Doulas "help you navigate the unpredictability of labor, and support your partner so that they can support you."

When we were about 20 weeks pregnant, we interviewed 4 different local doulas for support in delivering our March 2016 baby. I had the classic list of questions to ask all of them... I hoped that in meeting each person, I would 'just know' which was the best fit for myself and my husband. After talking with each of the 4 women, Tiffany stood out as the most professional, down to earth, friendly and experienced - by far. We wanted a doula to help me deliver without medication, and we also wanted placenta encapsulation as well. We also knew that a doula would be supporting my husband during the birth as well. He tends to get squirmish around blood, and would likely be very anxious on the day I went into labor. Tiffany assured us that she would be there to help navigate the unpredictability of labor and be able to support my husband, so that he could then support me.   

On the day of my son's birth, I awoke to contractions at 4am - we contacted Tiffany around 6am, after the contractions continued to get stronger and closer together. She came to see us at home at 8:30am. After about a half an hour of observing me, I clearly had transitioned from early to active labor. She followed us downtown to Swedish First Hill. Over the next few hours, my water broke, and I progressed quickly to 8-9cm and stayed there for most of the afternoon and into the evening. This was extremely hard work - Tiffany (along with my husband and mother) provided me with a calm, peaceful atmosphere to cope with the pain. Our labor and delivery nurse hung back and allowed the 3 of them to fully assist in my laboring naturally. After staying at 9.5 for several hours - the nurse suggested fentanyl and pitocin. I was starting to get very tired and discouraged.  We discussed the pros/cons of those medications, decided to decline the narcotics, and try the pitocin.

After 17 hours of pain medication free labor, our son was born! Tiffany stayed with us for a couple hours to ensure the baby and I were doing well. She came to visit us at home a few days later. She also brought with her my placenta capsules. 

We are 3 weeks postpartum, and I'm feeling great. Baby is happy and healthy. Recovery has been very smooth, breastfeeding is going really well, and I have lots of energy... despite waking up every 2-3hrs during the night to nurse.

Through each interaction with Tiffany, we feel like we were completely taken under her wing. She was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, compassionate, responsive, and we feel like we've gained a friend. There is no doubt in my mind that if/when we have our second child, Tiffany will be with us for the birth.

Tiffany, thank you so much for supporting the birth of our son, and for empowering me to have the strength to give birth the way I had always envisioned.

C & D Johnson