I consider myself to be a strong woman but nothing I read or did could have prepared me for the exact feeling of labour and birth. When I look back to that time, I consider myself to be very lucky because I had the support of my partner Nick and my doula Caroline Spear.
Nick and I hired a doula because we wanted additional support along our birthing journey and having Caroline’s assistance was a huge blessing. She provided physical and emotional support,helped us improve our birth plan and spent time educating us about the several stages of labour, delivery options and breastfeeding. From the moment we met Caroline, we were very comfortable around her. She was knowledgeable, experienced and able to answer all our questions. The love for her work helped us to feel more comfortable the closer we got to the delivery date.
The intimacy between us shone through when I embraced her through deep painful contractions whilst she rubbed my back, massaged my jaw and kept me focused and mentally strong. She helped guide me to a powerful place within myself I had never experienced before. Having Caroline there gave me the confidence and a sense of calm that I didn’t know I had, even when we realised my baby was mal-positioned and I needed to have an emergency c-section. When I wasn’t completely present, Caroline continued to advocate for my baby and body as she mediated between the midwives and us. She did everything she could to try and give me the birthing experience we wanted, and I will be forever grateful for that.
Caroline went above and beyond her role as a birthing doula. Her compassionate and caring nature led her to provide delicious home cooked food and frequent coffee meet-ups with our beautiful newborn baby. She helped navigate a smooth transition into parenthood and her presence has been immensely valuable.