Here are some client testimonials that you may find helpful in your search for a doula.
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"As like most women with particular likes/dislikes and definite opinions, it was a challenge to find other people who would respect and comply with my needs and wishes regarding the most important event in our family, the arrival of our firstborn son. Upon a Doctor's recommendation to contact Allison Harris, I was immediately delighted even after our first initial phone call, for we had a connection without even having to see each other in person. Upon our first interview, we were impressed even further because of her professional and courteous manner. She was so helpful, and more than happy to comply with all of our wishes/concerns, but also had such a glowing warmth about her that you couldn't help but to feel comfortable and at ease. Initially my husband had reservations regarding doulas, and felt that he would end up replaced in the delivery room, but during our interview and conversations later, he was very grateful for the fact that she was to be a part of such an important day. Of course that was only the beginning of our relationship, for as the next few months progressed and D-Day arrived, she had become a friend and confidant. She worked SO hard with Tom & I during the different stages of my labor, implementing multiple relieving techniques, and helped us to make decisions with the Doctor/hospital staff when things weren't going exactly as we anticipated (and they never do), so that finally after 20 hours of labor, our little "Fino" was born. But that wasn't the last I heard of Allison, she was also there to help boost my confidence as a new (and inexperienced) mother several weeks after delivery. But I can also say that we still keep in touch, because as I said before, I not only gained a doula, but also a loving friend."
-Julie
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"I wanted to take a moment to formally thank you for your support at the end of my pregnancy. By the time I called you to discuss doula services, I was at the end of my rope. I was exhausted, anxious and overwhelmed. Although I was a total stranger to you, you asked questions, eased my fears, assured me that things would work out alright, and told me you understood. You will never know how great the weight was that you lifted from my shoulders. As I told you on the phone, I think that is ultimately what allowed me to relax , and set my labor in motion. I’m not a hugely religious person, but I am positive that God had a plan for me and our pregnancy. There were a handful of people, including you, that were key in helping us get through. I will never forget your kindness. I hope that I can help someone else the way you helped me one day, and I hope to meet a lot more people like you as we establish our new home in this area. Thanks so much Allison, you are so special!"
-Jill
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"I wanted to thank you for all your support during the birth of my precious daughter Jenna Rose. I know you had a lot to do with setting up our care, and how well supported we felt, and even though you had not met me before, you put your whole heart into serving and caring for me. My entire family was touched with what you did for us, and I know I could not have done what I had to do without you. Throughout my pregnancy, my beautiful daughter grew safe inside my belly, until the day I knew I had to let go of her. It was very hard for me, and for most of the day it was one of the worst days of my life. I tried to be brave and you did your best to help me with massage and different things you did for me, bringing me drinks and etc, talking and comforting me, staying by my side the whole time. Noone else really knew what to do or what to say, but somehow you pulled everything together and helped everyone feel ok and get through it all. I guess you did not realize until the day of my labor that I had known throughout my whole pregnancy that my little girl might not live, and at one point I found myself crying and feeling guilty. Was it selfish of me to continue my pregnancy even though I knew my Jenna Rose may only live for a few minutes, or a few hours, or days? I wanted so much to be a mother, and to hold my daughter, even if only for a short time. When I began to cry and doubt, you kneeled down beside me and put your arms around me and cried with me, and told me you thought I was one of the bravest and most loving mothers you had ever met. You said that you thought it was incredible to you that I would risk so much heart ache , and put my own feelings and needs aside, to do what I felt God had told me to do, to give life to my child, for whatever amount of time He deemed she would have on this earth. You reminded me of God’s promises not to leave me or forsake me and quoted scripture to comfort me and prayed with me. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. Like I said before, my labor was very hard to go through, one of the worst days of my life maybe, but then my beautiful Jenna Rose was born and I held her in my arms, and all at once it was the most glorious day I have ever lived through. To hold my sweet baby was the greatest joy I have ever known. Sadly, she only lived for a few short minutes, but I would do it all again just to be able to hold her and tell her I love her. I have the ornament you gave to me hanging in my kitchen window, and it reminds me of the great love you showed to me and to my husband and my family, and of my sweet Jenna Rose, every time the sun shines through it. I just wanted to tell you that I will never forget you and I hope that God blesses you and blesses you for the way you so unselfishly give of yourself in His service to moms who need you. You will remain in my heart forever."
-Anonymous
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"When my husband and I found out I was pregnant with our first daughter it was an absolute joy. I just knew I wanted to have a natural childbirth and needed a doula by my side to help me accomplish that goal. I called several doula’s, but just didn’t connect with any of them. Then I called Allison and knew without even meeting her that she was a perfect match for me! She was so kind and supportive throughout my pregnancy. The day my water broke at 4:49 am, I immediately called Allison and was met with a cheery voice telling me she would meet me at the hospital. Allison arrived at the hospital just minutes after my husband and I. During my entire labor, Allison never left the room. She walked the halls with me, massaged my back, and did this incredible thing with my hips that alleviated so much of the pain during a contraction! She had wonderful advice during the labor process and had so many ideas of different things to try to get me through each contraction. She was an incredible liason between the hospital staff and me. If I needed anything she was the one who talked to the nurse and doctor, so my husband and I could just focus on the birth. She instantly formed a bond with my mom and sisters who were also in the delivery room with me. My husband was extremely nervous and scared for me and had a difficult time seeing me in so much pain. Allison helped coach him through that as well. She was so many things to so many different people the day of the birth, yet I always felt like all of her attention was focused on me. I ended up needing pitocin and really didn’t think I was going to be able to achieve the natural childbirth I so desired. However, because of Allison I did it! I delivered my beautiful daughter at 6:46 pm without any pain medication! Allison also attended the birth of my second child and again was a powerful force in helping me to deliver naturally. I had a very difficult pregnancy the second time around and my family and I were all very scared for the health of the baby. Allison was a calming force for all of us. Now, we are having our 3rd baby and eagerly anticipate Allison’s presence in the delivery room. She is so much more than a doula, she is part of our family. My husband told me that he would not want to have another baby if Allison could not be there! This comment amazed me because he did not think a doula was necessary when I brought the idea up after finding out I was pregnant the first time, he really came full circle after meeting Allison for the first time! I would recommend Allison to anyone who has specific ideas of how her birth should go. Whether you want to have a natural childbirth or have pain medication, Allison is a wonderful support for everyone involved in the delivery."
-Cheryl Wilkie
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"I can't say enough good things about my doula and friend Allison Harris. For anyone who will read this, trying to decide whether to choose Allison or not, believe me when I tell you that I am very hard on people. I hold people to high standards & expectations because that's how I was treated by my parents. Anyway, I can say without a doubt that Allison is the absolute best doula that a person could have. My wife, Genice, and I can't express how grateful we were with Allison's professionalism, care, and concern during Genice's labor, delivery, and birth of our daughter, Genna. We have nothing but HIGH praises to say about Allison and if you want to talk with me directly if you think I'm kidding, my email address is martin_lee17@hotmail.com and my cell phone # is 240-398-9013. Believe me, selecting Allison to assist you with your child birth will be one of the best decisions that you could make and she will give you 110% to make sure that things go as smoothly as possible. I know I couldn't have made it through my wife's delivery without Allison's help, so do not hesitate in selecting Allison as your doula."
-Martin Luther King Lee
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"I can’t help but feel like I owe you so much for being here on this planet and in my life. Having you with me in the labor room was so wonderful, especially before the epidural!!! I just keep remembering looking into your beautiful eyes every time a contraction would come, it was awesome! You are so integral to our lives, you’ll never know!"
-Patricia Caplain, & precious daughter Emma Rose
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"Thank you so much for helping God fulfill ALL our prayers. In a journal that I started for Megan I wrote down all our prayers for her labor and delivery. ALL of them were answered in abundance. Allison, you will always hold a special place in our hearts because of the beautiful support you gave to us. Please keep up the good work and we pray that God blesses you abundantly now and forever."
-The Myers
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"I wanted to write and send to you a picture of our beautiful child that you helped to bring into the world. I don’t know how you can possibly remember all the people you help, but I know one thing, I will never forget you and how wonderful you were during my labor. You were a mom, sister, a best friend, and a doula, all rolled into one, and I really don’t know how I would have gotten through it without you. The value of what you do is immeasurable to the people you help. Little Hannah is the most miraculous gift from God and we are more amazed by her everyday. I hope all is great with you and your doula program is helping lots of people. I just wanted you to know that I and my entire family are all so grateful to you and will always remember the huge part you played on the greatest day of our lives."
-Karen, Mike and Hannah McCaffery
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"What a wonderful day to spend with you. From the moment I first spoke to you on the phone, I knew that I was in good hands. Your experience, medical knowledge and professionalism is what first made you stand out, even amongst “the best of doulas”. However, it is your kindness, warmth, and sincerity that sets you apart even amongst The “best of people”. Thank you for being a kind friend who has taken our sons birth as seriously as we do. You have helped bring us the miracles we’ve always wanted."
-Keith and Amanda
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"Thank you so much for the card you sent and for all your help during our birth. You are an angel sent to me by God and I pray that He rewards you a thousand fold. We are so grateful for what you did for us. You’ll always live in our hearts. Our son Justin is 10 months old now and a very active, adorable miracle. Oh, God visited us after the birth, and because of the beautiful experience you helped us to have during Justin’s birth, we have found each other again, our marriage is renewed. I praise the Lord. You were such a part of it all and I will forever be thankful to you and never forget you."
-(client name withheld)
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"Thank you for your caring support during the birth of our son William. I felt so comforted and safe knowing that you were looking out for me. We are filled with love and joy everyday. William is a wonderful baby."
-Anne Perry
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"Thank you so much for helping us to bring Aidan into the world. Your support made it all possible. I could not have done it without you there by my side. Thank you so much for helping us to make such a happy memory."
-Lisa and Steve Gately
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"Choosing a doula is not an easy decision. If it weren’t for a college roommate I might not have even known what one was. But I turned to this girlfriend , a maternal “Yoda”, if you will, to instruct me on what I needed. The best advice she ever gave me was, “ go find yourself a good doula for the day of your birth, it will be essential.” Rachel was right on lots of occasions in life. We shared advice on everything from boyfriends to graduate classes to wedding flowers, but THIS turned out to be the BEST advice she ever gave me.
As a teacher, I believe in practicing what I preach to my students and “ doing my homework” when I research a new subject. When I began to work on finding a doula, I quickly realized that there were a lot of choices out there. Doulas are all trained to assist in birth and serve the mother, but they are as different as mothers and babies are. There existed a lot of philosophies, some similar, and it took effort to find just the right one that fit with my personality, my partner’s wishes and the OB I trusted. Let me tell you why I chose Allison Harris.
I spoke with a lot of good doulas on the phone but there was something that resonated in me after speaking with Allison. First off, it was immediately clear that she had a good deal more professional medical “know how” and experience than most doulas. I considered this essential as neither my husband or myself had any medical training, and we worried about how often the nurses and doctor would actually be in the room. This turned out to be the best reason that I hired Allison because on the day of the actual birth, the nurses frequented the room only a few minutes about once an hour. It was so helpful to have someone that understood all the procedures and equipment from a medical vantage point that noone else in our family had. Second, some of the doulas that I met with were wonderful people but, wonderful people that had only performed at a few dozen births. Allison served women day in and day out after her experiences at Holy Cross Hospital ( where she was doula program coordinator and in charge of the perinatal grief and loss program) and has been present for literally hundreds of births. A lot of women that I spoke with used a back up doula almost weekly and that made me insecure at a time when I was looking for concrete answers about labor.
The last and most important reason that I hired Allison was because of her beauty. Yes, she happens to be a stunning woman , but that is not the kind of beauty that I am referring to. I am speaking about the kind of person that just glows when others are around her because she is a truly good and decent human being. Allison wants only the best for the mothers, families and babies she takes care of, and it shows in all of her suggestions, feelings and attitudes towards her work. She is not just a doula, she is a caregiver, mother, friend, companion, shoulder to cry on, nurse, psychiatrist, massage therapist, all wrapped up into one spunky individual. This is a woman who loves what she does, and it shows constantly when you are around her. I felt like I , my family and my soon to be born son, were in such good hands before and on the day of the birth, and this reassurance was priceless. I love my family and husband ,and they were all a part of the actual birth, but Allison added a dimension that otherwise would have been sorely missed. This was the beauty that I spoke about above, and it only added to the birth for myself and my husband. I only remember Allison leaving my side for a few quick minutes when my husband insisted that she eat and take a break. She quickly nibbled a peanut butter sandwich in the corner of the room, never making me feel for an instant like she was not fully accessible. She was present for the birth from start to finish , and consistently displayed a professional, yet caring attitude with the hospital medical staff. In fact, my OB was so impressed with Allison , that he claims, she is “ the best doula that he has ever seen”.
Looking back on this day, I can’t imagine Allison not being a part of Ben’s birth. Once you get to know her, you won’t imagine your birth any other way either. It is with the highest of intentions that I fully recommend this amazing woman to share with you on the most special day of your life."
Best wishes for a successful birth,
Amanda Rosenbloom, mom to Ben
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"Brenda was great!!! If and when we have another baby, we want to use Brenda as our doula again. She was so kind and supportive to all of us. My husband couldn’t have done it without her, we both needed her. Brenda supported us physically and emotionally from the instant she arrived. My husband and I felt very relieved. Our birth experience would have been a disaster without her. Brenda is awesome. She made our experience very special and the best it could possibly be. We love her!!!"
-Kim, Jeff and baby Isabel Neil
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"Our postpartum doula, Rochelle, was wonderful! She was very supportive about the postpartum depression I experienced. The transition into motherhood without her would have been difficult. My husband and I were both insecure about our parenting skills at first, so it was such a relief to have Rochelle come in every day to discuss concerns we had, and to know that we had her help so we were not making any mistakes. Rochelle was very kind and warm hearted and so willing to help with whatever we needed."
-Vivian Leibenson
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"Our experience with Allison Harris as our doula was wonderful. It made all the difference for us in overcoming our fears and panic about the labor process with the birth of our second child. When we had our first child (without the presence of a doula), we were sometimes alone (as it was a busy day in the LDR) during the labor and felt powerless about how to cope with the uncertainty of what was happening and what was to come. When we learned we were pregnant for the second time, we knew we wanted a steady and surefire presence with us in the labor and delivery room who could walk us through the stages of labor and provide warm reassurance along the way. Having Allison there to explain what was happening, to coach us through our fears and pain, to pray with us, and to work so well with our team of doctors and nurses kept the mood in the room for everyone light and even jubilant, and made this an unforgettably happy birthing experience for us. Allison was extremely cooperative with and helpful to everyone, and we all appreciated her presence more than she could ever know. Based on our terrific experience with Allison, we wouldn't plan (or recommend) another birth experience without her!"
-Sherian and Arthur Roggeband
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"I wanted to send you a note of thanks to tell you how much it meant to Jason and I to have your love and support at Amelia’s birth. I was so scared when I first called you to ask about doula services. I told you about my first cesarean birth experience and how afraid I was to face the birth of my second baby alone. You listened to everything I had to say, and answered all my questions. You took time to do everything you could to comfort and reassure me, and really made me feel you cared about me. By the time I hung up the phone, I felt like I had a new sense of courage and could breath freely, relax and begin to look forward to a joyful birth, and not just another frightening one. You will never know how incredible you made me feel that day. Later that evening when Jason got home , I broke down and cried when I told him how good you made me feel. I think Jason and I both knew right then, that we wanted to hire you as our doula. As the months went on, we continued to meet and talk, and you took so much time to teach us and to reassure us. You would call for no reason, to share a prayer, or a poem, or affirmations that you thought would help me, or to check on me after a doctors appointment. Our meetings to work on our birth plan, and practice relaxation and comfort measures, gave so much to strengthen both myself and Jason too. During the birth you never let me give in to fear, or doubt myself, or to spend time worrying. You kept telling me all the good things you saw me doing ,and you had suggestions for me and Jason that were so helpful. Your jokes and laughter kept us going, and I never thought we would laugh so much at my birth, it was so great. When things went wrong, and our daughter had heart rate drops, you knew exactly what to do and worked so fast with the nurses to care for us. I felt so safe and in such good hands with you there. I don’t know how to thank you enough. You will forever hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget you. You made all my dreams for my birth come true and more. I feel like I have healed from the pain of my first birth, because of what you did for us in Amelia’s birth. I truly love you and I will tell everyone who ever needs a doula, that they could never hire anyone better than you. With all my love and deep gratitude"
-Samantha and Jason Tellerman
