Attorney Anna Brower shares her experience choosing Janel as her professional birth support late in her pregnancy.
We were undecided on hiring a doula, and didn’t make the decision to do so until I was 36 weeks pregnant. We were connected with Janel and knew immediately she was the right fit for us. She is compassionate, kind, flexible, and has a love and dedication to her birth work. She met with us several times in the weeks before the baby came, customizing sessions for what we needed. In addition to labor techniques, she taught us infant safety, newborn basics, and breastfeeding. She suggested several items to help with breastfeeding, bathing, and the first few weeks of infant care, and helped with our hospital packing list.
I went into labor in the middle of the night, and Janel came over immediately. She supported me through early labor at home, and traveled with us to the hospital. She was a soothing, knowledgeable presence for both me and my husband. In the quieter hours of labor, Janel’s presence meant my husband was able to rest. In the harder moments of labor, she calmly explained what was happening and helped my husband be the best possible support for me.
Janel stayed after our son was born, helping with the first latch and making sure we were okay. She came back on our second day in the hospital and has continued to visit and check in with us postpartum. Having Janel’s support before, during, and after birth allowed us to fully focus on the joys of being first-time parents.
“In the harder moments of labor, Janel calmly explained what was happening and helped my husband be the best possible support for me. ”