Testimonials

My husband and I took this class and it was absolutely amazing. Teresa was thorough and covered a plethora of techniques to help us get through labor and delivery from rebozo to dancing to singing, singing and swaying. I would recommend this class to any couple looking for birth education.

Bre'nae DeBarg

Dear Teresa,

Happy Valentine’s Day!! I hope you are having a lovely day (off) and hopefully enjoying time with your Valentine. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the help and support you gave me during Sophia’s birth… 2 years ago today! It truly was exactly the experience I wanted… and I often think about how well it went and am positive that one (HUGE) reason it went so well was that you were there. That was such a wonderful experience… and the elation I had that evening after she arrived (and I really was so thrilled), continues two years later. Thank you so much for doing what you do and touching my life in such a positive and indelible way. Your spirit is so happy and strong… it is such a blessing that you share that with women… and that you shared it with me. Thank you!!

Love, Mindy

#472 in 2011

I also cannot say enough about the breastfeeding services offered by Teresa. I had my heart set on breastfeeding but between a lip and tongue tie, my son and I had an extremely rough start. After 3 different lactation consultants, it was Teresa who pointed out the tongue tie. It was Teresa who managed to get my son latched. It was Teresa who referred us to a lactation consultant who confirmed the lip tie. After a full month of tears and feelings of hopelessness, my son became exclusively breastfed. It made a world of difference. I love breastfeeding and I hope to continue with it for as long as possible. I’m so glad I continued to fight for it and I know without Teresa’s help I would have given up a long time ago and my son would have ended up formula-fed. Teresa helped us give our son a healthier and natural start to life that I would not have been able to achieve on my own. She took time out of her day to help us through meetings, phone calls, and texts. She was nothing but a godsend in a situation where I felt nothing but despair. Obviously, I highly recommend the whole package because you never know what you will need help with. The doulas are there to ensure that your baby grows healthy naturally and happily.?

Katherine

I very highly recommend this class for all parents-to-be. My husband and I were well-informed and very prepared for our son’s birth as a direct result of the BOLD classes. This course taught us a variety of laboring techniques, very important early decisions we would make regarding our newborn, and most importantly- this course provided a channel for us to comfortably explore each other’s expectations and perceptions so that there were no misunderstandings during my birthing experience. Seriously, just take the class because it covers so much more than that and you’ll both enjoy it!

Shelia Matthews

Recently I received an email from a recent client who had a wonderful natural birth at Northside. She used a midwifery group there. This was her second baby. She birthed very quickly- having only been in labor for 3 hours when she gave birth. She was only at the hospital for less than an hour when she birthed. Sometimes folks think a fast labor would be ideal. But a fast labor is sometimes a bit traumatic because you hardly have time to wrap your mind around being in labor! I arrived only a few minutes behind her arrival. She was unsure she could do it without medication. She had had medication for her first birth and really wanted to have a natural birth this time. She got what she desired although she questioned whether she wanted it near the end when those around her knew she was going to be birthing again soon!

“ I wanted to thank you for your support during the birth.  It all seems a little blurry to me but I clearly remember the relief I had when you walked in the door.  From that moment forward your touch and word guided me. I knew about your experience and the sheer number of births you had attended when we first met but am still in awe of your skills.   Your hands and words seem like they have the knowledge and stories of thousands of women’s births and strengths behind them. You knew exactly how to touch me and talk to me to keep me centered, even when I was begging for relief. Thank you thousand times over. “

Erin 

8/24/2010

What she does not understand is that this is what I do- what I dream about- what I love….being with women as they become moms. I loved being with her and supporting her. She responded wonderfully to any guidance that I offered. I love being a doula! I especially loved her words she shared and was glad she gave me permission to share them with you!

I had a couple recently who gave birth to their first child at home. They came to me for private classes due to so many scheduling conflicts with joining our regular series (I do have home birth students in my regular classes often.). This is the letter from them that they sent the day after the birth! (I did edit some personal information out of the email to protect their privacy.)- Teresa

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!  As you already know, a baby boy was born on Monday.  Same birthday as daddy, YES, Matthew and Baby have the same birthday! 🙂  Baby is doing very well. Quick update. I had a 5.5-hour labor (labor started about 6:15 am Monday morning, he was born 11:48 am).  Went very well, smooth and healthy for mommy and baby. The baby weighed in at 8 lb.12oz. and was 21 and 1/8″ long. VERY healthy, with a great APGAR score and a good healthy newborn exam checkup.  Nothing could have gone more smoothly, and Matthew and I thank you SO MUCH for your labor classes and all you taught me, AND for the breastfeeding info. which I read through thoroughly all last week and it has helped so much.  Baby is sucking great already! and no soreness for me. THANK YOU!!! Another checkup to come for mommy and baby at home in 48 hours. C🙂 A has very good coloring and he is so VERY handsome! Looks just like Matthew. 😉

Thank you again so much for your love and support Teresa.  You have been a God-send and a blessing in our lives!

Much love in Christ,

Jamie and Matt”

When I asked if I could share their story, she told me, “Yes, and as Matthew said when I asked him too. “you never hear the good stories, only the horror stories…..” thanks again….The midwife said he and I should teach coaching classes one on one to other first time homebirth couples. 🙂  You taught us well! “

“I’ve been trying to find a minute to write to thank you, really thank you. I think that one of the most challenging parts of this birth (maybe THE most challenging part) was preparing for it mentally and spiritually.  The labor of love (my previous company) orientation was the second doula group we visited looking for a doula. On our first visit to the group, David and I both left discouraged. None of the doulas felt deep enough or truly connected enough to what we knew that birth could be.  Then we came to you guys. I liked a number of your doulas, but it wasn’t until you spoke that I was sure. You talked about women being warriors, even lions, I think. What you said made me cry, and I turned to David and said, “that’s her.”

You really took seriously the trauma I felt I’d been through, and understood it in just the right way.[Although she had given birth unmedicated the first time, she had felt very traumatized by it for a number of reasons.]  You told me I was brave, and you looked me in the eye and said: “I won’t let you suffer like that.”  This was what I needed more than anything—to have someone who really got it, in its beauty and in the fact that it may very well have been too much.  This gave me confidence and made me truly feel supported and safe. Then when you told me to daydream my perfect birth (the day before labor), I came home teary again and told David about what you’d said.  And I started daydreaming—I wanted Noah to come during the day, I wanted to feel and embody the kind of deep moaning that I saw some of the women in the videos do—not moaning out of pain, but like the voice is riding the wave of the contraction—giving vocal form to that powerful force coming over my body.  And, as I started getting excited about the possibility of this good birth, my fear finally started to really fade. I had thought it had faded already with the birthing class and the relaxation tapes [I had loaned her some guided imagery CDs to listen to] and all the work I was doing, and in part it really had, but I don’t think it was until our lunch that I felt a real sense of relief—the fear was replaced by a sense of possibility and looking forward rather than back.

Basically, I wanted to say thank you for this, so so much.  And many, many other things—I can hear your voice telling me to give little grunts at the peak of my contraction to see if I needed to push, which got pushing started.  You suggested that David get in the water with me, which was the very thing I needed…and so, so many other things.

You’re an amazing doula and an amazing woman, Teresa.  Thank you so much for everything.”

Sarah

07.19.2010 #448

I have had the privilege to work with a wonderful nurse at AMC- Atlanta Medical Center. Although I have edited out parts that have information not relative to this recommendation, I have been given permission to share a bit of her letter with you here. Often folks ask how nurses feel about working with doulas. I think this letter tells the story of how some like working alongside us!

“You are an excellent doula and really believe in the natural process of childbirth. I have worked labor and delivery at AMC for 22 years. The only other place I have ever worked is [hospital name] hospital so odd as it may sound…totally natural childbirth is something we really didn’t see a whole lot of at AMC until Margaret, Anjli, and our other midwife group came…after the OB residency got shut down. (She then goes on to describe the medical over management of the previous program) My whole career is based very much on this model of childbirth which is horrible! The births were never about what the mom dreamed about for the birth of her child.

I so appreciate the work you do and have very much enjoyed the births that we have had together thus far. You are a wonderful advocate for the families you doula for and I know you make their experience even more precious with your love and support. I have watched you with your camera at each of the births we have been apart of together. I bet you get some truly amazing shots that really capture what women really go thru.  I so appreciate the work that you do. You and Margaret work very well together. It is a truly wonderful pleasure for me to get to work with you!

You are truly a very special woman and so pro empowering women to do what their bodies were so perfectly made to do! I am learning a lot from Margaret (Margaret Strickhouser, CNM at Intown Midwifery) and from you too. Natural childbirth is an incredibly amazing accomplishment…I was talking with Margaret after [the mom’s name of whom we worked with}’s delivery and asked her point-blank if she thought she could have done what that mom just did herself:) And I loved her answer…she said “I have honestly never met a woman who I thought couldn’t! As a woman/mom you just do what you gotta do!” Isn’t that just the perfect answer? 🙂 ”

Kathy, 7.13.2010

Resa, a mom who I have had the pleasure of being with at all three of her births, recently sent this comment to me after I encouraged her by telling her I loved her mothering style. She allows her children to be creative and self-expressive. She is homeschooling stay at home mom of three and quite the Wonder Woman!.

She shared this with me and told me I could share it with you!

“You’re a woman and mom I aspire to be like. Ron and I often think back to some of the things we learned from you in our childbirth class and realize it has applications to our decisions as parents. Meeting you created a ripple in the life of the R5 much further than just their three splendid births. And this is a ripple I couldn’t imagine being where I am today without.”

I appreciate knowing that things I teach have a ripple effect! Thanks, Resa!

Dear Teresa,

Many many thanks for today’s help. I cannot express in words my gratitude to you. The way that my wife was relaxed and comforted through her birth and later was priceless.

Thanks again,

V

Teresa was an invaluable resource during our birth experience! Although this was our first birth and we have never known anything different, we would never think to do anything differently from here on out. First-time parents-to-be NEED to have a doula present for their birth experience. If you are first-time parents-to-be, you NEED to, no matter how much you know about the medical and birth industry.

I don’t care if you yourself are a doula, midwife, or OB-GYN. So much of your knowledge, research, and preparation just sort of goes out the window when your baby actually starts making his or her entrance. If you want to be at all in control of your birth (you should not just let yourself be at the whim of an intervention-hungry obstetrician), you need to be informed, and a doula will help you continue to be informed in the heat of the moment(s).

It was so helpful to have a professional there who could keep a level head and steady hand. Her experienced presence was worth a good portion of her fee; my wife labored better when Teresa was present, even when Teresa was not actively helping in some way. She even helped turn the baby from posterior facing to anterior facing! For those who don’t know, that means Teresa helped turn the baby to avoid dreaded back labor. TWICE. Our goal was pretty much a party line completely unmedicated, intervention-free natural birth. Teresa helped us achieve that goal. For anyone on the fence about hiring a doula, do it.

This is a letter from a dad who actually caught his son- on Christmas Day! This was my 100th birth!

04/03/2001

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in response to your husband’s concerns with the partnership of a Doula. When my wife first presented the Doula to me, I was a skeptic and had the initial reaction of being relegated to a bench player during delivery. After reading the same articles as my wife, I begin to see the medical support for a Doula and started to ask questions and looking for more answers.

Teresa Howard was the answer for us, for me. My personal fear about Resa’s pregnancy was two fold: 1) would I be the supportive husband she needed and 2) would I know how to make an informed decision during the stress of labor and delivery. Through constant communication with Resa and the challenging perspectives brought out by Teresa’s classes, I began to understand the value of my involvement during labor and delivery.

It was refreshing to know that I could pro-actively support Resa and do things to make our labor and delivery one that both of us look back upon fondly. Teresa was always supporting both of us through constant reassurance and communication. She had the uncanny ability to sense when I needed her approving look because I had never experienced the helplessness one feels when your wife is struggling through the contractions.

The second key support from Teresa was at the hospital. She enabled me to have confidence in my support of Resa and when I was not sure, she was someone not drawn into the emotion of the moment that I could talk to. Resa had a long labor (30 hours) and there were several times when I know that I would have gone to the hospital had Teresa not been there to guide us. Resa wanted a natural childbirth and I wanted her to have the labor and delivery she desired. But as a man, who am I to say that Resa can make through the contraction or that she needs to tough it out? Together, we worked through the challenges and Teresa provided us the guidance we needed to make the right decisions for us.

One last note, a bit selfish. Teresa’s involvement allowed me to catch our son and cut the cord. Something I will never forget. That happened only because Teresa asked me if I thought about doing it during birth classes. Had she not asked me, I probably would never had considered it much less answer our Midwife’s question about it with a yes. Don’t miss out on that experience, it will change your life and build your bond with your spouse and child.

Please don’t hesitate to ask my wife or me any questions about Teresa or our birth experience.

Regards,

Ron Mechling (I went on to be the doula at their next two births!)

Teresa, I cannot express my thrill and gratitude at having you as my doula! What an absolutely wonderful experience it was to give birth, but you truly made it the thrill of a lifetime.

Without you, we never would have known the inner strength we had to accomplish such an amazing task. Your classes prepared us so well for what was to come and how to handle it. I believe you truly did help us to reach inside ourselves and find the power to make it through. You not only prepared me for the pain and how to endure, but you also helped Todd to know the perfect ways to support me and be present during the entire experience!

It sure is fantastic to learn what you can do if you just listen to your body and trust your instincts! Now I look at Wesley and revel in the joy that he brings us. What a tremendous way to meet God and learn about His love for us.

We couldn’t have done it without you and we are truly blessed!

Paige

The smartest thing I ever did was hire a doula!

My husband travels extensively for his job. Although we arranged for him to be in town the week before and after our due date, our baby came three weeks early! Sure enough, he was landing in Austin, TX at midnight as I was going into labor in Atlanta, GA! Fortunately, I had been in close touch with Teresa, my doula and she arrived at the hospital minutes after me. I would have been really nervous and frightened without her as my labor progressed very quickly and I was in a lot of pain. She calmed me down, helped me labor and explained to me the procedures and monitoring that were going on around me. (Don’t expect the labor and delivery nurses or doctor to do this: they are too busy.) She even told me what forms I was signing between contractions. (This was despite sending in our pre-admission paperwork early.) She was more than my coach. With her amazing blend of experience, knowledge, and mothering, she gave me courage and comfort and support at a scary time. Within 3 1/2 hours, our son was born. All this before my husband was even able to board the first plane back to Atlanta.

I adore my husband and he’s a very capable man. And I’m typically a pretty tough cookie. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t contemplate entering into labor without the help of a doula. We are just so grateful she was there for our family.

Mary G

Smyrna, GA