Families
Lisa Monique-House, Mother to Ocean Renee, born at home April l4, 2000 and Rainbow Sky, born at home, June 18, 2003
Care provided: Birth consultant and Post Partum support after the Birth of Ocean Renee
Lisa's words...
"The most important inspiring part of my first-borns birth - except, of course, the birth and, most of all, the baby - was Loretta Jordan. And she was "only" involved post-partum! Loretta did the post-partum doula work to support me and Ocean, my first born, in the first few days and nights right after the birth nine years ago. She spent those nights at our residence, with her five-year-old child, on a make-shift bed in our bedroom (with two older kids and her spouse left at home), because there was no one of our family or friends who could give us the support we needed, I knew better than to try to go it alone right away, but I don't know what I would have worked out if I had not found Loretta.
Loretta gave me nursing advice and reassured me when Ocean was too tired to nurse until about 8 1/2 hours after the birth. She fed me delicious home-made food. She cleaned, and did our laundry, better than I would have myself. She was a wonderful companion, and she taught me a great deal about her field. And because I agreed to her fee without complaint (I later expressed a wish that I could pay more), she showed appreciation by giving us extra time and service.
Loretta is a natural in the birthing field. Her presence is reassuring; she inspires confidence; she shrinks from no task or situation; and she is a wellspring of experience and knowledge. She gives all of herself, she invites discourse. She lives from the heart, speaks the truth, walks the walk, and she is tirelessly on the side of the mother and baby.
I only wish I could have involved Loretta in the birth itself also - as the labor Doula, if not the midwife!
Lisa"