Testimonials

"My husband and I were giving birth to my first child. My main concern was feeling safe during birth. I needed someone who could advocate for me as a woman of color, as a Latina. I needed someone who could be my rock, someone I could unload my emotions on to. When we met Katie, I was immediately comforted by her presence. She listened attentively and was professional in her approach. After our first conversation, we knew that Katie was the right person to help us. During our birth journey, I labored for 3 days at home. When we reached out to Katie she was ready to support us anyway we needed. She spent a night a our home just in case and thankfully she was there when we needed to go to the hospital. While at the hospital, I never felt pressured, she gave me space, and time to think. Katie was nurturing, and very intuitive to my needs. She would offer suggestions and provide relief options. Above all she was compassionate and I felt cared for and safe. Not only was she supportive to me but also assisted my husband in helping to care for me. During the most difficult time of my birth, when the pain was unbearable and anxiety was high, Katie never left my side. I was distraught because my son was carried away to the NICU and my husband followed him. Katie stayed next to me, holding my hand, breathing and keeping me calm with her reassuring words. 'Endlessly Angelic' is how my husband described her. We are so grateful that Katie was there, we don’t know how I would have gotten through my birth without her."

-L.R., 2021

"I found Katie through local Bloomington doulas, and I am so fortunate that they offered me her information. In my time working with Katie, I felt comfortable, empowered, and knowledgeable about my options and care needs before, during and after my delivery. In meeting Katie, I could sense that she focuses on the needs of the birthing parent. Too often the birthing parents are not seen as humans with their own backgrounds, needs and concerns; however, Katie made this a top priority. Because of her commitment to the birthing parent, I knew I needed to work with her. 

In the year leading up to my birth, Katie worked with my spouse and I on comfort measures, where we practiced these in home prior to delivery. My spouse was concerned about how to care for me during this time; Katie provided us with so many tools, tricks, and ideas to help us feel out which ones worked best. Additionally, she talked me through my doctor’s appointments and laid out in understandable terms what my doctor’s concerns were and how I could best approach a possible solution. This was empowering. I didn’t feel the need to rush into a decision; she gave me time to process options with her and to select the ones that felt most appropriate and that aligned with my needs. 

In the last month leading up to my birth, I was pre-eclamptic and Katie supported me through the various decisions I needed to make to have a least-traumatic birthing process as possible. Honestly because of her knowledge and support, I am certain that my post-partum experience was so successful because of our work together—I knew what was coming down the pike and this made my experience not just bearable but one that I could thrive. My labor and delivery were difficult. My primary hospital nurse did not respect my birth plan and did not acknowledge that I am a survivor of assault. Katie advocated for me during this time, so my spouse and I could focus on comfort measures and labor. Katie was both firm and respectful. She put my needs first and focused on navigating the relationship with the primary nurse. I felt safe with Katie, which is not something I take lightly. As someone who has been assaulted, being safe with a person during medical crisis, like labor and delivery, I needed someone whom I could trust and depend upon—Katie was this person for me."

-C.P., 2021