Inclusive Support for all birthers and their supporters

"When I think back on my birthing experience, the image that sticks out is of me breathing through contractions and Hope crouching right next to me, whispering encouragements in my ear, gently holding me just like I asked. She knew all the right questions to ask to discern exactly what I needed—“I notice your hair is falling in your face. Do you like that cocoon feeling? Would you like me to turn off the lights too?” Or “It seemed like you felt relief on all fours, want me to help get you back in that position?” In my first birth experience, I didn’t know how to articulate all these little preferences and needs, so I just stayed quiet and pushed through it. What a difference to have someone searching for what I preferred, not just what made the baby come quickly. But what truly sets Hope apart is her dedication to her clients. Long past my birth, she was visiting my home, checking in on me, making sure I was supported and loved.

I was unsure if I should get a doula as it was expensive. My ex (father of my child) said we needed one. I am beyond grateful he pushed me towards getting one because I would have been lost without our doula, Hope. As a single mom, the father living in a different state and not having anyone with me until the last week of my pregnancy, Hope was someone I could lean on. She was so supportive and informative. Google gives endless information and would overwhelm me. Instead, I could text Hope and she could give me an answer without all of the other craziness Google gives. She knew just how to help me during labor. I would have been truly lost without her and would have struggled during labor. I highly recommend her. She was worth every single penny!

If I could give a 10 star review, I would. Hope is downright amazing. My husband and I agree that this was the best money we spent... maybe ever! Having someone so knowledgeable to educate/support you on all the crazy things your body is going through during pregnancy is worth it's weight in gold. When it came to delivery, I felt so prepared on what to expect, she helped us write up a birth plan that fit our family, and advised us on the "what-if's". Fortunately, everything went smoothly and according to plan! Labor was progressing relatively slowly, and the nurses kept pushing for Pitocin, and had me on continuous monitoring. Hope advocated for me to stand my ground against accepting extra drugs, and to be on intermittent monitoring so that I could move around. Once able to move around, Hope expertly guided me through exercises to move labor along- and boy did they- I finally started progressing nicely and had a smooth delivery! Hope was there for me during the next few weeks of recovery!

"I had Hope as my doula. She was amazing. I am a trans man and this was my first pregnancy. I had no idea how the process would go but she explained everything to me. I was so relieved knowing she was in the room with me while I gave birth. She kept me calm and I knew I was in good hands. There were so many things that I stressed about when it came to being in the hospital but I felt so much relief with her being there because I didn’t really have to think about all the other stressors. Everything went so smoothly. I’m so grateful to have had that experience with her there.”

"I couldn’t of done this journey without the support of Hope. She eased my anxiety, answered all questions with multiple scenarios and ultimately let us decide what would be best for us. She has the heart of a caregiver and truly wants what is best for her clients. Hope made us feel like we had known her for years, and she felt like a close friend who was simply there supporting us in the hospital. She went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable in our most vulnerable state. She has so much knowledge about pregnancy, babies, lactation, postpartum etc. she covered it all with us. I will always recommend Hope and “hope” everyone can experience the support that we did during our pregnancy.”

"You don’t realize how much you need an experienced, supportive doula until you’re in labor and they’re coaching you through it. Hope was kind, professional and understanding from first zoom chat, through labor until last zoom chat. She was happy to make any accommodations necessary to fit my labor and postpartum needs and wonderful about guiding me through coping with the pain. I am so grateful to have had her as part of my very last baby’s birth story.”

“I have a history of sexual violence and medical trauma, so although I have always wanted to give birth and was so excited to be pregnant there was this cloud hanging over me about all the unknowns. I’m used to having to advocate for myself but this was a whole new ballgame! I had a friend post about Hope and VBS and immediately contacted her. We connected so much during our first meeting I booked her while in the parking lot. Hope was the calming and confident presence we needed during my birth journey. During prenatal visits she was organized and informative, always asking for consent when we were practicing any positioning. She listened to my worries and presented me with all my options when constructing my birth preferences. My scheduled induction reminded me of Vin Diesel— FAST N FURIOUS (Not the typical induction story!) This definitely caught me off guard as I was preparing to be in the hospital for a few days but really a few hours after check-in it was go time! My partner called Hope and said “uhhh I think we need you” and she was immediately on her way— she believed me. She didn’t ask how dilated I was, how far apart my contractions were, she just believed me and came to be with me. I can’t even explain how impactful that was. I was feeling like this was all happening out of control and my “preferences” were all going to go right out the window… But Hope showed up with her twinkle lights and her affirmations and hip squeezes and helped me to feel centered and comfortable. She recognized the importance of pivoting when it was clear I was in PAIN (hours of contractions 2 mins long and 30 secs apart! No breaks!) and supported my decision to get an epidural. When I was feeling pressure and like I needed to push she held my hand, called the nurse, then looked at me and said “You’ve got this”. She played tug of war with a bed sheet while I pushed my baby out. She took beautiful pictures all along the way (upon our request). She came in and supported us, then gracefully exited once we were all fed and comfortable. I could honestly write a novel about all the ways Hope is great. Her name is no coincidence. We feel so lucky to have had her alongside us goes here”

“We were so thankful to have Hope as a part of our birth experience. She was so professional and knowledgable, while being incredibly personable and kind. Her presence was calm, engaged, and supportive. From helping develop our ideal birth plan to running to grab the husband dinner before it was time to push 😂, Hope helped make our birthing experience smooth and so special. Not to mention her capturing our favorite video of baby girl entering the world. Couldn’t recommend a better doula!”

“We were so thankful to have Hope as a part of our birth experience. She was so professional and knowledgable, while being incredibly personable and kind. Her presence was calm, engaged, and supportive. From helping develop our ideal birth plan to running to grab the husband dinner before it was time to push 😂, Hope helped make our birthing experience smooth and so special. Not to mention her capturing our favorite video of baby girl entering the world. Couldn’t recommend a better doula!”

“Hope was amazing, kind, firm and everything we needed. Her knowledge and energy was reassuring and calming. I had no worry in my mind during our long labor. She followed up post birth and is now considered a part of our family. Bexley, mom and dad are beyond thankful we went with Hope during our journey ❤️”

“Hope was there for me at every step. Whenever I had a question or concern, I knew I could text or call her and she would do her best to help. When it came time for labor, she was a huge help and such an encouraging voice. She made me feel safe and comfortable and always advocated for what I wanted/needed. I’m so glad I had her attend my birth.”

“Hope was such an invaluable support during my birth! This was my second child and the labor was way longer and harder than my first. I was ready to give up but Hope really pulled me through it. She gave me lots of options when labor was progressing and kept the mood positive until the very end. Her encouraging words and reminders to breathe and drink water were very helpful. I highly recommend her as a doula and absolutely plan to hire her again next time.”

“Hope was a remarkable support when my birth preference had to change unexpectedly. We knew that the talk of cesarean was on the table, so she gave me a game plan just in case we would need to use it (which we did). She shared with me many things I could opt out of during a cesarean which I would not have known otherwise. Her presence before heading to the operating room was comforting and reassuring that everything was going to be great! I am so glad my family found Hope — we could not have brought our little love into the world without her!”

“Hope was an incredible support during my pregnancy, labor, and delivery. She provided so much helpful information during our prenatal visits, and recounting my birth story with her during the postpartum visit was really special for me. She helped me feel comfortable and safe during labor, and she remained calm and encouraging when plans had to change unexpectedly. I am so thankful we had her support!”