’ve been enthusiastically recommending them to friends and family!

Emma also helped me identify that I might prefer an out-of-hospital birth. I hadn’t considered birth centers before our meeting, but after our conversation I set up some visits and ended up switching providers (at 25 weeks) to the midwives at the Birth Cottage. I am so grateful for the push! I much preferred the midwifery approach to pregnancy and birth — and I never would have known had it not been for Emma!

Emma was a grounding force throughout labor and birth, from start to finish. The verbal and physical encouragement helped me through the difficult moments (of which there were many 😅.)

Where she was absolutely indispensable was with our hospital transfer. Emma sprang into action the second we got to the hospital. Even though she wasn’t familiar with the staff, she immediately made sure that they understood my circumstances and birth preferences. Her work in the background enabled my husband to keep his focus on me—something I’m incredibly grateful for!

As more interventions arose, we both knew that we could trust Emma to guide us through our options with our (baby, mine, husband) best interests at heart. I didn’t have any anxiety about the new set of providers because Emma was in our corner: she knew us, and knew how to work with hospital staff, no matter their temperament. When we wanted to leave the hospital early but the pediatrician was holding firm on “procedure” and having us stay another 24 hours, Emma gave us some pointers on how we might be able to head home sooner.

Having a doula made me much more confident in my decisions as a birthing person — both in pregnancy and during the birth. As a chronic people pleaser, doula support gave me the space and permission I needed to unapologetically express my preferences and hold my providers to them.

Oh goodness, it's hard to even describe in words how helpful her support was during birth. During early labor, she helped me stay calm and rested. At the hospital, she was an incredible resource during active labor. Her expertise in comfort measures and reassurance through labor were invaluable. She helped to keep me calm, made me feel safe, and reassured me throughout the entire process. She knew exactly the right words to say to keep me grounded. I feel so grateful that we were able to follow through with an unmedicated birth, which I feel strongly wouldn't have been possible without Emma's actions and words. When people ask about my birth experience, I love to tell the story and relive those moments. I feel so grateful that this was my experience. It truly couldn't have gone smoother. I also love the photos that we have during and after birth thanks to Emma. How special that we have those.

Victoria’s Experience

Emma helped prepare us for birth by sharing resources, having us think about and create a birth plan, being available for calls/texts as needed. During labor, her guidance on different positions to assist with labor (especially since I had a fully unmedicated labor), support of my husband and giving him reassurance to know he's doing great with all the support, truly knowing what I needed and when, and just generally "being there."

It was very valuable to have someone there with so much knowledge and support whose dedicated just to you! We continually tell all of our friends about Emma and if they don't live in the area then they need to research Doulas!

Amanda’s Experience

I had never heard of a doula until a friend that was a few weeks ahead of me told me she had hired one. I began looking into it and thought that it sounded like a great idea. I never realized how much having a doula with me during the birth experience would help.

Emma was very responsive to emails and text messages. We had a couple meetings prior to the big day, and she gathered all of the information needed to figure out how to best support me throughout the birth process. She was always available to give me her opinion and insight and talk through anything that came up.

Emma was absolutely amazing in the hospital. I had a long, tough, delivery, that went against everything that I had hoped for with a natural birth, and ended with a c-section. She was there with me every step of the way and helped me more than I could ever put into words. She rubbed my back and hips during contractions, helped me work through tough decisions, spent hours trying to do all sorts of different positions to get the baby to drop before I finally agreed to a c-section. She was with me in the hospital from 4:30 am on Friday until after the baby was born at 2:30 am on Saturday. She was next to me every step of the way.

Emily’s Experience

I’m so grateful I decided to have a doula as part of my birth experience. I had no idea what to expect as it was my first time giving birth, and Emma kept both my partner and me calm and grounded during labor. Mine was a fairly traumatic experience; I ended up with an emergency cesarean, and I would have felt very fearful if not for Emma’s calm, steady, soothing presence. Instead, I trusted the process. In addition, the style of Garrison Women’s Health (particularly during Covid) was such that I didn’t have a specific OB or midwife, so having one person who I knew and trusted during birth was crucial in retrospect.

I met Emma only a couple of weeks before giving birth, as I decided fairly late in my pregnancy to include a doula in my experience. This ended up being totally fine, particularly because I was in a place where I was totally ready to consider the reality of labor and birth. Emma made me feel at ease immediately, and throughout the process.

Emma sought to understand the birth experience I was looking for, and went above and beyond to create an ideal environment for me. She communicated with hospital staff if I had a need or request, and was able to reassure me about specific procedures and timelines. She was also very familiar with hospital staff, so she could speak to their expertise specifically. She encouraged my partner to assist in various ways when he was uncertain as well.

Lindsey’s Experience

I knew I wanted a doula for pregnancy support and relating to my fears around birth. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to work with Emma. She was my go-to person for questions relating to physical and mental health. She helped me process my thoughts as we neared my due date.

During my birth, Emma helped me understand everything that was happening at the hospital. She was able to come with me into the operating room which really helped ease my nerves. She helped capture the experience for me and my husband and we’re so grateful for her presence there. My husband Jeremy felt supported to ask questions and also how he supported me in my fears.

Christina’s Experience

Emma was always there to provide my husband and I with evidence-based information to support our birth expectations and ensure that we were prepared for delivery, postpartum and motherhood. I found her ability to provide us with factual information was most helpful. Google is not a place to go to when you are experiencing something for the first time; I would message Emma and she would do the research for us and provide us with the information we were seeking without the anxiety!

Her ability to not only support me as the momma but to also guide my husband through the process so he could properly support me. Her knowledge of Spinning Babies positions was also extremely helpful and comforting throughout labor and delivery. Her experience around the hospital room and a delivering momma showed when she jumped in and could sense what I needed and when. She had clearly studied us as a couple, and she was able to guide us in the right direction to stick with our unmedicated birth.

Having a doula was by far one of the most positive memories from both pregnancy and birth! Emma made us feel confident and prepared during pregnancy and worked with us throughout delivery to accomplish the birth we wanted.

Nichole’s Experience

Hiring Emma was one of the best decisions my husband and I made regarding the birth of our daughter. Emma was helpful, reassuring, kind & a major asset to us in the delivery room. Having a baby is quite an ordeal, never mind the current pandemic we are all going through right now. Emma made sure we were heard, that we understood what was happening, and always validated our concerns. She helped create a calm, happy environment during my labor and reassured my husband several times; which he found extremely helpful during active labor. Anyone thinking about hiring a doula or maybe wants more information about it, I would highly recommend Emma.

My husband and I both felt more supported and reassured prior to going into the hospital for our induction thanks to Emma. It allowed us to be more calm, patient and ready for what was to come.

Thankfully we had an excelled group of nurses as well. But Emma offered a softness and kindness that reassured us, validated our feelings and allowed me to go thru the motions of labor in my own way.

Jessica’s Experience

Emma is an amazing doula and I highly recommend her. Her presence and support during the birth of my son was a tremendous help- it was truly invaluable to me and my husband. She was extremely attentive and flexible during my very quick labor! I originally did not consider a doula, but I'm so glad Emma became part of my birth plan. I cannot imagine my birth experience without Emma in it and I can only hope she'll be by my side when it comes to delivering my next child.

Jennifer’s Experience

My pregnancy was not easy, I was sick and in a lot of pain for nearly the entire time.  We anticipated we would need some extra support during labor and childbirth due to my issues, the fact neither of us had family in the area, and this being the first child for either of us.  We only had some idea as to what to expect going into this. 

My partner and I had decided to hire a doula and we are sure glad we did!  Emma Dolan was recommended to us and she is absolutely amazing!  We were hoping for as natural a child birth as possible, and we were able to accomplish this with her help. 

Emma was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable throughout the entire process from the moment we first made contact to our last postpartum visit.  Throughout my labor she was right there by my side encouraging, reminding of, and guiding me through the things we discussed, wanted, and hoped to accomplish during childbirth.  At some point during my labor, my partner needed a break, and I never noticed he left the room.  There was never a time when I felt alone or unsupported before, during, or after the birth of our son.  The entire hospital staff even complimented how amazing Emma was!  I remember hearing statements of “One of the best doulas we have seen/worked with.”  I knew Emma was the best choice from the start and our experience with Emma proved it!  We cannot say thank you enough!

Kiana’s Experience

I read all the books and articles I could before my labor, but nothing could prepare me for what I endured. 35 hours total, 27 without any drugs, and 15 hours of “back labor.” 

I had the assistance of my adoring husband and my mother, but Emma really helped me through my storm. When in the thick of it, the back labor was so intense I couldn’t even hear anyone. I remember looking up at Emma seeing her calm demeanor, and the confidence she had really helped get me to my next contraction. She never broke, even when I yelled and screamed at her (due to the back labor). When I decided to get an epidural Emma helped me feel like I wasn’t giving up. She was very encouraging the entire 3 1/2 hours of pushing, keeping me motivated and reminding me of the excellent job I was doing.

I will forever be grateful for Emma’s kind heart and soft spirit. Without her help I’m afraid my journey would have been much different.

Kristen’s Experience

Emma assisted me with the birth of my second boy 6 months ago. We started meeting several months before our due date, she was very supportive and knowledgeable, good at asking us questions and understanding how we wanted our birth to go. We didn't need a ton of information regarding different options as this was our second child, but she had a ton of resources available for us if we had wanted them.

I ended up in false labor every day for about a week and a half. I texted Emma every day, she was a calming person. She would text me some words of encouragement and she just helped keep me company in the waiting. Then when we were finally in labor at the hospital, she was right there holding my hand, rubbing my back, assisting me and my husband with everything I could need. She helped me drink water, took care of me when I was sick. She helped me remember to breathe!

She was a constant presence in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the nurses coming in and out of our room. After our son was born, she brought me coffee and came to visit. It was nice to have someone to talk with about the crazy experience of birthing a child. It truly is an amazing experience and very emotional and it was nice to process some of those emotions with someone else. She also gave me some great resources for mothers in our area. I can't recommend Emma more highly. If I were to have another child I would request Emma to be my doula again!