TESTIMONIALS
Will
I can’t imagine what my birth experience would have been without Addy. At first I did not see the need for a doula. I thought my husband and mother would be my ideal support team, but as my pregnancy progressed I realized that maybe this wasn’t the best idea. All of the sudden my husband was apprehensive in ways I hadn’t expected, and decided he “didn’t want to see anything below the waist”. My mother started referencing her own birth experience and her advice seemed outdated. I felt like the two of them were disrupting my birth plan and I was becoming anxious. My anxiety faded as soon as Addy joined the team. From pregnancy to labor, to birth and beyond, if ever there was a feeling of “I can’t”, Addy was there to reassure me that I/we can.
Even though she was very busy this past Mardi Gras, with three births right in a row, Addy arrived at the hospital with her usual fresh sunny energy and immediately filled the room with her brightness. Our baby came a week early and my mother was not able to attend. My husband, who had been so anxious about the gory parts, ended up holding one leg and Addy held the other as I pushed our baby boy into the world. Addy’s strength, wisdom, and kindness was absolutely essential to our birth experience. She is and will continue to be an in integral part of my son’s life. We love Addy!!!
Even though she was very busy this past Mardi Gras, with three births right in a row, Addy arrived at the hospital with her usual fresh sunny energy and immediately filled the room with her brightness. Our baby came a week early and my mother was not able to attend. My husband, who had been so anxious about the gory parts, ended up holding one leg and Addy held the other as I pushed our baby boy into the world. Addy’s strength, wisdom, and kindness was absolutely essential to our birth experience. She is and will continue to be an in integral part of my son’s life. We love Addy!!!
Parrish
Addy was a doula in training when she attended the birth of my first child in late February 2009. I was only her third birth yet I felt in my gut that she was the right choice for me. I can't overstate what a great decision that turned out to be. Without Addy, I could not have accomplished a natural birth. She has an otherworldly power and strength that she is able to share freely, which I drew on in my toughest moments. She is also the most loving person I know. She doesn't need a hundred births to be good...she is already the best.
--Lacey Wood, Mother of Parrish
Henri
If I hadn't had Addy there for me before, during, and after Henri's birth I would have been lost at sea. Seriously, she was (and is) the calm port in the riotous sea.
-Katherine Madere
-Katherine Madere
Lyla
Addy provided incredible support for me and my family during labor, which was very long, and birth. Her bright spirit and keen awareness fell perfectly into sinc with my needs. She gave incredible encouragement to Jeff and was an essential piece of my 'team'. Don't even think twice about inviting her to be a part of your baby's birth because she was born to be a doula. I don't think Lyla would have come out if Addy hadn't been there helping us ;)
-Kelly McGee
Shailaja
(from Komi to her baby girl Shailaja)
Dear Baby Shailaja,
I know you love seeing your aunt Addy every time she comes over, but you don’t yet know how important she was in bringing you into this world, and how truly special a person she is. Addy was our doula for your birth and I personally know that no one could have done a better job for us. See, some people do their jobs to make money, some do things that they love, but very rarely do you meet someone who does what they were put on this earth to do – Addy is one of these few people.
She has an energy and aura about her that puts you completely at ease from the first time you’re in her presence, and as a doula, she has a passion, and more importantly, an intuition that cannot be taught, to support a family through the challenges of labor and the miracle of birth. See, you were only Addy’s fifth birth as a doula, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell her apart from a seasoned pro, during the intense 22 hour pitocin augmented labor that I went through without any pain medication. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it the way I wanted to without her. She also brought a strength to the entire family that helped them get through it too!
One day, when’s she’s been doing this for years, she’s going to go from being a great doula to a phenomenal support entity that hundreds of parents will be eternally grateful for and hundreds of babies will get to love on; and you’ll get to say that you were one of the first babies to be welcomed into the world by this very special woman. I’m so thankful that the universe aligned itself so we could meet and bring Addy into our family, but more importantly that there is a person out there in the world, a generous soul and a beautiful spirit so full of love that we have been blessed to know.
Love : Mom
Addy, thank you so much for everything you’ve done and all you continue to do. You’re the best and you’re appreciated more than words can say!
With all our love,Komi and Ryan Guillory And our precious Shailaja Grace
Dear Baby Shailaja,
I know you love seeing your aunt Addy every time she comes over, but you don’t yet know how important she was in bringing you into this world, and how truly special a person she is. Addy was our doula for your birth and I personally know that no one could have done a better job for us. See, some people do their jobs to make money, some do things that they love, but very rarely do you meet someone who does what they were put on this earth to do – Addy is one of these few people.
She has an energy and aura about her that puts you completely at ease from the first time you’re in her presence, and as a doula, she has a passion, and more importantly, an intuition that cannot be taught, to support a family through the challenges of labor and the miracle of birth. See, you were only Addy’s fifth birth as a doula, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell her apart from a seasoned pro, during the intense 22 hour pitocin augmented labor that I went through without any pain medication. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it the way I wanted to without her. She also brought a strength to the entire family that helped them get through it too!
One day, when’s she’s been doing this for years, she’s going to go from being a great doula to a phenomenal support entity that hundreds of parents will be eternally grateful for and hundreds of babies will get to love on; and you’ll get to say that you were one of the first babies to be welcomed into the world by this very special woman. I’m so thankful that the universe aligned itself so we could meet and bring Addy into our family, but more importantly that there is a person out there in the world, a generous soul and a beautiful spirit so full of love that we have been blessed to know.
Love : Mom
Addy, thank you so much for everything you’ve done and all you continue to do. You’re the best and you’re appreciated more than words can say!
With all our love,Komi and Ryan Guillory And our precious Shailaja Grace
Rosie Mae
I HIGHLY recommend having Addy around while you are in labor, and even in your pregnant life before it all starts up. She was able to answer questions that popped into my head after visiting with the midwives and she was the first person I called to figure out if I was actually going into labor (which was a tricky one, since I went in and out of labor for 5 days! A rarity, don't worry).
She was essential in helping me maintain my goal of staying at home as long as possible before going to the hospital and also of avoiding the epidural. I actually started to talk about getting one at one point and she was very gentle with me about it, knowing that I wanted to do without, but reminded me that it's my choice, etc. I had also told her a series of code words ahead of time that I had to utter in a certain sequence that meant to signal that I actually really did want the thing, code words that I did not use once.
While at home, she gave my husband a break from timing my contractions and helped me with positions and tactics for alleviating the discomfort of the contractions. This was good for my husband- I didn't think he realized how many hours he would be glued to my side -no food, no breaks. That's something to share with your husband. As for me, it was essential to have a woman around who was familiar with the birth process. Her presence alleviated the stress of the unknown; she was very comforting and gentle, I cannot say this enough.
At the hospital she helped relieve the building pressure on my body with simple, gentle yet firm message at just the right moments. She was there with water and juice and encouraging words (or silence) until little Rosie came out.
Addy really respected the way that I do labor. She presented suggestions for relief in a clear and simple way without imposing any behaviors or techniques that had not been discussed ahead of time.
If she is still doing this, I will be asking her to help me through my next labor!
She was essential in helping me maintain my goal of staying at home as long as possible before going to the hospital and also of avoiding the epidural. I actually started to talk about getting one at one point and she was very gentle with me about it, knowing that I wanted to do without, but reminded me that it's my choice, etc. I had also told her a series of code words ahead of time that I had to utter in a certain sequence that meant to signal that I actually really did want the thing, code words that I did not use once.
While at home, she gave my husband a break from timing my contractions and helped me with positions and tactics for alleviating the discomfort of the contractions. This was good for my husband- I didn't think he realized how many hours he would be glued to my side -no food, no breaks. That's something to share with your husband. As for me, it was essential to have a woman around who was familiar with the birth process. Her presence alleviated the stress of the unknown; she was very comforting and gentle, I cannot say this enough.
At the hospital she helped relieve the building pressure on my body with simple, gentle yet firm message at just the right moments. She was there with water and juice and encouraging words (or silence) until little Rosie came out.
Addy really respected the way that I do labor. She presented suggestions for relief in a clear and simple way without imposing any behaviors or techniques that had not been discussed ahead of time.
If she is still doing this, I will be asking her to help me through my next labor!
Elise
Get a doula:
Addy was the key component to a "birth team" that made the natural birth of my second daughter possible. She was available for me in the days and weeks leading up to the birth, and on the night Elise arrived, we made it through record-setting December rains to come together for an intense, fast birth. There were many phone calls (at all hours of the day and night) prior to the birth, each one making me feel reassured and even more confident in Addy. Once at the hospital, she involved my husband and sister in the birth as more support for me. I did not have a single contraction without someone holding on to me somehow. Within the fog of that pain, Addy's voice came through telling me to "get ahead of the contraction." This imagery, of riding each contraction like a wave, was incredibly helpful. And I'm not a surfer. And a few of those "waves" still nearly drowned me, but Addy stayed with me and helped me stay with the process. While my sister, who did not birth naturally, refers to me as "rock star" after witnessing our natural birth, I know that without Addy's support, it would not have been possible.
Get Addy:
New in town, I was recommended to Addy's pre-natal yoga. Our doula for the birth of our first daughter was not a great fit. Addy's positive, sunny energy made it clear to me from our first one-on-one that she would be the kind of doula I needed. She is an incredibly giving person who has found her calling in assisting women through pregnancy and birth. It is immediately clear that she loves what she does. While firmly established in the world of healers, she is still down-to-earth enough to laugh at your stories and enjoy a drink with you. She listened carefully as I described the birth of my older daughter and came to know me well prior to the birth. While you can never know just how your birth will play out, Addy worked hard to know ME in order to truly understand the kind of birth I hoped for and was likely capable of.
Addy has since become a friend. It is not a word I throw around lightly, but because of what we have been through together and her continuing support, she continues to be an important part of our lives. I want our girls to know Addy well. Our older daughter, Hannah, is already completely fascinated by her. We love you, Frau Meisenheimer!
Addy was the key component to a "birth team" that made the natural birth of my second daughter possible. She was available for me in the days and weeks leading up to the birth, and on the night Elise arrived, we made it through record-setting December rains to come together for an intense, fast birth. There were many phone calls (at all hours of the day and night) prior to the birth, each one making me feel reassured and even more confident in Addy. Once at the hospital, she involved my husband and sister in the birth as more support for me. I did not have a single contraction without someone holding on to me somehow. Within the fog of that pain, Addy's voice came through telling me to "get ahead of the contraction." This imagery, of riding each contraction like a wave, was incredibly helpful. And I'm not a surfer. And a few of those "waves" still nearly drowned me, but Addy stayed with me and helped me stay with the process. While my sister, who did not birth naturally, refers to me as "rock star" after witnessing our natural birth, I know that without Addy's support, it would not have been possible.
Get Addy:
New in town, I was recommended to Addy's pre-natal yoga. Our doula for the birth of our first daughter was not a great fit. Addy's positive, sunny energy made it clear to me from our first one-on-one that she would be the kind of doula I needed. She is an incredibly giving person who has found her calling in assisting women through pregnancy and birth. It is immediately clear that she loves what she does. While firmly established in the world of healers, she is still down-to-earth enough to laugh at your stories and enjoy a drink with you. She listened carefully as I described the birth of my older daughter and came to know me well prior to the birth. While you can never know just how your birth will play out, Addy worked hard to know ME in order to truly understand the kind of birth I hoped for and was likely capable of.
Addy has since become a friend. It is not a word I throw around lightly, but because of what we have been through together and her continuing support, she continues to be an important part of our lives. I want our girls to know Addy well. Our older daughter, Hannah, is already completely fascinated by her. We love you, Frau Meisenheimer!
Tibo
If Addy hadn't been at my birth, and skilled at helping a limp-legged woman in labor maneuver, I most certainly would have wound up having a c-section (the OB on call warned us throughout the day that I was heading in that direction). With my husband, she persisted when I was ready to give up, and I consequently got to experience the immense pleasure of a vaginal birth after 22.5 hours of labor and nearly 3 hours of pushing. And besides that, she answered her phone at 2 a.m. when I called to say that my water had broken; my husband was driving home from his job in Baton Rouge, so Addy buzzed over to help me get to the hospital. My angel doula.
Gus
I very much valued Addy's presence at my water birth. She kept the room calm and made sure that all of my needs were met exactly how I had anticipated. Addy was an extremely professional, caring and attentive support for me and my husband. I do not think my birth experience would have been as positive if Addy was not with us to assist. I would highly recommend Addy as your doula.