“My husband and I were unsure if we wanted a doula at first. This being our first child, we had this thought that we wanted to be fully “in it” together — for my husband to be the “head coach” and for me to be the “MVP” of this birthing experience. What we didn’t realize, and what became clear after meeting Jessica and Mary Etna, is that we were gearing up for him to be the head coach of a sport he’d never seen, and for me to be the MVP of a sport I’d never played! Working with Jessica and Mary Etna allowed us to get the skills and training we needed for us to be fully “in it” together in a more effective and productive way. Through the prenatal visit, they gave us the tools we needed to successfully manage early labor at home before getting to the hospital. We used every trick they taught us, including breathing techniques, counter-pressure and positioning. It meant that we could stay at home much longer than we probably would have which was the most comfortable part of our labor experience. Jessica met us at our birthing center and was a crucial support person throughout my active labor and pushing. She helped calm me down when my breathing became frantic, reminding me to “let go” of contractions as they passed and helped coach my husband so he could be a more effective partner and support as well. I can’t imagine the birth experience without their role. I wish every woman in the world could work with doulas as thoughtful, sensitive, supportive and knowledgeable as Jessica and Mary Etna.”
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