TLDR: Hire Carly ASAP. She is an exceptional doula, and I (and my husband!) couldn't have had the birth experience we had without her. If I were to ever move, I would fly her to wherever I would be giving birth to be by my side.
I have so much to say and don't know where to begin! I truly believe Carly has a calling to do this work and support women through these transformative experiences, so much so that I think she should train other women to be doula's. I had an unmedicated induction made possible by Carly's physical and emotional coaching, encouragement, and support. There is no way I would've been able to have had the birth experience I had without her.
It would've been easy for Carly to sub out and not come to my birth. I had a short notice induction 3 weeks early, and called her no less than 36 hours before I needed to go into the hospital. I informed her as as she was walking out of another birth!! Not only did she show up at my house 5 hours after leaving her other birth, she attended my full 24 hour birth having just done a birth two days prior. The energy, kindness and focus she brought to my birth despite what I can only imagine be immense exhaustion is truly remarkable.
My husband was by my side my entire birth hip squeezing and providing other physical and emotional support he wouldn't have otherwise been able to provide without Carly's coaching. And without me knowing, they were in constant flow of communication about what I could use/need.
Carly is also utterly professional - I gave birth in a hospital and you never know how doctors and nurses will feel. Carly, however, made friends with the nursing staff!!! She also helped ensure I advocated for what I wanted with the doctors, which you really need... I didn't think I would, but it's true -- advocating for yourself (even in amazing hospitals) is really hard in L&D rooms (and I had an uncomplicated labor)...
Also, while this may be obvious, Carly is on YOUR team. Though I wanted an unmedicated labor, as soon as I was in transition and requested an epidural (ultimately I couldn't get one because there was no time) she was ready to help me get me one asap!
On top of all of this, I had terrible post partum insomnia and Carly extended her stay with me during her last visit to support me and gave me a ton of resources.
You'll be in great hands with Carly :) read more