More Gratitude…
Joshua - Father, 2nd child, 1st homebirth
Despite our preparations, our first birth taught us that we can always know, prepare, and expect more. We met Julie in our doula interviews early in our preparations, and with our first home birth, we knew we needed someone with the knowledge to build our trust, the confidence to direct when needed, and the serenity to alleviate our anxieties. Julie brought every one of those to the table and more!
During our first birth, I couldn't help but feel like a third wheel, understanding key parts of the birth but serving mostly as an observer, with the occasional comforting words. In preparation for our 2nd, Julie offered both live Q&As and preparatory, informative, and engaging classes, which helped prepare both my wife and myself in what to expect and how to engage with each part of the birth. Rather than only observing or waiting for direction, I became an active participant, predicting and understanding needs while also being while also being able to adapt as needed.
As labor frequently does, ours started late in the night. With a quick call, Julie assessed the situation and determined to come over to help, even in the early stages. As a doula, she helped guide us into active labor, recognizing when we hit hurdles, and confidently and calmly discussed alternative positions and practices. Serving not only as our doula, she frequently provided updates that would help our midwife determine how far along we were and stayed by Laura's side through delivery!
In the interest of time, I want you to know that I appreciate Julie's ability to frequently bridge the gap when all the participants become a little too single-minded; Julie would swoop in, suggesting breaks and even cooking up some delicious meals! Even afterwards, Julie visited and brought a smorgasbord of home-cooked foods, taking the weight off of running a household, and letting my wife, my children, and myself, take time to be with each other.
Thank you so much, Julie, for not only being what my wife needed and letting my wife, my children, and myself but helping me to be the same!
“Julie led me through meaningful meditations, birthing exercises, bodywork and movement, that helped me prepare and connect to my inner self and my baby. She made a huge effort to improve my mentality, physicality, and emotional state. She gave me the beautiful gift of connecting to my baby in my womb through a song she shared that I still sing to him. It was intuitively perfect and absolutely meaningful!
I benefited tremendously from her knowledge of childbirthing, nutrition, and motherhood. Her energy brought about a sense of well-being, comfort and security to me, especially during a really tough postpartum period. Knowing Julie would be coming over gave me so much peace. I have no idea what I would have done without her!!
Her care and support were everything to me! I could fully rely on her. She was able to navigate all the emotions and intensity of the event, as well as my family, with absolute grace! She cooked amazingly delicious and nutritiously healing meals. She listened intently and offered so many deep insights. She even led me through a postpartum ceremony, which was so impactful and powerful! It helped me transition into motherhood, such a profound experience, which helped me let go of unfavorable energy, heal, and step into a new confidence with hope in my new journey! My whole experience with Julie was exceptional!
My heart is full of gratitude for her. I can’t say enough positive things about Julie! She will always hold a special place in my heart!!
-Kaight
- Davi Kaur Khalsa, CNM, WHNP, MSN
“I have known Julie for many years, initially meeting her as a doula at a home birth. I was impressed and inspired by her care, her communication and her interaction with the birthing family. As a midwife I have met and worked with many many doulas and I would choose Julie as a doula for myself in a heartbeat. Julie gives 110% and she is so kind and thoughtful. After meeting her she was THE doula I recommended all the time.”
“Julie was the most supportive doula I could have asked for. She helped me to prepare for birth physically through yoga and mentally/emotionally by answering my every question and offering beautiful advice. My birth experience was magical and I owe that to Julie’s calm and steady presence throughout. She helped me make important decisions along the way, drawing upon her experience and wisdom. Julie provided loving and nourishing post-partum care as well. The mutual trust and support I received from Julie was like that of a loving mother. She is quite simply one in a million, and I wouldn’t hesitate to include her in my birth team again.”
-Julianne
I found Julie when I was pregnant with my second child. I knew this time around I wanted to do everything different, because I was different. In the time between my oldest and my second child, I had grown and changed and healed so much. With my first baby, I was working non-stop, and very disconnected from myself and my body. I outsourced much of my intuition to my doctor at the time. I never really slowed down; instead, I just did what I could to plow through. Sigh....
For my second, I decided to slow way down and be more present. It was my midwife, Davi Khalsa, who referred me to Julie. In one appointment, Davi mentioned this doula she had worked with "who is fantastic, who is a real partner to the mother, and who has an intuitive sense for what is needed and when."
After my first call with Julie, my husband and I both decided to hire her for both the birth and as a postpartum doula. Leading up to the birth, I benefited greatly from her yoga, meditations, chants, and stretching group. She walked me through creating my birth plan and helped me prepare practically, emotionally, and physically.
My birth was wild and quick...from my first contraction to delivery was only an hour and a half, so the midwife was the only person from our birth team who made it in time. Julie arrived shortly after and performed a level of care not only for me, but for my entire family that still brings me to tears this day. She had warm food for me when I was ready; she helped put the house back in order after the whirlwind and made sure I was comfortable resting. She even returned later that night to help us re-learn to swaddle the baby and set us up for our first night. That level of support is priceless.
In the weeks that followed, Julie cared for me in ways I had never experienced. She gave me a massage that was like a ritual as I re-entered new motherhood. She led me in visualizations in the backyard and a soundbath in the living room while the baby slept beside me. And the food! She brought homecooked Ayurvedic meals, snacks, and tonics every time she visited. Her food was the only thing that I ate for weeks. It was delicious, I felt totally nourished, and just one week after giving birth, I was 5 lbs less than before I got pregnant! She helped guide me with the baby, breastfeeding, sleeping, all of it. She washed dishes, folded laundry, and did whatever she saw needed in service to me, the mother. It was so deeply touching and has forever changed the way I view support as a mom. She was a wise guide, a loving companion, and a strong partner for me and my husband (and sometimes even my older son, who still asks about her!) during the most precious and tender time.
Julie was the best investment we could have made for our journey as a growing family in these special beginning weeks.
- Elizabeth Canon, entrepreneur, coach, speaker and author.
“Julie is a caring, knowledgeable, thoughtful, experienced doula. She introduced me to my midwife and to Hypnobabies. She incorporated breathwork and so much more to make my pregnancy, birth time and postpartum a time I will always remember fondly. I recommend her to every pregnant family I know. She is a rare gem.”
-Crystal
