by Teesha Bancroft

Without my doula, I would not have had an amazing natural birth class and a huge network of resources;

Without my doula, I would not have had the tools during the intensity of labor to get into different positions so that things would progress;

Without my doula, My labor might have plateaued at 5 centimeters dilation just like my mother in labor with me;

Without my doula, I wouldn't have had any idea how to manage my pain naturally and from within;

Without my doula, I wouldn't have pushed and pushed and pushed for three hours... It might have been longer;

Without my doula, my husband wouldn't have been able to take a break to use the bathroom, eat, feed me, get me water and do what he needed to take care of himself;

Without my doula, I wouldn't have had a warm meal an hour after my delivery;

Without my doula, I would not have had gentle guidance that had a huge impact on the success of my labor;

Without my doula, I would not have had breastfeeding support that actually made sense to me;

Without my doula, I wouldn't have had someone to message at 3 a.m. when I was lost and struggling as a new mother;

Without my doula, I would not have had someone to simply offer support in so many ways with like-minded parenting advice and ideas, making sure I care for myself so I can be a good wife and mother.