02/09/2021
"I am an independent person who likes to get things done on my own, so I had a hard time at first understanding what it is that a doula does for someone. My first birth, I did not have a doula. However that experience taught me that the birth process is a team effort. The mother is the primary actor, but her team has a significant impact on the overall experience. Back labor can be soothed by strategic massage, joint pain can be relieved by robozo techniques, fear can be alleviated by a soothing environment, courage can be restored by insightful words. Terra was our doula for our second and third children and I cannot express how grateful we are to have had her leading our birth team. My pregnancies have been increasingly painful and she was an active support throughout the entire process. She is an advocate, a body worker, a connection-maker, a partner-trainer, and most importantly, her presence itself was peace-inducing for me. Terra is truly gifted. How does she know exactly what you need to hear in the heat of labor? I have no idea but it felt almost as if she could intuit the conversation raging in my mind. It's hard to find words to express when someone is gifted. Is it her vast knowledge and array of resources she brings to bear to support you? Is it the way she insightfully interviews and gets to the heart of what you are needing and wanting? I struggle to find words to describe the way in the midst of birth, Terra knew exactly what I needed to hear. There were moments that I wanted to escape, or felt on the edge of my abilities, and her voice was like a clear cool soothing, reconnecting me to my power. I will never forget what she said in my last birth, “This is your body doing this. You are so so powerful. This is not happening TO you.” That might not be what everyone needs to hear, but in that moment it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear to remind myself that my work was one of finding peace with what my body was doing, and getting out of the way. I unequivocally recommend her and encourage anyone thinking about having a doula, to work with Terra." -Shelly
Photo Credit: JuliAnne Jonker
