8/18/2011
Hey Melanie,
I just wanted to thank you for your help getting my placenta pills made. They have made a dramatic difference (I can tell because my schedule is so nutty right now that I’ll forget to take them and then find myself an emotional puddle, then I recover quickly after taking one or two).
I also loved that you included the cord – I still marvel at it (it’s shrinking so fast!).
If there’s ever a need for a testimonial or to speak to someone who is considering your services about my great experiences, I’d be happy to. Just let me know.
Best,
Brittany
For more information on this service contact Melanie@alaboroflove.org for more details and fees involved.
Aug 122011
Aug 092011
August, 2011
Patti with a set of twins!
To Whom It May Concern,
I highly recommend Patti Shultz as a post-partum doula. She helped me for a number of months after my first son, Jack, was born. Her assistance, guidance, and support was invaluable.
Patti is exactly who you want by your side as a new mother. She has a very sweet and nurturing demeanor that automatically puts you at ease. As a new mother, I felt vulnerable and overwhelmed at times and Patti always knew exactly what to say to ease my concerns. She was so encouraging and supportive and gave me the confidence I needed as a first-time mother. She was always happy and willing to do whatever I needed help with at the time – whether it was someone to make me breakfast, help me with breastfeeding, or take care of Jack as I took a nap. She was also very knowledgeable and would always go above and beyond to answer all my questions. She always made herself available and would happily answer my questions whenever I would call her at random times. I would wait for Patti to help me do certain things with Jack for the first time such as give him a bath, put him in a sling, or trim his nails. She is wonderful with infants and would spend hours rocking, soothing and playing with Jack.
Having Patti by my side absolutely made me a better mother. I always looked forward to having her come over and loved her company. Her support, advice, and encouragement meant so much to me and I will always be so grateful for help. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Elizabeth Elsbury
Jul 222011
I had a mom call me the other day who was interested in hiring a doula. She was already in her last weeks of her pregnancy. She thought it was odd that someone would hire a doula ahead of time. This got me thinking about the value of a relationship with your doula before birth.
Sometimes folks hire a doula really early in their pregnancy. And then they hardly communicate with her. An occasional phone call or email is all that occurs prior to the 34 week prenatal visit that we try to schedule. This prenatal visit is a time to go over a birth questionnaire that we may have sent them. It enables us to figure out what an ideal birth would look like and how they see their future needs during their labor and birth. It also allows us to review options they may not have yet considered regarding their care and their baby’s needs.
Sometimes folks hire a doula really early in their pregnancy and then begin building a relationship with frequent contact. Lots of phone calls and emails. They apologize for the frequent contact- although most of us love it! They may even take our classes. This offers a great opportunity to really have insight into their birth dreams and ideals as we get to know them. It also helps us to figure out what this mom may really desire for her birth even prior to that prenatal meeting.
Sometimes folks hire a doula really late in their pregnancy. And then we struggle to get in a prenatal with enough time to really figure out how we will work together. But we work hard to make that happen.
But are the birth outcomes really so different with these clients? I am not sure they are! Having been a doula for almost two decades, I feel I can step in fairly quickly and assess a mom’s needs with only a little conversation. But I may miss some of the details- like she really likes her shoulders massaged and hates her feet massaged- but overall I think I can go with her flow fairly well. And sometimes it is not necessary to have the time but for me personally, it is certainly the dessert that enhances the meal!
But different women have different needs. Some really feel very comfortable with little contact prior to the big day. And others really need that relationship. It is not about me and what I like, but again, this is her experience and I need to be able to let her direct her needs. I feel she needs to be able to direct her needs and not the other way around. Continue reading »
Mar 082011
I delivered my son via Cesarean. I was still recovering physically and emotionally when my husband and mother in law had to go back to work. I only had help for the first 2 weeks due to their busy work schedules. I felt overwhelmed, as many first time mommies do, and called Guina from Labor of Love, who had been my doula. She recommended that I discuss a post partum doula with Teresa. Teresa recommended Jennifer Fargar to me.
I immediately felt comfortable with Jennifer. She came to my house, listened to how I was feeling, and what my needs were. She made some recommendations and offered to hold my son while I took a nap. She bounced him in a Maya sling ( a valuable tool ) until he was calm. Then while he slept, she did housework and made dinner. Before she left, she brought my son to me, and left a glass of water on the side table where I nurse my son at nighttime. Jennifer came over twice a week for the next month. Every time I felt overwhelmed, or my son refused to go down for a nap, I could tell myself “ok, Jennifer will be here tomorrow, so no matter what, I can nap/run errands/have me time then”. She is part nanny, part therapist, part housekeeper. She listened to my concerns, showed me new techniques to soothe him, and used techniques that we were using, such as swaddling and shushing.
I am so much more confidant now as a new mommy thanks to her help. I would recommend her to anyone who feels a bit overwhelmed, or someone who wishes they had an extra set of hands. She is knowledgeable, patient, respectful, and very caring. I am grateful for her help, and for Teresa’s recommendation.
Feb 242011
Click here to be directed to our Facebook Fan Page!
Welcome to our new and improved blog! Jami Howard, not only Teresa’s youngest daughter extraordinaire but also a social media expert, has offered her expertise to make our old blog a thing of the past. We hope you enjoy the new look and find it easier to navigate. Keep an eye out for more changes along the way!
We try to keep our articles up to date and evidenced based. We have made it easier to navigate and search as well as offering direct links to our recommended reading lists for you to purchase from Amazon if you desire. Jami even linked Teresa’s personal blog for those who want to read more about her thoughts on life!
We welcome your input and new ideas for future blogs. Please keep the comments coming! Enjoy!
Nov 142010
Today I was adding the numbers of births each labor doula in our group has done over the years. These were births where they offered labor support. And within our group I was totally amazed to figure out that we have more than 1000 births of experience. Experience is not the only reason to hire a doula. There are a lot of factors to consider: how you feel when you are around her, how vulnerable you feel you can be with her, how your partner feels about her, and many more factors that are as individual as you are. But with our group you hire a doula or a team of doulas (Ladies of the Labyrinth), but you get the whole gamete of experience. Because when a doula is at a birth, she knows she can call any of the more experienced doulas in our group for insight and guidance in a situation with which she may not be familiar. I can guarantee you that there is no more experienced doula group in Atlanta than our group. I hope you will consider us when you are selecting someone to be guiding and supporting you in your labor!
