Alec and Jill's Story:
Birth is an incredible event that you spend 9 months preparing for. Yet, even the best laid plans are subject to change when the moment arrives. In the intensity of labor, we needed flexibility to overcome unexpected challenges without sacrificing commitment to our foundational preferences. Only an expert care giver can navigate such a fine balance. Merrie is the rare expert who can do so. During labor, Merrie had a bottomless "bag of tricks" to relieve pain, soothe aches, and calm nerves. She was exceptionally patient and encouraging throughout the whole experience. Above all, she demonstrated remarkable intuition and sensitivity to the level of care we needed at any given moment. As such, we were unsurprised when hospital staff praised Merrie's cooperative attitude and skillful care to us after the birth was complete. In the end, we felt as though we'd done more than simply hire a labor coach, we'd made a good friend. We are supremely grateful to Merrie for her service to our family.
Jamie's Story:
Merrie is absolutely exceptional. She is knowledgeable, experienced, an excellent communicator, comforting, encouraging, caring, and confident...a mother of four. I was unsure of my desire or ability to do a VBAC for the birth of my second. I'm almost certain that without Merrie's help/guidance this would not have been possible. With Merrie's help, I had an extremely quick birth, medication/epidural free. Due to such, my recovery was extremely quick as well. Merrie described our birth as healing and triumphant, sharing in my tears. I knew what to expect leading up to and during each moment of our birth as Merrie shared, and reminded me throughout the process. Merrie's ability to keep my calm, focused, and COMFORTABLE (?!!) was amazing. She is truly a HANDS-ON doula, which makes laboring and birth SO much more pleasant. I will recommend Merrie to anyone I know giving birth, and I sincerely appreciate her request/offer to keep in touch. I am so grateful for Merrie and her support/guidance, throughout the birthing process.
Christyn's Story:
Rachel was an incredible support to me and my husband as we prepared for the birth of our first baby! She shared her knowledge of prenatal care, labor, and delivery with us at our in-home consultation appointment, which eased our concerns and answered our many questions. When my OB had me schedule an induction, she made sure I felt good about that decision and assured me that the choice was ultimately mine to make. Throughout the various induction interventions, she and I communicated by text--me giving her updates and her giving me encouragement and offering to come to the hospital the moment I felt I needed her. I finally went into active labor about 40 minutes into the induction process, and she was at the hospital within 30 minutes of my call. She jumped right in to provide me relief with counter pressure on my lower back, and company on walks in the hallway, and when the time came to push, she was right there holding a leg and cheering me on! I honestly don't know how anyone could do it without a doula, and Rachel was absolutely the best person for the job!
Liz and Brandon's story:
(Liz)
I had Merrie as my doula at both of my children's births. Having her there made for a fantastic experience! During my pregnancy I researched so much about the birthing experience, but Merrie always brought more knowledge and resources to me. Even with an amazing husband and excellent midwife, Merrie as my doula filled a very special and important role. She was the voice of reason and understanding when my discomfort in labor took over. She even alternated with my husband in hours of squeezing my hips together to relieve painful sensations during labor. Brandon got exhausted before she even came close! She is strong physically to be able to attend to the mother's physical needs during labor, but most importantly she is emotionally and mentally strong. Merrie has a special gift of being able to adapt to her patients' needs and as a result is a talented and compassionate doula. She respects and honors the birthing process, and her commitment to her practice is evident. Every woman would be lucky to have Merrie by her side through labor and birth. She was a joy to celebrate it with, and I will definitely have her back for my future births!
(Brandon)
From a father's perspective, having Merrie present at the birth of both my children was a godsend. Her ability to provide the support and encouragement needed without interfering with the special bonding we experienced with our sons was amazing. Each birth brought with it a unique set of circumstances for which Merrie was well prepared. I felt more comfortable having her there to 1) ensure the safety of my wife and child, and
2) make sure the birth plan was followed with exactness, when possible. Because of Merrie's help, Liz's labor and recovery went very smoothly. Best of all, she made my job as a supporting husband easier. In fact, she made me look good!
Shena's Story:
If you are on the fence about getting a doula...hop of!!
This is the second time I've used a doula during delivery and my first time working with Misty. Leading up to labor, she was ready and willing to send me information, check in, and answer questions that I had. I honestly think that it helped me get further in labor more quickly. (My first time around I was in and out of prelabor for two weeks!!). She had a wealth of knowledge and experience which helped the birthing process go smoothly. My husband was able to take breaks and I was still able to have company and support. During labor there was all kinds of weird little things that came up and she was able to calm my fears, answer questions, and even the simplest thing like pushing a button feels like a lot when you're in labor. I felt she put my needs both emotionally and physically first. After labor, I was having qualms about breastfeeding and she happily came over and gave me reassurance as well as tips to help. I'm three weeks post partum and she still checks in and supports me. It is beyond amazing to get that kind of support and feel less alone so far out post partum. I don't think this review can begin to describe how grateful I am for the experience I had with Misty. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. I wish this kind of experience and support for anyone who is expecting!!
Becky & Matt's story:
During the 9 months of preparation for the birthing process I knew exactly what would end up happening in labor. I had the image of what the media has forced on us to what labor is like. I expected that at some point during labor I would scream my head off, beg for relief from the pain and get strapped down to the bed and I would just deal with things as they happened. I did however have the "ideal" plan of what I wanted to do which was: no pain relief, I would do everything exactly as my body saw fit, and I would make it through just fine. I didn't actually think that my "ideal" plan would work until I met Merrie. We clicked instantly. I wanted her there in the room with me no matter what. We talked about my "ideal" plan and she said we could do it. During the actual labor, Merrie was my rock! She was there for me and guided me through different laboring positions to help keep me occupied during contractions. She breathed with me and kept me focused on the task at hand. My labor progressed very quickly because I allowed my body to do what it can do naturally. Merrie talked me through it and helped me know when to rest, when to grunt, and when make the natural instinctual sounds that needed to happen. I made it through labor medication free, even with an induction. It can be done and that is because I had the right coach there guiding me through the process. My husband asked her many questions during labor and she educated him on what I as going through to help easy his worries. I am so thankful for the knowledge that Merrie has to help guide me through the most beautiful and intense experience that I have ever been through. And I am so thankful for the kindness and friendship I have with her and look forward to working with her again in the future when the time comes! Merrie is AWESOME!
Emma's Story:
Merrie taught my childbirth class and attended the hospital birth of my first child (August 2021). She was a wonderful teacher and gave me the confidence to have the drug free birth that I wanted. During my labor, she provided support to both myself and my husband and we were both very grateful to have had her there. I'll never forget the feeling of her gently hands on my back, while I rode out the contractions. She was a positive, calming, and encouraging presence throughout my labor.
*trigger warning*
Sadly, my son passed away 32 hours after he was born, under hospital care. Merrie continued to be there for me in the days immediately after his death and she is still supporting me five years later, despite living on the other side of the country. If I could have flown her in for the birth of my daughter (April 2013) I would have! I'm grateful to have had her as my doula and know that she will always carry my son in her heart.
Abby's Experience:
As soon as I found out I was pregnant I was on the hunt for a qualified and comforting Doula. After interviewing several Doulas in the Denver area, I found Intuitive Birth and was referred to Rachel. From the very first phone conversation, I knew that Rachel was the perfect match! She was so enthusiastic about her vocation serving as a doula and her personality was warm, comforting, and gentle. Our initial meeting in person was amazing, as Rachel knew so much about childbirth and the various procedures associated with induced labor--as that was what I was required to have. Rachel answered every question that we had and helped tremendously with establishing a birth plan that fit my wants, needs, and abilities. As it turned out, I was scheduled for an induced labor nearly two weeks before we had originally planned, but Rachel was so flexible and accommodating with her schedule, even though she had other pregnancies to attend to the very same week. Rachel offered her time, skill, and knowledge without reservation and was there for us without fail when it was time for the baby to come! I have no doubt that Rachel was a blessing for us and for our delivery of our baby Gabriel. I strongly recommend Rachel and can only offer her in the highest regard. I hope we can connect again if there is ever a baby #2! Thank you so much, Rachel! We love you!
Katie and Issac's story:
It was just perfect to have someone there at my birth who was neutral, and who wasn't related to me, so I could relax and feel like I could do or say anything. Merrie really helped me in early labor dealing with contraction pain and telling me it was okay to make noise, and that it was okay to just go with the flow of labor. She always had something new, either to distract me with or a new way to help me cope with my baby's birth. When I was in the hospital, it really made a difference for my husband to be able to get some sleep while she stayed by my side, rubbing lavender oil on my forehead to soothe me. Every time I thought I couldn't take anymore pain she was there helping me shift into a new position or trying something different. She made me feel like everything I was feeling and doing was natural, and that I could do it! With her presence I gained the strength and support that I needed to say no to an epidural and let my son's birth take it's own course. Going through the labor with Merrie make me feel like I could do it again in my future births. She gave me the confidence and knowledge that childbirth is a natural, beautiful thing, and I could experience labor as it should be. Thank you so much, Merrie!
Robin's Story:
Misty Stewart was the doula for the birth of my first child. If you are considering hiring Misty for your birthing experience please take my advice and DO IT. Leading up to the delivery of my daughter, Misty checked in with me regularly and it really helped us build a rapport. On the day of the birth, my husband appreciated having Misty with us as much as I did. You can read books and take classes about labor and delivery but in my experience none of these things actually prepared my husband and I for what it was really like. It was reassuring to have Misty in the room to coach me through different techniques to manage my pain and to remind me that I could do it when I started to doubt myself. My husband appreciated having Misty to explain what was happening and to offer suggestions about things he could/should do. After my daughter was born Misty stayed with me and helped me figure out how to feed my baby for the first time. I really cannot say enough nice things about Misty.
D. S.'s Story:
Rachel went above and beyond our expectations for my wife's first pregnancy. She is extremely knowledgeable and remained supportive and very quick to respond throughout the entire process. We are fairly new to CO and having Rachel to lean on with any questions/concerns was reassuring. My wife experienced pretty significant back labor pain and Rachel's encouragement along with the near non-stop massaging helped IMMENSELY. Could not recommend Intuitive Birth and Rachel enough!
Whanadi-Ann's Story:
Birthing Aurelia Aven with Merrie by our side....
Dear expectant mommy,
If you are reading this, you are most likely considering having a birth doula by your side when the time comes to welcome your treasure into the world. If you are having any doubts about your curiosity and interest, or having trouble enrolling your partner in the idea, I hope our experience serves to assure you of one of the BEST investments we made in preparation for birthing our Aurelia.
I was initially drawn to the idea of having a doula, since it has been proven over and over that having the support of a woman during birth makes for an often easier, faster, and less painful process. If you didn't know, the presence of a doula is also known to decrease the likelihood of Caesarean Birth. As I prepared for the epic initiation into motherhood, my husband JP and I started dialoguing more about our thoughts, feelings, and fears. It became a concern to me how well my husband would do with seeing me in so much pain. I needed to know he would be well supported, and that someone could advocate for all three of us if necessary.
When I imagined the possibility of being transferred from the birthing center to the hospital, I knew JP would remain by my side all the way, and I knew a trusted doula would not only be there for me and my husband, she would potentially be the one to hold our baby if we were indisposed for any reason. That was the moment I knew with absolute certainty that I wanted a birth guardian. Merrie was the third Doula I connected with. As wonderful as they all were, what set her apart for me is she is a mother of four, and has experienced almost every birth scenario I had imagined. Birthing at home, birthing at a birthing center, a vaginal hospital delivery, and nearly a Cesarean Birth. She has her Doula training and experience, as well as midwifery training she is in the process of completing. It was enormously reassuring that we would glean from all that wisdom.
When we met Merrie in person with my husband this time, her easy going, flexible, and bright nature confirmed my gut feel that she was the birth doula for us. In the weeks leading up to our daughter's arrival, Merrie was a wealth of information and a constant support. Our discussions ranged from birth preparation to breastfeeding and vaccines once the baby was born. Whatever came up (including some interesting family dynamics), she was there to be an ear, and to offer sage advice and other valuable resources. We had fortunately attended prerequisite birth classes, as well as a few electives at Mountain Midwifery, and the Mama'hood (Birthing from Within). It was a blessing to have what we had learned reinforced and in some instances elaborated on. We discussed our birth preferences and felt confident Merrie would help ensure our wishes were carried out (especially if we landed in hospital).
The big day arrived. I went into labour at 1am on my due date (January 19th). I texted with Merrie as I went through the motions and when we felt it was time, she came to our home to help monitor my progress and keep me as comfortable as possible. Before her arrival, I sensed my hubby was reeling from exhausted excitement and disbelief. He was visibly calmer once Merrie arrived at 5:30 that morning. Don't underestimate the importance of a calm environment when birth begins.
Things progressed fast. I could feel myself entering a different realm of reality. I am grateful that I felt comfortable enough to leave the logistics to JP and Merrie while I allowed myself to surrender to my body and inner primal instincts (an imperative part of the process). When we arrived at the birth center, I felt confident enough in our connection to tell Merrie exactly what I needed and how I needed it. She was by my side to fetch, carry, and step into whatever gap I felt or she intuited. From the logistics of keeping me hydrated, applying counter pressure to my sacrum, and making sure I had everything I needed, to the emotional needs of standing firm with my husband and encouraging us both, Merrie anchored us with so much grace, ease, and love. I felt loved, supported, and protected - again, so important for the birthing process.
Merrie was an extra trusted pair of hands, eyes and ears. She was an awesome cheerleader, awesome friend, and photographer! My husband is one of the kindest, sensitive human beings I know. We have a deep emotional connection, and he is very intuitive when it comes to reading me. That being said, there is something about having a woman by your side who has "been there". Who knows what it takes to birth a baby.
This is a marathon like no other and it's completely unpredictable! I cannot imagine doing it without my amazing support crew - my husband JP, Merrie, midwife Natalie, & nurse Sophi.
Thank you for how you showed up for us Merrie. We could have done it without you, so glad we didn't. xxx
Birth is an incredible event that you spend 9 months preparing for. Yet, even the best laid plans are subject to change when the moment arrives. In the intensity of labor, we needed flexibility to overcome unexpected challenges without sacrificing commitment to our foundational preferences. Only an expert care giver can navigate such a fine balance. Merrie is the rare expert who can do so. During labor, Merrie had a bottomless "bag of tricks" to relieve pain, soothe aches, and calm nerves. She was exceptionally patient and encouraging throughout the whole experience. Above all, she demonstrated remarkable intuition and sensitivity to the level of care we needed at any given moment. As such, we were unsurprised when hospital staff praised Merrie's cooperative attitude and skillful care to us after the birth was complete. In the end, we felt as though we'd done more than simply hire a labor coach, we'd made a good friend. We are supremely grateful to Merrie for her service to our family.
Jamie's Story:
Merrie is absolutely exceptional. She is knowledgeable, experienced, an excellent communicator, comforting, encouraging, caring, and confident...a mother of four. I was unsure of my desire or ability to do a VBAC for the birth of my second. I'm almost certain that without Merrie's help/guidance this would not have been possible. With Merrie's help, I had an extremely quick birth, medication/epidural free. Due to such, my recovery was extremely quick as well. Merrie described our birth as healing and triumphant, sharing in my tears. I knew what to expect leading up to and during each moment of our birth as Merrie shared, and reminded me throughout the process. Merrie's ability to keep my calm, focused, and COMFORTABLE (?!!) was amazing. She is truly a HANDS-ON doula, which makes laboring and birth SO much more pleasant. I will recommend Merrie to anyone I know giving birth, and I sincerely appreciate her request/offer to keep in touch. I am so grateful for Merrie and her support/guidance, throughout the birthing process.
Christyn's Story:
Rachel was an incredible support to me and my husband as we prepared for the birth of our first baby! She shared her knowledge of prenatal care, labor, and delivery with us at our in-home consultation appointment, which eased our concerns and answered our many questions. When my OB had me schedule an induction, she made sure I felt good about that decision and assured me that the choice was ultimately mine to make. Throughout the various induction interventions, she and I communicated by text--me giving her updates and her giving me encouragement and offering to come to the hospital the moment I felt I needed her. I finally went into active labor about 40 minutes into the induction process, and she was at the hospital within 30 minutes of my call. She jumped right in to provide me relief with counter pressure on my lower back, and company on walks in the hallway, and when the time came to push, she was right there holding a leg and cheering me on! I honestly don't know how anyone could do it without a doula, and Rachel was absolutely the best person for the job!
Liz and Brandon's story:
(Liz)
I had Merrie as my doula at both of my children's births. Having her there made for a fantastic experience! During my pregnancy I researched so much about the birthing experience, but Merrie always brought more knowledge and resources to me. Even with an amazing husband and excellent midwife, Merrie as my doula filled a very special and important role. She was the voice of reason and understanding when my discomfort in labor took over. She even alternated with my husband in hours of squeezing my hips together to relieve painful sensations during labor. Brandon got exhausted before she even came close! She is strong physically to be able to attend to the mother's physical needs during labor, but most importantly she is emotionally and mentally strong. Merrie has a special gift of being able to adapt to her patients' needs and as a result is a talented and compassionate doula. She respects and honors the birthing process, and her commitment to her practice is evident. Every woman would be lucky to have Merrie by her side through labor and birth. She was a joy to celebrate it with, and I will definitely have her back for my future births!
(Brandon)
From a father's perspective, having Merrie present at the birth of both my children was a godsend. Her ability to provide the support and encouragement needed without interfering with the special bonding we experienced with our sons was amazing. Each birth brought with it a unique set of circumstances for which Merrie was well prepared. I felt more comfortable having her there to 1) ensure the safety of my wife and child, and
2) make sure the birth plan was followed with exactness, when possible. Because of Merrie's help, Liz's labor and recovery went very smoothly. Best of all, she made my job as a supporting husband easier. In fact, she made me look good!
Shena's Story:
If you are on the fence about getting a doula...hop of!!
This is the second time I've used a doula during delivery and my first time working with Misty. Leading up to labor, she was ready and willing to send me information, check in, and answer questions that I had. I honestly think that it helped me get further in labor more quickly. (My first time around I was in and out of prelabor for two weeks!!). She had a wealth of knowledge and experience which helped the birthing process go smoothly. My husband was able to take breaks and I was still able to have company and support. During labor there was all kinds of weird little things that came up and she was able to calm my fears, answer questions, and even the simplest thing like pushing a button feels like a lot when you're in labor. I felt she put my needs both emotionally and physically first. After labor, I was having qualms about breastfeeding and she happily came over and gave me reassurance as well as tips to help. I'm three weeks post partum and she still checks in and supports me. It is beyond amazing to get that kind of support and feel less alone so far out post partum. I don't think this review can begin to describe how grateful I am for the experience I had with Misty. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. I wish this kind of experience and support for anyone who is expecting!!
Becky & Matt's story:
During the 9 months of preparation for the birthing process I knew exactly what would end up happening in labor. I had the image of what the media has forced on us to what labor is like. I expected that at some point during labor I would scream my head off, beg for relief from the pain and get strapped down to the bed and I would just deal with things as they happened. I did however have the "ideal" plan of what I wanted to do which was: no pain relief, I would do everything exactly as my body saw fit, and I would make it through just fine. I didn't actually think that my "ideal" plan would work until I met Merrie. We clicked instantly. I wanted her there in the room with me no matter what. We talked about my "ideal" plan and she said we could do it. During the actual labor, Merrie was my rock! She was there for me and guided me through different laboring positions to help keep me occupied during contractions. She breathed with me and kept me focused on the task at hand. My labor progressed very quickly because I allowed my body to do what it can do naturally. Merrie talked me through it and helped me know when to rest, when to grunt, and when make the natural instinctual sounds that needed to happen. I made it through labor medication free, even with an induction. It can be done and that is because I had the right coach there guiding me through the process. My husband asked her many questions during labor and she educated him on what I as going through to help easy his worries. I am so thankful for the knowledge that Merrie has to help guide me through the most beautiful and intense experience that I have ever been through. And I am so thankful for the kindness and friendship I have with her and look forward to working with her again in the future when the time comes! Merrie is AWESOME!
Emma's Story:
Merrie taught my childbirth class and attended the hospital birth of my first child (August 2021). She was a wonderful teacher and gave me the confidence to have the drug free birth that I wanted. During my labor, she provided support to both myself and my husband and we were both very grateful to have had her there. I'll never forget the feeling of her gently hands on my back, while I rode out the contractions. She was a positive, calming, and encouraging presence throughout my labor.
*trigger warning*
Sadly, my son passed away 32 hours after he was born, under hospital care. Merrie continued to be there for me in the days immediately after his death and she is still supporting me five years later, despite living on the other side of the country. If I could have flown her in for the birth of my daughter (April 2013) I would have! I'm grateful to have had her as my doula and know that she will always carry my son in her heart.
Abby's Experience:
As soon as I found out I was pregnant I was on the hunt for a qualified and comforting Doula. After interviewing several Doulas in the Denver area, I found Intuitive Birth and was referred to Rachel. From the very first phone conversation, I knew that Rachel was the perfect match! She was so enthusiastic about her vocation serving as a doula and her personality was warm, comforting, and gentle. Our initial meeting in person was amazing, as Rachel knew so much about childbirth and the various procedures associated with induced labor--as that was what I was required to have. Rachel answered every question that we had and helped tremendously with establishing a birth plan that fit my wants, needs, and abilities. As it turned out, I was scheduled for an induced labor nearly two weeks before we had originally planned, but Rachel was so flexible and accommodating with her schedule, even though she had other pregnancies to attend to the very same week. Rachel offered her time, skill, and knowledge without reservation and was there for us without fail when it was time for the baby to come! I have no doubt that Rachel was a blessing for us and for our delivery of our baby Gabriel. I strongly recommend Rachel and can only offer her in the highest regard. I hope we can connect again if there is ever a baby #2! Thank you so much, Rachel! We love you!
Katie and Issac's story:
It was just perfect to have someone there at my birth who was neutral, and who wasn't related to me, so I could relax and feel like I could do or say anything. Merrie really helped me in early labor dealing with contraction pain and telling me it was okay to make noise, and that it was okay to just go with the flow of labor. She always had something new, either to distract me with or a new way to help me cope with my baby's birth. When I was in the hospital, it really made a difference for my husband to be able to get some sleep while she stayed by my side, rubbing lavender oil on my forehead to soothe me. Every time I thought I couldn't take anymore pain she was there helping me shift into a new position or trying something different. She made me feel like everything I was feeling and doing was natural, and that I could do it! With her presence I gained the strength and support that I needed to say no to an epidural and let my son's birth take it's own course. Going through the labor with Merrie make me feel like I could do it again in my future births. She gave me the confidence and knowledge that childbirth is a natural, beautiful thing, and I could experience labor as it should be. Thank you so much, Merrie!
Robin's Story:
Misty Stewart was the doula for the birth of my first child. If you are considering hiring Misty for your birthing experience please take my advice and DO IT. Leading up to the delivery of my daughter, Misty checked in with me regularly and it really helped us build a rapport. On the day of the birth, my husband appreciated having Misty with us as much as I did. You can read books and take classes about labor and delivery but in my experience none of these things actually prepared my husband and I for what it was really like. It was reassuring to have Misty in the room to coach me through different techniques to manage my pain and to remind me that I could do it when I started to doubt myself. My husband appreciated having Misty to explain what was happening and to offer suggestions about things he could/should do. After my daughter was born Misty stayed with me and helped me figure out how to feed my baby for the first time. I really cannot say enough nice things about Misty.
D. S.'s Story:
Rachel went above and beyond our expectations for my wife's first pregnancy. She is extremely knowledgeable and remained supportive and very quick to respond throughout the entire process. We are fairly new to CO and having Rachel to lean on with any questions/concerns was reassuring. My wife experienced pretty significant back labor pain and Rachel's encouragement along with the near non-stop massaging helped IMMENSELY. Could not recommend Intuitive Birth and Rachel enough!
Whanadi-Ann's Story:
Birthing Aurelia Aven with Merrie by our side....
Dear expectant mommy,
If you are reading this, you are most likely considering having a birth doula by your side when the time comes to welcome your treasure into the world. If you are having any doubts about your curiosity and interest, or having trouble enrolling your partner in the idea, I hope our experience serves to assure you of one of the BEST investments we made in preparation for birthing our Aurelia.
I was initially drawn to the idea of having a doula, since it has been proven over and over that having the support of a woman during birth makes for an often easier, faster, and less painful process. If you didn't know, the presence of a doula is also known to decrease the likelihood of Caesarean Birth. As I prepared for the epic initiation into motherhood, my husband JP and I started dialoguing more about our thoughts, feelings, and fears. It became a concern to me how well my husband would do with seeing me in so much pain. I needed to know he would be well supported, and that someone could advocate for all three of us if necessary.
When I imagined the possibility of being transferred from the birthing center to the hospital, I knew JP would remain by my side all the way, and I knew a trusted doula would not only be there for me and my husband, she would potentially be the one to hold our baby if we were indisposed for any reason. That was the moment I knew with absolute certainty that I wanted a birth guardian. Merrie was the third Doula I connected with. As wonderful as they all were, what set her apart for me is she is a mother of four, and has experienced almost every birth scenario I had imagined. Birthing at home, birthing at a birthing center, a vaginal hospital delivery, and nearly a Cesarean Birth. She has her Doula training and experience, as well as midwifery training she is in the process of completing. It was enormously reassuring that we would glean from all that wisdom.
When we met Merrie in person with my husband this time, her easy going, flexible, and bright nature confirmed my gut feel that she was the birth doula for us. In the weeks leading up to our daughter's arrival, Merrie was a wealth of information and a constant support. Our discussions ranged from birth preparation to breastfeeding and vaccines once the baby was born. Whatever came up (including some interesting family dynamics), she was there to be an ear, and to offer sage advice and other valuable resources. We had fortunately attended prerequisite birth classes, as well as a few electives at Mountain Midwifery, and the Mama'hood (Birthing from Within). It was a blessing to have what we had learned reinforced and in some instances elaborated on. We discussed our birth preferences and felt confident Merrie would help ensure our wishes were carried out (especially if we landed in hospital).
The big day arrived. I went into labour at 1am on my due date (January 19th). I texted with Merrie as I went through the motions and when we felt it was time, she came to our home to help monitor my progress and keep me as comfortable as possible. Before her arrival, I sensed my hubby was reeling from exhausted excitement and disbelief. He was visibly calmer once Merrie arrived at 5:30 that morning. Don't underestimate the importance of a calm environment when birth begins.
Things progressed fast. I could feel myself entering a different realm of reality. I am grateful that I felt comfortable enough to leave the logistics to JP and Merrie while I allowed myself to surrender to my body and inner primal instincts (an imperative part of the process). When we arrived at the birth center, I felt confident enough in our connection to tell Merrie exactly what I needed and how I needed it. She was by my side to fetch, carry, and step into whatever gap I felt or she intuited. From the logistics of keeping me hydrated, applying counter pressure to my sacrum, and making sure I had everything I needed, to the emotional needs of standing firm with my husband and encouraging us both, Merrie anchored us with so much grace, ease, and love. I felt loved, supported, and protected - again, so important for the birthing process.
Merrie was an extra trusted pair of hands, eyes and ears. She was an awesome cheerleader, awesome friend, and photographer! My husband is one of the kindest, sensitive human beings I know. We have a deep emotional connection, and he is very intuitive when it comes to reading me. That being said, there is something about having a woman by your side who has "been there". Who knows what it takes to birth a baby.
This is a marathon like no other and it's completely unpredictable! I cannot imagine doing it without my amazing support crew - my husband JP, Merrie, midwife Natalie, & nurse Sophi.
Thank you for how you showed up for us Merrie. We could have done it without you, so glad we didn't. xxx
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