My partner and I first met Datia when I was 18 weeks into my pregnancy. We knew immediately that she was going to be our doula. She was so easy to talk to, and her approach to birth aligned well with our plans. Datia was available and helpful throughout my pregnancy – I especially appreciated this toward the end when I was uncomfortable and tired. On my due date when the baby hadn’t come and I was getting impatient, Datia took me to the Y for a walk and it really lifted my spirits! When labor did start 4 days later, Datia was with me from the time I called her at 4:30 am. It was reassuring to have her there with all her experience, as this was my first baby and I wasn’t sure what to expect. As much as I had read and prepared myself for laboring, when it was actually happening I forgot almost everything I’d learned. Datia was there to remind me of different coping strategies and to help me stay calm even as labor got more intense. My favorite pain relief was a hot shower, and Datia stood next to me spraying me with water and guiding my breathing for hours, while also giving my partner space to help me and be involved in the process. I was able to have my baby without pain meds and with minimal intervention, and I absolutely would not have been able to do it without her. An added bonus was that she was able to take pictures of the birth and the first minutes after. My partner and I were too caught up in the moment to do it ourselves, and I’m grateful we have those memories recorded! I’ll definitely be recommending her to my pregnant friends! Matt wrote:
As a labor support person, Datia was a wonderful help. She reminded us of many different labor positions and pain relief methods as well as helped execute these methods. She also took over when I was tired and allowed my wife to have help at all times during labor.
Without her, we might not have succeeded in following our birth plan.