“As a first time mom, I didn’t realize the scope of the role that Pilar would play when I asked her to join me for my birth process. With my partner intermittently working out of town, to include the week of my due date, I was seeking the support of a doula who could take on the role of primary coach if need be. From the beginning though, Pilar emphasized that babies come when they feel it is the right time and with whomever they want present. She was right. My partner was home for the birth! Also as Pilar had emphasized from the beginning, her role was to bring him and I together as partners during the birth process. That is exactly what she did. She seamlessly supported us so much that I mostly remember my boyfriend’s support and presence; though, I know Pilar was in the background facilitating our environment both at home and at the birth center. There were times during my labor when Pilar stepped in to give him a break. She also offered to massage and stretch me when I had very painful cramping in my hips. I’ll admit, one of the main reasons I interviewed her was because she is also trained as a massage therapist. I naively thought that massage would make labor comfortable.
Little did I realize, I would need her to relieve me of debilitating cramps that had prevented me from laboring sitting down. I remember being amazed at how she was able to target the exact muscles that needed relief, even while I was stuck in certain positions. I am also forever grateful to Pilar for the pictures and videos she took while I was giving birth. Those pictures that I have from the seconds and minutes just before and after my daughter was born are by far my favorite pictures in the world. I am also so thankful for both the prenatal and postnatal guidance I received from Pilar. Prenatally, she was able to really get me thinking about how I truly wanted and expected to experience childbirth; and, she was able to prepare me in ways that I couldn’t get from reading baby books.
Postnatally, she filled me in on the details that I didn’t see while in my fog of labor. She also offered me herbs and ayurvedic medicine for breastfeeding, as well as for my own emotional and physical recovery. Most importantly, Pilar sat with me, as a dear friend, for hours helping me to better process the experience that I had just gone through as well as setting me up for success as a new mom. I will absolutely be asking Pilar to join me again for my next birth experience!”
-Laura Angelli, 2016
