SuperMomma Doula Services

 

January 26, 2009

To All Potential Mothers,

I am writing this letter on behalf of Natasha Longridge and her services as a birth doula. She also needs to add the titles of "Angel" and "God Send" to her job description. In fact, for Natasha I would venture to say that being a doula isn’t just a job to her, it is her passion and her calling.

In August 2008 after speaking with a close family relative about my upcoming birth and the fears I had of the labour pain I learned about doulas and the types of services they rendered. I researched and sought out many doulas in the greater Edmonton area and discovered that their fees and many of their attitudes conflicted with my wallet and my personality.

One warm August morning amidst the sawing and hammering (yes I was the stupid woman who was renovating her whole house while pregnant) the phone rang. Thinking it was a contactor I answered, and discovered that someone answered my prayers. That person was my Aunt who had entered my name in a draw for free doula services after going to the little monsters swap meet. I arranged to meet with Natasha a few days later.

When I met Natasha in person I realized we clicked instantly. She was easy to talk to and had me laughing about things that had previously had me in a panic. We talked for hours about labour and pregnancy and her vast knowledge in this area was remarkable and reassuring. After leaving our meeting that day I felt confident and comfortable in my capabilities to give birth as naturally as possible.

Throughout the next few months Natasha became more than a doula to me. She became a teacher, a supporter, a great listener, and most of all she became a friend. She was there through meetings and various long phone calls to answer any question I might have had, and let me tell you I had a lot. I am a neurotic worrier and Natasha could instantly ease my fears about anything just by informing me of the facts or by sharing her own experiences as a mom and a doula. Natasha also worked with my husband during several of our meetings to demonstrate techniques of relaxation or counter pressure he could use to assist me in labour. I often found many a night while having back pain my husband would reach over and use the techniques that Natasha taught him to comfort me.

After many weeks of the "am or am I not in labour?", I was induced at the hospital on January 6^th at 41 weeks. Natasha was very supportive of this decision but also realistic in the fact that "induction is not baby exlax, it may take or it may not." At 10 am my water was broke by one of the doctors and I had my husband call Natasha since my contractions were instant pain from then on. Natasha arrived promptly and started to get me moving by bouncing on a birth ball and working on my breathing.

Throughout my whole labour and delivery Natasha never left for longer than a quick trip to the washroom and always spoke to me in a calm and reassuring tone. She was always on step ahead of me and would answer my questions before I even had a chance to ask them. She was realistic and supportive at the same time when it came to my endless badgering of "Am I done yet?"

Natasha was also a great support to my husband and would relieve him of his obligations to me when he would need a break of my infinite out of key renditions of "Mamma Mia" or just give him a reassuring smile when I became… difficult. She kept him smiling, laughing and relaxed as the day dragged on and my labour progressed.

After 9 hours of labour I eventually caved for drugs (a small needle of morphine and gravol) as I screamed every possible "safe word" Natasha and I discussed that sunny August morning in Starbucks. I felt horrible that I didn’t make it all the way through but Natasha instantly relieved that guilt by telling me of all the great things I had done that day and how strong I was to make it that far with contractions layering one upon each other. Needless to say the morphine worked on my pelvic muscles to relax them but not the pain and I was instantly dilated from 5-9.5 in less than an hour.

As it turns out my delivery was a difficult one and Natasha was there throughout the whole thing. She held my hand, held up my leg when I couldn’t do it anymore and kept me focused on my end goal instead of the pain. Natasha also kept me informed and supported everything that my doctors did in order to get my son out safely. It wasn’t the planned birth that I had hoped for but Natasha made me feel good about it and even stayed with me holding my hand while my son and husband went to the NICU and I was being looked after.

I would recommend Natasha as a doula, a labour coach, and prenatal instructor to anyone who is about to give birth to a child. Her professional manner and knowledge far exceeds many of the doulas in the area but also her compassion and nurturing nature puts her miles above anyone else. I went into my pregnancy with a doula but came out with a great friend.

Sincerely,

Kymberlee Poelzer

 

 

          "When I became unexpectedly pregnant in November of 2007, I was barely past my 18^th birthday and had just started a new job where Natasha was my manager. She became so much more to me over the next 9 months. She was like an angel sent from heaven to help me through. She listened patiently and kindly as I asked her question after question. She gave me advice and a much needed shoulder to cry on. Natasha had told me about her aspirations to become a doula, and offered to be mine. When my water broke at 5:30am 9 days early (not expected, since everyone said first time moms are always overdue), I still hadn’t given her a real answer. But when I called at 6:00am and woke her up, she did not hesitate. She arranged for her husband to get the day off and arrived at the hospital not long after I did.

           Because my water broke before my contractions started, I was in the hospital all day. I hadn’t wanted the father to be there when I delivered, having read in great detail how messy it can be. Instead I wanted my mom, who was a great help but also quite emotional because her “baby girl” was in so much pain and she was powerless to stop it. Natasha not only helped me through, but my mother as well. I don’t know what either of us would have done without her.

          I was determined to have a completely natural birth, but hadn’t discussed it with my doctor in any great detail. The nurses at the hospital were being quite pushy with offering me every available option (epidural, morphine, laughing gas), but I stayed true to my original plan. Natasha was wonderful, walking with me, holding my hand, rubbing my back, telling me different positions to try to relieve the pain.

          And finally, at 8:54pm, he was born. My beautiful baby boy.  Natasha took the very first picture of us together. My favourite part of my birth experience was holding him in my arms after so much work, and knowing that I did it all on my own, the way birth has been for thousand of years. I know I couldn’t have been so brave without my mother and Natasha there to help me through.

After the birth, Natasha was still a great help. She brought me food and listened to my frustrations was I tried (unsuccessfully in the end) to nurse my son. Even with 4 children of her own at home, she has always been there for me to call on for help whenever I need it. Even today, almost 10 months later, Natasha is still there for me. Still an angel of advice and wisdom and that ever-needed shoulder to cry on as I weather the ups and downs of parenting and of life. I would recommend Natasha to anyone having a baby, be it your first or your tenth. And when I have my next baby, I know she’ll be there for me again. And she’s the only one I’d ever want to be."                   Elizabeth Hamilton

 

 ""
I would like to recommend Natasha as the birth doula. She is awesome! I've decided that I need a doula at my birth as I was so scared of the labor pain and the hospital procedures. I met another doula first, but I felt not myself with her. The moment my husband and I met Natasha we knew that she would be the one for us. I felt so comfortable chatting with her, asking questions and sharing my concerns. She easily talked about her own experience and that part
was the most helpful for me.

We do not have our parents in here, so Natasha was there for us. It was easy for my husband to communicate with her and she worked well with all the doctors and nurses. Natasha was great and the main support there for me. I thoroughly relied on her. Just her presence made me comfortable and confident. I trusted her and knew that whatever would happen Natasha would explain it to me, help and reassure. In pain I squeezed her hand very hard. Even after I
gave up for an epidural I didn't feel a failure because she found the right words to support me.

Right after the baby was born Natasha took several pictures of me and my baby and of all our family (me, my husband and our son). At the postpartum visit she made us a nice gift -- the first beautiful photo album, decorated by herself, for our son. She still calls us sometimes, gives some advices.

I am happy that I had Natasha at the birth. She was born to help women at the important moment of their lives.

I am very thankful to you, Natasha! And I wish you all the best on your way.
"
 Evgenia Samuylova