There is no doubt in my mind that the reason the birth of our son went as well as it did, was because of Chelsea. She has been a support for myself and my husband preconception, during pregnancy, in labor and delivery, and now in my "fourth trimester." Her knowledge that she has to share is delivered in a way that not only supported me, but also brought a sense of security and empowerment. Throughout my high risk pregnancy, she regularly checked in and gave advice that guided and prepared me for delivery. When my water broke 2 weeks early at 1:40 am, Chelsea arrived at the hospital in Boston from New Jersey in about 4 hours, and began coaching me into what would soon be active labor. From the moment she arrived, I felt reassured and calm. I completely trusted everything she instructed me to do because I knew it came from a place of expertise and love. Through the 16 hours of labor Chelsea worked tirelessly to make me feel like the most important and strongest woman/ mama in the world. When we learned that the baby was in the posterior position, she knew just the way to have me move and used my cues as her guide, without adding any stress or expectations on me. What could have ended up as an emergency C-section did not because of her faith in me and her great determination. I knew each step of the way that I was her absolute top priority, as she worked seemelessly with every doctor and nurse that we worked with. Through the 32 hours from the time my water broke, to our baby's debut, she worked with us in a calm, patient and loving way that allowed us to cherish every part of our birth story. I could truly go on forever with tears of joy about our experience with Chelsea. We owe so much to Om Mamas Doulas for helping us to welcome our son into the world!

Getting to work with Kayla has been amazing! She has been a true gift to our family after we had our son a month ago! Kayla has helped answer so many questions from breastfeeding to swaddling ! In addition She has helped care for our newborn son, as well as my almost three year old; when I have needed to work or rest ! Kayla is so knowledgeable and so sweet! We feel so lucky to have her support !

My birthing experience would not have been as positive and gone as smoothly if not for Chelsea and Kayla. During my pregnancy, throughout labor, and postpartum, the support, knowledge, and kindness of Chelsea and Kayla got me through some difficult times. Not only that, but I was able to go into labor with more ease and knowledge which I obtained during my visits before giving birth. Whenever I had a question or concern, I always felt comfortable to reach out and find an answer. Kayla has been wonderful during my “4th trimester” and her postpartum visit was so helpful and put me more at ease. I would 100% recommend these services and if I am ever blessed to be pregnant again, I will most definitely hiring a doula again!

I used Om Mama Doula’s for the birth of my first child in October 2019 and I am very glad we did, and my husband agrees! During the labor, Chelsea was there for the first part and then Kayla was there for the rest. Their guidance during such an emotional and challenging event helped to give us direction, focus, and assurance. Even though my birth ended in a c-section (after about 28 hours of laboring), I would 100% still recommend hiring a doula as they were very helpful during labor to both me and my husband - also because now that he’s born I am able to reach out to Kayla for guidance on managing a newborn, and she is a wealth of knowledge! Helps answer my questions and put my mind at ease. 👍🏻🤗🤰

We are so grateful to have received Kayla’s support and help through our journey with our little guy!! From her visit to me at the hospital and checking in with me regularly even when our little guy wasn’t home yet, fast forward to now, words cannot describe how much she has done or meant to our family. Kayla truly is the baby whisperer & mommy whisperer. We love Kayla and Om Mama’s Doulas! So grateful! Xoxo

My wife and I were referred to Chelsea and Kayla through a friend when looking for a doula. We interviewed a few agencies and immediately felt a close connection with Kayla from the start. When we met Chealsea we knew we made the right decision. My wife and I felt like we knew both of them for years and wanted to make life long relationships before we signed our contract. Throughout our pregnancy we were supported and educated no matter the time of day. I was not nervous about the pregnancy but all of my questions were always answered. When we talked about labor I began getting nervous. We didn’t know what to expect and the doulas talked us through everything. My wife was also comforted throughout the process. This was all before we even entered the hospital to deliver.

I ended up needing to be induced and admitted to the hospital after an ultrasound on a Saturday morning. Our doula made us feel like we were doing the right thing even though they knew it was not part of the plan to be induced. As the induction process started we kept to the birth plan as close as possible. Kayla was able to come when the contractions were getting more intense and was able to coach me through the final hours of delivery. I have used personal trainers, been in power lifting competitions and even trained to run in races and I have never experienced so much love and support while being encouraged and coached through any process. Kayla and Chelsea made the birthing process one to remember and we will be forever grateful for all of there time and love shared. I would recommend everything about Om mama’s Doulas! We cannot thank them enough!

Postpartum support is of upmost importance, and having someone you trust is crucial in the first few weeks (or even months) after bringing baby in to the world. That’s where Nikki came in to play and thrived by my side. Her calming energy and confidence in caring for our new baby, gave me and my husband the space and comfort we needed. There are a lot of emotions (and a lot of hormones!) swirling during this period of time, and the grounding nature about Nikki truly allowed us to feel at peace and at ease. From tidying up the house, to loving up on our baby, she confidently stepped in to give us some a break when we needed it the most. Nikki was here to support me, while I supported our new baby. Forever grateful for Nikki’s love!

Having Chelsea as our doula was the best choice we made for our labor and delivery. There was no way that I thought I would be able to handle a natural delivery, but, Chelsea not only empowered me and supported me through my birth journey, but made me feel that I could truly trust my body, let loose, and find the inner warrior I needed to find in order to have the birth I desired. Being I went from 1-10 in about an hour, there’s way I could have hung in there without her! I highly recommend Chelsea and her team to help support your birth journey!

I took a great newborn care class with Kayla. I’m expecting my second child but never got into a good groove when my first was a newborn so decided to go for a refresher. The class was so helpful and really helped me feel confident. I would definitely recommended the Newborn Care class!

Had an amazing newborn class with Kayla! My husband and I got so much out of it and feel a lot more confident now. She is very easy to talk to and super knowledgeable. We took other newborn classes outside Om Mama Doulas and this was hands down the most informative and got us the most prepared.

On August 27th, 2019 I gave birth to my sweet Capri. I truly feel that I was able to have the experience that I did because of the team that I had! Chelsea was there for me every step of the way. She made the whole experience peaceful with her music and oils diffusing. She reassured me I was doing great, and was the exact support that I needed in the moment. I can’t say enough great things about her and her services. The best decision I made, was to use her as my doula. I felt she was connected to my journey, and she wasn’t just there to support labor It was much more than that! Thank you Chelsea (and Jamie for all your check ins and sweet texts too!). I will forever be grateful for the birth you helped create for me!

I love this woman! Kayla came as god sent when I delivered my baby preterm. Though a second time mom, this experience was quite different as my baby was 1 month early. I was overwhelmed by the entire experience, everyday rounds to Neonatal unit, handling a small little angel and managing my own emotions. Kayla was one person who I could share my emotions with, talk about the challenges with the baby and with my family. Her advice was helpful in calming me down and to look at the positive side. Kayla is highly qualified and is very informative and has wonderful knowledge in her subject. There can’t be a better profession for her, she fits the Doula role very well. She helped me relax through post partum massage which she’s very good at. I highly recommend Kayla as your delivery and post partum Doula. She’s best at what she does!

Jami was an amazing help and support. I can't even begin to explain how awesome my experience was due to her credit.  I would recommend her over and over again.

Having Chelsea for my birth was an amazing experience! She is such a calming, stable presence and helped me through the most intense moments of labor. I had been warned against going to the hospital too soon in labor, so with Chelsea's guidance, I was able to be home for much of the time and only labored in the hospital for 4 and a half hours. I highly recommend Om Mama's Doulas!

As a first time parent, the learning curve is quite steep and things are moving quickly toward childbirth. Naturally you want to have the answers to help your partner feel as comfortable as possible, but unbiased opinions are hard to find, and as a man, it’s impossible to relate to what your woman is feeling. Chelsea was able to bring her wealth of knowledge, calming demeanor, and motherly instincts to ease the discomforts of all of the unknowns before, during and after the birth of our daughter Sage. She was a wonderful guide for both Cara and I every step of the way. 11 months ago I had no clue what a doula was and now I am major advocate. Thank you for everything!

After having an unfortunate and unplanned c-section for my first birth, I knew I wanted my second to be different. I interviewed a few local doulas before I met with Chelsea and knew almost immediately that she was the doula for me. Her vast birth experience and sincere interest in my wellbeing won me over. I knew that with Chelsea's help I could have the unmedicated, natural VBAC I had been dreaming of since my first birth. (And I did!) My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the natural birthing class taught by Chelsea and her partner. We learned a lot and left feeling even more empowered than ever before. Om Mama's Doulas played an integral part in the wonderful and enthralling birth of my second child. I will be forever grateful for the mental (and physical) strength and support I received from Chelsea before, during, and after my delivery. I am looking forward to continuing my friendship with Chelsea for years to come. ❤️

After my first delivery didn't go as smoothly as I hoped, I knew I wanted the support of a Doula for my second baby. From our first conversation on the phone, I knew Chelsea was the perfect Doula for me. Not only is she kind and patient, but she is very knowledgeable and you can trust her guidance. With Chelsea by my side, I was able to power through a fast and furious delivery, naturally, just as I wished. I look back on my experience with Chelsea and Om Mamas and I am forever grateful!

Chelsea encapsulated our placenta for both of my births. She was very professional, accommodating, accessible, and timely. She made the experience very positive and we would certainly recommend her to others.

I had the pleasure of having Chelsea on my birth team for my first baby in March. Chelsea was able to keep me calm and reassured throughout my delivery and was by my side the whole time. Although my birth didn't go exactly as my birth plan was, I was able to accomplish the most important aspect of NO epidural, pain meds and a safe delivery with Chelsea's support and reminding me of breathing and relaxation learned in her Hypnobirthing series. I couldn't have done this without her! THANK YOU Chelsea for being a part of one of my most special days with the arrival of Rylee!!

I don't even know where to begin because our entire experience with Chelsea and Om Mama's Doulas was more than we could have ever asked for. My husband and I met with Chelsea for the first time in January 2018 and we immediately knew that we had made the right decision to hire her as we prepared for the birth of our first child. Our happy, healthy, beautiful baby boy was born on June 16th, however the journey of our labor did not go exactly as planned. I was a lucky mama who had a very smooth and easy pregnancy, but about one week prior to our "due date", I was told I was going to be induced due to higher than "normal" fluid levels. This was our first bump in the road and I was devastated to have to be induced, but Chelsea told me that it was all going to be ok. She took lots of time to explain to me what would happen once I arrived at the hospital and made me feel comfortable knowing that this was MY journey and everything was going to be ok. I spent the next three days leading up to my induction preparing myself for a whole new birth "plan". Little did I know that our "plan b" was about to go out the window too. After about 38 hours of labor, my husband and I were holding our baby safely in our arms and Chelsea was there EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Chelsea helped me breathe through every painful contraction, encouraged me to relax as I had learned in her Hypnobirthing classes, kept me comfortable as I eventually ended up with an epidural, and reminded me to "trust the process". Chelsea was an integral part of my birthing team and without her I don't think I would have had the vaginal birth that I was hoping for. We are extremely grateful for the support Chelsea provided before, during, and after the birth of Caleb and would highly recommend her and Sue to all soon-to-be moms! Thank you so much, Chelsea!!

I can't say enough about Chelsea and how wonderful of a doula she is! I knew when I got pregnant that I wanted to attempt to have an unmedicated birth, but I just didn't think I would be able to do it without some additional support. Chelsea was a calming prescence right from the start, and I can honestly say that without her I wouldn't have had the birth experience I had envisioned. She went above and beyond from our first meeting, to always answering my questions via text or call at any time of day as labor approached, and she helped guide me through a long day of back labor at home before we headed into the hospital to welcome my baby girl. I would 100% use Chelsea again in the future and would recommend her to anyone I know who is pregnant. Chelsea helped take the fear out of the birthing experience for me and truly allowed it to be the beautiful experience that it is!

Chelsea is not only an incredible human being but such an amazing support to have by your side. Before I met Chelsea, I was nervous and unsure about my natural vbac plans. She made my husband and I feel so empowered during my pregnancy and because of this I feel that’s why we were so successful with my vbac. She provides all the tools and support you could possibly need. I highly recommend her!!

Chelsea and Sue were amazing! My pregnancy and birth of my son would have been dramatically different without their help and guidance. I had no idea what a doula was or did, but was referred to Om Mamas upon finding out I was pregnant and my world changed. I opted to have my childbirth education with Chelsea and loved the opportunity to ask questions and relax in the comfort of my own living room. The ability to reach out to Chelsea with any questions or concerns, day or night, throughout my pregnancy was not only helpful, but even more comforting. She offered the greatest support I could have ever asked for. If I ever have another child, I will absolutely be using Om Mamas doulas.

Chelsea provides excellent HypnoBirthing classes. She is knowledgeable, and so supportive of the specific needs of each and every Mama. I can't recommend or thank her enough, these classes are exceptional preparation for a fear-free birth. She continues to check up on us, even months after our baby's birth, and genuinely cares about all the Mama's she meets.

I found Chelsea online when doing my research. She was the first one out of the 5 doula services to respond that I found online (none of which I knew personally or had any recommendations). She was amazing! She felt like a good friend the second I spoke to her, making me feel very comfortable. She was knowledgeable, personable and extremely supportive of all decisions. She came to our house to meet and spent about 2 hours getting to know us and educating us on the process ( she also brought overi some sample products, which whas a nice personal touch). She was very professional and had very helpful information. I had some difficult decisions to make before my delivery and I was able to call her after every appointment with my OBGYN. She always responded quickly to any call or text. I would definitely recommend her. - Amy

Chelsea was an excellent instructor for HypnoBirthing®.  I was sure I was going to use an epidural and have been very anxious.  Afterward, I feel confident to attempt a drug free birth plan! I would recommend Chelsea to any expecting mother for this course and as a doula!  I'm looking forward to continuing my birth journey with her.  I give her 5 gold stars and hope to have a second child so I hire her again!  Excellent!!!!!

I am completely grateful to have had Chelsea as my doula. I just gave birth to my precious daughter on August 13th. I had a very specific birth plan that I discussed in length with Chelsea. However, after a 65+ hour labor plans changed. The support that Chelsea showed was beyond anything I could have imagined. I honestly don't know how I could have done it without her. Not only was she an incredible support for me (walking the halls with me, talking to me, explaining my options, helping my little one change positions to help for an easier labor, or just holding my hand) she was also an incredible support for my husband and my mom. She just fit in with my family and stayed by my side through it all. Sometimes it's a little intimidating asking doctors and nurses questions but having Chelsea there I felt like I had a long time friend that I could ask and know that I would get an honest answer. It's also amazing that she has supported me when I was having problems with breastfeeding. She knew how important it is to me and answered my questions and gave me the support that I needed to continue! I would recommend Chelsea with all my heart. She is an angel and I wouldn't have another baby without her by my side! I am blessed to have had Chelsea's loving support.

My birth was everything I needed, wanted, and so much more. Going from a quite a difficult birth less than a year ago to this dream birth was because of you, and I can’t thank you enough. Your techniques, encouragement, and support were invaluable. I hope you know how firmly in our hearts you are. Thank you!

I'm still working on my pills and I've been taking them daily!  I'm amazed how many pills I was able to get from my placenta.  Honestly, the pills have really given me my energy!  I was back at work a week later (even though I probably shouldn't have been) but that's how good I've been feeling

Chelsea’s virtual guidance felt as if she was right there with me through my entire pregnancy up until and after delivery. It was everything I needed to help me through the emotional roller coaster of trying to have a vba2c. It was a very anxious time for me and Chelsea was always just a call, text, or FaceTime away with ease to any questions I had and plenty of love and support. I knew I could always count on her to clear my head, breathe, and relax. I always felt as though I had just talked to a long time friend with all her love and support. After having two you would think I had it covered but I clearly did not. Sometimes I just needed some reassurance and guidance – someone to talk to me through my emotions – sometimes just a simple question or two. Knowledge is power and I received so much information from them via text and phone… printable instruction sheets for labor and delivery with custom instructions directed to my needs and size. The peanut ball was new to me and something that helped me immensely during labor – via pictures and FaceTime she helped me learn how to use it correctly before I went into labor. Chelsea offered lots of suggestions and help to fit my needs. She was always checking up on me – she really is in love with her job and it shows! This was truly an amazing experience for me. I couldn’t have asked for more! I learned and grew so much with her help during this last pregnancy. This together with working virtually with Korrin at Om mamas postpartum kitchen was golden! Nothing like having hot, nutritious, healing meals delivered to you after childbirth! I am forever grateful to them for helping me achieve my dream of a successful vba2c! You girls rock. Love you!

I wish there was an option for 10 stars. Chelsea flew across the country to be there for the birth of my first baby and there is nobody I'd rather have share the most important day of our lives with. I trusted her completely to get me through every moment of my 40+ hour labor. My husband and I literally couldn't have done it without her. My birth was a rollercoaster and her emotional and physical support was what got us to have a beautiful vaginal birth when everyone thought we would have to have a c section. I love Chelsea like she is family and would highly recommend her to anyone considering her services. Having her at my birth was a gift that I will always cherish.

From our first conversation on the phone to our most recent postpartum meeting and the subsequent texts and phone calls, Chelsea has been an amazing support, source of knowledge and comfort for my husband and me – and now our new son! As an older first time mom – I knew I wanted the support of a doula for my labor and birth. What I did not expect was how amazing it was to be able to contact someone at any time and at any point during my pregnancy and postpartum! Chelsea is amazing and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From the very first contact, I knew that Chelsea was someone I could trust and count on immediately. Her warmth, calm demeanor, and quiet strength are so welcome and comforting throughout the entire pregnancy and new motherhood journey.

My husband and I could never have imagined finding such an amazing doula like Chelsea. She was there by my side every step of the way before, during and after the birth of our daughter Clare. During the birth of our daughter, she was that voice telling me I can go on when I thought I couldn't. No matter what turn my labour was taking, Chelsea was right by my side to support me physically and emotionally. Chelsea' s passion for being a doula is incredible and she makes you feel like you are her one and only client. When our baby Clare was born we cried together and in my heart I knew she was experiencing every moment of my labour and birth along side me. Our family will never forget what Chelsea did for us and we are beyond grateful for her in helping to bring our daughter Clare peacefully into this world!

What a beautiful experience we had with Chelsea as our birth Doula.  This is our 2nd Vbac and we really appreciated the extra support in labor and delivery. She was attentive , supportive and so caring before , during and after the entire process. This experience was calm, positive , and full of laughs (yes laughs) . Having someone that's so sweet , and caring helped to keep us cool and calm during the unexpected moments during child birth.. Chelsea your amazing ... #doulasrock

As first-timers with a plan to have a natural birth, my husband and I prepared ourselves for labor more than the average couple probably does.That preparation helped immensely, but there were times during labor that Chelsea gave us exactly what we needed when we needed it.  As we reflected on our labor experience, with our beautiful baby girl in our arms, we kept saying how glad we were to have Chelsea there to guide us through those extra challenging moments. Thanks again!

It is hard to express how much Chelsea means to our family since she helped us bring it into existence.  As a first time mom at the age of 36, I was very worried throughout my pregnancy. Since I had also lost my own mother more than 8 years ago, I was feeling extra sensitive and anxious about the pregnancy, the birth, and actually being a parent. I have a wonderful supportive and funny partner, but there is something about having a woman, a mother, to go through this experience with you that makes you feel more capable of doing it. Since the moment we hired Chelsea, I felt more confident and at ease. She has a way of making you feel comfortable and at ease in her care. I was able to call or text her with any questions, concerns, and fears any time of day or night and she was always quick to reply and offer advice and encouragement to put my mind at ease. I didn't start my labor until I was 10 days past my due date. I labored at home for 2 days of which Chelsea and I were in constant contact and she came and did a home visit. She helped me with techniques to get through the pain of my contractions. She helped me with breathing, counter-pressure, massage, and positions that would help to ease my discomfort and open my pelvis. Having her there was such a relief and it allowed me to relax and get some sleep which was crucial to allowing me to labor as long as I did. After the two days of pretty irregular contractions, it was time to go to the hospital. Chelsea met us there and stayed by my side for the next 24 hours while I labored! I think to date we are still her longest labor. My labor was rough to say the least. My epidural was one-sided and I wound up with a lot of referred back pain that was much worse than the contractions. And then there was the intermittent vomiting! Chelsea helped me to advocate for myself and to try to make me as comfortable as possible. She massaged my back for what seemed like hours, breathed with me, helped me move around to open my hips, placed cold compresses on my head, gave me sips of water, did aromatherapy, and encouraged me the entire time. Since I progressed very slowly, she was also a constant companion for my partner, Justin. The two of them were such a great team and they tried to keep me smiling as long as they could. When it finally came time to push, Chelsea was the leader of the effort. She counted down my pushes and was so encouraging. She and my nurses and doctors worked as such a cohesive team that it was hard to believe they had never worked together before. After two hours of pushing, my sweet baby boy, Cole was born. Unbeknownst to me, Chelsea had captured many great moments of the labor and birth for us so I now have a photo history of the making of our family. I was so afraid of so many aspects of birth but having Chelsea there with me to help and walk me through it all, gave me the strength to do it. I am certain that without her guidance and support, I would have wound up having a C-section which I really did not want. Chelsea helped me give birth to my son the way I wanted. She encouraged me at every step and was such a blessing. I would encourage you to hire Chelsea to be by your side. She has helped me become a Mom and I can not express how much she means to me and my family. We love you Chelsea!

I cannot adequately express how grateful I (still!) am for my doula. I found Chelsea purely by accident, too.I was out for a walk long before I started showing and ran into Chelsea’s husband (what a salesman!) and he told me about her. At the time I thanked him but didn’t plan on contacting her--I didn’t need a doula, I could do this on my own. A few weeks later I changed my mind. I don’t know what brought me to the Om Mamas website, but the more I learned about what Chelsea could do for me, the more I realized that I needed her. She was an emotional rock for me for the last 7 months of my pregnancy. I texted her questions about every ache, pain, push, or pull and she not only eased my fears but educated me about what was going on with my body. Eventually, the big day came--she had walked us through every step of the process--and although we had planned on a natural delivery, my health prevented that from happening. I called her 3 times the night I found out I had to deliver my babies and cried over the circumstances. She listened to every detail of our situation, advised us, and came to the hospital quickly to support me and my husband. She held my hand and mourned with me over the loss of my dream to have a vaginal birth and assured me that going forward, everything would be okay. She ran through what would happen, who would be there, and she told my husband what to expect as well. She stayed throughout my c-section surgery, met me after recovery, helped me learn how to nurse my babies, and again, offered me the emotional support I so desperately needed. Even long after I came home she checked up on me and gave me resources for all my needs. I will tell you this...even if you think you don’t need one, understand that raising children takes a village, but pregnancy and birth take a doula. Thank you, Chelsea (and Jay)!

I would definitely recommend Chelsea to anyone who inquires to me about using a doula. She was encouraging, helpful, empathetic, full of energy, and genuinely motivated to help me succeed with the birth experience I wanted for my son.

Chelsea was there for my VBAC and i could have never done it without her! Thank you so much for being there to bring our baby boy into the world.

I admit as a husband I was skeptical at first. After several interviews my wife and I felt the right connection so I agreed to give it a shot. Well looking back at the very dramatic and tough time we had (my wife) I dont know what we would have done with out Chelsea. Her calming spirit and her ability to keep my wife focused and trying new positions and new ways to manage the pain was amazing. I truly believe after this experience that we were given the right people at every moment of this pregnancy and Chelsea was the right choice for us. She is now a life long friend and family member.

My husband and I had interviewed several doulas prior to meeting Chelsea- and it was a complete breath of fresh air when we met her. I knew immediately, at that initial meeting, that she would be the perfect doula for my husband and I, and that we needed her at our birth.I am so grateful I trusted my instincts. From the start Chelsea listened carefully to my husband and me with an open mind and responded to our endless questions with confidence. She drew on her own experiences with birth to bring empathy and understanding to our every interaction with her. From that initial meeting Chelsea was our cheerleader, fueling us with confidence, providing endless support for our birth plan, checking up on us in the days leading up to our birth, and providing reassurance in moments of doubt. In the end, our birth took a complex turn of events; from the very start Chelsea was at the hospital with us to guide us through an induction; she was a beacon of light during a stressful beginning. My labor took a course of events my husband and I could not have anticipated, and Chelsea was there in every moment, guiding us to adapt and allowing us to stick to our birth plan as best we could while navigating some very foreign territory. Chelsea remained calm through every twist and turn; my husband and I say all the time now, we would not have survived my birth without her there. She provided comfort and warmth, expertise and gentle care, love and light. She was there in every moment, giving us every opportunity we had asked for in our birth plan even when events took complicated turns. In the days after my birth Chelsea has continued to be there for us, helping us process the details of my labor and providing my husband and I with endless support and new perspective. Chelsea is a true professional but we now think of her as family. She will be the first call I make when my husband and I plan a second birth. We are so grateful to have had Chelsea as our doula; I cannot imagine having gone through my birth without her there. Chelsea will always be a huge part of our lives and we are so grateful for her

After each of my first three births I have rushed to capture the birth in words so that the details wouldn’t grow fuzzy. My fourth child and second daughter was born at 7AM on the last day of March. Today, two days later, I still have not written the story of her birth. I can’t find words. The words I try to put to the experience fall short each time I try.

I will write the story out eventually. For now, though I want to say this. Sometimes the heart can want something and the soul can need something that you can’t figure out, can’t explain, can’t logically understand. Your mind may dismiss it, and if you try to think about it being a possibility for you, you might think it to be this impossible impractical thing that just isn’t a part of your life. It’s part of someone else’s story. Coming up on Wren’s birth I realized that I was scared. I reached out to a doula friend of mine to figure out if there was a way that I might be able to have a doula there with me. And I did. An amazing woman from Om Mama Jersey Shore Doulas. Chelsea Nicole Alders. Because she was there, I did not have to be alone while my partner parked the car. I did not have to choose which things would come with me. I had my birthing ball, my bag, all the things I felt I might need to bring me comfort and make things feel safe. I had become familiar with her, and her with me over the weeks before the birth. She stepped into the role of sister, of mother, of that missing tribe we so often yearn for in moments like these. She held my hand, rubbed my arms, offered sips of water, and spoke to the nurse about the things she knew were important to me. She made it so no one was guessing, and so that I didn’t have to try and explain things while I was trying to focus through contractions. My OB was wonderful. The labor nurse was wonderful. My partner was wonderful. And my doula was wonderful. I have been floating along in this wonderful bubble of peace. Some experiences stand alone on the timeline where they happened. Some experiences stretch into the future and color parts of our lives going ahead. And some experiences have the strange power to reach back in time and heal old wounds. This was one of those experiences. And… the peace I feel now is indescribable. Giddy. Freeing. Glorious. Beautiful.

My husband and I are so grateful that we found Chelsea.  Her warmth, experience, knowledge, and commitment gave us calm and security during a process neither of us knew anything about.  I was especially worried about having an induction a week and a half after our due date, but at each part of the process, Chelsea reassured us and answered our questions.  I wasn’t sure I was capable of labor without an epidural, but hoped not to have one; without Chelsea’s support and understanding and clear explanations of the physical process, I would not have found the courage to continue.  Our nurses and doctor were amazing, but Chelsea was there just for us–it is exactly what we hoped for, exactly what we needed.

I just birthed my precious baby girl on May 13th. I had my husband by my side and Chelsea. Chelsea was truly amazing and I thank God for her. We hired her in the second trimester and it was the best thing ever. I feel like with any doctor you have to call the office, leave a message, and they will get back to you- so little questions i didn’t want to call for- but Chelsea I could text anytime and it was truly helpful. It helped so much through my weeks of pregnancy. Loved meeting up with her and sharing my concerns, worries, and goals and working through them. My water broke before I was dilating and ended up going to the hospital. Chelsea came there- it was a true comfort. To have someone by your side that is there to just assist you, to keep you calm, and has knowledge about birth, and can be your advocate is beyond words. Nurses come and go and doctors come in and out but Chelsea was there by my side. My husband was thankful for her as well. And she did a great job with helping him help me and both of them worked great together to help me. It was a comfort when my husband would need to step out to speak to a nurse, doctor, or update my family, Chelsea was there by my side. I was never alone. Just thinking back over how she would assist me in anything I needed, when my husband needed to rest she took over, she had essential oils to keep me calm, took pictures and captured beautiful moments, encouraged me, and told me I was strong. She was a truly amazing support person. My birth experience was amazing to me because it helped me learn so much and I had an amazing team supporting me. I Highly recommend Chelsea!  she is truly amazing!