How Tamara changed our life. . .
05.02.2012 4.41PM was the reason We got a chance to meet Tamara. A Day when our first daughter Adriana was born. The moment I saw my baby's face for the first time I forgot everything, including my name. But the very next thought after my brain came back to reality was: "I am so happy that we decided to hire Tamara to be our doula!"
Moving to San Diego in March, on the last month of pregnancy was not the easiest thing to do. On top of it the fact of getting closer to my due date which was April 16th,2014 started to stress me out even more. Zero experience with newborns, we never had little kids in our family, big fear of labor process itself and being an immigrant in this country with no family around were adding up to my anxiety level. I knew that I needed someone's help for me to go through all that.
After I personally called through a list of 40 doulas in San Diego, I picked 3 for in person interview. Tamara was one of them. She sounded very confident on the phone and I was very comfortable asking her any questions that I had. After meeting her in person we immediately felt connection with her and knew that she is "The One". We loved the fact that she combines experience of being a Doula for over 10 years, medical background and being a Mom of her own 5 children.
Tamara did several prenatal visits every time making sure all my questions were answered. She gave me educational materials to read and was happy to discuss them. She showed me exercises to practice as well as other tips to help me better prepare mentally and physically for the childbirth. She responded to my text messages almost instantly and I always felt as if I had an angel behind my shoulders ready to come any second if I needed so.
I delivered my baby at 42 weeks and 1 day via scheduled induction. 2 weeks that I was overdue I was so thankful that I had Tamara by my side. My boyfriend has a traveling job and he was not able to be with me every day. Tamara visited me several times to make sure that I am doing fine, there were times our conversations went far beyond topic of labor and I felt that I am just having a tea with my family member. She has such a great sense of humor and great personality!
On the induction day Tamara picked me up at my house at 6 pm. Naturally having a fear of hospitals and doctors I cannot imagine me being there by myself. At 9 pm nurses started me on pitocin. Shortly after contractions started, they were getting stronger and stronger. Tamara was there with me for the whole time helping me to go through each one of them. She quickly figured out what kind of touch or way of holding of my body I needed and was able to do it for me without a word. I was just making a different sounds or a some kind of gestures and Tamara knew what exactly I was asking for. It was amazing! I was so irritated by some nurses that were coming in the room asking me how I was doing in the middle of my contraction when the least thing I wanted was to tell them how I was doing. I was in my space and didn't want anybody disturbing my rhythm. With Tamara though it was completely different. I felt as she was my shadow. She was so silent and respectful to my needs but giving me what I needed.
My labor went all night and continued through the next day. At 4 pm we already knew that baby was at risk and we had to go with C-section which was another biggest fear of mine but Tamara helped me to conquer it by sharing her own stories of birth and encouraging that everything will be okay with me.
After we had a healthy baby-girl born we already saw what a Wonderful Doula Tamara is. My boyfriend was so happy with our birth experience that he was telling to other guy friends that having a Doula is the best investment you can have. And having Tamara as your doula is The best experience you can have before, through and after your child birth! read more