“I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand. You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute. How it amazes me you’re changin’ with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon..”
-Lonestar, Let them be little

JoAnna Wahlund; daughter Violet Elizabeth 3-5-2010

I’d had two previous drug-free, natural hospital births and was hoping to have a third. However, I was in a new state and a new city, and therefore on unfamiliar territory. I found an OB and a hospital to deliver at, and both seemed relatively natural-birth friendly, but towards the end of my pregnancy I started getting nervous about my chances of having an intervention-free birth. I trusted my husband to be my advocate but I was concerned that he wouldn’t have enough help and support. Even though my due date was just days away, we called around to some local doulas and found one who was willing to attend our birth.

Since our original doula lived several hours away, Brealin was her back-up. She called me a day or two after we hired our original doula to introduce herself, and I felt comfortable with her immediately. We made arrangements to meet in person the following week, but as it turned out the first time I met her was on our baby’s birth day! I went into labor at 7:15am, three days after my due date, and contractions started with a vengeance. They were five minutes apart at the onset and we called Brealin, who agreed to meet us at our home. However, the contractions quickly became four minutes apart, then three, then two, and then I started getting nervous! We called Brealin and arranged to meet her at the hospital instead of our home.

Brealin arrived at the hospital mere minutes after we did, and I was so relieved to have her there. She held me hand and coached me through contractions as I was checked in triage (10cm dilated and and ready to go!), and kept coaching me as I was wheeled into an L&D room. I was starting to panic at how fast things were moving, and the contractions were horribly painful, but Brealin’s support was invaluable. She and my husband communicated to the nurses what our birth preferences were, as I was focusing on getting through contractions. She held my hand, rubbed my back, stroked my hair, and kept telling me what an amazing job I was doing as we waited for the OB to arrive. The physical contact was incredibly soothing, and I think that focusing on her encouraging voice was the only thing that kept me sane during that endless five minutes! When it came time to push, she held one of my legs and kept up the encouraging words. When my beautiful daughter was born, she was just as happy as my husband and I!

After my daughter’s birth, her amazing support continued. She supported me as I delivered the placenta, as my tear was stitched up (a somewhat painful process despite the local anesthesia), and helped me get Violet latched on and breastfeeding almost immediately after her birth. She put my hair up, got me water, admired the baby, and was generally as helpful and 110% supportive as anyone could be. Her offers of support continued during my postpartum period. She helped make our daughter’s birth such a positive experience and we cannot recommend her services enough to anyone seeking a natural, drug-free birth experience.

Amy Prather; twin daughters Addison and Riley 4-26-09

To say that I could not have had a better birth experience is an understatement. Having the support of my doula helped me to enjoy the birth of my twin daughters. After suffering infertility, my husband and I finally conceived twin daughters. I had a difficult pregnancy trying to stay pregnant as long as possible. Knowing that over 50% of multiple births end in c-section, I was determined to have a vaginal delivery. My OB was only willing to let me try but tried several times to persuade me to consent to a c-section. By having Brealin as my doula to consult during the pregnancy, I knew I could, and would try for a vaginal delivery.

My water broke at 32 weeks 5 days into my pregnancy, much earlier than I wanted to go into labor. Brealin arrived promptly after my water broke and prepared me for the steps in the labor and delivery process. I was completely scared for the safety of my daughters and my ability to deliver both girls vaginally. Brealin helped me breathe through my contractions and get as comfortable as possible to prepare my body to move forward in the labor process.

My husband was there holding my hand and being my rock while Brealin was there to gather information, talk to the nurses, and help me with informed consent questions. With multiple births, an epidural is required because the risk of an emergency c-section is much greater. I wanted my body to experience labor as long as possible and help the labor process before I had the epidural. I waited until I was 6cm dilated. During that time, Brealin helped me to channel my energy into breathing through each contraction in a relaxed state that allowed labor to progress faster than average.

After the epidural, I went into active labor and I became sick at several points. Brealin was my advocate and called the nurses to administer anti nausea medication and make me as comfortable as possible.

I reached a complete stage 13 hours after my water broke. Because of the encouragement and information Brealin gave me, I was able to push my first daughter out after only 5 pushes and my second daughter entered the world 8 minutes later after only 3 pushes. My desire to have a vaginal delivery, after medical staff cautioned me from doing so, was the reason why I knew hiring a doula would help me reach my dream of having a successful vaginal delivery of both of my girls.

The successful delivery lead the way for a short stay in the NICU and my daughters were able to come home a few weeks after I was released from the hospital. Brealin’s professionalism, wealth of knowledge, and gentle nature was exactly what I was looking for in a doula.

Jean Taylor; daughter Chayla 6-11-2008

My labor with my daughter was not easy. I went into labor the evening of the 10th which was the beginning of a very long 24 hours. Brealin was very prompt in to the hospital as soon as I told her that they were admitting me, she was there shortly after. Despite Brealin’s massage techniques, positive words and position suggestions, I was not doing well with breathing through my contractions and I was not progressing. I was nearing 24 hours since my water had broken and I was developing a fever. With the help of Brealin and my doctors, she helped me decide that getting an epidural would be the best thing for me. I was very determined to deliver vaginally and did not want to have a c-section unless it was absolutely necessary. Once the epidural was in, things progressed much easier for me. Once it was time for me to push, Brealin was a great coach on breathing and helping assist. With her help, my daughter arrived after only 5 short pushes. I was the only first time mom delivering at that time and I was the quickest to deliver once pushing started. I don’t think that would be true if it were not for Brealin’s help.