Sydney and Pippin were amazing resources. They came in at a critical time at the end of my pregnancy and made me feel like I had known them the whole time. Their support in the last few weeks when new questions came up was invaluable. They shared unbiased resources and helped me to make my own personal decisions and design questions to ask my midwife team. During delivery Pippin was a godsend. She gave my partner the support he needed to feel empowered and breaks to help keep him strong while at the same time not overstepping or interfering. Her presence was so soothing both during and after birth. We feel so lucky to have found Pippin and Sydney. I highly recommend them for any pregnant person looking for labor support! read more

My gratitude for Third Coast knows no bounds! I loved their three person team approach and felt so supported by not one but three knowledgeable and kind women. I thought doulas mostly just helped you during your delivery but no, they were with me the WHOLE time. Throughout my entire pregnancy Lauren, Shawna, and Renee were there to answer questions, give me resources, and talk me through my fears and concerns. When my son was born and had to go to the NICU, they stayed in close contact with me the whole time. I never felt like a client but like a friend that they cared for. What a gift. And then when my baby came home (he's doing great!) that's when Lindsay and Jennie, our postpartum doulas came into our lives. Literally how can so many awesome ladies be in one company? It's really hard to hand over your newborn, especially one that's been in the hospital, but I felt so comfortable with them. They cared for him AND for me so well. I don't know what we would have done without them! Third Coast is really like family to me now. I'm so happy to have found them and had them with me on this journey. read more

My husband and I had an EXCELLENT experience with Third Coast Birth Services!! I was able to have the natural birth experience that I had always wanted, and this was due in large part to the calming and confident support that the doulas provided us all throughout our labor. During my labor with my daughter (she is now 2), I had desperately wanted to have a natural labor; however, due to several circumstances out of my control (I was induced, I was in a hospital that was not set up to support the natural labor process, etc.) I made the decision to have an epidural. Ultimately my daughter was healthy and we were happy to have her in our arms, but I had continued to hope for the chance at a natural birth. When I went into my labor with my son just a couple of weeks ago (without the need for induction, Praise Jesus!), I felt like a first time laboring patient all over again. Even though I had technically done this once before, I had never experienced the natural progression of contractions, and I needed a lot (a WHOLE LOT) of moral support. Lauren was more than willing to come in during the wee hours of the morning to walk and talk with me through the halls of the hospital as labor began. She talked me through the things that I was experiencing, what to expect, and how to advocate for myself. She eased a lot of my concerns, and helped me when I got discouraged. Shawna was the doula that came in after Lauren and labored with us up until the time of birth. She was incredible! She offered quiet, calm reassurance and assistance throughout the entire process. She never tired and never strayed far from my side. I was never in need of water, hot packs, a back massage or ANYTHING. She had great suggestions for different positions and calming techniques as I labored, and she was extremely encouraging when it got really hard. My husband and I could not have done it without her! Once our son was born, she stayed with us for a couple of hours and helped us transfer to our postpartum room. She offered help with breastfeeding, and she continued to provide comfort measures during the immediate postpartum period. On top of all of this (and I could go on and on), Shawna provided answers to endless questions before labor and she checked in on us for days afterwards. Lauren and Shawna also made sure to make a visit to our home to see how we were all adjusting to life outside of the hospital. They offered advice for adjusting to life with two children and gave me suggestions for helping our daughter adjust to having a sibling. Third Coast Birth Services were amazing throughout our entire pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum period, and I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone considering having a doula as a part of their birth experience. I will say again that I could not have done it without them, and my husband and I will be calling on them for help and support in the future. read more

My husband and I took the birthing series with third coast and it was perfect! I was really worried I would take a class and it would be over the top granola and possibly judgmental of my choices. The classes were very informational and not biased to any birth choices. Hospital, birth center, at home, natural, epidural, water birth; it was all treated as information and respected. I thought I knew a decent amount about child birth and infants but after this class, I feel very confident and not intimidated or scared to give birth and become a parent. . I know many people who feel they can get all the information from reading but nothing compares to having people share real life experiences in a practical way. Hands down, this has been the best pregnancy decision we've made in 37 weeks next. read more

We had a fabulous experience with Third Coast Birth! We used Third Coast doula services and also took the childbirth class. Working with Shawna, Lauren and Renee as doulas was the best decision we made during our pregnancy. Shawna was so supportive and knowledgable during labor. The delivery of our son did not go as we would have hoped (our baby was put in the NICU immediately following delivery) but Shawna stayed with me until I was able to go join my husband and baby in the NICU. She stayed in touch for the first few days and weeks home. Lauren was also amazing, offering her knowledge and support for breastfeeding while we were in the NICU. She has continued to offer her support thru monthly breastfeeding groups. We really appreciate the compassion and sense of community provided by Third Coast. We will definitely use them if we have another child and will stay involved in the Third Coast community until then! read more

This review is for Third Coast Birth's Childbirth Education classes. We took both Childbirth Education classes with Third Coast Birth and at our hospital (NWM/Prentice). If we were to do it again, we'd probably just do the one at Third Coast Birth and skip the NW Great Expectations class, doing the Prentice Hospital tour only. Found Third Coast Birth one to be far more helpful for the following reasons: 1) Even presentation of info: I was impressed by the breadth of options Shawna shared and how she went into pros/cons of different decisions - sharing the fact-based info but without too much bias. All babies and expectant moms are individuals so really appreciated this approach. In contrast, our Prentice class felt very "this is just how we do it" and the NP leading it was very opinionated about what's "right" based on her own birth experiences. 2) Interactive: Much smaller group means we got to ask more questions and customize the focus. We also had the opportunity to practice pregnancy, labor and accupressure exercise for pain, hands on. 3) Shawna has a very calm demeanor. Pregnancy and birth can be an exciting but also anxious time. Working with her has set my husband and I at ease. read more

My wife and I took the 6 week birthing course. We felt welcomed and learned a ton. We highly recommend this course for any first time parents. After completing the course we felt empowered to make informed decisions during the birthing process and caring for a new born. read more

In short, I wouldn't use them again, in part for personal and practical reasons but primarily because of the way management treats clients. I will note that all my intersections with the Doula's have been great (details below). MANAGEMENT This is a small business. It is run with all the inefficiency of a small start up but with none of the personal charm. First example: After agreeing to service, I took more than some prescribed period of time to return my contract. Never mind that no one told me I had to return it in a certain time period. But when they did inform me the message was delivered with the news that I would no longer be eligible for the discount associated with paying the full fee upfront. Not sure what one has to do with the other but seemed like an unnecessary bait and switch. Second example: I didn't end up using my doula during labor and delivery (more on that below) so I was able to apply the unused 12 hours to postpartum care, which is nice. On the first day a doula was scheduled for a postpartum shift at my home, I ended up having to go to the emergency room for monitoring because my blood pressure was high and my heart rate was in the 40s. Very scary. I cancelled the doula for that day but kept the shift for the next day after being released from hospital. The next days shift was supposed to start at 5:30pm. At 3:30pm management sent me an email saying we're glad your health is fine but we have a 24 hour cancellation policy so we need you to sign and return the attached contract before your doula's shift starts at 5:30pm. I didn't see the email until 4:30pm because, you know, I have a newborn and don't hang out on email all day. It also didn't help that they forgot to attach the contract for me to sign. So I spent the next two hours frantically trying to get a hold of management to get the contract so I could return it on time and get a hold of the doula to let her know that if I didn't get the contract she probably should cancel the shift since her employer was pretty clear it had to be signed before her shift started. In the weeks prior I had exchanged a half dozen emails with management to learn about and schedule postpartum care so I'm not sure why a contract wasn't discussed at that stage. Instead it was raised A. punitively after my health scare and B. In the most stressful way possible just hours before the shift was supposed to start. This lack of organization and lack of clear communication about policies is unprofessional, and the punitive tone in which their policies are communicated is crappy customer service. PRACTICAL I didn't use my doula during childbirth. I was induced at 41 weeks but for the first 40+ hours of induction nothing progressed so there was no need for doula support. Then when things did start moving there were health concerns for me and baby and things moved so quickly there was no time to call the doula. I hadn't anticipated this when I decided to hire a doula but in retrospect it must be fairly common if you have anything other than a textbook delivery. I value the support the doula provided leading up to childbirth but that alone certainly wasn't worth the price tag. If I did it again I might negotiate a different arrangement in my contract. As it was, the 12 unused hours in the contract for labor and delivery support could be applied to postpartum care, which is a nice consolation. PERSONAL I read several books and countless online articles about childbirth. So I had a pretty robust understanding of different birthing perspectives, possible complications, etc. My husband and I took both a breastfeeding class and a labor and delivery class at the hospital where we delivered. I also have no trouble asking questions of physicians, questioning authority, and being a strong advocate for myself. So in the end the content and support that I got from my doula in the lead up to childbirth wasn't all that helpful. If it were my only source of information, sure, but if you are motivated enough to hire a doula you're probably motivated enough to do your own research and preparedness. So I appreciated the support but again it wasn't worth the price tag. DOULAS Rachel made several visits to our home for postpartum support. She is a treasure. Very professional and personable. She asked lots of questions about the baby's routine to make sure she was providing the support we need. She chipped in with household help even when it wasn't asked of her (washing baby bottles for example). She was happy to stay out of the way or to hang out and chat, following my lead. I would definitely bring her back! Sam was our birth doula. Though we ended up not having her present during childbirth, she was very attentive and has a very calm presence. read more

I worked with Lauren, Mayra, and Shawna during the birth of my daughter. I felt in great hands with all three- Shawna had come personally recommended by a close friend, and Lauren was at the hospital with us. She was calm, warm, and encouraging. She was a huge part of why I was able to have a natural labor! I would definitely recommend Third Coast to any expectant parent. read more

Now that our baby has grown into a toddler, Third Coast Birth and Family has evolved and has wonderful activities that we still attend, such as bilingual storytime with "Tell me a French Story" and other meetups with parents and kids. They have family yoga (bring babies and toddlers to play while you do yoga - genius!) and Art Classes for Toddlers on up. It's great. The best part of being in the Third Coast family is that there is something for us from pregnancy through parenting - and you really truly do feel like family. This is a very welcoming and warm community in every sense of the word. read more

I highly recommend Third Coast for birth doula services! We decided to hire a doula as I wanted to try for an unmedicated vaginal birth. I am so lucky to have found Third Coast. They are unique in that they have doula teams- which was a relief because you never know when you will go into labor and this way you are familiar with 3 different people and are not worried your doula won't make it to the birth. They also do monthly meet ups where you get to know the doulas, ask questions, and listen in on a relevant topic (i.e. pelvic floor health, pushing questions, acupuncture, etc). They also had a bunch of different books that they curated that I could check out- which were very helpful and informative. Shawna does an amazing job not only as a doula but as a business owner. A couple days before my water broke, I was having some bad back pain and Shawna was available via text to check in and provide comfort techniques. When my water broke, Shawna was available right away and met us at the hospital in a very timely manner. In total my labor lasted 7 hours from the time my water broke to when I delivered and was able to successfully go unmedicated. My husband and I are so grateful to have had Shawna there. She was reassuring, comforting, provided helpful suggestions and was motivating throughout the process. She was there for us and worked well with the doctor and nurse staff and I felt very comfortable with her in the room. We could not have done it without her and plan to use her again with our next baby. She also stayed a little bit after the birth to help with the baby latching and stopped by our home after to check in on how we were doing. Highly recommend Third Coast! read more

Our experience was wonderful. I felt extremely well taken care of by my doula team. It was so nice to have their knowledge and support throughout the process especially the last few days and during labor and delivery. We are so happy with our choice and felt it was well worth the investment. I would highly recommend! read more

I absolutely loved my experience with Third Coast Birth. My husband and I took the 6 week class, and he went from passing out at the thought of being there for the delivery to excitedly sharing all his new found information with his friends (much to their chagrin). Shawna and Margarita both taught some of the classes and they were very knowledgeable, calm and available to us for any questions we had regarding our individual situation. I never felt pressure from either of them to give birth any specific way, they encouraged natural birth, but never once made me feel like getting an epidural was this evil thing, like so many birth instructors do these days. Lauren was our birth doula, and I cannot give her a higher recommendation. She was calm, soothing and knew just what to say and do at all times. I have a medical history that made it difficult for me to find a midwife, which is what I had wanted to do for years, but looking back, it wasn't even necessary. I could have had the least caring doctor out there and still had a great birthing experience because Lauren was there. She came over the week after and listened and gave advice as I was struggling with breast feeding. All this to say, two thumbs up for Third Coast, I will definitely be using them again when I have another baby! read more

My wife and I picked third coast based on the rave reviews of company, and the reviews are correct! Shawna and Hillary are tremendously helpful in guiding and answering any questions we had. I would highly recommend them for any expectant parents. read more

Renee did an absolutely amazing job coaching me through labor and delivery! She knew exactly what to do when and was such an encouragement when I needed it the most. Thank you for making my home birth experience so special and for giving our family the support we needed to welcome our firstborn into the world! It was wonderful to support you - I wish for the best for you and your family! read more

I literally can't say enough good things..but where to begin.. I contacted Third Coast Doulas in..wait for it...WEEK 37! Yes, I know, what was I thinking!? Truth is that I wasn't thinking that I needed the extra help until I realized that I was panicking. I wanted to have a natural VBAC after two C-sections and started to feel unsupported by my OB. Shawna called me within just a few hours and we talked for a few minutes and then, suddenly, we were best friends. I may as well have know her for my whole life. By the end of our short conversation I was like, come to my birth please! Oh, you want to meet for coffee first? You want to get to know me and my husband first? Well OK! We met, I love her, my husband loves her. It was just amazing. We got the support we needed, when we needed it. She asked for daily updates, just to see how I was feeling. Every day, she gave me much needed words of encouragement and advice. My husband got his own encouragement and advice on how to de-stress when trying to help me. This was truly the full service package we needed from day one. All in all, everything was perfect. I got the birth we wanted. All natural VBAC. YAY! I truly do not think that we could have made this happen without Shawna. It was the most beautiful experience that I could have asked for. I didn't have a doula with my previous births, and now I really wish I had. I can't stop telling everyone to get a doula. Love your doula. This is the group you want..no NEED. I haven't met any of the other lovely ladies, but I know Shawna, and if she works with them, they have to be amazing too. read more

Took Shawna's six-week course and loved it. Shawna emailed us after each class, and was an incredibly efficient and speedy communicator (thank you!!). She arrives at class early and will stay late to accommodate personal Qs. Before the course, my husband said he felt like he had zero knowledge about the birthing experience, and we were both terrified. Six weeks later we're hardly experts, but we both feel confident, we know which questions to ask, and we know what we want to get out of the experience. I loved that Shawna is totally non-judgmental, whether you want a medicated or unmedicated birth, for example. She gave us evidence-based information, and has a very soothing presence and calm demeanor, which I really appreciated, especially during discussions about labor itself. She didn't give us any false promises about what to expect, but told us that we need to be flexible -- anything could happen. I loved the discussion format of this class; class members were able to learn a lot from others' questions, but class never ever felt rushed, and we always made it through all the materials. The price of this class is comparable to other area classes and well worth the knowledge, insight, and peace of mind I gained. P.S. If you work downtown, it's easy to get to via the blue line (+ it's fun to enjoy dinner in Logan Square beforehand!). read more

My husband and I had a great experience with the Third Coast Birth team! We took their six week birthing classing which provided us with invaluable information and knowledge in a nurturing environment which has helped make our new journey as becoming first time parents less scary! We are grateful for their services and would highly recommend them. Thank you! read more

Shawna and her team have developed a very practical, fun, and engaging birthing class. Each of the six classes were packed with loads of useful information that was easy to understand. As new parents to-be, my wife and I are better prepared and feel less overwhelmed by this experience. Third Coast Birth are great people offering a great service! read more

Let me first say, I did not have a doula with my first child, and although I ended up wishing I had, I still had doubts during my second pregnancy. Was it really worth it? If you're in a similar place, let me say I thought it was absolutely worth it and I give so much credit to Third Coast for an overwhelmingly positive experience. Lauren is the wonderful doula who attended the birth of my second child. She was so sweet and supportive during my pregnancy as well as during labor--I chose to give birth in hospital, but unmedicated if possible, which can be no easy thing to navigate. Although I had been through labor before, my husband and I both really benefited from her gentle reminders and suggestions, as well as her calming presence. What I remember most is her holding my hand during transition labor. It was at that point that I started to feel I couldn't go on, and her words to me were both firm and affirming, which helped give me the strength to get through the next contraction. She really was a coach for me in those final hours of labor, doing the thinking for me so I could be completely present physically, and I am so glad she was at my side. It was particularly important to me to feel safe, supported and empowered during this birth, as the birth of my first child (without a doula) was somewhat the opposite; words cannot express the feelings of joy, relief, and pride I experienced when my daughter finally came into the world, and I'm so grateful to Lauren for being there with me. I also attended part of the Third Coast 6-week childbirth class as a refresher--a thousand times better than the one-day hospital class we had done years before, and my partner and I found it a really welcoming, practical, and informative experience. Margarita and Shawna have put together something really special with Third Coast. read more

We cannot recommend the doulas at Third Coast enough! From the initial meeting, to our in-home consultation, to the classes, and all the way up through labor and delivery, we are so grateful for the guidance and care they provided. At one especially difficult moment, Shawna advised that we request a second opinion when an epidural had been incorrectly administered. Thanks to her expertise and gentle suggestion, the laboring momma-to-be requested and received a second epidural that totally worked and made all the difference in getting this healthy kiddo into the world! Seriously, 6/5 stars. read more

My husband I were so glad we worked with the doulas here! Jessica, Michelle, and Hilary made me feel comfortable right away; they helped me figure out what I wanted and needed before labor and were a great emotional support during labor when we were in the hospital. Jessica in particular went above and beyond, staying with us for hours during my extra long and difficult labor. Even though my labor was really challenging, I had a good experience overall and I know that working with our doulas was a big part of that because I felt very supported. read more

This review is for Lauren, who I've worked with for four births; the first two were before she was with Third Coast, and most of this review pertains to them. Birth #3 and #4 were only better! I wouldn't have imagined it possible for Lauren to become more skilled, attentive, and knowledgeable, but that's what's happened since she teamed up with Third Coast. Original review: Lauren's most important quality as a doula is her genuine compassion. My first experience with this came at a very traumatic time. My husband and I had to be evacuated suddenly from abroad when we found out the baby I was carrying had a rare fetal tumor that was incompatible with life. In this difficult time, Lauren came alongside our family and supported us in the medical and ethical decisions we had to make. Ultimately, we decided to perform a procedure to make vaginal birth possible and induce labor, hoping the baby would be born alive. This was a very high-risk, medicalized birth: we used innumerable ultrasounds, pitocin, an epidural, forceps, and fetal monitoring for our breech birth. Lauren was supportive through all these interventions. She was not cloyingly emotional, nor, unlike some of our friends, was she alienated by the tragedy we were experiencing. Instead, her quiet, supportive, and meditative presence calmed us and everyone around us. In fact, almost all our family, friends and hospital staff who were present commented on how soothing it was to have Lauren around. After the birth, Lauren joined our family and close friends in admiring and saying goodbye to our baby; she also attended the baby's funeral. Exactly one year later after our first baby died, our second daughter was born. My husband and I were touched that, like us, Lauren always remembered the first baby, even as she shared our joy at the second. This birth was unmedicated, attended by midwives at a birthing center. Lauren's presence was crucial for me and my husband as we weathered contractions. Thanks to Lauren's help, my baby was born quickly, with no tearing and no invasive interventions. It was wonderful to have a birth partner who not only understood the physical experience of birth, but shared in our family's emotional journey as well: she seemed to understand my own mixed emotions about having a beautiful, healthy baby daughter after losing our first baby. read more

We hired Shawna when I was pregnant with our 2nd child. I knew I wanted to try for a VBAC and felt my chances were better if I worked with a doula. Shawna made me feel at ease right from the beginning and even though my husband was a bit skeptical about hiring a doula, he felt comfortable with Shawna and got on board. Shawna was always just a text away when I'd have questions or concerns during my pregnancy. She did a great job of reaching out throughout the entire pregnancy to check on me, which I really appreciated. Shawna was a great resource for what to read/do to prepare for birth as we didn't have the time to go through a birthing class again and needed some refreshers. I was in close contact with Shawna at the end of the pregnancy and when I went into labor we had Shawna meet us at the hospital when my contractions became really painful. It was important to me to have a med-free birth this time around, and I don't think I could have done it without Shawna's support and constant encouragement- applying counter-pressure through every single contraction and helping me find more effective positions. Her presence was also just so calming. My husband seemed much more at ease this time around. There were a lot of babies born around the same time as my son, so we didn't actually see the midwife at all until minutes before my son was born. I know that we would have both been terrified to have been in L&D all alone for that long, so we were beyond thankful that Shawna was there with us to coach us and ease all the jitters. After all was said and done, we had such a strong feeling of gratitude toward Shawna. My husband admitted that he wasn't convinced about the need for a doula before, but was 100% sold after going through it with Shawna. The birth of my second child was a peaceful and healing experience for me and Shawna deserves a huge part of the credit for that. I would recommend Shawna wholeheartedly to anyone considering hiring a doula. read more

My husband and I hired the Third Coast Birth Services late into my second pregnancy because I knew I wanted to avoid having an epidural during delivery and knew we would both need support through the process. I am so thankful that we did. Because we didn't hire them until 2 months before my due date, the group was very flexible with arranging separate times to meet me and my family to talk about our plan and what we hoped our daughter's birth would be like. Shawna was who we worked with throughout, and her calm and positive demeanor and vast knowledge of different options and questions to ask really helped us both leading up to delivery as well as during labor. She helped us weigh the pros and cons of various scenarios (managing my expectations and emotions about being induced, breaking the water bag, positioning during labor, etc) that were important parts of the pregnancy and labor. When I thought I couldn't go forward without an epidural Shawna said the exact right things to empower me and help me manage the pain one contraction at a time without putting any judgement on my decision either way. In the end I was able to have the birth I wanted and a huge part of that is due to Shawna. I would encourage anyone considering labor support to hire this group. I would absolutely use them again. read more

Having Shawna as our doula and attending Third Coast's Birthing Classes is one of the best investments my husband and I have made in the 11 years we've been together, seriously! As a first time mom, who, for 7 years was told that I might not even be able to get pregnant and then naturally became pregnant without "trying", I dove head first into joys and then worries of "Omg, wait, I'm pregnant? I'm going to give birth?" Shawna and her team at Third Coast Birth Services provided me with a solid foundation to navigate my pregnancy, enter labor and deliver, and transition into becoming a mother. The care, support, attention, and unwavering encouragement I felt from Shawna throughout this entire experience, no doubt, allowed me to have the most positive birth experience I could I have asked for (not exaggerating). I had a very smooth labor and delivered my healthy baby girl naturally without any pain meds. I ended my birthing experience feeling so proud and confident in myself for how I coped through the labor and I know I definitely could not have done it as gracefully without Shawna. She also created an environment where my husband did not have to worry and could support me in the ways that I wanted. I wholeheartedly recommend Shawna and Third Coast Birth Services for their doula services and birthing classes! read more

I hired Third Coast for their labor and delivery doula services with my 3rd baby's delivery. I'd previously had C sections for different reasons and was determined to have a VBAC with this baby. I was mainly in communication with Shawna and Margarita. They were AWESOME about responding promptly to all my queries and they were so encouraging through a few late term uncertainties. Margarita was with me for 12 or so hours of my labor. I lack the words to adequately express the benefit of her presence. I needed what she did there more than my husband, nurse, midwife. She empowered my husband to be a meaningful and useful partner in labor. She read me like a book and knew what I needed and when. She pushed me respectfully when I was being lazy. When I started to think I couldn't do it (because I was on pitocin and still no pain meds), she helped keep me on track with my original plan. Ultimately, as I got to ten cm and the midwife broke my water, we realized the baby flipped breech during labor(!!!), so I had a C anyway. BUT the whole process was so vindicating and emotionally healing for me, after a traumatic emergency C in the past. I recommend 3rd coast wholeheartedly to every expectant woman. read more

From a new dad: Third Coast helped us enormously in the transition to parenthood. My wife and I are both therapists and were aware of the challenges of this transition, so we shopped around to find the support we thought we needed. Initially, it was postpartum support for those first few weeks. However, the responsiveness, sensitivity, and professionalism of all the doulas we met at Third Coast before the birth led us to ask for labor and delivery support as well. Goodness, we made a good choice. It's not a cheap date, and that was our main apprehension. But Margarita's steady and caring presence and advice through the night in the first weeks after the birth, and Mayra's consultation and support during labor and delivery, addressed even needs and problems we couldn't have anticipated. They are lovely people -- warm and smart -- and they had the right emotional touch in reading my wife and me and our anxieties, and importantly our son, and providing care. Everyone wants a healthy and happy baby, a mom who recovers well after the delivery, a strong start in parenting, and a family that adjusts to the tsunami that hits with new life. We feel very fortunate that we are doing well in all these ways. Margarita and Mayra were incredible assets in helping us get here. read more