Yasmin, NJ '09 At night when both my children are asleep, I think a lot about the birth that just took place and remember (so vividly) witnessing the moment my second son came into the world. I hadn't been able to do that with my first child because I had so many interventions that lead to a cesarean section, which pushed my husband and I to seek out a doula for my second pregnancy. Naturally, I had a lot of emotional "baggage" from an unwanted c-section and Cherie helped me acknowledge those fears and get past them. We hit it off from the first phone conversation, and my husband and I appreciated her honesty, confidence, and structure during our prenatal visits. She was thorough in exploring our views on a variety of topics/issues, and always encouraged realistic expectations of the birth process (no matter how it turned out). The night I went into labor, she came over with the calmest of demeanors. It was wonderful! The way she handled herself (and us) definitely built up our confidence and patience in handling labor at home. My husband was empowered to be there for me every step of the way, and our relationship was strengthened through this mind-boggling experience of laboring and birthing our son into the world. I will never forget her soft and encouraging words when I was going through the toughest time of my labor-transition- or her holding my hands in the delivery room, or her whispering in my ear to keep my chin down while pushing, or the cool compresses she placed on my forehead when experiencing intense contractions. Cherie was quietly there the whole time, and when it was all over, I was grateful to have had her support in a beautiful, natural birth. I went into this whole experience very doubtful that I could have a natural delivery, but Cherie never stopped believing. If I could have kissed her hand once more in gratitude following the delivery, I would have ;)
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Megan '09 Cherie gave much more than I expected from a birth doula — she helped my husband and I thoroughly prepare for the birth and answered so many of our questions about pregnancy, labor, what to expect in a hospital setting, and life with baby. She spent a lot of time getting to know both of us and our needs. She even attended a few prenatal yoga classes with me! During the birth, she was a very welcome, supportive, and familiar voice amidst a cacophony of unfamiliar voices (mine included…!). She really helped me keep my focus when I needed it the most. Thank you, Cherie!!!
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