Crowning Glory Birth

I had known for about 3 years previous to getting pregnant that I would want a Doula supporting me throughout my pregnancy and birth since meeting one and understanding what they do back in 2015. When I did eventually fall pregnant years later, I found myself in a very odd situation of falling pregnant on a road trip in a foreign country with no house to come home to, MSP to cover me or family (beyond my husband) to support me. It was one of the most stressful and alone-feeling times of my life, coupled with this totally frightening and exciting new prospect of becoming a mother.So you can imagine my relief when after almost 13 weeks of uncertainty (and ever-present nausea) I found Michelle and interviewed her to become my doula. I was INSTANTLY put at ease and began to feel like I could handle it all. I interviewed only two Doulas and stopped after I met Michelle.As someone who truly hates being consumed in the baby and birthing cultures, I was always SO grateful for Michelle not only giving my permission to not have to research each and every detail of babies, pregnancy, and parenting but for also providing the necessary information I actually needed prior to each of my midwife appointments and the birth itself. She always presented the information in a holistic way, making sure I understood what all my options where as well as helping me explore what taking action and, even more importantly in the case of my pregnancy, what taking NO action would look like. This really helped empower me to feel that I had choice in the way my pregnancy ran, what appointments I felt were important, and what tests felt aligned with me.Then came the actual birth. After hoping for a speedy homebirth I was delivered the exact opposite - a 63-hour labour that eventually resulted in a hospital, sunnyside-up, forceps birth. I don't even want to imagine what all of that would have felt like without Michelle being there. She advocated or me at every turn and is definitely one of the big reasons I didn't end up having a cesarean. Purely due to her courage to ask the necessary questions to ensure I really understood all of my options, even when the OB omitted some trying to push their own agenda. And, not only was she a huge support and advocate for me, but she also provided the crucial support my husband needed going through this for the first time himself. After such a long labour, he was understandably exhausted and was supported to go and rest, have naps and eat thanks to Michelle's support.Finally, after bubba had arrived and we were settling into our new normal, Michelle helped both my husband and I process what had been a somewhat traumatic experience. This was SO important to us as it helped us to release the fear, sadness and trauma around how the birth went down so we could move into our parenting journey with happiness and excitement. Not to mention help me process what happened so as not to take that same trauma with me into my next birth.Michelle considered every facet to do with supporting me, my husband and our new baby during each of the four trimesters. I cannot imagine birthing without Michelle and I'm so grateful to share these special moments with her and for her to be a special part of our family forever.Hiring Michelle is the best thing you will EVER do for your pregnancy and birth. You'll be hiring not only a second-to-none supporter, advocate and champion, but also a dear friend for life.

I had the honour of working with Michelle within birth spaces and her calm, warm, and caring energy is always welcomed and needed for supporting these spaces. She is deliberate and diligent in her doula approach and always listens in order to find a way to advocate for her families. She finds a way to bring intention and acknowledgement for the people present, particularly for the mother and child(ren). You will undoubtedly be well cared for with her as a doula.