Having heard only great things about having a doula present at birth, I was eager to find one that…read moreI trusted and felt comfortable with. I was led to The Birth Story Collective through my search for a hypnobabies certified doula, and Chanda popped up as an Atlanta option. I interviewed her and the two other women of the collective (Brittany and Claire). I have phone interviews with two other doulas, and I decided to go with The Birth Story Collective. I felt at ease with the women and their experience.
All three ladies came to my home for a pre-birth visit to lay out all of the logistics and as they're all of my big first questions. They also met my husband, my dog, and my house. They wanted to make sure they knew the layout of my home in case they were asked over to my home on birthing day. They even asked what my dog's meal and water schedule was.
The ladies came over once more before the birth to check in and see how I was doing. I really appreciated spending this time with them. Not only did it build on my relationship with each of them - which came in handy on Birth Day - but it helped me process and talk through the upcoming birth. We talked over some last-minute plans, ideas, and visions for Birth Day, and they were receptive and encouraging through the whole thing.
Some notes about my pregnancy. I was carrying twins, Dr. Tate was my OB, and because of twins + Tate, I had to deliver at Emory Midtown, and the final moments of the pushing stage would have to be in the OR. I was originally very upset about not getting the birth center unicorns and flower garland birth I first envisioned, but once I got Dr. Tate on the team along with The Birth Collective, I knew that I would have the most positive experience I could reach.
On Birth Day, we texted the doula group in the afternoon, when I had been listening to my hypnobabies scripts for a while. We were already in my Labor and Delivery room as my water had broken that morning. Some of the details get fuzzy, but I do remember many clear moments.
Claire was on duty that day and I don't remember her leaving my side even once. Even when my husband had to go get some dinner, even when I was napping, she was there. (I'm literally not sure if she even went to the bathroom.) She was incredibly supportive, all-in, and ultra prepared. When my back started hurting during contractions, she had a warm compress to press against my back. When I was nauseous, she had peppermint oil for me to breathe. When I wanted pain medication, she talked to the nurses for me. And when I needed help to get onto the toilet, into the shower, up from the bed, and back onto the bed, she was there. She was strong, calm, and just a solid presence of knowledge, wisdom, and care.
Claire got to come with us into the OR for the final pushing. In the heat of the moment, we realized we hadn't prepared for who would cut our babies' cords. My husband was 100% not going to do it, and I looked to Claire and asked if she'd like to, and she said yes! Ours were the first babies' cords she cut, which is a small memory I'll treasure and remember her by.
One of my children had serious medical conditions after birth, and Claire and the other doulas continued to text and reach out to us to see how we were all doing. Six-eight weeks later, when I was feeling more grounded after all the doctor appointments, all 3 doulas came over for a joyous postpartum visit. It felt like a celebration! We laughed, shared stories about the birth, recapped the things I wanted extra details on, and I got to introduce my babies to them. It was so special. Before they left, they offered some tips and exercises for helping me get my pelvic floor and diastasis recti on the road to recovery.
Even though we didn't pay for the photography package, Claire did snap a few photos for us on her smartphone. I now wish I had paid extra for the professional photography The Collective offers, just because I would like to have those moments memorialized. Even with just the doula service, though, it was absolutely worth every penny. (Prices are listed on their website and are easy to find, which I really appreciated.)
I highly recommend The Birth Collective. These three women are wonderful, smart, capable, and confident, and they helped me feel wonderful, smart, capable, and confident.
